Emotional Exhaustion: Through the Fog and Back Again

Despite emotional exhaustion… You know how they always say, “Stay in the flow”—despite the pebbles underfoot, the raging winds, or the still waters. Don’t waste time trying to understand every ripple, just accept what’s happening and move forward. Don’t resist…

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Last week, I got caught in the whirlpool of emotional exhaustion, one that I’ve been learning to manage over time. And I’m proud to say—I made it out! (She wrung out her damp hair as she spoke.)

The Overwhelming Fog

It felt like someone (or something) had thrown a smoke bomb right into my flow. I could still hear the sounds around me, I could still grasp reality, but I couldn’t pull my mind away from the scenarios—the ones my anxious brain was crafting one after another. I tried to stop them. One by one, I tried shutting them down.

And then… I stopped trying.

The smoke bomb exploded. One of those scenarios rushed toward me like a steam train. Instead of standing in its way, I simply stepped aside. I watched it come. I watched it go. It could blast its horn as loudly as it wanted, blind me with its harsh, flashing lights—but I chose to let it pass. I didn’t abandon my deep breath. I didn’t abandon my reality. Sometimes it’s a train; sometimes it’s the Kraken itself, reaching for me with its massive arms. (What can I say? I love fantasy movies…) (Kraken: a legendary Scandinavian sea monster, massive and tentacled.)

I just took a deep breath as I wrote this. Yes, I made it out of that storm, that foggy flow, that Kraken’s grasp—and I rediscovered my reality. Everything is moving along its own path. I let myself believe that again.

But as I’ve realized before, sometimes I struggle to be convinced. This is never a battle against others—it’s always a battle against myself.

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Emotional Exhaustion vs. Burnout: What’s the Difference?

I used to call it an emotional battle, but I don’t anymore. This process has (once again) reminded me—I’m not a fighter, I’m a peacemaker. Yes, I might be a “MS warrior,” but the truth is, I’m simply learning how to live with MS in a peaceful way. I’ve embraced its rules. I’m adapting. Sure, I sometimes overdo it, but I find my balance again. (For example, “protecting myself from everything” is definitely overdoing it, she thought, absentmindedly pulling seaweed from her hair…)

Looking back, I can see now that this smoke bomb was actually emotional exhaustion. Burnout, as they call it in the professional world, is something workplaces have learned to factor in—planning for rest periods, adjusting workloads, making sure employees don’t burn out entirely. When workers get exhausted, things that should take five minutes start dragging on for days. But if they’re given the necessary recovery time, that same task might still only take five minutes.

Emotional exhaustion, though, isn’t about work—it’s about life. It builds up when we dive too deep into our own minds. No matter how professional you are in your job, emotional weight can pull you down and weaken you. That’s why so many successful people turn to yoga, meditation, and wellness routines. Those are their recovery tools.

(Side note: All these terms? I made them up. You’re reading a blog written purely from my emotional world, not from a professional standpoint. (She smirked as she finished her sentence, her hair—somehow—finally dry.))

How I Recovered from Emotional Exhaustion

Instead of treating my emotions like a dramatic narrative, I tried a gentler approach: “I see you. You’re anxious, you’re scared, this is something new, and new things can be intimidating. What can you do in this moment? Want to explore some options?”

I won’t lie—my Chakra training friend, Esin, helped me a lot with this shift in perspective.

I stopped fighting the transitions (the steam train, the Kraken’s tentacles). Instead, I watched them. I realized that burying myself under the covers, squeezing my eyes shut, and trying to escape wasn’t the answer. Maybe it wasn’t exactly facing my fears, but it was at least observing them with curiosity. (It didn’t exactly feel like Sherlock Holmes, but saying: “Okay, I feel this deep in my bones. What exactly is it?” was surprisingly grounding.)

I didn’t tell myself “You’re being ridiculous, look at reality.” That’s not who I am. Instead, I took a gentle, accepting approach—and I breathed. (Mary Poppins suddenly makes sense as a role model. Now, if only I had dancing penguins…) (See what I mean? Watch this.)

I stuck to my morning routines—meditation, journaling, and what I call “Slow Mornings.” Whenever I didn’t feel like doing them, I reminded myself: 👉 “Actually, this is exactly what you need right now. Let’s go.” And it worked. Every time.

I breathed through it. Every time my anxious mind started weaving another worst-case scenario, I used the 4-4-6 breathing technique. Because breath is the only thing that truly exists in the present moment. Inhale… Exhale… And just like that, the moment has already passed. Welcome back to the present.

I finally realized—my tendency to create stories isn’t a weakness. It’s creativity. And if I don’t want my creativity to spiral into anxiety, I need to channel it. Writing. Art. Music. Creation.

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Final Thoughts on Emotional Exhaustion

I don’t see this experience as a weakness. It’s something real, something we all go through. I don’t know when I’ll get caught in another storm—but I know I will. And that’s okay. Because somewhere in the unknown, there are still flowers waiting to bloom. (Preferably purple ones. 🌿💜)

Take care of yourself. You are the closest person you have.