From people who have been through it

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in the autumn. Feeling useless. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I'm not going to pretend it's easy. Losing a job sucks. The ghosting, the silence, the way people look at you. But you're not the only one. I found a training course, met some people. It's small but it's something. Don't stay in the shed too long. And answer at least one message a day. Even if it's just to say you're okay.”

“Not sure if this helps, but please be gentle with yourself. I wasn't, and it made everything harder. Talk to your union if you have one, they were brilliant for me. And talk to someone, even if it's just in here.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are at the start of the year, leaving accounting. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something so it comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are four months ago. My LinkedIn says open to work so today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something, it comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are last month. HR is on their side. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“When I started I was scared and everyone thought I was crazy and maybe I was a bit but you know what you can do it even when it feels impossible and you will cry in the toilets sometimes and that's okay because the next day you get up and you go again and you learn something new and then one day a patient smiles at you and you know why you did it so just keep going and don't listen to the people who say you can't because they are not you.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in November. Nursing on short staffed wards. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To anyone just starting this: it's going to feel personal, and it is, but it's not always about you. The right thing will come. I've been ghosted after final rounds and it stings, but you pick yourself up. Talk to someone. Take a walk. Keep applying. It's a numbers game, and you're not useless. You have skills. I'm still figuring it out, but I know I'll get there.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are just before Christmas. Taking a pay cut. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“Starting over after job loss is scary, especially when you have family depending on you. I am still in middle of it, so I don't have answers. But I try to take one small step each day. Talking to someone helps, even if it's just a friend. And remember, your worth is not your job title. I am still learning that.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are back in the summer. A course at night school. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are two months ago. Telling my children. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“Please be gentle with yourself, I wasn't, and it made everything harder. I had to stop googling and it made everything worse. And talk to someone, even if it's just in here.”

“I am not going to tell you everything happens for a reason. It doesn't. But you can get through it. I did, and I am not especially strong. Write everything down at work. Dates, times, what was said.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are around Easter. Leaving accounting. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I know you're just starting burnout and it feels like you're drowning. I've been there. The sunday dread on a saturday, the crying in the toilets, the forgetting words. It's scary. But you're not alone. Talk to someone. I started with my GP and then a therapist. It helped. And be kind to yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Take a break if you can. Even a small one.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in the autumn. Emails at 11pm. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“If you're at the start of this, I won't pretend it's easy. The first few months were the worst of my life. But I'm writing this from the other side. Some days now I forget to be sad. I treat job hunting like a job now, nine till three, then I stop. Go slowly.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. So I'll just say what hapened to me: crying in the work toilets was my lowest point, and a year later I'm ok. Not perfect. Ok. You will be too, in your own time.”

“To anyone just starting to feel burnt out: I see you. I was there, crying in the work toilets, answering emails at 11pm. It feels like you have no choice, but you do. The first step is to tell someone. For me, it was my GP. I got signed off. That was the beginning. It is not easy, and it takes time, but you can get through it. You're not on your own, even if it feels like it. Take it from me, a night guard who now sleeps better.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in May. My LinkedIn says open to work. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them, so I'll just say what happened to me: applying to 60 jobs and two interviews was my lowest point, and a year later I'm ok. Not perfect and ok so you will be too, in your own time.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are a few months back. Emails at 11pm. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in May. Leaving accounting. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are last month and made redundant after 14 years. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something so it comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“Not sure if this makes sense. If you're at the start of this, I won't pretend it's easy. The first few months were the worst of my life. But I'm writing this from the other side, and some days now I forget to be sad. Write everything down at work. Dates, times, what was said. Go slowly.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are at the start of the year. Signed off with stress. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are around Easter. Emails at 11pm. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in the spring. The job centre appointment. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I'm not going to tell you everything happens for a reason. It doesn't and but you can get through it. I did, and I'm not especially strong. Honestly, getting out for ten minutes a day helped more than I thought it would.”

“I think I was sure I'd never feel normal again. I was wrong. A recruiter told me my CV was too long. Cut it to two pages and got calls. Keep going, even slowly.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are six weeks ago. Signed off with stress. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in May so everyone thinks I am mad. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something and it comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in August. Letting staff go. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are four months ago. Crying in the work toilets. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“If you're at the start of this, I won't pretend it's easy. The first few months were the worst of my life so but I'm writing this from the other side, and some days now I forget to be sad. Talk to your union if you have one, they were brilliant for me and go slowly.”

“When I lost my job, I thought it was the end. I applied to sixty jobs and got two interviews. The rejection hurt. But I kept going. If you're just starting out, do one thing, then the next. Open the post, even when you don't want to. Ask for help. The job centre might surprise you. And don't forget to eat. Seriously.”

“If you're at the start of this, I won't pretend it's easy. The first few months were the worst of my life. But I'm writing this from the other side, and some days now I forget to be sad. Write everything down at work. Dates, times, what was said. Go slowly. God willing it gets easier.”

“I know it feels like you're drowning right now. The emails at 11pm, the Sunday dread that starts on Saturday, the checking and rechecking. I've been there. What helped me was getting signed off. I know not everyone can, but if you can, take it. Rest is not lazy. It's necessary. And talk to someone, anyone. You don't have to carry it all alone. I'm still figuring it out, but it does get lighter.”

“I have been where you are and I know it feels like you cannot stop because everything will fall apart if you do. But the truth is you are not a machine and you cannot keep going like this without breaking. I ignored the signs for months and ended up crying in the hospital toilets. What helped me was actually taking the time off and setting small boundaries like no emails after 8pm. It sounds silly but it works. Find something that is just for you, like my quiz night. You do not have to be perfect. Just start somewhere.”

“To anyone just starting this: it's going to feel like a punch in the gut, and that's normal. I won't tell you it gets easier quickly, because it didn't for me. But you'll find a rhythm. Apply for the jobs, even when you feel unqualified. Lean on your family and friends. And find something small that makes you happy, like my roses. It doesn't fix everything, but it helps you keep going.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. So I'll just say what happened to me: a Teams call at 9am and it was over was my lowest point. A year later I'm ok. Not perfect. Ok. You will be too, in your own time.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in October. Everyone thinks I am mad. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“You're 52 and feeling useless. But you're not. That Teams call wasn't the end of you. It was a crap thing that happened. Open the post, even if your hands shake. Tell someone. You'll find a way through because you have to. And you'll laugh again, maybe not today but soon. Keep cycling, keep meditating, keep going. You're not on your own in this mess. So many of us are here.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in January. Forgetting simple words in meetings. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in May. A bad review that went viral. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. So I'll just say what happened to me: emails at 11pm was my lowest point, and a year later I'm ok so not perfect and ok and you will be too, in your own time.”

“Sorry, this got long. I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. So I'll just say what happened to me: ghosted after the final round was my lowest point, and a year later I'm ok. Not perfect. Ok. You will be too, in your own time.”

“Take the time off if you can. I know it feels like a luxury but it's not. I ignored it for months and it got worse. Now I'm trying to build it back slowly. I still feel tired but not like before. If you're crying in a toilet at work, that's your sign. Don't wait for it to get worse.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not belieing them. So I'll just say what happened to me: applying to 60 jobs and two interviews was my lowest point, and a year later I'm ok. Not perfect. Ok. You will be too, in your own time.”

“I'm not going to tell you everything happens for a reason, it doesn't. But you can get through it and I did, and I'm not especially strong so I keep a list of good days on my phone so I can see them when it's bad.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are last week. What do I even want. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“to whoever needs this: I was where you are just before christmas. teaching and the marking every night. today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. it comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are last year. Closed my cafe after six years. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“For someone starting burnout: I remember the word-vanishing in meetings and the Saturday dread. What helped me was seeing a doctor and being honest about how bad it was. I got medical leave. It felt like failure, but it was rest. Don't wait until you break. Start with one small thing: a walk, a nap, a chat with someone who gets it. And ask about benefits early, because the paperwork takes time.”

“Filing my grievance felt like making a fuss over nothing at first. It wasn't nothing though. If you're at the start of this, keep a record of everything, the dates, who said what. It really does help. And find one person at work you can trust, even if it's just someone to say morning to. The panic on the train is real, but it can ease. I'm still working on it. Plenty of us are in the same spot, even when it feels like it's just you.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in August. Telling my children. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are around Easter. Could not get out of the car in the car park. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are around Easter. Applying to 60 jobs and two interviews. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”