Finding Purpose Through Pain: My Journey of Overcoming Burnout and Mental Illness
For Mental Health Week 2023, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) highlighted the power of storytelling to amplify voices and spaces that champion mental health across Canada.
It was an honour for me to join others in sharing my story of finding my purpose through pain and suffering.
In 2014, I was standing on a bridge near where I lived, looking at the waves crashing. And for about 30 seconds, I contemplated jumping as a way to escape the pain and suffering I was experiencing. It was my second bout with burnout, and it seemed like the only solution.
The first time was in 2008, when I pushed myself to the brink and fell asleep at the wheel, crashing into the window of a nearby basement apartment. It's a miracle that I survived! My chair somehow reclined and saved me from a fatal injury. Though I did sustain some injuries, including minor bruises on my face, 8 chipped teeth, and a painful whiplash, I came out alive. And to add to my good fortune, the apartment was vacant at the time, sparing any innocent occupants from harm.
It was like a scene from a movie: ambulance, fire trucks, police cars, and news anchors all arrived at the scene. The entire neighborhood came out to see what was happening, including my husband.
At first, he really thought they were shooting a movie. But as he approached the scene and saw the car hanging in the window, he suddenly realized, "Wait a minute, that looks like our car!"
As he approached and saw the license plate, his knees buckled. Fortunately, there were people around him who rushed to support him and let him know that I had survived the accident.
Yes, I survived. I was okay. I was alive.
Although I was released from the hospital the same day and seemed physically okay, mentally and emotionally I was still struggling after such a traumatic accident. I should have been grateful to be alive, but I found myself longing for death instead. It was then that I realized my soul was sick.
After taking time off to recover, implement new strategies, and regain my strength, I eventually returned to my old habits and had another crash. However, this time, it was my body and my mind that crashed.
So there I was, standing on the bridge, seriously contemplating suicide. It was then that I realized that I needed professional help to get to the root of what was causing me to overwork myself to death.
After seeking professional help, I discovered that I was not only struggling with burnout but also with a mental illness. It was a double whammy that I had to face head-on.
I focused on myself, did the deep inner work, and found my calling. I learned to prioritize being over doing, started living from the inside out in order to stop the cycle and I've been in recovery mode from superwoman syndrome and savior complex for the past nine years.
After helping many people on their entrepreneurial and mental health journeys, I believe it's high time for mental health to be prioritized in the broader entrepreneurship discourse and education. I'm doing my part to demystify mental health and make the conversation more accessible.
Stay tuned for more on my approach and let's work together to ensure that everyone takes good care of their mental health!
In the meantime, visit CMHA's Mental Health Support page for excellent resources to add to your mental health strategy toolkit.
Kareen Aristide is the founder and visionary behind She Did It! Collectives. Kareen is a Human Behaviour Expert, Mental Health Specialist and Spiritual Director with over 25 years of experience in personal and professional development. She's passionate about connecting women and helping them realize their full potential.
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