Thank you very much for your detailed response. There are several points where I can empathize deeply. I am sorry that the day of the tour ended on such an unpleasant note.

Do you have trouble eating or drinking balanced meals? I wonder if a vitamin or even calorie deficiency could be contributing. I have to eat before I take my meds (even though I find it hard to eat in the morning) or my brain crashes hard in the afternoon.

My diet is balanced. I don’t eat excessive amounts of meat; it is largely plant-based.

I want to ask more about the overtime. Why are you doing so much overtime? Are you unable to hit objectives? Are the objectives “real” or self imposed? Or do you have trouble transitioning away from work?

I work these extra hours because, generally speaking, I take longer to complete my tasks—though, in return, I am more thorough in my field. I try to compensate for the reduced output resulting from this by working overtime. Unfortunately, my work can also be time-critical, as other people depend on my decisions.

… I usually end up going down unproductive rabbit holes so it’s not like I’m churning out widgets and making others look bad in comparison.

… I feel like I have to work longer because of all the extra effort that goes into doing what I feel are basic tasks. I can’t work off a surface level understanding of something. I need to understand it before I make a decision. …

That is, in fact, part of the reason why I work overtime. I, too, tend to get lost in the details of a problem or a case. At least, that is how my manager describes it. I see it somewhat differently—actually, much in the way you describe it in the paragraph above. I can relate to that so well. The mere fact that you, too, apparently feel this way gave me the sense that I am not alone—or simply stupid. Thank you!

Edit: changed “team meeting” to “tour” at the beginning.