Job burnout

[SteveDallas]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

I think "great, just one more thing where people can think 'just pick yourself up by the boot straps, wimp'"

Yep, you're right. Recently I've gotten more and more distressed by the "say your happy, and you'll be happy" school of "thought."

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Why doesn't the VP of our department, a licensed counselor, who SEES but refuses to SEE (presumably because I am not one of her minions) try to offer assistance?

How do you know she sees? At any rate, as your department head, she should certainly NOT try to give you any counseling--it's just not a good idea when there is a pre-existing close relationship of some kind.

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

I am in treatment for depression. That is a long time chronic concern. But I used to find a lot of joy in my job.

Wait, hold up. How does this fit in?? What's going on here? (I'm not asking you to vent publicly, but you have to figure it out.) IMVHO, it would be a mistake to address your job/burnout issues without some input from whoever is treating you for depression. Your worst case scenario is that your symptoms are driven by your depression and you will have the same problems in a new job, no matter how good that job is.

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

I have plenty of time off coming

Check the rules carefully... at most places, in the event that you do quit, they will have to pay you off for the value of any earned but unused vacation time.

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

but knowing it's going to be hard to find a replacement for this low paying, stressful job.

All the more reason you should seriosuly consider bailing. At the moment you're simply rewarding her behavior.

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Plus, my parents who are already worried about me would be even more worried. Still, when I mention my job stress to my mom I KNOW what she's thinking: all jobs are stressful. I started working at 13 years old. i know about stress...but nothing has ever been like this.

Yes, it's so true... people will just say, "oh, don't be so negative!" But forget it.. if you think bailing out is the right thing to do, you need to do it.. and not worry about how it will affect your mom and her perception of you.

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

I wish I didn't still feel this base loyalty. I feel I own my job, you know? I've always taken pride in my work.

And your pride and loyalty do you credit. But it sounds like your boss doesn't deserve them. What you need to decide is, do you just have a problem with your boss/department? Or is it the institution as a whole? If the answer is B, you really do need some kind of exit strategy. (And I know that's easier said than done. Looking for a job is hard work, and it's difficult to do when you're being drained by an existing job, and a problematic emotional/psychological situation.) If the answer is A, and you really feel loyalty to the institution, then you should consider carefully if you want to complain to your HR office, with an eye toward a transfer to another department.

So I would say, don't decide that you can't afford to quit until you find out exactly how much $$ you have coming to you for your unused vacation time. Also, in the situation you describe, your boss will suffer greatly from your leaving, and will have a hard time finding a replacement. These may sound like cold comfort now. But if you do it, I promise you'll derive a surprising amount of pleasure from the situation. It won't pay the bills but it'll do wonders for your morale.