Has anyone returned to their career after mental health struggles or confidence related career break?

[hepaticanobilis]

I have a job interview next week for an amazing role that would be a return to the sector I left about 5-6 years ago now due to not coping with it at the time because of my mental health. During those 5 years I've worked from home (this really helped with my anxiety) and currently wfh part-time doing a job I enjoy but that is quite a junior level for my education/experience and age (nearly 40). For quite some time I just felt unable to look for anything else more challenging.

Just getting invited to this interview is an amazing opportunity and I know I have all the skills and experience they are looking for, but I'm also terrified of actually getting the job and leaving my safe bubble at home! The role would require some domestic travel and generally involves much more responsibility and more difficult tasks than my current role. (But would also be much more rewarding, a way back into a good career and more money, too, which would certainly help.)

I've had over a year of therapy (still seeing that therapist for another couple of months now) and feel better in general but it still feels like jumping in at the deep end. I'm trying to psych myself up to feel excited and confident because I know that will come across in the interview - I don't want to wake up on the interview day feeling scared and apprehensive and then ruin my chances of getting this job.

OP, well done for getting to this point.
There is no need to stress about the interview, because you already have a job, so are in a secure position.
Of course it would be nice to be offered the new job, but it’s not a disaster if you don’t get it, and other vacancies will come along in future.
So there is no pressure on you - you can go along and treat the interview as a two way process, where you interview them to see if you want to work there.
Relax as much as possible, and give yourself credit for overcoming your mental health problems. Focus on how far you have come, be proud of yourself and think positively. Good luck!

I'm currently self-employed, quite part-time, and although I love what I do (and don't want to stop doing some of it) I wouldn't want to try to scale it up to a full-time income - I'm not reliable enough at my admin amongst other things!

I've been exploring, very slowly, ways of getting back to a previous career that I basically fell out of after my youngest child was born. He's now doing A levels ... However, I've had some very strong encouragement and while I'm not sure when and whether it will happen, it feels at least 60% possible that I could be in a post within the next year or two.

Sending you strong positive vibes that this is meant to be - even if you don't get the post, hope you get the kind of feedback I've had, along the lines of, how can we make sure we get you back to this sort of work.

Thank you both!

Will definitely look for other roles too if I don't get this one. This one is pretty unique for various reasons but I'm sure there's lots out there... I wasn't really actively job-hunting, just came across this and had to apply to see what happens. Even getting an interview feels like a positive sign, at least they were not put off by the rather strange career-curve on my CV that includes a downward step.

I've done the same. Left a high profile role for a break due to mental health then got a step down on my cv but when I interviewed for my current role (which sounds similar to the one you are interviewing for now) I just explained I had some health issues so needed to take a step back.

Yes the new job is manic, yes it takes it out of me and yes I'm permanently knackered 😂 but I actually feel like I've found me again, whoever that may be (some sort of workaholic mentalist).

Good luck for the interview!