It really does get draining having to stay so aware even when I think I'm doing alright :/ It's reassuring to hear im not alone though.
When I can stay mindful enough of whats going on I certainly find it helps to take another step back from my thoughts and see whats actually going on, rather than just running on autopilot. I think I need stop expecting something big to change as well, I have trouble accepting that learning to cope with what goes on in my head is going to be a very long process.