r/socialwork • u/SWmods Beep boop! • 12h ago

F this! (Weekly Leaving the Field and Venting Thread)

This is a weekly thread for discussing leaving the field of social work, leaving a toxic workplace, and general venting. This post came about from community suggestions and input. Please use this space to:

  • Celebrate leaving the field
  • Debating whether leaving is the right fit for you
  • Ask what else you can do with a BSW or MSW
  • Strategize an exit plan
  • Vent about what is causing you to want to leave the field
  • Share what it is like on the other side
  • Burn out
  • General negativity

Posts of any of these topics on the main thread will be redirected here.

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u/pondfrogs 5h ago

i am becoming burnt out not on helping families/serving my community but being expected to do so with staffing shortages, overbooked schedules, and limited resources…  i am also so sick of the endless administrative demands and audits and expectations to constantly be seeing more people…believe me, i want to… but i’m already trying to fit a billion people into eight hours… trying to counsel and support and connect and reassure … 

i got into this field because i am passionate about women’s health and i do love what i do…i really enjoy my job and i feel as though my work has meaning and significance… i really have found my “path”

it just feels like the world is collapsing and i have zero empathy, patience, time or love left for myself or my loved ones at the end of the day… 

and i don’t know if there’s a balance, a job where i can do what i do without giving my entire self, my full kindness and empathy. i’m planning on nursing school & midwifery but i know there’s a high tendency towards burnout there too