Struggling to keep it together

[rererestarting]

First post here. Sadly lots of problems and very little solutions.

I'm 32 and am struggling to keep it together after a string of bad decisions in my 20s coupled with some poor socialisation in my youth that has led me to a very desperate point.

I have been unable to find ANY work for almost 18 months. I used to be a youth worker in my previous role, but I couldn't find another agency that would hire me despite them being apparently desperate for staff, and being out of work so long means I've lost all my skills... I'm stuck in the holy trinity of unemployable: too old, zero experience, too much education with no qualifications from it.

I tried to complete a bachelor of nursing 2010-2015; but had to quit due to bullying, then moved to a bachelor of arts doing sociology that I have completed a minor in so far, but centrelink has cut me off from austudy. I did a certificates and diplomas in music industry before that and a whole lot of good that achieved... Basically I am no longer allowed to study to try and improve my employability.

I cannot even get a job pushing trolleys at coles because I'm not the "exploitable" type. It was dehumanising.

I tried volunteering with two separate community organisations in fields that I used to thoroughly enjoy; servicing the elderly migrants and teaching refugee kids English, but without any income my will to continue just evaporated.

I got a white card and several certificates that are useful for trades, but unless I'm under 20 tradies don't want a bar of me.

I didn't get my first job until I was 27 as an assistant in nursing and I cannot go back to the health and support industry due to PTSD from the bullying (undiagnosed, but avoiding the whole industry is all I need to keep it in check).

I have a string of issues that keep me out of certain industries: I can't work nights due to the mood destabilisation from sleep deprivation, I cannot work sales due to anxiety. I cannot cold call businesses due to anxiety either, and I struggle at the best of times to send in job applications because rejections REALLY badly affect me psychologically.

What are some suggestions for PAID entry level work. I need cash, not experience.

I am at the point of considering picking up a drug habit just so it would make a pension claim easier because of all the horror stories I have read of trying to apply with mental health alone 😞

[rererestarting]

I forgot to add I also have cardio myopathy that now excludes me from working at heights or any significantly hard physical labour.

[Hope_for_the_best]

Whatever you do, never pick up a drug habit! You may get a claim, but ultimately the drug harms your body even more and disables you to work. For your situation, you may consider career counselling. These counsellors can give you professional advice on what job you should take.

Hope this helps.

[rererestarting]

Honestly with the cardiomyopathy I'm not going to live much past 60 anyway...

All these "career counselling" things I've been to all require further study or volunteering which I just cannot do.

[Hope_for_the_best]

Even if you can only live up to 60, you still have another 30 years to go. You deserve a quality life. If I were you, I would not take drug in return for a claim. I can see you are desperate because career counselling did not help you, but I believe there is always a way out no matter how tough the situation is. You just need to be patient and find it. It is good that you reach out on this forum. Perhaps try calling some helplines and talk to someone too. Keep trying and have faith that you will find your way out one day.

Take care!

[rererestarting]

The most frustrating thing is that ANY employment suggestion made either falls into the "should have done that in my 20s" or "would only work if I had money for capital in the first place" categories...

After 6 months of no work any application you put in is immediately thrown in the bin by effectively every employer, and I do not have the stamina to find that one in a billion that wont; on top of all the other grief I have to surmount.

[HamSolo01]

hey

you mentioned that you did volunteering and such with migrants? Perhaps you ought to chase this up as an option considering you have experience in that field?

[rererestarting]

You can thank Tones and the cretins that voted for him stopping the boats and putting innocent people in concentration camps for nipping that option in the bud...

[Questo]

I would maybe start becoming self employed. If you are the boss you have control of your circumstances. I found my workplace completely toxic due to bullying. It scarred me.

There are a range of options on the internet for working at home / e business. That is the route I am considering.

[rererestarting]

I tried being self employed once before. NEVER again.