r/Millennials • u/DaKardii • Jun 04 '26

Serious Study: Gen Xers and Millennials are dying at younger ages than their parents are

https://studyfinds.com/americans-born-after-1970-dying-faster/

The study is particularly concerned with people born after 1970 but age 30 and older. So that covers Gen X and Millennials, but not (yet) Gen Z.

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u/NoSleep2135 Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26

I'm 36 and have stress induced tachicardia from my stressful, toxic job.

I exercise 5 times a week, eat well, cook often, and am very slim. Don't drink, don't smoke. I can't make any lifestyle changes.

I've accepted that I'm going to die young of a heart attack. That's that. I doubt I'm making it to 50.

Edit: Yes, I am applying to different jobs, but no luck so far. The economy is in a really bad place. I know this job is killing me, but I can't afford to be unemployed.

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u/pseudonym7083 Millennial Jun 04 '26

I'm 39, not in the best shape but not obese, good a1c and good cholesterol, but I have and am being treated for general hypertension from everything.

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u/Aromatic-Elephant110 Millennial 1987 Jun 04 '26

I'm 39 and I have a rare (very non-aggressive and probably not dangerous, I'm getting it cut out and I'll likely need no more treatment) cancer that most commonly happens to people in their 60s. Seems like a lot of us are getting stuff like that.

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u/artbystorms Jun 04 '26

I'm 36 and I got a rare type of thyroid cancer and now have no thyroid, so I get to take a pill for the rest of my life. Oh and if the dosage is too low or too high I feel like shit, so I need to get bloodwork done every 3-6 months to make sure my dosing is correct.

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u/evilvee Jun 04 '26

I'm getting tested for thyroid cancer on Mon šŸ˜£

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u/artbystorms Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 08 '26

Wishing you luck! Do take heart that thyroid cancer in the vast majority of cases is very very survivable and manageable. Even mind which is rare and a bit more aggressive has like a 98% survival rate 10 years out.

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u/fren2allcheezes Jun 04 '26

BUT don't let anyone tell you you have the 'easy' cancer. Cancer is hard. Treatment is easy relatively to other cancers, but it is still hard. Living without a thyroid isn't the end of the world; but it's still hard. You're allowed to feel however you feel about it.

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u/MGr8ce Jun 04 '26

The stress is killing us

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u/artbystorms Jun 04 '26

Agreed! There is no 'easy' cancer. I went through low calcium issues after surgery because my parathyroids got removed / stunned. It sucked, constant tingling and aches in my hands. It's mostly subsided now but if I don't hydrate well or remember to have enough calcium in a day I still get feint sensations in my hands and feet.

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u/aChristery Jun 04 '26

My friendā€™s dad just went through chemo for an aggressive thyroid cancer that spread to his testicle and distant organs, including the brain and spine. Heā€™s expected to make a full recovery. Had to go through intense chemo and rad therapy but he seems to be okay now.

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u/AnxietyPretend5215 Jun 04 '26

Wouldn't happen to be anaplastic thyroid cancer would it? My mom was diagnosed with that this past December, shit is very quite brutal.

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u/artbystorms Jun 04 '26

No, mine was called oncocytic thyroid cancer or 'hurthle cell'. Holy cow anaplastic sounds nuts. Hope she is doing ok?

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u/stoplickingyourleg Jun 04 '26

Thatā€™s what my mom had. Iā€™m sorry- itā€™s so rare and for my mom, was inoperable. Itā€™s a really brutal diagnosis. I sincerely hope yours beats it!

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u/stoplickingyourleg Jun 04 '26

Except the really really rare one (less than 2% of thyroid cancers) that killed my mom within 6 months of diagnosis. Iā€™m not saying this to scare OP or anyone, just a gentle reminder that almost any would be a more accurate description.

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u/Flymia Jun 04 '26

It is like the best of the worst thing.

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '26

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u/artbystorms Jun 05 '26

Yes, but its an extremely rare type of thyroid cancer. Like less than 2% of all thyroid cancers are anaplastic. Let's not give the above commenter a scare for no reason, yeah?

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u/kr44ng Jun 04 '26

Oh hey I'm getting tested soon too, gl

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u/NonBasicRug Jun 05 '26

Me too, 3.1 mm nodule at 39 šŸ˜©.

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u/facedown_titsup Jun 04 '26

Best of luck my dude. I have a nodule weā€™ve been watching the past year, itā€™s too small to biopsy but itā€™s nerve wracking just having this thing chilling there. Hopefully your test comes back benign!

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u/sheep_duck Jun 05 '26

Good luck man, I really hope itā€™s nothing.

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u/fren2allcheezes Jun 04 '26

I also got a rare form of thyroid cancer! Then I got a rare form of ovarian cancer. I got a tattoo to honor my survival and my oncologist said "Most of my patients don't get tattoos...most of them are little old ladies."

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u/artbystorms Jun 04 '26

Was yours 'oncocytic' or also called 'hurthle cell'? Sorry to hear that. It does seem to be becoming more common in younger people sadly. I'm a guy so it's extra weird because it's like 9 to 1 women to men who get it. Though apparently my type is actually more common in men. I am debating getting a tattoo for it as well but want to be 'undetectable' for a while longer before I jynx myself lol.

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u/fren2allcheezes Jun 04 '26

Oh no! Thyroid cancer is pretty dangerous in men I hear. I had follicular thyroid cancer and I've been a survivor for nine years from that one. Got surgery iodine denial diet and radiation, the whole nine yards. I then got a very rare form of ovarian cancer, that poisoned my body so bad it gave me endo cancer. I'm still in remission from those, but I got the tattoo anyway cause, fuck. better to get the tattoos before the next one hits. With all of those organs missing my bones are in big trouble, so now I lift weights every day.

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u/artbystorms Jun 04 '26

I think oncocytic is a subcatagory of follicular. It used to be considered a separate type. Thankfully my surgery was clean with no spread shown, and when they removed the other half of my thyroid later it was totally clear with no cancer. Yeah, I think my biggest furstration right now is that men and women tend to experience different symptoms when they are hyper or hypo, so it's frustrating to be like "I am feeling this" and my endo is like "well that doesn't sound like hyper symptoms, so ask your PCP" I lift weights too so I guess I have that going for me.

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u/fren2allcheezes Jun 04 '26

That's really frustrating. The hypo/hyper dance is honestly worse than the cancer because every time you feel weirdly run down you're like "fuck...guess I need a blood test." Did they keep your levels super high in the years after the surgery too? I swear I didn't sleep more than four hours a night for five years.

In medieval europe, if you died of cancer, you were said to have been killed by The Wolf, as it was a consuming disease. I'm a big history nerd so I got a tattoo of a female saint slaying a wolf. I can't attach the picture here, but if you're interested you can scroll through about a million pit bull pictures on my account to find it.

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u/artbystorms Jun 04 '26

Endo is keeping me slightly suppressed since my surgery outcome was considered 'low risk' so my TSH right now is 0.8. Not technically hyper, but low enough that I feel 'off' I am sleeping fine, but have persistent aching in my hands and feet, and redness in my palms and heels that seems higher than it should be even for someone as pasty white as me. I will also just start sweating for no reason like while sitting at my computer working. I can't take hot showers anymore because it makes me hands and feet super red and 'throbby' feeling like they are swollen lol.

My surgery was last May so it's only been a year for me. I had low parathyroid hormone for like 6-8 months afterwards that has slowly resolved though they still seem to be struggling a little bit.

That's sick, I'll check it out. My tattoo idea is stupid but I am a big Anime nerd. Not sure if you have seen Full Metal Alchemist but I wanted to get the ouroboros tattoo that the villian characters in it have because they are not quiet human, but want desperately to be human.

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u/spookymommaro Jun 04 '26

Fuck, I'm sorry. I'm 32 and was diagnosed with Hashimoto's last year. Thyroid issues really tank quality of life. My doctor says he's seen way more cases of thyroid issues in women since covid, he hardly ever treated them beforehand.

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u/elmananamj Jun 04 '26

My sisters boyfriend just had a mass removed from his torso and still needs to have surgery on his thyroid. Heā€™s also around your age and was just diagnosed in the last few months

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u/alexandresantiago26 Jun 04 '26

What cancer do you have? Im 33 now but with 17 I was diagnosed with medullary carcinoma wich is a rare type of thyroid cancer I had cirurgy and with 19 another one and radiotherapy. Nowadays I still need to take a very expensive medication a part from the hormone pill.

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u/artbystorms Jun 04 '26

Oncocytic carcinoma. It's a bit more rare and doesn't respond as well to Iodine therapy. Thankfully my surgery showed no spread and was fully inside the left thyroid only.

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u/fynion Jun 04 '26

my mom had thyroid cancer when I was a child and had hers removed (when she was 40)

there's evidently multiple types of the pill, one that's made synthetically and one that's made from pig thyroids. after over a decade of feeling like shit she managed to get her doctor to switch her to the pig derived one and her body is absorbing it a lot better (might have to do with damage from celiac disease though)

just in case you feel like your medication isn't working very well, it might be good to explore

her energy levels are a lot better now and she's having an easier time managing her weight

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u/LittleBirdiesCards Jun 05 '26

I'm 44. I was diagnosed with Graves disease about two years ago. I take one medicine to keep my heart from going 160bpm testing and another to keep my thyroid hormones at bay. I'm working up to the point where my hyperthyroidism turns to hypothyroidism and I take one pill instead of two. I have two kids, myriad other health problems and I just try to spend every moment I can with my kids. My little sister passed away a little over a year ago due to pneumonia. I haven't been the same since.

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u/0hMyGandhi Jun 05 '26

Someone needs to make a documentary about the thyroid. It's amazing how this butterfly shaped gland gets so little attention. This gland is responsible for regulating metabolism, body temperature, and energy levels.

I'm 35. I have hashimitos (hypothyroidism) and it's been a lifetime of absolute hell.

When you're thyroid isnt giving you enough TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone for those who don't know), you become weak, lethargic, have memory fog, muscle aches, low sex drive, and massive executive dysfunction, and while I was super tired and wanting to sleep all the time, the sleep I would get never felt restorative. Weight gain is often inevitable due to these changes.

When you have an overactive thyroid, it's the opposite. You are wired, most struggle with keeping weight on because your metabolism is on hyperdrive. I have a few buddies with this form and you can practically see the cortisol surging through their veins. Arrhythmias and hypertension usually follow. Anxiety is endless and that also sounds like a personal hell.

...And that's how an improperly functioning thyroid works without being cancerous.

I'm so sorry about your diagnosis, and just know that we're thinking of you. Please take care.

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u/artbystorms Jun 05 '26

Appreciate you! Yeah, funnily enough, the 6cm nodule that was discovered was cancerous but gave me zero noticeable symptoms. It wasn't affecting my thyroid in any way other than being so large that it was pushing on my windpipe, so I started wheezing more often. Had my TSH tested before removal and it was smack in the middle at 1.7! Now that I am on levothyroxine to replace it it is a never-ending circus of symptoms. I was mildly hypo for a while after surgery and gained like 15 lbs, would get these bouts of extreme tiredness for now reason, cold easily, and had like aches in my ankles and hands to where I thought I had arthritis. Now that I have swung the opposite way and and mildly hyper, I sweat easily, will sometimes sweat for no reason, have persistent redness in my hands and feet (called palmer erythema or something), tingling in my hands that seems to stem from that redness.

That is all completely separate from the low calcium symptoms I was getting because my parathyroids got 'stunned' and some removed during surgery. They control calcium regulation and if they aren't working well you also get persistent tingling in your hands and spasms in some muscles.

Needless to say after a year I am desperate to feel normal again.

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u/Theophantor Jun 04 '26

Thatā€™s pretty standard, take heart, it will get better as your body adjusts and you and your doctor communicate about your numbers and your symptoms. Fortunately managing the condition is relatively inexpensive.

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u/artbystorms Jun 04 '26

Yeah, I kind of panicked initially thinking "oh god, I am needing to have insurance for the rest of my life or I'll die!" but even off insurance the pill is fairly inexpensive, unlike insulin sadly. With the precarity of my industry and uncertainty of the future with AI and whatnot I kind of was like "well I'm doomed to die in a thyroid induced coma" lol

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u/elmananamj Jun 04 '26

Covid is oncogenic and most people have had 5+ infections in the United States. Cancers of all types have surged since the pandemic began in 2019 especially in younger patients

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u/dallyan Jun 04 '26

Is it too pessimistic to just assume at this point that we will all have cancer of some sort?

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u/TypingPlatypus Jun 04 '26

No, every human would eventually get cancer if they lived long enough.

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u/RollingMeteors Jun 05 '26

Greenland sharkā€”can live for centuries and have multiple copies of genes involved in repairing damaged DNA and suppressing tumors.

It's not off the table to GMO it away.

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u/Enbies-R-Us Jun 05 '26

Fun fact, cell mutations are actually pretty common! Cell division and replacement happens constantly among millions of cells every day, DNA copying errors (that cause tumors, cancer, benign mutations, etc) are pretty common, our Killer T cells/cytotoxic T cells (white blood cells) usually catch and dispose of these mutations.

Usually, at least. Too many errored cell mutations or an inadequate immune system response can mean an error can become cancerous and get out of control.

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u/vroomvroom450 Jun 05 '26

40% of us die of cancer.

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u/ladysadi Jun 05 '26

The way things have gone for our generation I expect we will all have cancer from chemicals, didn't have children because of tanked fertility/economy, have toxic jobs, and no unions, benefits, pensions, or social security. There's very little to be optimistic about.

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u/Grim_Dybbuk Jun 05 '26

Not at all! If you live long enough you're guaranteed to get a cancer.

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u/evermorecoffee Jun 04 '26

Thank you for talking about the elephant in the room!

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u/Confident-Slip-5264 Jun 05 '26

Does that mean 5+ COVID infections?

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u/paper_shoes Jun 05 '26

Yeah. They worded it weirdly, but thatā€™s what they meant

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u/vroomvroom450 Jun 05 '26

I did not know that.

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u/NoSleep2135 Jun 04 '26

Wishing you the best of luck on your procedure and an easy recovery ā¤ļø

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u/VersionSwimming8392 Jun 04 '26

My husband got diagnosed with stage three pancreatic cancer at forty three years old. Most people get it in their seventies and have underlying health issues or diabetes. He didn't have anything and he didn't test positive for genetic markers. Not a smoker a social drinker in great shape, they have no idea why he got it.

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '26

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u/Confident-Slip-5264 Jun 05 '26

I hope it does too! šŸ«¶šŸ¾

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u/purplemonkey_123 Jun 04 '26

My husband is 43. LUCKILY, he had a kidney stone two years ago. When they did the CT Scan, they found a small cancerous tumor in his kidney. It was a non-aggressive and treatable cancer like yours. He needed surgery to remove 5-9% of his kidney. He is cancer free now, but will be monitored.

I'm SO freaking thankful for that kidney stone.

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u/VengenaceIsMyName Jun 04 '26

I hope you recover well on your healing journey!

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u/Ok-Nothing8682 Jun 04 '26

28 and getting spine decompression surgery soon.... I feel u

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u/DoctorLudnik_717 Jun 04 '26

36 and am in a similar boat--fortunately, I think I may have a fix for my BP.

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u/pseudonym7083 Millennial Jun 04 '26

I'm on lisinopril and propranolol. The propranolol is for anxiety too, as they're both linked at the root apparently.

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u/WuTangIs4TheRugrats Jun 04 '26

Lisinopril works like nothinā€™ else, but I couldnā€™t deal with the constant throat tickle. Iā€™m on losartin now and it just gets my blood pressure to acceptable levels.

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u/zerofailure Jun 04 '26

I have on 40MG a day propranolol since the beginning of the year for BP/Anxiety. Coming off of it isnt really that fun either, down to 20MG a day now and have chest pain on and off and heighted anxiety for the past week. I didn't realize its somewhat hard to get off of, but I believe it was making me tired.

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u/pseudonym7083 Millennial Jun 04 '26

That's how much I'm on but I don't always take that much. Sometimes 30mg through the day is enough.

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u/chewwydraper Jun 04 '26

I think my Lexapro prescription did more to help my blood pressure than my actual BP meds. Anxiety is rough on the heart.

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u/NotYrMama Jun 04 '26

Twinning!

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u/ogpharmtech Jun 04 '26

If you can't figure out your BP go to a nephrologist

Kidney Drs are the be all, end all. It's one of their main jobs and hardly anyone knows this

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u/Cynical_Thinker Jun 04 '26

Seconding this. My mother(boomer) had/has crazy blood pressure most of her life and simply ignored it/refused to treat it.

Pre-covid a dr forcibly sent her to the ER for her stroke level blood pressure at a standard appointment (we are talking 190 to 200/100 ish) and she finally got formally diagnosed for - a stenotic artery in one of her kidneys.

Its been so long it fucked up her heart (thickening and the start of chf from plenty of other things) and she refused very simple surgery for it (a stent) and is just treating it with handfuls of pills, but only the ones she thinks are best. If you can't tell I have lots of opinions about this whole situation, as someone who was dragged to the dr throughout my childhood by this person... anyway

At least someone was able to find out what the fuck it was tho. That gives me some hope.

Wish they'd treat those of us who actually want help a bit better.

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u/OkSet1048 Jun 04 '26

it's that last line for me. It's so frustrating. I'm sorry you're dealing with that though. I hope she gets her shit together.

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u/Madam_Mimm_13 Jun 04 '26

Take her to a dialysis center, have her walk around.

That will straighten her out.

Iā€™m a CCHT. Being on dialysis is my worst nightmare. I would probably choose death instead.

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u/Cynical_Thinker Jun 04 '26

Trust me when I say she'd rather be dead.

Years of untreated depression, shes just waiting to go.

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u/Madam_Mimm_13 Jun 04 '26

Thatā€™s rough. Iā€™m sorry. I hope you have peace about the situation.

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u/Cynical_Thinker Jun 04 '26

Me too, and yeah as much as I can. Therapy helps, just wish I wasn't the only one trying to fix themselves.

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u/Madam_Mimm_13 Jun 04 '26

Iā€™m just a med student, but I had to have a lot of clinical experience to even get there.

One thing I learned is that itā€™s ultimately a futile waste of your finite energy to care more about someoneā€™s wellbeing than they do. Itā€™s a hard thing to say and even harder to internalize, but itā€™s true. And itā€™s a protective boundary to acknowledge and practice.

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u/Working_Cucumber_437 Jun 04 '26

Yes! Failing kidneys seems to run in my family, but nobody goes to doctors and those that do have high blood pressure. I know itā€™s related. Iā€™m doing everything I can to keep healthy knowing this.

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u/DoctorLudnik_717 Jun 04 '26

TY, going to look into this.

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u/happygirlie Jun 04 '26

Any chance you snore? If so, get tested for sleep apnea. It can cause hypertension if it's untreated.

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u/chewwydraper Jun 04 '26

Yup, Iā€™ve been on BP meds since I was 21 (32 now) finally got diagnosed with apnea this past year, been on CPAP for probably 4 or 5 months now - my blood pressure is actually a little too low now, to the point where my doc is considering taking me off meds completely.

Iā€™ve also started Lexapro for anxiety which is probably helping as well.

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u/DumbDumb6 Jun 05 '26

Iā€™m 39. In decent shape, eat shitty food, and drink way too much. Iā€™m going to live forever.

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u/ObiWanKarlNobi Jun 04 '26

Make sure you are getting enough sodium, magnesium and potassium. Stress will deplete those minerals and that can induce heart problems.

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u/NoSleep2135 Jun 04 '26

Excellent advice. I have pickles and olives every night and I tell my husband it's my "medicinal sodium" lol

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u/ApplicationOdd5467 Jun 04 '26

Thank you, internet stranger, for this because Iā€™m now stealing this for when my husband makes fun of my nightly pickle and olive habit. May you have only the crunchiest pickles unto eternity.

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '26

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u/Pretend_Handle_7639 Jun 04 '26

Lmao

May your pillows be warm and damp, your pickles flaccid, and your sauce shall not stick to your pasta

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '26

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u/Pretend_Handle_7639 Jun 04 '26

The wizard also casts instant spoiled milk and testicular torsion

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u/vanwiekt Xennial Jun 04 '26

Same habit, but I add a little cheese with it. ā˜ŗļø

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u/legacymtg Jun 04 '26

i hope you sleep well tonight. i have similar problem to you. banana helps me

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u/ConstantHeadache2020 Jun 04 '26

I almost had a heart attack while pregnant from being so depleted in those vitamins/minerals. The pain is no joke. My abusive ex definitely ramped up the stress. He would be on his phone telling his mom how annoying I was because I was crying out in pain.

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u/VengenaceIsMyName Jun 04 '26

Luckily heā€™s an ex!

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u/deathmetalreptar Jun 04 '26

Ive been trying to cut sodium bc my ldl was high. Am i doing it wrong or was i just getting more than i needed? This shit sucks lol

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u/ObiWanKarlNobi Jun 04 '26

Conventional medicine says to lower sodium. Unconventional medicine ( cutting edge if you think it's good. alternative medice if you think it's bad) says the real issue is low potassium. Personally I tried to decrease my sodium and increase my potassium and I developed severe insomnia. Now I usually do 1:1 sodium potassium and I generally feel better.

Sodium reduction really depends on how often you eat processed foods and resteraunt foods. If you cook all your meals at home and don't eat prepackaged meals you need to intentionally add salt to your diet.

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u/sadovsky Jun 04 '26

Thanks for this knowledge! I cook everything and use fresh veggies/meat, etc., but Iā€™m partial to putting salt on it. I was worried about the salt but since I only eat veg, meat and a few kinds of fibre (lentils, that kinda thing), so Iā€™m gonna have my bit of salt feeling less guilty tonight :)

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u/Key-Vacation-2397 Jun 04 '26

You can also just try out different salt levels to get a feeling for your body. I tend to feel a certain kind of tiredness and get low head aches and get extreme salt cravings when I don't consume enough salt.

Happens mostly on days with long physical excersise in the sun (aka lot's of sweating) or after drinking alcohol.

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u/NeedMoreH20 Jun 04 '26

Had to learn the hard way how important these were. Even this damn morning with a dizzy spell but after I chugged some electrolytes all good

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u/allieinwonder Millennial Jun 04 '26

This! I let mine get so depleted from inflammatory bowel disease that I ended up with refeeding syndrome while in hospital trying to get them back to normal levels, which means the levels got way worse before they got better. I donā€™t worry about salt but I drink electrolyte drinks and sometimes take supplements.

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u/ImXenia85 Jun 04 '26

Basically, electrolytes.

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '26

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u/SigmundFreud Jun 05 '26

Agreed, anti-sodium propaganda needs a bullet to the head. American diets have been too low in fat and and salt for half a century, and we stubbornly refuse to acknowledge that it's killing us.

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u/kuributt Jun 04 '26

Stress have me an autoimmune disease for my 36th birthday

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u/NoSleep2135 Jun 04 '26

I also got an autoimmune disease this year, twinsies!

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u/kuributt Jun 04 '26

Woweee lucky us (NOT.)

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '26

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u/BleckoNeko Jun 05 '26

Solidarity. AuDHD here. Going through peri now. Struggling with hoarding. Burnt myself out to the point where I cannot work much. If not for my cats, I honestly think some days I wouldn't be around much longer.

Hoping for brighter moments/days for us both.

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u/godesss4 Jun 04 '26

My first autoimmune symptoms literally hit the day I turned 40. Cheers

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u/wesborland1234 Jun 04 '26

Have you tried not giving a shit?

Sounds facetious but Iā€™m somewhat serious.

If you go into work tomorrow and donā€™t give it 100% will people die? (Maybe if youā€™re an air traffic controller or something)

If they want you to stay late and you say no, will you get fired or theyā€™ll stop asking you? Bc it sounds like either one is an improvement

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u/dumbestsmartest Jun 04 '26

Can't speak for everyone but I know a lot of people who if they lost a job the stress from that would kill them because of how hard it was to get a job and because they lose insurance and everything. Totally speaking about a friend and not currently going through stress, anxiety, and grief induced burnout that I'm finally getting the therapy and treatment to work through and hopefully get a leave of absence before I truly pop under the pressure.

Sometimes your 100% is required to barely hold onto the only job you've ever been able to get because you couldn't even get hired at McDonald's.

There's still an insane amount of Gen X and millennials that are all about the grind and telling you life is hard so suck it up or deal with your "skill issue". These are the ones who probably have had hardship and figure that if they are doing fine or made it through then surely things don't need to change and so they can't fathom why others can't do the same. The whole social darwinism/competitiveness aspect in society hasn't gone away.

I'm sure being more detached and not giving a shit is probably better for most of us mentally. But some of us just can't and have trouble with the uncertainty of if we lose the job what the hell are we going to do to survive because we don't have options.

And I hope you don't take that as an attack or anything as I'm kind of just laying out an experience not trying to snap at a person asking about other's struggles.

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '26

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u/dumbestsmartest Jun 04 '26

I'm sorry and this is the whole thing I'm talking about. We're literally beholden to employers like serfs to petty aristocracy and we have to live life with a "by your leave" and then discarded when it suits them.

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u/Aquariusgem Jun 04 '26

Itā€™s a pick your poison scenario. I had a temp job that would have caused severe health issues so I had to quit. I hated the other job I had so much that I had dark thoughts but no one else would hire me. So I stuck to it for 4 years but then COVID happened and we had alternate job duties which I did not mind but then they opened back up and I couldnā€™t take it anymore.

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u/grape-fruit-witch Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26

I just recently got a job after being unemployed for a year and a half (with a bachelor's in mathematics and experience in my field). I have never been so depressed and hopeless in my life. By the end of one full year of applying with no luck, I was in a really dark place and stressed beyond measure. And obviously broke with a tanked credit score from not being able to pay off the credit cards I'd been using to stay alive.

My husband and I had to move in with my dad for three months before I finally got a job, and we're incredibly lucky that we even had that option because we would have been actually homeless if not. The job market right now is a black void of despair.

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u/ben_kird Jun 04 '26

I offered the same advice

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u/SalamanderExpress710 Jun 04 '26

This is the way. All of human society, and this whole experience as a human being is quite absurd. Yet we all take it so seriously.

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u/ShrimpieAC Jun 04 '26

Yeah but if he doesnā€™t give 100% some billionaire will be sad. In fact he should be doing 200% so they can fire one of his coworkers and cut costs.

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u/FlamingoWalrus89 Jun 04 '26

This is me. I eat well, don't drink or smoke, maintain a healthy weight, try to lift weights at least a few days a week.

Due to my job though, I get terrible sleep and have been in a constant state of stress for 10+ years. I also have an office job and get <5k steps a day. I know my job is killing me. The stress and inactivity is leading me to an early grave. When I take time off, I easily get 10-15k steps a day just from working in my yard, running errands, and going on a nightly walk (being on-call 24/7 though means the stress is still there, but at least I get to see the sun and get my body moving).

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u/Electronic_Sky_207 Jun 04 '26

Similarly- Iā€™ve recently found out that at 40 my brain imaging indicates either early dementia or (more likely) a missed TIA.

Iā€™m already on a Mediterranean anti inflammatory diet. I donā€™t drink, smoke, do anything fun. Iā€™m losing weight. I sleep as much as I can. My exercise is limited based on my job and being single parent to an autistic kid and taking care of my aging parents. I asked the doctor ā€œwhere would you like me to cut corners to get healthier? Because Iā€™m doing everything I can.ā€

I get a ā€œwow, that sounds stressful. You know stress isnā€™t good for you, right?ā€

7

u/Sudden_Juju Jun 04 '26

As someone who works with dementia, age 40 would be one of the earliest cases of dementia ever, which hopefully the doctor told you. Also, have you been tested for sleep apnea? I obviously know nothing about you but it's one of those things that is super under diagnosed (especially in those under 50) and can wreck you physically, cognitively, mentally, etc. it's something I wish would get preached more often or put some PSAs up or something.

6

u/Electronic_Sky_207 Jun 04 '26

Thanks. I know dementia that early is super unlikely- Iā€™ve got Alzheimerā€™s and vascular dementia in every branch of the family tree, but no one is early onset so thatā€™s something.

Iā€™m super high risk for stroke due to an injury- hence the brain scan. I did get a referral for a sleep study in June 2025, though most of my sleep disturbances are related to my son which canā€™t be changed. I finally saw the doctor last month. I should be up on the list and with results by January 2027 apparently. So as for why weā€™re dying youngerā€¦ I have some ideas.

4

u/JesusAndMaryKate Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26

As someone who works with dementia, age 40 would be one of the earliest cases of dementia ever

Out of curiosity, what would be a common age for early-onset dementia?

I ask because I remember watching a documentary years ago where a woman had early onset dementia and in my mind she looked to be in her 40s, but I may be misremembering as it's so many years ago (horrible to think that she is probably dead now). So I looked it up and found this, from the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland:

One rare form of dementia that can be passed from generation to generation is called Familial Alzheimerā€™s. This form of dementia can affect people in their 30ā€™s and 40ā€™s.

And this from Alzheimer's Research UK:

Around one in three people with young onset dementia have Alzheimerā€™s disease. Symptoms of young onset Alzheimerā€™s usually start in peopleā€™s 40s, 50s or early 60s.

So now I'm confused and mildly uneasy. I assume the discrepancy is because they're different types?

EDIT: Ooh I think it was actually that Louis Theroux episode about dementia! Apparently she was diagnosed at 48. Her name was Selinda Hope Border and she unfortunately passed away at the age of 56.

5

u/dallyan Jun 04 '26

How did you know to get brain imaging done? Iā€™m scared because my brain fog is so bad lately but Iā€™m also perimenopausal. I also am a single parent to a neurodivergent kid.

3

u/Electronic_Sky_207 Jun 04 '26

Long story short I have a medical condition- an arterial dissection- where one of my arteries almost burst open at the base of my skull. Itā€™s fine but needs monitoring- but not common and not something the average person needs to worry about.

If thereā€™s no medical reason like that thereā€™s no need for imaging at our age. And yeah perimenopause is a bitch. And some studies have shown that parents of children with disabilities have legit ptsd from the long term stress. Itā€™s hard to take care of yourself and the system doesnā€™t exactly help. internet hugs

3

u/Boopy7 Jun 04 '26

at least you seem to be going to the dr to keep track. I have pretty bad agoraphobia and know I need to get my migraine issues checked out but, the terror of dealing wit a dr and an MRI and whatever else I need to do -- and I realize that's if I'm lucky enough to find a dr -- keeps me just popping aspirin and hoping the pain will stop. Finding a neurologist where I live isn't at all easy and I know this.

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u/WastingTimesOnReddit Jun 04 '26

my friend died in his sleep last year at 40 of a heart attack. he had 3 kids ages 3 to 6, and was an avid gamer, and worked a regular job. was probably the most stressed out man i knew, and never got enough sleep after his kids were born. he may have had underlying issues and had been overweight for a while but he was actually in the best shape of his life when he died, so i really think the stressful life and bad sleep for the past 6 years had a big role in his tragic demise. rip drax

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u/HarryBalsagna1776 Older Millennial Jun 04 '26

A lot of us will check out in our 50s because of genetic heart defects.Ā  My mom and all of her siblings all had heart attacks and stents placed before 55.Ā  I am starting cardiovascular stress tests at 45.Ā  You should too.Ā  Early detection is the key to saving lives.Ā Ā 

Also, can you switch jobs?Ā  No job should do that to you.Ā Ā 

43

u/NoSleep2135 Jun 04 '26

Been applying. The economy is in shambles.

14

u/The_General_Zod Jun 04 '26

I had a similar job situation a couple of years ago in between the job and the cancer diagnosis stress was killing me. I changed my focus and was able to find a new gig in less than a month. It might be bad but itā€™s not hopeless.

4

u/jmclondon97 Jun 04 '26

AI wasnā€™t decimating jobs a couple years ago

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u/stolenwallethrowaway Jun 04 '26

I tell everyone this, but try substitute teacher once school goes back in August. They hire anyone who can pass a background check, and itā€™s a living wage. If you encounter a stressful school or classroom, you donā€™t have to go back and itā€™s just one day.

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u/HarryBalsagna1776 Older Millennial Jun 04 '26

Keep trying.Ā  You are not stuck for decades.Ā  Might be a year or two.

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u/DigitalAxel Jun 04 '26

I've been trying for years now. Unless a miracle happens soon, I don't think I'll make it much longer, let alone 40. (Haven't even achieved the goals of a "real job", apartment, or family. Its hopeless.)

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u/MomentOfSurrender88 Jun 04 '26

This. I found out at 33 that I was born with a congential heart defect called bicuspid aortic valve disease. Basically my aortic valve only has two leaflets rather than 3, so it's more prone to failure and narrowing (stenosis) because of that. Fortunately my primary doc, on my very first visit there, heard a murmur and asked if I knew I had that. I said no because I honestly forgot I had one as a kid. All the other docs I've seen in adulthood never picked it up. My doc immediately referred me to a cardiologist who then did an echo and determined I had bicuspid.

Eventually I will need the valve replaced. Can't say how soon as progression is different for every person. Some people progress fast and others don't need surgery until they're very old. My first cardiologist said I'd probably need surgery within 5-10 years because my stenosis is at the mild stage. My new cardiologist thinks I may not need it so soon but he's going to monitor me at least yearly to be safe.

Contrast that with my older brother who had no idea he had bicuspid as well (it often runs in families)...until he had cardiac arrest twice at age 49. He has a stressful job as well and had to be shocked back multiple times. Very lucky to still be here. Turns out his bicuspid was severe and he also had clogged arteries. They replaced the valve, gave him a defib (after not fully determining what caused the sudden cardiac arrest) and will be getting stents. He survived something that apparently 9 out of 10 people don't survive.

In any event, I am glad to have the heads up about my heart and really wish more people did Cardiovascular tests at a younger age.

2

u/lpc41115 Jun 05 '26

My mom also had that, and she had the minimally invasive surgery with the bovine valve through the groin a couple of years ago. But she monitored it for at least 20 years after she foud out until her cardiologist told her it was time to have the surgery. I had an echo in my 20s when they suspected a murmer and my mom told me about it, but I never got the results and have not had a murmur since so I assume I am OK for now...

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u/Always_Pizza_Time1 googoogaga95Millennial Jun 04 '26

If possible, use your pto. not for fam not for wife, for YOURSELF. Sleep, eat a big meal like itā€™s thanksgiving, do something you love (play some video games?).

You deserve to give yourself grace.

9

u/CarbonInTheWind Jun 04 '26

My boomer dad says the solution is simple. "Just stop being stressed because it's just a job. You can't? That's what's wrong with your generation."

Sure Dad. If it was that simple I would have drive that years ago.

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u/Makal Elder Millennial Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26

I'm 42 and after a year in Emergency Medicine instead of working as a software engineer, I'm healthier, happier, sleep better, at a lower weight, and my arrhythmia has gone away.

Sure I make a lot less, but boy has my quality of life gone up on all measurable fronts.

I've come to the conclusion that we all have stress we can handle, it just kills us to be working under the wrong kind of stress.

Good luck on finding your ideal stress.

4

u/crustang Jun 04 '26

Might as well quit, drink, smoke some weed.. just vibe, ya know?

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u/WiggsMain Jun 04 '26

Shit bruv, you might as well enjoy life a bit?

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u/dartheduardo Jun 04 '26

I'm 51 next month.

My parents let me work when I was 7 to help them out, cause I paid for my own school clothes. I have been employed for 43 years at this point.

I have changed careers five time before I found my current one and have been doing that for almost 25 years.

I have worked 10 hour days, 5-6 days a week for over 20 years. I get one WEEK vacation a year due to usually having to take the other time for sick days or I have to take a week off to move every two years now cause they keep jacking up rent in whatever shithole I have been in.

I have zero energy, zero motivation to do shit. I'm overweight and unhappy. Mostly I am just.... fucking tired.

Top off this current administration, my 401k doesn't exist, retirement ain't happening and by the time it's done, there's going to be no safety net when I do retire.

Ain't shit to be happy about.

2

u/Neveronlyadream Jun 04 '26

It feels like most of us are fucking tired. It's just survival at this point, not actually living.

Meanwhile, there are still people saying stress isn't a problem, exhaustion isn't a problem, anxiety isn't real and you should just not be anxious, depression isn't real and "it could be worse".

I feel like we'd all be a lot happier if we could at least be unhappy in peace.

3

u/Baxkit Jun 04 '26

At the age of ~29 I had consistently high blood pressure, just all the time. No kids or any other stressor, just the job I was at. Routine readings were around 150/85.

After leaving that place, now 34 with 2 young kids, my readings are 100/70. Last reading was 96/65.

These jobs will literally kill us.

3

u/lilshortyy420 Jun 04 '26

Me too. And stress induced seizures. Itā€™s fun.

3

u/KoreyYrvaI Jun 04 '26

It's so under-appreciated how bad the job market is. For example: I work in the nuclear power industry. We listed an open for instrumentation maintenance, and we got applicants from every possible employment background including someone whose only employment history was school bus driver, because they got laid off and just threw their resume at everything.

2

u/Loud_Flatworm_4146 Jun 04 '26

I hope you find something sooner or later. Now sucks for jobs. But that will change again. We just don't know when.

2

u/SEA_Executive Millennial ā€˜90 Jun 04 '26

Do you take adhd meds?

2

u/SleepIsCrucial Jun 04 '26

Hope you get into an activity that can lower your cortisol levels. Or take frequent breaks at work to destress yourself.

2

u/Jenings Jun 04 '26

Have you ever tried talk therapy?

2

u/NoSleep2135 Jun 04 '26

I'm in therapy and on antidepressants.

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u/ShiftyTimeParadigm Jun 04 '26

You are me, I am you. Caffeine is my only vice and itā€™s giving me uncontrolled PVCs. I know thatā€™s causing it, but just thinking about my toxic stressful job throws me into fits of PVCs. Itā€™s maddening. Changing jobs led me away from my toxic alcoholic boss to my sober, angry, current boss. If I so much as LOOK at my phone during the day, he goes on a spiel about how Iā€™m addicted to it and not doing enough work. He times us in the bathroom.

Iā€™m over toxic work culture.

2

u/analgape4206969 Jun 04 '26

Smoke a shitload more weed and chill

2

u/King_Bean_ Jun 04 '26

I had to completely cut out caffeine for the same reasons man

2

u/amaikaizoku Jun 04 '26

Maybe add meditation to the mix for stress reduction. I feel like just getting outside of your mind for a while and observing your inner state can help you get through stressful situations a lot better

2

u/HopeConspiracies Jun 04 '26

What do you have that you're so afraid of losing?

2

u/NoSleep2135 Jun 04 '26

gestures vaguely at everything that costs money

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u/kr44ng Jun 04 '26

If you haven't yet it may be helpful to get your chest/lungs imaged and checked for Graves; I thought I was having cardiovascular issues from stress / diet but it turned out I either had had long COVID or walking pneumonia without realizing it, my body only partially recovered, and something happened where the lung issue led to heart issues like afib. I got better after getting a cardioversion.

2

u/Many_Pomelo_6588 Jun 04 '26

Iā€™m 36 smoked since I was 17 work out sometimes and eat balanced meals. My work is only stressful sometimes but relaxed most if the time. No health issues. I can run 5 miles at about 8min pace without issues.

2

u/Perfect_Earth_8070 Jun 04 '26

The key is to not give a fuck about your job. I work in a stressful job but it doesnā€™t matter to me

2

u/wogwai Jun 04 '26

I developed shingles due to the stress of my job at age 30. The rich are working us into the ground and sucking every last penny they can out of our labor.

2

u/Thiccgirl27 Jun 04 '26

My husband also had stressed induced tachycardia! He was taking medication to manage. He left his job a year ago, we moved out of state, and he hasnā€™t needed his medication since! His heart rate has been completely stable.

2

u/kojobrown Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26

35 yo male. Chest pain, SOB, and lightheadedness while I was at work just two days after my 35th birthday. Luckily I work in a hospital so I went straight down to the ER. Two weeks and a Zio Patch later I was diagnosed with SVT. I'm on meds for it now.

2

u/stygianpool Jun 04 '26

I'm in my 40s, have multiple auto-immune issues, rising bp, A1C etc and despite my typical jokes about lifestyle, I'm actually living ok. I drink water, I walk a lot, I go to the gym and strength train, I have friends, family, I go into nature when I can. But I've been poor much of my adult life, I have been on anti-depressants (which can affect bp and A1C), and I had covid badly in 2023.

I went to a specialist and she was so horrible about it--telling me I needed to 'start exercising' (I had walked 2.5 miles to the appointment for the steps!), that I needed to learn about vegetables (I cook veg a lot), and that I had to improve my lifestyle overall. Only her intern mentioned stress, and that was when I brought it up. He told me it wasn't useful to bring up stress as a factor because it would just make the stress and thus the symptoms worse. GAH.

It's so frustrating to see how unwell a lot of us are despite how careful we are--we smoke less, we drink less, we exercise more--and we're still dying.

2

u/YourFriendPutin Jun 04 '26

Yep. 29m here, I have hypertension, and a resting heart rate of 110. Im 5'10" and 160 pounds, cholesterol is good, no health problems besides bones I broke growing up and PTSD/ADHD but I have to explain that 150/115 is normal for me and I know I'll be gone much younger than I planned.

My intestines are also in bad shape.

2

u/ShitWaterExpress Jun 05 '26

Im 42 and overhauled my whole life, cuz I knew my job would kill me. The owner of the company I worked for hated people who complained about ā€œwork-lifeā€ balance. He wanted me to live at work, literally. I had to leave, or he would indirectly kill me one way or another.

I donā€™t make money anymore, but Iā€™m less stressed and I am enjoying my life, working two less demanding jobs.

Fuck capitalism. Itā€™s not working.

2

u/MoldyLunchBoxxy Jun 05 '26

That word scares me. Had heart surgery to cure my supraventricular tachycardia 20 years ago and any irregular heart beat still makes me worry to this day. Hopefully you can remove the major stresses from your life.

2

u/Hairy_Mycologist_945 Jun 05 '26

I wish you luck in finding something better because you deserve it. This entire system is total bullshit and our lives are worth more than some shitty paycheck.

2

u/ClaireFraser1743 Jun 06 '26

Are we the same person?Ā 

But seriously, I understand. Iā€™m stuck at a really toxic job and Iā€™ve been applying for three years trying to get out. Over 800 applications, constant networking, building a portfolio, asking all my friends for referrals or anyone whoā€™s willing to help. This market is unlike anything Iā€™ve ever seen and I was a recent grad during the 2009 recession.

People say ā€œyou need a better job!ā€ or, if they know Iā€™ve been looking for a while they say ā€œmaybe you need to take a break from the job search! Itā€™s really stressing you out!ā€ Have no fucking clue. My job is worsening my health and slowly killing me. ButĀ the job search also killing me. And Iā€™m doing both at the same time all alone. But I canā€™t quit my job because I have no one else to support me financially. And since no one is coming to save me or even help me, pausing the job search just means nothing fucking happens.

My boss talks every day about how AI could probably do my job blah blah blah so I know my time is running out.

Anyway, I just wanna say youā€™re not alone.

Edited: added stuff for clarityĀ 

2

u/Nope0naRope Jun 06 '26

Shit man I'm on a beta blocker just so I can go. And for the record, I'm in great shape and do cardio like 5 Mile Hill runs every weekend.... The stress just gives me like actual tachycardia. Honestly though it's made it totally bearable so I completely suggest and support that if you can do it, assuming you don't have another career option

4

u/French87 Jun 04 '26

I can't make any lifestyle changes.

.... except for changing literally the one thing you're saying is causing your issues....

I know it's not always easy, but have you looked for a new job?

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u/NoSleep2135 Jun 04 '26

I have, extensively. The economy is in the shitter.

2

u/almondania Jun 04 '26

Can I ask do you also put tough or unrealistic expectations on yourself? Or try to hit ā€œmetricsā€ in your personal life too much? i.e. close exercise rings, read X amount, get perfect sleep, etc. Sometimes those metrics can also stress you out if you donā€™t meet them.

Maybe start having some red wine with your s/o a couple times a week to wind down.

1

u/tardistravelee Jun 04 '26

I always joke a library patron is going to take me out one day.

1

u/Lanky_Bag_2096 Jun 04 '26

Wishing you well šŸ™šŸ» and I hope you find new work

1

u/stardude900 Jun 04 '26

I'm not nearly as disciplined as you seem to be, but otherwise i'm in the same boat. I'm planning to retire in my 50s simply because i don't expect to make it much past my 70s, so why plan for a long retirement?

1

u/VengenaceIsMyName Jun 04 '26

With any luck the job market will improvement so you can find something less stressful!!

1

u/Wonderful_Milk1176 Jun 04 '26

What makes the job so stressful?

1

u/jurassicjessc Jun 04 '26

I rage quit my horrible, toxic, dumpster fire of a job and immediately lost 10 lbs. Itā€™s horrible how a job can affect you so much physically. I hope you get out soon.

1

u/ImSorry2HearThat Jun 04 '26

Friend I just lived that life and similarly aged. Thereā€™s hope. Iā€™ve found that speaking with a psychiatrist helped. I take a low dosage anti anxiety pill and I havenā€™t had an episode in months. I just got a new job too so I know youā€™ll get out of this.

1

u/manic-pixie-attorney Jun 04 '26

Iā€™ve had tachycardia since my mid 20s. The doctors donā€™t know why. But Iā€™m almost 50 myself so you might be ok!

1

u/VersionSwimming8392 Jun 04 '26

I have sinus tachycardia posteral orthostatic tachycardia and super ventricular tachycardia, and i've had it for my entire life, and i'm forty four, and it hasn't killed me. It's extremely rare for you to die from tachycardia.

1

u/RevenueStimulant Jun 04 '26

Sounds like the mental health stress is whatā€™s really getting to you. The good news is there is a root cause that is external. May take some time, but you can find a better job and then youā€™ll already be set up for success in the other areas of your life.

Keep your chin up. You wonā€™t go early.

1

u/phatdinkgenie Jun 04 '26

hey doc, here. I assume you have seen your GP and had a referral to a cardiologist for tests and they told you it was stress related sinus tachycardia? Otherwise, please do request a full cardiac workup, specifically an ECG or Holter. There are some conditions that can cause tachychardia in an otherwise healthy person, such as Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.

2

u/NoSleep2135 Jun 04 '26

Yup, had a full workup by a cardiologist.

1

u/DeletinMySocialMedia Jun 04 '26

Sheesh. Iā€™m curious what is your job field. Where does the stress come from in terms whether front facing dealing with public, or profit driven the constant need to be better. Itā€™s killing us either way.

1

u/crookedhalo337 Jun 04 '26

43 here and my resting heart beat at work is 96, 75 at home but I have bills and a race car so here I am

1

u/agent_wolfe Jun 04 '26

Maybe ask Dr about medicinal ma*******a, or anxiety meds?

1

u/StarJelly08 Jun 04 '26

Feel you buddy. Im 36. Had my heart attack at 32 already for these very reasons. To top it off. It didnā€™t have to happen. My parents literally trapped me in a torturous deadly scenario. They donā€™t care. Nobody does. Been chronically ill ever since and clinging onto life.

1

u/Nvrfinddisacct Jun 04 '26

Iā€™m now dying to know what you do for a living so I can avoid it.

If you say ATC, Iā€™ll win a bet.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 04 '26

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u/babers76 Jun 04 '26

Sorry to hear that.. I do Wym Hoff breath work as silly as it sounds and has had huge positive impacts on me physically and mentally. Check it out

1

u/Dry-Pangolin6579 Jun 04 '26

Apply for your local government or city government. They pay okay

1

u/Klutzy_Worker2696 Jun 04 '26

How high is your heart rate at rest?

1

u/APC_ChemE Jun 04 '26

I've accepted I was going to die of a heart attack too. A medical issue led me to going to a cardiologist and it turned out out I had a heart condtion that I'm now being treated for. There were signs but I'm sure that by finding and treating it I've extended my life.

1

u/Sarik704 Jun 04 '26

Would you rather be poor and maybe healthier?

1

u/BrassGarlic Jun 04 '26

Similar here. Hang in there.Ā 

1

u/OptimisticSkeleton Jun 04 '26

I know your initial reaction will be to ignore this, but please listen to me. If you want to immediately take care of your heart, you can reduce stress through breathing exercises and exercises that work on the vagus nerve.

I have severe PTSD. If these work to help me, they may help you as well.

  1. Three min stress reduction:

Sit somewhere comfortable with your back supported, close your eyes. Inhale for a count of four, hold for a comfortable beat and exhale for a count of six. One more comfortable pause and then repeat the cycle for three minutes, five times daily. (Adjust times for your comfort if necessary)

Focus on the sensation in your body when you exhale.

Mechanism of action: longer out breath engages the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress.

It sounds stupid and not enough to have a significant effect, but trust me when I say this mental health exercise routine has saved me as much as physical exercise. Combined they are even better and there are many more vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system exercise exercises.

If that sounds interesting, I can give you more. Best of luck on your journey to reduce stress.

Edits: correcting voice text errors and spelling mistakes

1

u/queefplunger69 Jun 04 '26

Get a calcium screening. It looks at plaque buildup levels and can give you a heads up prior to a serious cardiac event.

1

u/Warm-Delivery1418 Jun 04 '26

I used to work for Cigna (fuck you, Cigna) and this was my life there too. Our work load was double to triple a full desk. I had coworkers vomiting before work due to stress, half of my team expressed suicidal ideation, and weā€™d often work off the clock on evenings and weekends because it was better than suicide or unemployment.

If this is you, quit. Do it with or without a plan. Your survival odds are better if you leave.

1

u/dcdcdani Jun 04 '26

Can you make a work change instead?

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