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Work or Unemployment?

Delightful

Work has been hideous for me my whole life.  All jobs are hell.

I am now 49, and even though I've managed to place myself into a very low stress, 4 day week job, it's still too much.  I'm burned out and had enough.  But I cannot retire for at least 8 years. Quitting work, however, especially without being eligible for benefits, would quickly put me into dure financial difficulties.  My physical and mental health is very poor and only going to deteriorate over time.

Has anyone else ever managed to find a solution to this problem?

  • Thank you folks for your replies.

    I've been chatting with my GP and other services, like therapists, for some years now, an I'm on CMHS waiting lists (and have been for years).  But there's no real soution been worked out for my issues.  Nothing, so far, works.

    My current job is just admin.  It's easy, and I do very little, but it's still too much.  There's nothing else that can be done that could make it easier, it's practically the easiest job in the world as it is.  But any work is too much for me, so it really doesn't matter.  I earn about 20k a year, and reducing my income further is going to quickly become problematic financially.  

    I have another GP appointment coming up in the nest few weeks, hopefully, to try out new medications.  But I don't think much is going to help.

    I worry about my future.  I don't think I can keep going, but if I don't I can imagine I end up in a very bad place very quickly.

  • Hey there Delightful,

    I think what Lotus recommended with checking in with your doctor should be the first step.

    Also, would you be comfortable telling us what kind of work you do? Depending on what you do, maybe it is possible for you to ask your manager for reduced load or maybe a transfer to a new area. For example, if you work as a cashier for a retail business, perhaps working in the garden center would be a good change?

    It’s good that you are looking forward and are anticipating the potential collapse of your physical and mental health before it happens. Now is the best time to speak with your doctor and managers.

  • I understand your situation and can empathise. I went part time in my early fifties after my husband took early retirement, but we had to move to a one bed flat to afford it. I finally retired last year, a couple of years before I get my pension, which I was able to do because we saved as much as we could while we were both working full time.

    I'm afraid that I'm not going to be able to offer much advice, apart from to see if you could cut your outgoings so you can either reduce your working hours further, or save more to retire earlier. 

    Have you spoken to your doctor about your deteriorating health? Perhaps you could get benefits if it gets a lot worse.

    I hope things work out ok for you.