Apparently Unemployable & Depressed About It

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Yeah, so I'm bummed. I quit dog walking a couple of months ago; tried cab driving; couldn't cope with either.
But now, because of my unemployed status, or whatever else is not in my favour (age, oddness, etc.,) I can't even get an interview. And it's getting to me.
Plus I am meeting a new mental worker soon. The psychiatrist who diagnosed me and chose my medication is no longer available. I have to go for an intake interview on Tuesday. I dread this...God knows who I will end up with or what their treatment will be.

But mostly I just feel useless. I have been trying to work on writing something, but my motivation is sinking and negative thoughts are becoming more present. I hate being an unproductive person. I've even been trying for volunteer opportunities working with dog groomers, but no bites there either. I am sick of feeling so alienated.

What kind of work do you enjoy doing? If you lost your other jobs because you could not handle them maybe there are different types of jobs you would be able to handle. Maybe if you live in a small town you can move to a bigger city with more jobs available.

Well, I live in a fairly sizeable town, but I think I have tried every avenue I can. I don't want to move. I've finally found a place I like.

I have never actually enjoyed any job I have had. But I've only worked in offices or customer service. And the dog walking, which I actually enjoyed except for certain unreasonable factors. I like dogs.

I feel that my ability to cope with adverse environments has diminshed as I get older and am thinking that my best option is retraining to get a skill, but with my bankruptcy I can't get a student loan. It's unlikely that I will be able to save up enough money for the program but there might be scholarahips and such.

Arggg, I just can't seem to get my footing in this world.

You could volunteer at pet shelters for the time being.It would get you out and about and you would feel positive about what you were doing.

I didn't fit in the last time I volunteered at our pet shelter. There was something I didn't like about them. Not sure exactly. Could try again, but I'm going to keep targeting pet groomers for now.

I don't know ... all the young people are out of school now and they're much more appealing, enthusiastic and energetic then me.

I wrote an article that I managed to have read by a professional (via a friend) and he says my writing and thinking are fine and that my writing is accessible. I thought this was pretty good!

But when I try to concentrate I am haunted by past trauma and pain. Memories pop into my mind unconnected, but precise. I feel constantly pursued aned threatened. I will talk to the new therapist about this although I'm not sure what can be done about it.

Perhaps a friend or family member could set you up with "under the table" work? Mowing lawns, cleaning gutters, that sort of thing?

Well, I've offered to help a friend do some transplanting, but I don't expect her to pay me for it. But I like gardening.

Well if this is more about feeling useful, and not about the pay, the Squid says "Go for it!"

I'm on ODSP for anxiety and depression for the next while at least, but I can't rely on it as you never know when it might be yanked ... especially with getting a new doctor ... anything could happen.

But mostly I want to feel useful and not take support money if I dont have to.

I don't know if I can be of any help, but I want to say that I kind of have the same situation. I am 55 years old. Recently, I interviewed with a heating and air conditioning company, which I have training in and it looks hopeful, but I don't think I will get it because of my age. I have a job now typing medical records, but I am always threated with being fired. I fear that should I be fired from the medical records job, I will never be able to work again. This is all before I have told anyone about the ASD condition, and our 85% unemployment rate scares the crap out of me. No wonder I had such a hard time getting jobs when other people just got them easily and coped with them easily (or it seemed that way). I am applying for SSI as kind of an early retirement, but what kind of goal is that? I guess I am just saying I know how hard jobs are for us to cope with.

I feel like society doesn't share my values. Things are about speed, repetition, productivity ... always for the bottom line. Like a human robot pacing itself to the movement of commerce. To survive in this world I have to alter who I am.

*hugs* I am truly sorry you feel this way I myself am stuck working low end garbage jobs barely being able to hold on at times. I miss my graveyard shift job at 711 but they changed owners and let me go so now im stuck working days at a carwash dealing with irate and impatiant people and some of my coworkers are illegal immigrants unable to understand what I am saying.

kinda know how you feel I can't find work even though I know i'm employable.

Have you tried contacting voc rehab? maybe they can help you find what you're good at and like doing.

HUGS. hope you feel better.

ps I miss your cat avatar.

You have my sympathy. I'm in a similar boat. I don't know how old you are but people aged over 50 are generally written off as unemployable (unless they are already in secure employment). There are always various government initiatives to get young people into work but never a mention of help for people over 50. We are left to rot.

So true. Thanks. I feel like I'm fighting on two fronts - against depression taking over inside and against society which I increasingly feel distanced from. The world feels separated from me. Sometimes it's like I am watching a movie rather than living my life. My body feels like an ill-fitting avatar that I can't quite control.

I think I might be a write-off to society. Too old for "intervention." I guess I need to find the value I do have and learn to sppreciate myself, but right now I just feel angry and frustrated.

Lots of people go on vacation this summer,maybe you could feed the pets and water plants while they are out of town.Once you have a few happy customers they might refer you to their friends.It would be a nice quiet job,no ones home.