On April 25th, I was supposed to deliver a workshop at the headquarters of a major Danish brand. I had prepared for that day for months, besides my daily work within my business. The day before, the workshop was cancelled due to some internal issues in that company. That small cancellation was the final straw that topped the five years of hard work building up my export business, a failed partnership, moving abroad, and integrating my daughters into foreign schools.
And I collapsed.
2. The First Months (4 min)
April to June = the darkest time.
Describe:
Not being able to function.
Shame, guilt, panic attacks
Friends not being there → loneliness & betrayal.
All I could do was to read books that explained why I had those feelings, and what I could do to feel better.
Say it simply: “Those months are a blur of survival. I barely remember details, only the feeling of being completely gone.”
3. The Summer Struggle (4 min)
By July, I had not made any money for two months.
We lived in a lovely townhouse, but our rental contract was heading towards the end and I had no way to get a new place to stay in these circumstances, with a brain not functioning for an unforeseeable time.
By miracle, we survived July - with very little to eat, but reading a lot and working on my mental health to get my brain loosened up.
Feeling better by mid-August, giving me hope for the future, and returned to work, to relapsed heavily within two weeks.
It was clear that there was no way I could continue my export business. I had to either close and make many and clean up the finances, or file for bankrupsy. But my brain could not even plan the following day; how could I do anything else?
No one to get advice from - still, everyone I asked was too busy. But they wished me well and hoped I can find someone to talk to.
4. The Library Days (4 min)
The constant instability.
Staying with Louise → pressure, being unwanted.
Slowly starting to build something again — the website, the first ideas for the Handbook, and Mental Vacation Hub.
Packing bags early in the morning, sitting at the station, waiting for the library to open.
The cool thing about a burned-out brain is that it can work on stuff that gives dopamine. With way less energy than normal, but still.
Very, very dark thoughts became a daylong and nightlong thing. Things were getting dangerous.
Moving to Denmark and Katre → better, but still temporary.
Thinking your daughters needed another family. Dark thoughts.
The moment Ole paid you €500 — a lifeline.
Spoke with Andres, who gave valuable advice and encouragement.
New hope, new energy, new shot.
5. Closing (1 min)
This is the story behind the Burnout SOS Handbook. The Handbook has the strategies, but this audio has the truth. If you’re here, you’re not alone.
Why am I qualified? Because burnout is like giving birth - you don’t know before you go through it. And the best time to communicate real and raw emotions (because it is all about emotions) is while being only a few steps ahead of those who seek help.
Small invitation to your Hub. Join us in the Hub, which is under the building, but it is the place where I post my journal throughout the period - I recorded most of it while going through it. I am getting us amazing people who have won over burnout to give us all expert advice. You have access to resources that heal your everyday, so that you will not have to search all over the internet for them. I have done it, and I will share everything with you.