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I used to think burnout was just something you powered through, like a bad day or a traffic jam. Something you white-knuckled your way out of. Just another season to survive.
But one day, I couldn’t push anymore.
Between the constant demands of a toxic workplace, parenting two incredible but high-needs teens, and trying to keep up the appearance that I had it all together… my body gave out before I did. I wasn’t just tired. I was hollow. I’d stare at my screen at work and forget what I was doing. I’d cry on my commute home and then walk through the door smiling, because that’s what moms do, right?
And when I couldn’t fake it anymore, I did something I never thought I’d do, I asked for help. I took a medical leave.
Honestly, I didn’t feel strong when I did it. I felt like I was quitting. I felt like I’d failed at being everything for everyone. My inner critic was loud: Other women do this. Why can’t you? But something inside me, maybe just exhaustion, knew I couldn’t keep burning myself out to light everyone else’s way.
The Weight We Carry
The thing no one tells you about being a single mom of teens, especially ones who are neurodivergent, is that the mental load is never-ending. There are no shortcuts for advocating at school meetings, no pause button for emotional meltdowns at midnight, no backup parent to tag in when you’re on your last nerve.
One of my kids struggles with anxiety, needing me to help calm panic attacks and bring perspective. The other has ADHD, ODD, and dyslexia, leading to intense defiance and emotional chaos. Both rely on me to manage their emotions, while I try to hold it together, despite the stress, and even the moments of disrespect. All while leading a team, attending meetings, and meeting deadlines.
I was trying to hold it all, and it was breaking me.
What Medical Leave Looked Like
The first few days of leave felt like drowning in silence. I didn’t know what to do with the quiet. I felt guilty for resting. I’d sit on the couch and remind myself I didn’t have to answer emails or prove my worth to anyone that day.
Slowly, the silence became softer. I started using a light therapy lamp to help regulate my sleep and give my mornings a little more energy. I began to notice things again, the sunlight moving across the kitchen floor, my daughter humming in her room, the sound of my son’s laugh when he was really happy. I was still parenting through tough times, but I wasn’t running on fumes anymore. In the process of resetting, I also found that light exercise equipment, like resistance bands, helped me relieve stress and feel more grounded. These small changes made all the difference.
I started asking myself different questions:
- What makes me feel grounded?
- What fills me up instead of draining me?
- Where have I lost myself in trying to hold everyone else?
That’s when I started journaling. A guided journal helped me dig deeper into those questions, reflecting on how I could make space for myself again. And I found that sometimes a little self-help inspiration was just what I needed. Books like “The Power of Now” helped me start thinking differently about the world I was creating in my own mind.
What I’m Still Learning
I don’t have a miracle formula. I still have tough days. But I’ve learned that being “strong” isn’t about holding everything together. Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to set it down.
I’ve learned that I don’t have to be everything to everyone.
I’ve learned that asking for help doesn’t make me weak, it makes me wise.
I’ve learned to celebrate the small wins: a deep breath, a quiet cup of coffee, a day without a breakdown.
And in the middle of rebuilding, I started creating again, not just for the world, but for myself.
Little Anchors
That’s where Camie’s Tote and my Etsy shop were born, tiny reminders that beauty, strength, and story can live inside the everyday mess.
The Inspired 4th Wing collection , in particular, was designed in the quiet of those healing weeks. When I felt lost and invisible, I needed something to remind me that I still mattered. That I was still powerful. That softness and strength can live side by side.
These little pieces remind me I still carry strength and story with me.
Maybe you need that reminder too.
If You’re There Too…
If you’re reading this, feeling drained and guilty, I see you.
You are not lazy.
You are not broken.
You are not failing because you need a break.
You are human. And you are worthy of rest.
And if all you can do today is take a breath, that’s enough.
You’re enough.
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