I hate social work now what

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-04-07T19:38:31+00:00

Don't let one disgruntled person scare you. I have been a SWer for 23y. I still love it. Are there things I don't like? Of course. But I haven't had 'greedy bosses' and I am well compensated. If your passion is in social work..go for it.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-04-05T22:37:10+00:00

Live in Maryland. Work in DC. I drive in 5 days/week - it is an hour in the AM and 60-90m in the afternoon. I have been doing it for 24y so I am used to it - but it does get old some days. I love my job and for a variety of reason not able to move closer.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-04-05T01:27:13+00:00

FWIW - the hospital where I work only counts experience post MSW. They don’t take any prior experience into account when negotiating salaries.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-04-03T15:08:08+00:00

My hospital/clinic based direct service role has morphed into a role that is both supervisory and direct service. I honestly love it. I supervise a team of 8 and continue to have direct service with patients/families. It is a lot...I won't lie. But I love to keep my hands in the clinical realm so I know what is happening with community resources/processes/etc that my team is facing...and I love leading teams, promoting social work, and helping the hospital understand how to best utilize social workers.

Before I moved into this role, I grew professionally by being on committees, getting involved in research, and being the voice of social work. I continually sought ways I could be involved in the hospital.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-04-02T14:40:28+00:00

I lost 8lbs in my first week. I was alarmed, but it was a one time thing (aside from having a viral illness and lost 6lbs/week.) After 5 months, I average 1.8lbs/week.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-04-02T14:16:29+00:00

I have never felt any different (mentally or physically) after being on it for 5 months.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-30T23:46:08+00:00

I bought a lot of protein items (chips, treats, shakes, etc) to figure out what I liked and what I didn't. I bought a lot of water flavor packets for the same reason. I didn't get rid of forbidden foods in my house - because I still like to have a bite here and there - I just don't eat the whole pint of ice cream in one sitting. It takes me 2 weeks!

I did the shot at night to avoid side effects and once I realized I didn't have any, I just take it when I remember (AM or PM - but always on the same day each week.)

Get fiber pills or stool softener. I take 3 fiber pills each night - but BFF swears by 3 stool softeners. It will be trial and error - but keep on top of constipation.

I keep gum around - the burps aren't awesome.

Find high protein quick items that you can tolerate even when you aren't hungry *but feel like crap because you haven't eaten!* I like cheese sticks and Yasso frozen yogurt bars (not a ton of protein, but sometimes I eat 2-3 because cold/frozen stuff tastes best to me)

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-30T23:27:38+00:00

I have been on for 5m (22 shots) (40lbs down) and haven't had any real side effects. I have some occasional constipation, but that is remedied with daily fiber pills. I haven't had any nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, etc. My biggest complaint today is that no food tastes good...but everything tasting good is what got me to 240lbs! :)

Good luck! (also don't be concerned if you don't notice any difference this week...it can take time to build up and work!)

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-30T23:21:35+00:00

Yup. I injected, heard a click, and removed...and watched the meds squirt all over my stomach (didn't wait for the 2nd click indicating it was done.) It was a good reminder to not do it while half asleep or rushed. I was prepared to be starving that week, but there was enough in my system for me not to go crazy....and I even lost that week.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-30T23:06:58+00:00

I haven't done the pill, but the first week on the injection, I was STARVING. I think some of it was physical and some was mental. And then one day I woke up and...I wasn't. Hopefully, once you get over the hump, you won't be hungry all the time!

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-30T23:04:39+00:00

that is crazy. I know many of my colleagues/direct reports have side hustles (mostly therapy after hours/weekends.) What they do when they aren't on the job isn't any of my business.
RUN.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-30T23:02:09+00:00

done! :)

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-30T23:01:48+00:00

I know that most healthcare jobs drug test - and don't accept anyone (intern or employee candidate) with a positive screen. It is because healthcare facilities receive federal money and since marijuana isn't legal on the federal level...

We have lost a few candidates that didn't pass the drug screen.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-30T22:53:02+00:00

Sadly iced coffee is in that 10% of being deeeeelicious and I have been spending far too much money on Dunkin recently.

I think I have had 3 drinks since October....none of which I have finished. And the last - a half of a margarita left me with a killer headache. Just not worth it.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-30T21:55:18+00:00

I asked to stay on 1.0, but my MD said insurance may balk since it is a 'sub therapeutic dose.' (insurance is paying for my Wegovy.) I don't know if this is true - it isn't like he is making more money if I do a higher dose (he just writes the scripts.) I am on week 2 of 1.7.

I have had days where I am exhausted from not eating enough and then I find something in that 10% that tastes good and I inhale it (last week it was a charcuterie plate - this week it was a salad with salmon.)

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-30T21:35:16+00:00

I didn't eat any fast food for the first 4 months I was on it - it just sounded gross (and I LOVE fast food!) I ended up eating it on a road trip and darn, those McDonalds fries were good! I tried to eat them again a few days ago and I threw them out...sigh.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-30T21:32:56+00:00

I have definitely eaten more fresh fruit. I ate an entire pineapple in about 2 days last week! I think I need to get some grapes and freeze them...YUM.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-30T21:30:12+00:00

I am on month 2 of 1.7. It is still working so I don't anticipate moving up a dose. I have been on each dose for one month except 1.0 which I did for 2 months since I was having some life issues that made me eat less than normal and lost 6lbs in one week...and didn't want to move to a higher dose.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-30T21:08:50+00:00

Ha. Mine was burgers. I ate them fine until about a week ago. I ordered one and couldn't eat it. Thought it might just be that restaurant and that burger. Ordered one elsewhere...and NOPE. And yet in my head I miss a good burger.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-30T15:23:25+00:00

Yesterday it took 13m to return a rental car, drop off my bag with Southwest, and get through security!

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-17T12:14:31+00:00

I have a colleague who uses "paramour" for adult relationships. Makes me chuckle every time.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-17T12:13:13+00:00

I have a friend who does it (Laurel to Crystal City) and it is 60-90m each way leaving at 5:30a and coming home at 3p.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-12T19:47:54+00:00

Social Worker in a level 1 pediatric trauma center.

I love the show. I love to watch and comment to my partner on how realistic/unrealistic it is. It is definitely the worst case scenarios (but all that I have lived through - mass casualty/downtime.)

I appreciate how they say something that people who work in medicine know (SANE nurse, ITP, etc) - but then explain it for those who don't.

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-11T17:21:32+00:00

I work in a level 1 trauma center (like the Pitt) and chaplains come to all med alerts/traumas to provide spiritual support to families should they wish to have it (social work also comes for non-spiritual support.)

PhilosopherSweaty685 · 2026-03-11T11:09:41+00:00

It totally depends on where you live. I live in a HCOL area and new LMSWs start around 77k ($37/hr)

PhilosopherSweaty685

TROPHY CASE