[starryprince]

Hey all! So I've come to the conclusion that I think I may be burning out. I have gone straight from high school to college to graduate school (I get my Masters degree in December, hopefully). I did not take a break, which I am now beginning to think I should have (although I am glad I am almost on my way to graduating).

The problem is that now I am burning out and everything seems like too much work. I've been suffering from depression for about 10 years now and I think it's contributing to my burnout.

Everything seems like too much work, like reading for classes and doing my externship work. My externship work is almost up to date because I try my best to stay on top of it, but then I get told that there is something I forgot to do. It does not help that I get little to no guidance at my externship. They don't tell me what to do or how to do it, only when I make a mistake do they tell me. I am one of the first people to come in and one of the last to leave and I'm only an intern who just started a little over a month ago. They are piling me with clients and groups but aren't showing me how to do the paperwork. And they are inconsiderate. For example I have to do a 24 hour EEG test, and I have to wear a headband connected to a bunch of wires. I told my supervisor because I wanted to tell her that I was taking that day off for the test and she said, "Well, if it's just a headband you can still come in here. I'm sure you'll find a way to make the headband look cute with your outfit." They only tell me things the night before, or when I get there. Another example: I walked in last Friday and I found out I would be running a group but I had a client coming in at that exact same time. One of the bosses just looked at me and said, "Well your client isn't here now so you just have to roll with the punches and run this group." The problem is that they recently laid off a bunch of people so they are giving the interns all the work.

I am thinking about what I would like to do in the long-term and I really thought counseling was it. But I'm doing this paperwork and I'm wondering if I could do this for the rest of my life. I just genuinely want to help people but everything seems to be too much right now. My dream was to be a musician as well but when the depression hit me I stopped playing music and doing everything else I enjoyed because I lost pleasure. I regret that so much now. I miss music so much.

I feel like I am constantly working hard, all the time, since I was a little kid. I don't know how to relax and I am also going through other things at this time, such as finally dealing with childhood trauma and homophobia at home (I live with my mom, who I'm out to but not to my other relative who is homophobic and lives with us). And I have been seeing a therapist once a week for the past year and a half.

TLDR: I am feeling burnt out and everything feels like too much. I just feel like sleeping all the time. My life feels very bland and boring and gray. Do you guys have any suggestions for dealing with burnout? (Any suggestions on how to deal with bad externship situations would be great too, haha)

[Skeezyks]

Hello starryprince: No suggestions or advice from the Skeezyks... Just best wishes with the hope that you will be able to find deep inner peace in your life...

[PianogirlPlays]

Having stayed on in college to get my Masters degree in education I think I have a little feel for what you are talking about. I remember sitting in my last class and having such joy go through me . I was finishing that day! I can also share that my advanced degree has helped me so much. It gave me a permanent not temporary teaching certificate that I could use in any state. It kept me from having to take refresher courses to renew my certificate with every I think three year time period. Also, it doesn't make me feel badly to say..I got my M. Ed. There are rewards! Hope you can hang on!