Wow being a chef for 16 years? That's amazing, truly a worthy accomplishment. I have great respect for chefs and you should feel proud to work anywhere, not just the children's hospital. It sounds like you just had a really rough experience with the people you've been working with, rather than the actual job itself. If I were you I wouldn't keep spending money on new schooling that they try to sell you with promising careers - its a gimmick to get you to sign up and spend all your money only to be handed a piece of paper without any real job prospects. This is something all my friends (early-mid twenties) are finding out after graduating community college or even universities. You literally have to start at the ground up no matter what schooling you have. The cabinet making sounds like you could literally do that in your own garage and make a better profit than spending money for someone to teach you. Pick up a hobby that you could potentially make a business out of and take it step by step - you never need schooling to start your own business, ever. Not even a business degree will get you anywhere if you want to start your own business. That's totally in your hands, so that's a good thing, no more shelling out dollars to some campus. Anyway, you must have a lengthy resume. Have you considered going into baking? Its a little less stressful to work at like a bread bakery where you have time to bake in the late nights or early mornings instead of fast cooking. This might be a little less stressful. I would just keep looking at places to cook with coworkers that are actually nice - and one that pays the bills, they're out there - especially at hotels (you have the experience to apply at hotel restaurants). Word of advice, no matter what anyone says, do not tell your boss or your coworkers about any mental difficulties or any mental troubles you may be having, the stigma is still very much alive and its none of their business anyway. I would never spend money on a chef school, or any school, after what happened to me in a medical trade school for phlebotomy - spent close to $2500 for a certificate in a saturated field, never once landed a job after my training. All schools are, are businesses in and of themselves. Don't fall for it...unless you have a really steady plan that you know for a fact will work or you already have an internship lined up with someone. The rest is pure luck. You will make it - you already have 16 years!!! of experience. You just need to find the right environment that will make you happy. Maybe try applying to other hospitals that are less hectic?