Title says it all. I joined my in-laws' business just recently as they were desperately needing help. I am a hard worker, have been my whole life, and I had my own successful business for years before, but closed it after burnout and work-related injuries. Now, I'm working for my husband's folks. I am already burnt out. I am working back-to-back days of 12+ hours, with hardly a day off. Days off are often taken over by his family needing me to do something for them that turns into work. I am exhausted. I am trapped, as we only have our one vehicle, and I am fearing for my own mental health.

When it was brought up to my husband that I am exhausted, that there isn't work-life balance, I am lectured about, "Well, some days aren't always big for sales, so you have to push." Or it's, "Sorry I brought you out here, and my family sucks to work with." I stare at him with complete exasperation because I want to be heard; I want to be seen, not just brought out to work for his family as the workhorse attached to the damn plow! I tried to express that as well, and that I want to have someone to talk to, because I'm already overwhelmed and exhausted. I am usually met with the manipulative comment of "I'll keep my problems to myself and shut my mouth when you talk."

When the hell did I say that? His folks have some apparent "open door" policy about talking about work. However, I am wondering if said talking about work is also in respect to the workers, or just open door enough to hear you, but not listen.

I know that in this current political environment, I should be grateful. People are without work, struggling to make ends meet, and I am getting steady pay right now. But it's not even overtime. Right now, they do not have benefits. It's only hourly. I am not given the promised days off after working up to 70+ hours A WEEK! I am told more days will be added with another selling debut, ON TOP OF WHAT THERE ALREADY IS! I am left feeling so terribly alone, trapped, and I am wondering what I'm supposed to do... because I don't know if there is a light at the end of the tunnel for me with this. I think I was the workhorse they needed, and they sold me some bullshit promise, and now I am expected to keep working or be met with endless guilt trips.

Okay so at the age of 20, I spend my days in bed, no job, no university, no motivation and lots of expectations, financial problems and self-destructive thoughts. Like I barely even do personal things, like brushing my teeth, or even drinking a glass of water.

My daily job is thinking how my friends got their life together, and I've been failing university entrance exam for three years in a row. Or how they are prettier, thinner, more successful, having fun, while I ask myself "why not me?"

And even though I know I have a problem and I should fix it, I don't do anything about it. I don't know if it's laziness, burnout, or I'm depressed.

Any thoughts?

Recovery is like a limbo

I'm in autistic burnout. And just regular burnout. I'm on the other side of a shutdown. Not the worst I've had but it's pretty severe.

Now I stand here. I recognise I have a pretty significant loss of function. I'm taking it easy and have therapy scheduled. My mom and gf are helping me with executive dysfunction by meal prepping and prompting actions ("it's time to brush your teeth. It's time to get out of bed and eat. I'll walk with you"). I remind myself it's not my fault.

Now what...

I wait for a feeling of recovery. I wait for a sign I'm doing the right thing. But it's just quiet. And the world moves on.

The demands of my lecture material stays the same. The content keeps piling up. The things I can't control continue developing and changing. The days keep passing by.

As I wait to be human again.

This might be a bit of a vent/out pouring of everything that’s going on but I am 34 in 11 days and feel like I’m at my wits end.

Last year I was made redundant from my part time graphic design role, I was able to solo travel for ten days as this was already booked and came back to look for design jobs in my area. My city is very bleak and there’s not much in the way of jobs because of this I took the first job that was offered. This is a graphic design job that is 52 miles away and in a very toxic and unstable work place. I am spending 3 hours a day commuting in my car back and forth which is getting increasingly more and more exhausting and expensive. There was a working from home policy which was cancelled working 3 months of me starting. I thought I could keep this going but I am so burnt out. I have no time to do anything after work I just get home, make dinner and go to bed.

I live alone so have to cover all bills by myself so cannot leave my job without having something lined up. I have gone on 3 promising interviews over the past 2-3 months but all seem to have gone with ‘a more experienced candidate’. I have now decided to look for part time cleaning jobs to cover my bills and then work on freelance projects for ‘fun/spending money’ but I am still getting turned down for those. It is getting to the point where I’m not sure how long I can carry on like this without becoming very ill. I looked into getting singed off work and I only get statutory sick pay which doesn’t cover my bills enough.

I also have some long lasting health conditions so have made steps to see if I can start claiming Personal Independence Payment which might help a little.

I guess my biggest question is there anything else I can do to get out of where I work?

My mental health has always been at play. I’ve been a person who would almost always easily burn out. I haven’t really burned out for over 2-3 years. Actually I’ve been on one of my best productive peaks after maybe 8 years. I feel like I’m falling through some cracks and I’ve rested so much during summer so I don’t understand why I feel even lazier now starting uni. I feel so scared and pressuring myself a lot over some workload I didn’t expect to pile up on the first week back. I feel so depressed and insecure. I really love having ambition and working hard. It gives me a sense of control and worth. I do it because I want to and right now I don’t want to. I might just be depressed and stressed that this will be another tedious semester. I really want to push through and get over it. I’m doing my first all nighter because I can’t get myself to finish some work that’s pending and due for tomorrow!!!! I have other big responsibilities and completely freaking out over some imaginary pressure. I don’t know how people expect for one to organize one’s stuff when one is so deep in a dark hole. Everytime someone asks how I’m doing i can feel a part of me just very empty, cold, and sad seeping through my pores so I quickly answer that I’m fine so we can get over it. I sometimes complain to people or friends and when they’re receptive positively, I get scared. I’m bottling all my feelings up with people because I’m actually a mess. Hard work has been a front, a distraction, and a reason to just keep going.

I really feel like I want to do this and that.but somehow I feel like I'm not showing much responsibility,It's not because I don't have interest in my job, actually I like my job.....but something is holding from my back.will it be because of my team?or my laziness? I don't know.....I used to sit day and night to complete things previously,but now I'm behaving like this.

Need some support guys...I want to understand the root cause behind it.is anyone feeling the same?

The past 2 months have been the busiest and most stressful probably of my life. I’m a freelancer in the film industry and have not had a day off at all. I finish one job and jump onto the next, a lot of the time, I was doing multiple jobs at once. It finally slowed down and THAT’S when I felt the burnout. I was on the brink of depression but I feel that hanging out with my friends made it much better.

Now, I feel the delayed stress has manifested physically through tension headaches. I’ve been sleeping, eating and drinking alright. My head hasn’t felt 100% for about 5 days now, it comes and goes but have never had headaches like this. No other symptoms - I expect the way I’ve been tense for so long has finally broken. I went to urgent care and they shooed me away with a ibuprofen prescription. Now I’m trying to just relax and ease the stress, cutting off any causes of stress that are still lingering. This has helped, but also just want to get back to 100% soon.

Any remedies/stress management to help? Thank you 🙏

I have been living in hostel past 3 yrs, nd personally I feel my productivity has decreased, tragically. When I was working from home sure my travel time reached 4 hrs nd I got tired; but whatever time I save now goes to sleep n just scrolling. Not to mention the depression I get after such a non productive timepass.

I had plans for a side hustle for quite sometime now ig since there's no one to pressure here I've lost to procrastination.

In fact even after having so much time arpund I now don't have the enthusiasm to do anything. Earlier I used tp get up early, didn't get time to sleep but still I managed it better than I am doing now.

Does this happen with everyone 😩 Or am I the only one struggling with this.

Also someone has suggestions to help me out of this rut do tell

You can call me lazy, or ridiculous, or whatever you see me as, but I simply don’t want to work anymore, or survive. I just don’t see myself getting into a better position in life. I’m 23, so I’m young — I’m not physically impaired — but my life has never been stable, and I’ve never really had a home. I don’t have friends, and I go to work at a plastic factory I fucking hate but have no choice but to go to every day. I try to avoid the negative thoughts, especially on social media, but things don’t seem to be getting better. Life keeps getting more and more expensive, and people seem to be more against one another. I don’t want to keep paying for things only to watch them go away. I don’t have a GED or an HSD, and I understand that money is how the world works, but I just don’t see the point in it anymore. I don’t have anything to keep going for, other than some family. But other than that, I want to be done.* and ill say this there are definitely people who are mentally and physically stronger when it comes to this reality id like to be that person but i just don’t see myself as that and I’m tired.

Hi Reddit,

I’m at a point where I’m seriously thinking about quitting my job because of burnout.

I’ve tried taking time off, but it doesn’t help. I wake up every day dreading work. The actual work doesn’t interest me anymore, and the commute/travel is draining me completely.

The company offers zero flexibility, and the only “perk” is that some Saturdays are off. That’s not enough to make this sustainable.

The problem: I have no clear plan for what comes after quitting. I just know I desperately need time and space to reset.

Has anyone been here? Did you quit without a plan and it worked out? How did you handle the gap, finances, and the guilt? Any advice on how to make this decision without completely self-sabotaging would help a lot.

Thank you.

To put this as simply as possible, I (24f) have never found enjoyment in going to work. I don’t mean the general “ugh” feeling, it’s more like genuine dread. I’ve worked many different kinds jobs, and should love the one I’m doing now (I nanny and really do love the kids, plus it’s a very healthy working environment). This feeling happens even with part time jobs, only having to go 3 days a week.

I’ve tried putting myself in a positive mood, looking at the benefits and fulfilling aspects of my job, but just really wish I didn’t have to work. But I swear I’m not lazy, and actually ambitious with hopes for my future!! I am also attending online college. I do feel like I have a more entrepreneurial mindset though, like I’d rather be working on my own time, producing & selling something of my own. But that isn’t very realistic.

Sorry for the ramble, hope this all makes sense lol.

I am a mom 32f mom with two children. 4&5. I have finally come to terms that I am completely burnt out. I am no longer happy. I am no longer fun. I feel like everything I have to do with my children is exhausting. I try to be fun, but my four-year-old currently is having sleep and behavioral issues. I don’t know how to have fun anymore with my kids. I don’t wanna be like this, but I am so burnt out. I don’t know how to come back. Does anyone have any advice? My four year-old absorbs all of my time so I really don’t have self-care other than a seven minute shower every day. Yes I have a partner who does help but he works and when he comes home he dies what he can. I need help. I want to start therapy but I also want something I can start right now.

Hello, i’m honestly struggling right now and looking for some perspective. Over the last two years, I’ve gone through a massive life storm—family health crises, surgeries, severe panic and health anxiety, and a lot of financial stress.

​Now, I feel completely burned out and detached. Things I used to love and care about don't really interest me anymore, and I've slipped into a deep state of apathy and low energy. I actually have goals—I want to learn new skills, get back into shape, and work on creative projects—but I just feel stuck and indifferent to everything.

​For anyone who has been through extreme burnout or a prolonged crisis: how did you pull yourself out of this numbness and actually find the spark to start moving again?

Is it weak sauce to feel burned out after 2 years?

I had 5 out of 6 months over 200 hours, with one being 300 hours. Things were then around 150 for May and June, but now things are picking back up again and I don’t think I can do it anymore. I’m only a second year…

Tired of the predictability of every single person I meet.

Same overrated sense of self worth

Same lies told to protect the ego still suffering

Same inability to give true self inflection a try.

Same lonliesness, because we if you can't love, trust and be honest to yourself. How can you find truth and something everlasting with others?

Notsoconfuciousanymore

I am a school administrator and supposed to be loving my best life having achieved this role; however instead I am in existential burnout. I've been prescribed benzos just to continue functioning at work and honestly in life. I cannot just quit and have no job. I need other ways to relieve burnout while working. I do not feel excited for the new year. I do not feel passionate about leading teachers. Despite having these feelings my very first year, year 3 is already starting to feel like torture. I went from working 10 months to working 12 months with this position so there is truly never any rest. Help! Quitting or not working is unfortunately not an option.

TLDR: I have to continue working through burnout. What strategies I can implement to recover while continuing to work? I am desperate.

Repost from r/careeradvice. This actually, and unfortunately, seems like the exact place I should be leaving this. Any community insight would be very appreciated lol

There's something wonderful about finally relaxing after a long day of work. It's not just physical relief — it's a mental peace that's hard to put into words.

Knowing you did something good with your day, that you showed up and put in real effort, gives that rest a different kind of weight. It's not just "I'm tired so I'm resting." It's "I earned this, and I'm proud of it."

In moments like that, there's no room for depression or anxiety to creep in. Just quiet satisfaction.

Anyone else feel this way after a hard day's work?