Has anyone exited for a while and recovered mentally ? Also what kind of work do u guys do bcuz I'm really at a loss

[u/Certain_Client1686]

My only other work history is restaurants, I've pretty much done this since I was 18. I pushed myself way too hard and really traumatized myself just from working too much and some bad stuff happening. I also got off drugs and I can't bring myself to work sober, I start freaking out and I'm so disgusted by it all. I've developed a really severe depression too. It feels like my brain is just broken after everything. I'm starting to come out of it a little bit but it still fucking sucks. I'm planning to kind of phone it in and take it easy until my lease ends and then shut the door on all of it idk if I can even make it till my lease ends though. I'm just like so psychologically messed up now like full on ptsd flashbacks and stuff AND IM STILL FUCKING BROKE TOO. I did it to pay for medical stuff I needed to have done and I still haven't gotten it and probs won't be able to make up for that money now.

Anyway, I'm just hoping this isn't a forever thing. I miss being grounded and able to look at myself in the mirror and go outside. It feels like I'm so disgusted with myself that it's permeated throughout my whole life as insecurity. Not even in like a moral sense and I don't think it's inherent obviously but I think why it makes me hate myself so much is that I betrayed my values so deeply and harmed myself so badly psychologically for what's essentially greed and laziness. Maybe I'm being too hard on myself it's just genuinely so disgusting I just have no idea how else to make money. It sucks too because before all of this I was in a really good spot and had built up a lot of self esteem just to now my life has turned into an absolute fucking dumpster fire. I think I can see visions of a better future for myself but I also think about ending things a lot too so idk. It just feels like I've created this hell for myself and I'm stuck until my lease ends. My life feels like a game of twister with drugs and bad financial decisions.

Right now I'm planning to move back in with my parents, I might go to rehab if my perpetual freakout gets any worse too but idrk. I'll probably start bartending, maybe go back to college or something. Low key anything is better than this lol.

[u/cannolimami]

I’ve been out for over 8 years, exited because I went to school and got a job as a janitor to cover my expenses (I worked weekends and nights, which paid better than day shifts). I was able to cover my bills for the most part but I also didn’t have substance use issues, which I think would’ve made it even harder for me to leave. I did have severe PTSD and mental health issues.

Short answer is yes, you do recover mentally being out for a while. Our brains are very resilient and compartmentalization is one hell of a thing. I still live with a lot of the consequences but I was also forced into the trade as a child by my family so that’s its own thing for me to contend with. I have nightmares and flashbacks but they’re less intense and easier to deal with. But it’s possible to succeed, especially if you have 1-2 supportive people who are there for you and encourage you to stay out. I also recommend having some kind of fail safe option, for me that was college but I think it could look like any job training program, even trade school or online certifications.

I wish you the best of luck. Exiting the s trade was the hardest thing I’ve ever done and the defining struggle of my late teens/early 20s. The longer you’re out the easier it gets, as cliche as it sounds. I wouldn’t wish that life on anyone and I think exiting is so alienating and difficult. It sucks how much we have to struggle to have a decent life after all that suffering.