Hey all, just wondering if there's folks like me out there. I'm 33, been employed for over half my life and I have a bachelor's and a master's, but I'm making $20/hr while the new hires are getting offered $23. I got my master's last year in software dev, thinking my current job would help me get an entry level role there in the same field or similar. Now I work phones and it's killing me.

I try to make time to improve my software dev skills to make myself more competitive, but it's an uphill battle. I'm one of the many who suffer from anxiety/depression and day-to-day functioning is already kind of a struggle. Lately I've been trying to get better (diet, exercise, volunteering, self-care) but the depression makes it hard to keep my focus on learning new skills / improving current skill levels. This job is actively contributing to that depression, with clueless middle management, stagnant pay, dozens of calls a day about the same thing over and over again, shitty health insurance... The capitalism life has worn me down and idk how to bounce back.

Regardless of what I do it feels like I'm always starting at square one with these new jobs, and I don't want to be doing the same thing for another 15-20 years. Everyone I know seems to be on the right track, in their chosen field and making decent money. I just want to know where I fucked up so bad to be where I am now.

Anyway thanks for reading, I work through the weekend so I'm extra-strength depresso at the moment but hopefully I'll feel better after my work week is over.