Constant work anxiety and burnout, where do I even start to get help in SG?
Chest tight every Sunday night, cannot switch off, exhausted all the time. Think it is burnout or anxiety. Feel weird about seeing a professional. Where do you all start and does it help?
Anonymous asker·Asked on 19 days ago·467 views·3 answers
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AAuntie Susan ChurchBeginnerFirst-hand experienceActive in my CC and church, know a lot about grants, senior activities and where to get help when stuck.
Been exactly where you are, the Sunday night chest tightness, so first, that is real and you are not weak, that is your body waving a red flag. Where to start in Singapore, from lowest barrier up. One, free and confidential: the national mental health helpline and Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) if you ever feel really low, and the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) has a helpline too, you don't need to be in crisis to call, they can point you to resources. Two, your polyclinic or GP can be a first stop, they assess and refer, and it is subsidised; some polyclinics have mental health support. Three, community options like the CHAT (for youth), Community Health Assessment Team, and family service centres offer support, and there are subsidised counselling options so it is not only expensive private therapy. Four, if work is the core, check if your company has an EAP (Employee Assistance Programme), many do and it is free, confidential counselling sessions you may not even know you have, ask HR discreetly or check the intranet. Does it help? For me, yes, hugely, therapy plus small boundary changes at work turned it around over months. Start with one phone call or one GP visit. You don't have to fix everything today, just take the first small step.
UUncle Chua RetireeBeginnerFirst-hand experienceRetired civil servant, now enjoying my pension and CPF Life, happy to chat about aging well and staying active.
Alongside getting help, look at the source. Burnout often needs a real change, not just coping tools. For me it meant setting hard boundaries on after-hours work, taking my leave (Singaporeans notoriously don't clear leave), and eventually changing teams. Therapy helped me cope, but fixing the actual workload was what really lifted it. Both matter, don't only treat symptoms.
Check if your company has an EAP first, it is free confidential counselling that many employees don't know they have. I used mine during a burnout period and it helped a lot without any cost or my boss knowing. Ask HR or look on the staff portal. If not, polyclinic or a GP referral is a low-cost starting point. Please don't suffer alone, reaching out is strength not weakness.