Hi cslh500. If you're only 22, you haven't ruined your career. You still have a lot of time to figure things out. A lot of people take time off right after college to travel etc. so I wouldn't even worry too much about a break in your employment if it's just a few months or so.

I'm 30 and in a situation very similar to yours--burned out, struggling with depression, and not sure where to go from here. I was also a very high achiever in school, college, and for the first few years after college, which actually could be a problem for me because employers might think I'm overqualified for some of the lower-stress jobs I'm considering doing next.

I also went through a similar struggle 8 years ago, when I was also 22 and I realized I didn't really want to pursue the standard career path for my college major. I ended up joining AmeriCorps (the US version of the Peace Corps) and teaching English to immigrants. Do they have something similar in England? What about teaching English abroad for a summer or a semester, do you think you would enjoy that? I find a change of scenery, even if temporary, sometimes helps.