u/Weary-Ambition42

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I just need to get this off my chest because my mind is racing right now.

Today was brutal.

I went into work like normal, and by early afternoon I was let go from my production job. I was already sitting there stressed about rent and trying to figure out what the hell the next move was going to be.

Then I got home. Opened the mailbox and found an envelope from my wife with an uncontested divorce packet inside.

We’ve been separated for a while, and she hasn’t responded to my texts in months. But if I’m being honest, I was still holding onto hope that somehow we’d eventually find our way back to each other.

Seeing it all in black and white right after losing my job felt like getting hit in the chest twice in the same day.

Right now I’m sitting at the park with my dog and a cold beer just trying to process everything and keep myself from spiraling.

Trying to stay moving instead of drowning in my own head.

I already managed to do a phone interview for another role, reached out to my staffing agency, and started looking into fast-tracking a CNA license just to completely pivot my life if I need to.

Just feels like life decided to unload all at once today.

If anyone else out there is surviving one of those “everything hits at once” kind of days, you’re not alone.

exhaustion finally caught up with me.

Ended up sitting alone in a park with tears running down my face, just completely overwhelmed and honestly feeling pretty isolated.

Then a stranger walked up and simply asked:

“Hey, you okay?”

No judgment. No awkwardness. Just genuine concern from someone who didn’t know me at all.

We didn’t even really talk because I knew if I opened my mouth, I’d probably fall apart all over again. But that moment stuck with me hard.

It reminded me there are still good people out there. More importantly, it reminded me how powerful it can be to simply check on someone.

A lot of people are carrying way more than they show in public.

Moving forward, I want to be that guy for other people.

We need more humans willing to check in.

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Anyone else stuck in a job where you’re required to be physically present but there’s little to no actual work?

I work long shifts (12–13 hours) 4 days a week. I show up on time, ready to work, and some days there’s genuinely nothing assigned. Not “slow” — I mean sitting around waiting for something to happen that never does. We’re expected to stay available and we’re discouraged from using PTO unless it’s planned well in advance.

We’re not really allowed to do personal things to make the time productive either.

What makes it frustrating is that I’m not trying to avoid work. I actually *want* to be busy. I’d rather leave a shift tired because I accomplished something than go home mentally drained from doing nothing all day.

The pay and coworkers are fine, and I’m grateful to have stable employment — especially right now. But it’s starting to feel strange trading huge chunks of my life just to occupy a chair. Sitting idle for hours somehow feels more exhausting than working hard.

For people who’ve been in similar roles:

Did you learn to accept it as part of the paycheck?

Did you find ways to stay mentally engaged?

Or was this the point where you realized it was time to look for something more active or meaningful?

Genuinely curious how others handle this without going crazy.