I have just finished the first week of my student job, arranged through my university. I'm a mature student and had a couple of "career jobs" in the past. Held responsible jobs for years. But this week something happened that never happened before.

I find life difficult anyway, but the sudden switch to fulltime job rather than school, and having to commute into the city was very emotionally draining on me, even though it was my choice and no one forced me to take the job. I was overwhelmed from the noise, stinks, sensory overload of the commute and any "break" time spent looking for peace which is unavailable in the city. End result was emotional breakdown, boss and some others heard/saw me crying, and the school created an easy exit strategy for me, thinking I wanted to quit. I felt like quitting, but I don't want to quit and fail. I want to succeed, work, make the money, and learn. It's not an ideal job, but it's related to my field and will teach me useful stuff I wouldn't get elsewhere.

I also feel very sad because of my misdiagnosed and mis-treated foot condition that has kept me increasingly sidelined over the past 3 years when I should have been getting into the field work that is essential to my field of study. Feeling old and physically vulnerable and even useless and worthless contributed to my emotional overwhelm, too.

So anyway, I talked to the necessary people (school and work supervisors) and spilled my guts perhaps more than I should have (not to coworkers) - but, hey, they asked - and then I smoothed things over with the people who are either concerned or checking up on me, having seen my tears. I don't expect it will happen again, but then I didn't expect it to happen this time, even though my husband predicted it. He knew I would be unhappy here, as did I, but he also predicted this kind of breakdown eventually, without telling me that, thankfully. He's a great support, but I could sure use some acknowledgment and understanding from anyone here willing to respond. What do you think? Been through this? Supervised someone who was a crybaby in the first week?