Overcoming Emotional Exhaustion

Last week , we talked about creating healthy boundaries , and by doing so , you are saying no to the things that are draining you and taking time away from yourself to fill your own cup . Setting boundaries also plays a big part in preventing emotional exhaustion .

One day , my husband and I were driving , having our usual family conversation about what we're going to do with this or that budget and all the things . This was our time time we managed life . All of a sudden , I began to cry and I couldn't stop . My husband asked me why was I crying ?

I said I was upset because I forgot to put money on our son's lunch account . I was forgetting to pay bills and was just off on our monthly budget . But I didn't like not having money in my son's lunch account . Luckily , he was in elementary school at this time .

This was when they called and say , hey , we have one for today , but please send any money tomorrow . I was like , okay , I got it . But when it came to our bills or not calculating correctly . It meant we'd have to move things around , and we didn't like to do that . It was okay to do this at times , but this was happening regularly .

I was in a constant haze . I couldn't think clearly or plan the household daily routine and the exhaustion was showing . My husband said it's okay , things happen , but I knew I had to let some things go . You don't know why you're exhausted . You're fighting a war inside your head every single day . If that's not exhausting , I don't know what is .

I told my husband I feel like I'm walking through fog inside my head . I don't hear voices or anything like that , but I can't focus on the simple things like I used to . I need you to take over the finances and I'll do my best to still take care of home . I knew that was a lot to ask of him , but he was very concerned .

After all we're a team , he worked and I took care of the home , and now I'm unable to hold up my end of the bargain . He said it's okay and in sickness and in health , right . While , I tried to make sense of what was going on inside my head .

I had my breakdown and diagnosis and I knew this was part of the stress that was slowly building up inside and was seeping through , but I wasn't familiar with the signs or triggers , so I just kept moving on the best I could .

The fog , lack of concentration , fatigue , continuous overthinking and sadness all hit me at once Before I could even get to the doctor to help slow this down or be given medication or tools to help me process what was going on . I know you're tired , but come , this is the way Rumi .

During my hospital stay , I was told to meditate three times a day to center myself , to help stop overthinking and feeling overwhelmed by the day . I needed to journal my thoughts daily , sometimes twice a day or as often as I needed in order to get rid of my repeated thoughts . So I could think clearly .

I needed to walk , which is my favorite way to exercise , and do fun artistic activities like coloring or putting puzzle together . Of course , I had to watch what I ate while taking medications regularly . At first this was a lot to take in . I told the psychiatrists how am I supposed to do this daily .

She and the nutritionist politely reminding me that , since I'm a stay at home mom , part of my job now is to take care of me . What ? Yes , my new job is to take care of me . Your children are able to take care of themselves , except for your youngest . It's time to focus on you .

This is your time to ground yourself and put your pieces back together , nurture yourself and root for you , like you have done for your family . Of course , this was new to me because I hadn't thought about myself in years . Now , being told that , yeah , it's time to think about you , girly , create a new way of being and begin a new , healthy lifestyle .

It's going to take some time , but you deserve it . How can you protect yourself from all of this . by pay attention to your mind , body and spirit . When you're moving fast , you're not thinking" why am I so tired ? You just say I'm busy taking the kids to cheer , band and chorus practice , so on and so on . So maybe I just need some vitamins ?

And then you go on with your life until that big roadblock hits you and you realize it was more than just being tired . Write down how you're feeling , keep an eye on yourself . If you're in pain or if something seems out of the ordinary , write it down .

So when you go to your doctor , you have a list of all of the things you're feeling and thoughts you've been having . You will also be able to see for yourself that there is a pattern and I need to check in on myself more often . This isn't what I did . I was going with the flow of life until I ran into a stop sign , a big old stop sign .

Take a moment to see the patterns . Pause as best you can . Make time for you ? Walk , have a spa day , yeah the fluffy stuff, without interruptions , just some u-time . Slow down and enjoy your life , mindful moment . You are tired of being tired and telling others how tired you are . It's time to create a new way of being .

I was exhausted and in this exhaustion I had to find the strength to pick up the pieces and slowly begin to put myself back together . Everything I knew was changing . I had to venture into the unknown and learn a new way of thinking and living .

I could see myself in the fog , looking at her through the haze , trying to catch up to her and become one with her again , but I could never reach her .

It was then that I realized that the beauty of the break was in my discovery , discovering me , through exercises , different recipes and ways of managing my exhaustion and give back good those pieces of me that I lost , but also allowing me to become a healthier , more loved version of myself , no matter how long it takes , in the darkest of days , remind yourself

that you are becoming the vibrant woman you see in the fog and you are welcoming her in with open arms . I hope you have enjoyed this week's conversation . I'm your host , Shannon Martin . Join us next Wednesday when we talk about finding your calm . If you enjoyed today's episode , please share with someone who would like to join the conversation .

Disclaimer I am not a licensed mental health professional . The information provided here is for a general informational purpose only . It should not be considered a substitute for professional mental health advice , diagnosis or treatment . If you need help , please consult a qualified mental health professional .