Live data from Hacker News

Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

news.ycombinator.com

171–180 of 344 posts

Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#171
post #5

The number one trait I have seen in people who are burned out is that they utterly and completely deny they are burned out. They often furiously push back on the idea. "I cannot possibly be burned out, because I have way too much to do," or something less articulate. Admitting you're burned out is the fist step on the path back. It can take years to get back to normal and have passion again. But it will return if you…

This is a very naive take. There are people who live paycheck to paycheck with the threat of homelessness. They can't just "accept" they have burnout, they have to work as if they don't just like any other person. I myself had a brutal burnout recently (hopefully recovering now slowly) but it was very difficult because I work on a visa and I can't afford to take a break or PTO etc. Yes I "accepted" that I'm burned ou…

Well in this case my friend, perhaps sometimes it's okay to go back home? I have lots of friends doing this to them, they are burned out both physically and mentally, people usually have options if they can step back a bit, do you really want to sacrifice your happiness for working abroad and become "successful"? Only you can drag yourself out as you've mentioned your therapist's solutions do not work for you, it's okay to take a break, giving it up is not giving up, but a reason to look different path, you can be truly be free only if you let yourself free.

Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#172
post #9

For me the critical moment was recognizing I had burnout. It happened when I saw this post on HN, whose list of symptoms almost perfectly matched what I was feeling: https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2022/03/29/how-people-fall-ap... I’ve obviously heard of burnout and experienced it before, yet somehow I failed to recognize what was happening until then. So thank you for posting this. Hopefully it’ll help someone out th…

> Rego emphasized the need to lean into life “with your hands, senses and via others.” To allow the prefrontal cortex to rest, he suggested doing hands-on activities, such as arts and cooking, and indulging the senses — especially in nature — and talking to people often. In my hardest semester at college, I wound up spending a somewhat unreasonable amount of time in nature. I would walk 3-5 miles a day and up to 20 m…

Studies of ecotherapy support your experience:

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/ecotherapy

Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#174
I have struggled with burnout, and I believe it’s a capacity thing, related to continuous trauma, and I’ve had success getting it treated the same way.

Sometimes this trauma can be something as simple as a toxic workplace, or choosing work over taking care of your own needs. It’s something I’ve struggled with throughout my life, and I’ve found talk therapy helps a lot, along with self care, and life changes. Psilocybin helps as well, to see things from different perspectives, like therapy does, and to mechanically loosen up those neural connections that are keeping us stuck.

Most people bounce back if removed from their source of trauma, but if it persists, or if you’ve become the source of your own trauma, consider therapy.

Burnout and depression and these things are your body trying to tell you something, that whatever you are doing isn’t working for you. Don’t fight it, listen to your body, reconnect with how you’re feeling and why in therapy, and make changes in your life. Feelings are the feedback on our actions. If you touch a hot stove and it hurts, that’s your body telling you to make a change. If living your life in a certain way, or working at a certain place, or having a certain person in your life is making you not feel good, that’s your body telling you to make a change.

Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#175
post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes! And Christianity to this day is still very and subtly misogynistic. For example, why does a woman need to give up her last name when marrying?

Not arguing that Christianity and other religions aren't misogynistic - I mean, seriously, there is a borderline unfathomable amount of serious misogynistic baggage there. However, on the point of last names, I feel the urge to point out that I personally know several , very devout and traditional, catholic couples who kept their last names in wedlock.

Yep, look at the Spanish naming system for example. It doesn't get much more Catholic than that, but they combine both partners' family names.

Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#176
A recent study from Sweden: https://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1851...

The traditional approach of treating burnout primarily through rest and recovery is overly simplistic and may not address the root causes of burnout. Newer models, such as Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), suggest that addressing psychological and existential needs, rather than just biological ones, can lead to more effective recovery.

Burnout treatment should not only focus on rest but also on helping individuals reconnect with what gives their life meaning, addressing feelings of fear, shame, and high self-demands, to achieve a more comprehensive and lasting recovery.

Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#177

I recognized I was burned out three months ago, but wasn’t in a situation to do anything about it. Then work got even harder, and I tried to push through it. My brain broke last Friday, I couldn’t think about even the most basic programming concepts without a lot of struggle and developing a nasty headache. I’m now in the exact same place as OP, and just told HR today that I need to file for temporary disability. I’m…

If you’re worried about the “gap”, don’t be. In my experience it doesn’t matter nearly as much as people believe. And don’t worry about your “career”. It’s basically all bullshit anyway.

Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#179
This may stop. I had a similar situation in 2019 but it was caused by post traumatic stress and an indifferent company.

Then I had post traumatic growth about 3-4 years after, I achieved 3 qualifications in 3 months, and within a year won a Hackathon, was promoted and became one of the highest performing people in my new job without even trying (PTG manifested the ability without any real conscious effort).

I put this down to some kind of repair mechanism. I still have some lesser depression but the post traumatic stress is gone.

The growth eventually stopped but I still perform at a marginally higher level than prior to the event without effort (e.g. distinctions in appraisals where previously it would be very good or similar).

My personality also changed, I no longer settle for shit and speak my mind frankly not caring very much about consequences (but never insulting other people).

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-traumatic_growth

Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#180
Burn out is something bad. But it learns so much to you. I have several friends and family who had it and the first lesson to learn is to accept it. Than you can start healing. Be aware. And 1 step at a time. Also it never really goes away . If I can do anything for you just ask
Post reply on HN