I'm a chronic quitter

So I am relatively young, early twenties, and I have always had a hard time with quitting when the going gets rough. My resume is spotty, to say the least.

I've walked out on almost every job I've ever taken. I get in a negative head space and I let the mindset fester. Finally I can't take it anymore, and I quit.

My most recent job was a union job, part time (good for school), with excellent benefits. The work is difficult, strenuous, and fast paced. I convinced myself that I hated it, and I quit.

I really needed that job for a number of reasons. I'm going to reapply and try to get it back.

I was hoping someone would know, what the hell is wrong with me, and how do I change it? Really beating myself up over this.

I am a chronic quitter too....I wish I could tell you how to solve the problem. Unfortunately, all I can offer is compassion. I have quit every single job I've had - including several good ones- because I was either too depressed or too afraid that I couldn't do it anymore. I guess we just have to persevere.

I have the same problem. I'm hoping to turn things around with my current job and work up to getting a better job. I think it helps if you have someone who keeps you accountable

Been doing it all my life, somehow never knew how to ride out the rough (emotionally for me) patches, and sure I wasn't wanted (actually mostly Not true, as I have learned)---having trouble now...staying. It was/is a coping mechanism, now, at my late age, it is scary.....didn't really bother me until I got into my late 50s, ...I know I can still find another job but...ah well. It is too late for much. Try to hang in there, call in a day or two if need be.
Talk to someone who can help you talk your way through the rough patches.
I hope to be able to downsize to very little and work temp/summer jobs within the next couple of years...if that works, I will actually feel ok. I've had an interesting career after all, but no retirement etc...(I get to watch those who remained retire)...I have actually lost count of the number of jobs I have had; always worked, but always went from one place to another...longest was 4yrs, before that 1yr....started at 18...61 shortly///guess I am lucky to have been able to get here...but I don't recommend it...
Do get help with this. Even in tx, I never addressed it as a "problem"....I pretended it was just my style...

I've found it helpful to realize that not only do I chronically quit but, that I also chronically start things. Understanding the above has helped me find work and people who understand who I am. My recommendations is to find people to work with that are truly loving and that don't quit on you(or have a never quit attitude). When you find them be open and transparent about who you are. I have found that a good, "I'm sorry." once you've alienated someone goes along way. Also try to make love the center of how you operates. Recognize you will succeed and fail. If you want to know what love is look at 1 Corinthians 13. I found the love does not boast or exaggerate part especially helpful and frustrating. That being said having a standard of how to act that I can objectively come back to helps immensely.

Fact: Married 12 Years. 4 Kids. Supported them all these years.

Try working for a temp agency. They know you're just a transient. And really with that heavy list of meds you're on (Lithium at 1500mg) it's a wonder you're still standing, much less working.

I have also had a very hard time maintaining a job and not walking out. I have walked out on quite a few and never really enjoyed most of them. I finally found a job I actually like, although the position was temp and I was not able to keep the job. Now I am really freaking out, I am back to square one after having a lovely job since August and I feel like giving up. Working can be really hard when battling mental illness.

I am also going to try a temp agency, despite how much I just want to give up. I have been applying to places daily. It is very overwhelming, not just for most people, but especially for me.

Same here. I've held down a couple of long term jobs but I'm having trouble settling down at the moment and have left a few jobs in the last couple of years. I've been bullied in the past or if I didn't get along with some people I don't know how to handle it. I always presume it's me and let it overwhelm me. I've got to the point where I don't know who I am or what I should do. I don't trust anyone and feel so alone. I got sacked from my new job this week as I blew up at my Manager and now back to square one too. Maybe it is me then. It can be very hard so can sympathise with everyone here.
Hugs.

I call it job hopping it is good to figure out if there is a trend to what causes you to want to quit. There probably is something in common. I leave when my bosses turn out to be intolerably done and I seem to figure this out before leadership. Often they fire the boss after I quit so if i could just tolerate the stupidity a little longer forgive my snarkiness

Luckily I am in a field where skills and intelligence are valued more and job hopping is actually beneficial.

So if you can figure out the "why" you can use it to find a career that will allow you flexibility to deal with those situations that bother you. The whole concept of attaching yourself to a company is quickly loosing to becoming an "expert" in your career regardless of company. Loyalty to the employee is all but gone. Stop beating yourself up!

I left a very promising contractor opportunity as I was just getting oriented in the field (out of state). Once I realized- then verified, that the work was to be done in the late afternoons and evenings outside it became a reason to be unacceptable and a reason to withdraw myself. I felt that if I was originally made aware of the work conditions or that aspect was not revealed or even overlooked I simply did not want to be working in darkened conditions or literally by flashlight/worklights. I felt I was making a good and healthy personal choice and decision to avoid aggregation and frustration as a collected myself, packed up and drove home the next day. As I returned I began to realize that I had again left an otherwise excellent job opportunity that met most if not all other needs an had really good income potential. The, I began to look back at other work, job and reasons to leave and even relocate at significant expense personally and financially. In the following days I became more upset and depressed with myself when I realized that I had a rich history of looking for, finding and starting all kinds of jobs but unable to keep them and being either fired/let go or quitting.

Good, I hope you get it back. That's what it took for me, discipline and deciding what I truly wanted and then making myself do it whether it felt good or not. It takes some time though, once you decide; it does not suddenly get better/easier.

In order to prevent yourself from quitting, you have to find what you you like about the job. What are the positives of working there? I go to work because I meet new faces, I like being productive, and I can save. Good work ethics is key, maintaining professionalism. I think if you bring more negativity/negative thoughts, the outcome of course is going to be very negative. You're going to dread going to work more and more as the negativity grows, therefore quitting. The longest job I've kept was 5 years. Other jobs that I worked at, I always found something wrong with them. It could be from co-workers to workload. Those were the factors that caused my stress and anxiety to grow more and more. Realizing that my thinking was causing me to make decisions of quitting, I had to shift my thoughts. Also knowing your symptoms helps as well. My motto is do what you can do, relax, and enjoy the rest of your day. Don't cause yourself to have a burnout. I can be a perfectionist at my job, wanting to get things done in a fast and efficient manner. The best thing is to not overdo it because your body/mind is going to react differently. It causes a lot of mental stress and you don't want that. It was difficult changing my thought process but it has worked. Work is much more enjoyable.

Some people are natural "scanners" who do not like to be tied to any one place or job.

Are You a Scanner? By Barbara Sher

That's me!! I didn't even have to read the whole thing. If you want to work in a field that will let you try a variety of styles, allow you to quit and not get penalized… even get rewarded for it... Go into database engineering. I'm telling ya!

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I think that people without psychiatric problems have an easier time dealing with rote although even they burn out. Add some anxiety and you have a lot of trouble. This is because nervousness can lead to a flight or fight situation.
I know this because sometimes I feel like running from my job but I never do.
It is usually not a good idea to quit a job before you have a new one. Maybe some people here who have problems with work should try and talk it out with their therapist before they quit. I think it helps.

I don't think I will ever be able to manage my anxiety perfectly, as I have generalized anxiety disorder, but I have managed to keep a job for quite a while now. Talking to my therapist doesn't stop it but somehow I manage to tolerate it. Keep in mind that having a job is essential to mental health and survival.

I also think that many people with mental disorders (though not all) are creative types, and creative work is not easy to get paid for, so they have to try and fit in somewhere in the world to pay the bills. This can be rather intolerable for anyone, especially a person with a disorder, so don't beat yourself up too bad. We live in a world that doesn't want us to have too much freedom because the business world is based on efficiency. It is what it is and your probably not going to change it.

That said, keep pushing, talk it out and maybe you will make it where you want to be.