In a personal account for the Journal of Accountancy, CPA Randy Crabtree reflects on how chronic stress and burnout nearly cost him his life, and what ultimately helped him recover and rebuild a healthier relationship with work.

After co-founding Tri-Merit Specialty Tax Professionals and pushing himself relentlessly as both managing partner and chief rainmaker, Crabtree suffered two strokes in four days in 2014 at the age of 51.

While he recovered physically, the mental toll lingered for years in the form of PTSD, panic attacks, and depression, forcing him to confront how unsustainable his approach to work had become.  

Crabtree describes a pattern familiar to many accountants, defined by perfectionism, long hours, constant deadline pressure, and the belief that powering through is the only option. Left unaddressed, he writes, chronic stress can lead to burnout and serious mental and physical consequences.

His experience mirrors broader data showing that burnout is widespread in the profession, with nearly all (99%) accountants, according to a 2024 study by the University of Georgia and accounting software company FloQast, experiencing exhaustion or disengagement at some point in their careers. 

Recovery, for Crabtree, required stepping away from control, seeking therapy, and reshaping his role within the firm. He emphasizes that leadership plays a critical role in preventing burnout by normalizing mental health conversations, making resources accessible, and modeling healthier boundaries.

As he notes, “We can build rewarding practices without routinely working 80-hour weeks.”