I was in a therapy session the other week when my psychologist gently suggested,

“I think you might be experiencing burnout.”

Burnout? Me? Isn’t that for people drowning in work deadlines or mums who haven’t peed alone in six years? Surely it’s not possible for medical stuff… right? Well—boy, was I wrong.

Not only is medical burnout real, it hits completely differently. When you’re chronically unwell, your “admin” isn’t just emails and meetings — it’s your literal survival. Appointments, scripts, referrals, physio, symptom tracking, medical forms… It’s like being your own full-time case manager, except you can’t clock out, you can’t take leave, and the stakes are higher than missing a Zoom call.

What Medical Burnout Actually Is

Medical burnout is the emotional, physical and mental exhaustion that comes from managing your health nonstop. There’s no time off from your own body. Even resting can feel complicated, because missing appointments or routines can actually make things worse.

It’s burnout — but with no exit door.

Signs I’m Going Through It

Everyone’s version looks different, but here’s mine in its unfiltered, slightly embarrassing glory:

📚 1. I Haven’t Picked Up a Book in Weeks

And I love reading. When my hobbies disappear, it’s never a good sign.

🌿 2. I Don’t Spend Time in the Garden

The garden is usually my little refuge. When burnout hits, even that feels too hard.

🧠 3. My Partner Comes Home to Me Staring at a Wall

Like… literally staring. Not thinking, not scrolling, not existing with purpose. Just wall.

🥛 4. I Cry Over Tiny Things

Like spilling Milo. And no — it’s never actually about the Milo.

These little signs are my body waving a big red flag: “Hey! We’re overloaded down here!”

Things That Actually Helped Me

Here’s what has genuinely made a difference — even if some of it felt counterintuitive at first.

🛋️ 1. Therapy (The Obvious One, But Helpful As Hell)

Therapists can help untangle the emotional load, create coping strategies, and remind you that burnout doesn’t mean you’re failing — it means you’ve been carrying too much alone.

⏸️ 2. Medical PTO (Yes, It’s a Thing)

My partner suggested taking a full week off appointments. At first, I hated the idea — my body needs those routines and physio sessions. Missing stuff usually sets me back. But that one week with a completely clear schedule? It helped me reset in a way I didn’t realise I needed.

📦 3. Delegate, Delegate, Delegate

If something can leave your plate, let it go. For a week, I did zero chores (not that I can contribute much right now anyway), and I handed over all medical admin — booking appointments, picking up scripts, the works to my dad and partner. Let people help you. You’re not weak; you’re carrying too much on limited energy.

🧣 4. Micro-Comforts Over Big Fixes

Not every burnout solution has to be deep or profound. Sometimes it’s:

• Wearing soft clothes

• Eating comfort food

• A warm drink

• Ten minutes of sunshine

• One tiny enjoyable thing (even if you can’t enjoy it fully yet)

Small things add up when your capacity is tiny.

📱 5. Reduce Medical Brain Noise

If you can, simplify anything:

• Use one app for meds

• Keep all appointments in one calendar

• Ask your partner to hold onto paperwork

• Create an “I’ll deal with this later” folder and give yourself permission to deal with it later

Your brain deserves a break too.

You’re Not Failing — You’re Burnt Out

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Oh my god, that’s me,” please know this: Medical burnout doesn’t happen because you’re weak. It happens because you’re doing the work of an entire medical team while also living inside a body that’s already struggling. You’re tired because this is a lot. And you deserve support, rest, softness, and care that looks at your bandwidth — not just your symptoms.