So I've always been one of those people that have said I “need” to work. I've never been a workaholic but I've always gotten some pride out of working a lot of hours and feeling like I'm accomplishing something.
For the last 3 weeks or so I haven't worked at all, and I've been on employment insurance. I'm honestly loving it. I thought maybe I'd go “crazy” after a while from boredom but it's the contrary- I'm running everyday, I'm watching TV shows and movies that I love, I'm eating properly and sleeping properly (which never happens when I'm working) and I am taking care of myself by showering more often, organizing my room etc and my depression and anxiety is about half what it would be if I were working.
It doesn't matter what job I do I've realized- it all just makes me very mentally unwell eventually and I am thinking that almost every mental breakdown I've ever had was simply from working way too much.
I'd be completely fine if I never worked again. I'm 32 year old male- I've worked more or less full time for half of my life now. I have no financial help whatsoever from my parents and I never have. So there's been many times where I am extremely mentally unwell but I have no choice but to work in order to survive. It is a very dehumanizing experience- being forced to work when one is extremely sick in the head.
And the process to apply for disability is daunting to say the least and I'm pretty sure it's designed to be next to impossible to do for someone like myself who is mentally ill, on purpose. We are just slaves- pure and simple and like a quarter of our paycheques are stolen from us. We spend like half or three quarters of our paycheques on things we need to survive with very little left over for leisure and enjoyment (depending on your circumstances- but I would say half of the people out there are living paycheque to paycheque mostly against their will these days)
F*** working …