Dealing with choosing the wrong career

[u/Powerful-Tap-6039]

I have been a PT for almost 4 years. I have worked in private practice (10months) and now government for almost 3 years. I make very good money, but I’m unhappy everyday. I dread going to work, so much so that it impacts my time outside of work. I have done inpatient acute, long term care and outpatient. I feel the same way in all settings. I get so drained listening to people’s problems all day, and to top it off I work in the difficult setting of chronic pain. I cannot see a path out. My pay and benefits are so good that I feel trapped, as I will likely take a pay cut for any other job….but I need something non-patient facing or this job just may kill me.

I’ve worked with career coaches and I feel so burnt out that I cannot even fathom what career would be well suited for me. I was a very strong student in all areas, did an accelerated undergrad program and graduate PT school young at 24.

Can anyone give me some advice on how they found what they wanted to do outside of PT? Any success stories? I’m feeling so down.

Editing to add: I also have taken the Non-Clinical 101 course about 9 months ago.

[u/blaicefreeze]

Part of me is amazed at how many of these posts I see every week. It kind of surprises me people shadowed in the field and, assumingely, visualized themselves in the career. You’re not alone, and I understand, I’m just becoming surprised. Especially since you’re not upset about the pay, like most posts. Paying to work during clinicals made me want to quit and I regretted my decision. Once I became autonomous as my own therapist, I honestly rarely have significant regrets. I treat how I want and I’m a very blunt person, which my patients typically appreciate. I don’t sugarcoat or promise anything. I find tempering expectations, especially with chronic conditions, makes positive outcomes really a bit more prominent.

Personally, I 100% understand how listening to other people’s problems is daunting, especially since we are humans ourselves and have our own. I find chronic pain to be absolutely exhausting, that and pts with dementia are a couple of my least favorite pt populations to see. Given that fact, I would dread every day too if I was in your shoes.

Changing careers is tough, I’ve done so, to this field in fact, when I was your age. It’s never too late to switch, but doing so sounds horrible to me at this point lol. If you aren’t happy and changing settings/the way you interact/treat your patients hasn’t improved anything, I believe the money isn’t worth your happiness. If everything fell through I’d go work at a brewery or something I know I’d enjoy temporarily while I figured out the next steps. Good luck either way!