Discussion & help on depression & mental health related issues

[COYBL25]

I'm not sure but I think I might be burning out from my job. Just always exhausted. Been in a kind of state of mental exhaustion all weekend. No desire to go out and meet people, cancelled one social gathering and one date possibility, just sitting around at home like I've had a sedative even though I haven't. Like being on a 48-hour caffeine crash or something. This is the 3rd time I've got into this state this year. Has anyone here had burnout? If so what is it like and how have you handled it?

What's caused the other two episodes mate ?.

If it's the same thing that's causing these episodes in work, it would appear that your job is making you ill.

 

[Billy Dean]

What's caused the other two episodes mate ?.

If it's the same thing that's causing these episodes in work, it would appear that your job is making you ill.

I don't know mate to be honest. I can't remember any specific incidents triggering it but I'll have a think if there's a common denominator somewhere. I think it's just a case of a big increase in workload and increases in "office politics" going on. Had my blood taken last week and all seems ok there, just waiting for Vitamin D results. If that's ok then I can only think it's stress causing it.

 

[anjelikaferrett]

I don't know mate to be honest. I can't remember any specific incidents triggering it but I'll have a think if there's a common denominator somewhere. I think it's just a case of a big increase in workload and increases in "office politics" going on. Had my blood taken last week and all seems ok there, just waiting for Vitamin D results. If that's ok then I can only think it's stress causing it.

Report it in your work accident book as work related stress. If you do have to go off sick you can argue that work is the cause of your illness and they should treat it like any other industrial accident.

 

[COYBL25]

I don't know mate to be honest. I can't remember any specific incidents triggering it but I'll have a think if there's a common denominator somewhere. I think it's just a case of a big increase in workload and increases in "office politics" going on. Had my blood taken last week and all seems ok there, just waiting for Vitamin D results. If that's ok then I can only think it's stress causing it.

As @anjelikaferrett says report it mate. Burnout is very real and if you do end up having to take time off due to it, you've put them on notice by reporting it.

Unfortunately being able to " cope " with the pressures of an a unacceptable work load is still seen as a badge of honour in many places and essential to promotion.

My work situation is what made me ill in the first place. Think of your brain as an elastic band. If you keep stretching it, eventually it will snap. The effects can be far reaching and long lasting. I'd hazard a guess and say that the way you are feeling is your bodies way of telling you to slow down or stop.

On a lighter note I worked in a Solicitors office, where a senior Solictor, who was under insane pressure, got up from his desk one day and said he was going to the shops. He switched his phone off and was never seen or heard of again, leaving a massive case load and a enormous pile of big case files. Sticking two fingers up doesn't get better than that !

 

[BiggyRat]

I'm not sure but I think I might be burning out from my job. Just always exhausted. Been in a kind of state of mental exhaustion all weekend. No desire to go out and meet people, cancelled one social gathering and one date possibility, just sitting around at home like I've had a sedative even though I haven't. Like being on a 48-hour caffeine crash or something. This is the 3rd time I've got into this state this year. Has anyone here had burnout? If so what is it like and how have you handled it?

There's a fair chance that I had a burnout at my job & that caused things to escalate to he point where I'm no longer there. Coupled with the fact that I was on the receiving end of some workplace bullying meant that I was on a timer to ending my career there.

Heed my situation because if you let it go & don't report it as above, then they may not see your situation as a 'health' matter but something worse. This may lead them to question your position in the company.

If you enjoy your job then fight this demon & hang on to your career. If you are not enjoying it then it might be time to move on but, I must stress, get a professional opinion on your health before making any drastic choices.

 

[TheAlmightyFloater]

What's your degree in mate ?

There's plenty of posters on here can give great advice on the job market.

I'm an arl arse now and when I was your age a degree was a passport to a good job ( usually ). Doesn't seem to count for much now unless you're going for a high end professional job - medicine, engineering, architecture etc.

Got a BA (Hons) in Journalism. Degree doesn't mean much in my field without the experience anymore. But I think that's the same for everyone really. What's the saying again - when everyone is special, no one is special? Too much pressure on "getting a degree" and now everyone's got one and no one stands out to employers. Experience is king.

I was in the exact same situation after graduating.

Signed on and couldn't find any work to do with my degree because of lack of experience.

After 8 weeks on the dole I had to get a job in a café, felt like a failure and thought I'd never get a job to do with my degree.

Worked in the café for 8 months and eventually got myself a really good degree-related job.

It's just all about keeping the faith.

Try get some voluntary experience to do with your degree. It looks really good on a CV and shows you're trying to stay relevant within your chosen industry.

Stretch the truth on your CV too, nine times out of ten they will never check.

I've got years of voluntary experience really, I've been doing it most of my teenage years for various organisations. I think it's what helped me get my interview in the first place.

I didn't think much of it at the time because I was just helping people out, but it might just get me a great job

 

[blueloon]

Got a BA (Hons) in Journalism. Degree doesn't mean much in my field without the experience anymore. But I think that's the same for everyone really. What's the saying again - when everyone is special, no one is special? Too much pressure on "getting a degree" and now everyone's got one and no one stands out to employers. Experience is king.



I've got years of voluntary experience really, I've been doing it most of my teenage years for various organisations. I think it's what helped me get my interview in the first place.

I didn't think much of it at the time because I was just helping people out, but it might just get me a great job

Good luck with the 2nd interview mate.

 

[GwladysBlue]

Got a BA (Hons) in Journalism. Degree doesn't mean much in my field without the experience anymore. But I think that's the same for everyone really. What's the saying again - when everyone is special, no one is special? Too much pressure on "getting a degree" and now everyone's got one and no one stands out to employers. Experience is king.



I've got years of voluntary experience really, I've been doing it most of my teenage years for various organisations. I think it's what helped me get my interview in the first place.

I didn't think much of it at the time because I was just helping people out, but it might just get me a great job

Try get on the Press Association Training course.

 

[Billy Dean]

Thanks @anjelikaferrett @COYBL25 and @BiggyRat - I mentioned to my boss that I've been having these weird fatigue symptoms and she seems to think it's stress and is sympathetic to it so that's quite positive. Just a perfect storm of things going on the last year or so. Massive workload increase, new role (promotion), new people coming in around me who have a lower opinion of my abilities than the ones there before them (at least that's my perception, I don't have solid evidence on that). And to top it all I don't really enjoy it. I'm looking to move in another direction all together but it's taking some time

On a lighter note I worked in a Solicitors office, where a senior Solictor, who was under insane pressure, got up from his desk one day and said he was going to the shops. He switched his phone off and was never seen or heard of again, leaving a massive case load and a enormous pile of big case files. Sticking two fingers up doesn't get better than that !

That's the dream right there

 

[COYBL25]

Thanks @anjelikaferrett @COYBL25 and @BiggyRat - I mentioned to my boss that I've been having these weird fatigue symptoms and she seems to think it's stress and is sympathetic to it so that's quite positive. Just a perfect storm of things going on the last year or so. Massive workload increase, new role (promotion), new people coming in around me who have a lower opinion of my abilities than the ones there before them (at least that's my perception, I don't have solid evidence on that). And to top it all I don't really enjoy it. I'm looking to move in another direction all together but it's taking some time



That's the dream right there

It's all well and good agreeing that's it stress and is sympathetic, but what's she going to do about it ?

 

[Billy Dean]

It's all well and good agreeing that's it stress and is sympathetic, but what's she going to do about it ?

Probably nothing to be honest. Partly my fault as I'm not vocal enough about it.

 

[COYBL25]

Probably nothing to be honest. Partly my fault as I'm not vocal enough about it.

You know the answer to that one mate

 

[Billy Dean]

You know the answer to that one mate

No mate! Tell me...

 

[COYBL25]

No mate! Tell me...

A more manageable work load for starters

 

[anjelikaferrett]

Thanks @anjelikaferrett @COYBL25 and @BiggyRat - I mentioned to my boss that I've been having these weird fatigue symptoms and she seems to think it's stress and is sympathetic to it so that's quite positive. Just a perfect storm of things going on the last year or so. Massive workload increase, new role (promotion), new people coming in around me who have a lower opinion of my abilities than the ones there before them (at least that's my perception, I don't have solid evidence on that). And to top it all I don't really enjoy it. I'm looking to move in another direction all together but it's taking some time



That's the dream right there

If you have told her about it and she has not done anything then she is failing in her duty as your manager. The very least she should be doing is looking at reasonable adjustments such as working patterns, work load, working environment. she should also consider referring you to Occupational Health to see if they can come up with something that would make you feel better. Remember, work has caused your problems so by ignoring your issues after you have told them about it puts them on very dodgy ground.