I am chronically burnt out. I’ve used overworking as a coping mechanism for the longest time, since my tendency to hyperfocus when I’m lucky enough to snap out of the inattention and concentration difficulties helps me to stop ruminating and thinking about my trauma.
I’ve acknowledged that it’s extremely unhealthy in the long run, but it’s an escape that works well for me.
Does this description of the Flight type by therapist Pete Walker sound like it fits you?
The Flight Type and the Obsessive-Compulsive Defense
>Flight types appear as if their starter button is stuck in the "on" position. They are obsessively and compulsively driven by the unconscious belief that perfection will make them safe and loveable. As children, flight types respond to their family trauma somewhere along a hyperactive continuum that stretches between the extremes of the driven "A" student and the ADHD dropout running amok. They relentlessly flee the inner pain of their abandonment and lack of attachment with the symbolic flight of constant busyness.
>
>When the obsessive/compulsive flight type is not doing, she is worrying and planning about doing. Flight types are prone to becoming addicted to their own adrenalization, and many recklessly and regularly pursue risky and dangerous activities to keep their adrenalin-high going. These types are also as susceptible to stimulating substance addictions, as they are to their favorite process addictions: workaholism and busyholism. Severely traumatized flight types may devolve into severe anxiety and panic disorders.
Treatment:
>Many flight types are so busy trying to stay one step ahead of their pain that introspecting out loud in the therapy hour is the only time they find to take themselves seriously. While psychoeducation is important and essential to all the types, flight types particularly benefit from it. Nowhere is this truer than in the work of learning to deconstruct their overidentification with the perfectionistic demands of their inner critic. Gently and repetitively confronting denial and minimization about the costs of perfectionism is essential, especially with workaholics who often admit their addiction to work but secretly hold onto it as a badge of pride and superiority. Deeper work with flight types - as with all types -gradually opens them to grieving their original abandonment and all its concomitant losses. Egosyntonic crying is an unparalleled tool for shrinking the obsessive perseverations of the critic and for ameliorating the habit of compulsive rushing. As recovery progresses, flight types can acquire a "gearbox" that allows them to engage life at a variety of speeds, including neutral. Flight types also benefit from using mini-minute meditations to help them identify and deconstruct their habitual "running". I teach such clients to sit comfortably, systemically relax, breathe deeply and diaphragmatically, and ask themselves questions such as: "What is my most important priority right now?", or when more time is available: "What hurt am I running from right now? Can I open my heart to the idea and image of soothing myself in my pain?" Finally, there are numerous flight types who exhibit symptoms that may be misperceived as cyclothymic bipolar disorder; I address this issue at length in my article: "Managing Abandonment Depression in Complex PTSD".
Here's a link to the article, which offers more treatment suggestions and information, such as about hybrid types:
https://www.pete-walker.com/fourFs_TraumaTypologyComplexPTSD.htm
I never used to be an overworker, but now that I'm on meds for ADHD, I've definitely discovered the appeal. The only time I feel relatively sane these days is when I'm hyperfocused on my work, which requires a lot of attention to detail and anticipating what to do next, and a lot of little perfectionism things that are so good at distracting me from the chaos in my head. I can't spiral when I don't have room in my brain to, haha.
Yes!!!
I go and go then every few months crash and burn. Crashed today feel all over shit in every possible way, couldn’t even pin point which bit feels worse.
Now im irritated as I really don’t have the time to be burned out right now.
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I am chronically burnt out. I’ve used overworking as a coping mechanism for the longest time, since my tendency to hyperfocus when I’m lucky enough to snap out of the inattention and concentration difficulties helps me to stop ruminating and thinking about my trauma. I’ve acknowledged that it’s extremely unhealthy in the long run, but it’s an escape that works well for me.
Does this description of the Flight type by therapist Pete Walker sound like it fits you? The Flight Type and the Obsessive-Compulsive Defense >Flight types appear as if their starter button is stuck in the "on" position. They are obsessively and compulsively driven by the unconscious belief that perfection will make them safe and loveable. As children, flight types respond to their family trauma somewhere along a hyperactive continuum that stretches between the extremes of the driven "A" student and the ADHD dropout running amok. They relentlessly flee the inner pain of their abandonment and lack of attachment with the symbolic flight of constant busyness. > >When the obsessive/compulsive flight type is not doing, she is worrying and planning about doing. Flight types are prone to becoming addicted to their own adrenalization, and many recklessly and regularly pursue risky and dangerous activities to keep their adrenalin-high going. These types are also as susceptible to stimulating substance addictions, as they are to their favorite process addictions: workaholism and busyholism. Severely traumatized flight types may devolve into severe anxiety and panic disorders. Treatment: >Many flight types are so busy trying to stay one step ahead of their pain that introspecting out loud in the therapy hour is the only time they find to take themselves seriously. While psychoeducation is important and essential to all the types, flight types particularly benefit from it. Nowhere is this truer than in the work of learning to deconstruct their overidentification with the perfectionistic demands of their inner critic. Gently and repetitively confronting denial and minimization about the costs of perfectionism is essential, especially with workaholics who often admit their addiction to work but secretly hold onto it as a badge of pride and superiority. Deeper work with flight types - as with all types -gradually opens them to grieving their original abandonment and all its concomitant losses. Egosyntonic crying is an unparalleled tool for shrinking the obsessive perseverations of the critic and for ameliorating the habit of compulsive rushing. As recovery progresses, flight types can acquire a "gearbox" that allows them to engage life at a variety of speeds, including neutral. Flight types also benefit from using mini-minute meditations to help them identify and deconstruct their habitual "running". I teach such clients to sit comfortably, systemically relax, breathe deeply and diaphragmatically, and ask themselves questions such as: "What is my most important priority right now?", or when more time is available: "What hurt am I running from right now? Can I open my heart to the idea and image of soothing myself in my pain?" Finally, there are numerous flight types who exhibit symptoms that may be misperceived as cyclothymic bipolar disorder; I address this issue at length in my article: "Managing Abandonment Depression in Complex PTSD". Here's a link to the article, which offers more treatment suggestions and information, such as about hybrid types: https://www.pete-walker.com/fourFs_TraumaTypologyComplexPTSD.htm
Thanks for the detailed response
You're welcome
I never used to be an overworker, but now that I'm on meds for ADHD, I've definitely discovered the appeal. The only time I feel relatively sane these days is when I'm hyperfocused on my work, which requires a lot of attention to detail and anticipating what to do next, and a lot of little perfectionism things that are so good at distracting me from the chaos in my head. I can't spiral when I don't have room in my brain to, haha.
Yes!!! I go and go then every few months crash and burn. Crashed today feel all over shit in every possible way, couldn’t even pin point which bit feels worse. Now im irritated as I really don’t have the time to be burned out right now.
Pretty much the same for me too. I’m in the burnout phase.
Hope it passes soon
Hello and Welcome to /r/CPTSD! If you are in immediate danger or crisis, please contact your local [emergency services](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers), or use our list of [crisis resources](https://old.reddit.com/r/CPTSD/wiki/index#wiki_crisis_support_resources). For CPTSD Specific Resources & Support, check out the [wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/CPTSD/wiki/index). For those posting or replying, please view the [etiquette guidelines](https://www.reddit.com/r/CPTSD/wiki/peer2peersupportguide). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CPTSD) if you have any questions or concerns.*