I’m going through the same decision

SamuraiFrog: Thanks, mate. I need to leave this job because I’m worried that I’m on the road to having a nervous breakdown. A little stress can be stimulating from time to time, but a lot of stress on a continual basis will just wear you down until you break.

Sometimes I’ve had to take sleeping pills to stop myself waking up in the early hours worrying about work. A few months ago my doctor offered me Prozac again, but when I wasn’t at work I wouldn’t bother taking them as I felt fine. I don’t think I’ve ever had a full-on panic attack, but there have been times when I’ve felt so overwhelmed by work that I had to leave my desk and go outside to calm down. I know I’m an introvert/reclusive type, but in recent months I only leave the house when I need to go to work – it takes a lot of energy to leave the house as I’m so drained by my job. And there was that time, after a meeting with my manager, when I considered ending it all. No job is worth that.

Liane: Thanks for commenting. I don’t believe that life will be easy after I leave this job; actually I feel like I’ve been selling my soul all this time for a somewhat comfortable existence. The thought of how difficult it would be for me to move forward has kept me there much longer than I would have liked.

It would be so much easier to collect my salary each month and swallow my dreams, but I’m so fed up of being fed up that I have to do something to sort out my life. I’ve tried talking to my managers, I’ve tried various strategies to boost my productivity, but in the end I’m still in a job which makes me ill and deeply unhappy. I just want a fresh start and new challenges.

That said, remember that making a big change doesn’t mean that life or anything will be easy. I’ve been through hard times and good times since leaving my teaching job (after 22 years!), but I never regret walking away, and I wouldn’t trade the adventures I’ve had along the way for the regular salary and some degree of security.

Speaking of Sarah Palin, has anyone seen this spoof of her book?
http://flcenterlitarts.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/no-way-to-treat-a-lady-upstart-spoofs-palin-autobiography/

If you can manage a couple of months, I’d say leave and find something else as soon as you can. I know it’s scary, but I once stayed at a job I hated and ended up in the emergency room from all the stress. I thought I was having a heart attack. Thankfully, it was “just” a panic attack, but it was a real wake-up call. It’s not worth it to do real damage to yourself working with people you hate at a job that doesn’t really sound like it’s ultimately that important to you.

Obviously, it’s your choice to make. That’s just my own perspective. Whatever you do, I just want you to be where you want to be.

In th’ end it’s up to you…

Whichever choice you make it’ll be the right one – we aren’t part of the US yet :}

Not sure about where I’m going in life, but I’m hopeful that I’ll find my way. I’m still hoping to go wolf tracking at some point, but probably not this year as I need to keep hold of my savings for now.

That’s just wrong – on any level …

As to putting in extra hours, it’s fine so long as it’s recognised, even if that amounts to just a “thanks very much’ from your manager. Obviously overtime would be welcome, or any sense that the effort is appreciated, but if you aren’t getting even that, it doesn’t speak very well of the people you’re working for and it’s not worth it.

But you’re young yet (compared to me, anyhow ) and you have a helluva lot going for you – I mean, anyone who wants to go wolf tracking in Romania has to have imagination and an idea where she wants to go in life – so who knows, this could be your big chance…

Trust your instincts.

I’ll stay tuned…

I enjoy being engrossed in my work, so I don’t mind putting in some extra time when necessary, but at the moment it feels like it’s not appreciated and so I’m just wasting my time.

Did you see the alternate future proposed in a recent episode of Supernatural which had President Palin in the White House?

If you were of a mind to, you could consider a case for constructive dismissal in that your working conditions had deteriorated to the point where you felt forced to leave. But I’m not an expert on British employment law, so I can’t advise with any certainty.

One thing’s certain – you’re not happy where you are. So maybe it is time to jump. Especially if it’s something you’ve been planning for a while.

In my job, I have a similar situation in respect to the amount of work – I find myself working until nearly 7pm five days a week, and occasionally having to go in on Saturdays. I enjoy the work, so I don’t mind so much, and I have a good working relationship with my colleagues, which helps.

But at the end of the day, we work to live, not live to work, and one has to draw the line somewhere.

So who knows? Maybe this is the moment you’ve been waiting for?

Whatever you decide, I hope it works out well for you…