I have been searching for a new, less stressful job, but so far haven't even been called. and YIKES I just made another big mistake on my bosses calendar and scheduled two board meetings for today. He's going to be angry when he finds out (I sent him an email since he's already at the first meeting).

This is the third time I've screwed up his calendar. I have no idea what happened, and he's going to badger me and ask why. If I knew how things got screwed up, they wouldn't be screwed up, right?

Does he know of your health issues that you're dealing with?

So sorry (((((Catch)))))

Yes he knows, and the firm has been accommodating of my limits.

I'm scared they will let me go before I find a new job, if I find a new job. My confidence in my abilities is really low and my options limited. I am trying to expand my horizon and apply for some not so typical jobs. Jobs where my duties would be different, my skills used in different ways, like writing how-to manuals, etc.

I hate the feeling of being trapped. I got myself trapped into a high-paying (for me anyway) job and saddled with a mortgage. I see no way out right now and scared of losing my job and my house.

Well now that I've really depressed myself, I'm going to take a nap.

If your boss is somebody you can talk to.....as a friend.....can you let him know how you're feeling and that you're scared? And that you realize you made an error. Would he be sympathetic? He also needs to realize that as long as he hires human beings to work for him the possibility of an error being made will always be there. I bet he's made a few in his lifetime, too. I do know how you feel, though. I was so ready to leave my job when the time came. It was just too much stress for me to handle and I was always anxious about making mistakes.

i also know how you feel. as i came to the end of my nursing career i knew inside that i couldn't do the job anymore. i'm sure if i would have tried to keep it up i would have been let go. i know they were documenting things i didn't do right but i was also mad that i hadn't been in the loop.

perhaps your boss, isn't this also his job responsibility, could try to help brainstorm ideas that could help you do the job better. and, if you could relieve some stress about your work you might perform better.

can you get another position in the same company?

My boss isn't the warm and fuzzy approachable type. And its a law firm, mistakes hold a bit more of a risk. If I forgot an appointment, what else might I have forgotten about? He knows, because I forget to do things all the time. I write notes but they get mislaid, forgotten, or misinterpretted after the conversation was forgotten. I just screwed something up yesterday, so I requisitioned a tape recorder to use when my boss asks me to do things.

I have discussed my fears with our Administrator and she said she would talk to him. Now I sit on pins and needles wondering what I'm walking into tomorrow. I don't need this stress, but I need this job. Sure, I can get another one--eventually, but I've been looking and the going rate has dropped and I could lose up to $25,000 a year. How can I compensate for that?

Is there any way you could continue at the firm with a less challenging position? It doesn't sound like there is any way you are going to get around a pay cut.

If there are any expenses you can cut now and maybe even consider getting a room mate to help with the bills that might be a good plan B. I really hope things work out for you. Hang in there.

Don't beat yourself up about these situations when they present themselves. Just be straight forward, no excuses, admit you made a mistake, openly apologize - with others around it's even better - and if you feel the need, ask for forgiveness at the same time.

At some point it will become so obvious dealing with whatever symptoms affect your work, questions will be asked and need to be addressed.

I left a highly stressful position, took a 50% cut in pay to take a "less stressful" job. That didn't work because I ended up working even harder for less money totally defeating my original purpose. I learned for me it was a "Catch 22."

Agree with all the above. Good call on the "Catch 22" as well.

Catch, all kidding aside, "To Err Is Human". You said you have an employer who's been accommodating. That's more than can be said for oh, 90%+ of the jobs on the market. Truthfully.

I'd hate to see you in a position where you leave your current situation (where you can work with your employer, in my opinion, with the errors being made to find a solution that works well for you both), only to take a possible pay cut and end up under the pinky finger of an unaccommodating, unsympathetic employer/boss.

Don't trust those rogues either... just because an employer says they're understanding is often a pretty facade to lure in employees, only to then turn on the spotlights and let the real show play out.

You mention about the notes getting lost and such Catch.. perhaps a portable electronic device that you can use as a 'diary' or notepad may be more suitable than pen & paper? Heck... I lose stuff I write down on paper all the time, but I don't loose stuff that I put on my sticky notes or notepad on the PCs.

Thinking of you