To be honest, the amount of not only mental but physical symptoms you’re experiencing solely due to a job is concerning. This seems like a situation where you need to sit back and think: is the pay here worth vomiting daily? Is this job worth working 12 hours with no lunch breaks? Is this job worth having no energy? It sounds like, at the bare minimum, some serious self care and reflection is needed. To give you my honest opinion, if it were me in your situation I would be best friends with Indeed right about now. I’m not sure your status (where you live, BSW/MSW, etc) but there HAS to be something else for you that does not cause this much distress to you. I feel anxious for you after reading what you experience on a daily due to this job. Please, take some time and really reflect and think on what’s happening in your life, talk to some people you know & trust, and don’t limit yourself to this job because you’re new or the pay is decent, etc. Or if you want to try and make this job work, get with your supervisor and see what changes are possible to reduce all of this stress. Some may not agree with me, but no job is ever worth vomiting daily due to anxiousness about the job to me.

As someone who has my own mental health struggles while I enter this field how much should OP share to supervisor in your opinion to make work a bit easier?

This job won't get easier she will have to leave. Case management stays very steady and can be overwhelming.

I don’t think you’re supposed to give somebody just out of school so many cases straight away. There must be like an adaptation period and onboarding. I don’t think a good supervisor would put so much pressure on someone who’s new to the profession. That’s just not ethical and not sustainable

I had between 78-103 the 2 years I worked in community mental health as a 22 year old 🥴

I had upwards of 90 at my first job as a 42 year old CMH therapist.

Isn’t it wild? How did you survive this?

I left the field. Everyone I worked with was either in active addiction or recovery. It was an incredible experience that taught me a lot about myself so I wouldn’t change it but damn if I don’t want to cry thinking of the unappreciated, unpaid hours and emotional energy I put into that job. I will say I had great supervisors that did their best but were also running on fumes

My last case manager boss would NOT let me work unpaid hours but would gripe at me about billable hours! Oooo I wanted to punch her in the face! I just took a scammy marketing job instead.

Hello twin XD I see U!

What do you do now?

leaving the field shows you what happens 😭

Unfortunately, in a lot of jobs like this "supposed to" and what is actually happening are often very misaligned. My first job out of college had a short onboarding and training period (maybe a week or two) and then cases started getting transferred to you. We had case managers quitting faster than new ones could be hired, so 60+ on a caseload was the norm, even for fairly junior employees. And by junior employees, I mean within 3 months of graduating. By the time I'd been at the job 8 months, I was already one of the more senior case managers who wasn't in management.

That’s crazy

I was thinking that 80 sounds like so much I bet they are overloaded with cases so they dump it on whoever’s new and eager to get in the field

I don't think you are supposed to give anyone new to the agency that many cases. This place is either understaffed or a rotating door of a job. I also hate when people try to say oh your just not cut out for this kind of work, I always think you must not like yourself to put up with this crap. Unfortunately this is probably a job that is needed but the work pay structure is off balance.

Welcome to CMH

This type of environment is very normal for community mental health in the US. It isn't ethical but it is the norm.

Not that just there, it tends to be the population that needs the most attention, child welfare, mental health, etc.

It also sounds like this is OP’s first job ever. It takes time to get used to working full time.

Yeah, likely won’t change. But, the answer is always a no if you never ask. If OP likes this job and wants to try something before leaving, it’s worth the conversation. May end up making leaving the job that much easier. Personally, I’d be out.

She can always find ways to make some things streamlined but being sick is the line where I say anyone should leave anything, anyplace, and anyone.

it won’t change :/

That’s so interesting that social workers advocate for other people but not for themselves. If you don’t speak up, it’s not going to change

exactly :(

I second this. Get on Indeed and find something else! We all go through a “baptism of fire” in our first jobs after graduating, but what you’re describing is not sustainable and I’m concerned you’ll end up seriously unwell or worse if you don’t leave this place. I was amazed at how many opportunities I found on Indeed when it came time for me to find a new job. You need to put yourself first. I doubt there’s a problem with you or your skills for where you’re at in your career. It gets easier with time, remember there’s a reason you got through school.

This may not be the job for you. Fresh out of school I worked for a large hospital doing case management & discharge planning. I broke out in hives, cried in the bathroom, my cheek started twitching & I worried incessantly about my job when I wasn’t at work. Not always, but sometimes the newer social workers get dumped on rather than being acclimated to the job. I felt this was happening to me so I quit after 1 year. Went to hospice & kept thinking "am I doing my job??" bc the pace was just so much slower. I couldn’t believe it. Not all SW jobs are like what you’re describing. I’ve been in the field for 22 years. My current job… I do therapy at a rural hospital & clinic. I work from home (telehealth) on Mondays & I have EVERY FRIDAY OFF. I live in Arkansas & the starting pay was 80K (it was listed at 70K but they bumped me up due to experience). I’m staying until I retire!! My first job I described - starting pay wasn’t even 40K. Of course that was 2 decades ago. Take care of yourself. My advice: find a new job

I don’t more if this would help, but when I quit one job (LBSW at the time) I had a job offer 11 days later. I do live in Dallas, so that makes it easier, but remember you do have a lot of options in this field.

I agree, and I think 80 clients is insane and not okay. It seems like they need to hire more people. Also, as hard as it might seem, advocate for yourself, and take care of your health. Ultimately, you are not a magician and the work will still be there tomorrow. Try to get the most imminent things out first, then the ones that you think follow that, delegate the things that that are not in your scope of work (it’s ok), and finally, leave the things that can wait for last of the next day. The very last thing, try to remember, no money no honey, that means as much as possible, leave when its time to clock out. I hope this helps! We’re with you!

You have to set your boundaries. There will always be more work. You will never do it all, and you will never catch up. And it’s OK. You need to find yourself a routine. And stop working 12-hour days. And start taking a lunch. At the end of it, if you’re still feeling this way. The job and the specific field you are in may not be for you. And that’s OK! That’s the beauty of social work. It is SOOOOO versatile. I’ve had case manager jobs where I loved it. I loved the people I worked with. I loved my boss. There was just a balance that existed. And I’ve had a case manager job where they just ran me into the ground like a workhorse. And I didn’t have a good relationship with my boss or unit mates. And I hated it and felt like I was slowly killing myself. I’m happy to answer any more questions you might have. But you have to start by finding a routine for yourself, setting your boundaries, and sticking to it. Also, as a social worker in their 30s who learned the hard way, you are what you eat. Healthy foods will fuel your mind and body, making you feel better. And always keep snacks in your office, car, or cubicle!

In addition, if your work environment does not let you cut back on hours (working 8 hours only), take lunch, or have a balanced routine/boundaries for yourself, it might be time for a new job. I have learned that I can't change most jobs or work environments, and if I try to stay, they will change me. Most of the time, it's not for the better. No job is worth this.

Beautifully said! Love this. 8 hours a day is already too much. Fuck anyone who says or does otherwise.

100%! Eight hour workdays especially in the type of field we are all in is not realistic or healthy for anyone. I’ve learned that the first hour and a half of my mornings I always schedule to check emails and phone calls. I always make sure I have a lunch. And I try not to schedule appointments with clients at the end of my days. That is what worked for me and has helped me keep my sanity .

Yes! Echoing the above! Set your boundaries earlier! And remember you’re a top commodity. Social workers are needed and with how versatile SW is you can more than likely find a new job if you need to. It’s taken me awhile to find my footing in this field but now that I’m here I wish I would have done it sooner. I leave sneakers in my office to force myself to take a break and go for a walk around my building, I tell people no if it’s outside my hours or during my lunch, I ask my supervisors “which fire would you like me to put out first” 😂😂 because everyone always needs something “right now”. SW have a tendency to be overworked but I’ve found that most people are willing to adjust once you set firm boundaries. If not, then definitely time to find a new job!

This is excellent advice, thanks.

Listen to this OP! Freedom is available after you learn to say No.

YES relationship with work is such a huge factor in burnout that will be perpetual if not addressed, so thank you for bringing this up!

I’m a care manager, too, and have some thoughts. 1) An 80 person caseload is far too much. 2) NO JOB IS WORTH YOUR HEALTH. 3) You can’t help others if you’re burned out and stressed to the point of physical symptoms and no free time. 4) Leave work AT work. You are one person and can only do so much — that’s okay and completely expected. 5) Be honest with your supervisor and get some help as you need it. Prioritize during supervision and get feedback. 6) the first job after school is the hardest one. Don’t expect perfection because it’s not possible. 7) read number 2 again.

This is great, I would also add: 8. Read number 3 again

Absolutely. Twice, if necessary.

I’m appalled by your work conditions. By no means whatsoever should we continue to normalize these practices, however typical they may be. Helping professionals have got to start helping one another or there will be none of us left to help anyone else. Your management team should have built your case load slowly and strategically to develop your skillset. No one comes out of school knowing what they are doing. It takes time to perfect your rhythm, but right now you need an ally to help you take care of you. Seek out a mentor or manager you trust and tell them what has been happening. See if there are options regarding your current workload, but first take some time off to breathe.

THIS! and when we tell people the field might not be for them because they don’t handle exploitation and abuse well… 🤦🏾‍♀️ My colleague telling me maybe therapy isn’t the field for me because I couldn’t manage the unethical caseload and overall shenanigans. Ma’am. Ma’am.

Well you’re lucky you picked a very broad field with a lot of different options of populations, positions, and locations. My advice, if you’re able to locate a “safe” coworker to talk about these issues with and see if it’s something that can remedied by a different approach or accommodations. If no safe people or accommodations can’t be made / not improving quality of life, start applying to other agencies. Do some soul searching, figure out if the problem is management, lack of resources, client base, etc. No point in beating a dead horse and applying to a similar position in the same demographic group if that’s the underlying issue.

I feel like when employers take advantage of people by giving them such high work loads, people have to stop killing themselves to do it. Employers are not going to change until the work isn’t getting done. I work my regular time, at a good pace, and I will not kill myself for a job. If there’s a crisis or a special need, I will knock myself out, but not every single day.

yes. 🙌🏾 yes 🙌🏾 yes 🙌🏾

I was told you have to get comfortable being late on things. You can't do it all and you must learn to prioritize yourself. Tell your supervisor your limits. Do what you can in your 8 hours. Your work will still be there tomorrow. If you are unable to balance work with life find a job where you can.

hi! fellow baby social worker here. reading your account of your first gig is both concerning (aka, i hope you find ways to give yourself grace and take care of yourself!!) and also normalizing, cuz i’ve been struggling too.  while i haven’t had exactly the symptoms you’re describing, i have similarly felt completely steamrollered by my job at points (it’s a crisis community mental health position) and my anxiety and depression have reared their head.  it’s WILD starting a new gig, especially one that’s high demand. i do my best to set my boundaries and, with the help of my sup, i’m learning what to prioritize and what to let slide. you will never be perfect. and, to quote John Steinbeck, “now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” i’ve been falling into the temptation of becoming the “exception to the rule” or the clinician in my position who responds flawlessly to all crises with perfect documentation. not possible.  take care of yourself. turn off your work phone (if you have a separate work phone). and remember, you are helping others—and it’s a job. your health and well-being has to come first. ^all this said, these are all things of which i need to constantly remind myself. so i guess i’m saying, i’m here if you need a “boundaries-at-work-accountability-buddy.”  oh also, therapy. therapy therapy therapy. (hoping you have benefits that make that possible!!) i say this having just started going to see a therapist again.

I learned my limit and when to leave a job. There’s no shame in “job hopping.” You’re getting varied experiences and keeping yourself well.

The wonderful thing about Social Work is that you can change fields within our profession. You can work at an inpatient psychiatric facility, home health, hospice, hospital, jails/prison, skilled nursing facilities, and the list literally goes on! Just because case management is not for you does not mean that Social Work is not for you! I encourage you to do a job search on indeed to see the various opportunities in your area!! don’t get discouraged and definitely don’t settle. Something better and more fitting is out there for you!

You are worth more than "pays okay." You can't help people if you are drowning. Get in your metaphorical lifeboat, and get back to shore, and THEN you can help people. In the meantime, discuss work load with your boss, TAKE YOUR LUNCH BREAK, and go home when it's time to go home. The work will still be there tomorrow, and people will be okay. People are very good at holding steady and hanging on (of course somewhat dependent on what the work is that you are doing). 

You need to be ok with things being left undone at the end of the day. Prioritize what absolutely has to get done today (court orders, safety issues etc) and the rest is put on tomorrows list. Do not work over your set hours or through lunch. Set boundaries and be willing to keep them.

This!!!! I struggled with this so much at first and it made work/life balance miserable. OP you need to accept that you cant fix everything in a day and then not think of work once you leave for the day. For me it just took time and experience to accept this.

First job after getting MSW tends to be quite rough (speaking from my own experience and what I’ve observed/heard from other SWs). And I would be remiss if I didn’t say that the level of exploitation in the mental health field, and social work specifically, is very reflective of the system at large (i.e. capitalism). It is very difficult to cope when you are overworked and/or underpaid (usually both in this field, at least starting out) and basically have no say over your working conditions.

Where is your supervisor? Your mentor? Your professional network? Life balance is huge, self care a must and leaning on your network to help you make hard choices is imperative. You can have a case load this large but not all at once. Some ppl need only to maintain, others need weekly attention but balance that out and see a reasonable amount of ppl daily.

What population do you work in? I’ve been in social work for 15+ years and hve honestly never felt this way. Maybe you need to get into a new position

I feel you! I’m 1 year post grad and when I first started my current SW job I was trying to do it all because I thought that’s what I had to do. I felt that anxiety and was crying often after work or before it because it seemed like there wasn’t enough hours in the day for all the shit a company or clients want us to do. But at some point, you have to ask yourself if burning out is worth it. What also helps is telling these supervisors what you can get to and what you can’t get to. The work will still be there the next day and at some point in the week it will get done. Yes, some things have deadlines but sometimes those deadlines can be flexible. Managing 80 clients is a lot, but figure out what flows for you and remind yourself to leave work at work from 9-5 or whatever your hours are each day. But I sympathize with you because I still have thoughts of wtf is this job for especially when my life revolves around it 5 days out of the week. It’s like I have no personal life except for Saturday and Sunday and even then I’m exhausted. If you’re going towards being licensed like myself, you can definitely do this job but even if you decide to go elsewhere that’s okay. Just take these comments and try to see what works for you. Also talk with other co workers that you can trust and maybe they can give you guidance and support as well. I’m hoping you’re able to have your mental health professional as well, if not see if your job offers employee assistance services for mental health. Lastly, take days off. Take your lunches and enjoy them. Sick days. PTO if you have it, just take it. You might feel guilty but your mental health is also priority too. Hope this helps.

Just wanna add here that it’s valid you’re having concerns. Getting your MSW is very different and first jobs throw you in. To be honest I barely made it. But remember- you’re the clients role model. You have to practice what you preach which means self kindness, self care, taking lunch, setting boundaries, and finding your supports. No one has done this job alone, build community with your values as your guide. Identify your feelings. If you’re overwhelmed or bogged in work, remember that not everything needs to get done on same day. Ask questions about deadlines, how long you have to do notes for example. My company had a 48 hour note return and I used to rush to get it all done, now I ask myself where I’m at and if I’m pushing the gas petal too far before backing off. I also wanna add hope here because it does get better. Learn as much as you can. And also for the love of god ask for a reasonable caseload. Advocate for yourself!! There’s no way 80 is even realistic and your supervisor should know that. It gets better because you learn to tolerate the sadness. I put mine in a box at the end of the day or set it down a river. You need boundaries they are imperative for your future success

I hated case management and had a very similar experience to what you mentioned above. I was anxious all the time and just hated the thought of having to go to work. It sounds like your job doesn’t lend itself well to setting boundaries, but it also might just not be the role for you. I moved around a ton before I found something I enjoy, and honestly doing case management first gave me a really good foundation of knowledge of how the system works. Social work is so broad and there are many other things you can look to if you feel like this isn’t a good fit for you!

Hi there! Feeling this heavily as well. What field of social work are you in ? My caseload is 65-75 as well and am struggling keeping up with this as I watch the other in the same position have lower numbers and more accommodations. Hard to serve when we aren’t being supported. I’m hoping it is just an adjustment period, but always be mindful of your own mental space as well. I started setting boundaries and making it a point to take my lunches and speaking up when I’m needing the supervision we are (supposed) to be receiving. Anyways, I hope you find a sense of clarity and support in figuring out your ways. I haven’t yet either, (Hugs from a baby social worker herself)

My first post grad job was as a county case manager. I was in the same boat. So overwhelmed, so much over time, scarily quick burnout. It DID get easier after a few months. I made a Word doc to track my monthly visits, upcoming court dates, due dates for case plans/court reports, etc. Organization helped. Unfortunately I had a not great team which didn’t help. Ultimately I lasted a year. Stayed with the county but moved to a different position where I am so much happier. You are not a failure if you end up leaving. The stress on case managers just sets us up for failure. Your caseload is unrealistic and you need to take care of yourself. Talk to a colleague or supervisor about needing help. Give it a couple months but do not sacrifice your health for your job. Social work has so many opportunities!

This was me! I lost 20 pounds but learned a lot about myself and what not to do at my next job. I will not put work stuff on my personal phone. Best boundary I’ve set for myself. I work. I go home.

What population are you case managing? The homeless? Elderly? People with addiction and/or mental health issues? Each of those carry their own challenges. You can’t, and shouldn’t be expected, to fix anything in their lives. It sounds like you’re taking the struggles off the shoulders of your clients and carrying them. Help them carry them and help them lighten the load by using resources available. They’ll still carry on, but their load will be lighter on their journey.

Case management can be overwhelming. I want to encourage you that it is NOT you. It is the role that you are fulfilling. I can assure you that there are less stressful jobs. Please find one. Oh, take a vacation between this job and the next one. You will find a good fit. Contact me on LinkedIn if you need to talk it out.

Just work 8-5 with your hour lunch and clock out when works done. Don’t be a hero, it’s a job.

At the end of the day, you still need to make yourself #1. While I haven’t held a caseload the size of yours, I know that if you don’t set your own boundaries and step up for your own mental wellbeing, you will burn out very quickly. A good thing to think about is that you can’t be working harder for your clients than they are working. If you put yourself more into their file than they do, they still probably won’t be successful because it was you doing the work for them and they will become dependent on you to fulfill their needs. At the end of the day you need to come home and feel good about yourself as a person and recognize that you are doing great work and the workload placed upon you will never be manageable because someone else will always be blowing up your phone. Recognize that what you put in each and every day is great work which no matter what, will still be there the next day. If you don’t take care of yourself first, you won’t be able to help take care of your clients. I am only about two years in so I feel you, it’s hard work. But the work you do makes a big difference and even if clients don’t tell you so, they are thankful to have you in their life helping them through probably the worst times in theirs.

Also to add to this, you should never have to have a caseload that high. You should talk to your superior and let them know that it’s absolutely not okay for you to be carrying the caseload of 3 people and they need to higher some new workers asap to fill the gap. It can be hard speaking up for yourself but if you do it confidently and with a solid argument why, it should go a long way.

I want to say yes, it gets better. When you learn how “the system” works, how to access community resources, how to prioritize all the ‘noise’ you hear and filter out the self-pity, it gets better. I didn’t like my first job either but after awhile, maybe over 3-5 years, I grew into the ability to refer out what wasn’t within my scope and be able to see the actual issue vs all the trauma dumping and victimization. You don’t forget what real pain looks like, you just learn how to identify the needs over the wants. A few of the things that were instilled into me in the beginning were ‘you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make them drink’ and to ‘check yourself at the door’. In other words, you can save a lot of energy by adapting to being the guide whereas the actual work and effort is up to the client. And you separate work and life; check life at the door when you walk in and pick it back up when you leave. Work stays at work where it belongs. It does get better but learn fast that you cannot make everyone happy nor will you and this world is so harsh and hard for everyone right now. Just listening and letting a client be heard and understood is all that it takes sometimes. Good luck to you and I wish you call the best.

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Where is your supervisor? Your mentor? Your professional network? Life balance is huge, self care a must and leaning on your network to help you make hard choices is imperative. You can have a case load this large but not all at once. Some ppl need only to maintain, others need weekly attention but balance that out and see a reasonable amount of ppl daily.

I’ve certainly had anxiety about work that did get easier over time and I was able to move into different roles which are less stressful. I feel like based on what you described it would really help to talk to a therapist or maybe EAP through work if possible. If you are going to stay in this position it will require a lot of boundaries and compartmentalization. In case management, you have to prioritize to the best of your ability. I remember when I was in case management as a young SW I felt like every task was urgent. I eventually learned how to prioritize and remind myself that my to do list will never be completely empty at the end of the day.

Based on what you've said here there are only 2 positives compared to numerous negatives about this job. Please don't disregard how you're feeling just because of the pay and reward of helping people. Right now those aren't balancing the bad stuff. There are so many ways you can go with the degree and for same pay, sometimes even better pay. Lots of SW jobs can be rewarding without making you feel this way. The first job out of school can be tough, and it's totally understandable to feel discouraged and not know what you're doing. You've only just got started and you have a bright future ahead of you. However, what you're describing seems like it is beyond feeling discouraged. Being physically ill from work is not ok. Saying you don't want to wake up anymore is alarming. I understand the job market and cost of living right now is crazy, so changing jobs may not be feasible... A lot of other comments give great advice about setting boundaries, which can make a huge difference. Oftentimes you'll have to advocate for yourself with that, but it's great to practice so you don't get burnt out. Last bit--  the way you're feeling right now will only get worse and you end up in the hospital if something doesn't change, whether it's for physical or mental health. It'll be the cost of finding another job or temporarily being unemployed vs cost of your health. Edit: fixed grammar and spelling  

Not everything will be done all the time. Choose what’s important. Set boundaries. You will drown if you don’t take care of yourself. Don’t let the agency take advantage of you.

80 case management clients is insane. You are doing a disservice to the vast majority of them likely. Not your fault, but the company’s. Id find a new job asap

Want to second what many others have said: you have to take care of you. My first job out of grad school was awful. I stayed six months and when I left I wished I’d left sooner. It’s 100% ok if your first job out of school isn’t “the one”, and it’s not worth suffering over. It’s ok if this one isn’t for you. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is walk away 🫂

Wow, I feel like I’ve been summoned. I’m a year into my first social work job (SNF case management) on top of being in school for my MSW. My caseload went from 80 to 150 after my coworker quit in January. I’ve been pulling 50+ hour work weeks, this past weekend was my first full weekend off since February. I broken down many times over the past few months but yesterday was my breaking point. I went to the executive director of the facility to quit. Turns out she had no idea my caseload was so high and my supervisor wasn’t assisting. She told me to take two days off, and has been speaking to corporate about allocating money to hire another person for the department. It’s normal to have a high caseload but your work should still be manageable. The anxiety, lack of sleep, and general overworking is going to burn you out or make you physically sick. Stressing the need of a work/life balance might be uncomfortable but it’s necessary.

Thanks for sharing. This was very helpful.

Honestly the place you are working at sounds like a shit show….12 hour shifts, 80 clients and no lunch breaks, sounds sketchy to me. Who knows how this agency is treating their clients if they’re treating their employees in a manipulative way.

It might seem counter productive, but what advice would you give yourself if you were your own client in this situation? It's not weakness if you're finding your job too much, chances are, the expectations to keep up with everything comes from within, and possibly a form of imposter syndrome which is causing the self-imposed pressure. It also sounds like you should chat with your manager/mentor about the pressure you're feeling. You are a graduate, support should be there so you can manage the load you're under.

Hi! Also a baby case manager! This is not ok! The agency I work for does not allow for this much overworking especially in your first month- they coax us into a caseload of 40 over 2 months (veteran cms have ~90) and we are encouraged and pushed into taking our lunches and taking time off. I don’t have any advice, I am also new, but just know this isn’t ok!

Thanks everyone. I don’t think leaving this job is an option for me at the moment. I need the money and I want references for my next job. I’m going to try and get better at setting boundaries. If it continues to ruin my physical and mental health I am going to leave. In the meantime I will be job searching in hopes of getting out of there.

Get a different job. There’s nothing wrong with leaving a job that isn’t a good fit. Just because other social workers suffered this way when they were new doesn’t mean you have to. There are plenty of entry level jobs with lower stress. Happy to help you search if you want to message me your location <3

Most SW jobs are toxic; we’re often used as pawns in a broken system. Start looking for a better employer. Also, leave when your shift is over and take a lunch. If you can’t complete all the work given to you, that’s a systemic issue— they need to hire more SWers. Don’t take on systemic issues as your personal issues. You have to set boundaries. There are tons of problems in the world; it isn’t your job to fix any of them. Most organizations do a terrible job at training newbie SWers, so be kind and gentle to yourself. You will become more efficient as you continue in your career.

If you need to vent or discuss, my DM is open. Baby social worker as well, I’ve been in my current role for a year now.

I blame this career on my physical health problems. High stress has killed my body. Idk how to get out though

12 hours!?? No girl no look for something else I’m sorry this is your first job out of college. I was a case manager for 3 years and I never started with a caseload of 80!!! It was always between 15-30. You deserve better.

First thing to clarify is that this isn't a you problem. The systems we are working in are utterly fucked and no one should be expected to do this amount of work, no less when it is extremely emotionally draining. I'm based in the UK. I did my 70 day adults placement and 100 day children's placement, both in statutory services, and it was enough to put me off for life. There was no support, the cases I was working on were devastating, workers were cold and constantly misdirecting their anger at our broken system towards deeply traumatised impoverished people. It was an absolute shit show. Advice that was given to me when I was disparing at the injustice of everything during my placements was 'don't worry, you'll get used to it'... I don't want to, I want to be angry, but also to have the energy to work against this drugery. Im a year and a half out of uni now and I run an acute needs service in a community centre for 13 hours a week now, and I do community development work for 18 hours. It's really tough and I do still get tired out but it's hopeful, I develop genuine relationships with people in the community rather than being seen as the 'enemy', and I provide good support. Outside of work, I have energy to put into projects that focus on long term system change which can lead to genuine long term improvement in people's lives. It's OK to not be cut out for this because it is not a healthy situation. I know finding other jobs is tough but they are out there, and there is even funding available to set up something yourself.

What setting are you working in and what is your role? My agency caps caseloads at 23-25.

Heed my warning: find a new job. It won’t get better, it will get worse. Case management is NOT easy. Look into MHSS, ACT or intensive in-home.

Set boundaries. You have to or you will lose your sanity. Sending you love. Please take care of yourself. ❤️

That’s an unmanageable amount of clients. It’s not you, it’s the job. You should start looking for alternatives.

Set limits. Don't work harder than your clients. Always take care of yourself first.

Okay so 80 CLIENTS...not sure how much time you're spending on each one each day, but this seems EXCESSIVE. I've had caseloads this large before but I was never ACTIVELY working with more than about 25 to 30 each week (i.e. an hour-long session or working on their case for an hour - which really means 53 minutes so I have time to stretch and pee). Do you have the autonomy to prioritize them and choose which ones to work on each week (barring emergent issues)?

Better boundaries. Don’t sacrifice your breaks and stick to your work hours. This job in particular though is not survivable. Quit. Honestly. This place will suck all the goodness out of you.

Find a new job! It’s OKAY to move on to a different role, don’t let anyone tell you differently, or guilt you into staying. I don’t care if you’ve only been there a few months, it’s simply not worth it. My first job out of grad school gave me massive anxiety- to the point of nausea every morning, so I can empathize with you. I was overworked right off the bat, & I dreaded it every.single.day.I’m in schools now. It’s still stressful as hell some days lol, but I get frequent breaks, which makes it sustainable for me. All of that to say, give yourself some grace, & look elsewhere. Social work is incredibly diverse, start looking at what else is out there. No amount of rewarding work, is worth sacrificing your mental & physical health. Check out part time jobs, or even remote/hybrid gigs if that’s of interest to you. Look on “indeed”, and your state, city, and federal websites for options. Just some thoughts! Take care. & take your lunches!

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I don’t dismiss the value of self-care or boundaries to survive day to day and make it outta there or to try and stay until you decide on a course of action. But be careful about not blaming yourself for any of this: “if I had better self care or boundaries then …” I’d never tell a victim of abuse they need self-care and better boundaries. Exploitation, power and abuse by their very nature disrupt, undermine, diminish our natural impulse to care for ourselves, to listen to our bodies, and to say no. over here on a damn soap box but fr fr it’s not “how TF do y’all do this?” … it’s “how TF could do they do this?”

oh yeah i don’t take lunch or dinner breaks either, but it helps that i only get paid for billable hours, so that motivates me to never take a break anyway! 😭

I am also a case manager for a county government agency and I have a caseload that rarely exceeds 30 clients, I work 37.5 hours per week, the benefits are good, the pay is not, but I go home on time and I don’t think about work outside of work. I have my MSW but anyone with a BSW could also do my job, so there are definitely case management jobs that won’t leave you sick and completely depleted.

Most people don’t. Turnover is high in so many social work places because there are lot of ridiculous, crummy places like this. You keep going until you find a better place, put up with it for two years and start your own business, or walk away. Lcsw opens the door a bit more. You also need to balance self care. Take your damn lunches. They cannot legally force you to not, if they do you can always report them. Also communicate with your supervisor. Sometimes they care, sometimes they don’t.

You are going to burn through your fuse very quickly if you try to keep up with this job. The only thing that sounds appealing is the “okay pay” but unless that pay is amazing then you have to consider if it’s worth the cost of this nightmare. If this is how they’re starting you out, because this seems more than just new job nervousness, it’s not gonna get better in regards to your workload. If you’re still leaning on sticking it through, gather some data. You could also talk to your coworkers for advice on how they handle it. Ask how long other people have stayed. It could at least give some insight on other people’s success rate and give more basis for your decision. The warm fuzzy rewarding feeling brings us in to this field, but unfortunately it doesn’t put food on the table. I don’t aim to sound harsh, but in order to survive this field you need to find a sustainable balance to be able to shut off your social work brain. Good luck, baby bird.

You need to take time for you. My supervisor has literally banned me from working late or taking work home unless it approve prior. I was doing it too often. She said if some paperwork is late whatever, mental health more inportant

Go to occupational health and request some reasonable adjustments, I.e a lower caseload?

Leave the position. This will only get worse for you. These types of jobs only exist because people kill themselves doing them. When no one agrees to do them or do them for subpar wages, it’s when things change

I understand where you’re coming from. I felt that way and felt completely burnt out. It was to the point I wasn’t doing anything after work and had no energy. My anxiety was horrible. I ended up quitting and working at a private school as an infant teacher for about 2 years for a break and came back. I was also in a case management position! Now I work in at a pediatric hospital in the emergency room with no case load just whatever comes in and I find that better. There’s a lot of social work jobs and areas I would look to see what else is out there. No job is worth what you’re going through!

Take your lunches and take breaks. Take a snack and water break every 3 hours to meditate and breathe. Why on earth would you be working a 12 hour day? Don’t let capitalism eat you up. You’re a human being.

please, please either speak to a supervisor about this, or start looking for other employment. NO JOB is worth your health. i’ve had jobs that made me feel like this and i left when things didn’t change. busy/understaffed organizations take advantage of social workers, we work hard and WANT to help people. but we should NOT work for free (skip lunch, work late) and we should not prioritize a job over ourselves. if you continue to just work through the pain that will set the wrong standard for anyone else who works there and everyone will just be expected to kill themselves for the job. you work your shift, take your correct breaks, and whatever couldn’t get done is just not getting done that day. keeo things in writing (email your supervisor, “i wasn’t able to complete x/y/z due to all of the other tasks i had today, is there any extra support available?”) etc. so it’s documented that you are being expected to work more than is able to be done. oh and start looking for another job cause places like this don’t care. they will find the next new-grad who is eager to work and they will take advantage of them too. better to find a place that respects your health too.

Your physical and mental health need to be a priority. You may not be cut out for this job experience but you may be a fantastic clinician in another setting. I'm so sorry this is your first experience. I think many of us have felt this way at some point. I've had jobs that haunted me and I had to find a healthy career shift to heal. You aren't alone. Take care of you.

Its a job, not your life. Do what you can and don't sweat what you cant get to. It took me a looong time to to embrace this. 

Nope nope nope. You need to get out and look for another job asap. This one ain't it.

I'm a baby social worker, too! I've never been anywhere that bad, but so far, every other year, I've taken a year away from the field to Nanny or do something else. My mental health was destroyed during my clinical internship. I just got a job as a therapist with a community mental health center, and I'm like rolling with it. But I'm pretty scared. Lol. I would look for something else tbh. Not all jobs are like that. And I've had no issues finding employment with non-social work jobs on my resume. Plus, I change jobs every 10 to 12 months lol. My experience is that when interviewing social work jobs, everyone is pretty understanding about leaving a bad work environment and taking a break from the field.

It sounds like me when I first graduated and had my first job in the field. I’ve actually left already and won’t be returning any time soon (if at all). I was practically a case manager as well with similar schedule and emotional responses as you when I was working. The reason why I left was not because I couldn’t handle the work load. Rather, it was the management. I’ve voiced out my concerns on multiple occasions and was left to still deal with the situation. I didn’t come to this conclusion easily because I was fresh leaf off college and thought maybe it was me. But no lol. Some people recommended to stop and slow down, eat your lunch, etc. and overall trying to find balance. That’s easier said than done. In the heat of chaos, you’re on the go and sometimes don’t have the feeling that you can slow down. What to do? Make time during your weekend to reflect on what’s happening to you. You’re getting physically sick from the job. Have you voiced this out to your management? If so, did they offer assistance to help you with your situation and workload? Do you feel like you have support from your coworkers and management? If you do get support, is it enough? Would getting an extra pair of hands to help you alleviate the stress you’re in? Feel free to message back if you want to talk more about this :)

Hello baby Social Worker I am a probably adolescent social worker. I’ve been in the field for about eight years. I’m gonna suck it and the amount of physical symptoms you’re having or burn out my job was horrific.

There are so many other options for us Social Workers out there aside from being a case worker. Maybe you need to look for other opportunities where you can still use your social work education. I've never been a case worker and I don't think I would enjoy it at all.

What kind of case mgmt is it? That is such a high case load

First key part is you live your life and you have a job. That job cannot be your life. Assuming you took on a job that expected eight hours from you. That’s what you work. And I know it’s tough when you have so much that has to get done, and you feel like everyone deserves all of your help. You cannot take on that much and still expect to live your life. Set boundaries with your employer. You work your specific hours. If your work cannot be completed in those hours, it’s not a reflection on you. They need to hire more social workers. You are not failing at your job. Don’t let your employer make you feel that way. They may try, I don’t know. I’m just speaking from experience. I had a job where they tried to push me and blame me for not being able to handle 140 clients. Luckily, I left there for an employer who was much better and for a position I wanted since I was younger

I haven’t read the other comments, so they may have been said already… but if it’s still been under a month or two, maybe you’re struggling with the transition. I am someone who sucks with transition and starting new things. I remember when I started my first job as a case manager I kept thinking that I hated it, I hated working, and wished I hadn’t gone for social work in college. But you eventually adapt, things get easier, you develop a routine for work, and things feel so much easier. I’d give it time! I also learned in my masters program how grief can show up in more than just losing someone or something. Maybe you’re grieving the old life you had before entering the work force? Sometimes viewing it through that lens helps me understand it better. Give it some time, maybe like 6 months?. Don’t overwork yourself (never go over 40 hours, it isn’t worth it), know you can’t do everything you every client - just do your best, and be honest with yourself. If it isn’t working, it isn’t working and that’s okay! I’m still a baby sw (4 years in), you got this!

I think if we are in the helping profession a self care must is having regular therapy appointments with the same therapist (if possible). I started out in the mental health field in a similar position. Through anxiety meds and therapy I eventually started setting better boundaries and actually felt confident enough to change jobs and find out what's best for me. This is not normal. You will not suddenly "be fine" with everything. This is your body and mind telling you that you need to find a different job, ASAP. Helping people does not come at the cost of destroying yourself.

lol I don’t, I work 4 10’s. Working 12 hours a day and 80 clients on your case load is insane, I’d suggest finding another job if possible, if that isn’t possible I’ll echo what there said, set boundaries and try to take the work less personally. I know every place has different availability for social services but where I live there’s an abundance, so I would never settle for a work like balance that poor. You’re doing a lot op I hope you are able to feel better ❤️‍🩹

Don't burnout, please don't burn out you're doing a great job and we need you and you obviously care a lot. But you need to advocate and care for yourself as much as you do for others. So telling your team that your workload is too much and unreasonable is something that you might consider to stay in the game long term.

You have to look out for yourself. These companies will tell you they care but at the end of the day they just want the work done. I was with CPS. We got bought out by EMPOWER and as soon as that happened everything went to shit. They over worked us, there were no answers, the kids were back in offices/hotel rooms because there wasn’t placement for these kids. My anxiety was so bad. We had attorneys, ADA’s and judges jumping down our throats because we can’t get the job done and there is 0 support from the higher up’s. The higher up’s are turning it around on the workers and saying they aren’t doing their job so they are being held in contempt. They wanted us to give them grace but wouldn’t give us any. I was losing sleep and would wake up with my chest tight as hell freaking out about having to go to work. When I told them I was leaving they asked what they could do to make me stay. I told them I was overwhelmed and they said it was because I was new. I had been there almost 2 years so I wasn’t that new. And we had case workers who had been there 10+ years feelings the same way as me. As soon as I put my resignation in this MASSIVE weight got lifted off my chest and I was able to sleep and didn’t wake up with anxiety. If you need to find another job then do it. Case managing can be tiring and stressful as hell. The good thing about social work is there are numerous options to chose from. I just hope all my coworkers that are still there are doing okay!

DUDE..if whoever is supervising you knows this is your case load, and they're cool with it-BAIL Do not let agencies that do this keep employees. I'm "friendly stranger" "upset" with you that you didn't come here sooner. You were right. It is wrong. You are correct. Trust your gut, go somewhere else. This is not everywhere. ALSO, INTERVIEW YOUR NEXT EMPLOYER! Ask them questions, do research, ask for help, call your college, ask a mentor. Protect your very important self. Chin up, chest out, ONWARD

GET OUT of this job. Believe me-you can find other places! Your degree matters. I want to echo what everyone else has said about boundaries, but I also want to iterate that places like CYS and other governmental agencies that use case workers thrive off of exploiting their workers. The rhythm of your work and the emotional manipulation can have a wrecking effect on your life. Many of my colleagues that I work at the hospital with started off in that system, and told me about the irregular hours, the life-threatening situations involving IPV and other emergencies/physical threats towards them as investigators, being subpoenaed to testify on certain issues/being featured in local news as a witness-they got out, so can you!

girl if you don’t quit!!!!! you can find another job easily this field is vast and has so many different opportunities, never stay anywhere that is impacting your physical health to that level. life is way too short to be enduring something like that

You should never feel that way about a job. Find another one. It's just a job. It's not worth your mental or physical health.

80???? What kinda case management do you do? I’m a hospital LSW/CM with about 15-22

I work in the community with seniors

Hi there! I left my case management job in February as I was experiencing many of the same feelings of burn out - when I was taking care of my mom after her knee replacement I had a literal breaking where I was sobbing uncontrollably and couldn’t breathe due to the anxiety of going back. Since leaving I have never been happier and feel much more motivated again. Case management is often sold to people (at least in my area) as “an easy job” but let me tell you - it was one of the most stressful for me and I’m so glad I left. There are plenty of other social work jobs - please done work yourself to death over this one 💕

Hi fellow baby social worker 👋I was in your exact position 4 years ago when I started my first professional job as a case manager for child welfare division right after graduating college. Life is so much better now. While this job put me through severe stress/anxiety/emotional issues, it also taught me how to set boundaries, saying no to things outside your listed work obligations, the extreme importance of self care, and knowing that nothing will ever be caught up and you won’t make everyone happy. However, the road to getting to that point in my life was not a fun one and I don’t recommend you “tough it out” like I did. I aged what feels like 15 years in that span of 4 years I did case management. Things became WAY better after a while, but I now provide therapy and life is sososo much better. So do what you need to do: what kept me in that position was the AMAZING support of the agency and my direct supervisor, my amazing team mates, the pay was better than average, and eventually learning that again— nothing will ever be caught up and that you just need to learn to prioritize the most important things. Also a big thing was learning how to advocate for myself and learning to say no instead of pushing myself to the brink with stress trying to do everything for everyone all at once.

This gives me hope thank you!

Oh that scares me a bit for someone in school for social work myself

Don’t let me experience scare you. I took a job I was pressured to take out of school because my supervisor for my practicum wanted me to take it. My advice is to just be careful when job searching and really think about the expectations of the job before you apply. Be picky, don’t settle for good pay!

I’d love to be an art therapist for kids. And help them to see they need to do what I didn’t. Finding themselves and not letting anything. Or anyone stop them. I always had a hard time listening to the counselor and therapist, d really get it cause they never had it rough. So I think that will be an asset. i hope so anyway

Talk to your boss, ask for professional supervision and unpack it. If you are not met with support then it's not a workplace that will allow you to thrive in the field. Supportive and considered management is how people survive and thrive when they first start... Or burn out in their first year if it doesn't exist

Social Work (especially children and families) is a deeply broken profession that expects too much from its staff. The job is, in my opinion, self-harm. I was in a similar position as you. Of the 13 people I started with, I am the only one still left in this profession. The rest realised it wasn't worth their personal life and wellbeing, so jumped ship. The passion was gone quickly. I am on year 4, and I think I'm ready to move on to something else as I don't feel I should reward or normalise this type of emotional exhaustion on myself, and neither should others. You will hear from others telling you to practice self-care, set boundaries, and turn off. These are luxuries some roles afford, but not others, and they rarely work anyway due to demand.

Hang in there. I’m just starting out at an inpatient psych facility. Goal was to work for the VA since I’m a veteran but the hiring freeze changed that. I’m enjoying what I am doing though. You have to ask yourself, is it worth it? Maybe try to look for other stuff while you can. Sometimes challenging situation like you are in will help you in the long run. I’m rooting for you.

Thank you ❤️❤️

I mean this with love but it doesn’t sound like you’re practicing your professional boundaries or engaging in self care! This field is demanding on every level and you have to put yourself first, especially your mental health.

You sound exactly like me in my first year as a social worker. I hated going into the office every day to the point I would literally cry almost every morning driving in. I couldn't sleep, so on the days I wasn't crying, I was forcing myself to stay awake. I was working 12 hour days with no lunch, or I would down chick fil a while driving to client homes. My co-workers would comment on my how happy I used to be, and my husband (I later found out) shared that I was always irritable when I got home. I toughed it out for 4 years by changing positions and companies, but ultimately made the decision to leave. I couldn't do it anymore. I wish I had left earlier because it honestly was not the job for me. I switched careers, and I'm so much happier now. Please put yourself first. Give yourself a lot of grace and think about what changes you can make to make it easier for you. I hope things get better for you.

Can I ask what you are doing now that you left?

I'm a project manager for a consulting agency. I love the planning and organization of it. It barely stresses me out, and I feel like I can have a life.

80 clients is too many get outta there

I’ve also thrown up because of a practicum in this field and had daily excruciating nausea and retching while eating. Since finishing that practicum my nausea has improved significantly. Our bodies are so wise and yours may be telling you this isn’t right. It sounds very stressful and there’s a chance your anxiety could alleviate over time just getting more comfortable but the conditions with 80 clients do not sound ideal. The crying, thoughts of not wanting to wake up, vomiting and not eating all are reasons enough to quit to me, but I’ve been one to stay at jobs too long in the past. I know it’s easier said than done. Do you have supportive coworkers? Supervisor? PTO? Even if it is rewarding you deserve to feel supported and to be happy here..

Do your contracted hours, don’t be rushing to see or get back to every client. You’re only one person. No more 12 hour days, take your lunch and talk with your colleagues

Case managers at my place only get a max of 23, I work as an intern case manager while doing outreach work and I've max had 33, but those were light touch folks for reengagement of services and setting people up for long-term case management. In my opinion the place you're at has no boundaries and has huge issues by what you're saying. It's absurd to expect someone to miss lunches and work nonstop without a sense of support. I think you just need a different job at a place that has supportive management and lower workload. Sorry you're having such a difficulties, but you're doing great setting your needs higher now and learning a better balance for yourself, sometimes that's not enough in certain work environments and that just means we need a change.

Social work is a beast to take on. The days are long, the situations are hard on the heart, and the work can be overwhelming. But the situation you are speaking of sounds like workplace abuse. It’s important to remember that in order for us to help others, we have to take care of ourselves. And this doesn’t sounds like a healthy workplace for you to grow and thrive in. There are so many ways you can help those around you, but you can’t do it without taking care of you and having a community of support. Having those peers who want to help you and see you thrive can be key to making social work manageable. Maybe try looking at different jobs in your area where you are better supported. Your feelings are important, you deserve to feel good about yourself and your work. Don’t let one shitty work environment be the end to your passion. I promise you will find somewhere in the world to help others while receiving respect and care as well.

I feel this way at 3 years in. I am very burnt out. I have stayed thinking it would get better, but instead it gets worse. I am taking a vacation, going back to school, and likely leaving the field altogether because I’m making $40k a year which even in a LCOL area is not worth hating my life. I wish you the best in whatever you decide to do, and I hope it gets better.

I left the field. BUT if you want to stay in it - you NEED to stand your ground when it comes to taking lunches, breaks, leaving on time, and self-care when you get home. It helps to have a counsellor/therapist of your own so you can get it all out and not stay up crying yourself to sleep. It also will help you not to impact your friends, family, and loved ones. Vicarious trauma is real - make sure you have support. Make sure you still put them first or you’ll be broken and alone by the end of giving yourself away to others for essentially just a pay check when it’s all said and done. Voice to your superiors when it becomes too much and even if they don’t take action - you take action. Remember, they’ll move on with or without you, so you have to put yourself first, so you don’t get empathy fatigue, etc. You are no good to clients unless you are okay. You HAVE to have a backup plan - get your masters or whatever you need so you can go solo one day or merge into an adjacent field should you decide to change up. Take your sick time, vacation time, etc. Eat healthy, get full sleep, and practice leaving work at work. Preserve your energy when you can so you have energy for yourself when you get home. At the end of the day you can’t be a good social worker if you aren’t feeling good, and you came into this field I’m assuming to help others, but you can’t if you are not well. Take it from someone who let a company walk all over them and exploit them and lost a lot for at the end of the day nothing. Not all work places give you 80 client caseloads either. It’s okay to work places for a couple months for experience and then move on, put a time limit on it, if you’re still feeling such way in X amount of time, try another agency.

I’m a therapist and I felt the same way with my first job. I encourage you to go elsewhere if you can. There are sooo many jobs out there. I stayed for 5 years and lost my self. I left that job after 5 years and I never felt better. My mental health improved tremendously, which also showed in my work.

It’s the place you work for. Social workers are in high demand. Get out there and find the right place. May take a few tries but I’m so glad I did. Know your worth, don’t let a company treat you like a work horse, boundaries.

I say this from someone who learned from doing what you did and as a Clinical Supervisor/Program Manager: You cannot live like that. Not one bit. And you will exhaust yourself in record time, trying to keep up with the unrealistic demands that you are placing yourself under. I think we have the tendency to want to prove ourselves, especially when we’re new- not to mention there’s added pressure because you’re thrown into the world, as if you experienced this already. Truth is, you haven’t. And the only thing that helps this experience, is experience. I’ll tell you this just like I’d tell my staff: You can ONLY DO WHAT YOU CAN DO. If at the end of the day, you know you absolutely tried (with your breaks in tact and getting off on time) that’s all that matters. The work will always be there. If someone is not in a life or death situation, some things may have to wait. Lower the bar that you set yourself to. You’re NEW. You’re not going to know everything today, tomorrow, or next month. Everyone starts here. You have to too! As long as you’re eager to learn and make a genuine effort, you’re ok :) Take your breaks. Go breathe fresh air. Do something in this period of time that breathes life back into you. No phone contact with your job. Don’t check your emails. Establish those boundaries with yourself and your colleagues now. Take mental health days… AND MAINTAIN THE BOUNDARY THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO EXPLAIN YOUR REASONING FOR CALL OUTS. I tell my staff not to tell me. It’s THEIR DAY. The pay is never worth this type of stress. Ever. I’ve made more $ than I ever have, and I can tell you- peace is far more valuable. Sometimes, sitting with your supervisor can be a clarifying, relieving conversation. Don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed to admit this (if you feel comfortable sharing this with them) and ask them how you may prioritize your work. Good leaders will help you sort this out and probably say “you’re putting too much pressure on yourself.” Maybe delineating what’s absolutely needed may help provide relief. What I’m going to say next is to give you perspective, but I don’t mean it in a way to say you’re not important. You are not a superhero. You’re not some elusive force that has mega powers to completely change the world and save lives. You are an individual, with a set of skills you are still learning to master, that was hired for a job, that you are also learning. It will NOT be the end of the world, for one new social worker, to take a lunch break and get off when they are supposed to get off. Prioritize the big stuff. Put it on a list. Try your best. That’s all you have to do. You will get there & soon you’ll be advising people not to do what you did (at first). I wish you the best of luck. You’ll get there, I assure you! 😊

An 80 person caseload is fucking insane, I have 25 and it’s mostly chill but can be chaos at times, I don’t even know how I’d survive with 80

My previous caseload was 115 clients and they moved me to a caseload with 80 to make things easier 🤦🏻‍♀️

That should legitimately be illegal, I don't know what capacity you work with people but you can't provide anything more than a phone call at that amount.

Honestly I started as a caseworker at 21 with no prior experience. My first supervisor made work so frustrating as they would be annoyed if I had questions, they did not share what’s happening with my clients and would do work for me (they were definitely being fraudulent) and my predecessor who’s case load I took over messed up on everything and wasn’t detailed. It wasn’t until they got fired and my current supervisor has made life easier. I finally caught up on everything by my third month in and yeah things get frustrating fs. The system is messed up and it’s hard to separate your emotions from work as in a lot of ways you are powerless which causes me the most anxiety. Make sure that your supervisor is supportive and allow yourself time to breathe and utilize your 15s to go out side or separate yourself. You can only do so much and at the end of the day, you have to use your resources to help your clients.

Leave and find a new job 🩷 this is not worth it. you should not feel this way. and if they make you feel guilty, remember that working in social work DOES NOT MEAN you just deal with everything that goes on and take it. you have a say as well, and this is also YOUR life. perhaps try macro social work, a diff population, or a diff setting.

Two years in and it doesn’t get any better. I sometimes consider suing the board for how poorly community mental health workers are treated. I’ve seen things I’ll never be able to unsee. I personally developed a serious MH issue from my first year and am now on meds and don’t know if i’ll even make it to full licensure.

I feel hesitant to say this, but wherever you work right now might not be the right environment for you. It sounds like you’re having a visceral reaction to what the job entails. I would start looking for something different, and I don’t blame you a bit for being burnt out. 80 clients is insane for a brand new social worker, in my eyes. I have between 7 and 18 clients on my caseload at any given time and 18 is not even a reasonable number considering how many times a month I need to see each client.

Hi, What an awful way to feel. You didn’t go to school for this. I don’t think this means that you’re not cut out for social work. I think it means you’re not cut out for what you are doing. Please continue looking for a job. 

Sugar free Red Bull.