What were your signs it’s time to leave your job?

[Linestripe]

I’m 26 and I’m 5 years into a career I’ve realised I don’t really like and isn’t suited to my personality.

I started antidepressants in January because of how miserable my job makes me…

I started drinking wine every single night to just numb the exhaustion and thought of going tomorrow… I’ve been off for a week and not drank at all because I’m not working.

I fantasised about being ill and having to be admitted to hospital, getting into accidents and breaking limbs…even deliberately burning my skin in the sun just to have time off and away. I’ve even looked into having operations to get time off for health reasons.

I don’t think I realised how bad I’ve been until I’ve been off for the past two months…I shouldn’t be wishing my entire life away, wishing for retirement, wishing to not wake up…all because of my job.

I have a huge mortgage, we have only just bought a house so I need to be careful and save to pursue the next career I want, including course fees and household expenses to tide me over finding a new job…

What were your signs it’s time to leave?

OP you sound exactly like me 3 years ago, I was nursing and used to drink on an evening to blot out the stress, would of loved to go into hospital just for a break, and felt sick at the thought of work, pushed away everyone close to me and ended up on anti depressants.
I'm still a nurse but do a totally different type of nursing, I'm now more office based and well away from any clinical element.
I wouldn't say I love my job, but I like my job. I don't dread going to work in the morning, I don't count down the hours, I haven't drank any alcohol in 2 years and no longer on anti depressants.
It's easy to stay in a job as its what you know, but breaking free is the best thing I ever did.
I don't know much about working in education but is there something different you can branch off to so you don't need to retrain but it's a completely different role??

Standing outside the door taking a deep breath every day because I don't want to go in.

Also when I realised they were dragging out my Grievance because its about someone who's been there years and although past retirement age, and not up to the job anymore, they can't do anything about his behaviour so they're hoping I go instead....so now I'm off with stress and realising I don't want to go back.

I get it, OP. I’m also a burnt out ex-teacher, and over the pandemic have been working in admin for a social care- type job.

My managers are hopeless. So defensive; if you feedback to them any issues, particularly when they have requested you do so, they get all nasty and weird, closing ranks and throng back things you’ve allegedly done/not done. They don’t listen to us, ignore pressing issues for the service users (my job to log issues), slag off other staff on my level (which I find hard to stomach and to keep to myself, tbh).

I am giving my notice in tomorrow to give them an early bank holiday gift. I am effing fed up and need the money, but am applying for nice receptionist type posts where I may be on a lower salary and/or zero hours, but I will be able to look myself in the mirror with pride, knowing I’ve done the right thing, while I also think about what I will retrain in. Hi

Don’t know where the hi came from!!

If you're idea of being extraverted is to look at someone else's shoes when you talk to them, maybe try IT? Works for me.

For me, it was when I was skidding off the road, heading towards a ditch, and my first thought was “I'm going to die” and my second thought was “well, at least I won't have to go into work tomorrow”.

I know I shouldn’t laugh at this, but I’ve been in a similar place and it’s crazy that we get here, but comforting to hear that we’re not alone re this.

*Despite being really unwell with it I was secretly thrilled to get Covid back in October, meaning that I could not legally go into work for 10 whole days

Unfortunately even though I informed them of things that would need to be covered whilst I wasn't in, they still called/messaged/emailled me on my personal mobile daily, berating me.*

Yup, yes to both of the above. Like, you’re ill, but could you please just do this for us…

I’m interested in working in Digital Marketing or Graphic Design, and have used both in my current jobs. If anyone knows of a quick and easy route to gain an entry level job in either field, I’d be grateful to hear from anyone. Ex-teacher, admin experience, art degree, introvert, wrong side of 35 so probably not right for an apprenticeship.

Sorry to hijack your thread, OP.

When I didn’t have a good plan forward with them, when I couldn’t picture where I wanted I be. I couldn’t see myself progressing and didn’t want to (which is crappy).