How burnout followed Sarah even after quitting her job

*Trigger warning: This story contains mentions of suicidal ideation.

After years of pushing through stress in silence, Sarah—a 31-year-old teacher—hit a breaking point. One day, after an argument with family, she collapsed on her sofa in tears. The thought crossed her mind: “I wouldn’t mind if I died right now.” That moment urged her to seek help. What followed was a journey of slowing down, finding space to heal, and learning how to finally put herself first.

Q: What brought you to counselling?
Sarah: The job I had before this—lecturing at a private institution—was all-consuming. I didn’t recognise it as burnout at first. It was a friend who pointed it out to me. I just thought I was stressed. But the long hours, the pressure I put on myself to do everything well—it all added up.

It got to the point where thinking about work would make me want to cry. Even just being on public transport heading to work made me anxious. One day, everything just crashed—I had a quarrel with my family, and I ended up crying the whole day on my sofa. That was the first time the thought crossed my mind: “I wouldn’t mind if I died right now.” That moment made me realise I needed help.

Q: How did you take the first step?
Sarah: At that point, I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t even feel like talking to anyone. I felt like if I opened my mouth, I’d just break down. And in a social setting, that was the last thing I wanted. It also takes energy to explain what’s going on, and I didn’t want to burden my friends—they had their own lives too.

But there was one Sunday before church where we had planned to meet and talk about life. I knew these two friends had been to therapy before and had talked about their anxious thoughts, so I thought it would be a safe space. That was when one of them told me I was probably burnt out. That really hit home.

Hearing from friends who had sought help before made it feel more accessible. Listening to their experiences and knowing I wasn’t alone made me more open to the idea of counselling. Sharing about these things openly helped to normalise counselling for me.

After I decided to try it out, I searched online for Christian-based counselling services, and EMCC came up. It seemed accessible, especially with the subsidies provided, and that made a big difference for me, especially since I was unemployed then.

Q: What was helpful about the counselling process?
Sarah: It was a safe space to talk and process things. I had already been reflecting a bit during my break after quitting, but being able to talk it through with someone who could reflect things back and help me reframe them—it made me feel seen and validated.

One session, my counsellor used a method called MEMI with me. It was interesting and helped me to separate myself from the distressing experience and realise: that thing happened, but it’s not me. I can deal with it.

Q: Can you share a moment where you felt tangible change?
Sarah: I used to take the Circle Line to work, and there was this specific station jingle that would trigger a lot of unpleasant emotions. Even after quitting, just hearing it would  evoke a lot of anxiety. But after going through MEMI and talking things through, that anxiety gradually went away. Now, I hear it and I’m okay. It’s like, “That happened to me, but I’m not there anymore.”

Q: You mentioned there were other things you were still working through besides the burnout—how are you doing now?
Sarah: Much better. There are still things I’m processing, like relational issues within the family. But I’ve noticed I’m better at expressing myself now. I used to avoid conflict, didn’t know how to verbalise what I was feeling. But now I can process and communicate those emotions. I think that’s been one of the biggest changes—learning to work on myself and be better in my relationships.

Q: How has counselling changed your perspective on yourself and your future?
Sarah: It gave me space to slow down. Before this, I didn’t really think about things like emotional growth. But now I want to be a better person—to connect more with my friends and family. Therapy helped me see that working on myself emotionally is just as important as everything else.

Q: You’ve also shared that you talked to your friends about counselling. What was that like?
Sarah: I started talking more openly about my experience with friends, and I think it helped them be more receptive to the idea of therapy too. One of them had unresolved issues from years back, and she reached out to ask about where I went for counselling. I think when someone you know talks about it, it becomes more real and accessible.

Q: What would you say to someone thinking about seeking help?
Sarah: If you think you need help, just go for it. There really shouldn’t be a stigma. It’s so helpful to have someone walk with you through the mess. For me, what once felt like a huge, tangled mess has become something I can deal with. The issues are still there, but now they feel smaller and more manageable.

Sarah’s journey is a reminder that healing doesn’t always happen in big, dramatic moments—it can be found in small shifts, in safety, in space to be heard. Today, she’s preparing to start a new job and continuing her growth one step at a time. Most importantly, she’s letting others know: therapy isn’t weakness. It’s giving yourself the chance to be okay again.

If you feel you need professional help and emotional support, please reach out to EMCC. Help is available, and hope is always within reach.

To ensure that our services remain accessible, subsidised counselling is also provided. For more information, click here.