Sorry to hear you're struggling at the moment, Sassy. I doubt if I've read them all, but it's been clear from some of the other posts you've made recently that things are not exactly going well for you.
You're not wrong when you say that the condition isn't unusual in your profession. A copy and paste from the article on -
"Health care workers are often prone to burnout. Cordes and Doherty (1993), in their study of employees within this industry, found that workers who have frequent intense or emotionally charged interactions with others are more susceptible to burnout. Still, burnout can affect workers of any kind."
It's a well known condition, but whether your employers have anything in place to help you deal with it is another thing, of course!
The following site seems to have a wealth of information on burnout and stress:
Knowledge is power, as they say, and hopefully knowing more about the condition will help you beat it quicker.
:therethere:
Edited to remove shite as I didn't read the original post properly. :doh:
Sorry you're suffering; I have nothing useful to add but here's some hugs:
I felt that I had burnt out at 22! :shock:
Ever since I was about 12 I wanted to be in a band and get a record deal and go on tour etc, the problems started after I achieved that. I was totally knackered, depressed and was at a loss as to what I should do next because I felt like I didn't know where my life was going. You spend years dreaming of getting something then it's easy to become disillusioned when you get it.
To cut a long story short I wanted to leave the band and all everyone else could say was "Are you mad?" and my friends and family didn't want me to quit as they were so proud of me, so the pressure was immense.
It really wasn't a touch decision, it was just hard to do because I had to justify myself and look at disappointed faces for months.
Anyway I can honestly say I've never regretted it and so glad I had the strength to do what was right for me and my life and happiness, not what everyone wanted, which is all anyone can do as you can't live your life for other people.
Been there Sassy and you have my sympathy.
I do project work which is often to tight deadlines and is highly pressured.
Invariably when I finish a big one I'm flat on my back for a week or so. I've just finished a large project and this time I've been lucky, I'm just lathargic and mildly depressed!
A colleague has been less lucky and is flat on his back with pnuemonia.
What happens is (I think) is that your mind tells your body it can't be ill so when it can, it is!
All you can do is go with the flow. A change of scene helps and making sure you get to do things which give you another world in which to escape. A few days away doing gentle walking or horse riding helps me.
In recent years I've learnt to deal with it and when I start to feel really stressed I recognise the fact and slow down. It's hard 'cos however much you tell yourself that your health is worth more than your job, ones enironment fights against you.
The only comfort I can offer you (and it isn't much) is that is does pass. I hope you feel better soon.
I suffer a lot of work related stress but i seem to cope with it to a certain degree..
Every now and then though I do need to take time out and I find winter the hardest time as my hobby is non existant during the winter months
I guess you could say that I work in a *caring* profession too. (profession, moi?) and though havent been in this field for particularly long, find it far more draining, and tiring than any other jobs I've had in the past.
Shift patterns are varied, sleep levels tend to suffer as a consequence. My own time, when not On-Shift should be easy to organise, though the cupboards are always empty, and as for housework... well, i was never the tidiest of guys, so we'll leave it at that!
Though the people I work with are not particularly *high needs*, levels of observation and assistance are, and all benefit (staff and Service Users, hate that phrase) from an *upbeat* manner. On behalf of the people I work for, this is actually quite easy, and indeed a pleasure, showing benefits all round, though on leaving work i can tend to crash, sinking rather low and being a tad *drained* shall we say.
This is the first job Ive had where I actually get payed anual leave, but strangely enough, every time I have taken leave, ive been (lightly) ill, or so incredably lathergic, a rather large boot applied to posterior needs to be epmloyed to get my own life in to gear...
Bring in what can appear to be the petty at times paperwork, and politics that sadly appear in many fileds of work, and heres quite a mix of stuff to potentially grind you down...
I'm hoping that I can overcome my *downs* for the work as and when I come across them, because when the work goes well, the rewards are immense...
Having said all that.....>moan?<... so far....
...it's the best work ive ever done!
so what was I saying there?
errmm... Oh yes... whoever might be having a struggle with thier work, particularly that that may involve other people, perhaps a little step-back every now and, a chance to gather your reserves and look after yourself... before stepping back into the fray to do what you do best? look after yourself, because if you're not good to yourself, you're no good for anyone else.
right then.... tata... sorry about all the tosh....
Im off to work
lp
Sassy
Go easy on yourself girl, everyone has periods of self analysis...this site is great for getting away from real life and the worries we all have and that is great to a certain extent, but we all have to still deal with life generally for our overall wellbeing.
Big cyber hug to you :
pink x
)
) and thanks for the messages :kiss: 
There are times like now when I don't want to go to bed on my own, miss having someone there. I think it's all part of what you have been through lately, I did the same thing 5 months ago when it happened to me, going back to work was so hard, you dread it but once you get back and within a few hours it's as if you've never been away and normality to a degree gradually creeps back in and it really does help with the coping mechanism :kiss: 
