I can relate to your job being a part of how you define yourself. I was a social worker my whole life before going on disability due to my illness. Like nursing, there is never a day in social work that is not stressful. I am taking classes now to take me in a different career direction, but don't know that I'll ever be able to work 50 and 60 hour weeks like I used to.

I was a damn good social worker, and I enjoyed that people appreciated me. I now feel like I don't serve much purpose sometimes, but on my better days I don't listen to that self talk.