Three years ago I was in the most miserable job situation I can imagine. The school principal was passive and too concerned with overing his own ass to take any chances, the assistant principal was manipulative and liked to pit people against each other, my fellow teachers were beaten-down and unhappy. It was a completely toxic atmosphere. In the five years that I worked there I gained almost 40 pounds, and I aged significantly.

Going to work each day was almost impossible. I called in sick a lot, cried a lot, but even though I was so unhappy, I never bothered looking for a new job, mostly, I think now, because I was so depressed that I lacked the energy.

At some point my frustration and anger over the situation at the school (I am leaving out a lot of details in the the interest of time and space, but it was a nasty, political place to work) came out in my relationship with my principal and I was not offered tenure. So, basically, I was fired.

It was absolutely the best thing that could have happened to me. When he told me I actually felt relief, because now I HAD to make a change. Now, three years later, I am living in another country, making significantly more money, and working at an amazing international school. I have had the opportunity to travel all over, and most importantly, am treated with respect by my administration. Oh, and I lost all that extra weight too.

When I go back home, people comment on how much younger, and how much happier I look.

My advice is, GET OUT. If you are really miserable and unhappy at work, find a way out. Yes, the economy is bad, but there are jobs out there, you just need to adjust your ideas about what you can or will do. Yes, money is important, you need to feed yourself and pay for housing, but you probably don't need a lot of what you buy, in fact, if you are like I was, shopping becomes a way to make yourself happy. "I had a bad day, so I am going to treat myself to this new outfit, dinner, book, etc" If you have more good days, you don't spend as much money.