To Beat Burnout, Honesty Is Necessary
Published by Stephen Milward in Medical · Friday 04 Sep 2026 · 3 minutes
Tags: burnout, honesty, mental, health, self, care, wellness, stress, management, personal, development, emotional, well, being
Tags: burnout, honesty, mental, health, self, care, wellness, stress, management, personal, development, emotional, well, being
This is not going to be an easy read. It's even harder to write.
The last year has been the most challenging that I can remember. Many things have changed, but most importantly, health issues have become the dominant aspect in our lives. Denise's many serious illnesses and hospital stays has meant a reappraisal of what our futures may be. We live day to day, even hour by hour, ever on the alert to respond to changing circumstances. At times, the pressure on us, both physically and mentally, has been unsustainable. I felt what is commonly called, 'burnout'.
According to Mental Health UK,
'Burnout is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. It can occur when you experience long-term stress and feel under constant pressure.' (i)
That's a helpful definition. It fits my present state. Honestly, I thought I could cope as I have done with different serious situations over the years. But I realised that I couldn't do that on my own. I needed help, serious help, if I wasn't to go into a sort of downward spiral. So I reached out - to myself.
I had to be honest about the situation, warts and all. I couldn't deflect, miss out the worst bits, make it a bit fluffy. I had to convince myself that in order for others to help me, I had to start with honesty.
The first stop was to the GP. To cut a long story short, we now have carers, mental health support workers and others. That's not easy to say. People may wonder if that has taken away some sense of independence or agency. Perhaps it has, but in a good way. These people work with us, with our best interests front and centre. They can give me some time, even if that's a short time, to come down from a 100% state of readiness. They are available to talk to every day. I have phone numbers to access that help.
Burnout is extremely common. In the NHS, staff experience high levels of burnout (ii).
So, here's the thing - I needed help and found it. Is it the answer to all the issues surrounding burnout, no. But it's a start. Sometimes, making a start is the hardest thing to do. But it's necessary. Life isn't easy and we have to do hard things at times, for the greater good.
If you are struggling with burnout, please do get the help that is out there and that you deserve. That's what I'm doing in order to get through this horrible time and you should too. You can visit NHS 111 online (iii) to get mental health help, or phone 111 and choose option 2. The Samaritans (iv) offer someone to talk to by phoning 116 123. Do use these services to help you through a very difficult time.
(i) Mental Health UK: Burnout
(ii) NHS Keeping Well: What is burnout?
(iii) NHS 111 Online: Get Mental Health Help
