I'm currently on my own break. I'd encourage you to do it. So many people have this unchallenged assumption in their minds that you simply have to be working an

I'm currently on my own break. I'd encourage you to do it. So many people have this unchallenged assumption in their minds that you simply have to be working and never stop working or you're an irredeemable failure of a person. At a certain point you just have to block these people out. It takes real inner strength to do that frankly. One thing I've found helpful is describing the break as a "sabbatical". I think that's helped me not only feel better about it, but also reframe it in my mind as a purposeful (notice I didn't say "goal oriented" or somesuch) departure from working. As for worrying about your career, you need to ask yourself whether you can continue to do this nonstop for the next 30-50 years. If the answer is no (which I would expect would be obviously the case, given your present state). Then it's really of no consequence to your decisions. What I mean is, to summarise, if your chosen career is unattainable without working nonstop for the next 30-50 years, then you're already screwed, and it's a fact you'll be forced to accept when you have a full blown breakdown. So you should take the break now before you do yourself further damage. Otherwise, if a sabbatical to travel and recover is not a career ending move, then go for it and come back to building that accareer afterward.