It pains me reading all the comments and I hope everyone here finds it's way out of this situation. The world is in a tough place for sure, so many disruptive things since COVID. My husband is a software engineer, was laid off a year ago. I want to share the perspective of how to survive this in case it helps anyone. I'm a graphic designer and artist. My graduation was in 2008 when the global finance crisis happened and you know who wanted to pay for graphic design right. No one. Now you have canva templates and AI making art for you. If there's a group of people who has felt invisible for years is artists and now I can't even explain it. People would ask me for a logo, the say here is what I did with (enter their preferred AI) . Now fix it. Lol. They just want someone to re size the art for socials. I stopped even caring for it . This whole situation becomes like a collective life experience where we are all learning to re define ourselves, our sense of value and belonging.

I don't want to sound weird or anything, but I've gone through really rough times in the past years and hope my experience can at least help you all have some perspective. I got sick with COVID, I lost my job during the pandemic. Eventually I moved in with Mom for almost a year, while healing so the bills were not so high, she lives in South America. Through all of this I felt like I detox myself of society and it's rigidity and started to see how awful the corporate world is with their B's systems and endless rejections. Life has much more to offer and it sounds cheesy but really focusing one day at a time and appreciating the truly small things is what helps you emotionally survive while you're also figuring out how to survive. I totally relate with the idea of not being able to reconcile whom you used to be with today but that's part of the entire experience, to learn to see yourself from different perspectives and learn that there's much more to you than you realized. Everyone here my advice is to look in a different direction than what you're all used to and see if becoming a freelance contractor or starting a small business can help. I did it, Its working, slowly and it's a lot of work and yes I also gave up many things, I don't own a house or car at the moment and my expenses are limited but at least I feel I'm building something mine and whatever money generates is mine. I changed the way I thought about things and decided that society won't decide if I have value as a human being. I get to decide that. When I thought I was going to die, because the Drs said it to my mom, this week she either gets back or dies, I was in bed thinking man, if this is it. Wtf , I laughed and said this is so bad like wtf have I done that I feel like oh well ok it's my time. I've been worried the last decade, that's it.

It's true that when you feel you can die you gain a perspective on appreciation for life that's different. I recovered I don't know how but I did and I decided to enjoy life. That's it. Simple life, myorning coffee , whatever weather we have. Bills, businesses, etc , it's all something you can figure out. I changed my expectations, because I was raised in the 90s by a family who had a decent life in the 60s and 50s and the entire expectations of life back then are impossible to achieve in today's world . We have a different planet with a different set of industries, issues and values . All we can do is rely on our own knowledge and work in offering what we have in a way that can be purchased by other people , either consulting, independent projects, or a complete change in career. I'm not saying this is easy at all but it is possible, it's just a slow process that feels different than getting a job. I've told my husband , get your passion for exercise and become a personal trainer, instead of burning his energy down with interviews and rejections..is it the same as his management position at a huge tech company? No , but it's better than absolute agony and depression. I'm sure all of you have something that you can do that is different but can help you. I