My toxic job is killing me, is it ok to quit?

Hi @funkyzoom, it's a very hard question that only you can answer. I can tell you for myself that I have quit jobs, many of them, due to being unable to cope with the work environment and my mental illness. Crashed out and broke down is a better description of how I left many of my jobs. However, it was a different era then. I am 55 now and on disability support pension for bipolar 1 and crohns disease. I hope someone else responds to this question from you too. I would support your decision to leave, but I am aware that this may place you in a precarious position, especially if you were nearing homelessness in the past due to being unable to secure employment. Kindest wishes, whatever path you choose to take.

@Mazarita

Thank you so much, I completely understand what you say. Although I am reasonably well placed right now in terms of finances, my savings won't last forever. And after a couple of months pass, if I haven't found a job by then, panic starts to set in and thretean my health further. I am kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place.

@funkyzoom, perhaps it might help to map it out on a page with two columns: pro and con. That way it might be a little clearer what factors are in play. Might help to make the decision. Being stuck between a rock and a hard place is no good. Really feeling for you with this difficult decision.

Hi @funkyzoom and welcome

As @Mazarita mentioned this is something only you can answer, I would hesitate to answer this not knowing your full circumstances. I can however share some of my story if it may help.

I was discussing this situation with my mum only this morning. I have only ever worked full time in one job, a job I stayed in for over 14 years. I resigned from that organisation just short of 10 years due to stress and toxic working environment and they created a position for me in another area of the organisation where I stayed for a further four and a half years. I eventually left after a complete meltdown and burnout. Part of me wishes I had left after 10 years when I initially intended to. I stayed mostly because I have a mortgage to pay and a young family to support and my wife lives with BPD so change and uncertainty for her was difficult.

If I had my time over again I would have left that job much much earlier as for me the cost to my health has been far to great as I am currently unable to provide for my family anyway and have not worked in a full time job for over 4 years. While the financial adjustment was difficult we have survived. We are however in a position where there is no risk of us becoming homeless so that takes some pressure off.

I am currently studying at university with the hope that I may be able to reenter the workforce in a different field where there is less stress but also more diverse job opportunities.

Ultimatly only you can decide but with careful planing (and it seems as though you have thought this through as time frames) there are always options, particually if you dont mind what sort of work younare doing.

We also live in a rural area where jobs are not easy to come by, I dont know what it is like where you are. I will potentially have to commute up to an hour when I go back to working.

Hope this helps and a the best.

@Determined

Wow, you seem to have survived through extremely traumatising situations. I hope you eventually get a job of your liking once you graduate from university. And it takes a lot of strength to share what you just did.

One good thing about my situation (if you can call it a good thing), is that I am single with no dependants, My medical condition makes it really hard for me to find and keep a partner, but maybe that is a blessing in disguise. And I will not invest in a house, because I know that I may not be constantly employed due to my condition (which makes mortgage repayments really hard and stressful).

I am still hopeful of eventually getting a job in my profession, but I really need a break asap. I certainly don't mind the type of work I do, as long as it helps me pay my rent and bills (and is not cripplingly stressful). I have done casual/semi-skilled jobs in the past for survival (washing cars, delivering pizzas, distributing pamphlets etc.), although it was in my home country and not Australia.

Good evening, @Determined thanks for your open post about your life. I appreciate knowing you better.

Hi again @funkyzoom, it sounds like you know your own mind on this issue already. I worked mostly casual and part-time jobs throughout my working life, some temping in offices, which sometimes involved full-time work for relatively short periods of time. The longest I've ever worked a full-time job is 9 months. This has all been because of my mental illness coupled with crohns disease since I was 18. Luckily it sounds like you are in better physical health. I have to say I don't recommend part-time and casual work from the point of view of: it kept me very poor throughout my life, though never homeless (close a couple of times but someone probably would have come through to help me if it came to the crunch). Not sure of your situation that way. But yes, there are options. People do get jobs. Temping is actually a good way into permanent full time work if you can do it.

Best to both of you this evening.

Thanks @Mazarita I just hope it is of some help.