Ok-Diamond-737's journey

I’ve been working since I was 16, and for the last four years, I’ve been employed at a well-known supermarket in the UK. What started as a temporary job while I was in university turned into a full-time position after I had to leave my studies due to funding cuts and a family bereavement. Initially, I enjoyed the work, but over time, the combination of short staffing, overwhelming workloads, personal struggles, and even abuse from customers took a significant toll on my mental health. Earlier this year, I thought about taking sick leave but decided against it when some changes seemed to improve the situation. However, after the store and assistant store managers were replaced, morale plummeted, and about half of my team left or transferred within a month. To cope, I started my own photography business, which took off more quickly than I expected, and I found myself fully booked for three months. This experience made me realize how much I love photography and how unhappy I had become in my supermarket job. Recently, I reached my breaking point when a customer insulted me over purchasing restrictions on painkillers. After waiting several minutes for a manager to assist me, I decided to leave my shift early and informed the store manager that I wouldn’t be returning for my next shift. I also planned to speak to my doctor about taking sick leave. The manager suggested I take the next three days off to think things over. Now, I’m in a tough spot trying to balance my mental health with financial security since my photography business isn’t yet stable enough to support me full-time. I’d really appreciate any advice from those who have dealt with work-related stress or taken sick leave. How did you navigate the decision, manage financial uncertainty, and figure out your next steps? I’m not looking for judgment, just some genuine support as I work through this.