Stuck at a harmful job, what do I do?

I had training on Sunday for my new job and it’s all kinds of wrong for me, I spent the whole time shaking and on the verge of tears. I have three days until my first real day on the job, and there will be no supervisors or fellow workers at my stand to help me. The last day before my next shift is my birthday…but every hour that passes I get more desperate and scared. I’m not a minor, so technically no one has a say in whether I can quit or not but me, but I can’t deal with all the crap I will get from my family if I leave. It’s starting to feel like I’ll have to do something horrible to get out of it (and I have prior depression/anxiety/other issues and I am off my meds and there is no way to get more meds for at least a week) and I really don’t want to end up in the hospital on my birthday but I feel like I have no options. I know it sounds stupid but I feel like a cornered animal and I can only hurt myself to get out. This is my first ever job and I’m jealous of everyone I see working a cash register or fast food grill, I would kill to have those jobs, ANYTHING with less pressure and intensity than this feels to me. I don’t know what to do.

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itstimefortea_

3 Answers

It's tough trying to live up to other's expectations and not let them down. I know you don't want to disappoint your family and their goals for you but at the end of the day you need to decide what's best for you. In my opinion the most important thing and what you should be concerned about is your health. Anyone can apply for a job but if the stress is too much it could be detrimental.
When you feel confused and overwhelmed the best thing to do first is to relax and put yourself in an environment where you feel comfortable and can think. As soon as you're relaxed you need to take things step by step and, as elementary as it might sound, consider the pro's and con's of taking the job versus waiting and perhaps finding something that better suits you personally. (Honestly sometimes putting pen to paper and drawing one of those little tables from 4th grade is the best thing)
The choice is completely up to you, but in my opinion, judging from the stress that your new job is likely to cause, I would wait and not take the job.
If possible, try to talk to your family and discus the pressure that this is putting on you and just how bad its making you feel. Most likely they'll want what's best for you and you're health and won't pressure you to do anything you don't feel comfortable with. Anxiety is not something to be taken lightly.

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Heddi

I was going through a very similar situation with a job a few weeks ago. It was psychologically detrimental to me and I knew that I could no longer put myself in that situation. I ended up quitting and telling my family the reason and they were completely understanding. Your family just wants what's best for you and if you explain to them what you're going through I'm sure they'll understand. No job is worth putting yourself in a harmful situation.

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alex

If they didn't think you were qualified to do the job without their supervision they would not let you work unsupervised. It is their business and they do not just let anyone mess it up on a whim.

Write notes of what you remember doing and how you remember doing it. Review those notes.

If after that second day you don't feel the job is still right for you or that you cannot do it then look into quitting and finding other employment.

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Swifting

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