I recently lost my job in the dental field after a decade of working 40-60 hour weeks, and honestly, I feel relieved. At almost 28, I've been in a career that I never enjoyed, forced into it by my parents when I was 17. The past ten years have been filled with verbal and physical abuse from patients, constant negativity, and a lack of benefits or overtime pay. I moved back home after being laid off two months ago, and I've mostly been sleeping and hitting the gym to recover from the burnout that has plagued me since my teenage years. Despite achieving financial success, I’ve been miserable and exhausted for so long that it feels like no one truly understands my struggles. The only time I felt somewhat alive was during the month off I had during COVID, where I lost weight, picked up hobbies, and reconnected with old friends. Now, I know I need to get back to work or consider going back to school, but nothing sounds appealing. I’m considering a career change, possibly into hairdressing as a curly hair specialist or personal training. My dad suggests water treatment engineering, but I want to pursue something that genuinely interests me this time. I’m reaching out to see if anyone has dealt with similar burnout and how they found their way back to what they enjoy.