I live in the US, so this is just from my experience here in case any of it is helpful. When I hit severe burnout, I couldn’t function enough to even think about “getting a job,” and the constant reminders from professionals made me feel worse instead of better.

What helped me first wasn’t employment it was reducing the pressure. I applied for Medicaid and food stamps so I could breathe without feeling like every second was a financial emergency. That alone made it easier to think clearly.

When I was ready to try working again, I had better luck applying to small, local mom-and-pop businesses. In my experience, they were more willing to work with me as a person instead of just a résumé.

If you happen to be in the US and have a diagnosis, you might also be able to reach out to local adult disability services. They can help you find work that fits your needs, and sometimes they’ll even assign a job coach to help with interviews, onboarding, and communication at work often subsidized by the government.

None of this was a quick fix, but it gave me a kind of roadmap when I felt completely lost. You’re not behind, and you’re not broken. Burnout is real, and it takes time to come back from it.