Hi. I am 38 and I think I am having a mid life crisis. My mood is low, I cant stop worrying about loads of different things and I just feel generally unhappy and dissatisfied. I hate my job. I am doing what I do for a living as a conscious way of "earning less money to have less stress", yet they are cranking up the stress levels but not my pay. I have two young kids, one of whom is a real handful bless her! I am financially okay but had some massive fork outs this year and I am completely conditioned out of being able to relax. I cant even really drink alcohol anymore, something which I used to enjoy in moderation as even small amounts now give me a blinding headache. I have tinnitus on and off pretty badly and my immune system has been shot to bits this winter. Fundamentally though, aside from my amazing wife and family, I have no friends or even acquaintances to share any of this struggle with. I work in solitary confinement most of the time in a freezing cold showroom. I am really lonley and even when my colleauges are in, Im not that fussed on them as people. I feel like I just want to burry my head in the sand. It frightens me to think what my life has become over the last 4 years. If anyone cab offer any words of encouragement or ways to cope, I would be delighted to hear. I have just started seeing a counsellor but its early days yet. I am not holding my breath for them being able to wave a magic wand!
Aside from what im starting to believe is a bad case of health anxiety for myself.
I think im feeling very similar to yourself in terms of where life is going.
Im 32 in a fairly ok job, but it nothing more than a means to an end. I think im onlybstill there as its 10mins from my front door.
Allthough i pretty much hate the company ethos and working practices, zero fondness for all but maybe 2 of my colleagues!!
And wondering what the hell im doing with life.
I try and take solice in knowing my kids are ok and i can just about afford my own luxury in life(motorbikes)!!
And kinda making the best of what i do have.
And yes i know im saying that, and yet feeling very similar to yourself, but i guess when we have commitments such as kids house etc, well ... ya damned if ya damned if ya dont!!
Maybe it helps to know your not alone in thinking, whats it all about and what the hell have i done with my life!!
Must admit it doesnt really help me!!
I guess the counselling cant hurt to give it a whirl. I kinda think I should try something of a similar nature 🤔🤔
Am afraid I have no magic wand but can sympathise. I am not really very happy at work either and although not alone, I find it difficult to relate to some of the people around me who I have to spend the days with. My colleagues consists of a gossip, motormouth, brown noser, smelly food eater, loudmouth on telephone. persistant sigher,a know-it-all and a management talker. Would I spend anymore time around these people than I have to, well...'No', actually 'No-way Hosay'. At the start of the day I feel Ok, but by the end I feel terrible head-pressure / dizziness and off-balance - such a relief just to make it home.
What we have to do just for money eh ? Oh to win the lottery
Hi Jason. Thanks for this. I was delighted to hear back from someone. Although I sympathise with the situaion you describe, it is always nice to know that there are others in a similar situation.
I have not seen a single person at work today. Its freezing in here and I feel so lonely. I just crave some interaction with someone! My wife is texting me to check up on me bless her but it is so painfully lonely in here. Its a miserable existence.
I'm in a very similar pickle regarding work being 10 mins from home. That is literally the only pro. I face the dilemma of working further afield, being away from home longer, missing the kids, and having to readjust to a different routine, at a time when i dont feel up to a big change.
You mention you are 32 so i have 6 years on you. I think this last 3 years have made all the difference in terms of how i feel. I feel i have suddenly aged, i dont see my friends anymore, my life has become a chore and I have almost given up.
I too hope the counseling will help, but I must say it has been very useful to exchange a mail with you here. Thanks. Take care.
Hi Jason. Thanks again. In terms of the "difference", my craving of interaction, although very real, is also what sometimes pushes me into my shell. For example some of my "friends" are shockingly bad at replying to texts. For this reason I get paranoid and I stop texting them for fear of not hearing back. It can then end the friendship but I guess better so by me than feeling rejected again if that makes sense. i also guess i misunderstand friendship and mistake aquaintences for friends eg the people who cut my hair, do my laundry etc. Interactions and relations with people clearly mean more to me than they have to the other person. Yes I crave these interactions but I am reaching a submisson stage hence feling lonley and withdrawn. Sorry that was so deep. Really good to hear from you again and I hope things pick up for you too. Cheers, Mark