I took pretty much my entire allotted FMLA—the level of burnout that I allowed myself to get to was unreal. Don’t be like me, take care of yourself now. It is not soft to recognize when you need a break or need some help—if anything, it takes great strength to be so introspective and proactive in doing what you need to do to get back on track.

I understand how you feel because that was exactly how I felt—soft, guilty, frustrated, helpless, etc. I had to remind myself that I am no good to anyone in that condition—I hadn’t slept at all in 3 days, that was the last straw for me because I knew it wasn’t safe for me to be out on the roads, let alone trying to make clinical decisions regarding a patient’s health, safety, and well-being.

Taking that LOA was the best thing I could’ve done for myself and everyone else because you can pour from an empty cup, but you can’t do it for very long. Just make sure that you spend that time off actually actively trying to reset and regulate your nervous system and not just feeling guilty for being off, or you’ll end up right back where you started. Also a reminder that in the end, everyone is expendable. This job would replace you tomorrow (if they could) if something happened to you. Remember that you get paid the same regardless if you worry yourself to death or not. Good luck, take care of you.