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I'm struggling with depression, un(der)emplyment and anxiety about work

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SeekingAfrica

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I haven't been able to admit this to anyone even on here, because I like to put a better outlook on problems and keep trying. But here it is: because of being in denial I have put myself in very unfavorable work position. It's been a tough year, and I give myself props for doing what my best was at the time, but I've gotten myself here, and I feel guilty too, and I'm struggling.

2.5 years ago- or about- I had spent a year being so anxious I could barely work or go out. I go myself in therapy and in a year, things were finally back to normal. Ever since university, for 6 years all I've done and well made living with, was freelancing, primarily VA work. It was always plenty of work and enough to pay my bills, except for that one year.

Anyway, this year in may, I moved out of the apartment I shared with my partner after we began, and ever since I struggled to regain control of my work and life. Suddenly I had less consistent work and more bills, suddenly new clients didn't come so easily, I was setting up new place, and all that...I had to stop therapy for lack of funds. Issues kept piling up, and there was more than once when I barely worked, barely paid bills on time, and barely got out of bed. I was trying to keep it together in front of anyone who wasn't in this forum. For myself too. And here I am, behind on rent again. My client being away until New Year, again. Surrounded by people that don't believe in depression, but barely managing to work out of bed.

I'm trying though. I asked few friends for help(small help but it's a start-I'm trying to handle the closest payments), I'm trying to establish routine of applying for jobs daily, I am trying to read on dbt, occasionally meditate, break tasks into smaller things. I am trying to do tasks for my online store, even though right now it feels anything with too small of an effect doesn't even make a dent in the situation. My spirits are really low. I am trying to keep with the bit by bit idea, hoping one day it gets better, but it's hard. Especially around New Year when I suddenly got so clear overview of how depressed I was in the summer(practically suicidal-that I shared with some friends, there was no way to push through otherwise), and how slowly things are pushing forward. It's like every effort is a drop in a bucket and I'm yet to figure out if that bucket has a hole in the bottom or not. Everything is hard, getting up, eating, not eating, trying, not trying. I know it took time to get here and it will take time to dig myself out of it, I know somehow such situations pass anyway however bad or panicked I feel, but it's awful.
I'm making a battle plan, though- for handling things now, for building better future. But it's hard, it is. I don't know if I need more support or advice, but both are appreciated. I have lists of things to help with the present and the future, and I keep expanding them. Everything feels so hopeless, helpless, like 5 days will screw up something I build for 5 years, like I don't have the time to get better...but I have to keep trying, what else can I do?

Oh...and for the next 10 days I have almost no income. I have some, it's basically awfully paid side gig, pays almost nothing, but it's something. I'm also trying to figure out whether to pawn my old tablet(if they accept it) just to put some pressure off the current situation to focus on the future new clients I need to find. After 3rd of January things will get easier, but sadly a lot of things can't be put off until then, so I need to handle them....Sorry this is so long, so much is on my mind, and I'm trying, I'm really trying to keep moving forwards somehow...

Oh, and forgot to mention, each small task for the side work makes me really nervous and shaky. Job interviews too. So I am doing as many as I can handle and learning how to push the anxiety.
 
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Hi at @SeekingAfrica.... That's alot of pressure and stress to have....

Is there any chance you could get disability or help from the government.. To take the series away.?

You can sell your tablet. I've had to use pawn shops regularly... And it's a saving grace at the time. I always think it's awful when everything comes down to money.

Is there a chance you could borrow a some of money?... Just to keep you going?...

I admire your self employed status.. As it's not easy. I wish I had better advice.... Except maybe this... It's temporary.. And it will get better just let it did 2.5 years ago. Please take care of yourself..... Hugs

To take the stress away not series.
 
Hi at @SeekingAfrica.... That's alot of pressure and stress to have....

Is there any...
Sadly I'm home to my parents for 3 months, which means I'm not in the same country in which I am most of timor of their coe. That complicates things a little.

Disability, I actually looked into it recently, and even in the best case it would take a month and a half to establish- may be more. I would need to go in front of a doctor/therapist of their choosing and he has to determine that I am not only depressed, but enough so to be deemed unfit to work. I am still looking into how this could work, but I presume that by the time I am able to to it I would have handled the worst- I have to.

Friends have helped a bit, even though it's hard around holiday season, but I think herI don't have any more people I can ask. I've been trying to be reasonable and talk myself down: after 2 years of being at the same place and paying my rent on time, despite of issues, hopefully I won't be evicted. I'm paying in parts any chance I get so that they know I haven't disappeared fully. I hope the fact that I have been consistent before that, and that by Monday I would have paid half of the rent, would save me from eviction. But it's obviously a priority to make the money for it somehow.

I am trying to be logical about this. If I were evicted, I am staying at my parents now, so I still have where to sleep. I can find another apartment easily(here it doesn't work like in States, there wouldn't be record of me being evicted). The biggest issue would be that I am in another country right now, and if I were evicted, I can't do anything about all the things in that apartment. Even so, I think the most important things are with me, and I would survive somehow. And again, this is unlikely, I hope.

I will go about the tablet, the issue is that now it will be Christmas, which means I probably can't go before Tuesday, and with bank transactions, it won't get to my landlord before Wednesday or Thursday. And it's no more than half- or less- of what I need more. I can only hope that they will accept it. It's in good shape, it's just 2-3 years old. Sadly anything else I can think of pawning is a country away. Anyway, with all I can think of, I would have paid all, in parts, hopefully by New Year. So I can only hope on the goodness of my landlord. From 5th forward I should have work back, and it's good work that I can do even in bad state. But I am looking for more work, just because I don't want to rely only on one stream, of course. I don't want to ever repeat this situation.

Thank you so much for the kind words. I will get through somehow, I know I will, but I think I needed to say all this somewhere, it hasn't been easy.
 
Hi @SeekingAfrica I know it's hard once a few years ago I struggled badly.. And tried to sell

My flat but it didn't happen and it was repossessed. So I guess what I am trying to say is try not to worry to much... Your trying... And that's enough. The pawn shop will take most things. Gold is Good... But you're right you don't get much... But you get something... It will get better.... It did for me..... So it will for you
 
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My flat but it didn't happen and it was repossessed. So I guess what I am trying to say is try not to worr...
I am, but I don't feel like it's enough. Like there has to be more people, more ways to handle that situation, but I am not sure how.

Sadly, I don't have jewelry with me either. I took look at the website of the place I plan to go to and they do have a lot of things, but I don't think I have anything else from those things here with me(that is mine). With anything I can think of I am still 80$ short. And although there is some side work I can scrap through, it's peanuts. Meaning: there is plenty of work, but my environment is distracting, I can't afford anything else and the work is going impossibly slow. So ideally I can make 10$ a day from it, but, fairly, I'll be lucky if I manage more than 2. And any other work I'm doing may not pan out before 3rd-5th. I keep trying to think of something, but I think I've exhausted other options.

That scares me a lot though- the repossession? I'm not in the country where my apartment is, so objectively I'm less scared of losing my apartment, and more scared of where my possessions will go. I know- things pass and somehow this will as well. I just wish I was more creative in handling this. I'm getting quite claustrophobic in one room with 2 people*(my parents) who try to keep quiet but really don't, and me trying to work but that going badly as well. I even feel too guilty to try to work on my online shop...I feel like I can benefit from a day off to make a battle plan, but that if I do, I am losing a whole day of working, even if it's for almost nothing.
 
I was able to sell my I pad and all of my silver and gold jewelry and a camera and a guitar as well. It helped me to survive a little better with the extra money. I also sold my tv and all of my dvds. Now I have nothing left to sell so i have to make it from now on the money I do have.

I understand the stress of not having all of the rent and not wanting to leave things behind. I think you will be able to make it if you can start selling things to help out. I do not have any advice about the stresses and pressures you are under because not having enough money each month is so very scary and all I can think of is to journal your feelings out and exercise for the anxiety and do a lot of self care.

I am sorry that you are surrounded by people that do not believe in your depression because that is the last thing you need. Would you be willing to go to a credit counseler for advice and help? Or a finacial planner at your bank? I wish the best for you. Hang tight and do your best in spite of the fears and worries, I know easier said than done. But try.
 
I was able to sell my I pad and all of my silver and gold jewelry and a camera and a guitar as well. It he...
That's what I was saying. Nothing against selling things, but most of my things aren't here. Except my laptop which I need for work, plus it's a bit broken and barely holding on. I really don't know.

Today is especially bad, with all the noise and worry, I don't feel like celebrating tomorrow because I'm afraid I may have to stop attempting work today. Every time I try I feel like I'll throw up and I just want quiet environment and some support. By this point it's really not that big of an amount I'm short on...but if I can't have sources to get it from, it may as well be thousands. It's kind of ironic that if I could wait few weeks more, I will actually have no issue paying things.

Oh, any any financial advisers of any sort here would cost money actually:/. And I think my parents thinking I'm lazy is really starting to affect my confidence too. I don't know if at this point I shouldn't just pray for things to work.
 
Oh, any any financial advisers of any sort here would cost money actually:/. And I think my parents thinking I'm lazy is really starting to affect my confidence too. I don't know if at this point I shouldn't just pray for things to work.

Do not be so negative yet. Going to the bank would get you free advice because I have done it. I have gone to credit counseling before and there was a fee yeah but I could afford it and it got me out of debt.

And quitting praying, are you nuts? A way will open up for you if you keep on trying. I would hate to think that you may be feeling sorry for yourself right now. You keep on coming up with excuses you know.

Do not give up on yourself at this time when you need you to fight for yourself as hard and as impossible it may feel. You are so worth fighting for.
 
You are very welcome!:happy::hug:

Now that I have (somewhat) calmed down I found one more friend to ask and she can get me the last part of the money next Friday. And since she will give them in person and I need to transfer them by bank I may have issue because they may not be able to arrive before 1st or second of Jan, because of the weekend.

But hey, it's a start. If I don't find the money/make the money in other way before that, I'll ask my landlords if they are okay to either receive them on 2nd or for me to send them to western union. It's not ideal but it's a start. Cheers to finding more and more solutions.
 
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