the effects of burnout almost killed me

When my career began as a Lawyer I was super fit and healthy.

I swam for my country…

I was involved in PADI diving…

Life was good.

So when a new role came along I threw myself into my career.

I was in the office 8am-6.30pm.

I enjoyed it and being around people. 

That's what we're hard-wired to do.

So was I fit, happy, and had no money worries.

But there was a Change in management at RBS

And I was a people pleaser.

Looking back it was important to recognise triggers.

By 2013 I was doing 80 hours a week.

Trying to take on new clients.

No time to even wash my hair.

And after a while, I started making mistakes.

I’d read the same thing 50 times and not understand it.

My relationship with time became muddled.

Then, one day I sent an email to the wrong person.

It wasn’t just a disciplinary chat.

I was frog-marched out…

And suspended pending internal investigation.

I was told ‘You cannot make mistakes, you must be robots, not humans’.

People felt they needed to be perfect.

We all know that’s impossible.

So I had panic attacks…

My heart felt like it was beating out of my chest

I collapsed.

I just needed to slow down.

Pathetic is how I felt.

Exhaustion meant I stopped going out.

I couldn’t even walk upstairs.

I stayed i bed for 3 weeks, not speaking.

So in 2013 walked out of my job with nothing to go to.

I spoke to the doctor and he said…

‘Pull yourself together’

What I really needed was a Well-being coach.

But nobody said that.

I didn't feel like needed therapy.

Or a help line.

Just someone to listen and help me see what I couldn't see.

That I was just doing too much.

So I fell in love with fitness.

Became a spin instructor at nearly 40.

And re-invented myself by committing to helping others avoid burnout. 

I recall that after I suffered burnout I was trying to get motivated

But doing anything for more than 5 minutes seemed like an effort.

The big problem is there's no accountability.

Most people don't know the difference between a coach and a therapist.

I ended up getting a coach

And it was the best thing I ever did.

Not being judged and feeling like I was being listened to.

It helped me start believing in myself.

And yet…

I went back to work.

The money will always suck you back in.

But I didn't see the red flags.

Ended up working 70-hour weeks again.

And one day my body decided enough was enough.

In Feb 2017 - I fell off my bike and had a terrible accident.

2 weeks in a coma.

20% chance of survival.

Complete facial reconstruction.

Was all those long hours worth it?

I was in a dark place.

And during that time I wondered.

If today was my last day, would I be happy with what I’d achieved?

So I went on some more life discovery

Took time to understand more about how to decompress.

Because we all have a breaking point.

And now

I’m thriving again.

But it’s been a long road to get here.

I quit after my accident in 2017 and retrained as a Coach, in NLP Advanced nutrition and mental health.

I now work as a Burnout Coach and inspirational speaker myself.

Making a positive impact, helping people live well, and living life on my terms is a fantastic feeling.

Shona's story makes you wonder what might have been…

If money was invested in someone with experience in this field to be on call for regular check in’s or as a sounding board whenever Shona needed it.

Not in a clinical setting.

No padded room or ‘safe space’.

Not only when the wheels have come off.

But in ‘The Gap’ where Silent Struggles exist.

Just a coffee and a friendly but helpful chat in person or over Zoom.

Or a more structured talk with specific action steps to take.

Doing this regularly might have helped her navigate whatever challenges she had, physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Shona would have also felt like she had someone that listened to her, which sometimes is all it takes.

So, the question is,

How much could you invest in someone to help avoid these situations in your company, business, team, or organisation?