[rachel_]

I have been for the last two years, kind of by choice and kind of not. For 7 years, I worked as a medical transcriptionist but at the end of the last job, I knew I most likely wouldn't be able to get another typing-intensive job because both my wrists were very painful. Strangely, the typing wasn't what caused the problem, but the fact remains that I was going to have to retrain (or marry a rich man, lol). I decided to take a little time and see if my wrists would heal up and start looking for another job. I thought call center work, while having a little typing, would suit me. Nobody wants to hire a person with no customer service experience, so I got turned down for a lot of those jobs, but my problem now is that I'm terrified I can't function in a job anymore. I need to do something to start making money again. (I was even desperate enough to consider being a camgirl, even though I'm 40 and not in great shape, so that should tell you where I've sunk to.)

Can anyone relate?

[Misssy2]

I DEFINETLY relate. I left a job of 19 years...kind of by choice..and kind of not.
In that process...I have lost my whole identity and confidence. I am 52....and I also thought I was going to look for another job...and it has also been 2 years for me. I slipped back into an alcoholic slump...although I am doing better now...it really helped to destroy my confidence and self esteem more.

Have you also noticed that old friends....you find out some of them were really not friends at all? Do you recognize that depression sets in and that old friends seem to play it off like you are exaggerating and just don't want to work?

Family has turned away because I am not the money maker I once was....everything in life has changed for the worst...but when I was working it felt like H*LL on earth as well.

I'm stuck...just like you.

[rachel_]

I have definitely noticed a shift with certain people. In my case, my brother has started to treat me differently, as if he only had respect for me when I was earning a paycheck. I've taken to lying to him about having freelance, temporary jobs.

I wish your friends could live for a few weeks as someone who has depression, then they would be able to see that you're not exaggerating anything, and I'm sorry you're having to deal with this on top of everything else.

Message me any time if you want to talk.

[Misssy2]

I understand Rachel..it seems my whole family has treated me differently...no respect since I lost that paycheck.

I never wished anything bad on my friends in the past...but I have in the last 2 years..LOL. I've even gone to far to wish they would lose their jobs so they could see how I feel...I had depression to begin with...not having a job...just makes it so much worse.

[ScientiaOmnisEst]

Still. I've been applying for three years and still can't get the simplest job.

I keep hoping I'll get something so I can finally earn some rights and respect, finally be able to work towards deserving to live. I'm never going to be able to erase the fact that I spent almost a year on welfare, but maybe I can bury it, pay it off somehow....

I just want a simple, low-paying job to support myself. That's it. I"m begging people to let me live. I'm getting ready to start telling employers I'll kill myself if I'm not employed in the next two months, and I keep thinking I will (it likely doesn't mean anything, though. No worry).

[rechu]

I just quit even though, before finding the job I quit, I was unemployed/underemployed for several years. I have a few money-making ideas I want to explore. The job just got to the point where it was not worth it for the minimal pay I am receiving and I have been very stressed by it. Good luck with the job search. Do you have any skills that can be useful in freelance work?

[Bluesday]

I've been unemployed for 2 years. I applied for SSDI b/c I was having panic attacks just thinking about applying for a job!