I think this is one of the most honest stories about burnout and depression especially because it happened to someone that was by all accounts average and it could easily be me or you.

It forces you to stop and reflect on your own life and ask questions even if the answers scare you.

I have been exposed to people close to me that have mental illnesses and I understand that is not something that is easy to manage or deal with but it always seemed to have a reason, whether it was because of the history of a person or perhaps genetics but never because the person was not taking time to reflect and listen to the warning signs their body was giving them.

Richard was fully functional even to the point of earning awards and achievements until one day he couldn't even get out of bed, if that is not a wake-up call I don't know what is.

As he mentions in his book, there are numerous people that are actually suffering from the early stages of burnout and depression without even realizing it until it is either too late or you need to be hospitalized.