I want to quit so badly, but I don't know if I'm making a mistake? At the same time I'm going to have to in November so...

I think this is a story a lot of people end up relating to, just because of the timing and trajectory of everything. I haven't quit yet, but I'm planning to by November, and here's the full "why."

Before COVID, I was lost, trying to survive on a Psych degree with not much of a plan. Going back to school meant debt I didn't want and didn't have the financial support to avoid, so that was off the table. I worked as a data assistant in human health for a bit (no coding), then in veterinary care during COVID helping with COVID regulations and transporting animals, and then as a receptionist for a small clinic, which is where I hit a wall. The workplace demands (and honestly, the abuse from patients and doctors) burned me out completely.

Eventually I landed in marketing. For the first few years it was genuinely good, I was remote, had work-life balance, things were chill. Then we got acquired. Layoffs happened. I wasn't laid off, and I've actually been promoted since, but somewhere along the way, my body just wants out of corporate. Heart palpitations. Anxiety attacks. It's been nonstop even with therapy and psychiatry helping keep the symptoms at bay.

I'm still somewhat remote. But there's something in me now that just... doesn't want to do this anymore. It dreads going to work every day. It dreads the meetings, the corporate performance of it all, just all of it.

The problem is I don't know where to go or what to do next.

I want what I think a lot of people want at this point: a high-paying job, without back-to-back client meetings where people forget things and then you get blamed and everyone hates you or thinks you're incompetent, real work-life balance, good PTO, and a way to get there without going into debt.

Part of why this has been hitting harder lately is that I've already decided I'm quitting in November, with or without another job lined up. I'm just tired of waking up with heart palpitations and feeling on edge before every client meeting and call. I'm tired of the urgency from different channels and despite me trying to place boundaries you just have to provide them what they need on their deadlines. The miscommunication from other people and also just adding more work to our plates when its not necessary is...

I just. The anxiety of the "what if this ruins everything" feeling that won't quite turn off, plus not knowing how long it'll take to land something else is what's also sort of holding me back here.

I know, I know, in this economy we're not supposed to quit without something lined up. I've been doing interviews. I just get ghosted or rejected. I've been reaching out to people on LinkedIn, and I get it, everyone's doing the same thing, so recruiters are probably just overwhelmed and ignoring most of it. But I really don't know what else to do or where else to go from here. And main question I want to ask is just advice from people who quit corporate and have been in my shoes before? And also where did you go from here?

P.S. I am kind of posting this in other threads because I know when people quit they need to have some sort of plan. I also just want to take all the perspectives I can get. I've done a pros and cons list. I've been in therapy (still in therapy but struggling with the back and forth of what to do). I already made the decision I'm definitely quitting in November because I booked a vacation so I can just relax. So yeah.... sorry this is a lot of rambling.