Hi, I have just tendered my resignation from a job that’s almost 3 years now. It was an extremely high pace and intense job. I’ve been considering about leaving since more than a year ago and recently the situation has escalated. As I was told months ago that whatever tasks I’m assigned to is not a 100% of what I’m supposed to do, so when work started adding and piling I always try my best to push forward and held on so that it I can contribute to the company. Until I started waking up at 4am almost every morning thinking about work planning to-do list getting palpitations from thinking about work and deadlines, feeling frustrated at ad-hoc tasks, crying from all these emotions and then always staying back late trying to finish work. I understand this is burnout. But I feel worse now after tendering my resignation, keep feeling like I made the wrong choice, keep feeling anxious and having palpitations. Still occasionally feeling like crying. Is this normal?
Hey @Anxietyemowhacked, thank you for reaching out!
It really takes a lot of courage to put into words something so overwhelming, and it sounds like you’ve been carrying this huge load for a very long time now 
Whatever you’re describing after tendering your resignation…the anxiety, palpitations, second-guessing and the crying…these are actually common, and it doesn’t mean you made the wrong decision, okay? In fact, it honestly makes a lot of sense. You’ve spent nearly 3 years in a high intensity environment! Your nervous system was essentially on high alert, and your body will not automatically switch off from that the moment you hand in your resignation letter. That stress response will not just disappear overnight!
I’d also like to address something you shared. When we’ve invested so much of ourselves into something, leaving can feel like a kind of loss, even when leaving is the right thing to do! The grief and uncertainty can sit alongside relief, and both can be true at the same time 
However, the palpitations and physical symptoms are worth paying attention to. If they persist or feel intense, please check in with a doctor just to rule out anything physical and to have some support on the side too, okay?
If you’d like to speak to someone over the phone, you can always reach out to National Mindline 1771, okay? You can call them at 1771/whatsapp them at 66691771. They are available 24/7, and can discuss support options with you
@reassuredshiba Thanks, I really appreciate your reply and it helps me to understand what I’m going through. It’s the 3rd day since I tendered my resignation (took 2 days off and completely switched off from work, took care of myself, watch drama, binge on comfort food etc.) but I kept finding myself going back to the thought of retracting my resignation, telling myself that if I can continue to push on for another 4 more months, that’s additional 4 months of salary and there’s the AWS in December as well. That’s a big sum of money I’ll be losing out. Tho at the moment I have already prepped myself with spare cash of up to 6 months during this period of taking a break. I’m not sure if it’s the reluctance to deplete this sum of savings or it’s my survivor mode trying to take over.
I’m glad you took those 2 days for yourself! That kind of intentional rest is exactly what your system needed
What you’re describing now is a very understandable tension! Part of you is doing the mental math, the 4 months’ salary, the AWS and the savings buffer, and that part is trying to protect you. It isn’t irrational! Money is real, and financial security matters.
But it’s worth asking yourself…when you imagine actually going back and pushing through those 4 more months, what does that feel like in your body?
It sounds like your mind is able to find reasons to endure…it has been doing that for over a year. “Just hold on a little longer” is a thought that has kept you going through waking up at 4am, through the palpitations, through the crying. And yet here you are, needing to recover!
You mentioned something really insightful…you’re unsure if it’s reluctance to deplete your savings or your survivor mode taking over. That’s a perceptive thing to notice about yourself! It might be worth thinking about that a little. Has this survivor mode served you well, and are there moments where it might have pushed you past what was actually good for you?
You’ve already done a significant thing in prepping that 6-month buffer. Some part of you knew this moment was coming and planned for it!