Mixed up, confused, stressed...

I had something similar a few years ago when I had a job. I worked 40 hours a week (luckily no weekends mostly) and I had early and late shifts as well.

Though at some point I asked my supervisor if it were possible to work 4 instead of 5 days for a while. They weren't to happy with it, but if I ended up being stressed and all cause of my work I either need another job or just need to cut back on hours.

And while I can understand that your boss wont give you an extra (unpaid) day off, couldn't you look for a different job? Are you under contract? If you're not, I guess it makes it easier for you to leave the job anyway.

I don't know how temp agencies over there work, but seeing you work 40 hours based on a 7 day work week, it might be easier to reach them when they're open. Working from monday to friday clearly is a bigger strain on that, especially when your hours are the same as from those agencies.

I am only a temp and the worst thing is, this is the best job I have ever had and don't want to leave / loose the job. I currently work for TfL (Transport For London), I have never been paid so well and if I go permanent, I get a free travel card for me and a family member (saving me around ?50 odd a week) and lots of other bonus'

I also find job hunting and such the most stressful thing ever and not having many qualifications, it's really hard for me to get interviews and I find them quite hard too. It's all a bit crap, I don't wanna go anywhere really but want to lighten my working week.

ARGH!

Well, I don't know how well you get along with your supervisor or anyone else you can talk to, to express your concern a bit. I don't think it would hurt even to look up the people from the temp agency that set you up, express your problems to them and see what they say.

I don't think anyway should just be put to work and "just deal with it". If you're unhappy you should be able to speak your mind to someone who is related to the job and can offer ideas or solutions.

On the board we can offer you some advice, but that's all it is. Agencies or supervisors usually get a lot more done than anyone remotely from the internet

I have been in your shoes and I know what it is like to break down on the job because of stress. I also know what it is like not to have very many options financially.

But--it sounds like you are in desperate need of what we call "a mental health day". A day when you are not really sick but you just have to get away from work for about 24 hours. I am telling you this because I have been there. I've also seen co-workers break under stress. One had to go to an "in-patient" treatment center for a couple of weeks due to depression and other problems caused by work.

I'd talk to the temp agency and see what your options are (I realize they may be limited). Listen, stress can be a killer. It can shorten your life. I don't know about you but I am the kind of person that tends to push too hard, work too hard, because I feel vulnerable due to my Aspergers and I dare not show weakness. I keep saying like the horse in "Animal Farm", "I must work harder, I must work harder." And he did, right up the ramp to the truck that took him to the slaughterhouse! I felt guilty about even taking breaks. Now that I have a repetitive motion injury in my hands, I can't work at the same killing pace. Sometimes (forgive me if this isn't the case with you) we can be our own worst enemy. When I had my breakdown at work my supervisors sent me home for a few days. They kept telling me that it wasn't a punishment, that I had just pushed myself to the limit. (I'd been telling them that for quite a while but they wouldn't listen.)

I'd just hate to see you snap and end up losing your job.