Am I a weak man for crying at a stressful fast-food job and leaving?

[Joe917]

I've been working at mcdonalds for over a month now. I already have an anxiety disorder, and this job pushes me to the brink. Yesterday they had me work from 10am-6pm. They had me work second window like usual. Its where you hand out drinks and food when the customers drive by. It was relentless for a couple hours. I felt very overwhelmed, and pissed off for some reason. Probably because there were so many customers at once, and I was wondering how tf they could all have decided to come to mcdonald's at the same time. I realized I just dont have what it takes to work this job. I couldn't take this for another 6 hours. I stopped, and just told my manager I felt very overwhelmed, and I just can't do it. I wasn't like full on crying but you could hear my voice quiver a lot, and my eyes were red. My manager was very understanding. She told me that im not in trouble, and then she sent me home, and told me to come back tomorrow (today). I feel terrible, and im embarrassed to go back to work. I've had a lot of jobs, and this has never happened, although I've never worked in customer service before this job.

[Telekinetic-Potato]

Restaurants aren't for everyone. And it's a place that has a culture of bragging, no saying anything is difficult for you, in fact there's something you have to be almost the best in the whole store at.

It's a team sport and everyone is relying on and expecting eachother to perform otherwise there's usually no one person it can all fall on. This is what makes it so different from a corporate or office job.

So I wouldn't beat myself up too bad. Take it as a sign that you need to work on your mental fortitude a bit, probably work in a slower environment where you can go back and fix mistakes. Or you could work in law enforcement where more often than not, you don't even need to do that.

Jokes aside, a busy McDonald's can be a lot for someone with anxiety problems.

If you want to try overcoming this challenge, I'll say I've seen multiple people start out like you and go on to do well.

Just know how you're feeling is normal, do your best to be pleasant to work with (positivity) learn time management. Watch how your coworkers manage stress. Subtle things like where they put straws, how they stand so they can see a screen, grab the food and pass it out without moving too much.

And ya everyone comes at the same time. A place like McDonald's I'm sure can be just constant moving for 5+hrs at a time. You wouldn't be human if it didn't stress you out 😂. And in my opinion the fact you said it makes you pissed makes me think you can do it.

Pissed is anger, and for me, I get angry at myself or the situation and I spend my whole however long it takes to figure out how can I do better. You have to care to get pissed and people will respect that about you even if you're not the strongest worker.

[ammar12343]

Yes. At 34 you should be able to maintain a certain level of stoicism during stressful situation. Maybe I’m insensitive having been in the military, but you should be able to handle McDonald’s. At the end of the day, women want a man who can lead during any situation. A rock they can lean on. If you can’t handle McDonald’s then what are you going to do when shit hits the fan such as a violent situation or a high stress situation that needs quick decisions. This isn’t to roast you but to give you real feedback so that you can improve and work on it. If you have an anxiety disorder, then work on it. Don’t just accept that.

[HollyK21]

If I were you I’d be more worried about the damage I’m doing to my resume. How many other jobs do you think will hire you as you get older and have no real experience anywhere? All you have is a trail of jobs you leave, now here’s another, no notice, just up and go. Fast food is usually either a first job out of high school or a last resort as an adult. If you blow this I don't know who would hire you next, maybe a janitor.

[supercutebutt]

That job might not be for you. Would you consider being a camboy? There are sites where men will tip you to show your privates. Either that, or maybe mow some lawns or something like that?

[MountainMetal]

You have an anxiety disorder and you are working in an intense unpredictable environment. That's not weakness, thats incompatibility. I would move out of food service in general as you need a surplus of composure to succeed. And i would stop worrying about what others think about you, the only person you need to convince that you are strong is yourself.

[Theunfadeable]

That shit is weak. You gotta learn to be much stronger than that. McDonald’s is no one’s dream job and I think we’ve all had to deal with jobs that are an ideasuffering through stuff like that build character, teachers, to be more flexible forces you to learn skills that allow you to be a successful elsewhere. if you can’t make it through one shift at McDonald’s you’re in for some severe problems Life is going to record to suffer through situations that are less than ideal.

[DishLady]

Look, crying is a natural part of life. Suppressing that would only have caused your anxiety to spike. I get it that guys don’t LIKE to cry bc they think it’s “weak” or whatever, but I always say healthy is better than anxious and frozen by it.

[thegreenyogi]

You're not weak at all. It's simply a matter. of working in an environment that does not agree with you. And if something doesn't make you feel good make a change if you can.

[molonski2]

Think anyone who works for an organisation that kills individuals slowly , they should be constantly crying , I feel sorry for the fat fools buying it.

Find something else with some meaning.

[Unycorn]

No. I would never work there. Not everyone work is for everyone.

Stand up and find a better work.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

That does make you look weak. You should have quit after your shift.

Anyways get you an easy pace job, maybe like Wal-Mart working the isles or something overnight at some building were is far more easier for you.

[andreasderjuengere]

Yes, you are. Grow up 🫠

[Mike_Hum]

yeah, you are.

[dragoblack]

No. Fast-food is an abusive industry