Struggling

I am currently in a position where I don't know what to do and I am feeling very very low.

The problems and stresses that I have been having at work have been getting worse and now it becoming more prevalent that my company is trying to push me out, bit by bit.

I don't live to work, but I put everything on doing a good job as that allows me to sleep at night and feel like I have a purpose.

Things haven't been great at work and there have been a number of circumstances as a result of people and pointless company policies that have prevented me from getting certain tasks done.  As much as it isn't healthy, I come home and vent at my partner to try and figure out a way I can resolve it, but I know I am fighting a losing battle and it seems to be that I am being lined up since disclosing my diagnosis and have been having more time off and shutdowns at work.I hit the tipping point today where I nearly threw in the towel  My boss accused me of doing nothing and not being organised or having a plan.  This is after seniors constantly change their minds, causing me to have to rewrite the strategy documents and adjust budgets accordingly.  No one will make a decision or even stick to one so I am left trying to figure out what the hell I am supposed to be doing as there is no guidance or support.  In addition, the company constantly changes, moves my desk without warning, has new people coming and going like it's going out of fashion.  I can't keep up and there is no logic to anything they do!  I am currently wading through legal battles to try and get projects over the line and comply with upcoming legislation, but because no else can be bothered to do this, it falls onto me.  In addition, because people can't be bothered to understand the details of a project, they often can't understand why something is being held up, so I am accused of complicating things, holding things up and being incapable of doing my job.  I admit I am not perfect and I am not the easiest person to manage, but all this on top of making no adjustments for me at work has just become too much.  On top of this, I have to attend a day long meeting off site tomorrow and they have booked my train tickets for me even though I said I would do this.  They have booked it from the different stations I normally get the train from and have opted for the most convoluted route, that have multiple changes rather than a direct train, which is cheaper and quicker.  In addition I have been told I have to go for social drinks with the colleagues afterwards, but I am in no fit state at the moment to deal with anything, especially work colleagues in a social environment!

I tried to tell my partner tonight that I can't do this anymore and I have had enough, but he accused me of giving in and letting them get at me.  Again, I am told I am over complicating things, being too sensitive and just need to log things and get it sorted.  Quitting is not an option apparently.

I'm too exhausted and too much at breaking point to keep this up.  There is just too much change and too much going on in my life right now for me to make sense or sort things out.  I have no space at home anymore and I rarely get time to myself.  I am being accused of going on about being autistic even though I am trying to ask for help, which I find bloody difficult at the best of times.

Tonight I felt so low that I actually had suicidal thoughts and couldn't dismiss them as being stupid and over the top.  This scared me and I don't know what to do to make people realise that I am on the verge of snapping.  What must I do to show people I need help without them viewing me as weak, being over dramatic or an excuse to throw antidepressants at?

Parents
  • Hang in there.  I don't have much in the way of useful advice other than to say that this sounds very similar to something I went through about two years ago.  I ended up quitting my job and completely changing careers and am so much less stressed at work now. 

    While this may not be the answer for you, I do remember feeling like I just completely couldn't cope with the situation at all and there was no way out and I didn't know what to do -- and reading your post just now brought that all back -- so I just wanted to say that it is possible to get though it.  For what it's worth, you are not alone.

  • Thanks Hannah.  I have had to take some time out just to recharge the batteries and gain some perspective.  In addition I have looked at how to address some issues, albeit this is a work in process.  How did you find the transition into a new career?

Reply
  • Thanks Hannah.  I have had to take some time out just to recharge the batteries and gain some perspective.  In addition I have looked at how to address some issues, albeit this is a work in process.  How did you find the transition into a new career?

Children
  • Time off and perspective both sound good. Can you ask for unpaid leave? Might they prefer that to you going off long-term sick with stress?

    My boss accused me of doing nothing and not being organised or having a plan.

    Sounds like your boss has done nothing about your situation or helped organise any plan.

    What form would a 'reasonable adjustment' take? Mentoring or training? Someone in the company acting as an advocate so you can explain to colleagues what can change? Is it the GDPR being a pain?

  • Sorry for delay in replying -- I have also been dealing with various crap in my life!  Slight smile

    I've always loved food and cooking, and I saw a job advertised for a chef, so went along to the interview being completely honest about the fact that I'd never done it professionally before...  Wasn't expecting much but my now boss said that my passion for food showed through and she got the impression that I was motivated enough that what I didn't know I would learn on the job -- and I have. 

    I was previously a manager, which was a position I got promoted into somewhat against my will, and despite saying repeatedly that I wasn't good with people...  So it was a complete change and I also took a massive pay cut to do it -- which luckily I was in a position to be able to do -- but I really love my job now and I come home at the end of every shift feeling happy and satisfied and with an immense sense of accomplishment.

    I can only speak for myself, but I have found over the years that practical tangible things where I can see the results of my work are much better for me.  If I've shifted a stack of firewood I can look at it when I'm done and see what I've accomplished.  If I have to get some unmotivated staff to meet some productivity targets, I might have a spreadsheet when I'm done proving that I've done it (unlikely!) but I never really got any sense of accomplishment from that...

    Also, my boss now is somebody who I feels listens to me.  If I come to her with a problem, we discuss it, come up with a solution, and implement it.  In my former job, I would go to my boss with problems and I just got endlessly fobbed off.

    I guess maybe the best advice I have is to not be afraid of change.  And this is coming from somebody who in general hates change and does everything possible to avoid it!  But if things are that bad, something has got to go...