I have never had a job that improved my mental health, not once. And I am actually very privileged in general. Jobs have been net negative for my health, even with regular therapy.
having a job improved my mental health compared to not having one and worrying about money.
Haven’t had an income for 16 months and it’s wrecking my shit, my mental health is in a perpetual state of decline
I have but only for the length of the initial honeymoon period. Once the new and shiny wears off, every job has been a net drag on my mental well-being or at best- inconsequential to my overall mental health.
In hindsight, had I stuck out the ones that felt inconsequential for a little longer, then I'm sure those would have been a drag as well
Work makes us feel like we have purpose because capitalism has deprived us of the opportunity to fill that void with anything that actually enriches us as humans. If we’re not working, we feel worthless because that status quo mindset has been forced into reality, while things like homelessness have been criminalized, and everything else has been pushed to the redline of profitability.
I love working as much as I love music and gaming (my hobbies). By this I mean that I love doing the thing that is officially my profession. What I don't like is dealing with the humans in or around what I do for a living. Humans suck. I also hate having to work. Tasks are not nearly as fun when you have the constant threat of homelessness, starvation, and unchecked illness with probable death hanging over your head.
So doing work and having a work does the same thing for mental health? Who knew.
I mean fiddling and making crafts is some kind of baseline interest for humans.