Don't feel alone I quit a job I loved & had put 5yrs. of my blood, sweat, & tears into. What I have learned is my job is not the whole of who I am. Don't be so hard on yourself.

I can relate to how you feel. I was at a company for 11 years and finally had to leave. I got no recognition and was just plain used. Not to mention the fact that I was verbally insulted by 20 somethings on a daily basis.What I do now is I don't let my career, my alcoholism or any external force define who I am or what I am about.There is no reason to feel ashamed. That is toxic shame, not healthy shame. Healthy shame is "I made a mistake". Toxic shame is "I AM a mistake". Does this help a little?

I know exactly what you mean. I had a career that I loved. It wasn't just a job, it was a passion, part of who I was.

My feelings have gone through a number of changes since my MVA in 2004. For so long I was determined everything was going to be fine & my employer actually allowed me to booked a couple of weeks off at a time for the best part of a year before they had to put me on the books as "medical leave" and fill my position. As time has passed & with very slow progress physically the chances of me ever returning to that career are almost non-existant. Some professionals have said that won't happen but until I have something to replace it with I have to hold onto it to enable me to keep pushing forward. I am still not sure who I am without my career.

I'm not sure if this helped but at least you will know you aren't alone & others do understand.

i think with me its the other way around. I think my job has affected my depression and made it alot worse because of the way that people treat eachother there...too much negativity!

i understand how you feel. it turns out ive had depression my whole life and was always called lazy and a quitter.
i destroyed a promising army carreer back in 1984. i drove a truck for ten years and just quit. i was a great carpet cleaner for 5 years and quit.
i destroyed two marriages and now that i'm almost 48 i'm finding myself starting my life over again but now ive found that belonging to a mental health advacasy orginazation i really believe iv'e found my calling in life.
i also went to culinary school but could not get a job because i just burned to many bridges that could never be re-built.
i was ashamed to be around people because i just knew they knew i was a failure or a joke. there are people who understand. trust me i went to therapy for years and have recently got back into life through being an advocate for the mentally ill. i found my gift of public speaking has been a great asset to me and now i talk to anyone who will listen to myths and stigmas of people like us. please hang in there and remember you have friends andthings get better,,,,,,your friend,,,patrick

Yes,
I finished my Degree in Psychology a few years ago (which was a struggle in itself with on-off depression), I re-sat a year, missed final exams, but got there eventually.
My plan was always to go on to postgraduate,and become a qualified practitioner but have been to ill to contemplate it.
Like you i've isolated myself and have very little human contact. It's ironic that people with depression and or anxiety isolate themselves when contact with people stimulates and encourages recovery. It's so hard.
Please don't see yourself as a failure. There are so many people who don't want to work and have no drive for career because they are lazy.
This isn't the case for people like you and I. We are ill and it isn't through choice that work becomes neglected or impossible.
All we can do is try fight the illness and move forward.
Best wishes, Annie

I think I am losing my job everyday I am away from it. I have a medical slip that says I dont have to work until July 9th, but I still dont know if that will be helpful at all. I am currently taking classes to become an Interior Designer and I would love to freelance doing work like that. I know how you feel. It has been so hard for me to keep a job in the last couple years, and now when I find one that I love, I am unable to work because I have issues being around people right now.

Hello,
Altough i am off sick for a week and my manager, area manager and i had a chat before i went on sick to tell me that cause i am very good at my job and they love me working for them. They wont sack me like they would have done if i were soeone else. I am thankful for this and i tend to be focussed when i am work and have nothing but this to think about. So i am glad i have this. But i did slip once and it could have affected my career if it wasn't for life long friends and knowing what i am doing.
I am sorry to hear this and not sure what advice to give you on it. If you ever need to chat. I probaby would be online most of this week. I am a good listener and i wont judge. Sorry i can't help any further.

GOD do i know how you feel!!!!!

i constantly feel pressured to be insanely successful.

my oldest brother just graduated from college with the highest award in his class... he's perfect.
my sister is going to the same university as him, and she will be studying in rome for a few months in the fall.

my parents are so fucking proud of them... they are the pride of my whole damn family, and i am expected to be the same.

after dropping out of 2 colleges, and never having a paying job, i feel absolutely worthless.

all of my friends are in school. it's all they ever talk about. i feel so out of place when i'm around them. they just dont understand what it's like to WANT to make something of your life but be too depressed to act on it.