Feeling burnt out ?
Fight or flight, experienced from the unrelieved pain from AA and its associated disorders, causes us to sometimes end up feeling totally burnout. Add in distraction as a coping tool, and using social media to do it, and its easy to see why so many people with Arachnoiditis crash so often, feeling burnt out.
This month, after months of extra pain (tmj, migraine, teeth infections etc), I hit this stage last week.
I was too tired to hold a conversation, eat, work or even watch TV. Pain had been much worse than usual since the summer, and living in high intensity pain for so much of that time finally did me in.
I could only handle sleeping and listening to audio books.
I asked myself, am I getting depressed?
No, I am otherwise happy with my life. But everything, from noise to conversation, having to engage, or dealing with daily activities felt like "too much".
Procrastination sat on my shoulder and whispered that tomorrow would be a better day to handle the task list. Guilt spoke even louder, accusing me of becoming lazy and self indulgent, nd I felt at war in my mind.
I trIed to push myself, tried to self motivate. But it only made it worse. So, when I finally had the energy, I spent my time learning more about how burnout comes about, and how to come out of it.
Now, I understand that when we are in this phase, we do need to shut down.
For awhile at least.
For now, crash. Crash until you begin to feel like moving again. Then sleep when you feel like it and treat yourself when you aren't.
It doesn't have to cost anything. Treats can be anything you'd like.
I did my nails in funky colors (I never spend time on myself), I rented the movie I've always wanted to see but never do, because I know my hubby won't be interested on movie nights. I bought the stuff to make rice crispy squares, which I haven't done since the kids flew the nest and asked hubby to make them.
I talked to my doctor to increase pain meds, just for awhile, so I could finally get some sleep.
So, if you are feeling this way too from time to time, don't beat yourself up. Listen to your body and that inner voice. I used to ignore it and try to push through. But that's not the answer.
Start back into things slowly with little chores or duties that bring you bursts of happiness.
We need to hack our dopamine once again.
Dopamine is like a bit like an energy drug. It's the fast, quick excitement that our brains feel when we engage in ways that feel good to us.
Social media hacks our brains.
Instagram, tik tok and other social media keeps our interest because each new image causes a dopamine strike.
Over a short time, our building tolerance to these bursts of dopamine needs higher and higher engagement to keep us going. If you have ever been too tired to hold your cellphone but can't put it down, you've developed the maximum dopamine level that your body cannot be overcome.
Then, either after depleting your neurotransmitters that keep you going, or because you have pushed the dopamine as far as you can, burn out finally happens. We have burnt our the systems that allow us to feel pleasure and provide motivation.
Its here where I found myself those past weeks.
Here is what professionals prescribe: listen to your body.
Stop pushing.
Ignore the voices inside accusing you of procrastination.
Mute the guilt.
Rest. Sleep.
When you begin to get the energy, start with short bursts of dopamine gained through the things that make you feel good, like going out for a hike, painting or your other feel good things 😉
Just not technology. You can't allow yourself to get caught up in anything that demands your attention. Do small,happy things.
Listen to what your body wants.
Luckily, when we overwork our minds, our bodies are there to assist us back to better health. Listen to its wisdom.
People sometimes ask me how I manage to do what I do with our ACMCRN nonprofit work.
The answer goes back to first principles: PACING. And now another: LISTEN TO YOUR BODY
Pacing the first tool I use when my body begins "burning out."
(Unfortunately, with Arachnoiditis "burning out" feels all too literal).
The tool to use when our minds are burning is the same as we turn to when our bodies flare in burning pain.
Pacing.
Your body will tell you how.
Watch this reel for some insight!
Need to talk to others like yourself?
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See our website for Calendar listing! www.acmcrn.org/calendar
Join me, (Lori) and my 'Lil Sis Patricia Gomes as we host our Peer support meetings every Tuesday at 5 pm EST here: