Community discussion: OCD and burnout

I’m so burned out and have been for months. Strugging to do my job and just be at home. It’s not even close to solved (that’s why I am here), but I will say that healthy sleep hygiene is essential as is being ok with taking breaks (not feeling like you’re bad for not being productive).

Of course. Being newer to ERP means I definitely am manually driving, so my non engagement responses aren’t automatic, I have to take a few seconds to choose a non engagement response. I think it burns me out sometimes, but i’d take being a little tired over living in the absolute fear and torture OCD once caused me. I know eventually through neuroplasticity my brain will eventually default nonengagment responses, and in some way that burnout shows you are stronger than your obsessions and compulsions. It’s never linear, but i’d rather feel tired and have my life back than the sheer exhaustion that rumination and fighting with my brain once caused.

I’m experiencing a lot of burn out. It’s hard because it literally makes me want to do nothing. Even things that usually help distract me aren’t working. That’s when I know it’s bad. But doing small tasks around the house, even if it’s just one can help. Taking a step outside, eating your favorite snack or putting on a comfort clothing item are small things that have been helping me in this tough time. Don’t lose hope! Take it one step at time.

At my worst, I walked around and found myself saying “I’m just tired.” And I didn’t mean sleepy. I meant like a deep tired. I found myself saying “maybe life is just too much for me.” But that was wrong. I was wrong. Life can be hard. But it is without a doubt a gift straight from the Creator. He didn’t give you life to waller in self-pity or sorrow. Live. Really live. Jesus is King; follow the Lord, read the Word, watch your life take offfffff!!!!!!

OCD creates fear, ruminations, and obsessions over things I never even considered or thought possible, it's hell

Yep. I’ve found that, because of my perfectionism, hyper-responsibility, and people pleasing, I overextend myself (and people get used to expecting and relying on me to continue overextending). Boundaries and saying “no” have helped me — whether they’re self-imposed boundaries (ex I’ll only spend ___ amount of time on this email) or boundaries with others. Every time I set a boundary, I have to be willing to sit with the discomfort / fears that come up (because my ocd would prefer I keep people pleasing and doing things perfectly) .

Oh absolutely. Managing my OCD is a full time job. Making sure I get enough rest is good. However I know not confuse rest with wallowing in bed thinking constantly. I often have to get tough with myself and say ok we can rest today but we cant do nothing. So I go for walks, talk to a friend, practice spirituality. Oh and do fun things.

OCD and burnout go together like peanut butter & jelly. One thing I do to literally get a break from the nonstop dumpster fire that is ocd is to simply take a hot bath. I’ve always loved water, so I just let the bath relax my body and mind

Yes, big time. It's not just the OCD though. It's living in the US right now with this constant sense of dread and being under attack. It's being an exploited worker who tries to take care of others and make a change while living under precarious conditions. Living paycheck to paycheck. How could anybody not burn out from that. High co-pays for basic health things. My perfectionism OCD makes it hard for me to rest and recharge, but I wouldn't say the OCD is the problem. The problem is living under conditions of capitalism, and we need to start talking more about mental health is tied to that.

One thing that helps me with my burnout is sometimes just taking some quiet time for myself. Reading a book, taking a bath, or just sitting in a quiet area really helps me recharge

Now that I understand compulsive reassurance seeking a little bit better, I can see the extent to which I have burned other people out over the years by constantly asking the same questions over and over each time the doubt resurfaced. Doesn't feel great to think about but happy to know that I can catch myself doing it and hopefully do it less in the future

When I’m feeling burned out, I listen to my body better nowadays. Burnout is a signal that my body needs rest and recovery. Quiet activities like reading books, taking naps, massages, intimacy, and baths (with epsom salt) help lower inflammation and keep me embodied in the present. I have also found lowering my sugar and processed food intake lowers my inflammation, which in turn seems to lower my OCD symptoms. Prioritizing a long and relaxing bedtime routine helps me focus on healing today to be stronger for tomorrow.

Sometimes I get burnout OCD fears that leads so me feeling burnt out and then eventually getting burnt out, it’s a spiral, I’m just accepting that I can keep moving forward

Longhaul covid + menopause + ocd = everyday I am exhausted....

It has knocked the wind out of me a few times

I experience burnout all the time. Therapy has helped deal with my lovely combination of OCD and ADHD. It can be exhausting.

All the time. Like how is it possible to live with this disorder

I'm pregnant and dealing with my worse OCD spiral to date. I'm constantly burned out and depressed. What alleviates some of the pressure is just doing little things I enjoy like writing, eating good food, and napping as much as possible

I’m trying to maintain my faith and sometimes I feel like my head aches are forever. OCD or SOCD isn’t easy at all, it makes one look at the values they believe in and see the world as they were when the brain was calm!

My partner told me it's when you hit the break and the gas at the same time and it makes me think of having AHDH and OCD at the same time. When we’re in conflict I need the most patience but at least I'm not shutting down as easily as before. I just get pretty tired after.

"Burned out" is a understatement.

Does it ever not?

I'm in my worst state right now, even I write this comment while compulsing. I feel so tired that I can't even shed tears anymore

I am exhausted. I can never just *rest* because I am thinking of all the million things I could be doing (obsessed with trying to get to perfection which is impossible). And when I do fall asleep because I'm sleep deprived, I sleep way too much and then I get so mad at myself again. I'm worried it's going to be like this forever. I wish I could just take out my brain, wash it, and put it back in- like that'd fix it. Ugh.

Yes and so fustrated !!!

Feeling this now…

Yes

Yes :(

Yes

Have been for about a year now

Yes, I feel incredibly burned out by OCD. OCD made me delay making a decision about changing our train time, which led to additional stress. I snapped at my husband because I was so overwhelmed by all the rules OCD makes you feel like you have to obey.

Really?! Come on! 😂

All da time babyyyy

Ughh yes🫩 this one day I was so scared that I’m just a predator avoiding the truth that I couldn’t do anything but just lay in bed, eat, and distract myself from my thoughts constantly

yes all the time!

All the time

I’ve had diagnosed OCD for over 15 years. A lot of it has focused on contamination, so that’s something I and my loved ones are good at spotting. However I’ve realized more recently (thanks to therapy!) that OCD also wreaks havoc on my doing things I want to try, especially creative things because I feel not ready enough and afraid that if I’m not good at it immediately or it doesn’t come out how I want I’m going to freak out and quit. Part of this is also from having been a gifted kid and having it drilled into me that I cannot make mistakes (which is, of course, not possible and also a great way to crush someone’s desire to learn new things). I have been afraid of challenges for a long time and it’s held me back, and it leads to more burn out than I feel when I just try new hard things! So I’ve started leaving notes for myself like “Show up no matter what,” “Just start”, etc. Things to remind myself not to get lost in rumination.

Oh yes…