I've been at my current job (which I thought was my dream job) for the last 4.5 years. The last two years the cracks started to show, and this last year has been absolute torture. I already have terrible anxiety, but the last few months have been marked by panic attacks, no sleep and endless tears all driven by long hours, terrible pay and toxic management.

So, I got a new job - and it's a job that values work/life balance, my #1 criteria. I was truly so happy but cripplingly terrified to tell my boss, who I consider a close friend. Finally, I worked up the courage to tell him, barely able to speak through tears. Immediately after, I bawled for the rest of the night. I feel like I lost a part of my identity. It felt weirdly like a terrible, painful breakup.

Have any of you ever experienced this? I thought actually quitting was going to be the hard part - now, I feel like I've lost a part of myself and want to run back to my old job. I've quit jobs before, but I've never felt so deeply hurt and shaken before.