I work as a barista in my local town and I feel so exhausted after work. I sleep for 14 hours a day, I dont do almost anything on my days offs. I work for 20 hours a week and I feep its too much for me and I earn 240€ a month that looks pitty as before I worked in UK for 1400£ a month. I should also get my disability allowance from my home country or UK soon. I dont do much at work either, just clean the dishes and bring coffee to a customer. Some days are alright, but others are just horrendous - I feel so much sedated by my medication and I have to act if I am alright is really difficult. The problem is i will lose all mu current income which is quite sad.
Without a job, what would you do all day?
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The same as i am doing everyday, just being useless
If you think it’s ruining your health, you should quit or if you can’t keep up with things.
Maybe ill manage to go through it, but i saw an ad put on by my workplace that they are searching for someone full time, i might be kicked out without my decision
I work part time too. I know it can be rough. Some days when I am too sedated I could get comments from co-workers like “Is everything alright” and such, but most of the time I fly under the radar.
I haven’t told all my co-workers about my condition, only my boss and a couple of others know about it. I don’t know if they have passed it on to the rest, but it seems like everyone is happy to have me there and treats me good, I guess that’s what’s most important.
It’s far better to have something to occupy yourself with even if it might be hard sometimes.
Working needs to be done in conjunction with meds that don’t knock you out.
Amisulpride works for me, and I can work no problem.
Maybe you need to get some sort of hobby. I started swimming and a really like it now, and it is by no means a chore
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You should sit down and think on it. Ask yourself if its negatively affecting your health and setting your recovery progress back, or if the challenges are something you can overcome. Im not saying that you should or shouldn’t be working, its your life and Im not here to judge.
However, I am a HUGE advocate for staying busy. Sitting around and, as you said, being “useless” can set you back in recovery more than the stress of working or doing something to occupy your time. BTW, I dont like the word useless, I prefer the word productive as its less condeming than useless. When I have nothing to do I get into this awful slump of being absolutely non productive.
Barista and most food service jobs are fast moving and stressful. Have you considered looking for something a bit more laid back? Im getting into freelance proof reading while I get through college. It will be extra cash, it plays to my meticulous nature, and it even plays to the strengths of part of my mental illness. Having OCD, one of my compulsions is to check my work more than twice. This is great for proof reading as it helps me to not rush and miss errors.
The point Im making is too find something that plays to your strengths. It is less of an uphill battle that way.
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No shame in not doing something productive. Sometimes it’s fine to just be recreational and watch a movie or read a novel or whatever you like. Especially when you have meds that weigh you down.
In these Corona times I have even heard celebrities say that they have been busy doing something next to nothing.
I dont think it has anything to do with shame or judgment. Im saying from a recovery stand point being unproductive is a proven major setback. Im not saying you have to go 100% all the time, but waking up with goals and a plan the majority of the time is better for healing than waking up every day and not doing anything. Doing nothing productive the majority of the time leads to depression and anxiety. When I say productive I dont mean for the betterment of society, but for ourselves. Going for a walk, keeping good hygiene, and cleaning up a bit are just a few ways to stay busy and improve mental health.
Also its something I struggle with everyday, so no judgment here.
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Keep at it for as long as you can I would say.
I’m a waiter. So we work in similar capacity. You serve coffee and I serve plates. It’s not dissimilar.
I am also part time.
Thanks to my job I’ve just been able to afford a new laptop. I’m also using the money to fund a nice phone.
Without a job, you can’t do these things. Yes you will get disability and you may be free to do as you wish and you do have a reduction in external stress
But a job will keep you involved with society and in the case of hospitality - barista or waiter - you are physically active!
Try to keep going, but more importantly you need a side interest.
My side interest is studying. I study economics which is helping me feel valuable as person because it challenges and requires me to use my mind.
You need the same! Buy yourself a nice gaming rig perhaps, and then keep that as a side interest - a hobby where you feel valuable because you are being rewarded for your motivation and effort. It is a reason to wake up in the morning and do something!
It doesn’t have to be that expensive. It could be art or model making. It could be baking, it could be programming. It could be reading!
Do something to help yourself feel happier.
I use music as much as I can. I have found when I get bored of music. I get bored of life and then want to quit my job or leave my university. It’s really important to have this though. The happy factor from an external source like a hobby. In my case it is listening to music on Spotify - I can only afford Spotify because of this job!
(Also a word of advice, if you’re a smoker. You have to quit because it is making you less happy or it is the only thing that gives you happiness- it’s too expensive and time consuming !!! )
I agree. Goals is so important. It gives us definition in life and also gives us something to look forward to. This direction keeps you away from feeling depressed or without hope.
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