How can I make sense of this loss and move forward after giving so much of myself to a dream that did not find a market?

How can I make sense of having invested so much and chosen to stay, then losing the dream anyway, so that I can move forward?

I spent several years on a hardware project that began with enthusiasm but became draining through ineffective communication and overtime. After a failed acceptance and colleagues being dismissed, I chose to stay because a new leader and the hardware market gave me hope. Although we eventually passed acceptance, budget constraints stopped the product from being updated, and I realized the project was finished.

Have other people experienced reacting this way when their ideas were rejected, and how did they learn to separate the criticism of an idea from their sense of self?

In meetings, when I share an idea and other people reject it, I can become angry, stop listening, and insist that I am right. After repeatedly being left unable to recover socially, I began reflecting and now tend to listen first.

How can I tell whether this loss of interest is a temporary pause caused by my current pressures or whether something important in me is disappearing?

For about a year, poor job prospects, high household expenses, and caring for my child have left me sitting in my car after work, unable to feel interested in hobbies or friends. I have put those parts of my life on hold, but I am unsure whether they can return.

How can I keep pursuing this company with commitment without burning myself and my team out?

I have been putting nearly all my time and energy into my startup for about ten months, feel exhausted, and cannot remember the last time I took a real day off. I am carrying constant pressure from the money, timeline, investors, and uncertainty while trying to lead a tired team.