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Crystal Marie, Artist's avatar

I was weeping by the end. Never have I read anything that so well describes what I experience. I’ve been skimming along a major burnout for well over a year, each time I get to a place where the fog begins to clear, the demands of scrambling to catch up, supporting myself as a self-employed artist, divorced and living with chronic Illness threaten to suck me back in. I’m also late diagnosed and spent most of my life feeling defective for not understanding the experience.

Thank you for putting into writing what you are going through. I hope you are able to rest in the most deeply restorative way.

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✹The Unmasked Woman✹ (Hannah)'s avatar

Thank you Katherine, once again. Your podcast interview with Annie Mac moved me to tears and motivated me to get diagnosed. It has been a life changing experience. Today your note finds me in bed after 3 days in hospital for a fibroids operation. The experience caused me two public meltdowns, alongside losing my ability to speak "she doesn't talk much this one" a nurse said... after me repeatedly saying "I'm autistic, I don't understand things the way others do, please can you explain to me what's going on." as they injected me repeatedly with morphine and other drugs. I had to discharge myself because I felt so unsafe and it's been one of the most disempowering experiences of my life. I feel othered and shamed. I know once I've processed I'll be ok and proud that I tried to stick up for myself but there's a sad realisation that if I find myself in other similar situations I'll need to take someone with me to advocate, a carer I guess. When you share your experiences so generously it really helps me to feel seen and understood. Thank you again.

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