Surfing champion on burnout: 'My body just shut down'

"I was in bed for I think about six weeks, I couldn't surf.

"My heart would be racing even when I was lying in bed," she said. "It felt like I had just been out for a run. I could not calm it down at all. My nervous system was in complete chaos."

The impact spread beyond sport. Campbell lost sponsorships, struggled in her relationships and felt disconnected from herself.

"I felt numb," she said. "I was sort of acting like the person I thought I was meant to be, but I could not really show up for friends or family."

Doctors later suggested she may have been suffering from Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, known as RED-S when sports people restrict their diet, burnout or another form of adrenal fatigue, but there was no definitive test.

What is burnout and what should I do if I think I'm in danger of becoming burnt out?

Burnout is recognised by the World Health Organization as an occupational phenomenon and is classed as a syndrome rather than a medical condition.

It is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion caused by long-term stress and prolonged pressure that leaves people feeling detached, demotivated and hopeless.

If you are experiencing burnout, it is important to reach out to people you trust and seek support from your GP, who may offer time off work or refer you for counselling.

Understanding what has contributed to your burnout can help you identify changes you can make, whether at work or at home.

Source: Mental Health UK

• BBC Action Line: Information and Support

Eventually, Campbell decided to step away from full-time competition.

"The constant travel was not good for me any more," she said.

"As hard as it was to admit, that was a turning point where I realised I needed to change direction.

"I think I've definitely got a competitive nature and I think that I was sort of driven by wanting to put British surfing on the map and wanting to showcase what incredible talent we've got here.

"Looking back I think that was perhaps a lot to put on my shoulders."

'Sustainable for your body'

Now living in Cornwall, she still surfs, films and occasionally competes, but on her own terms. Last year she entered the English Nationals with no expectations and won, a result she says showed how damaging pressure had become.

"I thought it'd be nice to go down to see the community and surf some heats, have some fun. I was over the moon about winning, but I think it does just show what happens if you do sport for the love of it and in a way that is sustainable for your body."

She has also begun speaking openly about burnout, keen to help others avoid the same experience.

"The more people I talk to, the more I realise how common this is, not just in sport," she said. "If speaking about it helps one other person spot the signs early, it is worth it."

Her advice to young surfers: "Treat surfing like a job if you want it to become one," she said. "But you also have to switch off. It is not lazy to rest. Rest is part of training."

Overlooking the beach where it all began, Campbell says stepping away from competition helped her rediscover what mattered most.

"The thing I noticed the most when I was going through burnout is that I've always just loved getting in the ocean every day and I'm so grateful that that's my job.

"Losing your love for the sport is the biggest warning sign," she said. "Listening to my body saved my relationship with surfing."

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More on this story

• I didn't know I was experiencing burnout until it was too late
• 'Sick and tired of feeling sick and tired'
• Are you burning out?
• The athletes starving themselves for success

Related internet links

• Lucy Campbell
• Mental Health UK: Burnout