Just to survive, I stand in government ration lines’: Man quit toxic IT job for mental peace; now struggles to afford food and basic needs

In today’s work environment, conversations around burnout, stress, and mental health have become more open than ever. Many professionals, especially in the IT sector, are now speaking about stepping away from high-pressure jobs in search of peace and balance. But a recent Reddit post has brought attention to a very different side of this decision, where leaving a stable job for mental peace led to unexpected financial difficulty and uncertainty within a short span of time.The post has triggered discussions online about job security, savings, and the realities of today’s job market.

“Left toxic IT job for mental peace, now standing in ration lines to survive”

The discussion started when the user shared his personal experience on Reddit under the title: “Left toxic IT job for mental peace, now standing in ration lines to survive.”He mentioned that he left his IT job on February 27, 2026, with the intention of focusing on his mental well-being. However, things did not go as planned after the resignation.He wrote, “2 months later, still unemployed. Gave multiple interviews. Some went really well, but then complete silence. No rejection mail, no callback, nothing. Just ghosted.”

Job search struggles and silence from recruiters

After quitting, the user continued attending interviews but said that even when things seemed to go well, there was no response from recruiters.This lack of communication made the situation more stressful over time. He also shared that his savings and provident fund were fully exhausted, and he is currently dependent on family support for basic needs.

Financial strain and changing lifestyle

The post also described how his daily life changed after losing a stable income. Things that were once normal became difficult to manage.“There was a time I used to shop for groceries from Dmart without thinking much. Today I stand in line at government ration shops just to manage food expenses.”He also shared that although his car is still with him, he does not have money for fuel.After months without work, he eventually took up a supervisor role at a construction site, earning Rs 25,000 per month.He said, “Never thought life would flip this hard after working in IT.”

Emotional stress and falling confidence

Along with financial pressure, the user also spoke about the emotional impact of repeated rejection. He said that constant silence from recruiters slowly affected his confidence.“People keep saying ‘upskill,’ ‘keep trying,’ and ‘market will recover,’ but after months of rejection and silence, you start losing confidence in yourself.”

Mixed reactions from online users

The Reddit post received multiple reactions from users, with some sharing similar experiences and others offering different opinions.One user commented, “Same boat. laid off, jobless since 6 months, driving Swiggy instamart to survive, all savings dried up in 6 months whatever I had in the past 6 years. difficult times. stay strong OP. God bless.”Another user suggested exploring different roles outside IT, saying, “Hey man. I feel your pain. Have you thought about a non-tech role? Like a managerial position in some other company?”Some users also questioned the decision to leave without financial planning. One comment read,“If your savings are over in 2 months, maybe look into managing your finances better? Also, leaving your main source of income without having any sort of a plan is doomed to fail.”Another user added, “You left your corporate job 2 months back in search of mental peace and now you are trying to crack interviews to get back into the corporate sector!”Disclaimer: This article is based on a Reddit post and publicly available online comments. The Times of India has not independently verified the identity of the user, the claims made in the post, or the experiences described. Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)