I have been working since I got my first car and have been in the work force for over 25 years. I remember my first job fondly, I was working with my high school best friend, I looked forward to it every day. I was lucky and grateful enough that I never fell behind on any bills or on the brink of homeless. I love working. It's made me a stronger, better (relatively) person, grew my brain, learned a lot, boosted my creativity, but over time with the change in work culture and toxic society, I realized it is not the work that I despise, it's just the people. I was only unemployed once in my 25 years in the work force, and it was the longest/saddest period of my life. Way different than any pain that I felt on my hardest day at a job. I was very happy to land a new career.
Put me on a project all day everyday and I would do it. Put me in a job that required intense labor, that's ok too. No problem. The moment I run into toxic bosses/co workers is the moment the job becomes 100x harder.
There's no rhyme or reason with crazies, there's no logic, no calm reasoning skills, nothing. There's only chaos and hostility.
I am running into more and more of these co-workers/upper management as the years go by. Trust me when I say, it's not the work, it's the people.