Burnout, Agoraphobia, and Healing: My Personal Journey
Burnout doesn’t just drain your energy at work—it can spill into every part of your life. For me, one of the hardest and least-shared parts of my burnout journey was agoraphobia.
Agoraphobia meant I felt anxious in groups, meetings, or even simple gatherings. While I’ve always leaned introverted, this was different. You’re not supposed to panic on your way to the grocery store or feel dread before a family function. But from about 2021 through 2023, that was my reality.
The Hidden Indicator of Burnout-Related Agoraphobia
The clearest signal that something was wrong? The overwhelming joy I felt whenever a meeting was cancelled.
Sure, a last-minute cancellation can feel like a blessing to anyone. But for me, the relief was out of proportion. I wasn’t just glad to have time back—I was escaping anxiety. Social obligations felt heavy, meetings felt suffocating, and even casual gatherings made me want to retreat.
This was burnout mixed with social anxiety, and it made daily life difficult.
Signs of Healing from Burnout
The turning point came recently when a colleague cancelled a meeting we had scheduled. Instead of relief, I felt… disappointed. I realized I had been looking forward to connecting with them.
That moment stopped me in my tracks. It was evidence that something had shifted inside me.
I’ve noticed other changes too:
I enjoy going out with my wife, Kristen, to places like Vinland Winery or a local high school football game.
I appreciate running into people at the coffee shop again.
And I don’t celebrate every cancelled meeting anymore. Sometimes, I even miss them.
These may seem like small things, but for me, they mark a huge step forward in burnout recovery.
Burnout and Social Anxiety: Not Always Connected, But Sometimes Linked
Not everyone who experiences burnout also develops agoraphobia or social anxiety. But for me, the two were intertwined. As the burnout lifted, so did the fear of social situations.
That’s why this milestone feels so important: my body and mind are both healing.
A Reminder for Anyone Facing Burnout
If you find yourself dreading connection, avoiding people, or feeling anxious about ordinary events, you’re not broken. Burnout and social anxiety can overlap and recovery takes time.
But healing is possible. One day you may notice, like I did, that you’re no longer celebrating every cancellation. Instead, you might be looking forward to the conversation, the connection, or even the crowd.
That shift is worth noticing, and worth celebrating.
