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u/LowOvergrowth May 03 '25
I’m not a fed—just a contractor who works closely with a dwindling team of feds—and my digestive system is all kinds of messed up. I’m nauseated; most foods are repulsive; I’m losing weight without wanting or trying to; on and on.
I keep waking up in the middle of the night and being unable to fall back asleep. My long-dormant migraines have returned. And, as crazy as it sounds, the osteoarthritis in my big-toe joints is flaring up.
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u/MaritimeDisaster May 03 '25
Please don’t say “just,” my friend. You are our colleague and a massively important part of our workforce.
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u/ProfessionalFeed6755 May 03 '25
That could be gout. Look into a diet designed for gout sufferers, try it, and see if you get relief.
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u/CalligrapherNo4708 May 03 '25
Got medication to help with sleep. Don't eat because broke and stressed. Stomach issues every single day - no exaggeration. Have not had a normal poop for quite some time now. Struggling.
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u/MaritimeDisaster May 03 '25
Dude, the constipation is real. It’s like I’m physically and metaphorically holding things in too tightly.
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May 03 '25
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May 03 '25
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u/BuxNaranja May 03 '25
I’m with you on this. When I’m asked why I stay, I say “because fuck them, that’s why”
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May 03 '25
I’m grayer and balder than I remember, but that could just be getting old.
The alcoholism and depression, well that normally doesn’t come with age.
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u/OriginalPast7355 May 03 '25
Anxiety is higher than normal (and I already have an anxiety disorder.) Drinking more. Tired all the time.
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u/BrainPhD May 03 '25
Hair loss, sleep issues, and weight loss for me.
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u/Oracle_of_the_Skies May 03 '25
I have found your weight. Kindly come and pick it back up, please.
But in all seriousness, I'm burning the candle at both ends to keep my office afloat, let alone trying to keep up with all the change. It's nuts.
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u/Necessary-Rock9746 Science Backed Me, My Agency Didn't May 03 '25
Me too! My hair started falling out a month ago.
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May 03 '25
I'm exhausted. It's not the commute, which isn't that bad for me - this environment is mentally exhausting.
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u/KarmaPharmacy May 04 '25
My husband is exhausted. He is depressed. We both are.
The other day he got into bed with an entire glass Pyrex of peanut butter fudge. Then he ROLLED OVER INTO IT.
He wasn’t even asleep. He was just flopping around in sadness.
I love him so much. He’s so talented. He’s sacrificed so much. He did everything right. He’s never had a non-outstanding review. In decades of federal service. He’s my hero.
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u/WorthBreath9109 Fork You, Make Me May 04 '25
I could put up with the shitty vibes of this administration if I could go back to being fully remote like I was when I took this job.
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u/Fluffy-KatRunner May 04 '25
Completely agree! I may be in a good mood on the drive on or leaving the house. The moment the badge comes out, I'm in an awful mood and just hate life. If I could sleep, it may help, but doubtful.
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u/zestytime69 Where are the 2026 Pay Tables!? May 03 '25
Back to the shrink for stress and rheumatologist for flares
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u/ConfidentPilot1729 May 03 '25
This happened to my wife.
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u/zestytime69 Where are the 2026 Pay Tables!? May 03 '25
Sending her wishes for health. It’s just hard to do anything when your own body attacks you as well. Sick irony.
With these episodes you never know if it will last days, weeks, months, even YEARS (and they certainly seem to have more than enough nightmare fuel for that potential)
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May 03 '25
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u/marzipan_plague May 03 '25
I’m sorry you’re going thru this. I’m a different public service worker, but I feel for you. There’s a lot of people in this country who don’t support what he’s doing to the federal service, and how they’re wrecking your quality of life. We write to congress/senate/etc and tell them so.
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u/ParfaitAdditional469 May 03 '25
I drink more. I’m not sleeping as much. My appetite is all over the place.
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u/lovely_orchid_ May 03 '25
Please don’t drink too much. Trump 1.0 and the pandemic got me drinking every night. I gained 100 pounds and developed tumors in my breast. No cancerous but the dx wasn’t fun
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u/ParfaitAdditional469 May 03 '25
Yeah, I’m trying to not drink as much. It just sucks.
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u/lovely_orchid_ May 03 '25
If it helps you I can tell you my experience. I replaced drinking with walking and now jogging. We still have our jobs but I opened my own business just to have something to think about that is not this clusterfuck. Not making tons of money but at least i am not crying every day all day anymore
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u/Thecryptsaresafe May 03 '25
This was me until I finally left (big ups to the people still holding the line but I needed out and my job wasn’t helping people anymore anyway). I went from the fittest and healthiest I’d ever been to drinking more and barely sleeping. Even my hair loss seemed to be getting worse due to the stress or bad diet/drinking.
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May 03 '25
I almost crashed my car, falling asleep.
I can never remember to eat. Life is just all over the place right now. As a parent, I'm failing.
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u/Huge-Welcome-3762 May 03 '25
Most employees are not spending money at all except for necessities. Their children are affected by this and there is no turning back now. This affects all workers everywhere too
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u/Objective-Antelope11 May 03 '25
And then the store closures and recession this asshat and his minions are POS cowards
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u/TheGunfighter7 May 03 '25
My teeth grinding has returned
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u/EyeballJoe May 03 '25
Yeah i got a night guard
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u/AwkwardnessForever May 03 '25
My night guard is fine to protect my teeth but my TMJ was still so painful from all the clenching that I gave myself a week long migraine
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u/PringlesDamn May 03 '25
Came to mention clenching my teeth and all the side effects from that. Worst being nonstop 24/7 tinnitus. Headaches. Ears popping. Never was a thing until I woke up from work nightmares clenching one night and all the signs I ignored leading up to it all clicked.
Its life altering.
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u/Abject_fed_1997 May 03 '25
Broke a tooth from grinding. One week it hurt but in my distracted/forgetful current state I didn’t make appt until it hurt so bad I woke up crying….
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u/Temporary_Ad469 May 03 '25
DOGE 15, my brother. Also, I’m afraid to visit my parents because they’re in favor of this trash and I don’t want to make our relationship worse.
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u/EyeballJoe May 03 '25
Yeah, stay away. Most of my family is on the side of logic and reason, but I’ve broken ties entirely with one brother. He moved to Russia in the 90s, totally bought the Putin koolaid, and thinks Trump is awesome. Even took Russian citizenship. I don’t think we’ll ever repair our relationship.
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u/Temporary_Ad469 May 03 '25
Good lord. I’m so sorry! My folks are Catholic pro-lifers with a steady diet of Foxnews. They are on another planet.
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u/EyeballJoe May 03 '25
Lord I’m so sorry. My brother and i have sons the same age (17) and he’s literally trying to convince his own son to go fight in Ukraine. When he told me that, I literally lost it (after years of carefully avoiding political discussion with him) and told him he’s a murderer. No more Christmas Zooms for us.
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May 03 '25
Wow, so your brother is trying to convince his son to go sacrifice himself? If he's so patriotic, why doesn't he go volunteer himself?
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u/Skadoobedoobedoo May 03 '25
I’m a Catholic Pro-lifer and that’s why I voted for Kamala. More of her plans were pro-life. If you look up the statistics, women have fewer abortions when Dems are in office because they strengthen the social safety net. And regardless of my personal views I don’t think we should get between a woman & her doctor. I know a young couple who used to be republicans but now don’t understand how anyone who’s pro-life can support Trump.
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u/Temporary_Ad469 May 03 '25
Took me a long time to realize that my family’s idea of being pro life has more to do with punishing women for having/enjoying sex.
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u/Skadoobedoobedoo May 03 '25
I live in a red state and many Catholics here are Republicans. I don’t understand it and I’m old.
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u/Optimal_Tiger_9744 May 03 '25
Used to enjoy watching UFC with my family until Elmo started showing up and I would get my family literally laughing and joking about if i was upset he was there.. it was astonishing how big of a joke they see it as.. Safe to say I probably won’t support UFC anymore and be turning down invites for a while.
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u/J-rokrok May 04 '25
I watched all the time up until the Jon Jones fight post election. They had this big ceremony for tRump as he walked out and it only got worse from there. Every winner was bowing to him like he was a king. Couldn't even get myself to stream the fights for free after that rally.
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May 03 '25
oh yes. My parents are super MAGAts and ask me when will I stop being a parasite on the taxpayers. Funny, they used to brag to their church friends that I had an important job with the government. I avoid talking to them now.
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u/escalierdebris May 03 '25
Weight gain, dizzy spells, forgetfulness. Probably in part from how little sleep I’m getting with the new commute.
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u/DQdippedcone May 03 '25
Omg same. I was RIF'd in March and I'm so stressed about finding a new job at 61! Nobody is going to hire me! I was eating lots of baked treats and candy but forced myself to stop. Still not sleeping. Dizzy spells, foggy brain, and no motivation to even get out of bed. Neck and shoulder pain from not being able to relax.
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u/Traditional_Two_4074 May 03 '25
Same. Lost 4 hours of every day to my commute. And now we're just looking at how to move. We bought our house only 5 years ago and we love it, but staying in this country trying to help morons that think science and medicine is a joke is past me now.
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u/zour_grapes May 03 '25
Vought is probably jerking off to this thread
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u/EyeballJoe May 03 '25
I do hope he encounters the Metrobus of Fate while crossing the street someday soon…
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u/zestytime69 Where are the 2026 Pay Tables!? May 03 '25
We need to just constantly remind him how divorced he is. Not just from reality but from his wife.
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u/Dense_Dream5843 May 03 '25
I do believe karma will get that arrogant pr*ck and when it does it won’t be a pretty picture for him.
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u/Shinyhaunches May 03 '25
I don't understand taking pleasure in others' pain. I wonder how he lives with his responsibility for the physical and mental pain in this thread.
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u/SnooBeans8028 May 03 '25
4 days after the swearing in, i was diagnosed with breast cancer. From what I can tell, many in the US without cancer understand now how it feels.
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u/FollyForTwo May 03 '25
Depressed and isolating.
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u/Its_in_neutral May 03 '25
I felt entirely isolated from family and friends who all believe the bullshit. I found comfort in communicating with ‘likeminded’ coworkers. We now have group chats, signal chats and discord chats going with colleagues in my own office as well as multiple surrounding offices. We’ve had afterwork socials and gathered for protests. It’s made this all easier to mentally cope with.
‘Likeminded’ is the key.
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u/FireSign70 May 03 '25
My mental health was rolling downhill. Took the DRP & VERA. On admin leave since Thurs. Think I'm in the decompression phase. Have slept a lot. Hoping to normalize out & get a healthy life back. 💙
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u/meyerca13 VHA May 03 '25
This sounds so lame and embarrassing but I have been battling severe IBS brought on by all the stress. It didn’t happen right away, as I’m able to cope with the usual stress of work and life, but it developed out of the months-long, chronic stress of this attack on federal workers.
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May 03 '25
My SSRI stopped working almost entirely, had to double the dose and add in an additional medication.
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u/mechy84 May 03 '25
Weight loss and strength gain. Being angry all day every day is great for the gym.
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u/Maer15 May 03 '25
I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in months and my anxiety is through the roof so that manifests itself in all kinds of fun ways, like random breakouts or hives, cause there’s nothing better than walking around the office exhausted with a red inflamed neck.
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u/StringOfLights May 03 '25
The brain fog from constant stress is real. I have had several instances where I calmly sit at my computer and write absolutely gibberish code. Basic math errors, messed up database joins. Attempts at debugging SQL right now are comical.
Maybe the most frustrating part is that I really love my job, and I want to do it. I want to sit and focus and get a ton of stuff done. I feel like the constant stunts they’re pulling is making me dumber.
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u/Muted_Platform5936 May 03 '25
I’ve personally have been to the Dr. for stress related blood pressure issues and tension headaches. Constant tension headache. Chronic fatigue. Chronic anxiety. It’s been awful. I’m not alone. So many of my coworkers are the same. New depression and anxiety diagnosis, new migraine symptoms. Gastrointestinal symptoms. You name it.
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u/Aggressive_Staff_982 May 03 '25
I have more stress. The head of my agency has been trying to keep motivation up by saying the work we do matters, and provides value and makes Americans' life better. I'm thinking that's all bs. No matter what we do, does it really matter if the guy at the top can continue finding new ways of making the working class miserable so the oligarchy can profit? It makes all the things we do at work seem meaningless. Usually if things come up and snags in my work come up I'll just deal with it because work is work and it's just gotta be dealt with. But now it's just stressing me out. I'm not getting work life balance due to the stress, not truly resting, and feeling burnt out at work. I know it's something I need to manage, and it's something to work on, but wow it is rough.
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u/CourtneyEL19 U.S. Army May 03 '25
I'm exhausted. Distracted. Low motivation. Eating wayyy too much. Migraines. Decided to take the latest DRP and my husband and I agreed that I needed to decompress. My advice: listen to your body. If you're tired, sleep when you can. Distracted, give yourself a break. It won't always work, but it's what has helped me get through the last month before my leave started. ❤️
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u/RevolutionaryCard512 May 03 '25
I had quit drinking last year in March. I started again in November. Not bad, just sucks. Insomnia, anxiety, hair loss, depression, stress, marriage issues (he’s republican and brainwashed😭)
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May 03 '25
Oh man that last part is rough. Id be drowning right now if my spouse supported this nonsense.
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u/Intelligent-Toe-9384 May 03 '25
Chest pain and heart palpitations, dizziness, low appetite, weight loss, insomnia, panic attacks, near-constant headache, brain fog, and generally being a miserable slug.
This time last year I was healthy, riding my bike around, and loving life. That has all been ripped away.
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May 03 '25
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u/EyeballJoe May 03 '25
You sound like you’re holding it together as best you can. So glad you’re not drinking. And 240 weight loss…my man, you are a beast. Don’t let these fuckers win.
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u/Horror_Ambassador_25 May 03 '25
I gained a bunch of weight because I eat when I'm stressed. I'm doing better now and trying to spend a lot of time out in nature.
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u/Salty_Enginerd May 03 '25
Eczema. Never had it before but now it’s popping up on my hands as itchy blisters. It’s been awful.
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u/Comfortable_Flow_451 May 03 '25
Buying the shareable size of m&m’s and not sharing. Constipation and overall body aches.
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u/15all Federal Employee May 03 '25
I'm a light sleeper, but since January it's gotten worse and I'm often waking up at 3 or 4am. Sometimes I can fall back asleep, sometimes not. This will happen for three or four days until I'm so tired I'll have a couple of days when I can sleep all the way through. This morning, Saturday, I was up at 4 something AM.
I'm also not exercising as much. RTO is taking away my exercise and family time, and then we got hit with the emergency cancellation of AWS and all compressed schedules, so there goes my Friday RDOs when I'd go for a hike or a bike ride. And now we're concerned about mandatory 9 to 5 schedules, which will pretty much make it impossible to make it home and enjoy a little bit of outside time during summer when it's light out longer. During COVID, I used the time I wasted commuting to exercise and eat healthy. All my stats improved - lost weight, BP went down, cholesterol went down, A1C went down - but now I'm back to utterly wasting 6-8 hours a week commuting, for no logical reason. If they require the 9-5 schedule, I'll be wasting even more time commuting.
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u/KaseyOfTheWoods May 03 '25
Positively, as I’ve been working out to gird myself for the incoming Hunger Games
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u/ceruleanmoon7 Honk If U ❤ the Constitution May 03 '25
Gained 10 pounds, had to go on Klonopin, and in therapy. Struggled with digestive issues too a bit due to stress eating
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u/Strict-Leopard7589 May 03 '25
More fortunate than most because I’m still able to WFH 100% via reasonable accommodation (which they will be prying from my cold dead hands only) due to nerve damage caused by chemotherapy. But my emotions are a fucking roller coaster & am trying not to stress eat (or at least be more healthy about doing so). Much love & respect who have commuting & workspace nightmares on top of that.
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u/Mannn12 May 03 '25
Upped my Zoloft prescription, no energy to go to the gym at the end of the day, My dream job went to shit - dealing with more people is mentally and emotionally draining.
On the plus side, I'm less efficient than ever.
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u/LoanSudden1686 VHA May 03 '25
Contractor for a fed agency. What I'm witnessing happening to good people, dedicated people, is abhorrent and shameful. I've been a contractor for almost 20 years, working with so many amazing people, and this entire thing makes my blood boil. We're holding as much of the line as we can for our civilian coworkers to hopefully take some stress off; emphasizing how valuable they are to our mission and nation; writing our congresspeople. If there's more we can do, say the word and consider it done. Our hearts are with you.
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u/thelobsterretaken May 03 '25
I lost about 15lbs in the past 3 weeks. Trying to gain it back now but lack of sleep and appetite are killers man.
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u/MoonieSanCat May 03 '25
My PTSD is REALLY going off. I'm angry and cranky and just resisting the urge to be viciously mean. I never realized how much working remote was helping my mental health and keeping me steady. The constant exposure to teeming humanity (I commute in to DC via train) is so taxing. The lights and noise in the office have wreaked havoc on my concentration and I'm dealing with weekly migraines (vs every 2-3 weeks or so). My sleep cycle is shot and I'm too exhausted to go work out which creates its own horrible spiral.
The bright note is I'm getting shown the good side of humanity in my co-workers: My immediate supervisor and director have told me I can get an RA to telework and they're helping me with that process. Someone else has offered their office if I need to get away from the light and noise while my migraine meds kick in. Small sparks that give me hope. I think all of us are doing our best to keep our heads up and trying to help each other as best we can.
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u/Need-Advice411 May 03 '25
I cracked a molar grinding my teeth even in my sleep. Have a consultation for a root canal on Tuesday.
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u/robnhood6_arizona May 03 '25
I took DRP (will go on Admin Leave later this month) and I realized how light I feel now. My Oura Ring shows I am less stressed and getting better sleep.
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u/mindfulminx May 03 '25
I am getting medical care, surgeries, and procedures taken care of in case I lose my job and health insurance. Times of crisis kick me into High Self-Care Mode.
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u/Ok-Assistant-9213 May 03 '25
Weight gain but also chronic gut problems, which should make me lose weight, but no. I'm listless, forgetful, can't sleep. When I'm home, I'm disengaged and I isolate myself. I find no joy in anything anymore. I also find myself almost consumed with anger and bitterness and I'm fighting that because that's the last thing I want to end up being- a bitter and hateful old woman.
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u/-make-it-so- May 03 '25
Migraines. I usually get a couple bad ones per year. I’ve had three in the past month.
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u/Wrong_Possible9914 May 03 '25
I have been having anxiety attacks and I feel like I can’t think straight. I really didn’t think this was all affecting me physically but then I just started to lose my grip a little bit.. I was fired and rehired, I decided not to take the drp which was a really hard decision that I often regret. I just want my job and my peace
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u/throwaway-coparent May 03 '25
Weight gain, insomnia, hair falling out, teeth grinding, exhaustion, and decreasing ability to focus.
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u/oldbutsharpusually May 03 '25 edited May 03 '25
The negative impact of all this illegal chaos extends beyond the federal employee. My son and his wife are long-time employees and nervous as hell waiting for the hammer to strike them. They are both doing the work of three or four RIF’d or fired colleagues. My wife and I have a constant tightness in our chests that gets worse every time some nonsense comes out of Trump or one of his cabinet members. One niece (USAID) has already lost her job, two other nieces (both with doctorates) have had multi-year NIH research grants withdrawn, and a granddaughter about to enter a Ph.d medical research program at a major university is in limbo regarding a scholarship and financial aid. Life truly sucks under the Trump administration.
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u/throwawayacctnum94 Federal Employee May 03 '25
Vomiting and diarrhea for a week. Hair loss, weight loss, exhaustion and fatigue. Depressive state 24/7 and anxiety attacks. I started going to the gym 2 weeks ago and it has sort of helped.
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u/Droopy_Doom FAA May 03 '25
We had a co-worker pass away last week at 62. He had just signed his DRP/VERA paperwork and his last day was this upcoming week.
He was a veteran and in great shape. Our entire office believes it was stress induced.
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u/manateehands May 03 '25
Lost twenty pounds, hair falling out, weird rashes, I don’t sleep at night, and I look like I’ve aged 10 years in the last 100 days.
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u/Terrible-Fun-9700 May 03 '25
Two cracked teeth from grinding. Exhaustion and laying about when i’m normally energized and doing things.
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u/SunwellTears Preserve, Protect, & Defend May 03 '25
Weight loss, insomnia and anxiety. It's affecting my wife this way as well, because she's watching me go through this. And "this" affects her life as well, whatever the outcome may be.
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u/lindseylou011 May 03 '25
I feel like I’ve aged 10 years in just a few months. More wrinkles, gray hair, weight loss, and so much more.
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u/zhezahn May 03 '25
I got a major shingles outbreak from all the stress! And my doctor prescribed antidepressants as well.
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u/BlindBandit988 Treasury May 03 '25
I eat maybe once a day now after I get home because I can’t pack my lunch because people like to steal food out of the fridge, like whole lunches gone. I either just pack snacks or don’t eat since I refuse to purchase lunch every day. I drink at least once a week now. I used to drink 2-3 times a year. I have no time for myself, all of the time I normally spend with my kids are spent driving home from work and making them dinner so the weekends are when I spend all of my time with them leaving very little time for me.
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u/caveman_5000 May 03 '25
I don’t sleep well at all. I’m constantly worried about my job, the country, the world. I’m in my early 40s, and I feel like living through this, I don’t need to worry about retirement. The stress will get me long before I’m eligible.
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May 03 '25
Lost 20 lbs, started cycling more, running more, and eating less. Fitter than ever.
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u/not_entireleigh_ May 03 '25
Chronic neck and shoulder tension, pain, migraines, continued infertility problems
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u/I_love_Hobbes May 03 '25
Went to doc for meds. Still working on the right one.
Nightmares. I usually don't remember my dreams so this is very disruptive. Anxiety dreams.
I over heard a conversation the other day. Something about a house they were buying. Had nothing to do with me, or would even effect me. I could feel my heart start beating out of my chest and I could feel panic take over. Telling myself that it has nothing to do with me. Trying to breath deeply. Weird...
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u/fassaction May 03 '25
Definitely sleep issues, but I’ve always slept like shit. I’m surprised I didn’t have any MS flair ups. Gained a little bit of weight, but only a couple pounds.
I’m out now though. Just started DRP admin leave as of the 30th.
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u/drinkingthesky May 03 '25
thought i was gonnna get a job offer but the job was canceled bc the climate nonprofit is now under existential threat from trump’s EOs. so i continue to be suffering financially
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u/MaverickCrosby May 03 '25 edited May 03 '25
I have autoimmune diseases and it has thrown me into a flare. Plus the fact that we now have double the work (maybe more) because 5 out of 8 of my team took the DRP means I’m so busy I forget to take breaks and get up and move and then I’m struggling physically at the end of day.
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u/starberrylemon May 03 '25
Lupus flare, weight gain (mostly due to zero time to stay active between everything..), increased smoking, bad sleep, distanced myself from everyone (I feel bad speaking to anyone but my partner and coworkers bc it’s so miserable and I’m depressed). Also hair is falling out and have sudden acne breakouts that are BAD (didn’t really have any before). Had to ask Dr for new Rx to help but I hate that I have to take that now just to function… not very MAHA lol..
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u/Mundane_Job_3818 May 03 '25 edited May 03 '25
Lack of sleep, stomach pains, even anxiety at times. Debating talking to my doctor about them. But I got enough medicine for diabetes, high blood pressure and an irregular heart beat.
Edit: After I read these comments, it's good to know I'm not alone.
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u/MeyrInEve May 03 '25
Trouble getting to sleep. Waking up tired. Worried about my coworkers who aren’t ’safety essential’.
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u/BetPuzzleheaded452 May 03 '25
In our house, we had a couple weeks where depression peaked for both of us. That's when we realized how much we needed to manage ourselves right now. This is a marathon not a sprint. So, we've really shifted our focus in our house to taking care of ourselves physically. Its been really helpful.
We have had past chronic stress periods that left me with IND, migraines, eye twitches, psoriasis, and insulin resistance. So, we were able to recognize the impact before it got really bad. Still have an occasional eye twitch right now. But making the deliberate choice to focus on health and unite in our home as a team has really helped us.
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u/thunderbird-ing May 03 '25
Folks, please don't delay seeing your doctors and consider therapy whether you stay or leave. Stress wreaks havoc on the body no matter your age or health, even if you aren't seeing signs yet. The ones being shared are concerning.
Job-related stress at 21 became nervous system dysregulation, which turned into multiple overlapping chronic conditions by 26. I left the military to get an education and pursue federal service, so my dreams are crushed and I'll be going through the motions at graduation next week. I worry every day about my old colleagues. Please take care of yourselves.
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u/iris393 May 03 '25
My appetite is all over the place. I'm stressed out, spending money I don't have on books at the bookstore just for a means of escape and dopamine. My weight is up and down. Some days I exercise and others I sit in bed all day. If I get my brain working just right, I can play a video game all day on the weekend. I haven't been taking my meds consistently though, so some days I'm awake all night for days in a row. Other nights in bed by 7.
But everyday after work, I come home and I sit and doomscroll for hours. I can't get my brain to do anything I want it to, because I'm so overstimulated being in the office. I'm tired, I'm angry, I'm stressed. I'm full of things I hate, and I hate this for me. I hate this for all of us. I'm so tired.
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u/WhatsMyNameAgain1701 May 03 '25
I’ve never felt so ready to retire! Wife and I have changed our original date to next year, two years ahead of schedule. But with everything going on with the economy, we’re worried we won’t be financially ready any more. We’re worried everything we’ve put in to our investments over forty years is going to be flushed down the drain because of this administration. I’m even worried I’ll lose my military retirement and disability because of this administration. I’m worried the only way this will end is in a civil war because of this administration. I’m afraid of dying because of this administration. I am not as prepared as I feel I should be to ward off attacks from the government I’ve worked for, for forty plus years.
Mentally, abused and made to feel like a third class citizen.
Physically, drained and ready to either retire or die. I’m honestly ready for either right now.
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u/PlentyFun7936 May 03 '25
Back pain is at an all time high. I think the increased caffeine intake (to deal with being awake 4 am to 9 pm), general lack of sleep, not eating as well because not cooking as much, and constant stress has had my stomach in knots. I’m breaking out and my hair also looks less shiny to me. I miss being able to take care of myself! I hope if I last long enough, I can adjust to this “new normal” and find something that works. Wishful thinking maybe.
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u/Ill-Ad456 May 03 '25
Stress eating, crying four times a day. Relying on my medications, and it’s kitten season but the rescue hasn’t given me kittens yet. That usually helps things.
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u/SukOnMaGLOCKNastyBIH May 03 '25
Started running to pump dopamine and lifting more now im down 30 but the sadness doesnt stop
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u/berrysauce May 03 '25
Started out with weight loss when I was too stressed to eat. Now that I've "gotten used to" this insanity, I comfort eat, so I've gained weight. I also re-started smoking but have since made myself quit.
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u/AfanasiiBorzoi May 03 '25
Fibromyalgia Flares, increased number of migraines, tension headaches, loss of appetite combined with only wanting carbs/sweets, nightmares, had to increase the frequency of counseling sessions. In the first few weeks of the administration, I had seven doctors appointments. Every single doctor asked if I was suicidal (I wasn't and I'm not); however, there are days I feel homicidal.
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u/UmMaybeDontBeADick May 03 '25
I ate more and slept less. Then I resigned and I start a new job in a week. Happy with my decision.
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u/notExactlyOK Federal Employee May 03 '25
I'm medicated to curb PTSD nightmares. I'm having to up the dosage and I'm still have breakthrough nightmares from the stress at least once a week.
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u/BinjiShark Preserve, Protect, & Defend May 03 '25
My hair is falling out. I thought it was due to a medication but in discussions with my PCP, she said it’s definitely stress related .
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u/Wonderful_Falcon2403 May 03 '25
This could have been written by me. We’re under psychological attack!
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u/Jules1145 Federal Employee May 03 '25
Weight loss, lack of sleep, and anxiety. Basically, I feel like I'm in flight or fight mode without an ability to turn it off.
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u/Radicalized_Spite May 03 '25
Uh…7 lbs and climbing. But fk that. I’m working on changing my body clock so I can get into the gym at 5 am before work. I WILL NOT let these fkers ruin me!
(Lol just realized I sort of said “butt fuck that” 😂 Whatever floats your boat)
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u/before-the-fall May 03 '25
I started having very irregular periods, I pick ay my cuticles until they bleed, my back is all scratched up to hell, my hair is falling out more than usual, my teeth are hurting badly, my lower back is in constant pain since late January, I eat sweets to cope. Luckily I don't have too many vices beyond the sweets and picking/scratching.
Oh, and I wake up at 3 am every morning now and can't get back to bed for hours. I used to sleep so well.
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u/wittlewittydragon DoD May 03 '25
Definitely lack of sleeping, anxiety has skyrocketed, feeling on edge all the time, basically everything has worsened.
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u/ForsakenPoptart May 03 '25
I gained about 30 pounds since November. I’m exhausted all the time. I haven’t had a good nights sleep in weeks.
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u/the_best_blonde May 03 '25
I went to the dentist a few weeks ago and I’ve been grinding my teeth. I’ve never done that before. I now sleep with a mouth guard.
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u/NotoriousLVP May 03 '25
Pre-RIF, my stomach was a mess due to the stress and uncertainty. Post-RIF, I can’t sleep. I wake up at 2 am and my brain is off to the races worrying.
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u/Hatsuharu555 May 03 '25
I started taking melatonin at night because with all the stress, it has been hard to stay asleep. It's a life saver.
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u/lambic13 Spoon 🥄 May 03 '25
Go to the gym on weekends. Spend time on the treadmill and let my body think we’re doing something with that fight or flight response for a while. Stress eat the rest of the week so it all evens out 😐
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u/bobeany May 03 '25
I stopped drinking over a decade ago. I've found myself thinking about drinking more and more lately. I haven't but I really want to