Burnout, Workaholism, and Feeling Miserable: My Story

Being deep inside a world that glorifies overwork took a toll on me. Therapy and small daily changes helped me recover from resentment, stress, and alcohol misuse.

There was a time in my life when I was running on fumes. I was overweight, drinking too much, and dragging myself through each day with resentment. I was depressed and deeply unhappy. Workaholism had consumed me, and I felt like I had been reduced to nothing more than my talents and output. In the process I lost connection to myself. I thought if I just worked harder or pushed through, things would eventually get better. Of course, they didn’t.

What I did not realize at the time was that I was burned out. Burnout is not just about being tired. It is a mix of exhaustion, hopelessness, disconnection, and feeling like you are stuck in a life you no longer recognize. I had ignored my body, avoided my feelings, and drowned my stress in alcohol and work. Looking back, I can see I was desperate for a way out.

I share this because I know I am not alone. Many of my clients come in carrying some version of the same story. Here are five small but powerful steps I wish I had started sooner:

1. Name what is happening.
Burnout hides in plain sight. Saying out loud that you are exhausted, angry, or numb gives you the first bit of power back.

2. Check in with your body.
Your body often tells the truth before your mind does. Notice how tension, cravings, or fatigue show up. Even two minutes of mindful breathing or stretching counts.

3. Set one boundary.
You do not need to overhaul your whole life overnight. Start with one small boundary, like saying no to an extra shift or setting your phone down at night.

4. Replace one harmful coping strategy.
If alcohol, food, or overwork has become your default escape, experiment with swapping in something gentler. A walk, a disco nap, a call to a friend, even journaling for ten minutes can shift the pattern.

5. Reach out.
Burnout feeds on isolation. Talking to someone you trust, whether it is a friend, partner, or therapist, helps loosen its grip. You do not need to do this alone.

One of the biggest shifts in my own healing came when I realized I was not just the sum of my skills. For years, I thought my value depended on what I could produce. Learning to be seen as a whole person with needs, limits, and feelings was both uncomfortable and liberating. It reminded me that my worth is not conditional.

Burnout does not vanish overnight. But small, consistent choices can add up to real change. I am living proof of that. Healing started when I admitted how bad things really were and allowed myself to imagine that something different was possible.

If you are reading this and it feels familiar, therapy can be a safe place to begin. Reaching out does not mean you are weak or you’re a failure, it means you are ready to stop carrying it all alone. In my work, I help clients move beyond burnout by reconnecting with who they are outside of performance and rediscovering their value as whole human beings