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Burnout and/or sensory overload

5 replies

weekfour · 01/04/2025 21:48

I'm getting myself in a right pickle and wondered whether anyone might have any strategies for bringing myself back down. I have a time pressured job, providing consultancy to clients where I spend sometimes my whole day talking. I have a chronic pain condition which is actually managed quite well at the moment, but that is made worse by sitting. I have three DC 7,9 and 14. My work is the busiest it's ever been.

I'm getting to the point where I'm nearly completely burnt out. Work is so full on that it takes everything from me. I finished tonight at 6:45 and had been online since 8:30. I did have an hour for lunch where I set an alarm and slept.
I fed the kids some tea I'd batch cooked at weekend and then took my dog out. I thought some exercise would do me good, but DD just talked and talked and I literally heard nothing. At one point I felt so overwhelmed that I thought I was going to be sick.
I've already had over a week off already this year when an op to manage the chronic pain went badly. Work are making redundancies and I cannot be low hanging fruit. I cannot lose my job. I cannot be not present for my kids.
Today, I felt like the sheer amount of talking was going to make my head explode. What can I do? How do I make more capacity in my head?

I can sleep fine for an hour at 12:30. Try and sleep at midnight and there's no chance. I don't see what I can drop out of my life. I just need to know how some people seem to have boundless ability to speak, listen, respond. It is not natural for me and I'm trying to understand what the trick is.

OP posts:
Hollebob · 01/04/2025 23:05

Sending love. I’ve been here. Tried CBD gummies and it’s changed my life. The white noise has gone. Also got loop earbuds which reduce noise when I’m at peak and helped me be more present with the kids.

weekfour · 02/04/2025 07:33

Morning @Hollebob. Is there a particular brand that you get? White noise is the right phrase. I feel like there's static in my head.

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weekfour · 02/04/2025 18:14

Does anyone else have any suggestions?

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PiggieWig · 02/04/2025 18:48

I’m just coming out of this. I ended up taking 5 weeks off work completely and really looking after myself. I’m back in 2 days a week and it’s hard. It’s like I can work or I can look after myself/my home/my family.
Im due to increase by a day a week till I’m back full time but I’m dreading it. I think carefully planning my annual leave is going to be the way forward. I’m looking into whether I can afford a cleaner but I don’t know what the solution is long term. I’ve another 20 years before I can retire.

i do make sure I meditate daily, often twice, just to still my mind a bit.

weekfour · 03/04/2025 19:23

That sounds tough @PiggieWig. Do you think it's just modern life? I'm a bit rubbish at meditating. I struggle to clear my mind. Maybe I need to try it again as I've read about the benefits.
I didn't sleep at lunch time today and I think I feel a bit better.

We used to have a cleaner but she used to need directing and wanted to talk, even if I had a list. It was interfering with work. I probably need to find someone else but I've not got the brain power to figure it out.

Sending you strength.

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