Pals,
I’ve been with Oracle for 4 years and 5 months now, with a total of ~10 years of experience .
I was genuinely expecting a decent hike this year, especially because my manager had explicitly led me to believe that I would be getting one. On top of that, I’ve reached my stock vesting cliff.
But after all the hard work, endless responsibilities, and expectations, all I received was $15K worth of stocks for 4 years.
And honestly, I feel completely shattered.
I have so many financial and personal responsibilities on my shoulders. I have loans to repay, a family to take care of, and a 2-year-old son who has always been extremely attached to me. I’m simply not in a position where I can afford to quit my job, take a break, and figure things out.
My original plan was to stay at Oracle for another 3–4 years, maintain some stability while my son grows up, and then think about switching. But at this point, I genuinely don’t know how much longer I can tolerate this environment.
I know that switching jobs is probably the most practical solution. But I’m so mentally exhausted and demotivated that I don’t even know where to begin preparing. With 10 years of experience, the thought of starting interview preparation all over again feels overwhelming.
And then there’s my son. He’s just 2, and I’ve always been his primary caregiver. The thought of switching companies, adjusting to a new work environment, potentially losing flexibility, and not being able to give him the same time and attention genuinely makes me anxious.
I’m stuck between wanting to leave a company that has drained me emotionally and financially, and being terrified of disturbing the little stability I’ve managed to build for my family.
Ever since this happened, my mental health has taken a serious hit. I’ve been experiencing anxiety attacks, constant restlessness, and sleepless nights. My mind just won’t stop racing. Even when I’m physically exhausted, I can’t seem to switch off.
I feel trapped, helpless, and completely lost. I know I need to do something about my situation, but right now, even taking that first step feels incredibly difficult.
I never thought I’d reach a point in my career where, despite having 10 years of experience, I’d feel this worthless and uncertain about my future.
What should i do? I am so burnt out
Update- removing compensation details as it is over shadowing the purpose of the post.