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Comment by theanine | Hacker News Reader

I wrote nearly this exact message in my mood journal today. I haven't had it quite as bad as the author, but I'm extremely, and it feels like permanently, burned out of working for a business/corporation. I fundamentally hate it. I walked out of my first corporate job after a month and now that I'm on my second, all I can think about is walking out. I hate it. I hate it so much. Every single day feels like I'm ruining my life and disappointing every teacher, family member, and friend I've ever had. On the way to work I fantasize about getting in a car accident. Like the author, I can't think about intellectual things anymore - I was in a grocery store this weekend trying to decide between a $3.99 and $4.98 item and I couldn't figure out which was the lower number.

I've been thinking about quitting and going to work at a grocery store for a while. It's not going to pay well but it'll pay more than being dead if you know what I mean.

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I've been there, and am still recovering from burn out and a nervous breakdown.

Corporates can be hell for me.

I used to just want to drive my car into a tree on the way to work.

I was so dead inside. Just nothing going on.

I'm working from home now. But i'm still burnt out and recovering. I have no creativity. Things that should be straightforward seem pointless and repetitive.

When I sit down at my computer I'm filled with a deep existential sadness and find it very hard to do any work at all.

I got nothing, man. Nothing - full burn out.

Chewed up by the system and spat out.

This whole thread, and your comment in particular, resonates. At the very least, knowing this might be the unspoken norm, rather than a personal challenge, that alone helps a ton.

Yeah I will say that this thread has been very validating as I haven't found anyone in my peer group who (at least admits to) feeling the same. What's the cure here? Obviously we could all use some therapy and/or meditation, but then what? To me it seems like we'd still be stuck in the same trap, just with better coping mechanisms.

Good to hear.

I saw a CBT Therapist for depression and anxiety issues. That helped.

I now guard my mental health like the crown jewels. I have to, because without it nothing else happens.

I HAVE to be careful - if I sense myself slipping then everything is at risk - relationships, my job, everything...

So I'm glad it helped!

We are not alone - there are more of us than we realise I think! :-)

It's a certain kind of cruelty to keep people locked in offices for over 8 hours a day under constant scrutiny.

That sounds awful, I'm really sorry to read this. Do you live somewhere where there's been a big uptick in hiring from grocery stores? I couldn't say whether it's a 'good' or a 'bad' move career-wise, bit it sounds like there are more important things for you right now, like your mental health and well-being. You should probably go for it if there's nothing stopping you. If there are things stopping you and there's no feasible way to work through them (financial constraints, culture, family commitments, etc.), you should seek someone you can talk to who can help you get a clearer picture of what you feel, where you are, and where you should go, like a therapist - it helps. In fact it's probably worth doing that whether you work in a grocery store or a corporate office. Good luck!

I'm going through similar feelings right now and I tend to bounce in and out of this state every couple of years. I think the root of it is depression and anxiety. I would seek mental health care before you make a life altering choice. If you had the flu you would go to the doctor, you wouldn't wake up and say wow I'm so tired I should quit my job. Mental health is no different. Medication, therapy, and changes to your routine can help and often quite quickly.

I do see a therapist and it's helped a lot. I think I'm just struggling now because I haven't been able to be seen during quarantine.

I'm not quite that bad, but I hate working in software. I'm on my 23rd year now. My goal that gets me through the day is to pay off the house and other debts and live a low-expense life. That will happen within 5 years. Once that is done, I only have to pull a few contracts a year and maybe work 3-6 months out of a year. Health insurance costs in the US murk the waters a bit.

I had this exact situation with numbers few weeks ago. Wasn’t able to figure out how much to pay for my groceries. It took five times for cashier to repeat until I understood. Felt like on other planet.

It started in January, affected my health in strange way. It’s my second week when don’t feel ill. Working from home works well, I didn’t lost my interest in engineering. But I don’t know what to do when I must sit in the office again. It’s hard to quit being single person who has a job in family.

I am not a pro giving advices, bet my email is in my profile. Talking makes it easier.

If it’s really that bad, why not just quit? The worst case is you’ll be forced to bag groceries out of necessity, and perhaps then you’ll have a newfound appreciation for the corporate job. All upside.

Seek therapy, it helps.

Have you been to therapy? Even if it's just to confirm that what you're experiencing is real and not in your head. It seems like it would do you some good.

it seems like it's really hard to be in that position. that must suck. I feel sorry for your that you're having that experience.

please quit your job. it sounds like otherwise you'll hit a crisis point where life comes in and forces you to make a change (like a real accident) if you feel it so strongly that you're having those feelings and thinking about it all the time please just go ahead and quit. It seems like life is giving you the signs and signals.

I know it's a hard time with work right now but sounds like you have some good support networks around you and from my own experience I can recommend working in small hospitality like the people are cool and when it's busy you get to pass the time, even as a waiter in a cafe or kitchen hand or dishwasher. I recommend against a grocery store unless it's a tiny deli or Bodega because you don't just have to work the cashier you have to pack the shelves and it's less engaging for you as a human than working in hospitality I think.

but at this moment maybe that's not the best suggestion. I don't know how you feel about factory work but I guess it's an option anyway best of luck please quit.

you got to honor how you feel about it right? otherwise who else is going to live your life if you don't.

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