I love how this Flys in the face of "you just gotta push through" mentality. Our bodies speak, we just need to learn to listen! We could all save ourselves so much heartache.
Your paragraph on comparing what you felt to a swarm of wasps is so so so good. You write with such great visuals. I’ve read this like 10 times and I’m still left in shock afterwards.
Thank you sharing your burnout story. Reading it, I felt like I was experiencing it in your shoes first hand. And even though it I’m sad you went through this, I’m glad you left and found a silver lining and learned to recognize your limits with stressful situations. 💙
The way you captured this experience Sandra, wow! And also relatable. I feel like we hide so many of these feelings when it comes to burn out but it’s so real! Thank you for writing and sharing!
A gripping account of burnout Sandra. On a personal note, I’m drawn in by your vulnerability into an even deeper appreciation of you as a person, what you went through, and how you brought yourself to who you are now. On a professional note, I’m inspired by the skill of storytelling you inject, how the entire communication is launched and anchored by the real event of cutting yourself on your ID badge. It’s a relatively small moment in time, and a small moment at the beginning of the essay, but it brilliantly sets the stage for your article. Storytelling rules!
Sandra. This essay is the best illustration of anxiety and burnout at work I've ever read! Absolutely incredible. As someone who has more recently tried to listen to her body more and pay attention to the things that bring out those feelings of anxiety, this is such an important experience to share.
I have two favorite parts...
1. You acknowledge that it seems ridiculous to feel that level of anxiety working in an elementary school, but that the ridiculousness doesn't matter because it was your reality. It doesn't matter if it seems like the least stressful job on the planet, the fact remains it still makes you feel anxiety.
2. This part: "Butterflies in my stomach are too pretty of an image to describe the violent anxiety I felt; there wasn’t ever a gentle nervousness floating inside, it was wasps that invaded, pricked, and swarmed, and wouldn’t subside." It's always so difficult for me to adequately explain to people what my anxiety feels like and this is pretty spot on.
The most gripping journey with anxiety I've read. Could feel my stomach tightening as I read it. On one side, I'm sorry you had to go through this, on the other the lessons learned are probably invaluable to face, and listen, to whatever comes for you ahead. And most of all: happy you are better now!
Listening to your body and your head is so important, and this serves as a great reminder to always look inward for those signs.
Thank you for sharing this with us, it takes courage and I'm sure I, and many people, feel like they're not alone by reading this essay.
PS. On a less serious note, Transatlanticism just turned 20. Your first line made me think of asking you: do you think the glove compartment is accurately named?
I love how this Flys in the face of "you just gotta push through" mentality. Our bodies speak, we just need to learn to listen! We could all save ourselves so much heartache.
...how have we not bonded on special ed yet...
Your paragraph on comparing what you felt to a swarm of wasps is so so so good. You write with such great visuals. I’ve read this like 10 times and I’m still left in shock afterwards.
Thank you sharing your burnout story. Reading it, I felt like I was experiencing it in your shoes first hand. And even though it I’m sad you went through this, I’m glad you left and found a silver lining and learned to recognize your limits with stressful situations. 💙
Thank you for this piece. ‘But now that I know better, I do better.’ 💕
Beautiful piece Sandra! Thank you for sharing your gifts. Reading this made my day better :)
Beautiful, thanks for sharing!
The way you captured this experience Sandra, wow! And also relatable. I feel like we hide so many of these feelings when it comes to burn out but it’s so real! Thank you for writing and sharing!
A gripping account of burnout Sandra. On a personal note, I’m drawn in by your vulnerability into an even deeper appreciation of you as a person, what you went through, and how you brought yourself to who you are now. On a professional note, I’m inspired by the skill of storytelling you inject, how the entire communication is launched and anchored by the real event of cutting yourself on your ID badge. It’s a relatively small moment in time, and a small moment at the beginning of the essay, but it brilliantly sets the stage for your article. Storytelling rules!
Sandra. This essay is the best illustration of anxiety and burnout at work I've ever read! Absolutely incredible. As someone who has more recently tried to listen to her body more and pay attention to the things that bring out those feelings of anxiety, this is such an important experience to share.
I have two favorite parts...
1. You acknowledge that it seems ridiculous to feel that level of anxiety working in an elementary school, but that the ridiculousness doesn't matter because it was your reality. It doesn't matter if it seems like the least stressful job on the planet, the fact remains it still makes you feel anxiety.
2. This part: "Butterflies in my stomach are too pretty of an image to describe the violent anxiety I felt; there wasn’t ever a gentle nervousness floating inside, it was wasps that invaded, pricked, and swarmed, and wouldn’t subside." It's always so difficult for me to adequately explain to people what my anxiety feels like and this is pretty spot on.
The most gripping journey with anxiety I've read. Could feel my stomach tightening as I read it. On one side, I'm sorry you had to go through this, on the other the lessons learned are probably invaluable to face, and listen, to whatever comes for you ahead. And most of all: happy you are better now!
Listening to your body and your head is so important, and this serves as a great reminder to always look inward for those signs.
Thank you for sharing this with us, it takes courage and I'm sure I, and many people, feel like they're not alone by reading this essay.
PS. On a less serious note, Transatlanticism just turned 20. Your first line made me think of asking you: do you think the glove compartment is accurately named?
Thank you for sharing this, Sandra. Loved the piece and loved the underlying message. Keep thriving on your path. We're all here rooting for you! :)