Brain Burnout is a Thing

If you smell smoke, you’re too late.

Peace. I look for it everywhere. Sometimes I find it in the strangest places, like the bathtub. My method is so groundbreaking that I’m sharing my secret recipe with you.

West and Wewaxation

• a Bob Proctor Abundance Meditation

• the swirling lights and twinkling stars of a Galaxy Astronaut Night Light

• a tub full of warm, soapy water

  
  

Directions: Spice it up any old way you’d like. Lie back and experience pure bliss. You have to let yourself do it. That’s it, just let yourself go. Spring for a very expensive Bluetooth speaker, the best Dollar General has, to revel in the fullness of Bob’s soothing voice. It’s optional, but I highly recommend it. Warnings: Don’t use the Bluetooth speaker anywhere near the tub. Use your phone there at your own risk. Take precautions to tend to anyone short or furry before you enter the peaceful realm. We’re not looking for anyone to die here.

Put the Fire Out Before Your Brain Turns to Ash

I recently mixed up a batch of West and Wewaxation. I just turned 63. I’ve earned a good hot bath. Water enveloped my being like a warm blanket. I sank into the tub and released an audible sigh. I stuck my big toe in the faucet and rested my other foot on the wall just when Bob Proctor crooned, "Abundance surrounds everyone; it is visible in trees, leaves, grass, forest animals, and birds." I felt molecules of joy skipping on my skin and heard the magnificent trill of persistent little birds. Once again, I felt sure I could conquer anything.

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"Sister, your hair is on fire. Is that smoke seeping out of your ears? For the love of all things holy, take a break ... "

~ No One, Ever

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"Everything that can be seen on the screen of the mind can be manifested in the material world," Bob preached. I silently sang hallelujah. My lips moved, but no sound came out.

Suddenly, my Bluetooth speaker burst out, “Low battery.” I wondered how far the manufacturer had to look to find an annoying warning voice.

Bob and I proceeded with our peaceful life-planning session.

The Bluetooth speaker interrupted, “Low battery.” I ignored it.

Bob reminded me, "To man's chief delusion is his conviction that there are causes other than his own state of consciousness." I had no idea what that meant, but I liked it.

The Bluetooth speaker interrupted: “Low battery.”

I listened to Bob and the increasingly insistent lady from the speaker for 20 minutes when, without warning, my bathroom-turned-disco-meditation-hippy-den went silent. I could not believe the damn battery died right in the middle of my meaningful meditation. Questions swirled in my brain: How could I have known the battery was so low? Who could have predicted this major inconvenience?

Obviously, the ornery speaker lady knew; moreover, she tried to warn me.

Too often, people recognize the alarms and ignore them. If your fire alarm goes off in the night, do you sleep through it because "somebody is probably burning toast in the kitchen?" No, you get the hell out and ask questions later. Some of us shove our personal needs to the back burner and forget to turn off the heat.

Let me tell you something, there is nothing more pressing than your well-being. Human energy is a limited resource. So are you.

Metaphors are magical.

Today, I reflected on that silly tub experience and realized there was more than the speaker battery at stake. It was a reminder for me to stay grounded, realistic, and patient with myself. I am ready to face the world again, but I am scared. Nay, I am terrified. Metaphors are magical, and the annoying speaker lady had a message for me: "Cool it. Take it slow. Work with purpose. Don't abuse your brain. Low battery."

The great thing about brains is a built-in ground.

Unresolved trauma after trauma, sorrow upon sorrow, pain spread on pain, and the minutiae of life were a recipe for TNT in me. I have experienced myriad little explosions in my life for all these reasons and so many more. Despite my brain’s increasingly persistent “low battery” warning, I pushed forward. What else could I do? The great thing about brains is the built-in grounding wire that comes free with every single one. Ignore the warnings, and I promise the lights will eventually go out.

Yes, I’ve been there. It’s ugly. If you know, you know. If you don’t, I am praying right now that you never do. I am literally down on my knees praying. The road to Burnout Brain is swift. The road back is so much slower. It was in the tub with my toe in the faucet (fiddling with the stopper thing) that I came to understand my hypervigilant brain did not miss all of the signs. I simply ignored them. I convinced myself that everyone was more important than me. The tub metaphor was perfect. The thought that Christ often used metaphors to teach was not lost on me.

Breakdown – we’re headed for a breakdown!

In January 2025, I pushed my home office chair back from my desk and stood up. With one finger, I cut power to the computer. It stayed that way for months. The thought of going near it made me physically ill. After 16 years of writing for one of the best employers ever under impossible personal circumstances, I could not find one more word to write. I had nothing more to say. My batteries were bone-dry dead. I was burned out and all burned up. I lay on the couch and cried for months. I watched hour after hour of horrific news because it made my problems seem so much less significant. The breakdown was a long time coming. There were signs. Oh, there were signs. I welcomed the crash that forced me to dive into the black ashes where my brain once floated to see what I could salvage.

How did we get here?

I am recovering from a brutal decade of immediate family and friends' deaths, divorce, cancer, four teenagers, two horses, random sheep, dogs, cats, a full-time, very public job, and my mother’s dementia. In 2008, I retreated from public life, knowing my family desperately needed me. I didn’t know just how much. The hits just kept coming, and I believed I had expertly absorbed every one. I didn't even smell the smoke.

I began my own content writing business so I could be at home and at anybody’s beckon call. I met up with a Utah real estate broker who employed and, more importantly, mentored me for the next 16 years. The work was exciting, varied, fun, and mentally stimulating. I was caring for my poor mother, who suffered from dementia. I congratulated myself on the day I made it through an entire eight-hour shift while Momma tried to dig her brother out of the closet walls. I pressed on. What else could I do?

At the time, I thought I was doing a favor for myself and everyone else. I knew I could handle the grief, the work, the caretaking, my social calendar, and still make inspiring little neighbor gifts for Christmas. On one particularly stressful Thanksgiving holiday, I snapped. It happens more often than you might think.

I found a therapist, a psychiatrist, a pharmacy, and a few beautiful friends. This moment is close to a year from where I started. I feel renewed and full of promise. It was an uphill climb. I will never be in that place again. I have learned to listen to my brain and my body. Both were severely diminished by the time I brought my own life to a screeching halt. It didn't have to be that way.

If you are burning the candle at both ends, running on fumes, spinning too many plates, or have too many balls in the air, slow it down. Prolonged physical and emotional stress will cause lasting damage. Slow down or stop. The latter is extremely disruptive - for everyone.

Give yourself the gift of renewal.

"Sister, your hair is on fire. Is that smoke seeping out of your ears? For the love of all things holy, take a break. I'll pick up the kids, clean the house, pack the lunches, meet with the principal, write your proposal, deliver your presentation, and tip the pizza guy. Can I bring you a glass of wine? I'll get your dog to the groomer and tell your partner you're off duty," said no one, ever.

Nobody can see your brain burning, not even you, but there will be signs. Learn to recognize them. Listen when your version of the annoying speaker lady says, "Low battery." Do not ignore her. I'll say that again, "Do NOT ignore her."

Find a way to put the fire out before it starts. Give yourself (and literally everyone else in your life) the gift of renewal.

Your body will know burnout.

The following are 10 signs you are reaching a point of no return:

• Constant fatigue, no matter how much you rest

• Frequent headaches or migraines

• Muscle tension or unexplained body aches

• Changes in sleep patterns (too much or too little)

• Weakened immune system (getting sick often)

• Stomach issues or appetite changes

• Shortness of breath or chest tightness

• Heart palpitations

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Unexplained weight gain or loss

Your emotions will become frayed:

• Feeling emotionally drained or numb

• Loss of motivation or interest in things you once enjoyed

• Increased irritability or anger

• Trouble concentrating or forgetfulness

• Sense of hopelessness or cynicism

• Feeling detached or isolated from others

• Constant overwhelm, even with small tasks

• Reduced sense of accomplishment

• Anxiety or panic attacks

• Wanting to escape or withdraw from everything

Granted, both lists feature symptoms common in other disruptive conditions, too, like depression. The key is to take an inventory. Check in with yourself. Write down any physical or emotional symptoms you are experiencing.

Take a look at all you are doing in your life. Sure, you can do anything! But, should you? Even good stress is stress, and it does take points off of your overall mental and physical capacity.

Following is a list of early warning signs you must not ignore (yes, I asked ChatGPT for these, I'm trying to do less, not more):

• You wake up tired, even after a full night’s sleep

• Small tasks start to feel overwhelming

• You lose patience faster than usual

• You rely on caffeine, sugar, or screens just to keep going

• Your creativity or focus feels “flat”

• You’ve stopped enjoying hobbies or downtime

• You feel guilty when you rest

• You’re withdrawing from friends or coworkers

• You have frequent tension headaches or stomach issues

• You tell yourself you’ll “slow down later” — but never do

You will know when you are nearing the point of burnout. Will you act on your intuition? The following are a few things you can do to take back control of your life.

• Set clear boundaries – Learn to say no when your plate is full. Protect your personal time like it’s a scheduled appointment.

• Take micro-breaks – Even five minutes to stretch, breathe, or step outside can reset your mind and body.

• Prioritize sleep – Consistent, quality rest keeps your brain sharp and your mood steady.

• Do one joyful thing daily – A walk, a laugh, music—whatever lifts you. It reminds your brain that life isn’t just work.

• Stay connected – Talk with people who refill your energy instead of draining it. Honest connection is a natural burnout buffer.

Now, get out there and relax! You will be amazed by the improvement in your work productivity and quality.