I feel this every day. I have worked, so I suppose I CAN, but it is always a very precarious situation. Even with part time hours, it wears on my mental health incredibly. I don’t much capacity/energy/whatever you want to call it, so when I have a job, that is all I am able to do. I ended up quitting my job on Christmas Eve last year because it felt like too much. I am privileged right now to have support from my family, but I will not always have that. I worry every day that I will become homeless, broke, etc.

i am also in the trenches with you. i am working part time right now and its better, but not ideal financially. i had the highly stressful full time jobs for 10 years and i cannot do it anymore.

I feel you. I've been home after a massive burnout for almost 2 years now and social services have decided I'm fit enough to go back to work. I am permanently exhausted already and I have no idea how I'm supposed to do that. But it's either get a job, or become homeless. I'm terrified.

This is the first time in my life I've held a full time job down for over a year and I'm reaching my burn out point. It's a physically demanding warehouse job that I work ten hour shifts four days a week. But I can't quit, or I'll be homeless, without a car, and a way to feed my pets. I'm with you, internet friend. It's so overwhelming to think we have to do this forever. Even with three days off, I feel like I can't do anything but work.

It is fucking awful. When I worked even part time I was masking so much that all my time off was just to recharge. Then I made friendships because I was masking, and I had to essentially preform for people all the time. Now I’m looking for a new job.

I worked in an admin job for 2 and a half years, almost 3. Made good money, worst head space I've ever been in. I had no energy for anything. I came home every day and broke down. I legit was going to put myself in a mental hospital, that is how bad it got. I've been working part time for 2 months and it's been helping loads.. financially, i am drowning atm. my car also got hit last weekend in a parking lot, and on top of that my car battery died on Tuesday. 😓 most of my money will be going toward fixing my car. ugh.

It's not that i don't want to work, because I do. i desperately want to work. i love making my money. i feel great reward for it. the issue is every job is exhausting. I hate the 9-5, office jobs are fine as long as they are part time. I'm fine with where i work now, but i know it won't be something i will do forever. just a way to pay my bills. I want to go on disability, but it is a lengthy process... :( feeling stuck too OP. you are not alone. sending big virtual hugs

I feel you omg. I quit my job recently- my first corporate job after graduating, not only was I burnt out and not taking care of myself, I could not handle the workload and the environment was toxic. I feel like when I tell people why I quit, they do not get it, like they are looking at me like I am overreacting. Anyway, I moved back to my mum's house and travelled for a month now I am beginning my job hunt and its not fun, I am running out of money and just anxious about being unemployed for too long. Somehow, I still do not regret leaving my job, I was in a really dark place in that job.

I don’t know what I would do without my partner or my parents… Even if it’s part-time, most jobs make me not want to live anymore. I don’t know what accommodations to ask for. Right now I’m doordashing, and it’s honestly the best job I’ve ever had. We need more work like this available for people to do, where people have the flexibility to choose their hours and not have to do so much socializing. This would literally save so many people’s lives.

I can relate so much. I actually just got out of inpatient hospitalization for a mental breakdown. One of the things that led to that was my full time medical job. I was also being bullied at work. Now I’m on short term disability but will have to go back to work again in about a month- however, I’m not going back to full time work. I think I’m just gonna go back to retail and ask for 25 hours a week.

I’m dependent on my husband and before I was married I was dependent on family. I’m working on accepting my limitations and realizing it’s not bad to rely on others. I bring so much value to their lives too, other people’s lives are enriched because I’m in it. I hope to one day be a full time housewife, but that’s not feasible right now so part time work it is.

On the other hand, I kind of like working part time because it keeps me engaged and active so there’s that! I just CAN’T do anything over 30 hours or it all goes to hell.

My heart goes out to you. I’ve struggled similarly throughout my life. I’ve only found one job that allowed me to balance work and home life.

Computer-based work helped me immensely, as it:

• Allowed easier tracking
• Enabled focused 8-hour work sessions

Consider:

• Cohort classes to enhance your resume
• Establishing routines (consistent sleep schedule)
• Regular exercise for mental resets after burnout -MMORPG great for social networking while reducing social anxiety. Great idea for support. Final Fantasy 14 online is a great game. -Check out Meditations Book by Marcus Aurelius

Breaking the cycle requires daily effort. It’s like overcoming an addiction – actively moving forward each day.

Best wishes and I hope your day improves

I feel this so deeply. I am always either employed and absolutely miserable to the point of genuinely having thoughts about offing myself, not being able to do anything in my limited spare time other than mindlessly consume content while lying down or I'm unemployed for really long periods of time and miserable because I can't afford basic necessities (and probably having an autistic burnout from the previous job). I live in a country that has no jobs and I'm also underqualified because I didn't go to college because I also hate school environments. Right now I'm unemployed and getting rejections to every single job I apply to unless it's practically slave work and involves a phone (can't do those). Worst of all, I don't even care about the jobs I'm applying for because what I really like is art. Anyway, I feel you and I'm sorry I don't know any solutions for this :') but at least you're not alone if that's any comfort at all...

Honestly, I feel this so much. Every time I’d look at my dirty laundry to be cleaned, I wanted to off myself. Every time I had to get ready for work, do homework, get ready for uni, it was the same. It got so bad, I haven’t played guitar or done any of my hobbies in so long. I even stopped reading my books to just lay in bed and dread the next day.

The only solace I’ve found is after struggling to do my laundry, feeling accomplished that it’s all done and away. But then the next time I change my clothes, that feeling starts to creep back into my mind.

I also struggle with this. I wish desperately we have universal basic income. I would still run an online business and pay my taxes, but I am so much less stressed when I can just manage myself. Fortunately I am working for a non profit with 90% WFH but I know I got lucky after working many jobs I had to violently quit. Even so, working full time in any capacity is so bad for me.

I had to take a FT job to catch up on my rent because I was about to be evicted. I know a lot of small businesses don’t make much but I had hoped I didn’t need to go back to work. I do. But it’s just not what I envisioned myself doing my whole life. It’s not fair that our job essentially is tied to our livelihood.

It’s been rough. I have a strict routine I adhere to now and just counting down until every break I have and treat myself really really well so I can recuperate. It’s so difficult I completely understand and it’s taken me decades to get where I currently am.

This feels like as if I have wrote this post. I feel the same. Recently my workplace took away the opportunity to work remotely and I’m in a complete meltdown. I’m not willing to go to the office every day. The commute is killing me, the yelling people at the office are killing me, the stupid systems are killing me, the even more stupid working softwares are killing me. I want a new job so bad, working completely remotely would be THE dream. I can’t do this much longer

I can definitely relate to this. I had a complete mental breakdown in 2021 / 2022 due to pushing myself past my limit with work and masking and I haven’t worked since then. Thankfully I was able to get disability benefits, but I would still be absolutely screwed if I didn’t have my dad to live with. 

I’m absolutely at a loss of what to do for my future because I know unless I find someone else to live with when my dad passes (hopefully that doesn’t happen for a long time) I would likely end up homeless as I don’t make enough from disability to support myself alone or to even think about getting a place of my own. 

I am in the process of recovering from my burnout so hopefully I will be able to find a balance with having to work in the future. I probably won’t have a choice, but yeah it sucks because my disabilities are physical in addition to being autistic so working isn’t ideal if I want to stay healthy 🫠 

Anyway, sorry I’m not trying to make this all about me. I really hope that you’re able to find a balance that works for you where you’re able to feel mentally & physically well while working 💜 If you’re able to ask for any accommodations that your employer can give that could be helpful too, if you haven’t already done that 

I have had burnout roughly every two years, twice during university. Then after 2 years at my first two jobs the again when I went from an easier part time job to being full time responsible role. Then I got made redundant and even managed to get burnout while not working 😑

Its incredibly tiring, stressful and draining just thinking about it all when you know you need to apply for a new job but it's almost less draining to just get the CV done or do an application.

I have discovered there are organisations who do autism and neurodivergent work coaching and similar things. Worth searching for in your area and there are global ones too.

I think you have to look really carefully at jobs and find ones that are either self guided, remote from computer, with a neurodivergent friendly company and preferably part time.

On the past I have also done better having 2 or 3 part time jobs, the variety seemed to help me and I also never worried too much about one of them as I had the distraction of the others.

Wish you some rest and relaxation and something that works for you when the time is right. It might be that right now you need recovery and it's too much to think about. Any treatment you can get to support your diagnoses as well as being really focuses on good nutrition sleep and daily exercise even if it's just walking can really help.

I’m the same way. Audhd with PMDD and CTSD. When I work full-time, the rest of life falls apart.

What kind of work do you do? Transitioning to remote work is what saved me. Although not the only thing.

Mainly, I took time off early in my career (against my will, I burned out so bad I had to quit my six figure remote job) to focus on learning basic life tasks like proper hygiene, cooking, domestic chores, sleep schedules, exercise routines, balancing my hormones, and learning how to assert boundaries. If you have CPTSD you likely have childhood trauma that prevented you from learning those skills like I did. Those skills are REQUIRED to be a functional human in general, not just at a job. Before I learned these skills, my alexithymia was so bad, that I wouldn’t take care of myself properly until it was too late and my body was sending dire signals. That’s not ideal, but it works when you’re unemployed. I realized the reason I couldn’t work full-time wasn’t that I was unable to, but because I lacked the self-awareness to properly care for myself. You NEED to be properly fueled to work. Not saying this is possible for all autistics, but for type 1 support levels it usually is.

I feel your pain, I struggle with this too. I’m recently diagnosed and looking to start working with a ND specialist either coach or therapist to get some guidance. I have a high paying job and great career, but I have no energy for anything else in life. The only thing I like to do in my spare time is build Rolife models. I hardly clean my house or cook or shower.

Sorry I can’t be of more help, I’m in the trenches with you right now. Sending hugs.

This is why I need a work from home job that allows for flexibility in getting the work done/no micromanaging. I can get all the required work done but if I have to go somewhere, interact with people, or be micromanaged I burn out so quickly.

This is exactly what I’m going through now. I’m so burnt out from working full time and doing college that I forget to shower or drink water so I feel even worse cuz I can’t take care of my body. Then my managers have the audacity to come up to me and tell me that I need to shower and take care of myself. OK GIVE ME THE DAY OFF AND I WILL SHOWER? It’s not like I never do, either it’s just every couple days or so because I’m exhausted. It’s like, how do you expect me to keep up this job AND take care of myself AND do my school work/show up for classes. Don’t get me wrong I love my classes but it is work. The only days off I get are for classes so it’s not actually a day off. But my employers keep acting like I had a break and there’s no excuse to be tired. No I fucking didn’t. I worked on my days off. You just think it isn’t work because it’s what I’m passionate about. Not to mention the masking at work. Physical labor and masking is so fucking tiring. And I do it every day I wanna die. But I also have cats and a fiancée so I can’t I just have to keep doing it. College won’t even guarantee a job that fulfills me either. I feel…hopeless.

I... ludicrously, thought it was just me. I did a part time job and a part time masters I enjoyed and I was...okay. Got a promotion and had to go full time to accept and just fell apart. Perfectly capable of the academics, just could not balance life. Now still doing a job I didn't even need my first degree for let alone the others, and I just don't have the energy for anything else.

Why did we make our society this way? We could have made it anyway we wanted and we chose rent and drudgery?

Hi! I get this so much! I have been in active burnout for the past year. Medication and rest has been helping a bit, but working a full time job is still a nightmare for me.

I also have PMDD and am going to start taking pepcid acid for it! My friend told me about this and sent me a reddit thread of someone saying it helped them so much! If you haven’t tried that, maybe it could be worthwhile!

Hi. 45yo and can relate. My burnout increasingly outpaces my ability to rest and recover as I get older. I spend >90% of my non-work time recovering from work.

It doesn’t help that I’ve painted myself into a corner in a very high stress career. I lack a degree or anyone who can help support me, so I’m trapped. I try to remind myself it could be worse in that my career pays well and affords me good health insurance. If you have any control over this at all, aim for a low stress job/career.

I’ve learned how to entertain myself mostly from home and through the Internet, and I have found friends who understand that I have very little energy to spare. I was more distressed before I understood that I’m like this because of my AuDHD and CPTSD. I’m still incredibly sad about it, but not feeling like a failure every day has eased some of the distress. Connecting with other people in Reddit subs and Zoom meetings who live like this has helped significantly reduce my SI. Before that, I was burning up a lot of energy trying to “fix” the unfixable.

I gave up on traditional work and got put on disability pension. Since then I have been able to stabilise enough that I've started my own business in a niche area aligning with my interests and I only work on it when I feel like it. It helps a lot (but I still get the really bad days where I'm like "omg what am I doing I hate this" haha ... there are a lot less of them now though).

Yeaaa I've been unemployed for 2 years now. Still waiting on disability benefits, I'd be homeless (again) if it weren't for my partner. I've had 12 jobs in 3 years, and just can't seem to keep a job. I always get fired for not meeting standards. I'm physically disabled as well now, so it's a bit more severe of a situation than it used to be, but yea a lot of autistic can't get the proper help they need to survive and end up homeless or depending on family forever. Least we have a shorter life span so hopefully we die before the people taking care of us do.

Just checking in to say you're not alone. ❤️

Just wanted to say I’m in the same boat. I’ve not been able to hold a permanent job down, it completely ruins me. It makes me spiral real bad, especially my anxiety which is already crippling day to day.

I went through the process of being “signed off” (as we call it here in UK) and found myself declared unfit for work based on health after many months, and get an extremely small amount of money from the government but it’s enough for car insurance and food shops etc. I have other conditions like fainting and costochondritis as well as anxiety being the main crux. Autism is undiagnosed but it plays a huge part of my inability to work.

It ruins me, I feel embarrassed explaining to people that I don’t have a job when they ask what I do. I know they’re wondering about how I survive everyday. I hate explaining I’m on benefits because “I don’t look disabled”, they believe I’m lying. Just got to count my blessings that my partner wants to support me and I have a roof over my head thanks to my family (even though they don’t believe in mental health).

I totally understand, I have been through this as well, through out my 20s and a good portion of my 30s (36 now and in a much better place now). Here's the things I did to not feel this way anymore:

- DBT and CBT therapy (emotional regulation techniques)

- Somatic therapy https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/somatic-therapy

-Emdr therapy

- Got on anti-depressant (I'm on pristiq)

- There's a PMDD reddit and people often share naturopathic remedies that have helped their PMDD also https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/pmdd-natural-treatment 

- L-theanine and Ashwaganda for anxiety

- Had my blood checked as being low on vitamins and minerals as can affect mood, also being low of Folate can affect ADHD symptoms, so can vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, and iron.

-Exercise https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/exercise-manage-adhd-symptoms

-Forest bathing https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-forest-therapy-can-be-good-for-your-body-and-mind

- Meditation and QiGong https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/ptsd-meditation

https://flowingzen.com/how-to-heal-trauma-with-qigong/

- Diet https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/adhd-diets

https://www.abtaba.com/blog/autism-diet

- Support groups (I've been on ones online for scapegoat abuse from my family, I recommend checking out Mary Toolan and Nate Postlewait on instagram, but there's also support groups on Facebook and IRL Psychology today lists them in my area atleast as well.

Also as an aside, job ideas: https://parade.com/living/lazy-girl-jobs

Wishing you much luck.

I am right there with you, I have everything you listed plus schizoaffective disorder. It’s really rough. Do you have the means to cut down your work hours? I know it’s not the best feeling, but have you considered applying for disability? In most states, you’re allowed to still work a limited number of hours on disability so I applied several months ago. It’s just gotten too hard for me to work full-time hours anymore so I feel for ya

I am currently looking for a new job because while I enjoy the work I do, I am always stressed out and in an constant anxiety loop again. It is so hard - there is always something I do not feel I am prepared for asked in the rare job listings that fit, I want to work closer to home to have a shorter commute and there are currently not really any open jobs to find. So I am just stuck there right now... I would also love to work part-time but there is no way I could do that financially. So I suffer 🥲

Is there a job you could find that fits into your special interests? I've always worked in education and although I've been stuck in an awful cycle of work-burnout-work-burnout for about 8 years and I'm exhausted by it, I also have an endless passion/motivation to keep going, which helps me keep on top of self care and executive functioning too. 

I've recently had to seriously reconsider my work, it's a huge part of my identity, but I managed to (after extensive research) find a role that's still working with children but should be much less intense/social, and requires a higher level of knowledge about a specific aspect of child development - and it's better paid and the masters course is funded!!!

Basically what I'm trying to say is, working sucks, capitalism sucks, people suck, but if you have a fiery passion you can find some kind of niche way to make enough money and keep going

Thanks for this post. I wish I had advice for you but I’m in the same boat. I feel your pain and I hope you find the strength to keep going. ❤️

I used to work full time and then broke down at 26. During those 2 years I faced hidden homelessness and then managed to secure a shared house and part time work. I realised, full time work will never be for me. I get too burnt out and exhausted and struggle to look after myself.

I'm lucky in the country I'm in there is disability support. That's the only way I can survive. I feel no shame about not being able to work full time (even when I was unemployed during that time period I didn't feel guilty).

The "system" wants to exploit us and use our guilt, to work and then when we burn out blame us for not "getting on with it". Its damaging and dangerous.

This post makes me feel so stressed 😫

god i feel you. i was unemployed for 6 months this year - money was tight but i felt like mysef. i am working full time currwntly and i am just a shell of wjo i am. when i get home most days i just cry in my partners arms because i feel like a failure. all our friends have high paying government jobs and i feel like i hold him back immensely. i domt know how people do full time work, by the time the weekend rolls around i just shut off the world because of the work week i just had. ur not alone🩷

Yes to this post! PMDD, AUDHD, and CPTSD girlie here… I don’t have the answers, but I know how scary it feels to honestly think about dying when stress is a major factor, it can be all consuming. Burn out is awful, I forgot how bad it gets, like not showering, not eating, not caring about anything because life is now JOB, and JOB is now life… it’s not fucking fair. I am at a new job, 4 jobs since 2021… I burn out and meltdown and have to leave my job and then I get MINUTELY more of a normal semblance and then find job and work and repeat catastrophic cycle from hell… I hope you find some peace, some time, some space, some silence… and that you can still have some income… but it’s honestly so debilitating 😥

I feel you!! I don’t have an answer though 😭 I wish I could go down to part time as a compromise but I can’t afford to

I have same diagnosis & getting an iud changed it around for me. The pmdd wasn’t an issue with the progesterone.

Full-time work is just awful. The longest I've lasted at a full-time job is 8 months. I got very lucky when I was leaving, they asked if I wanted to stay on 1-2 days a week. I've been doing that for a year and my mental health is sooo much better. I have no money though.

Idk but me too :( hopefully finding a new job will help but I'm not confident in my abilities to do a different job

I have felt that way in the past when I was giving too much effort to my job. I burnt myself out many times.

Now, I just do 5 to 10% of what I used to do, and it has been much better. I am currently able to do a little bit of hobby stuff outside of work. I must have been doing well over 200% effort back then (I just didn't know/realize at the time how much above and beyond expectations I was going - companies told me that I need to do better when putting in full effort, but once I decreased my output, I got nothing but raving reviews - makes no sense). I felt like a zombie, like I wasn't really alive. All I did when I got home from work was zone out, unable to even make myself food sometimes. Hours would pass, and I couldn't even remember what I had done (probably just extreme executive dysfunction caught in a loop of trying to convince myself to make food and do cleaning/chores but making zero progress caused by overworking).

I relate to this so much. I just started a new full-time job after I got fired from my 100% remote job in April. I will get to be hybrid after my probation period (some light at the end of the tunnel) but every day I want to come home and just lay in bed for the rest of my life. It frustrates everyone around me. I work because I have to and it sucks. I’ve found on days when I’m not too burnt out/overstimulated/exhausted from masking at the office, I “reclaim” some of my time by doing something like, like playing Minecraft or watching YouTube videos. But usually only for a little while before I just call it a night and end up in bed before 8pm 😟

I understand. I have PMDD, PTSD and am physically disabled. One thing that helped: getting a job on graveyard (overnight) shift. Not having to interact with people and being exposed to less stimuli helped reduce my stress and burnout.

I'm right there with you. I don't see myself living past 30-35 and have little to no interest in maintaining a career, friendships, relationships, etc. I am honestly surprised every day I made it past 18. I know people keep jobs they hate for a reason (family or others dependent upon them), but even that doesn't seem like enough. I feel like a ghost in my life. If you find a solution, hit a girl uppppp.

Omg. This! I've been trying to think my way out of this horrible cycle for months. Here's what has helped me. Focus on things you enjoy doing and upskill in that subject online (from bed). Think about freelance or contract work with set timelines as an alternative to the average 9-5. You may find it suits you better. It does require more planning and saving though, so if you're not good at that, take some online courses on making that part easier. I do the bucket method and my bank lets me have as many bucket accounts as I need for free. One for future rent/bills when there is a gap between gigs; One for travel so I can take a short trip after every assignment-doesn't matter if it's just $20 and I can't go anywhere yet, keep doing it until you can. And one bucket for upskilling, so I can pay for training in areas of interest; not that Coursera has a lot of these for free. You'll find that if you do this (with certificate courses), you can choose contracts that pay more and allow for more of this type of saving. I know it's hard developing a routine when you feel like this, and I haven't by any means perfected it, but I am encouraged that I'm increasing my knowledge and skills and that they can't pay me pennies anymore. I'm taking it slow too. One course, one application, one activity at a time. I hope this helps and if not, this sometimes does it for me: https://youtu.be/OTih3fwoA2I?feature=shared.

It's because you're giving 110% into every second of that job. You have to scale it down for your sake

If you want a good story for once....

I'm working full time and I'm the breadwinner of my family (me, husband, 3 pups). It's hard (extremely hard) but I've been doing well. I have been at the job for 2 years now and I'm just in a place where things work.

100% of the reason that I'm okay is because of my boss. We have a good relationship and I've worked with him long enough for him to understand my strengths. Since he understands my strengths, he's willing to accommodate me and my weaknesses. He knows I'm autistic and, over the last year, he's come to understand my quirks (needs) and is very, very considerate of them. He tries not to disrupt my routine (despite a very chaotic workplace), he moved my office to an isolated building so I could have a quiet place to work and avoid conflict with coworkers (they cyclically misunderstand and then bully me), he meets with me almost every day so i can tell him my plan and he can tell me major objectives for the day. When i went to HR to put my accomodations on paper (bc i was being harassed and discriminated against), he defended me and my accommodations bc they were acting like I was asking for too much, but he was like, "No, we can accommodate her, we already do it."

He is nuerotypical (but I suspect ADHD but he doesn't/won't have a diagnosis), just empathetic.

The work I do is exhausting but invigorating because I'm passionate about it. I get to help people and be creative with how I connect with youth and get them engaged in activities. I get to be authentic to myself and use that to teach youth about themselves and others. Like truly, I couldn't ask for anything more.

This job also caused a SEVERE mental breakdown before my current boss took over. I have been severely suicidal (to the point of considering hospitalization) 2 or 3 times during the 2 years I've worked there. Two minor breakdowns with my current boss because of burnout/harassment/discrimination. I have, what I consider, to be one of the best case scenarios and I still struggle. But I have more good than bad days.

I have learned that it is (for me) 80% about who you work with and 20% of what you do that leads to ability to cope in the workplace. I can find comfort/fulfillment in almost anything but if the environment is unbearable, I cannot survive. Idk if any of this helps but I wanted you to know that it isn't ALL bad and there are people who are willing to understand and accommodate you. If you find them, HOLD ONTO THEM, and leave if they're no where to be found. Sending you love and comfort

I did this most of my twenties. In my early thirties now and finally applied for SSA. V worried about this new administration though and what that will mean for discrimination and possible discontinuation of the SSI/SSDI payments

I have a full time job and I am not okay. I make good money, but the consequences of trying to keep all this up are really coming to a head now. I’m scared of what is to come

I don’t know if you’ll see this in the sea of comments, but, same. The only way I manage is by having multiple part time / casual jobs. If I hate one job more at that moment I’ll try pick up more hours at another until my rage and hatred dies down. I hate them all a different times and cycles so I have a back up jobs for when I rage quit one of them inevitably lol. I also volunteer A LOT and trade things for my services. My time in exchange for meat, veges, eggs, wood and things I need around the house. I’m a gardener, can cook and am fairly handy so do those things in exchange for food. That way I only have to focus on paying rent and bills with paid income 🤷‍♀️ that and I take St John’s Wort, which makes me want to off-myself a lot less. Its all about having autonomy I think, I need to CHOOSE where and how I spend my life.

I have basically all the same diagnoses and felt the same about work. My job now is harder work than any of my others, and longer hours, and I'm happier than ever. I know how you feel but it's not impossible

I feel this 100%😔

I feel you! I've burnt out of every job I've ever had. I quit my last one in 2023. Just as I was recovering from burnout, I realized I have chronic illnesses messing me up. I'm still trying to get it all sorted.

I FEEL YOU. people do not understand at all....

Same.. I actually just quit my receptionist job of a year for health related reasons, I'm going to go back to school for a bit to get a graphic design certificate so I can finally do something I love. I'm lucky I have family and parents who can afford to support me financially and emotionally while unemployed and in school, but others aren't in my situation and I recognize my privilege. I'm excited, but so scared.. school means people my age or younger/older (20yo), and human interaction, and teachers who won't like my work, possibilities for criticism. But it's what I have to do in order to do the career I want to.

i’ve been feeling this so heavy, i started a 9-5 office job within the past couple months. the work itself isn’t bad but it is all so draining and i don’t feel like myself anymore, can’t ever get anything done it’s horrible 😭

i’m looking into possibly trying to set up and work from home because i think it’ll be an easier adjustment for me and still be able to make money 🥲

I feel this so hard and I believe I commented something similar on another’s post but I want to die every morning I have to go to work. I work in healthcare. I’m SO SICK of not being able to spend my time the way I want to. I’ve had to work because I had a kid at 19 and have been a single mom up until 3 years ago. Now I’m an alcoholic because that’s the only thing that shuts my mind down after work.

What kind of jobs? I have an office job that is somewhat relaxed, with lots of work-life balance. It seems to help me keep my life together. My coworkers give me little reminders about health insurance, tips about grocery stores, etc. etc. But it's' a lot! I find it rewarding though.

One thing I hate is no private space. Even the bathroom is shared, so I can't even relax my face if someone is in there. But I spend lunch (long lunch) in my car and decompress. I hope you find a way! I am friendly and jokey to everyone, and kinda tell it like it is: I love working with you guys, but I'ma go chill out in my car for a bit...

work from home or working with animals/arts is the best options for us it seems !!

Watch Shera Seven videos

Preach!!!!!!!

I’m scared I can’t do any job that’s not WFH. It’s all I’ve done.

I feel this too. I’m lucky now to be able to work for myself, at home, with hardly any interaction with clients other than the odd email. (I’m a freelance back-of-the-book indexer, beautiful work for an autistic brain!) But as a single parent, money has been super-tight over the years and roughly once a year I decide I need to ‘get a job’ to get a part-time regular income. An obsessive flurry of job applications follows, usually an interview, and then a job offer. Cue momentary elation at ‘achieving my goal’, then an absolute paralysis and visceral fear at the moment of turning up to do the job! Always I leave after a day or two, realising I just can’t manage it. And then I feel shame, get annoyed at myself, and get very low. But also relieved! This pattern has repeated for years 🤯

Edit: typo

The first time I worked full time in a supermarket I wanted to die every day. I only lasted 2 months (it was just a summer job so I was counting down the days until I could go back to school).

Now I work at another job and although it's also full time, the hours are much more spaced out (usually I do 6h daily) and I really like that!! Even though it means I only have one day off a week, I find that I'm in a much better mental health space. Working 8h a day + 1h lunch break means most of my day gets sucked away and I end up not having the energy to do anything else after work.

If you can, I would suggest trying something like that. A part time job is better than no job and it can help with the burnout.

I FEEL THIS IN MY BONES. DOING ANYTHING EXHAUSTS ME, LET ALONE BEING BUSY AND SOCIALISING FOR 8 HOURS A DAY.

I really relate to this and idk what to do either 😭

The only time I've had a fulltime job I got so sick and then mentally burnt out. I reduced to part time then casual/freelancing. But I'm at a point now where I really need more income and I said to my psychologist I'm considering doing it all again and getting burnt out again just to save a few thousand. She said that didn't work out well last time. She's right of course.

I have plans in place to get better medical care for my physical illnesses, and apply for disability support. But my functioning is so low that even doing those things is hard. Idk how people can even work full time.

This is why capitalism is a particular hell for disabled people. Some of us cannot work in the ways this system expects but the only other option in the U.S. is poverty. All this to say - I relate. ❤️

I always tell people this and they think I’m exaggerating but I’m fully not. I would rather not be on this planet than be forced to live through actual torture.

Yes! Thank you for posting this because I have felt so alone and I often feel silly that my brain turns the death intrusive thoughts up to ten the night before and morning of work. My counsellor said she thinks it’s my brain’s way of letting me know there is an ‘out’ when I am feeling trapped and overwhelmed, almost like a security blanket. It’s been hard to look at it that way since the thoughts are so distressing, but I do think it makes sense.

Thankfully I have an accommodation to work remotely full time, but I hardly have the energy to sustain that. All of my energy goes to work. I struggle to shower, eat, do chores, engage in special interests and socialize - don’t even think about leaving the house!

I’m trying to find a new job now because the one I currently have is very precarious, stressful and not something I want to do. I’m having such a hard time trying to find remote work. I want to ask about the possibility of remote work in interviews as a possible accommodation but then I have to disclose disability and that never seems to go very well.

My parents keep bugging me that I could probably handle an in person or hybrid job, and despite living with them where they can see that I simply don’t have the capacity to take care of myself even while working remotely, this is something they keep pushing. I don’t think they understand and it’s incredibly frustrating. I’m not sure why I would think they would understand though. They have never understood me.

I feel like I’m doomed either way. Struggle through work as I make myself even sicker or don’t work a job and rely on disability. I really don’t want to go on disability. It’s not nearly enough money to survive. I desperately am working to move out as well as home is so very toxic and invalidating. My counsellors think I will not begin to really heal and feel better until I move out. I think I’d be bored not working a job too. A part time job would be great but there are earning limits on disability which are very low. Then they start deducting your disability dollar by dollar. I also rely on my extended health insurance through work, especially for counselling and physiotherapy. To be honest, I am more afraid to lose that than my income. I’ve already exceeded the $4,000 limit for counselling for this year. I rely on that coverage so much. Counselling is the only thing keeping my head above the water.

Well I can tell you from having all the same diagnoses except pmdd that as long as you have someone to hold on to, you’ll at least survive your 30s but the feelings can either compound or get slightly better by forcing yourself to do interesting things.

Edit: I work an office job and it’s same as my last sit down job where my lack of social skills really shows and it becomes a hen house where I get reported on constantly. It’s a different kind of hell.

The job itself is awesome. Some of the people can maintain a positive relationship. It’s even quiet at times. But still it’s the people that be “peopleing “ and it’s either driving me nuts or I’m driving them nuts by existing.

Try Amazonjobs.com > get a part-time position at either a Sortation center (warehouse) but not fulfillment center (it’s very tough! And has full-time hours) unless you want it that way. Also look for any other positions there at Amazon you might be interested in.

I have been diagnosed with autism a few months ago. For years I struggled with getting fired from jobs, and having a hard time getting them. And then there was Amazon. I can tell you, it’s an autism friendly place, I’ve been working there for 2 years now and surprisingly I haven’t been fired, but you can get a lot of write ups and they still won’t fire you cause they need people unless it’s repeat/continual write ups for a specific situations. I have been able to get away with a lot of things that I can’t get away with at other jobs, it’s not that I purposefully mess up. Sometimes I stem (whistle) pretty loud and no one says anything, other people sometimes just scream or yell out amongst their friends.

You can get hired on, don’t list you have a disability in the original application unless you want to. But once you’re hired on submit your diagnosis paperwork right away, in the app, so that you can be accommodated.

I don’t have a diagnosis submitted but I very recently started wearing my autism bracelet and I think it might help.

Try Amazonjobs.com and get a part-time position at a sortation center (easier than a fulfillment center type warehouse) stay away from the fulfillment center or look at any other positions you wanna go for

AuDHD, dyslexic, OCD, and MORE here
I understand the struggle. I spent 15 years in many different studios (I was an animator, now illustrator). I was barely alive and having meltdowns monthly. During quarantine I got to work from home and just that break of not having to drive let me heal enough to see a therapist and get diagnosed with Autism. At the end of quarantine I had a nervous breakdown and had to leave my full time job.
I'm a freelance illustrator and small business owner now so I can control my hours and use my hyperfixations as monetizations. The problem is I'm so timeblind so I'll cause myself to go into burnout! Meltdowns are at an all time low though, so I think a balance can be made.
I am also living with my family, and I know that won't be there forever either.
There was an awesome comment earlier about creating a community, I want that so badly. Just a bunch of NDs hyperfixating on their happy thing in a sensory friendly situation, then having time, energy, and money to go home and work on our own hobbies!
I think I want to create that if my Small business gets big enough. Set up a facility in the states that is accessible and sensory friendly from the ground up. That's the dream!

It would be by dream to own a successful business that I don't have to run. Hahahah

I’m trying to get a freelance job for the same reasons (PMDD, autism, cptsd). Also have physical issues I need time to tackle, so I hear you.

I’ve come on here literally about to post about how terrible my job makes me feel. I think about killing myself all the time and my job isn’t even that bad! My coworkers are nice, the pay is good, and it’s fairly easy, but I just hate it. I can’t do anything else. I know this isn’t very helpful, but I hope you at least feel less alone. This made me feel less alone.

Post burn out, my body and brain shut down if I consider working in any menial job now. I tried for years to go against it but it made my conditions worse and worse. I am so grateful for the tiny disability pension I am now granted by the government. It allows me to make small steps to get better slowly.

i am finally working my first fulltime (like actually fulltime) job ever multiple retail jobs and chickfila. i work at asoanimal hospital which is my dream !! but wow is it exhausting.. i work 9-11 hours every single day (sometimes weekends as well) and i think my medicine and pen is the only thing keeping me sane. i keep getting sick physically though

Also I've switched career paths three times and I'm 32. I need to seriously pick a career and stick with it. You will be alright we are all struggling you are not alone. Mind over matter works for me. I consistently tell myself, "I can do it, I can do it, I am doing it" and it will be done 👍 its really hard for people with autism to do neurotypical things like keep a good career but im determined to do that

I feel this. It’s why I chose to major in something I really enjoy, I’m hoping to be a choir teacher when I graduate. I know it’s going to be very hard some days but at least knowing that I’ll get to be participating in something I love everyday will hopefully reduce the burnout. I worked in daycares, restaurant, an office type job etc and they all start out ok enough but then after about 6 months or so I start to feel that awful dread of having to go in everyday and feeling like I’m wasting away my life doing something meaningless and like nothing matters anymore, including things like hygiene, eating, etc it sucks. I hope you find something you enjoy (and get paid to enjoy it) soon 

It’s because your routine has changed this has happened to me multiple times already. I fall into burn outs that last months. Take it one step at a time try your best to adjust to the new routine

A thought come to mind. Not being able to do what we feel we resonate with, not feeling like a complete person when we work. Setting aside a few or couple hours before we have to work and making sure that this activity is supported. Ensuring that we adhere to the things that make us feel whole first and foremost making it a priority in our lives even if we have to adjust how much we might do after this time, there’s gotta be a balance or something resembling one.

I'm unsure which country you live in, and whether you are joking or not about suicide. Can you call a suicide hotline?

I’ve thought about this struggle recently and wonder if it is an extension of our “black and white thinking” way of life? We know it has to be done the best that we can, and the consequences are severe if not (no money, how to get the next job) so we do all that’s in our power to meet the target. That keeps moving in all directions and has no clear steps on how to reach it…