I don't know what's wrong with my brain Few days ago i posted here, and started to talk with few people. There's is one guy we talked a lot on the first day, somehow i feel I'm very interested in him or even have a crush on him. But i didn't really know him, what he looks like what's his personality etc. These days i keep thinking of him wish he could come and chat with me. But clearly i feel he doesn't show much interest. He talked less and less. There is also time difference between us. When i try to do my own things i just couldn't focus. Couldn't start learning the videos i have saved, just think they are too long to finish. Though i know everything is done little by little. I realized i have always been staying at my comfortable zone. I even watched Harry Potter for three or four times. I just keep watching things I'm used to without interacting with new things and people. And i think it makes me more afraid of going out or learning new things. Back to point, is it normal to easily like someone and what should I do to focus on myself more? It's really sad to lay my happiness on someone who doesn't care.

When I was 8 my dad was killed in Afghanistan now I'm 18 and I have a drinking habit and i want to now how to stop

The last couple months I've noticed a decline in my sense of self, I don't know who I am anymore, I'm so self conscious that I can barely function in social settings. I'm dating a girl who I love more than I ever thought I could love anyone, and I feel most comfortable around her usually but my texts and talking to her in general have become repetitive and kind of robotic, and I never know what to say. With other people(including my parents) I really struggle to keep a conversation going. I'm so burned out and whatever self esteem I had to begin with has gone to hell. I really genuinely hate myself for no decernable reason and I just can't get out of my own head. My girlfriend is really not doing good emotionally right now and I want to help her as much as I can but I feel so guilty cause it's not enough I want more than anything for her to be happy. I feel so lonely most days and I just feel like my social battery has permanently run out. I'm so stressed and I am frantically trying to find hobbies that make me happy and distracted and it half works but I have not much time in a week and I don't have motivation to do anything. I don't feel myself and I hate it so much. I have to be strong for the people around me so I don't want to talk about it much, whenever I do talk about something I feel the worst guilt because everyone else's problems seem so much worse and I want to help them get through it but I feel like I make things worse because I'm so awkward and can't communicate effectively most of the time. Sorry if this is incomprehensible to read idk what the fuck I'm doing this for anyway.

I’ve always known I also like girls (sexually) but felt imposter syndrome when calling myself bisexual because I had never actually dated one.

This summer I worked on a remote island with this girl who was super outgoing, loving, kind and environmentally friendly. We mindlessly flirted at work, but I was convinced it was just “good banter” until I realized I actually started kind of liking her. She found out through one of my friends and pursued me relentlessly.

I’ve never been treated so chivalrous, had such great communication, or have felt more sexy and loved in my life. She makes time for me, plans dates for us and treats me like an absolute princess.

I finally told my mom about her and she responded with “it’s just a phase, you’ll date a man again eventually” — while half of this statement could be true, it gave me the opportunity to educate her about her micro-homophobia. She has gay friends, just refuses to have a gay daughter. Her generation doesn’t understand. She also outed me to the rest of my family without letting me think about approaching it myself.

I moved home for a short period of time and my (not yet) girlfriend is back in BC, I’m super mentally unwell, but at least I have her to look forward to in a few weeks.

Thanks for listening 💌

i need help. i am gay and ive known this guy for about 2 months now and hes rlly cute but hes definitely straight. i know its disrespectful to like someone even though they dont have to same sexuality. and he keeps talking to me about how he just got a gf a week ago. im pretty sure hes homophobic also and i havent came out yet. i feel like a mess and i feel embarrassed and i have NO clue what to do.

As a kid I’ve always had problems listening and following directions. I would constantly go against authority

I got yelled at and in trouble constantly. By my mom, teachers, other adults.

My mom broke stuff in the house and would occasionally hit me. The yelling just never stopped. And I knew the problem was me and not my mom because I was a genuinely a bad kid. So everything she did was justified.

The yelling was so bad that we had multiple complaint from our neighbors.

I used to go to Saturday school, Quran classes and teachers would brutally yell at me in front of the entire class.

Teachers at school would also yell at me A LOT Usually boys get yelled at but I was the only girl getting into trouble.

and I genuinely did not know why I was constantly getting into trouble and it’s not like I wanted to upset anyone on purpose. It was something I couldn’t control.

Fast forward few years

• I’m 18
• I still go against authority and I don’t really like listening to anyone
• me and my mom still fight a lot
• I’m extremely lonely like VERY lonely. I don’t have a single friend. I’m very closed off, detatched, guarded, and I don’t like expressing emotions.
• I’ve been like this all throughout high school and now it’s affecting me a lot

Now im starting to wonder if I had any mental disorders or have. And was it because of my experiences as a child?

PLEASE HELP

More things about me:

• I’m extremely messy
• I’m very impatient and careless
• I am very impulsive and make rash decisions
• I say whatever is on my mind, I don’t think things through
• I have an extremely cynical view of other people. And I basically hate humans and human nature lol.
• I’m not nice to anyone, I only do things if they benefit me. I will never go out of my way for anyone
• I value efficiency, if it’s not required I won’t do it
• I think I’m better than everyone else and I think everyone is wrong and I’m always right

I feel like everyone just uses people for something

If they aren’t benefited directly from a person they won’t care.

Are people selfless or deep down they have their reasons for doing things to benefit themselves?

Instances:

• my roommate had to leave because she couldn’t afford to dorm. I was nice enough to let her stay even though she was supposed to leave because no one’s gonna check lol. But I soon came to realize that she was never my friend, she never even liked me I COULD TELL. she was just being nice so she could stay in my dorm. I kicked her out after realizing.

• my friend asks to hang out every Friday night. She only does this so she can send a picture of us to her mom as an alibi. She really is gonna go to a party and sneak out with her boyfriend.

• me and my friend were going to a concert. I literally bought her ticket. I was so excited. She bailed on me a day before the concert. She didn’t even pay me back.

No one tends to stay for long. People just come and go. I make a friend which I think is gonna last, we end up breaking connections after like 2 weeks and only sometimes it would go to a few months lol.

I don’t really have any friends atm. I never did for about 3 years. Now I’m just starting to think that nobody really has friends and there’s no concept of friends. Just people you know and can use later.

Sorry if this is extremely cynical but if you have anything to say on this please do.

As a 26 yr old woman, I'm wondering how men cope and handle their emotions and their feelings.

For me, crying is a response that I feel like I can't live without so I have a hard time understanding how a lot of men function without crying. It releases the emotions out from my body and helps me feel better. I've also learned about the phenomenon that emotions and traumas can build up in your body that you're not even aware of. Like how for women (maybe men too but i haven't looked into it) a lot of emotions can be trapped in your hips and i believe it after doing research and because it happens a lot in yoga and even to me I go to yoga on and off and with certain hip stretches, the waterworks just come out from my eyes and I feel so emotional. Not all the time, sometimes. It usually all gets released after 2-3 yoga classes and then I'm good until I have more emotions trapped and it gets released again.

I think for men it would be difficult because men are generally less flexible but can still gain benefits from yoga practice.

I feel like for me my emotions get released mostly from crying. Sometimes when I cry it's also releasing past stored emotions. Which is why sometimes I cry more than I should on something small. So I'm just wondering where men's emotions go if they don't cry? Do they just get stored in your body and keep building up? Maybe without even knowing or aware of it?

I have also heard that for a lot of men, sadness comes out in the form of anger instead of sadness because it's more "masculine". But the emotion their feeling inside is sadness but the reaction/response is anger.

Men of reddit, what do you do or feel when you're sad? Do you cry? If not, where do you're emotions go? What do you do to cope and heal? I'm very curious and trying to understand, thank you :)

Hi, I’m 27 (F, Indian, living in India). Last month, my boyfriend ended our relationship, saying his parents, who had initially supported our marriage, suddenly changed their minds. My family met him in August, but shortly after, my grandmother passed away. During that time, his parents were expecting a follow-up call from my family, which didn’t happen due to our grief. Now, they’ve decided not to proceed, saying they’re done waiting, and my ex says he’s realized he no longer has feelings for me.

I started therapy to cope and was beginning to move on. But today, after an argument, my mom asked me to leave. Though I’m financially independent, everything feels overwhelming. Has anyone else faced a similar situation, and how did you cope? Any advice would be appreciated.

I'm a 26f, I just want to start a conversation about this topic. I notice that objectively and physically speaking, the way I look and feel depends on how well I am.

I'm beautiful and glowing and smiling and my skin looks good and clear and fresh and my face and eyes are bright and gorgeous, hair full and shiny, and everything just looks so good when I'm in a good place and happy in life.

When im struggling, not doing well, depressed, stressed, or in a bad relationship, etc, I notice that my skin looks awful, my face looks droopy, hair falling out, I physically feel bad, and I just look overall ugly and unhappy. Thoughts?

I'm just not in the best place right now and I notice I'm not as attractive as I was before when I was happier.

How to deal with loneliness from all your friends being in College while you’re stuck behind?

Hello everyone, I graduated hs in May of this year and am planning on going into the trades. My friends all went to college, which is making me feel unbelievably lonely, they keep sending me pictures, videos, and other stuff telling me about how much fun they’re having and how they’re getting the college experience partying and all that.

I’m not getting any of that, I’m stuck at home working at a pizza place in a small dying town. I don’t mind working it’s one of the few things that makes me happy, but I hate how lonely I am. There’s no people here to make friends with, and I feel like a complete loser being all alone while my friends hangout and party.

I have no clue on how to handle this, I’ve drifted away from them in general and it’s driving me insane. There’s also the fact that I realistically know I’m never meeting a partner either in the trades because the trade I’m looking at less than 3% of the population is female and obviously since not going to college that isn’t an option.

I know it probably sounds dumb as shit to anyone who’s older than me (19) but it’s something that’s genuinely dragging me down. I don’t want to be lonely, I want to party like people my age, I want to go out and meet girls, but it just feels like that’s never going to happen.

(Why don’t you just go to their party’s? | Work and they’re at colleges about 2 hours away, plus they don’t invite me so there’s that.)

It's already been over a month since I was on a month long vacation with my two friends. Since then almost every aspec of my life changed and I don't feel like myself anymore. I thought it was vacation high and I would get back to normal, but I'm not sure anymore.

Don't get me wrong, almost all the changes are positive, like instead of gaming I'm running or going to gym, my apartment was never cleaner and I eat homemade food instead of ordering, but it's not me or at least doesn't feel like it.

All these changes also contribute to me loosing those mentioned friends. We were big gaming buddies, but now I'd rather spend my time on another activity, but I really miss them. I tried to convince them to join me in other activities outside of gaming, but with no success. We still go out sometimes, but not as often as I would like and it's getting harder to convince them.

I understand that if I didn't get used to my new me myself then I can't expect them to do the same and I can't go back, because I'm not him anymore, but I'm just really scared of who will I become and being alone again....

I don't know how to move on from my girlfriend, whom I broke up with two years ago, since every time I go anywhere, I can't help but be reminded of her. In my mind, I keep seeing her with a new guy, which makes the pain much worse. I know I have my entire life ahead of me because I'm only 17, but she was a major part of my teenage years. When we first met at the age of 15. Help me stop thinking about her and becoming jealous, please.

Hello, so I’m turning 30 tomorrow. I’m married to my husband who’s in another country and the visa processes are in the works. The past few weeks have been challenging for me. With my two sisters migrating to two different countries. And I’ve been feeling a lot of pain lately in my heart. A kind of pain I cannot explain. I live with my mum currently and knowing I will be leaving her alone soon is breaking my heart daily. And I’m having some communication difficulties with my husband cause idk how to explain how I feel when I’m so overwhelmed with how I’m feeling. My husband does care but not the way I would like to be cared of. I don’t blame him cause it’s his ways. So I’m just buried in work. I just keep working so I won’t feel that loneliness that I got no one to really share any of this with. So tomorrow I’m going to take a small solo travel to the beach side in my country to feel a bit free. Cause I don’t have anyone to celebrate it with here. I don’t want to celebrate with my mom alone in our house cause that’s just sad. Like I didn’t expect I’d be home to celebrate my 30th. I just feel very lost this time. And blank. So blank. Just wanted to word vomit some things I’m feeling. That’s all. Good day all.

Hey, Reddit! 👋

So, I recently stumbled across this article that promised to help totally eliminate anxiety in just 7 days. As someone who has struggled with anxiety for years, I was curious (and honestly, a bit skeptical). But I thought, why not give it a shot?

Here's the challenge breakdown: each day, there’s a specific, practical activity to try. It’s like a mental detox, one small step at a time, but with a real purpose. From practicing gratitude to learning how to disconnect from the noise of life—each day felt like it was peeling back a layer of my anxious mind.

I won’t spoil all the details, but I’ll say this: it wasn’t magic, but it did change how I approached my anxiety. Some parts felt hard, some parts felt easy, but every day taught me something about myself.

If anxiety has been a pain point in your life, or you just want to try some new tools to stay grounded, check this article out. It might just be the reset you didn’t know you needed. 😊

📖 Here’s the article if you want to dive in: The 7-Day Challenge to Totally Eliminate Anxiety

Has anyone else here tried similar challenges? Let’s hear your stories!

I know my opinion is going to be controversial, but I would just like to share my story and more food for thought.

I am 35 y / o and have been on a self-help journey for the last 15 years. Last month I started to observe people who are in my life. 5 friends & my family members - so I have known them 'my whole life.'

I asked myself, 'Where am I now vs them'? When we were 20, I started self - a self-help journey, and they didn't. I was on this 'great path' vs them. I had everything set up great for myself.

15 years later, I am more or less at the same place. My friends all 'improved' in life. I started to analyze 'What was the difference?'.

I heard so many times comments, 'There is a difference between ACTION and just a THOUGHT. The difference was/is that for the last 15 years, I accumulated useless knowledge - that can't be implemented effectively in life.

Self Help got me in this cycle, whatever problem I have, 'I need to fix it,' 'I need to analyze,' 'I need to find why I feel this way,' 'I need to control my thoughts,' etc. - we can use whatever here.

A few months ago, I lost my job. I overcomplicate what needs to be done. It's been 2 months of unsuccessful search. My friend got it in 1 week. I know there is also a luck factor, but what was 'the difference?'.

Well, when he faced the situation of losing his job, his next action was to call/send a CV. My reaction was 'Self Pity Party for 1 month' - because 'I need to lift myself'. In reality, I don't need to lift myself. I just need to do s***.

Self Help is this feeling that 'I am doing something for my life,' but in reality, it is a 'pointless act.'

Why I believe it's hard to implement it in life? Example: setting up goals - it's great, but we don't know each step that needs to be taken to reach the goal. If we need to have a step for everything, we just end up in a 'cycle of gathering more information'.

If I take example of my friend. When he faced the situation of losing his job, he felt horrible and was depressed for 1 week, but he took action. Because he was not 'worried' about all the steps. Some things in life are just 'luck'; we don't control everything. He does not have this knowledge of 'Analyze why you feel this way and that BS'. He didn't spend 1 month creating a 'perfect plan', but he started 'doing' - even If he didn't know what the next step was going to be.

Comment below if you feel the same. 👇

So my sister,her boyfriend and I all went out to drink for Halloween. After two drinks we were. Completely done for the night, we ended up getting over served, my sister and her boyfriend have been fighting the last few days because he’s really not into the relationship suddenly and she just wants to make it work and he has made it clear his priorities are himself then his feelings before anything else. Theyve been together for a year and just I got into a fight with him cuz she blacked out from the amount of alcohol and tried to move her and she threw up so he left her where I was also just as drunk and tried to help her. She was crying saying she just wanted her boyfriend to take care of her and I got fed up and asked him what is he was doing, does he not care that she’s passed out In Her own puke etc. His response was that I was taking care of her so he doesn’t have anything to do with it. I got fed up and told him I’m sick and tired of how he’s treating her and what is he going to do. I don’t know what to do now. It hurts me because I know it’s going to hurt her when she realizes the fight that happened when she blacked out and I’m just at a loss for everything. She’s insisting he’s the one and nothing will ever be the same because of his attitude and she’s just as lost.

I've spent the last 20 years on self-improvement. It was rough. I won't go into details, but I've gone from being a loser living in my moms literal basement to having what many find an enviable life. I own a business, have great relationships, have traveled the world, etc, etc.

I'm at a point where I want to help others.. not just *want* to.. but I don't feel like there is anything else meaningful for me to do.

And yet, despite all the self-improvement content and forums out there, I'm lost as to how to personally be involved and make a difference.

I have answered people's questions on this and other subs, but most people are not serious about change, and are just there to vent. I've started making content on YT, but the algorithms love lowest-common-denominator, tell-them-what-they-want-to-hear, entertaining nonsense.. and I'm just no willing to demean myself to create that.

I find the most satisfaction in offering one-on-one mentorship (or coaching, or whatever you want to call it), but it seems to be an extremely tough sell.. even when offer to give it away for free! There are so many coaches/mentors/gurus etc out there, and they are so good at marketing b.s., that it's very difficult to be found.

My apologies if this comes off as a bit of rant. I don't mean it that way.

I'd love to have some answers from the self-improvement community on *any* of these questions:

1. Has anyone here managed to turn their self-improvement journey into a meaningful vocation?
2. Of the people who are working on self-improvement, how many are seriously invested, and how many are just looking to blow off steam?
3. Does anyone have suggestions for me, personally, as to how I might proceed?

I am extremely guarded and closed off. I’ll admit I act like a jerk a lot and I completely detracted from my emotions. If I feel pain I won’t tell anyone and I won’t acknowledge it . I’m also extremely lonely.

I don’t know why I’m like this but it’s been going on for 3 years and I’ve just accepted that it’s who I am.

I didn’t grow up with any trauma in my life and I haven’t experienced anything near death nor did I have an abusive childhood.

But I kinda wish I did so I would have justification to why I am like this. And as sadistic as it sounds, I think having trauma and persevering is so cool and badass. It also gives a person character and a cool story to tell lol.

So yes I kind of wish I had trauma.

I’ve wrote a post about this before but I have an unhealthy obsession with a fictional character. Levi Ackerman from aot. I’ve kind of developed a lot of his habits like being stoic and blunt. The only difference between me and him is that he grew up with trauma and he has a reason for acting so closed off (because he lives in a literal war zone lol) . I don’t nor have I been in a situation like that and now I feel like I just act stupid. And for some reason I want trauma to be closer to his character.

Sometimes I dream of being in an alternate reality or a different verse where I was in a near death experience kind of like a zombie apocalypse or even aot itself lol. Life just is so boring. I mean the cycle of life like growing up going to school, getting married, getting. A job, starting a family, etc.

It would be cool to be in a situation where my flight or fight response would kick in with endless amounts of adrenaline and dopamine.

I know it sounds silly but it’s an actual problem and PLEASE if you have any advice help me out.

I am an 18 yr old female in her freshman year of college to give perspective.

hey guys, I really have no idea what to do or who to talk to about this, but I've been dating a girl for a few months now and I'm pretty serious about her. for context me and her met in university in our first year and for my second University I transferred to another country in another timezone. my girlfriend never used to go out clubbing before but this weekend she's just been going on and on about going clubbing with people I dislike. I try my best not to say no to her, but seeing her prioritize going out with friends and shopping for her club nights and other bs like that makes my whole body feel extremely weird. I won't deny that I am extremely possessive over her but my whole body feels like Its screaming at me to ask her not to go out tonight and I have a terrible feeling about it. but for some reason I just don't wanna say no. I want her to decide not to go out on her own accord even though every single bone in my body says I should tell her not to go out, I find myself unconsciously expressing disdain for the fact that she's going out, but when she asks how I feel about it I say "no baby go" "have fun" "ill be asleep anyway we won't be talking" am I overthinking like crazy or should I trust my gut????

What is a sound? The notion of sound and how it travels and impacts the human brain are covered in detail in this article. What is Sound? The Science of Sound - Musicenergetics

I feel like a real piece of shit—and I was! And I also know that wallowing in that feeling isn't helpful to the person I hurt (with whom I'll be having an extended break of contact) nor to myself, and I gotta get a grip. Looking for ways to stop myself when I start spiraling in my thoughts and also maybe what to do if I'm concentrating on something else and I notice the guilty feelings creeping up. Thanks!

i don't know if this is where I should be posting, but I could really use some tips or advice.

I know logically that people aren't attacking me when they give criticism, they are trying to help. but I tend to shut down and feel like a failure when they do.

I don't want to blame my childhood for my problems now, but after getting in a fight with my boyfriend I had some reflection about this.

I realized the feelings i struggle with feels very much like when my parents would sit me down and scold me for failing to keep up with chores/schoolwork or for my attitude.

just so much pressure to reach their standards, but I'm just a failure and a disappointment.

I really want to grow into a better person, but I just don't know where to start.

For past few months IAM dealing with some sort of false memory. Few months back I had a thought that earlier in my life I believed that I have done something inappropriate with someone and that thought didn't appeared in my lifetime again. I remember that at that time this was a vague thought but at now at this point in life when it came in to my mind evidences suggested that it didn't happened like I believed earlier it was something less inappropriate and that less inappropriate thing didn't ever poped in my mind too but I definitely know that that less Inappropriate thing happend which resonates with the inappropriate thing, every environmental memory which was linked to my thought about inappropriate thing was present in that less inappropriate act. So I gathered evidences in my mind about this that instead of that inappropriate thing less inappropriate thing happened and I have no memory of that how inappropriate thing happend executed and I imagined different scenarios linked to inappropriate thought and I concluded that it doesn't happened becase that thing was kinda impracticable too.

But what if scenarios keeps popping in my mind that what is that inappropriate thing is true. Secondly since iam overthinking a lot about this thing so the evidence about that I have no memory of this thing , due to overthinking it is erasing the line between real and false memory because I have been continously thinking about this for past many months Thirdly I gathered a evidence since it didn't popped up in my mind in my life so it is false memory but what if scenario arises that what about that thought your thought earlier for example due to which that inappropriate thing thought might have resurfaced earlier.

I hope I have explained well my scenario I am desperate want to come out of this loop and scenarios which is disturbing me a lot I can't sleep I can't focus on my tasks in night I cry a lot due to overthinking and depression. Please please someone help me or share if someone had same experiences.

Everything started 5 months ago when I saw her at uni and started talking to her. Over the summer, we chatted every single day, she told me a lot about herself and so did I. We had great time, even though it was only over internet, because we lived in different cities and we could not get together. She goes to the same Uni as me, and we have a tone of things in common, and when I say it, I MEAN it. She is me and I am her. But this last month was tough. She is holding back, idk why. And it is so frustrating. Firstly, she barely texted, well I always started conversations and it was not a change, that I did not text her for a day and she texted first, I thought this was an amazing sign. But lately, she's been replying to my texts coldly, like she says bare minimum. I went out with her once, but after that, she rejected me 3 times, yea, I know, 3 is way too much. Note that she was acting this way before we went out. She had grate time and so did I. But now, she literally does not text me anymore. I texted her something today, and only thing she said was: "nope". She could have said soo much more, and I know she would do so in the past, but know she chose only that. She is sending mixed signals, Our 109 Tik-Tok streak ended because I did not text her first. I thought she was done with me, but she restored it, like why? I know some might say this is childish but it is not. I genually like her, she is also not type of girl who dates every other boy every other week, and I am feeling bad. If she does not like me, I at least want to know that. I know that not everybody will feel the same as you do towards them, she is very good girl and I genually wish the best for her, but if there is a chance of me being with her, I would take that chance. But if tehre is not, I would at least like to know that, so I can start moving on, because this is eating my brain, and I am too young, there are many things I need to get done. My life will turn over if I do not get this situation sorted out. What would yall recommend, cause I really do not know what to do right now. She with her mixed signals is driving me crazy. oagbipqekgnpiqnfingf.

Thanks for staying <3.

You know that nagging “What if?” feeling that creeps up at the weirdest times? I just read an article that dives into when those everyday jitters are actually waving a big red flag at you. Spoiler: constant anxiety isn’t just “part of adulting.”

The article breaks down some eye-openers, like:

• Why your brain sometimes acts like it’s training for the Anxiety Olympics 🥇
• How it’s not normal for random stress to mess with your sleep, social life, and focus all the time
• Tips on spotting when anxiety is crossing the line and what to do about it before it gets worse

This hit home for me because it’s easy to brush off anxiety as “just stress,” but sometimes, it’s worth taking a closer look. If you’re finding anxiety creeping into every corner of life, this might be a solid read. Here’s the link if you want to check it out!

Link to the Article

I hate everyone. I get pissed looking at people especially girls my age they act so dumb and foolish.

My college roommate was a dumb foolish girl I wanted her to leave so I found a way. She created a huge mess and stank up the entire place. I'm a bad person. I act like a jerk towards others. I am emotionless and I don't feel any empathy for others. I push others away and always have my guard up.

I don't ever show my emotions and if I do I find a way to shut it off right away.

My face is always monotone and I rarely show any expression. I speak in a very harsh and blunt way. I know I have a problem. I am extremely lonely. But I just can't make a friend or let people get close to me.

I’m not going to therapy because I don’t want to make it an official problem. I’m not one of those sad emo kids that mopes around and plays the victim. I’m stronger than that.

Another thing: A lot of people talk about the 48 laws of power. It's a toxic book I know but it will help me forget about my loneliness issue. Is this true? Please help

I graduated high school four years ago, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life until later. I started community college at 21M but wasn’t taking it seriously. Now, I’m 23, about to turn 24, and I’m finally on the right path. I know exactly what I want to do, and I’m passionate about it. My only concern is whether I’ll be able to land a job after graduating, as I’ve never had a job in my life before. I also didn’t do that well in school in the past, but I’m currently fixing my GPA. The semester is almost over, and based on how well I’m doing now, I should end up with a GPA around 3.0. I’m hoping this will give me a shot at landing an interview or a job through a co-op or internship.

To give you more context, I’m majoring in software development at a community college that has a great program. From what I’ve heard, a decent number of students land jobs through the program. But I’ve also heard that some students go through the whole curriculum without getting a single co-op or job. That’s what concerns me—whether I’ll even be able to land a job, or if I’ll end up needing more time in college, potentially graduating when I’m 27. I know it’s my own path, and I shouldn’t care about that stuff, but mentally it does affect me. It makes me feel like I wasted my life in the past. I kind of beat myself up about it, and I know I need to work on being kinder to myself.

Currently, I’m taking two online web classes, which aren’t live, so I don’t even get to see or interact with anyone—not even a teacher. I could reach out to them if needed, but I’m mostly home all day since the classes are online. On top of that, I don’t have a driver’s license, so I feel even more isolated.

For the past four years, I’ve essentially been home every single day. I can literally count on one hand the number of times I’ve left the house this year. My daily routine is wake up, study or do schoolwork if needed, play video games, maybe work out a little, and then I’m back at it the next day. I don’t have any friends, and I haven’t had a girlfriend since eighth grade. I also realized the friends I had in high school weren’t really friends, so I’ve been completely isolated for years.

What makes things worse is that I sometimes find myself looking at the social media of people I knew from high school—people I used to like or considered friends. I see them enjoying life, graduating, having careers, starting families, or just living a fun and carefree life. There was even a girl I had a crush on who now owns a successful business and has a kid. I want to stop reminiscing about these people and what’s going on in their lives. I want to move on completely and forget about them because I’m sure they don’t even think about me. Living like this, being home all day and seeing these things, makes me feel like I’m stuck and unable to progress in my own life.

On top of all that, I’ve struggled with a porn addiction in the past, which made me feel even more depressed because I didn’t have any real connection with anyone. It used to be a lot worse, but it’s gotten better. I’ll go long periods without it, but it’s still something I find difficult to completely stop, especially with the way my life is right now—isolated, no friends, no social interactions. I don’t want to feel this way anymore.

I’m tired of living this way. I’m tired of just playing games, scrolling social media, and feeling like I’m wasting my life. I feel like I’ve lost touch with what it’s like to actually interact with people my age, and it’s starting to affect my mental health. I’m not a weird person, and I think I can hold great conversations when I meet people. I’ve even been told I’m good-looking and in shape, so it’s not that I lack confidence—I just don’t know where to start.

I want to meet people, create new connections, and have a more fulfilling life. I’m not looking for long-lasting friendships right away, just the opportunity to meet people consistently and start getting out of this routine. What can I do to improve my situation and make my life more meaningful? I’m productive at home, I study hard, and I take care of myself, but I’m stuck in this loop of never leaving the house or having any social interaction.

Please, any advice would be appreciated. I just want to figure out how to make things better and start living again.

So I have a overwhelming urge, desire, passion to wanna make a impact with my story!! I have a strong message and don’t shy away from any opportunity to share it when asked. I have told my story as a inmate to inmates, was part of the scared straight program as a inmate to high school students headed down the wrong path. I have brought meetings into juvenile correctional facilities and shared my story, and have spoken in rehabs.

I have a powerful message of hope, a message that shows the power of resilience and how unconditional love was everything I needed to turn someday into day one!! I have survived through alot of hard times, I have been in the system since I was 13, hung out with the wrong crowd, started using drugs at a early age, battled substance abuse most my life, have been shot, stabbed, between the age of 25-35 I did 7 1/2 years in jail, joined a prison gang, survived cancer, and out of all that, it was nothing compared to the narcissistic abuse I barely escaped with my life!! I made thru all that for 1 reason, and that’s my son!!

I believe I made it through all that to help others who can relate to anything I share in my story, and I genuinely care about people struggling to hold on, I absolutely love to see people win!! I go into every speaking engagement with the hope that what I have to say registers with just one person, that’s one life that hopefully got talked off the ledge!!

I don’t know how to start, how to make this my life, how to get plugged in with people to make this happen. I’m dying to find a mentor, someone who knows how to push me in the right direction, who will show me the ropes. I don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on this course or that course, I am a single father who is barely getting by, and without help am afraid that I’ll never get a chance to see how impactful my story really is!! I’m not looking for any hand outs, I’m ready and willing to work harder than anything I have ever worked for in my life, none of it would be work, it’s my passion!!

Please if yall can help me out, point me in the right direction, it would mean the world to me and the payout on the investment is well worth it!!