I left it for academia. It has been a financial struggle ever since, as I held fairly high-level positions that paid well into the six figures. You would laugh if you knew what I made now.
I didn't like working for other people, either, so that part is good. Academia has a very hands-off position for its teachers.
I left because the work, despite being demanding, was not intellectually challenging. At least that is not a problem in academia.
I left by going back to school. The transition was corporate America, then school, then university teaching.
As I said, though, the biggest problem has been financial. I did not want to leave my home, which is in an expensive area so I have the expenses of someone who makes a lot more money than I do now.
Another problem, much smaller, has been the lack of recognition in my new job. In my old job, my ideas and work yielded a good deal of financial success for the companies I worked for and they rewarded me accordingly. Now I'm in a union and my pay raises depend on what we negotiate. If you do something spectacular, they barely even notice.
The big payoff, however, has been the emotional level, as you put it. It is so much better. Gone are the horrible dysfunctional stretches. Now I am happy every day when I go to work. I find myi work rewarding, fulfilling, and fun. I wouldn't part with it for anything.
Good luck to you!
Cher