Burnout & feeling anxious after being sick

[Lauryn21]

I am just getting over the flu and trying to get back into my daily life & work however I’m feeling like I’m burned out and I am so anxious to get back into my work.

I work 1:1 with clients and am a professional at what I do however I keep getting this feeling like I am not good at it and the anxiety from getting back into the work that I have worked so hard for is getting to me.

Is this normal and is this just my body telling me I need to take time to recover more because I do love what I do, I want to continue doing it but I keep getting this anxiety. 

[Dean07]

Hi Lauryn21.
The short answer is "Imposter Syndrome" hell yes it's common. It's the birth child of "Perfectionism and Black and White thinking". Closely related to "Comparison" the thief of joy.
I'm 65 very good at what I do for a living and struggle with it often. 
You said "you get this feeling" that you are not good at your job. Feelings are the result of thoughts. Sometimes these thoughts are so fast that we only register the feeling associated with the thought.

Can you slow things down and catch the thought?
What was the thought and is it really true?
If you had a friend in the same situation would you see them as not being good at their job?
Do you have anyone you respect in your field you could ask for some feedback?

 Being tired is a trigger for me as well. Things always look better after some rest.

[sbella02]

Lauryn21,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us, and welcome to the forums. I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling this anxiety about getting back into your work. It does sound like you may be struggling with burnout, which is common amongst professionals but particularly those in healthcare or adjacent settings, or just those who have regular/repeating clients.

In these situations for me, I'm a big believer in my body being able to tell me what I need. In its simplest form, anxiety exists as a means of protecting the body from harm, so it could indicate that your body needs more rest. Whether it's several days or several weeks, a weekend away, a day trip, or even just a few hours doing something relaxing for yourself, this may be something you discover in your time off. Your body will generally tell you, but it is also a matter of checking in with yourself and deciding what is also most realistic for you. 

I hope this resonates with you, please feel free to keep chatting if you'd like, or if you need further advice. We're here to support you.

All the best, SB