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Back to work and terrified

User Profile: stydia
stydia May 17th, 2019

I've been unemployed for almost a year, I had to quit my last job due to traumatic illness resulting in hearing loss because I was exposed to harmful noise levels and now have high frequency hearing loss + chronic tinnitus and the ENT I saw said if I stayed there I could go deaf. I've been living off my parents with the BARE MINIMUM, went through a 4 inch growth spurt and got curvier and desperately need new clothes, it's been rough but I finally found another job......... and I'm TERRIFIED. Why?

It's a pizza place, and food service has become soul-shattering depressing for me. Uniforms? Dress code? Shirt tucked in, hair in a bun and no nail polish? Make me uncomfortable and sad as a fashion lover, like I'm losing my identity (I know, I'm 24 but living with extremely strict/controlling/stifling parents gave me a need for control and self expression)... but that's not the problem. Not eating on a regular schedule (I have IBS and eating at the same times like a routine helps me manage it because that's what my body's used to)? Working until midnight or 2 a.m./overnight shifts? Losing my freedom, the ability to go places, leave town, hang out with friends or pursue hobbies? I feel like I'm kissing my freedom goodbye in every way possible and like I'm signing my life over to this place. I start today, I'm SO, so, so nervous and quite upset about it. I cannot work past 10 pm, I'm a college student and need my sleep, you can bet I have insomnia issues as it is as someone who suffers from anxiety. I don't like being out late at night, I don't feel safe and that's usually when my stomach problems act up anyway. I'm actually quite sad, waking up in the morning knowing I have to push through this is depressing even if I'll be making money, like I'll never get a day to myself anymore. I'm scared. I wish I could get an office or secretary job where I can at least have more control over what I wear so I can be comfortable, but I don't have the friends/connections/education to qualify. The most education I have is "some college" for an Associate's in English I don't have yet but I almost do. I hate this, I'm not happy about it, I'm more terrified about it and how my life is going to change negatively than anything. I'll miss out on time with my family, can't go to events, anchored to this town because of it. Food service jobs are taken so seriously now, like being on call. I don't like this... anyone else know how it feels?

1
User Profile: SecretlyMe
SecretlyMe March 8th, 2020

@stydia I'm sorry that you feel like working will cause all these problems to your health and mental well being. And I'm even sorrier that your thread went unanswered for so long. How have you been feeling since you originally posted this? How has it been adjusting to the job? Are you still there or did you find a job that better suits your needs? I understand how a bad work situation can seem to make everything else in your life harder and I really hope that you aren't still hurting because of work.

Keep us updated on how you are feeling so we can do our best to provide you the support you deserve from our community.