After the burnout

It's shortly after 6am on Sunday morning. I love this time of day: the sun is just rising, the house is quiet, everybody is still sleeping, the world hasn't quite woken up. It's my favourite time to reflect, and there's lots to reflect on.   

In two days I will return to work after 4 weeks off due to burnout. It's been a much-needed, precious break that has done what it was supposed to: it restored my strength and energy and helped my overstretched nervous system to recover and slow down. 

Burnout

The stomach cramps start Friday night. Earlier I’ve taken two Naproxen for the headache I normally never get, and I’m wondering if that’s what’s giving me the cramps. I feel lousy, so I’m hoping that I won’t get called back to the hospital tonight. I’m on call every other weekend, and normally I don’t mind getting called in. But tonight I’m in agony, and the thought of having to drag my sorry ass to the hospital and help another person while I’m in so much pain makes me feel even sicker. I go to bed at eight, wishing for sleep to obliterate the pain.