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Ideas for activities while recovering from burnout

Ann :)

Hi, I am struggling with severe burnout, stress and anxiety at the moment and I am also very underweight (due to issues with digestion/eating, IBS, ARFID etc). There have been a lot of external stress factors going on meaning I could not even begin to start tackling recovery but I now feel like I am in a place where I might actually have a chance- I am currently off work and I am hoping to start something new in just under 2 months (which is still not certainly happening- but I have done all I can to sort it and need to wait and see), and I am hoping to quit my job (if my new position works) and take those 2 months off. I am really struggling though with anxiety/stress and being unable to relax- I have a constant need to be productive and I do love to read for my work (about science etc.) and I like activities that have a purpose... but at the moment I am not sure it is wise to push myself. I can't even properly focus to read a book. My main hobby in the past was hiking, and also running, and any outdoor exercise. I used to love horse riding too. But I have had injuries/joint issues for 3 years which I have made it impossible to do these activities (even walking is limited to 45-60 min a day) and at the moment I am so weak and underweight anyways that even the smallest exertion like a flight of stairs feels enormous. 

I don't really have anything I enjoy doing though that is also relaxing and I feel like I need to somehow fill my time with activities that will help me recover... and I was wondering if you have some ideas for things that I could try? I do listen to audiobooks a lot, though I currently have run out of good ones... - any recommendations? I know how to fold origami, but I am too tired and nervous for that now and don't really enjoy it. I have tried doing sudokos etc in past but at moment I am not in mood/lacking focus and also it never gave me much pleasure... I play boardgames online to distract myself but it leaves me frustrated and numbed and I feel like I just wasted my time. I don't think I am up for any socialising in person at the moment, though I do find phone calls with friends/family nice- but going out to see someone would be too much...I lack energy and am so weak, I need time to myself and I also don't want people to see my in my current state. So I ideally need something I can do on my own... but It's so hard as I am so tired/deenergised that even if I wanted to I think I couldn't do a lot of things... But I am open for any ideas/suggestions!! I need to change how I think about productivity and I really need to recuperate now. My main focus now is to try and eat and recover. But it's so hard and sometimes, I wonder if it is worth the struggle... :( 

Parents

  • JoInt issues 1:

    My Nan sewed for her living and in her sixties the arthritus in her hands got too much to bear. God knows how, but she managed to find some stuff that restored her hands function and then allowed her to continue to work until her late eighties. Seatone capsules from Holland and barret. DO NOT SMELL THE CONTENTS OF THE CONTAINER if you try this...

    Joint issues 2:

    If it were legal I'd be recommending you get yourself some cannabis, it solves the lack of interest in eating problem, the what do I do with my time problem, and it confers a more peaceful and relaxed aspect onto it's users. Warning; for these reasons it can be savagely psychologically addictive. I.e. very easy to quit, but who would want to? For me, I don't get a better life by quitting cannabis, (which I do every so often for a while to remind myself that I do have a choice)  but when life gets better I find I use less of it. 

  • in reply to I Sperg

    Project twenty 21 or whatever it is called could maybe assist with medical cannabis if anyone was that way inclined.

  • in reply to Deleted User

    Medical marijuana is an interesting topic. I know that ASD is on the list of "conditions" for prescription cannabis, but I wonder what behaviours one would have to display to qualify. I've read articles about aggressive or violent child autists being prescribed, but what about those who use it for less obvious reasons. For me, the THC is the important ingredient, CBD does not have the same brain slowing effect that I seek when facing burnout.

    Any thoughts?

  • in reply to Alice

    I just meant medical professionals who prescribe it. Yes it shakes up the settled snow that is the snow globe of my brain! I think it's a matter of attention. Everything seems novel, that puts me totally in the present,  that stops the looping. Bliss!

  • in reply to Deleted User
    Unknown said:
    It's the constant rumination and looping

    Tell me about it. Brain holiday is a great description; it's like the sensation of sound when you put your ears underwater, but for your brain. I'm still aware of the noise, but it's different - distorted and muted somehow. I only use in small amounts, like with alcohol, because I don't like being wasted, but I find that life is less overwhelming through the mist. Or I care less. Or both Joy

    Unknown said:
    it'd need to be discussed with the medical professional

    I'm not sure I know any that would give me a straight up answer or that would know enough about it, too be honest 

  • in reply to Alice

    I think autism itself doesn't cause me any problems, it's the anxiety that does. It's the constant rumination and looping which I have difficulty with as well. I would think it'd be different for different people and it'd need to be discussed with the medical professional. My recent non prescribed use of it gave my brain a good holiday. It unlogged my head for a bit. I think it was a high in THC. I've never tried over the counter CBD. 

Reply
  • in reply to Alice

    I think autism itself doesn't cause me any problems, it's the anxiety that does. It's the constant rumination and looping which I have difficulty with as well. I would think it'd be different for different people and it'd need to be discussed with the medical professional. My recent non prescribed use of it gave my brain a good holiday. It unlogged my head for a bit. I think it was a high in THC. I've never tried over the counter CBD. 

Children
  • in reply to Alice

    I just meant medical professionals who prescribe it. Yes it shakes up the settled snow that is the snow globe of my brain! I think it's a matter of attention. Everything seems novel, that puts me totally in the present,  that stops the looping. Bliss!

  • in reply to Deleted User
    Unknown said:
    It's the constant rumination and looping

    Tell me about it. Brain holiday is a great description; it's like the sensation of sound when you put your ears underwater, but for your brain. I'm still aware of the noise, but it's different - distorted and muted somehow. I only use in small amounts, like with alcohol, because I don't like being wasted, but I find that life is less overwhelming through the mist. Or I care less. Or both Joy

    Unknown said:
    it'd need to be discussed with the medical professional

    I'm not sure I know any that would give me a straight up answer or that would know enough about it, too be honest