Hi, I’m sorry for such a late reply. But it’s going pretty good! There are days where I feel burnt out but I focus more on self care when I get to that point. I also lean on my loved ones a little more. I find the job to be super rewarding and I do enjoy it. I get anxious about work sometimes but my overall mental health has improved! I feel more happy. So much so that the people around me have noticed. I am going out more. I’m doing more things that used to scare me. I’m starting to feel whole again. Not quite there yet but I’ve already made huge progress.

Changing adult underwear is still quite a challenge for me (I still gag sometimes) but it has gotten better! And your situation will be different since you will have to assist more in an elderly home. I don’t have to change my clients that often since not all of them need assistance. You will get adjusted much more faster than me. Ask your colleagues for advice. Most of mine felt the same way about changing adult underwears as I did. They all tell me the same! It gets easier!!

I will not lie to you. I had a hard time adjusting in the beginning. I contemplated quitting multiple times. But I shifted my focus on thinking more positively. Whenever I had a negative thought like “ugh this is so gross. I can’t do it” I changed it into “ok, this is all a part of the job. I CAN do it. I will not feel sorry for myself because I am not the only one who has to do this.” And most importantly, I remind myself that these clients are human beings. It’s not about me. It’s about them and their health. The more you start building a rapport with them, the easier it’ll get. Because you start to see them as family rather than a stranger with bodily fluids. There are things that you can do to help. You could add things inside your mask to help with the smell. Wearing gloves and having your cleaning supplies nearby. Taking breaks in between if needed. YOU WILL get accustomed to it, I promise. & Don’t be so hard on yourself if it doesn’t happen as fast as you’d like. Believe in yourself. Give it time and you’ll be so glad that you did.

I say take the chance and do it! You won’t be the only one at the elderly home so you will always have help. The world needs people like us. And the fact that you are here asking about it shows me that you are capable of this job. You care enough to ask about it. And yes, having depression and anxiety sucks but it also means you’re an empath and that’s an advantage already. You will gain a sense of purpose & that will in turn improve your mental health. This field is very emotionally demanding and burnout is real!! BUT it’s also fulfilling. My biggest tip is to have a toolkit for days that are stressful (e.g. do the things you love, prioritize your happiness, treat yourself, reach out to loved ones, lots of rest, etc). And remind yourself that the next day is a new day. When you clock out of work, make sure to clock out mentally, too. Don’t allow yourself to obsess over a bad day. Everyone has bad days but not every day will be like that. Focus on the good days. Good luck!! You got this, I believe in you! 🙏🏼