Have A Really Horrible Job And Feel Trapped

Legacy_user

I started with my current employer 3 years ago, and now any interest I did have has well and truly gone, I hate every min I am there and colleagues also notice, I've been told several times lately to cheer up. I actually wish I was made unemployed as I haven't got the drive to get out of there myself, but there is no jobs around at the min, I just feel so trapped and frankly depressed. I earn less than £15K a year, If I was on benefits It would be no major shock as I'm only on min wage anyway.

Some advice would be very much appreciated.

whitewing

Does your employer have any kind of telephone helpline service?

Perhaps with some external help you could learn to like your job a bit more. Try the Samaritans if not.

Failing that, go to your GP who may be able to assess if you're actually depressed or if you're merely headed that way.

You do have choices and if you're simply miserable (as opposed to depressed), you can learn to make things better for yourself.

Also have a good long look at your diet and how regularly you eat, and this will have a big knock on effect on how you're feeling about everything.

System

I suppose I should of said misserable, I did have depression before and this isn't the same, This just comes on when at work and goes when I clock out, but weekends and holidays are ruined as your no sooner off until the thought of going back makes you misserable again.

Jennifer_Jane

As per Whitewing above - this is very good advice, I hope you will take it, and I think that regular exercise will help your state of mind too.

Also, have you looked around in the Company for other opportunities, or had any careers advice (I don't know where you would find this), but are there any evening courses that would help you make a start to another job for which you may be better suited? I'm thinking you may feel better about things if you can have some goal in your mind that you are working to.

Could it be that you need to start getting some educational qualifications then vocational to get you to where you want to be?

The other thing is that you never know what is just around the corner, so have faith and some hope. This won't be for ever, but you might need to make an initial step to get to the next stage.

Good luck. I feel for you. I'm in a job which is just so boring (and yet stressful, in a minor way too), and I get really upset on Sunday evenings (is this you?) with the idea of work tomorrow. I cannot change this, however, as I am retiring in August, so need to stay - but for you.... stay healthy, and work to the next step - and follow Whitewing's really good advice.

There are also plenty of self-help books which may also let you know that you are not alone.

Good luck!
Jen
x

whitewing

Okay, some more questions that may affect advice...

How old are you?

Who do you live with?

Have you any children?

Are you in financial difficulties?

System

whitewing wrote: »

Okay, some more questions that may affect advice...

How old are you?

Who do you live with?

Have you any children?

Are you in financial difficulties?

29

My OH and kids

2 Kids

Financial difficulties, yes I am but nothing to major, If I earned a respectable wage I'd be fine.

whitewing

Do you get tax credits?

System

whitewing wrote: »

Do you get tax credits?

We do yes, Child and Working

whitewing

Ok. For now (short term), I think you need to cope with your current situation. When that is more in control and you feel more positive, you can start looking for a new job.

Go over to the Debt Free wannabe board and post up a statement of affairs. You can find this on www.makesenseofcards.co.uk (or .com I can't remember). Get your finances as they are now under control.

Outside of work, start looking at how to update your CV and have it ready.

Go to work, and get through the day politely, 5 minutes at a time.

Arrange some good (free) things to do with OH and the children outside of work.

There is nothing wrong with earning the minimum wage. (I pay min wage to some of my workers. And I appreciate them very much). People talk big but a lot of people don't earn that much money, despite what they say. It's how you manage what you have that makes the main difference.

Phone up a telephone helpline too to talk things through.

Get your OH on board too. (I assume you are male, so you may typically be trying to work this all out by yourself, if you're anything like my hubby?)

System

whitewing wrote: »

Ok. For now (short term), I think you need to cope with your current situation. When that is more in control and you feel more positive, you can start looking for a new job.

Go over to the Debt Free wannabe board and post up a statement of affairs. You can find this on www.makesenseofcards.co.uk (or .com I can't remember). Get your finances as they are now under control.

Outside of work, start looking at how to update your CV and have it ready.

Go to work, and get through the day politely, 5 minutes at a time.

Arrange some good (free) things to do with OH and the children outside of work.

There is nothing wrong with earning the minimum wage. (I pay min wage to some of my workers. And I appreciate them very much). People talk big but a lot of people don't earn that much money, despite what they say. It's how you manage what you have that makes the main difference.

Phone up a telephone helpline too to talk things through.

Get your OH on board too. (I assume you are male, so you may typically be trying to work this all out by yourself, if you're anything like my hubby?)

My missus and my parents are from the school of thought that you get a job, you stick at it no matter if you like it or not you stick with it.

I have a couple of ideas for working for myself, just need a kick in the rear to get at it,

whitewing

Could you ask work to cut your hours, and then set up for yourself. You'll still get tax credits then.

Your missus needs to support your decision or your life is going to be impossible.

You're 29 so what your parents think is irrelevant (easier said than in reality, perhaps).

1. Do SOA on Debt Free Wannabe and start to review your budget
2. Get your missus on board with a plan for being self-employed (say in 2010). Work out what you need to do. Look into bank accts, etc etc etc. Make a separate thread and set this up as an out-of-work 'hobby'. Work won't seem half as bad if you're planning to get out of it
3. Do a CV anyway as this will help you spot what you're good at and be more realistic about yourself. It will also be readily available if there is any opportunity of part time work anywhere
4. Add some more to the list yourself....