start-fresh Posted July 15, 2010 Posted July 15, 2010 I'm having a really hard time in general since finishing college in spring of '09. I moved back to the small town near where I grew up (about 7000 people in the town) to take a job. My coworkers are pretty decent people in general, but I haven't formed any real close bonds. They're all older than me and have families. I'm also having a hard time meeting people and forming friendships. Dating has been nonexistent. I know you're not supposed to let work define your life, but it seems to be doing that for me. I loved what I studied in college, but since entering the workforce, I loathe my job. I don't know if my depression is a result of disliking my job, or I would be depressed anyway, or what. My work does not fit my personality and the nature of my work makes me feel like whatever I do it's not enough. I worked harder in college but I felt energized by it. I felt myself growing as a person, and now I feel as if I'm transforming into a person I hate. I just have no motivation for things I used to like to do, and I'm in a dangerous spiral that's hard to pull out of. You know, when I'm not interested in stuff, I become boring to other people and they don't want to be around me either, so then I feel worse about myself. I feel like I had/have so much potential in life and it's like it's slipping away. I know a lot of people in life have things a lot worse. At least I have a job related to my degree, but I was always happier at my menial jobs (retail, manual labor, etc) when I was growing up than at my career. Should I quit a job on my career path for piece of mind, continue applying for jobs I think I would enjoy more, force myself to date or try new things? What will pull me out of this mess? Thanks for listening to my whining...
Engadget Posted July 16, 2010 Posted July 16, 2010 It's hard to recommend quitting your job in this economy, but if it's making you that miserable look elsewhere. I'm in the same boat and I'm pretty depressed myself.
Author start-fresh Posted July 16, 2010 Author Posted July 16, 2010 It's hard to recommend quitting your job in this economy, but if it's making you that miserable look elsewhere. I'm in the same boat and I'm pretty depressed myself. Yeah, Engadget, I always appreciate your posts on LS. It's just such a let down after college, where I was in this rich, exciting environment and now it's the daily grind. It's cliche but you feel like you've got the whole world in front of you at certain times and then it all closes right in to reality.
Green Posted July 16, 2010 Posted July 16, 2010 Yeah, Engadget, I always appreciate your posts on LS. It's just such a let down after college, where I was in this rich, exciting environment and now it's the daily grind. It's cliche but you feel like you've got the whole world in front of you at certain times and then it all closes right in to reality. Do you have a dream. Cmon you must. Why not work toward that goal. Don't be afraid of failure....
Author start-fresh Posted July 16, 2010 Author Posted July 16, 2010 Do you have a dream. Cmon you must. Why not work toward that goal. Don't be afraid of failure.... Yeah, I'm hoping to go to grad school fall of 2011. I think it will benefit my career and I need to be in that atmosphere again. Who knows, maybe I can make something in academia my career...
Green Posted July 16, 2010 Posted July 16, 2010 Yeah, I'm hoping to go to grad school fall of 2011. I think it will benefit my career and I need to be in that atmosphere again. Who knows, maybe I can make something in academia my career... My advice is go to Grad school if its part of your dream... or takes you closer to your dream. I went to grad school and it was fun. Seriously though, only do it if it takes you closer to your dream.
jstalltxga Posted July 16, 2010 Posted July 16, 2010 (edited) I went through the same thing myself. I even moved back to my own college town to get a **** hotel job, which at the time was all I could get anyway. It wasn't pefect. It felt great living in the town (savannah) but the job drove everything else down and I was miserable untill I finally quit the job. there is no easy way to be free, thats for sure. try something new out. explore your interest. I am volunteering at an art museum. as crazy as it sounds, consider going back to school. but keep the main job till you find something you really like. If nothing else, try to find a job in a new place. If you can, travel. Sometimes being in a completely different city can be exciting and help you let go of whats bothering you. I used to drive to Charleston randomly by myself just to get away, and when I went back I felt better. Edited July 16, 2010 by jstalltxga
Author start-fresh Posted July 31, 2010 Author Posted July 31, 2010 (edited) I've hit a complete low point in my life right now guys. The main thing that's kept me going all of these years has been my confidence in my abilities to be a good employee or student, someone that could be counted on. Lately though, I've been doing nothing but make mistakes at work. It could be my perception, but I have never felt more worthless or incompetent. I work as a construction inspector and I'm forced to make decisions I don't know enough about. I have no respect from the contractors because of it, and I feel so naive and that I'm getting taken advantage of. They know all of the tricks to squeeze more money out of the contract. I'm really too weak to do the job and I'm failing misearbly. I feel like I should just tell my superiors someone else needs to take over the project because I just can't do it. If I lose my job over it, I wouldn't even care at this point. It would make me a quitter but I can't go to work every day just to make all of these mistakes. I seriously work from about 6:30 am to 8 pm every day, and still can't get all of my work done properly. I worry about all the mistakes I've made and regularly lose sleep over this stuff. I'm only able to get 4 or 5 hours a night and then the vicious cycle starts all over. I've got to be clinically depressed at this point, and I think I'm developing an anxiety disorder. Man I'm a mess. It's making me doubt my whole career at this point. I'm questioning my judgement, ability to get things done in a timely manner, efficiency, etc. What do I do? Edited July 31, 2010 by Amistad
TouchedByViolet Posted July 31, 2010 Posted July 31, 2010 Sounds like you should look for a job that generates at least a baseline level of happiness. This suffering is clearly taking its toll. Have you tried applying to other places? Sometimes just working for a better company will make you enjoy your work more.
Brady_to_Moss Posted August 1, 2010 Posted August 1, 2010 After reading your post, i myself am starting to worry. Going into senior year of college. I graduate in December with my BS and can get my masters 6 months after that. It really just hit me that after December..i am on the grind for 40 years....its sad because i have take college and the parties and being free for granted. I just feel that after college i will turn into a robot. Not have as many friends as i do now..get up, go to work..do it all over again. Man i have to make this last semester count....
Green Posted August 1, 2010 Posted August 1, 2010 I've hit a complete low point in my life right now guys. The main thing that's kept me going all of these years has been my confidence in my abilities to be a good employee or student, someone that could be counted on. Lately though, I've been doing nothing but make mistakes at work. It could be my perception, but I have never felt more worthless or incompetent. I work as a construction inspector and I'm forced to make decisions I don't know enough about. I have no respect from the contractors because of it, and I feel so naive and that I'm getting taken advantage of. They know all of the tricks to squeeze more money out of the contract. I'm really too weak to do the job and I'm failing misearbly. I feel like I should just tell my superiors someone else needs to take over the project because I just can't do it. If I lose my job over it, I wouldn't even care at this point. It would make me a quitter but I can't go to work every day just to make all of these mistakes. I seriously work from about 6:30 am to 8 pm every day, and still can't get all of my work done properly. I worry about all the mistakes I've made and regularly lose sleep over this stuff. I'm only able to get 4 or 5 hours a night and then the vicious cycle starts all over. I've got to be clinically depressed at this point, and I think I'm developing an anxiety disorder. Man I'm a mess. It's making me doubt my whole career at this point. I'm questioning my judgement, ability to get things done in a timely manner, efficiency, etc. What do I do? Dude use your mistakes to learn from. Don't get all worked up about contractors, thats what they do. After reading your post, i myself am starting to worry. Going into senior year of college. I graduate in December with my BS and can get my masters 6 months after that. It really just hit me that after December..i am on the grind for 40 years....its sad because i have take college and the parties and being free for granted. I just feel that after college i will turn into a robot. Not have as many friends as i do now..get up, go to work..do it all over again. Man i have to make this last semester count.... Dude life can be a lot better after college. It is for me.
Author start-fresh Posted August 1, 2010 Author Posted August 1, 2010 After reading your post, i myself am starting to worry. Going into senior year of college. I graduate in December with my BS and can get my masters 6 months after that. It really just hit me that after December..i am on the grind for 40 years....its sad because i have take college and the parties and being free for granted. I just feel that after college i will turn into a robot. Not have as many friends as i do now..get up, go to work..do it all over again. Man i have to make this last semester count.... I had that same realization the fall before I graduated and that semester was the best time of my life by far. A lot of people adjust to the grind and get used to earning that pay check. I realize it's about balance, but I've just not been able to adjust. Personally I preferred the college lifestyle but a lot of people preferred getting out 'into the real world'.
Brady_to_Moss Posted August 1, 2010 Posted August 1, 2010 I had that same realization the fall before I graduated and that semester was the best time of my life by far. A lot of people adjust to the grind and get used to earning that pay check. I realize it's about balance, but I've just not been able to adjust. Personally I preferred the college lifestyle but a lot of people preferred getting out 'into the real world'. Dont get me wrong..i cant wait to be getting that paycheck and get my own house one day..but college and HS flew by so fast...dont know what you got till its gone:o
Green Posted August 2, 2010 Posted August 2, 2010 Dont get me wrong..i cant wait to be getting that paycheck and get my own house one day..but college and HS flew by so fast...dont know what you got till its gone:o Can't live in the past or future... Just be here and now in the present.
Recommended Posts