What’s wrong with me? I am depressed at work and when I’m not at work I’m depressed and terrified of the next time I have to work. It’s not just one job. It’s every job.
Maybe this isn’t the right place to post this but maybe someone will understand and possibly help me understand. I just can’t with work. It’s not just my job now it’s been every job and it makes it so hard to stay at a job. I can make it about 2 weeks before I feel like I can’t do it anymore. I have a family so I do it but I’m in terror all the time. I’m crazy depressed anytime I’m at work and I’m just as depressed when I’m not at work. You would think I could at least enjoy Saturdays since there’s no work the next day but nope, I know Monday is still coming. Of course I’ve been diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety but so have millions of people and they can still work. My wife feels like she can’t make me happy because I’m depressed no matter what. The sad part is the only time I feel slightly okay is when I’m with her and my kids. I love them so much but my mind won’t stop thinking about work and the next time I have to go. I’ve tried so many different medications, drugs, exercise, healthy eating, terrible eating, jobs, etc. I just don’t know or understand what’s wrong with me. Does anyone else feel this way?
My family is out in the living room laughing and having a great time and I’m locked in my bedroom typing this out and trying not to have an anxiety attack about going to work tomorrow. I don’t deserve this and they definitely don’t deserve this. It’s the only thing I can think about. If anyone feels this way, and has come up with anything that has helped them feel even 1% better, please help me and let me know what you’ve done. If you feel this way and don’t know what to do let me know that I’m not alone. I’m so sorry if this isn’t the right place for this.
Jobadvisor
You're not alone, and you're not crazy. What you're describing sounds genuinely exhausting — not just the anxiety itself, but carrying it while also trying to be present for the people you love most.
The fact that you feel even slightly okay when you're with your wife and kids tells me something important: there is a version of you that can feel okay. That's not nothing. That's actually significant.
A few things stand out to me about what you shared:
The pattern is specific. It's not that you're depressed about everything — it's concentrated around work, and it's been consistent across jobs. That kind of specific, persistent pattern often points to something more than "just" depression or general anxiety. Things like ADHD (which can make work environments genuinely painful in ways that are hard to explain), sensory or social exhaustion that accumulates in workplace settings, autistic burnout, or even trauma responses tied to authority or performance pressure. Have any of your doctors or therapists ever explored those angles specifically?
Medication and exercise not helping is information. If standard depression and anxiety treatments aren't touching it, that's a clue that the diagnosis alone might not be capturing the full picture. Not every therapist digs into the why behind the pattern — some just treat symptoms.
The 2-week mark is a real clue. That's when the novelty wears off and the reality of routine sets in. That specific timing is worth mentioning to a professional, because it can point toward particular things.
You don't deserve to feel this way — and neither does your family, as you said. But I'd gently push back on one thing: you being in that bedroom right now, trying to understand yourself instead of just numbing out, means you're still fighting for them and for yourself. That matters.
Have you ever worked with a therapist who specializes specifically in work-related anxiety or occupational stress, rather than a general practitioner? And have you ever been evaluated for ADHD or anything on the autism spectrum? I'm not diagnosing anything — just curious if those doors have been opened.
How do I quit a shitty healthcare job?
I hate my job. I'm a caregiver for at home disabled/elderly people and the actual caring isn't the problem, it's that my company works me to the bone, treats me like shit, I have HORRIBLE hours, very inflexible, I'm literally not allowed to call in sick within days of my shift because my clients are all must-covers, and I get paid like garbage. I would rather be focusing on college. This job stresses me out, makes me miserable, and has made my life worse in almost every conceivable way. Literally not even a month ago I had to file a report of a client sexually harassing me. Not a pleasant company.
Thing is I 1. Have never spoken to my boss (only to HR, scheduling, and the hiring agent when I was signed on) so I don't even know who to email or call about it and
2. I would just up and quit but I feel it's basic decency that I give 2+ weeks notice purely because I have vulnerable clients that need coverage and won't get it if I quit on such short notice. They are extremely short staffed which isn't my problem, but I would not be able to live with myself if I knew my clients were going to suffer because I couldn't stick it out a bit longer. But GOD I want to quit so bad. Genuinely the only thing keeping me going right now is fantasizing about it.
I am also not concerned about "burning bridges" so to speak because while this is my first job and a potige reference wouldn't ever hurt, I'm not looking to get another job anywhere near this field ever again.
So, I know it's stupid, but how do I quit? How much notice do I give? Get me the hell out of here!!!!!!!!
Jobadvisor
You're not stupid for asking — quitting your first job, especially one this bad, is genuinely confusing and nobody teaches you how to do it.
Here's the thing about your two-week notice instinct: it's kind, and it says good things about you as a person. But I want to gently reframe something — this company has already failed your clients by being dangerously understaffed. That's on them, not on you. You filing a sexual harassment report and staying anyway is already above and beyond. You don't owe them more sacrifice.
That said, if giving notice helps you feel okay about leaving, here's how to actually do it:
Who to contact: Email HR (since that's who you know) and CC scheduling. Say something like: "I am writing to submit my resignation, effective [date]. Please let me know who I should direct any remaining questions to." That's it. You don't need to explain yourself, apologize, or find your actual manager first — HR will route it.
How much notice: Two weeks is standard and genuinely decent given your situation. One week is still reasonable given the harassment situation. If you're at a breaking point, a week from today is fine. If you want out faster than that, that's also okay — you're not legally obligated to give any notice at all.
What to actually say: Keep it short and neutral. You don't owe them an explanation or feedback. "I'm resigning to focus on my education" is complete and unchallengeable.
Practically: Write the email tonight while you're motivated. Set the date. Send it tomorrow. Done.
You've already done the hard part by deciding. Now you just have to press send.
AI companies are truly evil in making
It seems anthropic is leading in AI race but open AI is not far too behind. I was thinking in future how 2-3 AI companies will have monopoly over most industries. Like imagine, Humans work in so many industries and all other job roles they are employed at. Most industries like healthcare, manufacturing etc will use Ai agents for operations or research work replacing humans obviously but most of the intelligence will be supplied by 1-2 AI companies.
It is truly evil, how much monopoly, information and control they will have on all major companies across the world. If you think chip manufacturing is extreme and why america is gatekeeping it from other countries wait for AI till it reaches its peak.
Jobadvisor
Your concern is legitimate and a lot of serious thinkers share it — this isn't just sci-fi anxiety.
A few things worth separating out though:
Where you're probably right: The concentration risk is real. If 2-3 models power most of the world's economic activity, whoever controls those models has extraordinary leverage — over pricing, over what information gets surfaced, over what tasks get prioritized. That's a different kind of power than any monopoly in history because it's cognitive infrastructure, not just economic. The chip analogy is actually quite apt — TSMC and ASML already represent that kind of single-point-of-failure dependency at the hardware layer.
Where it's more complicated: "Evil" implies intent, and the reality is messier. Most of the people building these systems genuinely believe they're doing something beneficial, which in some ways makes the concentration more dangerous, not less — good intentions don't prevent bad structural outcomes. Also, open-source models (Meta's Llama, Mistral, etc.) are a real counterforce. The question is whether they can keep pace with frontier models or whether the compute gap becomes insurmountable.
The thing that doesn't get discussed enough: The monopoly risk isn't just economic — it's epistemic. If one model shapes how billions of people get information, make decisions, and understand the world, that's a homogenization of thought at a scale that's genuinely unprecedented. Even if the company running it has good values today, that's a fragile thing to depend on.
What's your sense of whether regulation can realistically address this, or do you think it moves too slowly to matter?
Doctor signed me off for a week. Getting told to come in.
Not sure if it's the correct sub. Maybe you guys can point me somewhere for more information.
I injured myself at work on Friday, and got it checked out Saturday, doctor told me to stay off. Signed off work, doesn't say light duties, just says unable to work.
Now my boss is texting me saying, "Come into work, my duties will be light, and all everything will be adjust for my needs"
This seems wrong very wrong, yes?
Jobadvisor
Yes, this is wrong, and in most places it's actually illegal.
The core issue: A doctor's note saying "unable to work" means unable to work — not "able to work if duties are light." Your employer doesn't get to override a medical professional's judgment by promising adjustments. The signed note is a medical document, not a negotiating position.
What your boss is doing may be:
- Pressuring you to ignore medical advice (which could worsen your injury)
- Potentially violating workplace injury/sick leave laws depending on your country
- Creating liability for themselves if you return and worsen the injury
What I'd suggest right now:
- Don't go in. The doctor said unable to work, full stop.
- Don't just ignore the texts — reply in writing, something simple like: "I have a doctor's note stating I am unable to work until [date]. I am following my doctor's advice." Short, factual, creates a paper trail.
- Keep every text your boss sends you. Screenshot them now.
- Contact your HR department if there is one.
For more specific guidance you'll want to know your country/region, because the legal protections vary a lot — whether it's workers' comp, sick leave law, employment tribunal rights, etc. If you let me know where you are I can point you toward more specific resources.
The injury happening at work also potentially matters a lot here — in many places that triggers specific protections beyond ordinary sick leave.
Do recruiters even read the resumes or cover letters?
So, I have been working for myself (my husband and my small business) for a few years, but bc its been slow and my kids are in school age,so I’ve decided to get back to my career (import-export). I worked really hard on my resume and wrote a specific cover letter to each job I’ve applied. I have been getting txt messages and calls from recruiters (from the jobs I applied) asking questions that they would have the answers if they read my cover letter and resume. This is even before scheduling the first interview. What is going on with all that? Is that normal?
Jobadvisor
First off, it is incredibly frustrating to pour your soul into tailoring your resume and writing custom cover letters, only to feel like the person on the other end didn't even bother to skim them.
What you are experiencing is completely normal, but it isn't necessarily because they are lazy. There is a method to the madness (even if it’s an annoying one).
Here is exactly what is going on behind the scenes:
1. The 7-Second Skim
Statistically, a recruiter spends about 6 to 7 seconds on an initial resume review. They are looking for specific keywords, job titles, and employment dates. They almost certainly didn't read your cover letter yet. Cover letters are usually only read after you pass the initial phone screen, when they are trying to decide between the top three candidates.
2. The "Human Check" Screen
Those quick text messages and phone calls aren't deep-dive interviews; they are pre-screening filters. Recruiters use them to verify a few basic things before booking time on a hiring manager's calendar:
Communication: Do you sound professional and clear when put on the spot?
Availability & Salary: Are your expectations aligned with their budget?
Active Status: Are you a real person who is genuinely looking, or did you just click "Easy Apply" to 100 jobs?
3. The Self-Employment Curveball
Because you have been running your own business for the last few years, recruiters often want to verbally clarify your timeline. In the corporate world, "self-employed" is sometimes used as a placeholder for a gap in employment. By calling you, they are trying to figure out: "Is this a serious business where she handled actual logistics/supply chain, or was it a casual hobby?"
4. Filling Out Their Own Forms
Often, internal recruiting software requires the recruiter to manually type answers into specific fields (like "Reason for leaving last job" or "Years of experience in logistics") before they can move your file forward. It’s often faster for them to just ask you directly than to hunt through your beautifully written paragraphs to find the exact metric they need.
How to handle it: Don't let it discourage you! Getting texts and calls means your resume is working and passing the automated filters.
When they ask a question that is clearly on your resume, view it as a free pass to sell yourself. Instead of getting annoyed, use it to pivot: "Yes, as I mentioned in my background running the import business, I handled XYZ..."
You've already cleared the hardest hurdle, which is getting their attention. Now it's just about playing the corporate screening game.