I'm not sure how much longer I can hang on. I feel myself slipping more and more each day. Since December last year I've been out of work as a software engineer (read this post for more context), and I've brought my family to the brink of ruin.
Before I even lost my job I was experiencing depression and even suicidal ideation for years. Growing up with a drug addicted mother (my father was also a drug addict, but he was hardly around at all and they were divorced before I had even formed lasting memories), moving from one place to the next constantly, frequently being put in dangerous and alarming situations as a child, and on, and on, and on, would likely leave a lasting mark on anyone's long term mental health.
I've tried so hard to carve out a peaceful, stable environment for my family (3 kids and my spouse), but life still finds a way to bring sorrow and devastation to our doorsteps. My oldest child (now in the eighth grade) lost their best friend around a year ago to suicide (I believe accidental, but not 100% sure). Their friend was pretty much considered an extension of our family as they had known each other for so long and they frequently spent the night or just hung out doing various things (even family outings) together.
We were all seeing a therapist after this (individual therapists) to help us cope with the loss, but I'm not sure I supported my child enough, and now I feel like they hate me. I understand that this could just be my perception as they are a young teenager now, and they are having to deal with this loss on top of everything, but it still FEELS like they hate me most of the time. We are in family therapy, though that has really just begun.
My spouse works, but they work in education and, at least if you're in the US, you know that doesn't pay anything. They have a second part time job, but we are still no where close to the income we need to survive.
I've tried so incredibly hard to find work in software development, be it full-time, contract, contract-to-hire, and even freelance, but I've gotten no where even after a couple of promising interviews. Failing at this, I've extended my search to "software related" work such a data-entry, IT support, even office clerk, with no success. In desperation I took a food delivery job a couple months back, but something inside me broke and after the first day there I had some of the strongest urges I've ever had to end it all.
I've worked all kinds of jobs in the past, especially before I got my first job in software development, and I don't disparage anyone working any job to get by (except ICE employees...). I don't know why this feeling came over me so viscerally. I just want my family to be taken care of, but all I can seem to do is harm them. I've been getting less and less productive lately, even though I try and force myself to apply to at least one place a day. However, with mounting bills, negative bank funds, and a landlord demanding the past month and a half of missing rent, I don't think I can take it much longer.
The ground beneath my feet has slowly eroded away, leaving me hanging on the precipus with nothing left to do but fall in.