[Celyn]

Sorry to hear that you are having a hard time at work and are thinking of quitting. It's definitely worth trying to have other things lined up before/if you decide to quit.

It definitely sounds like house/pet sitting is something you are interested in trying and perhaps may be a way of earning some money on the side. Unfortunately, you won't be able to avoid your trigger (black cats) but you can try to ground yourself and bring yourself into the present. While the cat might remind you of your own which you sadly can't be with, you can still provide the much needed love and care to the cat in your care. If, afterwards, you feel the need to cry, that's okay too.

How is the TA course going? Did you cope well with any triggers that arose?

It makes sense that you may have started out really interested as a teacher's aide and then decided maybe it wasn't a good match for you. It is hard trying to work in an area that is potentially triggering. I'm not sure what it's like where you are, but sometimes employers may ask about health issues so that they can accommodate you if need be. That said, it makes sense that you would be wary when you have been told that it's illegal to ask these things, especially if it's triggering and could even be used to discriminate. Also, for some people, it can be difficult transition from 10 hours to 32 hours, more so when you aren't used to it and can't slowly increase your hours.

When you are first starting out with finding work, it makes sense that you may not stay in jobs for long before switching to work that you are more interested in, better suited to etc. In the long term, if you are constantly changing job roles quickly, it may not look so good on a CV as employers may feel that you are indecisive. You mention that you were working for an agency so it's likely that many agency workers change jobs (as they may be on temporary contracts as opposed to permanent jobs).

It's okay if you don't want to talk to the family about your exact circumstances. If you want to be honest, you could just be vague and say that the job didn't work out or it fell through but you are still looking anyway. Remember, it's your life and you don't owe anyone an explanation for your work or personal life.