One day, everything suddenly stopped.
An invisible wall rose up in front of me, and I was thrown into it with a force I could never have imagined. My brain, which used to juggle a thousand things at once, now felt like a vacuum. I kept forgetting things and had an incredibly hard time concentrating.

I cried almost all the time – over the smallest things. It was as if life had lost its color. Nothing felt fun anymore. It wasn’t just tiredness. It was a feeling of complete hopelessness. Everything that used to be manageable suddenly felt overwhelming.

And my body screamed, but I didn’t listen. I had heart palpitations, woke up drenched in sweat, and my nights were filled with restless sleep. My hair started falling out in large amounts. It was as if my body was trying to warn me – but I kept pushing through, day after day.
I also became extremely sensitive to sound. Loud voices, sudden noises – everything became overwhelming. It was like every impression went straight into my nervous system with no filter.

So, what exactly is exhaustion?

Exhaustion – or burnout syndrome – is a condition that develops when the body and brain have been under stress for far too long without proper rest and recovery.

At first, you might just feel a bit more tired than usual. But over time, that tiredness can grow into something that no amount of rest can fix. Thoughts slow down, memory falters, and it becomes hard to focus. Even the smallest daily tasks can feel like mountains.

Common symptoms of exhaustion:

• Constant fatigue, even after sleep
• Difficulty remembering and focusing
• Easily overwhelmed by sound, light, and impressions
• Feelings of worry, sadness, or frequent crying
• Physical symptoms like heart palpitations, sleep disturbances, or other issues

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight – it creeps in slowly. Often, we’ve lived under too much pressure for too long, without enough rest. Many people keep going, ignoring their body’s warning signs – until they simply can’t anymore.

When should you seek help?

If you feel like you can’t go on, if your memory is failing and joy is slipping away – it’s time to take the signs seriously. You don’t have to “crash” completely to get help. Talk to a doctor, a therapist, or someone you trust.

Being burned out is not a sign of weakness – it’s a sign that you’ve been strong for too long. 💛

👉 You can read more about burnout here.