I have loads of professional experience, including in leadership positions. I've been successful in a creative field. I've helped businesses make millions of dollars. I'm personable, people gravitate toward me and find me fascinating. I can tell a good story, make people laugh. People come to me for advice, some of them successful, some of them still figuring things out. I have a lot going on.Despite all of this, I haven't been able to find work for almost three years now. Four years ago I used to make over $100k a year. When I wasn't working for a company, I used to be able to freelance, and that was before I was particularly good at the things I can do now. I can't even do that anymore. I am literally so broke that I can't afford new shoes, and mine are falling apart. What very, very little money I make all goes toward food. My wife has an extremely low paying job that barely covers our rent and utilities. Our savings have dwindled to nothing over the past four years, and things don't seem to be improving.I guess I'm not sure what else to do but kill myself. I've developed depression so bad from just constantly having things not work out that I can't even force myself to try anymore. What am I supposed to do? Just go ahead?
>>33634183By your picture I have interpolated the following few posts:First I recommend therapy.To which you answer you don't believe in therapy or can't afford it.Then I tell you to apply for lower jobs.To which you will reply you did (that's a lie).Then I will tell you to look for support in your environment or family.To which you will answer you don't have any (lie) or they wouldn't understand (lie).And therefore I give you generic advice.And then you say that you've tried it all (lie) and then proceed to produce half a page of breathless self loathing.To which I say "alright, you didn't want any advice at all, you just wanted people to agree with your whining", and I leave the thread.
>>33634190Hey, I appreciate the reply, and I understand the cynicism.>First I recommend therapyI have done therapy, and it's not that I don't "believe" in it, but I literally cannot afford it now. It's also difficult because I live in a country where English is not the primary language, and it isn't exactly known for having many psychotherapists to begin with.>Then I tell you to apply for lower jobsI haven't gone into much detail here, but there aren't even many "lower" jobs I'd be able to get here. If you mean something like fast food work or something, even if I were able to find a job like that, it would probably be very difficult at this point to not burn out quickly. It also seems like an incredible waste to do something like that, although I have to admit, I often feel like I don't have much of a choice. I do apply to jobs I'm definitely qualified for, but I'm pretty sure at this point most of them aren't actually real.>Then I will tell you to look for support in your environment or familyI do get a small amount of support from my family, but they live thousands of miles away. By support, I mean I can occasionally get a phone call with them, and when I'm absolutely desperate, my mother will send me a few hundred dollars to keep the lights on. My mom does "understand," in a sense, but she is a boomer, and genuinely doesn't understand how different the world is now. My wife's mother is pretty much the same way.>And therefore I give you generic adviceI'd be willing to hear it. I'm not sure how much good it will do if it's super generic, but I'm definitely willing to listen.>And then you say that you've tried it all (lie) and then proceed to produce half a page of breathless self loathingSometimes it does feel like I've tried most things, including things I've told others to do when they were in a position. My situation is a little peculiar, and I'm sure some people could claim that I made some mistakes in life by not anticipating perfectly that things
>>33634198would end up this way, but I'm not "stupid" and I genuinely don't think I made serious blunders, just mistakes in retrospect. I haven't come here to wallow in self-loathing, or to seek pity. I mostly just don't really know what to do.
>>33634198>>33634203Alright, so here's my bit of advice:You are obviously in a bad place, and the fact that you've stayed out of job for years hints at a big thing you didn't mention here. It's the kind of stuff that only therapy can hope to deal with, but since that is off the table for the moment we have to focus on survival.1) Figure out your finances: How long will you be able to go on like this? I don't need to know the answer, but you do. This is central to the question of how urgently you need to act.2) Whatever you're doing right now isn't working, so figure out what you could be doing to get back into a sustainable way of living. Seriously consider moving closer to your family or whoever you can consider your support net. They'll have to do as adhoc therapists. Also don't just assume they'll do that, but tell them you may need someone to help you and ask them if they will want to do that. Consent is important.Whatever you're doing as a job in that area must be something that does not push you further into the rabbit hole. I've seen a data analyst become a kindergarden teacher after early burnout, maybe do something that is reasonably easy and with people. Don't go to full time work at the beginning.And then you'll have to develop a very very regular schedule. Get up in the mornings, get some fresh air every single day, talk to someone that's not your partner, every single day, eat your veggies. Stuff like that.None of that is going to fix your underlying issues, which I still don't know nor dare to guess, but it will help deal with the symptoms.
>>33634183I won't continue reading what is shaping up to be a humble brag. This is an advice board, so ask about a real problem next time.
>>33634183Why can’t you just do what you did before when you were making money?
Bubble popped and AI dropped. Sorry man. I am 31 and don't even try with a lot of things because it's all bullshit fake stuff. Covid broke the system for guys like you.My suggestion is to start a business and be out in the field every day. Use your skills to make yourself your own money.
>>33634183find a low paying job and work your way back up the promotion ladder? how is this hard lolsome money is always better than no money
>>33634190/thread
>>33634183did you have savings that carried you these 3 years?
