Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
I don't want to say I hate my job, that probably is a strong word, but sometimes it feels that way. I've been trying to get into a different career for a few years, I started freelance writing and volunteering in different areas, as well as seeing a career counselor. Although I have not had any job interviews as I am not sure people would be willing to hire me as I've just been a schoolteacher my whole career.
I think I might hate it. I show up, do the work, I get ok reviews, the people are cool, but as soon as I wake up it's just this feeling of dread and boredom. I make the same amount of money I did when I graduated twelve years ago, because there is no advancement. Yet, cost of living continues to rise. There are no opportunities, no growth. It is dead end. Worse yet, the kids hate school. I work at a school for kids who are attending with us as their last-ditch as they've been thrown out of regular school. I ask questions, try to get them to participate. They are either compeletely stoned (you can smell the pot) so nothing some of them say makes sense. Or they are asleep. Just being around a whole crowd of people like this who hate life and everything in it makes me depressed. It's like there is not much I can to to bring them up or motivate them. Just running upstream. So it is a paycheck but I am so bored. Driving a very long distance for a small paycheck. Just a dead end. I rent a house from my mom as I cannot afford my own home, and the loans. There has got to be better out there. A different field is what I want, with innovation and opportunities, new people and cool things to do that actually advance society. I do not want to get a master's for something I have gotten to hate, as the pay raise is miniscule and it would be more to pay back in loans. I hate to be negative and say that I feel trapped or am trapped, but it does seem that way. There are a few companies who I would like to interview with, the trouble is that I am not sure that they will be interested in hiring someone who has done one thing all their life.
A friend of mine gave up her teaching post after a bout of depression due to abuse at work, plus the usual overworked and underpaid scenario. After some time off, she took all the skills that she liked in teaching, such as the lesson planning and career development advising and found a job as a project manager for a food company. A decade later she has gone back to supply teaching and loves it.
In a nutshell I am saying, don't give up, there will be something out there that you will want to do, there will be an employer that looks at your set of skills and believes in you.
Good luck, and thank you for teaching our next generation.