Even though she still considers herself fallible to getting burned out, Joan took measures to get her life back to normal. She believes in starting the day on the right foot: "In the morning, I listen to a fun radio show and I sing while getting dressed. I try to eat a good breakfast and to eat well during every meal. If I ever get panic attacks, I just calmly tell myself that I only have two hands and I can't perform miracles."

"Before, I ran nonstop without knowing why and without enjoying it," says Susan. "Now, when I realize that I'm starting to get edgy, I ask myself whether it's that important. I don't think of my burnout as failure. If I didn't go through it, I wouldn't be the woman I am."

Women who go through a burnout are all to well aware of the dangers of "performance at all costs." For them, work is no longer sacred. They now refuse to ignore signs of fatigue. Burnout changed their lives forever.

Tips to avoid burnout

It is possible to avoid burnout. For women who feel stressed out or who are afraid of sinking into burnout, here is some practical advice.