Hey everyone,
I’m reaching out because I could really use your thoughts and experiences on a topic that’s been weighing heavily on my mind. I’m 31 years old and it feels like I’ve hit a wall when it comes to employment. After multiple temp jobs and even teaching English abroad, I’ve faced quite a few setbacks, each one ending in either being fired or feeling like quitting was my only option. It’s been a tough ride!
💭 **Here’s what I’ve been thinking:**
- I recognize a pattern in my work history, and I can’t shake the feeling that it stems from my own neuroses and paranoia.
- I can succeed academically but struggle in professional settings. What gives? 🤔
- Living with my parents, I fear I’m a burden, and it’s hard not to feel hopeless at times.
- While I’ve never attempted suicide, the thought has crossed my mind—it just feels like a last resort, but I don’t want to go down that path.
🔍 **So, what options do I have left?** Every day feels like a new challenge, and I wonder if there are paths I’m simply not seeing.
**Here are some ideas I’ve been considering:**
- **Therapy or Counseling:** It sounds simple, but talking to a professional might help untangle some of my thought processes and give me tools to manage my anxiety.
- **Job Coaching or Support Groups:** Engaging with others who have faced similar challenges can provide a sense of community, plus it might help to learn new strategies.
- **Skill Development:** Maybe it’s time to explore building skills in a different area that doesn’t feel as daunting as traditional employment—like freelancing or remote work options.
- **Volunteering:** Getting back into a routine and contributing positively to a cause might help lift my spirits and give me a sense of purpose.
🌟 **Your input could really make a difference!** Have any of you faced similar struggles in your work life? What steps helped you navigate through those challenging times? Or do you have insights on avenues I might not have considered?
Let’s share our experiences! I truly believe that conversation can spark hope and clarity. 💬
Thanks for tuning in! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts. 🙌
**Resources for Support:**
#MentalHealth #JobStruggles #CareerAdvice #Support #Community
If you can do education but not employment – academia? Has its drawbacks but it beats being unemployed for the rest of your life
Fail at some more! Just keep at it.
Higher education is different from employment because the stakes aren’t always as high. If you fail a class, you can usually retake it. But if you mess up at work, you could get in trouble with your boss and you might not get the chance to undo your mistake. So it’s more pressure. I think you should consider therapy for now to help you deal with the psychological issues you mentioned. The therapist could help you develop coping mechanisms. Then maybe you do low-pressure jobs where there aren’t as many expectations; stay at one for at least a year while you look for something better.
I’d suggest working for the government but I’m not sure based on what you’ve said about your temperament. Are you in any type of therapy right now?
have you considered therapy
Hey it’s ok
If you’re semi-athletic, maybe try a 30 day commitment to run everyday (reasonable distances) and don’t let anything stop you from fulfilling that commitment to yourself. Ask someone (maybe a parent or close friend) to hold you accountable/check in with you. If you’re tech-savvy, start a blog on WordPress and write 2 posts/week for a month discussing the nature of neuroticism, or something you are personally interested in educationally (linguistics, etc.). If you’re neither, decide to do something consistently for at least 3-4 weeks with accountability. This will seriously help you get out of the “I’m such a burden and will perpetually fail everything now” mindset. Proving to yourself that you can do something difficult (to a certain degree) is a game changer mindset wise. If you can do something simple like one of my suggestions, it’s very likely that you can learn to manage and probably alter your “neurotic and paranoid” temperament. Also, be thankful that you’re not in this position with a partner and children. You have a chance to start again where you’re at. Just take it this time, and don’t wallow in your own guilt or shame for past mistakes. remember them only as much as they motivate you to improve yourself. You got this. Whoever you are, I believe in you and think you’ll make it through this. Cheers.
Sounds like you just need a basic damn job. Teaching English abroad? Man just bag some damn groceries or stock shelves for awhile. You don’t need a dream job, just something to have a normal routine to get into the habit of working. Hotel housekeeper, dishwasher, Denny’s waiter who cares. Just apply to some basic entry level work and center yourself shit.
Military ? Bookkeeper ?