Content warning: This article discusses topics around mental health. Please take care while reading and skip this one if it’s not right for you today. Resources are located at the end of this write up.
Thinking back, I always felt I had something to prove – that I wasn’t a lost cause, “druggo” or whatever else people liked to call me.
Some Context:
In my teens, I struggled with my mental health. It showed through disordered eating, substance use and a pattern of risky, self-destructive decisions. Hop on the back of a stranger’s bike at night? Sure. Mix drugs? Why not.
Looking back, I’m surprised I made it out alive. But I didn’t come out of it unscathed.
People love a spectacle, and for a while, I was theirs. It felt like everyone, their mum and their dog had something to say about my life – and the rumours stuck around for years, even after I’d moved on.
Eventually, I realised the only way forward was to start over. I moved schools before they could expel me, cut off 90% of my “friends”, and repeated grade 10. I forced myself to learn how to study and cope with pressure – albeit not very healthily.
I was lonely, still self-medicating, but at least everyone was happy.
The Corporate Career That Looked Perfect – But Led to Burnout
I ended up earning an International Baccalaureate diploma, then graduated with a law and finance degree from a top university. I worked my way into “good” jobs with big companies, finally landing what looked like a perfect role in tech straight out of uni.
From the outside, things probably looked good. But boy, was that far from the truth.
Inside The Reality of Toxic Corporate Culture
Every corporate job I’ve had has been toxic in some way: gossip culture, weird “work spouse” dynamics, passive-aggressive politics, bad managers…
I feel I’ve seen it all.
And you see, I’m the type of girl who’s very intentional about my energy and self-development.
But corporate life doesn’t always let you have boundaries.
In my personal life, I don’t keep people who drag me down. The salty, emotionally stunted ones who try to keep you small – I cut them out. It’s been one of the best things I’ve done.
But in corporate, you can’t just ghost people.
You’re supposed to smile, entertain small talk with people you don’t like, nod your head and “play the game”.
And while I tried for a while, it wore on me.
Naturally, I’ve always been honest, outspoken and uninterested in gossip or cliques. I’ll call a spade a spade.
That probably made me an outcast, and eventually, it made me a target.
Over time, I was becoming a shell of who I was.
And the last six months before I quit were brutal.
Recognising the Signs of Workplace Burnout
Sundays were painful – not just “ugh, the weekend’s over” painful, but sick to my stomach, feel it in my throat and head painful.
Then Monday morning, that damn Slack ‘ping’ – it never failed to send my cortisol through the roof.
My body started showing physical symptoms of stress and burnout: acid reflux, jaw clenching, hair turning white, spotting. I was forgetting words mid-sentence which affected my confidence even more.
You’d think that would be enough to make me quit.
But when you’ve rebuilt your whole life and identity once to finally “make it”, and you’ve poured time and money into doing better, quitting isn’t so simple.
When Your Job Hurts Your Mental Health – Why I Finally Quit
In the end, it wasn’t some bold, “boss girl” move. I left because I was pushed to (but also because, deep down, I knew I’d reached my limit).
When the company decided to force staff back into the office, I requested to keep working from home for my own wellbeing. The environment had taken a real toll on my mental health.
It was rejected without hesitation.
I responded to HR that I had to put my mental health and happiness first.
And I quit.
No backup plan.
No references.
No care left to give.
My exit wasn’t glamorous. It was quiet, exhausted and overdue.
What Quitting a Toxic Corporate Job Taught Me
Quitting corporate isn’t for everyone.
If you’re in a role where you feel safe and valued, stay. This isn’t anti-corporate propaganda.
But if you’re like I was (burnt out, anxious, constantly compromising yourself), remember this: you’re not as trapped as you think.
Practical Steps to Recover From Corporate Burnout
Start with what you can control.
Build an emergency fund. Budget like your freedom depends on it – because it might.
Speak up. Give your employer a chance to fix the problem. How they respond will tell you everything.
Pay attention to the people around you. Some will try to protect you by scaring you away from change. Others simply don’t want you doing better than them. But there’ll be a few gems who believe in you.
Above all, remember: your job title isn’t your identity.
And trust me, I’ve been there. The curious stares in my corporate fit, the way people’s faces changed when they heard my job title. It fed my ego for a while until I realised everyone’s just putting on a show.
This article encapsulates it so well – how there are so many BS jobs out there: “Growth Hackers” who’ve never hacked anything, “Digital Transformation Leads” transforming nothing’. Most of it’s a never-ending cycle of emails or meetings about meetings; middle managers trying to validate their roles.
Flashy titles and suits don’t always mean much. And making six figures doesn’t taste as good when you’ve lost your appetite for everything outside work.
It took me a while to see that.
And the greatest thing I’ve learned? Life’s too short to keep pouring into something that no longer gives back – whether that’s a job or a version of yourself you’ve ungrown.
So, do your work well. But if it starts costing your health or peace, listen to your body.
You are capable of more. You’ll figure it out.
A glance at my journey…
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Final Thoughts
If you’ve been through something similar, or you’re questioning your own path, I’d love to hear your experience. Or is there anything about my corporate burnout story you’d like me to explore next? Let us know in the comments.
If you want to hear more about what happened next, I also shared it in a YouTube video. You can find it here.
When you’re ready to reach out, these services are a good place to start:
Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636): Support for anxiety, depression, and mental well-being.
Lifeline (13 11 14): 24/7 crisis support for anyone in emotional distress
If you or someone you know is in danger: Dial 000
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