I... don't have any good advice for that, since that's pretty much where I am, and I don't even have the impetus to be creative beyond small bits (which as the poster above stated, can be pretty restorative).

You're not the only one though.

Can I join the club?  My brain is Burnout Central Station most of the time, going on a year now. 

I don't have a good answer that isn't circular.  A good answer that is circular is to go do something new -- which could be a vacation as Riri says, a creative project as Atropos says, or almost anything else you haven't done before.  (Learn to garden?  Go to a gun range?  Volunteer?)  But it's hard to do that when you're badly burned out.  You need motivation to do something new, and you need to do something new to get motivation.  So this answer is not as good as it seems.

If you're insured, you could try antidepressants if you haven't already.  They haven't done me much good, but lots of people swear by them.  There's no shame or defeat in taking pills that give you the energy and impetus to improve your quality of life.

I don't know.  If I knew the answer I'd be applying it in my own life.  But I hope things get better for you soon. 

Your constant exposure to noise might actually be a factor. Stand/sit in a place without any ambient sound aside from the wind and you'll probably see results. Even 30-40 minutes a day will probably give you results.

Last edited by Overlord Morgus (11-04-2012 01:18:48 PM)

Atropos wrote:

Writing, mostly. It's a kind of therapy for me.

What kind of writing do you suggest? I did some Haiku stuff here a while ago, but I think I turned it into Debbie Downer...

Riri-kins wrote:

I wish I had a good answer since my disease usually makes me depressed or dangerously angry when I'm burned out.  Have you tried just having a good cry with your best friend or taking a vacation?

My illness is like that, too. Thankfully, I haven't had a flare-up, so no emotional spasms due to that. Other shit, though, is seeming to seep in. I haven't cried since, like, January or so and it didn't really help, so I think I'll hold back for now. I wish I could take a vacation, but my current jobs don't permit that, leaving much to be desired outside of the world of multiple job-having.

satyreyes wrote:

If you're insured, you could try antidepressants if you haven't already.  They haven't done me much good, but lots of people swear by them.  There's no shame or defeat in taking pills that give you the energy and impetus to improve your quality of life.

I practically live through my plastic bottles, mon ami, so pills don't worry me. I'm actually on an SNRI right now. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it sucks. If I up the dosage, I get super tired, lethargic and lack the energy to do anything.

Overlord Morgus wrote:

Your constant exposure to noise might actually be a factor. Stand/sit in a place without any ambient sound aside from the wind and you'll probably see results. Even 30-40 minutes a day will probably give you results.

I might look into this, though I usually do sit in silence enough, though the time that I do, I'm actively signing, so I guess I should use some time to just sit and do nothing in silence?

TOF, every post you make makes me more and more incapable of imagining your lifestyle.

More specifically, what do you mean by "actively signing?"

And yeah, total silence. Noise within your head is much more damaging than noise outside of it.

Last edited by Overlord Morgus (11-04-2012 06:13:15 PM)

There's a lot of psychological research out there that says one of the best things a person can do to make themselves happy is to do something altruistic.  Little else makes us as happy as knowing that we make others happy -or more accurately, not worrying about our own happiness makes us happier.  Depression is big old cycle of shit, and one big aspect of it is that it limits your perspective and turns everything inward.  You see everything as relating to you and your actions, your failings and flaws.  You spend waking hours poring over yourself and criticizing and analyzing your personality, thoughts and choices.  It's odd to put it this way, but its self-centered thinking, though you aren't of course thinking anything positive. 

Find something to care about, to be passionate for, find someone, anyone to help, even if all you can do is educate yourself on a problem or listen to stories of struggle.  You don't have to be a martyr, or to do it out of guilt, which will make your happiness dependent on the feelings of others.    It's not even about perspective, it's about knowing that in some small way you're accomplishing good, and realizing that you have the potential to do so... it gets you off your butt.  It connects you, it teaches you, and its as simple or as complex as you can handle or want it to be. 

Or just buy pretty, colorful things you don't need and can't afford in an attempt to fill the gaping hole that is your life and personality like I do.    Then rub them against your face, organize them and barely use them.

Last edited by OnlyInThisLight (11-04-2012 06:26:36 PM)

How does one exactly go about exploring, or finding out for that matter, what those issues are? I don't really know what's causing it, which feels quite irritating. I'm having to plow through these next couple of weeks before I'll get a moment to myself, so any discovery of or time for the self is having to be put on hold, unfortunately.

That can be the tricky part. That's why I generally start changing small things first. it chips away at the superficial, or tiny straws breaking the camel's back. Talking things out with someone you really trust can help you, or even writing it out in journal form. Just the important thing is not to be afraid of whatever may come out, and not hold anything back because eventually you hit on the truth of the matter and it may be surprising. I know I'll start sometimes with talking about how my job bothers me and end up all the way down the line of really being upset because what I don't have out here are many friendly connections. And then when you hit those realizations you can decide what to do about them.

It's work, and it's a little bit at a time everyday. But the more you work the more you know yourself and understand sooner what it is that is causing your burnout when it occurs.

I've allowed certain things to keep holding me back when I should have dealt with it quite a long time ago. Now, unfortunately, my work is going to interfere with the time I will have to spend on this issue, but hopefully I'll be able to resolve it soon enough.

What can you cut out of your life to make these things easier to deal with? You sound like someone who likes to involve his/herself in too many things. And what's holding you back?

Last edited by Overlord Morgus (11-06-2012 02:04:22 PM)

No, I mean, what's practical/painless to cut out? Aside from Flash games and computer time, that list doesn't seem easy to cut. And why do you care so much about the deaf community? I get wanting to help others, but why them, specifically?

Last edited by Overlord Morgus (11-07-2012 02:59:41 PM)

TheOnlyFlorence wrote:

Overlord Morgus wrote:

No, I mean, what's practical/painless to cut out? Aside from Flash games and computer time, that list doesn't seem easy to cut. And why do you care so much about the deaf community? I get wanting to help others, but why them, specifically?

Oh, practical... umm.... that's a rough one. I guess I'm going to have to just make a small list as I go through my day of small hassles? Maybe that's one way to go about tackling that...

The Deaf community is one I can relate to really well. For the most part, everyone else in the world doesn't know how to go about communicating with the Deaf, so they just don't do anything. Without communication, the world is a very lonely place. I guess I just sort of know how they feel, to an extent.

As a faux-deaf person, I applaud your deaf community work. *sorta blowing kiss looking thankyou sign* (I... just have very diseased ears that sometimes require surgery to work right again.) Personally, I think it sounds kinda stressful, but it's a good thing to be doing~

But I'd put in more papercraft. Cause it's really fun.




...Of course, like, I'm a smoldering crash and burn, but I figured I'd just add that in.

Apologies in advance for the double-post, but I am here with an update.



I would first like to mention that progress has been made.


A problem I've run into often is having to be "on" all the time. That is to say, being at either a state of alert, caution, high energy, happiness (fake and real), or any other positive state (positive, as in adding something, rather than taking away from).


I believe this is one of the factors that has been hitting me most. I'm being around people (some of whom I like, others à l'envers), requiring me to put on the mask that I'm doing alright. For real, no one wants to be social with someone who's down. It's a fact, though sad as it is.


The solution is relatively simple: take breaks from people.


But then there's this conundrum: If I take breaks from the people, I won't get the chance to form social links, build a semi-strong support system, or, in general, get friends.


Now, I guess, is the part where I need to find balance. I have to force myself to be social, bear through some uncomfortable moments, for the sake of making friends/getting eventual support.


But do they start to wonder anything when I decline? I had to take a moment for myself this afternoon (I felt) and didn't go out to lunch with them. Do they think anything? Do they say anything?


One thing I don't like is that I've also been branded as the "smart guy" type. Yes, I can count cards fairly well. Yes, I beat most anyone at Rock-Paper-Scissors. Yes, I like to read. Yes, I like to write. Am I a physicist? No. Am I an engineer? No. Do I not talk a lot unless I have something to contribute? Yes.


I guess I shouldn't let that get to me, but it really is starting to.



Another major malfunction I'm attempting is the family. In general, they are practiced hypocrites, do not think often, and are unnerving to try to get along with. As much as I feel somewhat obligated to be with them, I can't help but feel that my life would be exceptionally better if I only saw them once a year.


They also have this terrible, awful tendency to project their feelings onto their cats. They will "describe the interaction between their two pets" (should one come to visit the other), stating the "animal's dislike" of a situation or of the other owner's pet. While humorous to observe the first time, it's getting to be too common and passively hostile.



I know there's plenty of work to be done, but I really just want to play videogames.