Just quit my job why do I still feel stressed

[sarahH2399]

Keeping it quite brief. I've been in my job for 5 years. To begin with I loved it and thought I would never leave.
Then things changed. Suffice to say I ended up feeling under appreciated, under valued and untrusted. I had extra responsibility offered to me then taken away when another member of staff said they were leaving, the responsibility was given to my co worker.
I am the longest serving member of staff and have always gone above and beyond, put the company first and generally been reliable and consencious. All this has been having a negative effect on my mental health to the extent that I'm anxious, stressed, frustrated and generally a wreck.
So! Today I handed in my notice but why do I not feel as relieved as I thought I would?
I still feel anxious. I suppose because I have to work my notice I haven't actually left yet?
Has anyone else been in a similar situation and experienced the same feelings?
I've never quit a job before, always being lucky in the past that I've stayed in previous jobs for many years.

I think sometimes you can feel temporarily relieved then the reality hits that you are actually leaving and then you start to doubt yourself!

Do you have something else lined up?

Trust your feelings. You've made the right decision. It's all going to work out perfectly.

You'll be fine. Sometimescit just takes a while for everything to sink in. A week or two after you've left, like actually left the building, you'll feel better

When you feel a bit traumatised by everything you don't feel what you're "supposed" to feel - you're so used to suppressing your emotions everything can feel a bit numb. Take the Covid vaccine news. We all "should" be celebrating and punching the air. No one is really. Everyone's just a bit meh. Contrast that with all the enthusiasm everyone had for saucepan banging and clapping on doorsteps at the start. It's great news but we've lost the capacity to feel it because we've been in such a miserable situation for so long. But we will be happy, it just needs to sink in your situation is like that.

Oh and the fact that you feel numb at your good job news, is reinforcement of the fact that working there has sapped your capacity for joy and you've done the right thing in getting out x

Thank you both so much, you are absolutely right!
I hadn't thought of it like that, that's helped me immensely.
I haven't got another job to go to, luckily I'm in a position where I can take a few months off to reevaluate.
I feel emotionally battered to be honest. It's very sad that it's come to this, considering I used to love my job.
Thank you both so much for your replies, they have really helped me

One thing I've learnt is that nothing stays the same. So although you have had a very good run/loved your job for the first few years it doesn't mean that it will continue on this trajectory ad infinitum. It's not your fault. It just means that it's time for you to move on. You've done and learnt what you need to. You have to learn to recognise these signs and not linger unnecessarily!

I left a job in the summer. I wasn't actually there for very long. It started out really well but lots of changes and a new manager were making me really miserable. I've done ad hoc work since and have just had four interviews; one unsuccessful, two offers and waiting on another one (which is the one I would like!).

Enjoy your time off. It's a great time for a bit of self care and getting back to your normal happy self. Use the time to look forward and plan what you want from your next job. Don't waste time thinking about what went wrong with the old job. It is what it is.

Completely normal, particularly if you're at the end of your rope - it took a couple of weeks after I actually left for "me" to surface again.

I was like this in my last job - I almost felt as though they wouldn't let me leave! Once I had a day or two for the news to get out and it started feeling real and I had my exit date etc, I started feeling MUCH less stressed!!

I feel the same right now, my job has been making me exhausted and miserable and I've landed what seems like a perfect job instead, but my initial high has now gone rather flat. I have no idea if I'm doing the right thing.

I was nervous to move as well - I felt like I had to prove myself at the old job. But to honest, I just got fed up of the stress and coming home in tears constantly. Moving was the best thing I did, even just for my mental health! I think it's always good to try new opportunities!

Well I've now left. Have very mixed feelings and I've still feel anxious, but I suppose that will go with time. I also feel really angry with my Boss who didn't even say goodbye. I had no exit interview and no thanks for your hard work (and believe me, it was hard!!)
I suppose that just goes to prove I did the right thing?
When I think back to all the extra work I did, unpaid, and the general stress of the job I realise just what a mug I was. Never again!!!