[trcollinson]

You cite you are burned out and then you quickly dismiss it as something that will go away once you rest. I dare say it won't work like that. Your brain chemistry and thought patterns have been skewed by stress and depression.

My suggestion, starting today, go see a therapist who specializes in burnout and depression. There are a lot of them. They can help and will help you to enjoy and use your sabbatical. Go for it! Enjoy it! But please, seek out professional help.

[hollerith]

It is helpful when offering advice on the internet to say how you came to believe in that advice.

Have you or someone you know well been helped through burnout by a therapist who specializes in burnout and depression?

Alternatively, have you or someone you know well tried unsuccessfully to get rid burnout on your / their own?

[trcollinson]

You are absolutely right! I'm trying to find some of my past comments about this very topic but yes, I did face horrible burnout and associated anxiety and depression. I was placed on a number of medications by my primary care physician and told to go see a therapist. The medications helped in the very short term but quickly became less effective. So up the dosage and tell me to see a therapist.

The problem was I did not believe in the therapy portion. I thought medication was easy. But it didn't work. One day I ended up into my physician and she said "either you go to a therapist or I'll lock you in my trunk and let you out when you'll go to a therapist." So, I went to a therapist and also a psychiatrist who helped with the medication side.

It was like night and day. We talked. We worked through things I had no idea I needed to work through. I was weened off of the medication. And I was given the power and principles needed to help me in the future. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[baobaba]

Thank you for bringing up the thought patterns that get formed during the burnout or depression. This rings true, and I haven't thought much about it.