Published on 12, July, 2020
What do you do if you can't work in a normal job? I have tried to go to work for 15 years now, job after job and it always ends the same way in a burnout or a breakdown, sometimes both. I am now working in a school again and its an even more complicated job than I'm used to and I just cant cope with it.
I am so burned out I just want to run away somewhere and hide. It feels like I'm drowning but I'm not allowed reach the surface cos I have to stay in the place Im drowning. I feel trapped and scared. Every job makes me feel like this. Its like there is a wall in front of me that I physically cant push through but yet I am being made to keep trying to run through it over and over.
What do I do if I cant work though? I have been turned down for PIP twice and dont hold out much hope for Limited Capability to Work either. I am terrified of the Job Centre and going for weekly appoitments there causes me nearly as much anxiety as actually going to work.
I do freelance writing a lot but hardly ever manage to earn any money off it. Im good at it and I love it and I can do it from home but I think Ive earned £220 off it in the last 4 years so its hardly a stable income. I have two kids to support and rent to pay. We are on UC but they put pressure on me to work and we could lose it if I dont. My wife does a little bit of part time work but we have a baby so she cant do much as she looks after her most of the time.
Just dont know what to do. Is there anyway I can still earn enough money to support the family without having to go to a traditional workplace with bosses and expectations and noise and loads of people?
You're a teacher I think? Can you try offering private tuition, maybe online?
I could but usually you need a degree to offer than and I dont have one, Im an unqualified teacher
What about English as a foreign language? It sounds like you have lots of experience and you could do the quicker, TEFL course or Award in Teaching and Learning level 3. That's enough usually for FE. But it's still stressful, it might just be different to schools. What about TA/ classroom or education support? Some "normal" jobs are hybrid working now, so you could WFH some of the week but I've yet to find them.
It's really hard when you feel stuck. Could the doctor sign you off for a bit under mental health? I don't know if NAS could help re PIP. There are charities out there other than CAB who support people with these applications but I don't know what they are, only my local ones. There's also Access To Work who might be able to give support.