Burnout and Suicidal Thoughts: Annik’s Testimonial

My name is Annik and, like a lot of people that we all know, I had a burnout a few years ago because I think my life as a whole was overwhelming.

I think I tried to do so many things at a time in my life where I was a mom, I was an entrepreneur, I was a teacher, I took care of my mother in law, of my relationship, of my friends.

And I think I just wanted to live life so much that I overdid it. I forgot to take care of myself and take care of my own needs, and see myself and see my energy. At one point, just like a reset button kind of, I woke up one day feeling completely out of it and not being able to do those things anymore.

I was so taken by surprise because I had so much energy. I was always the positive person, the person that likes to have new projects and do new things and then I just wasn’t able to do it.

Physically, mentally, everything was challenging. And at that point, I had a friend one morning at work that just told me: “Are you ok?” And I said: “No, I don’t think I am. I had dark thoughts all night, I didn’t sleep.” And she said: “You know, this is serious, you should do something about it.” We were in between working, it was like a break so we didn’t have time to talk, but just that sentence turn things around for me.

I went to seek help. I went into therapy. I went to see my doctor. I took medication for my depression, for my anxiety. And slowly but surely, I began to feel better, to take better care of myself, to really see life differently and to get out of it slowly and feeling better.

What I found wonderful about all the work that I did on myself is that, yes, I feel myself again and I feel even better, even improved, because I know my limits now.

- Annik

Are you going through burnout or having suicidal thoughts?

Learning about burnout and suicide can help you find resources or ways to get better.

If you are thinking about suicide, remember that you can reach a counsellor at any time by:

Calling Quebec’s suicide prevention hotline at 1-866-277-3553 (this toll-free number is available 24/7 across Quebec)
Contacting a suicide.ca counsellor
Contacting a suicide prevention center