A few weeks ago, I took the subway to pick up the car in the garage and drive my family to Connecticut. I was carrying my dog, a freezer bag, and my regular bag, in which I had stowed my computer, wallet, phone, keys, etc.
I exited the train on Christopher Street with the dog in my arms, the freezer bag on my left shoulder… and no bag.

As I watched the number 1 train disappear with my bag in it, my heart almost stopped. I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t know what to do. I had no money, no phone, no keys and there were two nervous octogenarians waiting for me. 
I started spiraling down for a couple of minutes and then... I bounced back. I started breathing deeper and I felt certain things would work out.  And they did. I called my phone from the garage and a lovely voice picked up to tell me my bag was safe and I just needed to go and pick it up. 

I’m so grateful for this person's kindness. But I’m also deeply grateful for my practice and the fact that I didn’t completely break down (my first impulse when in this kind of situations is to cry while screaming, "Why me?").
 

When I started my spiritual practice,  I did it because I wanted a life where nothing ever went wrong and I always felt great. Instead, crap still hits the fan, but I've changed. Most times I can keep my center. And many times, what seems like disasters end up being my best stories.

We've all been there.  Over extending ourselves with work, school, family, friends...  we stop and think long enough to say to ourselves, “next week I'll have more quiet time,” and next week arrives and our boss needs our help on an important project and the cycle starts again. 

Humans are the most adaptable animals, that means we can adapt ourselves to almost any situation, no matter how unhealthy.  Before we know it, we're fatigued, can't concentrate, feel depressed and lethargic. 

If you've been following Nathalie's previous posts, you learned about the symptoms of burnout. Below you'll find 3 herbs that are safe for long-term use that you could use when experiencing these symptoms:

• OATS are one of my favorite foods to turn to when I have anxiety, stress and experience complete exhaustion. Oats are restorative to the nervous system and are specific for people who are too busy doing, rather than being. I have also used oats successfully to help with ADD/ADHD symptoms. You can take milky oats in tincture or glycerite form or fresh oat tincture.  Dried oats are not as effective as a nervine.
   
• HOLY BASIL is another of my favorite herbs/foods for burnout.  I drink 3 cups of tea per day when I cannot focus, have trouble remembering simple things or other “brain fog” symptoms.  Not only does it taste great as a tea, but I also add it as a garnish to soups and food.  Many Asian recipes use Holy Basil in case you'd like to get new ideas on how to make it.  You can also use Holy Basil tincture. 
   
• PASSIONFLOWER is another excellent nervine specific for those who experience insomnia with circular thinking or worry.   When you can't shut your brain off or are easily irritated by the slightest imbalance, Passionflower is your ally.  I've also used Passionflower for those who suffer from stress-induced headaches. A tea can be made of the leaves or vines.  Drink 2-3 cups per day.  You can also find the tincture at your local health food store.

Lauraine Velez is an experienced clinical herbalist who trained at the David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies. She uses Traditional Chinese Medicine along with Western, Ayurvedic, Middle Eastern and Cherokee herbal traditions. She's the founder of Apothecratic Oath.