Burnout nearly killed me - a shift in mindset saved me
A dad-of-two who battled through years of trauma, stress and addiction has spoken out about the moment he reached breaking point - and how he finally managed to break the cycle.
As a high-flying IT director, Dean Cooper was commuting from his home near Lewannick in Cornwall to Scotland each week, travelling hundreds of miles across the country and being away from his family for days on end.
The pressure of his job drove him to drink and at one point, the 46-year-old found himself consuming up to 15 pints a night to help alleviate the stress.
His body started to break down and there was no clear way out.
It was only when Dean was taken to hospital following a near-fatal collapse in 2021 that he realised something needed to change.
"When you're near burnout it's funny," he said. "You don't see any alternative other than continuing."
"To cope with the pressure of life, I was drinking. So I wouldn't get home until sort of 10 o'clock when I was in London, for example, and then I'd end up having four or five pints."
"To eventually at one point when I was in massive burnout because I couldn't cope with the commuting."
"Scotland became 15 pints a night at one point."
Dean said the pressure of supporting his wife and two children at home, one of whom is autistic, began to mount. He knew if he wasn’t making money, their lives would suffer as a result.
But it wasn’t until he felt he was going to die that he realised what mattered most.
"I had the weight of an elephant on my chest, my heart weight was going bonkers. I was burning up. I couldn't breathe," he said of a pivotal moment he was rushed to hospital.
"I made a promise to my kids that I wouldn’t die."
"I stopped drinking on that day. I gave up sugar, gave up caffeine and then basically started trying to figure out how do I rebuild myself without killing myself in the process - because you have to be very careful."
"I'm coming up to four years sober now, so it's about four years ago when I had my main collapse."
From that moment, Dean started to up his daily step count, simply walking around his home at first before walking each day around the Cornish lanes. He also started to share the process on social media, clearing his head along the way and dubbing it ‘Street Therapy’. It's a method he now credits with saving his life.
"I'm a systems guy by trade. I'm very logical," he said.
"I figured life out without counselling, without medication. So much of it is about understanding that every single person has things that break them. Everybody - and we don't talk about it."
"We always have problems. We've always got stress. We've always got a past with trauma, abusive parents, addictions, taboos, whatever it may be."
"Once you understand that and you stop comparing yourself to the world, you can begin to do a bit of work on yourself."
He added: "I'm still working, but I prioritise myself over work. So the priority was my health and longevity."
Dean, who shares his method with thousands on TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@icarusworksuk), is also now launching a podcast to help bring his Street Therapy mindset and his 'Icarus' method to life.
It will see him speak to a host of ordinary people in Cornwall and beyond who have faced a range of challenges themselves while discussing how they have overcame them.
You can find more information about Dean's Street Therapy and Icarus method along with his podcast, launching March 23, here (https://icarus.works/).
What makes this particularly fascinating is that Dean's story highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing personal struggles. Many people, especially those in high-pressure jobs, often suppress their emotions and ignore the signs of burnout. Dean's near-fatal collapse serves as a stark reminder that ignoring these warning signs can have severe consequences.
In my opinion, Dean's approach to recovery is a powerful example of self-awareness and resilience. By taking responsibility for his actions and making a conscious decision to change, he was able to break free from a destructive cycle. This highlights the importance of personal accountability and the potential for positive change through self-reflection.
One thing that immediately stands out is the role of social media in Dean's recovery journey. By sharing his experiences on TikTok, he has not only raised awareness about burnout and addiction but has also inspired others to seek help. This demonstrates the power of online communities in providing support and encouragement during challenging times.
What many people don't realize is that burnout and addiction are not just individual issues but can also have a significant impact on family life. Dean's responsibility as a father and husband played a crucial role in his decision to seek help. This highlights the interconnectedness of personal and familial well-being and the importance of addressing these issues as a family.
If you take a step back and think about it, Dean's story also raises a deeper question about the role of work-life balance in our society. The pressure to maintain a high-flying career can often lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as excessive drinking and neglect of personal health. This raises a broader discussion about the need for more supportive work environments and a reevaluation of our priorities.
