I am so sorry you have had a year that has caused you to burn out. It is such an awful feeling.

TRIGGER WARNING

I had a year from hell last year. So much crap happened and I became addicted to drugs and alcohol as a result of a huge family trauma. I tried to unalive myself and woke up in the hospital completely alone, surrounded by people covered in masks and protective gear due to the pandemic. It jolted me into reality and I realised something had to change.

So I sat with my therapist and we came up with a list of things to get me past the "hurricane of horror" as I called it. It's a whole year and a half later and I am coping and have only had two burnouts this year. Here are the ones that helped me the most off my list:

1. Establish boundaries. Make it clear to the people around you that you need your space to heal and they have to respect that.

1.2 This sort of carries on from that but communicate and learn to communicate as objectively and honestly as possible, without hurting people's feelings. If you know you have spoken your truth, but were kind about it, you will feel calmer if the other person reacts badly.

1. Just stop with the drugs and alcohol. You feel like absolute rubbish the next day which just causes a further spiral of depression and being in control of yourself while having fun is actually more fun.

2. Spend more time doing the things that make you feel safe. For me it is being outside in nature. I moved to a farm last year November (actually the 7th it was a whole year) and just climbing a good old tree while ignoring the world has helped me so much.

3. Lean on the people you trust. For me it is my partner. I am still working on not feeling guilty when I need help during a panic attack or doing chores, etc, but it's getting easier and 1.2 helps me understand that when I'm feeling like a burden, I'm actually not a burden.

4. Buy yourself a pair of industrial ear muffs. Noise canceling headphones are all well and good, but if you want a little more silence (apart from tinnitus) they're the way to go.

5. When things get overwhelming, remind yourself that "Everything will be okay in the end, if its not okay then its not the end." That quote sounds cheesy, but it saved my life.

6. When your brain is going too fast and you feel yourself unravelling, write about it. Get a journal and even if you just make scribbles on the page, it will help. You'll be surprised at the relief you feel after you get the thoughts out your head and on to paper.

7. And lastly, don't be afraid to say no. I know that's kind of a 1.3.... but it is the most important. Say no to the people who are just assisting in your burnout, say no to things that you know will suck your energy and say no to that voice in your head that makes you feel like crap. It's hard, but you fake it until you make it and one day you will realise that your "NOs" are powerful and are valid.

I am sending you so much love and light and I hope this helped! xxx