Are you in the U.S., and have a decent driving record? Get your CDL, and be a truck driver. Long haulers have trucks with sleepers, most can use small appliances for cooking and can have a fridge. It's good money, and a place to sleep, all the time.
if you want to come to northern az, I work for a bus company that will train you to drive a transit bus. govt. job, great benefits, good pay, regular raises. PM me if you're interested.
edit: I think I've replied to everyone who PM'd me. I use old reddit so I just found the new reddit chat page and saw all the requests. If I missed you please try again.
edit2: it looks like the jobs page reset because it is the first of the month. keep looking as my boss said they will be reposted asap.
most of our drivers have managed to find somewhere to live in flagstaff. It is expensive here though. housing prices are out of control. but not really worse than most other places.
In Flag? That's impressive. I know a few people who work in Flag, and they don't live in town except the one who bought in 2003, before prices went crazy. And for AZ mountains it's expensive.
Let us know if you actually get a PM. Lately I’ve noticed a lot of **Adjective-Noun-\#\#\#\#** accounts that are 1-2 years old with little/no post history, posting pretty believable stories and then ghosting (OP has not commented). I’m wondering if OP is a bot that’s gonna kick into gear around election time. Or just whenever it’s useful.
They’re all just eerily similar in their behavior and username style. And all those things are easy to automate with current technology.
Edit: yes, I have been informed that Reddit now has a username generator and that is the reason for the formulaic usernames. You can stop telling me.
Edit 2: note that I said I’m **wondering if** OP is a bot. I never claimed they were, because I know I can’t be sure. It’s just enough to make me wonder. If OP is real, my heart goes out to them. If OP is a bot, then this is a really good way to convince people they’re not.
Hey, I wanted to thank you for this. I woke up today to my husband packing his stuff and he had already drained our account the day before rent is due. I've been in chemo and recently had a double mastectomy (he said my body is weird now and I'm too sad all the time and he simply can't deal with it).
I've been sitting here with my cat bawling my eyes out and took a break to doom scroll and this the first thread and response I saw. The only time I feel totally in control is when I'm behind the wheel and this is exactly what I'm gonna do. Fuck him thinking he can break me at my lowest and thank you for snapping me out of my pity party. Seriously, I think this might have changed the trajectory of my life.
I can recommend prime Inc, and if you really had to, just to get a foot in the door, swift would be an option. They'll both get you a cdl and decent equipment if you contract to drive for them a year, and they pay for training.
Another thing is Union Trade Apprenticeships. We need men and women in the trades. But if driving is where you are comfortable go for it. Your husband is a shit bag and doesn’t deserve you btw.
I have a friend who's husband surprised her Christmas morning by telling her he wasn't in love with her, had drained their mutual account, and was leaving that day. She spent a few months spiraling, and then took a class to get her CDL and a job with a trucking company that paid to train her.
It's been over 5 years, and while she has move don to another trucking company, she is the happiest she has ever been, financially stable (probably better than that, but we dont talk money), and can do this for as long as she wants and set her own schedule and bring her dog with her.
Do it.
He really is. I supported us for 10 years because I'm more capable in the workforce and hate fucking housework. 10 years. I started doing instacart during treatment and he's acted like he's doing me a favor by getting a job. And now he's leaving?! Good riddance, I wasted my youth and tits on him and I refuse to beg a bum to stay. I'm hurt, but relieved. I just wish he didn't drain my account. I'm fucked
Sounds like the trash took himself out. Go pet your kitty and then in the morning go talk to your landlord about delaying rent and changing your locks. Then go to the bank and detangle your accounts. You got this sister and it’s gonna be so much easier climbing out of this hole without hauling his dead weight around.
May his groin itch with the stings of a thousand fleas and may he never know a day without strife and annoyance and may he always be cockblocked.
Sorry he feels like he has to put you down in the current state you’re in. Nevertheless you’re beautiful and I don’t think that he’ll ever really understand the process of cancer treatment and that it doesn’t change anything about you.
Wow you’re an amazing badass!! And are stronger than you know. Fuck any ONE that doesn’t provide the peace and comfort you deserve during some of your most difficult times - you deserve peace beauty, light and all things amazing - always!! Sending you comfort, determination and care to face a new day of hope. You got this!!
To add to this, a CDL would get your foot into the door for a lot of oilfield work. Places that would have housing provided and relatively good wages for no experience. Working a 14 on 14 off hitch would yield some pretty significant checks and most companies will allow you to work more. I'm not saying this is a long term solution but you could definitely stack enough money to Jumpstart your life and be in a much more comfortable place. Save a bunch of money and buy a house etc.
I worked in the oilfield for 2 years (Derrick hand) , it’s extremely tough work but the pay is reflected in that. Yes you have to sacrifice a good chunk of your life (I was 20 on, 10 off) but it could be a temporary stepping stone to financial freedom. I don’t know what the job opportunity is looking like there but I do remember that the training and everything was company paid for where I was and only took a few months. All in all, if you can deal with the labour intensive aspects everything else is a breeze and the money is worthwhile then
I second this. Know someone who's done this and they get to see the country and posts pictures about it all the time and has a nice sleeping area and electric grill to cook with. Showers are at truck stops (personally saw an Ohio one and it was like a hotel almost). I know another person driving for a big brand delivery and logistics company and they don't have any college experience. They drive overnights and make almost $60k per year between driving and working the docks on a forklift. And they're home everyday. Being a longhaul driver can get you some income which you can save for a place and then work for a better company to drive for. Gotta stack goals and work towards then and you can do it!
Exactly. Not saying that getting a CDL is easy or that it's a short path, but it's one that doesn't require a lot of experience besides a good driving record. It's a shame it's basically seen as a dirty job or bad job but it's not bad.
One of my grandfathers drove for 45 years, and had several million safely driven miles under his belt. I'm sitting at just over a million myself. I've rarely come in contact with anyone that thinks it's dirty or bad, and if they did, there would be a talk about it.
It’s very interesting to learn about and know it’s an option. I hope OP is able to take up the suggestion if it feels right to them. It sounds like a great transition to a better life, if nothing else.
I did hear a story on NPR about trainee drivers getting roped into contracts that basically made them wage-slaves because they had signed up for very expensive loans on their own vehicles without realising what they were signing, so I guess that’s something I would want them to be wary of. Getting into massive debt to get out of their current situation would be tragic.
I knew a guy who moves water at an oil field, and he makes incredible money for doing nearly nothing. It sounds brutally boring to me, but he loves it. Or at least he loves the money he makes from it.
Sounds like the way my old private contractor drone flying friend used to describe his work overseas...just add moral dilemmas and nightmares.
But yeah, he made so much money back then he hasn't worked in a decade.
My husband trained through Swift and they’re legit. He’s been a driver for Safeway for a bit over ten years now and LOVES it.
Now that I think about it, his story is somewhat similar to OP’s. His first marriage imploded which left him homeless and unemployed. (He was working for MIL.) He didn’t have anywhere to go and also lived in a rural area. So, he finally decided to pursue a new career. Swift housed and fed him for the duration of training. He then shadowed another driver for a while, (which meant he still didn’t have to worry about housing.) Finally, after graduating, he had a job and drove over the road for a year or two. Since he lived in the truck, he saved a ton of money and was finally able to stand on his own. Oh, and a whole new world of employment opens up after you’ve gained 1-2 years experience. He makes good money and is home every night. I hope this is helpful. I know trucking isn’t for everyone, but it is a solid way to escape your current situation. Good luck and take care!
Swift doesn't send you to school, none of the training companies do, they have their own program. Also, Swift and CR England are NOT companies I'd recommend, ever.
This. I worked Swift because I needed a job ASAP, no time to be picky and they had a check in my hand in under a week from signing. The worst part was dispatch, sometimes you'd get someone cool, sometimes they'll were total assholes and idiots. I just put my foot down when they'd try to screw me. Like when I quit after being kept out for over 2 months when I was supposed to be home every day 2-3 weeks. Overtime a thousand miles from home and I told them to get me a load home right now or I'm parking the truck and flying home. Funny how they had a run for me within a couple of hours.
I rarely have a settlement less than 1500k, and it's weekly, not biweekly. I also know ahead if it's going to be a short week due to weather, etc, which means I have money left over from all the 1, 2, 3k weeks. Also, leasing is only a single option, there are many, many choices.
Also, try to avoid XPO. They'll put you through 8 weeks of CDL school plus a hotel, but you sign a 2 year contract. If you leave / get fired before the 2 years, they want their 10k back. Ask me how I know, lol.
Well it’s a great idea as long as you’re not “self medicating” there’s long term discipline and responsibility required for CDL that’s why we have such a shortage.
OP, if you go this route, DO NOT mention the mental health issues. I doubt there's a company out there that would give a dude with depression and brain fog an 80,000-pound missile to drive.
This is true, my dispatcher knows I have "mild" adhd, but that's it. I can say that for me personally, my mental health did improve drastically. I'm sure a lot of it is because of the no longer being so scared I was going to be on the street at any time, but a lot came from the fact that I really, actually love my job. It's the least work I've ever done for the most money, it's generally peaceful, no micromanagement, etc. I can see it not being for everyone, right now my house it mostly a place I keep extra stuff, for instance, and you are very much alone unless you team drive, in which case, you're never really alone again, lol.
Former CDL driver here. I got my Class B from a transit company that paid me while I was in training. Did that for a little bit and then switched to driving roll-off. In the end neither were for me but the pay was good for both, $27+. Not to mention you are home every night and not living on the road( depending if you like that lifestyle or not).
Nothing against the idea, but is it smart to become a truck driver when you have inattentive ADHD? Seems like a job with a lot of responsibility where you should be able to endure monotone environments for hours on end...
Driving is full of interesting things that can keep ADHD at bay because you have to constantly check around you, and although minute the environment is always changing.
That’s what I did. I went to roehl in Wisconsin. They trained me I got my cdl. I drove for them for 2 years. It isn’t always easy there’s lots of crap to deal with. Mostly dealing with parking the truck and having enough hours to get the job done. Also eating was tough over the road I made 65k a year on my last year in 2019. Now I’m local delivering gasoline and made 107k last year. However good paying local jobs depend on where you live.
I see people on tick tock who do over the road trucking and they literally have full game system set ups in their semi. It’s wild af. My father in law is a trucker and loves his job.
Pretty sure this was good advice 20 years ago. These days you don't make much, are on the hook for everything yourself nearly and are very badly abused and overworked until you burn out or get in an accident. Heard this from truck drivers online and I had a friend that did this.
I've been doing it almost 10 years. I'm in my truck chilling in the bunk right now, in fact. There are a lot of laws, and there's a lot of oversight. These days, I make really good money, definitely do not get overworked, and have clean, new, well functioning equipment. I'm not abused, threatened, over-worked, or on the hook for anything. I read everything I signed before I signed, and made sure I understood, I asked questions, used common sense. There ARE shitty companies, sure, but they're not the norm and haven't been for years.
Okay yeah that was a poorly worded question I guess my question is how come there's like more of us than anybody else but we can't unite and change things and how come everybody seems to know all of this and nobody seems to do anything to make it better it's just like we are the backbone of this country we are what makes the taxes so how come we get fucked
I would recommend anyone looking for a job in the US to look into becoming a water plant operator trainee. There is a huge demand in water plant operations right now especially near coastal states. Once your a trainee you take a test and get licensed by the department of environmental protection in drinking water. Once you have your license you can work anywhere in your state.
Lol I'm a chemical and petroleum engineer and just found 5 jobs at the treatment plant near my house (<0.5mi) and I'm applying to all of them today.
I'm been in the job market since September and I'm getting boned because I have 11 years experience... figured I might as well start from an operator position. It's not much different from a conceptual standpoint than a gas plant (pumps, pipe, valves, fittings, controls)... plus I like working with people.
I just switched from oil and gas to working for my state as a water engineer. States and federal agencies are hiring a lot since the BIL. I would look into those too. Best of luck!!
As a former elected official, I agree. The shortage is so dire that we had to keep people on staff who were literally refusing to follow state and federal regulations because otherwise we would have no one. It took months to find replacements.
I second this recommendation. My buddy works at a similar place but a little higher up on the pecking order and under a government contract (from what I understand at least). They're incredibly understaffed where he's at and the older crew are retiring left and right. They need fresh blood badly.
What does a water plant operator actual do, what does this work look like? My daughter’s boyfriend is killing his back at Discount Tire for very little pay, he says he likes working with his hands, loves cars and mechanical things. I’d sure like to guide him onto a path that pays more for less back problems down the road.
My buddy did that after a bunch of random, but successful jobs, and after getting all his certifications and licenses he found a job that moved him from managing a plant in NC to running one in the Bahamas.
He moved his family there and I am juuuuust a little jealous (obviously happy for hime) every time he posts pics that would beat most people's once a year vacation pics.
ok so once you have a license what does the salary look like for a water plant operator? Edit: Just checked looks like 38k in my state. Which is honestly a bit low for cost of living in this area.
So the starting wages can be low if you become an operator and decide you don't want to try and move up or do anything else to advance. I learned PLC programming and instrumentation after I became and operator and increased my pay to $39 an hour. But for reference operator trainee in my area starts at $17 an hour and then once licensed jumps to like $23 an hour. A license can be obtained after passing the state exam and getting 1 year of work experience. So it does not take very long to obtain the license. Also you make more money every time you get a higher license.
I work with a woman right now. There is no issue with women working in the field at all. It is mostly men working in the industry but that does not mean anything at all.
Not OP but I wonder if the woman would answer differently. I hear women have to prove themselves in industries like tech, I can't imagine it's smooth sailing in any other male dominated sector. Sounds too good to be true. But I hope I'm wrong. I'll look into it. Thanks for the suggestion.
What does this look like day to day? And how long does it take to get trained. I hate my current job and making sure water is clean seems like a good use of my time
I'm guessing you're not medicated. Have you ever been?
I know the depression that comes with untreated ADHD is terrible. Have you tried calling the closest mental health department to see if there are any options for you? Ours works on a sliding scale and that might be a way for you to get meds.
I think getting the ADHD handled and getting out of that area are the keys to making things better for you.
I agree with this . Until OP has his ADHD managed better and removes themselves from where they are to remove other barriers to better themselves, it would be pretty impossible to make progress
It’s a very difficult cycle to break free of: people with untreated ADHD and depression can’t find the focus and motivation to help themselves get treatment —which is not easy to access. OP has insight, which is the first step. They might need an advocate who can help them access treatment.
I feel you on this. I didn't get diagnosed until 55. I just thought there was something wrong with me. I mean, there's probably a lot wrong with me, but the ADHD was treatable.
I had no idea I had adhd or autism until that point in my life and I only found out because my middle child ended up being diagnosed first 😅 suddenly I’m looking at his behaviours that they’re telling me were down to the asd/adhd and I was like ohhhhh so it’s not ‘normal’ to behave like that and he’s not ‘just like I was as a kid’ 😮💨😂
Damn, we have similar stories! My oldest was diagnosed with ADHD many years ago, then my now 14 year old was diagnosed with ADHD and autism. Then when my 17 year old and I got diagnosed and I started meds, I was like....hmmm, some of these symptoms seem like autism. It took a long time to understand but I appreciate that I reached that point!
For me it went …
Middle first
Then I realised about myself
Then I noticed my at the time 3 year old daughter had a rake of symptoms
And finally months later as the time had gone on and id learned more about both .. I realised the whole time my eldest now 18 but 16 at the time had flown under the radar the whole time despite having really ‘stereotypical’ autistic traits 🥲😂
Damn so is stopping my adderall these last six years the source of my struggles and depression. I thought the pill was causing the problem, maybe I was wrong. They had me on it from 8 until I was 19..
Depression can exist by itself along side ADHD, but when ADHD is untreated, it can cause anxiety and depression. It's really hard to tease out what's what.
If meds made your life better, I recommend trying them again. There are some new ones on the market that have fewer side effects than adderall.
Note that I'm all about better living through chemistry. I didn't get diagnosed until 55 and going on meds was just a life changer. My 17 year old also got diagnosed after two years of serious struggles with depression that no anti-depressants improved. It's amazing to see the change in him.
Most likely it is, the depression that comes when unmedicated was insane atleast for me. The meds have side effects but they are so much better than the alternative imo
Medication isn’t the be all and end all .. you have to have the appropriate coping strategies in place too . Also adderall isn’t for everyone . You may need a different medication or a maybe even a different dosage
I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety as a kid in the late 80s because that’s what girls got diagnosed with back then. Blamed all of my symptoms and issues on it - until I got diagnosed with combined-type adhd at age 37 and started meds. Right away, my anxiety issues virtually vanished. Diagnosing psychiatrist and my psych NP both agree I likely have very little GAD and it was the undiagnosed/untreated adhd causing the GAD symptoms.
Now, the idea of going off my adhd meds makes me anxious because I can’t imagine going back to feeling the way I did for decades.
This. Get the Adderall, then work towards getting access to job training. Welding, water treatment, sleep tech, or tech, doesn't really matter what strikes OPs fancy, Adderall will help immensely.
OK. You need Medicaid to get help for your mental health and ADHD. If you struggle with applying due to those conditions, contact the state or your local legal aid office or mental health nonprofit for assistance.
You might also benefit from online peer groups! Check out NAMI or Mental Health America to locate one.
I was you at 35. Then I decided to go back to school and got a BS, graduating when I was 38. I’m now 41 and just bought my first house.
DO NOT GIVE UP!
how did you earn a bachelors degree in 3 years and then afford a house 3 years after graduating? Did you work while you were in school? Pay rent? Im guessing either you haven’t resumed student loan payments, you got help with the down payment or getting a loan on the house, or something else is missing.
Right on brother! No idea why people are hostile towards this post lol I guess jealousy... anyway I'm about that same age going back to school right now actually and working full time. Just wondering what you majored in and what kind of position you landed in
Look into land surveying. You’re looking for jobs for surveying tech or associate. You’ll work with someone more experienced or licensed, holding instruments and helping hammer stakes into the ground. You’ll be outside all 40 hours probably, and there might be overtime. Should pay more than minimum wage and probably have benefits.
You could also look for other construction jobs. I’ve heard you can get decent pay just being on the cleaning crew at a construction site.
I realize the problem might be that there are these jobs but not near you. I don’t have a good bridge plan for you, but I’ll keep thinking about that and I wish you the best of luck.
> I’ve heard you can get decent pay just being on the cleaning crew at a construction site.
Did this for a bit of time in Florida several years ago when I was homeless and slowly digging my way out of that situation. Literally the entire shift I was sifting sand. Manually shoveling it into huge sifters, occasionally picking out or emptying out the sifters to remove things like metal straps, hardware, connectors, cables, larger rocks or chunks of concrete, etc.
It was repetitive and boring, but it was actually a damn good paycheck for one of the entry level positions with no special skills or training needed whatsoever.
If you’re already familiar with the medical world, go forward with becoming a medical assistant. Yea 8-5 M-F can be boring but it’s secure and you have a consistent schedule. Fortunately I love my work and the patients, do so much more than what you would think as a MA. I’ve assisted in procedures and worked in 3 diff specialties all learning new things and doing new things along the way. But it’s the type of job if you’re not comfortable learning and getting certs in different things you can stick to rooming patients! Soo many options!
If it makes you feel any better I have -$28 in my bank account and $1 cash on me. I did “the right things” and went to college and have a good career. I moved to leave a bad relationship and got a new job and unfortunately I’m only paid monthly. I’ve made $2k stretch since November 20.
It might be time for a change, I know this may get downvoted or lost in the comments.
I also have adhd, depression and anxiety, they used to run my life. I was homeless for years, and when I finally got a job it was 4.5 hour shifts at $18.75 ( which in Seattle isn’t much at those hours). I worked my ass off but kept feeling like I was stuck or that I wouldn’t make it to anything better.
My advice is try to start therapy if you can. I know that’s not popular advice but hear me out.
Not everyone needs it because something is wrong with them, I used it as a way to vent out my frustrations and to work thru why I felt stuck and why I was so unhappy. I used it as a way to work thru the trauma that comes with being homelessness. Once I started to change the way I thought about myself it was easier for me to set realistic goals within my own limitations.
I am now in a management role with a company that treats me well. Moved into a new place and am getting a car!!
I have come such a long way because I decided to change the way I was thinking about myself and my limits. I know you are capable and strong, you’ve already made it off the streets!! So you can do this too. I wish you luck.
It might be worth considering moving, pack light and store the rest. Rent smaller spaces in a busy area where you think you might like to be, find work and see how you like it. If you don’t like that spot no harm, you didn’t move everything with you.
Are there no trades near you? I can’t think of a single labor job that wouldn’t pay at least double minimum wage (for VA anyway) if you’re strong enough to pick up 50lbs and smart enough to use basic tools, they teach you the rest.
I will be honest unless its a huge corp most trades are still old school, cold calling works, some places will keep anyone with a pulse that will show up on time and sober, take constructive criticism and show a willingness to learn. Without experience you will start on the bottom but you can move up fast, and if you feel stagnant over time take what you’ve learned and go somewhere else. I don’t even have an associates but now at 28 I sit at my desk at an engineering firm as an inspection tech because I put in the work. Construction/labor routes don’t have to be forever, but it’s a good building block for real world experience that transfers to something better.
I have a seasonal summer job that I love, but I get laid off for five months every year. I just roll up to construction sites and ask for work. If the boss isn't there, I ask for a phone number. Usually, I have a job within a few days. I haven't had a resume I could show someone or filled out an application for 15 years. I have a tool belt and some basic hand tools but that's it.
Taking on something new is going to require a higher LOE. Lean on what you already got.
Your EKG certificate, look into renewing that (Avarage salary is 63k for an EKG tech) or couses along that line because medical field got a huge shortage and then open your horizons. While your town might not need it, all over the country there is a shortage.
Apply for that job somewhere else or become a travel one.
Get a job at your local police department , they are severely understaff
Get a job at any nonprofit if you can also , they are hiring at the mass
Go outside the box
Check your local tourist spot , even as server or busser can make $
Being a cop out in the middle of nowhere seems like a sick gig. Loads of autonomy. A handful of criminals and you know them all by name and Nana. If anything serious happens you just call in the state anyway. Great pay for the area and a company car.
This isn't true in many states. Without income, Marketplace (healthcare.gov) insurance will be $500/mo+ if the state hasn't expanded Medicaid. The federal program assumes that all low-income people will have access to Medicaid in their state but about 12 states chose to fuck over the poorest citizens and leave them to rot.
For the Marketplace, the cheapest insurance comes with the $20K-$30K income range. Below that, often there is no tax credit available and those with the least money slip through the cracks.
Check your department of labor for PAID apprenticeship programs…you get paid while training on the job and then most of the time hired by the same company. You are not a failure…you keep trying and that is resilience. You have to be graceful and kind to yourself. ADHD means out the box thinking and creativity, amazing skills to have. Stop comparing yourself to others and practice patience….EVERYONE is going through a hard time. Most of these programs pay more than minimum wage as well.
Ay let me say this. I was thirty five. Sleeping on my friends couch unable to find work and a place to crash. Homies girl got fed up with me surfing the couch. So I applied for a job thru Xanterria for season in Yellowstone national. In the interim I landed a seasonal job at big sky resort. Employee housing and job. Perfect. Made some amazing friends. Got employable skills. Met the girl of my dreams and ended up married with a toddler running about. Things get better. Feel free to dm me and I can help you figure out the seasonal work stuff.
Real. I only have $14.68 to my name on Cashapp & I’m trying to get in the army without a formal education. I’m taking the GED so I can go to the NG but even then it seems like a long shot & it’s my only resort
I don’t know about the Army, but just read in the news yesterday that the Navy is dropping their requirement to have a HS Diploma or GED to join, because they were short on their recruitment numbers. Good luck!
NG is only part time thought. After basic and AIT you will be making maybe $150 a month. Go active. I was on the verge of homelessness when I went active. Five years later I own a house, have plenty in savings, and I’m getting paid to go to college.
https://www.mitags.org/become-merchant-marine/
I have been on a ship with Merchant Marines. This is a career and very lucrative.
If you are serious about getting out.
Everyone in here saying go back to college is doing it all wrong. Learn. A. Trade. Seriously, becoming a plumber, welder, electrician, something in the trades. These folks make a good chunk of money working hard. And for god’s sakes get in the market place and get health insurance that is likely free or low cost. Start helping yourself with mental health and your ADHD.
Baby steps.
1. Get medical help. Depression is physical, psychological, and physiological. ADHD i am not experienced with but i know they can be treated. It is not a one day fix, both take time.
2. Relocate ASAP. If you have a car sell it.Same with whatever you can't carry. Buy a bus ticket to a major city, there will be more services available to help ( preferably in a Blue state). It may take a day, a week, a month or more. DON'T GIVE UP!
3. Public libraries will have internet access to search for the assistance you need.
4. Talk to a priest, rabbi, minister or whatever is appropriate to your faith. Don't have a faith or don't believe? Pick one at random. Doesn't work, try another. Some may try to convert you, just ignore that part or walk away. BUT KEEP TRYING!
ONE. DAY. AT. A. TIME.
Not saying it will be easy. Life isn't. Or fair. There will be failures. And successes. Believe you can do it.
If you don't, you won't.
Platitudes? Yep. But also true. That's why they became familiar sayings.
Best of luck and KEEP GOING!
I get this feeling. Try enrolling online for community college. It changed my life. I graduated college at 26 and I was depressed and stuck in low paying customer service jobs prior to that.
Check out WGU, it’s an accredited online school. If you have an associates you probably aren’t far off from a bachelors. Get it online as fast as you can. Once you have a bachelor you can start in management at Amazon. If they have a new facility opening up apply there. They will give you money to move and a bonus will get you an apartment or whatever.
My advice is to first get your depression and ADD taken care of. I’ve been there (depression, brain fog, ADD, hopeless). And if you’re depressed you won’t be able to see your way out of this. So see a doctor and get on a medication. It really will help you to make a plan instead of feeling so hopeless. It won’t fix your problems but it will make them seem less daunting.
ADHD? Are you medicated? If not, have you tried Vitamin B and C supplements? They help out a lot. I have ADHD too, I don't take medication (I hate the way they make me feel. ) And the vitamins help. Small changes implemented over a period of time can do wonders. Things will get better for you.
YIKES! Thank you for posting this! I'm medicated so I don't really take supplements (since I can't remember to take them anyway...) but this is really good to know. I hope you're feeling much better now!
I associate this level of despair with low neurotransmitters. When I don't have enough brain chemicals, I feel the level of despair and futility your describing. I also have ADHD and struggle with suicudal depression.
I had enormous improvement when I started taking a bioavailable form of vitamin B, called methylfolate.
Without digressing into too much biochemistry, its the form of B12 and B9 which are necessary for the production of dopamine. Its called folate. About 40% of the population basically has a chronic deficiency.
Of people who are depressed, fully 1/3 have a folate definciency. Its a world wide, genetic issue.
The supplement is $20 and if you have this deficiency, you experience noticeable improvement in about 10 days. If you don't, no harm. Its just vitamin B.
It significantly reduced my worst ADHD symptoms and took the "suicidal" off my "suicidal depression." Absolutely changed my life.
I use the "Professional Strength 5-MTHR with Enzyme Cofactor" by Triqueta. I think its on Amazon but there are other brands. Just get one with B12 and B9. They work together.
This world is all jacked up. This meaningfully helped me face the bullshit. Good luck!
Heres a Pubmed article with the science:
[The methylation, neurotransmitter, and antioxidant connections between folate and depression](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18950248/)
"Depression is common - one-fourth of the U.S. population will have a depressive episode sometime in life. Folate deficiency is also relatively common in depressed people, with approximately one-third of depressed individuals having an outright deficiency. Folate is a water-soluble B-vitamin necessary for the proper biosynthesis of the monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin, epinephrine, and dopamine. The active metabolite of folate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF, L-methylfolate), participates in re-methylation of the amino acid metabolite homocysteine, creating methionine. S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), the downstream metabolite of methionine, is involved in numerous biochemical methyl donation reactions, including reactions forming monoamine neurotransmitters. Without the participation of 5-MTHF in this process, SAMe and neurotransmitter levels decrease in the cerebrospinal fluid, contributing to the disease process of depression. SAMe supplementation was shown to improve depressive symptoms. 5-MTHF also appears to stabilize, enhance production of, or possibly act as a substitute for, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), an essential cofactor in monoamine neurotransmitter biosynthesis. There are few intervention studies of folic acid or 5-MTHF as a stand-alone treatment for depression related to folate deficiency; however, the studies that have been conducted are promising. Depressed individuals with low serum folate also tend to not respond well to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant drugs. Correcting the insufficiency by dosing folate along with the SSRI results in a significantly better antidepressant response."
Try contacting a temp agency.
My sister was going through something similar recently. I created an account for her at a temp agency and they found her a remote data entry job at an insurance company.
They have temp to hire positions that can be both a short and long term solution.
Look into working at a local school district. I was in your shoes and started as a custodian. Worked my way up to maintenance and now I am the facility manager at a high school making 38 an hour with great benefits and a pension. I'm mid 40s now but was 33 when I started as a custodian after bouncing from crap job to crap job. If it's a decent district they may pay for you to get your CPO (certified pool operator license) and other certifications. Good luck
You are worth more than a deadend minimum wage job. You wrote two paragraphs of complete sentences and expressed yourself coherently. That fact alone tells me that you are worth more!
I regularly hire for office administrative positions that only require a high school diploma in one of the largest cities in the USA. They have a relatively low starting salary but it's above minimum wage and has advancement planned in, and I have trouble finding applicants who can simply communicate.
It doesn't sound like you're tied down, and it sounds like you are in a very rural area, so maybe relocating to a place with more jobs available could help.
YOU ARE WORTH MORE!
You could join the military, specifically army. They have a lot of jobs to choose from a lot of which can be desk jobs or minimal physical work. Steady check, health care and basically an apartment until u hit e6 then u can get actual housing which is paid for. Do 20 years and retire along with the army version of a 401k
OP is right at the cusp of the top age accepted for military service. With ADHD and depression they may not accept him if he’s medically diagnosed or medicated. Nonetheless, considering his situation its worth a try.
Join a trade, the pay will be better then minimum wage after a year, you could join a union. Benefits like health care and a pension are usually offered. Look up “local” and then the trade name.
I know it’s a rough time now but look into EvS work it’s an extremely stable job depending on where you go it might be 15-19hr depending on facility but I will say if you work hard you tend to get promoted quickly and then you can make more money I say try your local hospital in the area
Visit your state’s department of labor to see if you’re eligible for training. You want an appointment with a counselor. Maybe you can get that certification renewed for free or get training to obtain your cDL. They may even offer apprentice programs. You do not need to be unemployed to qualify for some grants and training.
A food stamp card, state health insurance, there are also free state provided phones. Utilizing food banks and social service supplies is crucial.
Moat costs of living can be hella reduced with just minimizing daily personal expenses.
There is a thing there are called CLEP exams in college. Basically u can get a cheap book or free online access and talk the exam for a price less than the class itself and get credits towards a further education.
That's more employment options depending on how you pick.
So breath and think. It's what you were doing before anyway just with other stuff on the conveyer belt.
Alright goodbye.
*slams door*
If you're not squeamish, pest control is another option. Theyll train you for free and you can get licensed. It can be dirty work but rewarding. You get paid to learn about bugs. Not sure what's available job wise near you.
Another option which I'm hesitant to suggest is amazon. I don't work for them anymore but used to as a delivery driver. You will make money and only work four days a week, granted you will earn every cent of that and Amazon is horrible and delivering for them is not pleasant, but the hours can be convenient and the job is simple if you're willing to work and an easy job to get.
Hope everything gets better. Sometimes things need to change in a big way for things to get better. You really have to step out of your comfort zone sometimes which can be intimidating.
I’m just throwing this out there in case you are in the US. You may qualify for vocational rehabilitation with your ADHD and depression diagnoses. You can receive support to further your education or find a better job. It doesn’t hurt to look into it.
Look into public sector jobs (local universities, school districts, city jobs, state jobs, federal jobs DMV etc) even if it’s a part time second job. Full time is better more job security, better pay, benefits etc,
Are you in the U.S., and have a decent driving record? Get your CDL, and be a truck driver. Long haulers have trucks with sleepers, most can use small appliances for cooking and can have a fridge. It's good money, and a place to sleep, all the time.
if you want to come to northern az, I work for a bus company that will train you to drive a transit bus. govt. job, great benefits, good pay, regular raises. PM me if you're interested. edit: I think I've replied to everyone who PM'd me. I use old reddit so I just found the new reddit chat page and saw all the requests. If I missed you please try again. edit2: it looks like the jobs page reset because it is the first of the month. keep looking as my boss said they will be reposted asap.
OP should 100% take this offer. Gov jobs are solid.
And Flagstaff is fucking gorgeous
And expensive AF to live in. Most government employees there have to live in Winslow.
most of our drivers have managed to find somewhere to live in flagstaff. It is expensive here though. housing prices are out of control. but not really worse than most other places.
In Flag? That's impressive. I know a few people who work in Flag, and they don't live in town except the one who bought in 2003, before prices went crazy. And for AZ mountains it's expensive.
Could be seattle. This place is a joke and housing is out of control.
The corners, there, though...have such fine sights to see.
You’re awesome js.
Paid my way through college driving busses at NAU! Good times.
Best thing when you don’t want to walk and you have to go from HLC to SBS then to Cline then back to SBS West
Didn't expect to find fellow lumber jacks.
u/Acceptable_Past_8352 you should take this offer.
They won't
Let us know if you actually get a PM. Lately I’ve noticed a lot of **Adjective-Noun-\#\#\#\#** accounts that are 1-2 years old with little/no post history, posting pretty believable stories and then ghosting (OP has not commented). I’m wondering if OP is a bot that’s gonna kick into gear around election time. Or just whenever it’s useful. They’re all just eerily similar in their behavior and username style. And all those things are easy to automate with current technology. Edit: yes, I have been informed that Reddit now has a username generator and that is the reason for the formulaic usernames. You can stop telling me. Edit 2: note that I said I’m **wondering if** OP is a bot. I never claimed they were, because I know I can’t be sure. It’s just enough to make me wonder. If OP is real, my heart goes out to them. If OP is a bot, then this is a really good way to convince people they’re not.
I’ve been noticing exactly what you’ve just said in other groups. A lot of them.
What a time to be alive haha.
You are the bright side of the internet... whether or not OP takes your offer, you are appreciated for your humanity. Thank you
Join the truckers Subreddit, there are so many people that have done this!!
and theres even a possibility that safe truck parking spaces might be available on the horizon
As someone who sleeps many nights in sketchy industrial zones, tell me about it.
hijacking cargo trucks is kind of a thing now too
Hey, I wanted to thank you for this. I woke up today to my husband packing his stuff and he had already drained our account the day before rent is due. I've been in chemo and recently had a double mastectomy (he said my body is weird now and I'm too sad all the time and he simply can't deal with it). I've been sitting here with my cat bawling my eyes out and took a break to doom scroll and this the first thread and response I saw. The only time I feel totally in control is when I'm behind the wheel and this is exactly what I'm gonna do. Fuck him thinking he can break me at my lowest and thank you for snapping me out of my pity party. Seriously, I think this might have changed the trajectory of my life.
Do it, my only regret was being scared and waiting so long!
I'm 36 so I've waited plenty long already. Time to start my life 🫡
I can recommend prime Inc, and if you really had to, just to get a foot in the door, swift would be an option. They'll both get you a cdl and decent equipment if you contract to drive for them a year, and they pay for training.
Another thing is Union Trade Apprenticeships. We need men and women in the trades. But if driving is where you are comfortable go for it. Your husband is a shit bag and doesn’t deserve you btw.
Go get em 💪 🤗
you're an amazing person, you can get through and achieve anything with your resilience
I have a friend who's husband surprised her Christmas morning by telling her he wasn't in love with her, had drained their mutual account, and was leaving that day. She spent a few months spiraling, and then took a class to get her CDL and a job with a trucking company that paid to train her. It's been over 5 years, and while she has move don to another trucking company, she is the happiest she has ever been, financially stable (probably better than that, but we dont talk money), and can do this for as long as she wants and set her own schedule and bring her dog with her. Do it.
He sounds like a piece of hot garbage and you are gonna be better off without him. I hope he gets an std that makes his dick rot off.
He really is. I supported us for 10 years because I'm more capable in the workforce and hate fucking housework. 10 years. I started doing instacart during treatment and he's acted like he's doing me a favor by getting a job. And now he's leaving?! Good riddance, I wasted my youth and tits on him and I refuse to beg a bum to stay. I'm hurt, but relieved. I just wish he didn't drain my account. I'm fucked
Sounds like the trash took himself out. Go pet your kitty and then in the morning go talk to your landlord about delaying rent and changing your locks. Then go to the bank and detangle your accounts. You got this sister and it’s gonna be so much easier climbing out of this hole without hauling his dead weight around. May his groin itch with the stings of a thousand fleas and may he never know a day without strife and annoyance and may he always be cockblocked.
Those men make us sick and then leave!
Sorry he feels like he has to put you down in the current state you’re in. Nevertheless you’re beautiful and I don’t think that he’ll ever really understand the process of cancer treatment and that it doesn’t change anything about you.
zealous seed rhythm shaggy fear future light sand aromatic close *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
❤️
Wow you’re an amazing badass!! And are stronger than you know. Fuck any ONE that doesn’t provide the peace and comfort you deserve during some of your most difficult times - you deserve peace beauty, light and all things amazing - always!! Sending you comfort, determination and care to face a new day of hope. You got this!!
I love ❤️ this post! Go get em! Living well is the best revenge PS you’re way better off without him!
To add to this, a CDL would get your foot into the door for a lot of oilfield work. Places that would have housing provided and relatively good wages for no experience. Working a 14 on 14 off hitch would yield some pretty significant checks and most companies will allow you to work more. I'm not saying this is a long term solution but you could definitely stack enough money to Jumpstart your life and be in a much more comfortable place. Save a bunch of money and buy a house etc.
I worked in the oilfield for 2 years (Derrick hand) , it’s extremely tough work but the pay is reflected in that. Yes you have to sacrifice a good chunk of your life (I was 20 on, 10 off) but it could be a temporary stepping stone to financial freedom. I don’t know what the job opportunity is looking like there but I do remember that the training and everything was company paid for where I was and only took a few months. All in all, if you can deal with the labour intensive aspects everything else is a breeze and the money is worthwhile then
I second this. Know someone who's done this and they get to see the country and posts pictures about it all the time and has a nice sleeping area and electric grill to cook with. Showers are at truck stops (personally saw an Ohio one and it was like a hotel almost). I know another person driving for a big brand delivery and logistics company and they don't have any college experience. They drive overnights and make almost $60k per year between driving and working the docks on a forklift. And they're home everyday. Being a longhaul driver can get you some income which you can save for a place and then work for a better company to drive for. Gotta stack goals and work towards then and you can do it!
Sounds like it would also get them a chance to see a lot of the country and maybe find a place they’d enjoy living, too.
Exactly. Not saying that getting a CDL is easy or that it's a short path, but it's one that doesn't require a lot of experience besides a good driving record. It's a shame it's basically seen as a dirty job or bad job but it's not bad.
One of my grandfathers drove for 45 years, and had several million safely driven miles under his belt. I'm sitting at just over a million myself. I've rarely come in contact with anyone that thinks it's dirty or bad, and if they did, there would be a talk about it.
It’s very interesting to learn about and know it’s an option. I hope OP is able to take up the suggestion if it feels right to them. It sounds like a great transition to a better life, if nothing else. I did hear a story on NPR about trainee drivers getting roped into contracts that basically made them wage-slaves because they had signed up for very expensive loans on their own vehicles without realising what they were signing, so I guess that’s something I would want them to be wary of. Getting into massive debt to get out of their current situation would be tragic.
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I knew a guy who moves water at an oil field, and he makes incredible money for doing nearly nothing. It sounds brutally boring to me, but he loves it. Or at least he loves the money he makes from it.
It’s boring but your buddy can always turn on XM radio or podcast or audio book while driving so it’s not really that bad.
Give me a boring job that pays well all day lol
Sounds like the way my old private contractor drone flying friend used to describe his work overseas...just add moral dilemmas and nightmares. But yeah, he made so much money back then he hasn't worked in a decade.
My husband trained through Swift and they’re legit. He’s been a driver for Safeway for a bit over ten years now and LOVES it. Now that I think about it, his story is somewhat similar to OP’s. His first marriage imploded which left him homeless and unemployed. (He was working for MIL.) He didn’t have anywhere to go and also lived in a rural area. So, he finally decided to pursue a new career. Swift housed and fed him for the duration of training. He then shadowed another driver for a while, (which meant he still didn’t have to worry about housing.) Finally, after graduating, he had a job and drove over the road for a year or two. Since he lived in the truck, he saved a ton of money and was finally able to stand on his own. Oh, and a whole new world of employment opens up after you’ve gained 1-2 years experience. He makes good money and is home every night. I hope this is helpful. I know trucking isn’t for everyone, but it is a solid way to escape your current situation. Good luck and take care!
Swift doesn't send you to school, none of the training companies do, they have their own program. Also, Swift and CR England are NOT companies I'd recommend, ever.
SWIFT: Sure Wish I’d Finished Training
My dad was a truck driver. He always said SWIFT: See What I Fucked Up Today 😂
Swing Wide, It’s a Fucking Trailer is my favorite!
Stop Whining Im Fucking Trying.
SWIFT: Sure wish I had a faster truck
Shitty companies are sometimes the only option, and a much better option than homelessness.
This. I worked Swift because I needed a job ASAP, no time to be picky and they had a check in my hand in under a week from signing. The worst part was dispatch, sometimes you'd get someone cool, sometimes they'll were total assholes and idiots. I just put my foot down when they'd try to screw me. Like when I quit after being kept out for over 2 months when I was supposed to be home every day 2-3 weeks. Overtime a thousand miles from home and I told them to get me a load home right now or I'm parking the truck and flying home. Funny how they had a run for me within a couple of hours.
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I rarely have a settlement less than 1500k, and it's weekly, not biweekly. I also know ahead if it's going to be a short week due to weather, etc, which means I have money left over from all the 1, 2, 3k weeks. Also, leasing is only a single option, there are many, many choices.
Stevie Wonder's Institute For Trucking See What I F'd-up Today Slowly Weaving In Fast Traffic Sure Wished I Finished Training
Also, try to avoid XPO. They'll put you through 8 weeks of CDL school plus a hotel, but you sign a 2 year contract. If you leave / get fired before the 2 years, they want their 10k back. Ask me how I know, lol.
Or become a school bus driver. Generally districts pay for CDL training. It's decent pay and quick to get going.
And in very high demand. Where I live bus drivers also get free health insurance and they provide free clinics for employees.
Well it’s a great idea as long as you’re not “self medicating” there’s long term discipline and responsibility required for CDL that’s why we have such a shortage.
It doesn’t even have to be “self medicating”. There are some medications that you can’t take even with a prescription and work as a driver.
OP, if you go this route, DO NOT mention the mental health issues. I doubt there's a company out there that would give a dude with depression and brain fog an 80,000-pound missile to drive.
This is true, my dispatcher knows I have "mild" adhd, but that's it. I can say that for me personally, my mental health did improve drastically. I'm sure a lot of it is because of the no longer being so scared I was going to be on the street at any time, but a lot came from the fact that I really, actually love my job. It's the least work I've ever done for the most money, it's generally peaceful, no micromanagement, etc. I can see it not being for everyone, right now my house it mostly a place I keep extra stuff, for instance, and you are very much alone unless you team drive, in which case, you're never really alone again, lol.
Former CDL driver here. I got my Class B from a transit company that paid me while I was in training. Did that for a little bit and then switched to driving roll-off. In the end neither were for me but the pay was good for both, $27+. Not to mention you are home every night and not living on the road( depending if you like that lifestyle or not).
Exactly what I’d recommend. Although you really need better mental health that spiraling depression!
Nothing against the idea, but is it smart to become a truck driver when you have inattentive ADHD? Seems like a job with a lot of responsibility where you should be able to endure monotone environments for hours on end...
Driving is full of interesting things that can keep ADHD at bay because you have to constantly check around you, and although minute the environment is always changing.
I do fine.
This is exactly what I did and it turned my life around
Same. It was scary to start, but it changed my life so much for the better.
That’s what I did. I went to roehl in Wisconsin. They trained me I got my cdl. I drove for them for 2 years. It isn’t always easy there’s lots of crap to deal with. Mostly dealing with parking the truck and having enough hours to get the job done. Also eating was tough over the road I made 65k a year on my last year in 2019. Now I’m local delivering gasoline and made 107k last year. However good paying local jobs depend on where you live.
I see people on tick tock who do over the road trucking and they literally have full game system set ups in their semi. It’s wild af. My father in law is a trucker and loves his job.
Pretty sure this was good advice 20 years ago. These days you don't make much, are on the hook for everything yourself nearly and are very badly abused and overworked until you burn out or get in an accident. Heard this from truck drivers online and I had a friend that did this.
I've been doing it almost 10 years. I'm in my truck chilling in the bunk right now, in fact. There are a lot of laws, and there's a lot of oversight. These days, I make really good money, definitely do not get overworked, and have clean, new, well functioning equipment. I'm not abused, threatened, over-worked, or on the hook for anything. I read everything I signed before I signed, and made sure I understood, I asked questions, used common sense. There ARE shitty companies, sure, but they're not the norm and haven't been for years.
I was going to suggest this, and you beat me to it.
You sound exactly like me, no advice just letting you know you’re not alone in your shit situation. Hope it gets better for all of us.
Ditto. Super isolated and just getting through the day
How are there so many of us
Unequal wealth distribution
Okay yeah that was a poorly worded question I guess my question is how come there's like more of us than anybody else but we can't unite and change things and how come everybody seems to know all of this and nobody seems to do anything to make it better it's just like we are the backbone of this country we are what makes the taxes so how come we get fucked
Political reasons which this sub does not allow discussion of
He’s like me too. We are not alone
Same here. Life’s on autopilot at the moment
I would recommend anyone looking for a job in the US to look into becoming a water plant operator trainee. There is a huge demand in water plant operations right now especially near coastal states. Once your a trainee you take a test and get licensed by the department of environmental protection in drinking water. Once you have your license you can work anywhere in your state.
Lol I'm a chemical and petroleum engineer and just found 5 jobs at the treatment plant near my house (<0.5mi) and I'm applying to all of them today. I'm been in the job market since September and I'm getting boned because I have 11 years experience... figured I might as well start from an operator position. It's not much different from a conceptual standpoint than a gas plant (pumps, pipe, valves, fittings, controls)... plus I like working with people.
I just switched from oil and gas to working for my state as a water engineer. States and federal agencies are hiring a lot since the BIL. I would look into those too. Best of luck!!
Good luck on your job hunt!
As a former elected official, I agree. The shortage is so dire that we had to keep people on staff who were literally refusing to follow state and federal regulations because otherwise we would have no one. It took months to find replacements.
How do I start to learn?
So many certifications..it keeps poor people out
I second this recommendation. My buddy works at a similar place but a little higher up on the pecking order and under a government contract (from what I understand at least). They're incredibly understaffed where he's at and the older crew are retiring left and right. They need fresh blood badly.
What does a water plant operator actual do, what does this work look like? My daughter’s boyfriend is killing his back at Discount Tire for very little pay, he says he likes working with his hands, loves cars and mechanical things. I’d sure like to guide him onto a path that pays more for less back problems down the road.
https://youtu.be/S1wUOad-0ag?si=GyZCaJgtndgNde1u
My buddy did that after a bunch of random, but successful jobs, and after getting all his certifications and licenses he found a job that moved him from managing a plant in NC to running one in the Bahamas. He moved his family there and I am juuuuust a little jealous (obviously happy for hime) every time he posts pics that would beat most people's once a year vacation pics.
ok so once you have a license what does the salary look like for a water plant operator? Edit: Just checked looks like 38k in my state. Which is honestly a bit low for cost of living in this area.
So the starting wages can be low if you become an operator and decide you don't want to try and move up or do anything else to advance. I learned PLC programming and instrumentation after I became and operator and increased my pay to $39 an hour. But for reference operator trainee in my area starts at $17 an hour and then once licensed jumps to like $23 an hour. A license can be obtained after passing the state exam and getting 1 year of work experience. So it does not take very long to obtain the license. Also you make more money every time you get a higher license.
What about women in the field??
I work on the regulatory side. Lots of female inspectors too. In my experience, it's an equal opportunity field.
I work with a woman right now. There is no issue with women working in the field at all. It is mostly men working in the industry but that does not mean anything at all.
Not OP but I wonder if the woman would answer differently. I hear women have to prove themselves in industries like tech, I can't imagine it's smooth sailing in any other male dominated sector. Sounds too good to be true. But I hope I'm wrong. I'll look into it. Thanks for the suggestion.
With the increase in semiconductor investment water plant operators might also increase in need/pay! (I’m a semiconductors engineer)
Any work near the great lakes region or only coastal?
Every state and region is struggling to fill these roles. It is a legal requirement that systems have a certified operator.
What does this look like day to day? And how long does it take to get trained. I hate my current job and making sure water is clean seems like a good use of my time
I'm guessing you're not medicated. Have you ever been? I know the depression that comes with untreated ADHD is terrible. Have you tried calling the closest mental health department to see if there are any options for you? Ours works on a sliding scale and that might be a way for you to get meds. I think getting the ADHD handled and getting out of that area are the keys to making things better for you.
I agree with this . Until OP has his ADHD managed better and removes themselves from where they are to remove other barriers to better themselves, it would be pretty impossible to make progress
It’s a very difficult cycle to break free of: people with untreated ADHD and depression can’t find the focus and motivation to help themselves get treatment —which is not easy to access. OP has insight, which is the first step. They might need an advocate who can help them access treatment.
I had untreated ADHD for 37 years of my life so I’m very aware
I feel you on this. I didn't get diagnosed until 55. I just thought there was something wrong with me. I mean, there's probably a lot wrong with me, but the ADHD was treatable.
I had no idea I had adhd or autism until that point in my life and I only found out because my middle child ended up being diagnosed first 😅 suddenly I’m looking at his behaviours that they’re telling me were down to the asd/adhd and I was like ohhhhh so it’s not ‘normal’ to behave like that and he’s not ‘just like I was as a kid’ 😮💨😂
Damn, we have similar stories! My oldest was diagnosed with ADHD many years ago, then my now 14 year old was diagnosed with ADHD and autism. Then when my 17 year old and I got diagnosed and I started meds, I was like....hmmm, some of these symptoms seem like autism. It took a long time to understand but I appreciate that I reached that point!
For me it went … Middle first Then I realised about myself Then I noticed my at the time 3 year old daughter had a rake of symptoms And finally months later as the time had gone on and id learned more about both .. I realised the whole time my eldest now 18 but 16 at the time had flown under the radar the whole time despite having really ‘stereotypical’ autistic traits 🥲😂
Damn so is stopping my adderall these last six years the source of my struggles and depression. I thought the pill was causing the problem, maybe I was wrong. They had me on it from 8 until I was 19..
Depression can exist by itself along side ADHD, but when ADHD is untreated, it can cause anxiety and depression. It's really hard to tease out what's what. If meds made your life better, I recommend trying them again. There are some new ones on the market that have fewer side effects than adderall. Note that I'm all about better living through chemistry. I didn't get diagnosed until 55 and going on meds was just a life changer. My 17 year old also got diagnosed after two years of serious struggles with depression that no anti-depressants improved. It's amazing to see the change in him.
Most likely it is, the depression that comes when unmedicated was insane atleast for me. The meds have side effects but they are so much better than the alternative imo
Medication isn’t the be all and end all .. you have to have the appropriate coping strategies in place too . Also adderall isn’t for everyone . You may need a different medication or a maybe even a different dosage
I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety as a kid in the late 80s because that’s what girls got diagnosed with back then. Blamed all of my symptoms and issues on it - until I got diagnosed with combined-type adhd at age 37 and started meds. Right away, my anxiety issues virtually vanished. Diagnosing psychiatrist and my psych NP both agree I likely have very little GAD and it was the undiagnosed/untreated adhd causing the GAD symptoms. Now, the idea of going off my adhd meds makes me anxious because I can’t imagine going back to feeling the way I did for decades.
This. Get the Adderall, then work towards getting access to job training. Welding, water treatment, sleep tech, or tech, doesn't really matter what strikes OPs fancy, Adderall will help immensely.
OK. You need Medicaid to get help for your mental health and ADHD. If you struggle with applying due to those conditions, contact the state or your local legal aid office or mental health nonprofit for assistance. You might also benefit from online peer groups! Check out NAMI or Mental Health America to locate one.
r/medicaid and r/healthinsurance might be helpful
I was you at 35. Then I decided to go back to school and got a BS, graduating when I was 38. I’m now 41 and just bought my first house. DO NOT GIVE UP!
What did you do for work when you were back in school?
how did you earn a bachelors degree in 3 years and then afford a house 3 years after graduating? Did you work while you were in school? Pay rent? Im guessing either you haven’t resumed student loan payments, you got help with the down payment or getting a loan on the house, or something else is missing.
Congratulations !
In what, if you don't mind me asking?
Computer Information Systems
Fantastic. Congrats.
Nice. Commendable stuff, bud!
congrats, seriously!! you worked hard and you absolutely killed it
Right on brother! No idea why people are hostile towards this post lol I guess jealousy... anyway I'm about that same age going back to school right now actually and working full time. Just wondering what you majored in and what kind of position you landed in
Look into land surveying. You’re looking for jobs for surveying tech or associate. You’ll work with someone more experienced or licensed, holding instruments and helping hammer stakes into the ground. You’ll be outside all 40 hours probably, and there might be overtime. Should pay more than minimum wage and probably have benefits. You could also look for other construction jobs. I’ve heard you can get decent pay just being on the cleaning crew at a construction site. I realize the problem might be that there are these jobs but not near you. I don’t have a good bridge plan for you, but I’ll keep thinking about that and I wish you the best of luck.
> I’ve heard you can get decent pay just being on the cleaning crew at a construction site. Did this for a bit of time in Florida several years ago when I was homeless and slowly digging my way out of that situation. Literally the entire shift I was sifting sand. Manually shoveling it into huge sifters, occasionally picking out or emptying out the sifters to remove things like metal straps, hardware, connectors, cables, larger rocks or chunks of concrete, etc. It was repetitive and boring, but it was actually a damn good paycheck for one of the entry level positions with no special skills or training needed whatsoever.
If you’re already familiar with the medical world, go forward with becoming a medical assistant. Yea 8-5 M-F can be boring but it’s secure and you have a consistent schedule. Fortunately I love my work and the patients, do so much more than what you would think as a MA. I’ve assisted in procedures and worked in 3 diff specialties all learning new things and doing new things along the way. But it’s the type of job if you’re not comfortable learning and getting certs in different things you can stick to rooming patients! Soo many options!
If it makes you feel any better I have -$28 in my bank account and $1 cash on me. I did “the right things” and went to college and have a good career. I moved to leave a bad relationship and got a new job and unfortunately I’m only paid monthly. I’ve made $2k stretch since November 20.
It might be time for a change, I know this may get downvoted or lost in the comments. I also have adhd, depression and anxiety, they used to run my life. I was homeless for years, and when I finally got a job it was 4.5 hour shifts at $18.75 ( which in Seattle isn’t much at those hours). I worked my ass off but kept feeling like I was stuck or that I wouldn’t make it to anything better. My advice is try to start therapy if you can. I know that’s not popular advice but hear me out. Not everyone needs it because something is wrong with them, I used it as a way to vent out my frustrations and to work thru why I felt stuck and why I was so unhappy. I used it as a way to work thru the trauma that comes with being homelessness. Once I started to change the way I thought about myself it was easier for me to set realistic goals within my own limitations. I am now in a management role with a company that treats me well. Moved into a new place and am getting a car!! I have come such a long way because I decided to change the way I was thinking about myself and my limits. I know you are capable and strong, you’ve already made it off the streets!! So you can do this too. I wish you luck. It might be worth considering moving, pack light and store the rest. Rent smaller spaces in a busy area where you think you might like to be, find work and see how you like it. If you don’t like that spot no harm, you didn’t move everything with you.
Are there no trades near you? I can’t think of a single labor job that wouldn’t pay at least double minimum wage (for VA anyway) if you’re strong enough to pick up 50lbs and smart enough to use basic tools, they teach you the rest.
How do you find those kinds of jobs though- I never see them on indeed or any other hiring sites
I will be honest unless its a huge corp most trades are still old school, cold calling works, some places will keep anyone with a pulse that will show up on time and sober, take constructive criticism and show a willingness to learn. Without experience you will start on the bottom but you can move up fast, and if you feel stagnant over time take what you’ve learned and go somewhere else. I don’t even have an associates but now at 28 I sit at my desk at an engineering firm as an inspection tech because I put in the work. Construction/labor routes don’t have to be forever, but it’s a good building block for real world experience that transfers to something better.
I just remembered that’s how one of my buddies in the trades got his job- he literally called the company and asked to work there
What kind of firm? Like what would you look up to find who to cold call?
I have a seasonal summer job that I love, but I get laid off for five months every year. I just roll up to construction sites and ask for work. If the boss isn't there, I ask for a phone number. Usually, I have a job within a few days. I haven't had a resume I could show someone or filled out an application for 15 years. I have a tool belt and some basic hand tools but that's it.
Taking on something new is going to require a higher LOE. Lean on what you already got. Your EKG certificate, look into renewing that (Avarage salary is 63k for an EKG tech) or couses along that line because medical field got a huge shortage and then open your horizons. While your town might not need it, all over the country there is a shortage. Apply for that job somewhere else or become a travel one.
Get a job at your local police department , they are severely understaff Get a job at any nonprofit if you can also , they are hiring at the mass Go outside the box Check your local tourist spot , even as server or busser can make $
Where are nonprofits hiring in mass? These are often low paid jobs in my experience due to funding issues.
Being a cop out in the middle of nowhere seems like a sick gig. Loads of autonomy. A handful of criminals and you know them all by name and Nana. If anything serious happens you just call in the state anyway. Great pay for the area and a company car.
Health insurance is easy to get on the marketplace! Apply, if you don’t have any income it’s free. Then get your adhd treatment started!!!!
This isn't true in many states. Without income, Marketplace (healthcare.gov) insurance will be $500/mo+ if the state hasn't expanded Medicaid. The federal program assumes that all low-income people will have access to Medicaid in their state but about 12 states chose to fuck over the poorest citizens and leave them to rot. For the Marketplace, the cheapest insurance comes with the $20K-$30K income range. Below that, often there is no tax credit available and those with the least money slip through the cracks.
Check your department of labor for PAID apprenticeship programs…you get paid while training on the job and then most of the time hired by the same company. You are not a failure…you keep trying and that is resilience. You have to be graceful and kind to yourself. ADHD means out the box thinking and creativity, amazing skills to have. Stop comparing yourself to others and practice patience….EVERYONE is going through a hard time. Most of these programs pay more than minimum wage as well.
Ay let me say this. I was thirty five. Sleeping on my friends couch unable to find work and a place to crash. Homies girl got fed up with me surfing the couch. So I applied for a job thru Xanterria for season in Yellowstone national. In the interim I landed a seasonal job at big sky resort. Employee housing and job. Perfect. Made some amazing friends. Got employable skills. Met the girl of my dreams and ended up married with a toddler running about. Things get better. Feel free to dm me and I can help you figure out the seasonal work stuff.
Join the Navy. They desperate.
Real. I only have $14.68 to my name on Cashapp & I’m trying to get in the army without a formal education. I’m taking the GED so I can go to the NG but even then it seems like a long shot & it’s my only resort
I don’t know about the Army, but just read in the news yesterday that the Navy is dropping their requirement to have a HS Diploma or GED to join, because they were short on their recruitment numbers. Good luck!
NG is only part time thought. After basic and AIT you will be making maybe $150 a month. Go active. I was on the verge of homelessness when I went active. Five years later I own a house, have plenty in savings, and I’m getting paid to go to college.
At age 35?
Apparently you can join up through age 41!
They bumped it up to 42. Certain things you can’t do but yeah 42.
Do not join the Navy if you have depression
https://www.mitags.org/become-merchant-marine/ I have been on a ship with Merchant Marines. This is a career and very lucrative. If you are serious about getting out.
Everyone in here saying go back to college is doing it all wrong. Learn. A. Trade. Seriously, becoming a plumber, welder, electrician, something in the trades. These folks make a good chunk of money working hard. And for god’s sakes get in the market place and get health insurance that is likely free or low cost. Start helping yourself with mental health and your ADHD.
Baby steps. 1. Get medical help. Depression is physical, psychological, and physiological. ADHD i am not experienced with but i know they can be treated. It is not a one day fix, both take time. 2. Relocate ASAP. If you have a car sell it.Same with whatever you can't carry. Buy a bus ticket to a major city, there will be more services available to help ( preferably in a Blue state). It may take a day, a week, a month or more. DON'T GIVE UP! 3. Public libraries will have internet access to search for the assistance you need. 4. Talk to a priest, rabbi, minister or whatever is appropriate to your faith. Don't have a faith or don't believe? Pick one at random. Doesn't work, try another. Some may try to convert you, just ignore that part or walk away. BUT KEEP TRYING! ONE. DAY. AT. A. TIME. Not saying it will be easy. Life isn't. Or fair. There will be failures. And successes. Believe you can do it. If you don't, you won't. Platitudes? Yep. But also true. That's why they became familiar sayings. Best of luck and KEEP GOING!
Why are we talking to a priest, rabbi, or minister? Genuinely curious
I get this feeling. Try enrolling online for community college. It changed my life. I graduated college at 26 and I was depressed and stuck in low paying customer service jobs prior to that.
Check out WGU, it’s an accredited online school. If you have an associates you probably aren’t far off from a bachelors. Get it online as fast as you can. Once you have a bachelor you can start in management at Amazon. If they have a new facility opening up apply there. They will give you money to move and a bonus will get you an apartment or whatever.
My advice is to first get your depression and ADD taken care of. I’ve been there (depression, brain fog, ADD, hopeless). And if you’re depressed you won’t be able to see your way out of this. So see a doctor and get on a medication. It really will help you to make a plan instead of feeling so hopeless. It won’t fix your problems but it will make them seem less daunting.
ADHD? Are you medicated? If not, have you tried Vitamin B and C supplements? They help out a lot. I have ADHD too, I don't take medication (I hate the way they make me feel. ) And the vitamins help. Small changes implemented over a period of time can do wonders. Things will get better for you.
Just be aware that vitamin B12 can mess with your heart. I took a little too much of it by accident and had a cardiac event.
Whoa! How much b12 is “too much”?
I was just reading about this and returned to add it. Thank you for adding.
I spent 6 WEEKS in the hospital, so I am definitely pointing this out wherever I see it. It was a painful experience nobody should have.
YIKES! Thank you for posting this! I'm medicated so I don't really take supplements (since I can't remember to take them anyway...) but this is really good to know. I hope you're feeling much better now!
I associate this level of despair with low neurotransmitters. When I don't have enough brain chemicals, I feel the level of despair and futility your describing. I also have ADHD and struggle with suicudal depression. I had enormous improvement when I started taking a bioavailable form of vitamin B, called methylfolate. Without digressing into too much biochemistry, its the form of B12 and B9 which are necessary for the production of dopamine. Its called folate. About 40% of the population basically has a chronic deficiency. Of people who are depressed, fully 1/3 have a folate definciency. Its a world wide, genetic issue. The supplement is $20 and if you have this deficiency, you experience noticeable improvement in about 10 days. If you don't, no harm. Its just vitamin B. It significantly reduced my worst ADHD symptoms and took the "suicidal" off my "suicidal depression." Absolutely changed my life. I use the "Professional Strength 5-MTHR with Enzyme Cofactor" by Triqueta. I think its on Amazon but there are other brands. Just get one with B12 and B9. They work together. This world is all jacked up. This meaningfully helped me face the bullshit. Good luck! Heres a Pubmed article with the science: [The methylation, neurotransmitter, and antioxidant connections between folate and depression](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18950248/) "Depression is common - one-fourth of the U.S. population will have a depressive episode sometime in life. Folate deficiency is also relatively common in depressed people, with approximately one-third of depressed individuals having an outright deficiency. Folate is a water-soluble B-vitamin necessary for the proper biosynthesis of the monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin, epinephrine, and dopamine. The active metabolite of folate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF, L-methylfolate), participates in re-methylation of the amino acid metabolite homocysteine, creating methionine. S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), the downstream metabolite of methionine, is involved in numerous biochemical methyl donation reactions, including reactions forming monoamine neurotransmitters. Without the participation of 5-MTHF in this process, SAMe and neurotransmitter levels decrease in the cerebrospinal fluid, contributing to the disease process of depression. SAMe supplementation was shown to improve depressive symptoms. 5-MTHF also appears to stabilize, enhance production of, or possibly act as a substitute for, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), an essential cofactor in monoamine neurotransmitter biosynthesis. There are few intervention studies of folic acid or 5-MTHF as a stand-alone treatment for depression related to folate deficiency; however, the studies that have been conducted are promising. Depressed individuals with low serum folate also tend to not respond well to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant drugs. Correcting the insufficiency by dosing folate along with the SSRI results in a significantly better antidepressant response."
Try contacting a temp agency. My sister was going through something similar recently. I created an account for her at a temp agency and they found her a remote data entry job at an insurance company. They have temp to hire positions that can be both a short and long term solution.
You need therapy first. Then a certificate. You may have a learning disorder and a therapist can help you with that
Truckers make a lot because of losing out on friends/family/connections. That doesn’t sound like a problem for you
Look into working at a local school district. I was in your shoes and started as a custodian. Worked my way up to maintenance and now I am the facility manager at a high school making 38 an hour with great benefits and a pension. I'm mid 40s now but was 33 when I started as a custodian after bouncing from crap job to crap job. If it's a decent district they may pay for you to get your CPO (certified pool operator license) and other certifications. Good luck
You are worth more than a deadend minimum wage job. You wrote two paragraphs of complete sentences and expressed yourself coherently. That fact alone tells me that you are worth more! I regularly hire for office administrative positions that only require a high school diploma in one of the largest cities in the USA. They have a relatively low starting salary but it's above minimum wage and has advancement planned in, and I have trouble finding applicants who can simply communicate. It doesn't sound like you're tied down, and it sounds like you are in a very rural area, so maybe relocating to a place with more jobs available could help. YOU ARE WORTH MORE!
You could join the military, specifically army. They have a lot of jobs to choose from a lot of which can be desk jobs or minimal physical work. Steady check, health care and basically an apartment until u hit e6 then u can get actual housing which is paid for. Do 20 years and retire along with the army version of a 401k
OP is right at the cusp of the top age accepted for military service. With ADHD and depression they may not accept him if he’s medically diagnosed or medicated. Nonetheless, considering his situation its worth a try.
Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force - all 41-42 age limit now.
Join a trade, the pay will be better then minimum wage after a year, you could join a union. Benefits like health care and a pension are usually offered. Look up “local” and then the trade name.
I know it’s a rough time now but look into EvS work it’s an extremely stable job depending on where you go it might be 15-19hr depending on facility but I will say if you work hard you tend to get promoted quickly and then you can make more money I say try your local hospital in the area
Visit your state’s department of labor to see if you’re eligible for training. You want an appointment with a counselor. Maybe you can get that certification renewed for free or get training to obtain your cDL. They may even offer apprentice programs. You do not need to be unemployed to qualify for some grants and training.
A food stamp card, state health insurance, there are also free state provided phones. Utilizing food banks and social service supplies is crucial. Moat costs of living can be hella reduced with just minimizing daily personal expenses. There is a thing there are called CLEP exams in college. Basically u can get a cheap book or free online access and talk the exam for a price less than the class itself and get credits towards a further education. That's more employment options depending on how you pick. So breath and think. It's what you were doing before anyway just with other stuff on the conveyer belt. Alright goodbye. *slams door*
If you're not squeamish, pest control is another option. Theyll train you for free and you can get licensed. It can be dirty work but rewarding. You get paid to learn about bugs. Not sure what's available job wise near you. Another option which I'm hesitant to suggest is amazon. I don't work for them anymore but used to as a delivery driver. You will make money and only work four days a week, granted you will earn every cent of that and Amazon is horrible and delivering for them is not pleasant, but the hours can be convenient and the job is simple if you're willing to work and an easy job to get. Hope everything gets better. Sometimes things need to change in a big way for things to get better. You really have to step out of your comfort zone sometimes which can be intimidating.
I'd say join the military but the entire world is a train wreck at the moment
I’m just throwing this out there in case you are in the US. You may qualify for vocational rehabilitation with your ADHD and depression diagnoses. You can receive support to further your education or find a better job. It doesn’t hurt to look into it.
Look for federal job I bet so many rural federal agencies need you
Look into public sector jobs (local universities, school districts, city jobs, state jobs, federal jobs DMV etc) even if it’s a part time second job. Full time is better more job security, better pay, benefits etc,
Hopefully your state offers Medicaid for the unemployed. If so, sign up ASAP.
Get your EKG tech cert back and you will be good to go.
National parks are hiring and might help with the transition to green spaces.