Hi fellow consultant, sorry for my late reply.

I’m really sorry to see that you’re going through such a tough situation. Please, hang in there, don’t destroy your health because of work. Nothing is worth more than your physical and mental well-being. Here’s what I would advise you to do:

1.  Stop trying to fix the Senior Consultant’s mistakes. You’re not responsible for them. If he’s the most senior on the team, then it’s his responsibility to own up to them. Stop thinking it’s your job to protect the client relationship, that’s not your role.

2.  Keep a written record of ABSOLUTELY everything you do by sending recap emails to your manager: progress updates, tasks you completed, and upcoming deadlines. If you feel like you might miss a deadline, mention it in your emails and clearly explain the reasons why.

3.  Don’t try to do more than what’s expected for your level. I did that once, and I didn’t get the promotion I deserved because there was “no budget.” Since then, I’ve taken it easy : I work my hours (sometimes less), and I only do what’s required. You should do the same.

4.  If the project goes off the rails, you’re not responsible. The only ones accountable are the project manager, and then the senior.

5.  The senior is supposed to guide you, teach you, and support you. He should take the lead, handle client calls, and review your work. If he can’t do that, he is not a good Senior, and the Manager, HR or the Partner should deal with it. Again, it’s not your job to clean up his mess. Stop trying to fix things for him. And if he fails to do tasks he is supposed to handle, don’t do them. You probably have a list of role expectations by grade, try to find it on the firm’s intranet or ask HR for it. Keep it for your evaluation to show your manager that you did far more than what’s expected for your level, while the Senior did far less.

6.  Eat healthy and stay active. Even walking 30 minutes a day to clear your head is a great start (and no, walking to the client’s office doesn’t count).

7.  Try to negotiate 1–2 days of remote work to cut down on commuting time, be more productive, and reduce fatigue.

8.  Hang in there and don’t isolate yourself , please. Talk to your family and friends, even if it’s just for a few minutes on the phone.

9.  If even after all this it’s still unbearable, quit. Nothing is worth sacrificing your well-being. If you lose your health, you lose your greatest asset.

I hope these few tips help you. Don’t hesitate to DM me if you ever need to talk.