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BURNOUT, the turtle and the hare

white knight
Community Champion
Community Champion

My grandfather had his old black Zephyr for 35 years. Never missed a beat. Rolling along at 70 kph in the Tasmanian hills the car just plodded along just like his old grey tractor on his farm.

As for my cars, all 90 of them, they wore out quick (or got sold quickly) indicative of a manic young man. For I was almost running when walking.

Hindsight is indeed a wonderful thing but burnout was on the cards and at 31yo in 1987 my GP and occupational therapist were in tandem to stop this out of control full speed ahead steam train.

The catalyst was a breach of my honour at work. The result? More likely to be conflict. Views by others that I was " paranoid ".

So those of you reading this with lots of anxiety and wondering how you got it in the first place, maybe you will only see clearer when your steam train has slowed, many years later, when clarity comes with aging and post effective treatment.

Mr Plodder down the street is in a slow routine, accomplishes most things he sets his mind to but at a slow easy pace. Some of us want it all done yesterday.

The big problem is that our fast pace has become our nature.

Google.. Topic: accepting yourself, the frog and the scorpion- beyondblue

It isn't easy changing the nature of a scorpion and the frog was always going to be bitten regardless that the frog carried him across the river.!

Google. Topic: how natural is depression? - beyondblue

Burnout arrives and the even bigger problem presents itself- depression. The black dog seemingly has been lurking to attack whatever strength you had left.

Google.. Topic: low self esteem- beyondblue

Now you are at the lowest ebb and you and any partner or friends are at a loss of how to help. The fight against depression begins.

Topic: Clear the road, I'm on my way- beyondblue

Your friends will drift. Most, get tired of listening.

Google: Topic: rejection-its hard to swallow- beyondblue

Topic: they won't understand,why?- beyondblue

So, prevention is better than cure. If you identify a child that can't relax, introduce calmness, slow observations of life's wonders and in their teens, visits to their GP.

For you now though self help, when you can muster it, is vital. Facing depression and getting treatment is an act of bravery.

Google. Topic: insight and faith- beyondblue

The fight will be a tough one. Take it slow.

Topic: supermarket shelves- beyondblue

But don't despair. There is hope.

Topic: being positive, what's the secret- beyondblue

Tony WK

Tony WK

2 Replies 2

MarkJT
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

Love it Tony. Me and few other PTSD'd up to the eyeball mates were talking and we all came to the same conclusion, you red an engine long enough, it will blow up!! Yep my engine blew up. Now rebuilt though and taking much better care of it.

With kids, i have started my lad on the beyondblue "Brave" program. Teaching him about feelings and how to recognise and then combat them. He threw a wobbly the other night so sat with him and asked to search his feelings and he said he was angry. Asked how to calm down, he said to think clearly and breath. Thought some positives thoughts and he calmed down.

Another great program from beyondblue.

blondguy
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni

Hi Tony

Great post! You are so right on this matter. I have been crook for about 3 weeks and when the immune system is wearing thin the gate is left wide open for depression to visit. Its a bad place to be.

Tony WK said: "Burnout arrives and the even bigger problem presents itself- depression.
The black dog seemingly has been lurking to attack whatever strength
you had left."

I wish my folks knew about kids being like sponges when I was little and absorbing all that negativity.

Even nowadays the phrase 'Man Up' has zero meaning in my vocab.

Good on you Mr T

My Best, Paul