From 48hrs a week to 0hrs a week. Just got fired from my job and trying not to fall into depression. Trying to not let it get me down...

[MrCareBear]

Hi everyone, I recently posted a problem I was having in regards to ages of being completely unemployed and depressed to suddenly the stress of working 48 hrs a week (combination of paid temporary xmas retail and voluntary mental health work) for the past 3 months. Really taking its toll on me physically and mentally. Restless in bed, over-eating, no real joy in anything etc. So because my paid employment wouldn't give me less hours, I had to quit my 8hrs a week unpaid role (which I had been doing for a couple of months before and was very helpful to my career goal). This allowed me some breathing room to get my head straight. However, soon afterwards my paid employer sacked me because they told me recently I seemed tired and "lack lustre". No doubt because of both jobs, but they gave me no warning. So in one week I went from 2 jobs and no spare time, to NO jobs and nothing but spare time, not knowing what to do with myself and the embarrassment I face from my family for quitting one job in order to get better at the other AND THEN getting sacked from the job I was trying to get better at. All in all, I'm feeling down, a real kick in the nuts to get sacked for the first time, its affected my self esteem somewhat.

[Gambit62]

Really sorry to hear about the job - and realise that it really must feel like a kick in the nuts - though strictly speaking I don't have nuts so not sure what that feels like but can imagine it's pretty painful Sorry that's probably a bit too fascetious.

Guess you may not be covered by rules about unfair dismissal if you have only been doing the job for 3 months but it might be worth asking the question at CAB if there is one nearby (citizen's advise).

Know it's going to sound strange and you need a job to pay the bills etc but may be it is a blessing in disguise as the job really didn't seem to suit you and being a wage slave can be so soul destroying. Is there anyway you could go back to the voluntary work for a while - not sure how it interferes with job-seekers and everything else - possibly something else to ask CAB about.

Hope you manage to find something soon that pays the bills but isn't as soul destroying as the other job and allows you to keep up the volunteering that really seems to be something that you need ... and might lead to something more permanent and more suitable in the long term

[MrCareBear in reply to Gambit62]

You had me at 'I don't have nuts'.

But seriously, thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it and will definitely check out CAB at some point to see what kind of advice they can offer me.

[Suzie40]

That's a massive kick in the nuts, coming from someone who doesn't have any either! What terrible news to have to accept at this time of year. I'm so sorry. Unless you work in a massage parlour, I think 'lack of lustre' is a pretty lame excuse to be honest. But as Gambit says, it could be a blessing in disguise. When I first qualified as a teacher, there was no work about so I took a badly paid secretarial job. One day my car wouldn't start so I had to call in sick. While at home, I took a call from a local school who needed someone to start the following day. That was twelve years ago and I've been there since! You never know what fate has in store for you ....

[MrCareBear in reply to Suzie40]

An inspirational thought. As it turns out, I'm currently trying to get into the Educational field. So this could be the opportunity to go for it. Thank you Lucy.

[Suzie40]

Oh that's fab, you'll have a lovely time! If you need any help or advice just give me a shout!

[Photogeek]

Hi there sorry to hear about your job loss. I know from earlier posts that you

Didn't like it, it's still a shock to get the sack. Try not to feel ashamed about

What your family will think. Plenty of famous and infamous people have suffered

Being sacked and maybe it will give you that push to go for what you enjoy.

It's not a great time to get the boot, and their reason sounds a bit flimsy. Lucy and Gambit have both said it all. Don't let it get you down as later you might see it as

A positive.

Take care of yourself and do what you really love if you can.

Hannah

[Hidden]

Hi,

I'm not surprised that you are finding getting the sack difficult whatever the circumstances, you are having to adjust repeatedly to new circumstances and your self-esteem will have taken a knock. Saying you lack lustre suggests it was a job that required more than the ability to do some functional tasks efficiently and perhaps it was too much of a leap for you to take on. Also you were doing quite a bit of voluntary work and that might also have been taking its toll.

With Christmas coming up you will not have much of a chance to get back into either of those situations soon, but I wonder whether you can get some help in deciding what might be best for you in the New Year in order to get back out into the world.

I wonder also whether there is anything in particular you would like to be doing. I don't know your age or circumstances but sometimes getting the sack is an opportunity to review things and think about what you might want to do with your life. You could consider getting some qualifications or getting involved in a different kind of voluntary or paid work.

Do use the website for support whilst you are coming to terms with the situation and thinking about how to move forwards again.

Suexx

[MrCareBear]

Thank you everyone for your help. I truly appreciate it. x