Hi. I have a great job/career and am struggling to keep my job (i.e. not quit). My employer says he/she is happy enough with me. I have great pay and benefits that I know many others would appreciate and are less fortunate. I feel burned out/damaged and that I need time off. I feel very stressed and it's because of this and largely that I feel I am gaining weight and will not lose it with the stress.

The happiest parts of my life are actually my family life. I want to invest more there and take a breather. I've taken a week or two off at a time over the past year (feeling similar to how I do now) only to come back dreading it. I like my job (in general) but feel too much is being demanded/required of me and that it is a stressful environment.

I've considered another job and having dealt with similar feeling the past couple years, I did a career change just over a year ago to make things better (with a different employer).

Any suggestions, advice, support would be appreciated. I know I should appreciate the great job I have and all that it allows me to do. I feel very burned out and as though I'm actually unemployable. :0(

Welcome to Marriage Builders, Beaming!

What does your spouse think about this? Have you told him/her how you feel? What was the response?

Thank you Maritalbliss for your question--it is indeed a good one. My husband is generally supportive--he can tell that I am struggling although he doesn't understand it (he is not a naturally empathetic or compassionate person except to animals).

I've tried to tell him how I feel. It's difficult to understand because there are a good deal of benefits to my job. I like the job but the people and environment is what stresses me out so much. We are also going to go through another consolidation with jobs (including mine probably) moving elsewhere. People are leaving and it's not a good place. I went through this recently which is why I came here (to this job) 1 1/2 years ago. I know jobs are difficult these days everywhere but it doesn't change my feelings. I also have taken off a week here or there and it doesn't help. I still dread coming back to work due to the pressures and environment.

My husband however, left his first wife (I'm his second and I've never been married before) partly due to his needs for spousal financial support. She didn't want to work--he says. I feel like I need a break from work for awhile to rest up and heal up from damage to my self esteem. I understand that this can sound selfish but I'm trying to hold on and have been doing so for about 4 years now or a little longer.

Why don't you try to look for another job that can actually let you spend enough time with your family? I've been having the same scenario, been in and out of several companies until I realized I wanna be a freelancer. I tried asking for tips from people who have settled in work at home opportunities. I'm now working at home for couple of social media marketing firms and I'm happy that I can spend a lot of time with my kids. I advise you to look into yourself deeper and see what other skills you may have that can get you into the comfort of working at home.

I used to work in the hotel industry which is very demanding. I've missed a lot of special occasions and family events from that experience and I'm just so glad to find this good alternative.