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And then you collapse, you can’t take it anymore, you are overtired, overstimulated and very emotional. You go to your doctor because you no longer know how to proceed and then you are told that you have a burnout.
A burnout? You? You could always do everything, right? Work, nothing was too crazy, you had energy for 10 and helped everyone out. Friends, you were there for everyone and you like to have fun, so your social life was running at full speed. In addition, you were also a nice partner and you did not hesitate to raise the children. Until apparently it was too much. Recognizable?
You have been diagnosed with burnout and that is really not fun, it is difficult and you are not going to get out of it just like that. But and a big BUT, a burnout does not have to mean the end of the world. A burnout can also turn out well. It is hard to believe when you are in the middle of this difficult period, but a burnout can have a positive outcome!
You didn’t just burn out, you’ve probably taken on too much in recent years(!). You haven’t taken good enough care of yourself. Maybe because you don’t know how to take care of yourself. Because did you listen to your body’s signals? Were you still in touch with yourself? Or did you just carry on?
(Read the article: Are you mindful with your body, or do you really listen to it? )
Your body has sounded the alarm and your body does not just do this. Something had to change! So you’re probably going to work on yourself, you have to if you want to get out of here. Build up your energy step by step. And you will succeed! Sometimes the road to recovery is long, but if you are kind to yourself you can get through this. It is precisely this recovery period that matters, because during this period you have the opportunity to get to know yourself again. Not the version of yourself you thought you were or the version you wanted to be but your real self. And precisely this point: getting to know yourself again is so important because so many beautiful things can come out of this!
Getting to know yourself
It may sound a bit strange, because you are yourself so you know yourself, right? No, that doesn’t have to be the case at all. Because (and this doesn’t sound very nice) then you would have fulfilled your own wishes better and not completely passed yourself by? Seize this moment with both hands. Seek help from a psychologist or a coach, for example, or go walking, running, meditating or practicing yoga. Try to find yourself again, get in touch with yourself again. What do you like and what have you done recently that you didn’t like? What makes you happy and what takes your effort? What gives you energy and what does energy cost?
Try to find answers
When you try to find the answers to the above questions during your recovery, try to look beyond just general answers. Look at the people around you, who are there for you and who costs energy? What is your role within your relationship or family? Do you always try to please everyone and put yourself down? What did you find most difficult at work, what cost you the most energy? Do you still want to work there or is it perhaps time to look further?
Finding your strength
Many people who have had a burnout have learned a lot about themselves during that period. They have learned how to listen to themselves, how to love themselves and how to trust their feelings again. And that is a gift! Because you have probably heard the phrase: “Afterwards I am glad that I had a burnout”? Because, when you finally climb out of that black period, you know who you are! You know what makes you happy, what you stand for, what your pitfalls and what your limits are! This is so important! This gives you peace and makes you a very powerful person!
When you know your pitfalls, you recognize your limits and you have learned to listen to yourself again, you are so much more powerful. It’s not easy, it’s not fun, but try to see it as a lesson. Try not to fall into your pitfalls again because then there is a chance of relapse (those terrible relapses!). But learn, feel and stand in your strength!
(Read the article: Burnout, why do you relapse again? )
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