The Inbox That Never Ends

Anjali, thirty-six, a team lead at a Chennai company, took on every request. She worked late, answered messages at dawn and skipped leave for two years. Her boss praised her. Inside, she felt that she was a fraud who wou…

Anjali, thirty-six, a team lead at a Chennai company, took on every request. She worked late, answered messages at dawn and skipped leave for two years. Her boss praised her. Inside, she felt that she was a fraud who would be found out.

She stopped enjoying her work. Sleep was broken, she was irritable with her children, and every email felt like a tiger. A small error in a report left her shaking. She thought, quietly, that her family might be better off without her.

A trusted colleague noticed the change and said, "How are you really?" Anjali cried. She told her manager she was overloaded, and together they made a realistic plan with fewer tasks and clear priorities. She took leave and saw her doctor, who treated her low mood and talked to her about the thought that her family would be better off without her. Anjali learnt that burnout is chronic load without recovery, not weak character.

Months later Anjali still has busy weeks, but she leaves at a fixed hour, and she takes her leave. Her manager now checks in regularly and asks how the team is really doing. Anjali started to write a list of her achievements, and when the fraud feeling comes she reads it. She said she had expected shame at asking for help, and found respect instead.

How to recognise it

• Constant exhaustion, loss of joy and cynicism about work.

• Working long hours, never taking leave and fearing being found out.

• Poor sleep, irritability and mistakes.

• Discounting success and overworking to prove oneself.

• Thoughts of being better off gone, which need urgent help.

What this story explains

This story shows overload, burnout and imposter feelings, and why taking leave and seeing a clinician are signs of responsibility. A manager's check-in can change the course.

Probable root causes

• Chronic overload with no recovery time and unclear roles.

• Perfectionism and fear of being found out.

• Poor sleep and no boundaries between work and home.

• A culture where saying no feels unsafe.

What to do

1. Name the load: hours, tasks, role clarity and who can help.

2. Protect sleep first, then add one recovery block that is not work in disguise.

3. Talk honestly to your manager and agree on realistic goals and priorities.

4. Take leave; see a doctor or counsellor if low mood or exhaustion persists.

5. Remind yourself of the evidence of your achievements and talk about the feeling with trusted colleagues.

6. If you have thoughts of being better off gone, tell someone now and contact the local emergency number or go to the nearest hospital.

Whom to consult

• Family doctor for exhaustion, sleep and low mood.

• A counsellor or clinical psychologist for burnout and perfectionism.

• Workplace HR or employee counselling service.

• Emergency services or the nearest hospital for thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Do and don’t

How to behave and communicate

• To your manager: "I am overloaded. Can we look at my priorities together?"

• Colleague: "How are you really? I have noticed you are tired."

• Listen with curiosity, not judgement.

• As a manager: keep confidentiality and offer flexibility.

• To yourself: "Resting is responsible, not weak."