[butteredpopcorn]

Thanks for putting this into words.

During bad times it’s awful, during good times it’s “only a matter of time”.

I wish I knew how I could avoid feeling so helpless. So far I have tried “pretending to not care what happens to me and my career” and “fantasizing unrealistically about freelancing”

[DoreenMichele]

I wish I knew how I could avoid feeling so helpless.

Try to leave at a time of your choosing. Try to set some parameters or goals for how/when to do that, such as paying down debt, having a savings cushion or lining up another job.

Control some piece of it to some degree.

[ianai]

In tech, there’s also lots of outside of work professional opportunities, too. Obtaining certifications helped me feel more secure in a previous, awful work experience. I also did a number of home projects that I could add to the resume.

Also, I’d tell anyone in a tough work environment to ensure they're keeping their mental and physical health up. I needed PT from all the muscle strains the one place gave me, for instance.

I also drank roasted cacao daily for a good theobromine and caffeine kick! It really did help me feel like “it’ll all be ok” during the worst of it.

[DoreenMichele]

As long as you don't overdo it, caffeine can help provide some oomph for the adrenals during short-term stress. When paired with the right nutritional support, such as better quality salt, real licorice and coconut oil, it's sustainable for fairly long periods and makes a real difference in your ability to rise to the occasion.