I have 9 years of experience in backend engineering. Currently based out of Germany. I am burnt out due to toxic environment in my current workplace. I also have problems of mental health due to which I am undergoing therapy and also on medication(Anti Depressants). I also had child hood trauma due to which my symptoms include emotional falshbacks, freezing, flight, fighting, depression and anxiety. I tried to change job but it didn't materialize. Due to my situation making decisions is difficult and also lacking any inner clarity about what I want in life in future. I am thinking of taking off from work to resolve all these issues. But at same time I am concerned of few things. Like what if current job market remains brutal when I want to make come back and not find enough jobs? Will gap in my career cause any issues? Will I loose my selfconfidence if I quit and runaway from my problem? To what degree facing the problems at workplace is fine? What about my loss of income, will it cause big issue in my future financial goals? I ask dear members here for their advice either from their experience or from their rational view.
Coping with Mental Health Struggles and Career Switch
- Thread starter goro7
- Start date
RowingMyBoat
New Here
good wishes to you making decisions about this, balancing your mental health in a job that challenges it, and the potential stresses of leaving it to have space to figure out what next. I have several friends who have had good success with quitting jobs that were bad for their mental health, and getting a “in the meanwhile” job that is not in their career field but gave them the space they needed to find a better career job.
arfie
MyPTSD Pro
what if you gave it a try and discovered a more functional balance between career and personal growth?
when i start spinning out the "what if's," i often forget that a good outcome is as probable as a bad one. mathematically speaking, good/bad present 50/50 odds.
for what it's worth
i've been retired since 1995, but my own career in engineering and construction were mostly contract where i was able to work at my convenience and avoid the stress of an office environment. the feast or famine aspect of contracting was stressful at times, but the flexibility gave me better opportunity to balance my mental health needs while keeping the bills paid.
when i start spinning out the "what if's," i often forget that a good outcome is as probable as a bad one. mathematically speaking, good/bad present 50/50 odds.
for what it's worth
i've been retired since 1995, but my own career in engineering and construction were mostly contract where i was able to work at my convenience and avoid the stress of an office environment. the feast or famine aspect of contracting was stressful at times, but the flexibility gave me better opportunity to balance my mental health needs while keeping the bills paid.
whiteraven
MyPTSD Pro
This happened to me, too.
The best thing I could have ever done was quit the job that was causing me so much additional stress. I was not working for a couple of months, then got a part-time job I could do from home (unrelated to the work I was trained to do) until I felt it was time to get a full-time job.
Well, this is possible. But in my experience, there are ALWAYS jobs out there. They may not be in your field, but everybody is looking for help.
Depends on how you handle it. I have several gaps in my work history, and I just tell potential employers I took some time off for personal or family reasons. I've never had an issue.
This also depends. If the environment is truly toxic, or if it is just hard for you to manage there, then you really owe it to yourself to find something that is less toxic and stressful.
You're the only one who can answer this because you're the only one who knows your situation and your goals.
