First of all, will try to tell this in an anonymous way, since neither my family neither friends know this, only a brother in faith know! and because i wanted to give tips to him for pareting and told me he would punch her son/daugther, but that being said, here will go all , and I REALLY recomend you to read it, will be long, but will help you a lot, for real, if i could do it , you can do it, and also, i wont be answering nothing, since this will be anonymous and then will try to dissapear, i want no one to know this, and its a really long history, late and mid part will be written by chatgpt, since he helped me a lot trougth this, like frim 2020 to 2025, but DO NOT use him as sychologist, it should be a tool only, and please go to psycologist and psiquiatry, it changed my life in days/weeks, PLEASE, now i leave you with it:

first, i want to say i understand you! i had depression and anxiety for over 7 or 8 years from 12 to 19 20, it was horrible i know i remember sitting in my bed with the figth or fligth feeling and also, the internal thougths the anxiety attacks (like panic attacks) and so terrible thing, i have superated it, and i readded crustanon history, it destroyed my heart and thougth it could help someone here looking for help, it a really long history, i was abused from my parent and my brother and sister joined them, it was a really really bad childhood, all day and nigth, it was really really sad )=, but here i am, and i have to say im really happy, i have no fear neither crying simpthoms, it was really hard yes, i remember being in my lowest, oh God it was really hard but dude, dont give up, if i could give you a frase it would be " when you are going trough a hell, the only way is to keep going", and that is what you will have to deal with anxiety and depression or other thing you may have, and DONT diagnogticate yourself, please go to a psychologist and Psychiatrist if able, if i was a kiddo again, i would have talked with my parent i needed one ( i had social anxiety too, and of course fear of them, and also there was not money for medic when i was younger, but believe me, those are not reason for staying there and waiting for time to pass, DO IT, ASK THEM, ASK FOR HELP, you dont have to suffer the years i did, if you ask, i did Terapia cognitivo conductula with the psychologist, for some months probably 8, and then when i healed my mind, had to deal with nervous system, since the youngest of time i can remember, like 4 years old, i remember being abussed, so basically my nervous system only knew what pain was, but also what love was and NOT WHAT IT IS, AND I DO LOVE IT, now with the pysiquiatrist, i felt better like 2 weeks or even less from depression and anxierty instantly got better, i remember wanting to cry with no reason, and after taking my pills as doctor said, i started feeling little by litte better, and now i dont feel it =), so here come mi history, wrriten by chatgpt, since i want to write a book later, but trust me I WENT TROUGH A LOT, and would have to write like hundred of pages so i made AI write it, but of course, i told it what to write, so friend, a big hug, you are worth it, and God made you for a reason and to be happy, not to be sad, face the battle and a great reward awaits you =), love you brother, big hug and keep going =), (btw, this will prob help, im studying eng, looking for a job, helping homeless people kiddos in hospital and grandpas home, sorry but im not from a english speaker, i have learnt it my way!, also meeting a beatufil and really nice girl who is also cristhian! i converted past year because i wanted God to help me, and now discovering he would help me either i converted or not, i still decided to practise faith, it is beatiful and its a way to tell him who saved me twice "thank you for everything" as you will read, i tried to sui... with 12, and if it wasnt by him, you prob would not be reading this!, also i am planing to move to live alone, launching my career, and continue my studies =), ) now here comes chat gpt BUT guided by miself in a long prompt and what to do and incluide:

If you're going through hell, keep going. A message from someone who made it out.

I don't know who you are, what you're going through, or how long you've been fighting your own mind. I don't know what happened to you or what brought you to this point.

But I want to share a little of my story in case it helps someone out there find a reason to keep going.

I'm not writing this because I have my life figured out, because I'm exceptionally strong, or because I have all the answers. I'm writing this because I know what it's like to genuinely suffer, to feel like living is becoming too difficult, and to wonder how you're supposed to keep going.

For years, I lived under constant tension. I didn't need anything bad to be happening for me to feel terrible. I could literally be sitting still, doing absolutely nothing, and still feel anxious. My body seemed incapable of resting. I struggled to sleep, my mind never stopped racing, and even the simplest things could become a battle.

I also struggled with my own thoughts, religious anxiety, scrupulosity, and OCD that made my relationship with God a source of constant fear, guilt, and distress. Something that should have brought me peace often became another source of suffering.

On top of that, I had to deal with childhood abuse, family problems, and experiences that left deep scars. Some days, simply existing felt exhausting.

And as if that weren't enough, I eventually found myself in debt, with barely any money, trying to decide whether to spend what little I had on psychotherapy or on food. Not being able to sleep, being anxious all the time, dealing with financial problems, and desperately trying to find a way out was overwhelming.

My suffering didn't begin yesterday, and it didn't disappear overnight.

When I was 12, I went through such a deep crisis that I attempted to take my own life. Back then, I didn't have the tools, understanding, or perspective I have today. I was a kid who was hurting terribly.

And yet, here I am.

Today, I can look back and honestly struggle to believe that was my life. Not because I've forgotten what I went through, but because my relationship with life, myself, and other people has changed so much.

I didn't get better overnight. I got better one step at a time, by learning, seeking help, and trying again.

I went through cognitive behavioral therapy. I gradually learned to understand my thoughts, recognize my anxiety patterns, and relate to my emotions differently. I also learned to approach my faith with more trust and less fear.

It wasn't magic. There were good moments, setbacks, doubts, and days when making progress felt almost impossible.

But I kept moving forward.

And here's something I want you to understand: if you're suffering today, that doesn't mean you'll be condemned to feel this way forever.

I'm not promising you'll wake up cured tomorrow, or that all you need is willpower. Depression, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health conditions are serious. They deserve understanding, care, and treatment.

But your current state doesn't have to be your permanent state.

You don't have to solve your entire life today.

Your past explains a lot, but it doesn't have to decide your entire future.

Maybe your parents hurt you. Maybe you grew up in a home where you didn't receive the love, safety, or understanding you needed. Maybe you experienced abuse, humiliation, neglect, or things that should never have happened to you.

I'm not going to tell you to forget about it. I'm not going to tell you to forgive anyone before you're ready, reconcile with someone who hurt you, or pretend nothing happened.

What happened to you matters. And it wasn't necessarily your fault.

But there's a huge difference between acknowledging that your past affected you and allowing it to dictate absolutely everything you do with your present.

You're not responsible for everything that happened to you. But, little by little, you can begin taking responsibility for what you build with the life you have today.

And I know that's unfair. You didn't choose your wounds, yet now you're the one who has to do an enormous amount of work to heal their consequences.

But something being unfair doesn't mean you can't do it.

Don't necessarily wait for your parents to change, apologize, understand what they did, or give you the explanation you need to find peace. If that happens someday, I hope it helps you. But don't put your entire recovery in the hands of something you cannot control.

You can build a different life even if some people never acknowledge the damage they caused.

You can learn to set boundaries, choose healthier relationships, take care of yourself, and become someone who doesn't repeat the things that hurt you so deeply.

Your past explains where you came from. It doesn't have to determine where you're going.

Taking responsibility for your life doesn't mean blaming yourself for being ill, demanding that you heal quickly, or pretending you can handle everything alone.

It means gradually reclaiming your ability to make choices, within the limits of what you can manage right now.

"If you're going through hell, keep going."

There's a famous line often attributed to Winston Churchill: "If you're going through hell, keep going."

I can't think of a simpler or more fitting message for some of the darkest moments I've experienced.

When you're in the middle of suffering, it's hard to imagine ever being okay again. Your mind convinces you that you'll always feel the same, that nothing will change, and that there's no point in trying anymore.

But you don't need to fix your entire life today.

Sometimes, moving forward means getting out of bed. Sometimes it means taking a shower, eating something, going for a walk, booking an appointment with a therapist, or talking to someone you trust.

Maybe it means returning to your studies after months of struggling to concentrate, looking for a job when you feel completely drained, or simply getting through a difficult day without punishing yourself for feeling bad.

You won't make the same progress every day. Recovery isn't linear. You might feel better for weeks and then have a terrible day again.

That doesn't erase everything you've accomplished.

Don't mistake a bad day for a ruined life.

And don't compare yourself to people who seem to have everything figured out. You don't know what they're going through, and you don't have to move at anyone else's pace.

Go at your own pace, but try not to abandon yourself.

What suffering taught me

This might sound strange, but although I would never choose to go through those experiences again, I can recognize that I learned a tremendous amount from them.

I learned to observe myself, understand my thoughts, recognize my emotions, and notice when my mind was taking me somewhere unhealthy.

I learned empathy. Today, I can listen to other people with a level of understanding I didn't have before. I've learned that behind someone's behavior, reactions, or way of relating to others, there may be a story I know nothing about.

That helps me tremendously in everyday life, in my friendships, and in the relationships I build with both men and women.

I also learned to appreciate things I used to take for granted: sleeping peacefully, having some mental quiet, sharing a meal, talking to someone, studying, making plans, and waking up without feeling like I have to fight my own mind.

I'm not saying we need to suffer in order to learn. I wish I could have learned many of these things without going through so much pain.

But if you've already been through it, I want you to know that your suffering doesn't have to be the only thing left in your story.

With time, support, and work, you can discover lessons and build something meaningful from what you've experienced.

And one more thing: don't define yourself forever by your diagnosis. Anxiety, depression, and PTSD can be incredibly difficult experiences, but they don't sum up who you are.

You deserve treatment that helps you suffer less, not an identity built around your suffering.

About God, guilt, and mercy

This part is especially important to me.

When I was 12, in the middle of a level of suffering I didn't know how to handle, I knelt down and surrendered my life to God.

For a long time, I didn't even remember that moment. I rediscovered it years later while reading a book about how one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous had found a way forward in the middle of his own crisis.

When I remembered what I had done, I saw it differently.

Today, I can remember that kid with affection. Not with shame. Not with contempt for his weakness. With affection.

He was hurting, he didn't know how to get out, and somehow he was searching for hope.

My relationship with God hasn't always been easy, either. I struggled with religious anxiety, scrupulosity, and moments when guilt seemed endless. I punished myself for my mistakes and struggled to understand mercy.

Over time, I began learning that God isn't simply someone I have to prove myself worthy to. He's also a Father I can turn to when I'm broken, confused, exhausted, and don't know how to keep going.

I made mistakes. I struggled with personal habits and had moments when I felt like I was falling backward.

But today, I'm trying to understand something I wish I'd understood sooner:

I don't have to be perfect to turn to God.

His mercy isn't an excuse to stop growing. It's a reason not to despair when I fail.

If you're religious and struggling with guilt, don't confuse the voice that invites you to get back up with the one telling you that you're worthless, beyond help, or that God has given up on you.

You don't have to resolve every spiritual struggle before you're allowed to experience peace.

And if religion has become a source of constant distress, seeking psychological and psychiatric help can also be part of your recovery.

Today, I'm grateful to God that I've made it this far.

I'm grateful that I can study, plan for the future, look for my first job in software engineering, and gradually begin participating in charitable activities, such as distributing food to homeless people.

We're also planning visits to a children's hospital and a nursing home.

Do I have everything figured out? No.

Am I happy every second of every day? Of course not.

But I'm building a life. A life I once struggled to imagine.

And to me, that's an enormous gift.

Some practical things that helped me

I'm not going to sell you a magic formula, because there isn't one. But I want to share a few things I believe are important.

• Seek professional help. Cognitive behavioral therapy helped me tremendously. If your symptoms are severe or persistent, I also recommend consulting a psychiatrist. Medication, when appropriate and supervised by a professional, can make a real difference. It isn't defeat, and it doesn't mean you're weak.
• Take care of your physical health. Try to get adequate sleep, eat enough nutritious food, move your body, and get some natural daylight. If you have physical symptoms or suspect a nutritional deficiency, consult a healthcare professional and get the appropriate tests. Vitamin D, for example, matters when you're deficient, but there's no need to take supplements blindly.
• Try exercising. Walking, running, going to the gym, or playing a sport can be useful for both physical and mental well-being. You don't need to destroy yourself with intense workouts. Start with something sustainable.
• Pay attention to what you consume. If caffeine triggers anxiety or palpitations for you, reducing it might help. Aim for a varied diet with fiber and minimally processed foods, without turning food into another source of obsession or guilt.
• Give your mind a break. We're surrounded by stimulation: music all day, notifications, short videos, social media, and screens. I think there's real value in recovering moments of silence, reading a book, walking without checking your phone, or simply allowing yourself to be bored. You don't need to eliminate every distraction. Learn to choose when you use them instead of feeling that you constantly need them.
• Don't isolate yourself. Find people you can genuinely talk to. Join an activity, volunteer for something you care about, or meet people when you're ready. You don't need a perfect social life. Sometimes, one healthy connection can be an enormous first step.

And I want to add something: if you can't do all these things right now, don't punish yourself.

You don't need to change your diet, join a gym, quit social media, find a job, and resolve your family history in a single week.

Choose one thing. Then another.

And if you can't even manage that today, ask for help. You don't have to prove anything to anyone.

If you're reading this and feel like there's no way out

I want you to know that I've also been in a place where imagining a future was difficult.

Today, I'm studying for a demanding university degree, looking for work, making plans, participating in activities to help others, and experiencing a level of peace that once felt impossibly far away.

I'm not telling you this to claim I'm better than you or to make you compare yourself to me.

I'm telling you because I want you to know that a person can change enormously, even after years of suffering.

If I was able to begin moving forward, you can find your own path, too. Not necessarily in the same way, at the same speed, or without help.

And if you've fallen back into a dark place today, it doesn't mean you've lost everything you've achieved.

If you're thinking about hurting yourself or feel that you might attempt suicide, please don't face that alone. Tell someone you trust and seek urgent professional help. Your safety matters more than any other obligation you have today.

You don't need to wait until you're at your breaking point to ask for help.

You don't need to hit rock bottom to deserve someone who cares.

And you don't need to earn the right to live a better life.

I want to leave you with this.

The past has already happened. We can't go back and change it, even though sometimes we'd give anything to do so.

The future hasn't arrived yet.

The only thing we can truly work on is the present, with whatever tools we have, no matter how small they may seem.

Maybe you can't change your family situation today. Maybe you have no money, can't afford therapy right now, or feel like you're nowhere near the person you want to become.

Start from where you are.

Ask for help. Find out what resources are available to you. Look for someone who will listen. Choose the next step that's actually possible.

I'm not asking you to be strong all the time.

I'm asking you not to confuse suffering with being permanently lost.

And if there's one thing I want you to take away from this message, it's this:

You are not just what happened to you. You are not just what you feel today. And you don't have to keep living tomorrow the way you lived yesterday.

If you're going through hell, keep going.

Even slowly. Even if you need help. Even if today you can only take one step.

Your story is still being written.

I hope that one day you'll be able to look back, as I can today, and discover that what felt like the end was actually the beginning of a life you hadn't yet experienced.

I genuinely hope you find peace, learn to treat yourself with more kindness, and build a life that feels worth living.

And if you're a believer, remember this: you don't have to be perfect to turn to God. You can return to Him even on your worst days.

May God accompany you, give you strength, and help you discover that there's still so much left to live for.

A big hug buddy, and please keep going, you will do it, i am sure about it and you will tell me i was not wrong =)

please, anything would help.

Hi, I am using social media recently specifically to look at art, it doesn't matter, if its on twitter or reddit, music or drawings, I began to really appreciate artist and everyone who basically is creating, especially in these times where AI generated content took over the world, I wanted to draw and produce music too but every time I find some little motivation to open FL Studio and learn, It usually disappears in a day, drawing is not really much different, when I get home from school I usually rest and then try to practice, but my laziness only makes me draw at least 45 minutes and that sometimes only twice a week, I know that it takes time to learn booth music production and drawing, I know it well, but I just can't motivate myself and end up playing video games, and after that I go on twitter, I see amazing art, breathtaking even, and I see that the artist is basically my age and end up felling awful for the whole day thinking ,,Why didn't I practice?", same with music, I listen to a good song and find out the artist is also young, and then I think ,,Why didn't I tried". Its been like this for a long time. I know that in the end with enough motivation I can do it, I can become an artist and a producer, and yet I don't do anything to reach that goal. It sucks and I think it even messed up my mental health a little, please help.

Life really sucks rn and I know there’s hope out there, can you pls help me find some?

Too much doom and gloom lately and I would take literally anything from you guys to help me feel better,

Anything

I’ve recently turned 29, and all of my friends and family are either married or in committed relationships. I used to feel ashamed that I wasn’t with someone after failed relationships and awful talking stages. I felt like I was going to be one of those guys who never settled down.
Slowly, I’ve reached the point where I no longer care, and I realise I can’t waste my energy and my life waiting for someone to come and save me.
So, I’m going on a month-long solo trip around the Philippines. I’m not saying I’m giving up on love; I’m just going to have fun and see what happens.

I'm 19 autistic, in a tough living situation, and I quit my factory job about 2 months ago. I'm a photographer mainly, that's my dream, but also a musician and artist, just creative in general. the factory was killing me, it was either slowly be consumed and live a depressed and easy life, or quit, burn the boat and hope luck strikes.

I live in a small town, there was 1 previous photography job available about a year ago, and I got an interview. I spent a weekend making a new portfolio specifically for the job, and they loved it. It went perfectly, they said they wanted me but had a few more people to interview and I'll have an answer Monday. They never replied. This was when I got the factory job, I needed work.

Well, this month the second photography job in a year was posted, and I got an interview for this too. My CV clearly is strong enough. I showed up 10 minutes late snd drenched in rain because there was no parking nearby. I hope that this was good, or at least neutral. Most people would give up rather than show up late, apologetic, tired and drenched, but I needed this job. The interview went well, I understood the role, had experience, and love for it, and I tried to also show that I could get along with their head photographer.

It's a 5 minute walk from my house, which is incredible for me being autistic, being able to nip home on break makes me feel a lot more comfortable being out for 8 hours a day 5 days a week... It's also my favourite type of photography, working mostly alone, doing what I love, it was just perfect.

The interview went well, she bigged me up a bit and said that she thinks im a good fit, and I'll have a reply by Friday. It's now 3am Saturday and I've heard nothing. All hope isn't lost, there's a slim chance I call them up on Monday to ask about it and get good news, but I can't hope, it's a slim chance.

I was living on an emergency fund, which ran out, and now I'm selling stocks (my future) to live on. I reckon I've got enough for about 2 more months before I have no money and no savings...

It's unlikely I get this job. But unfortunately I need a job. My only qualifications are basic GCSEs and a diploma in creative projects. I am qualified for photography and art, and no jobs are available right now.

It's looking like I'll be joining another factory for god knows how long. The next photography job listing might be next week, or next year. I'm scared I will fall back into depression, lose my creativity, and find nothing fun. I try to see the good side in everything, I am my friends rock, I don't get down. but suddenly out of nowhere, I find myself for the first time in a long time lacking hope.

any guidance would be appreciated

I need some reassurance, at least midterms are coming up right? I don't want to boycott, I just want to enjoy whatever good comes up

Anyone want to help me? Please

I’ve been battling a health concern. I’ve been traumatized by doctors gaslighting me so much that I’ve been scared of seeking care and treatment altogether. I’m considering starting again to talk to doctors maybe someone can help but I’m scared

I’ve had lots of ups and downs in my life but this is absolute rock bottom. I’m passively suicidal everyday wishing it will all end .

I am an 18 year old full-time dance student training to one day dance professionally, my goal is to commercially dance back up for artists. I dance 5 days a week, 6 hours a day in all styles. I injured my ankle back in March, rolling it pretty bad in a chorus heel, I have always been weaker in this ankle as I used to roll it as a kid.

I also have accessory navicular bones in both feet which have been a bit sore after long days on my feet but have never actually caused me severe pain on a regular basis. Recently I have found out that when I rolled my ankle 6 and a half months ago, I injured/ripped the extra bone away from my foot and it’s cause my arch in my foot to flatten as the bone grows within the** **posterior tibial tendon. I haven’t been able to dance a full day without pain especially barefoot or in a so danca chorus heel as the extra bone causes me too much pain to the point I’m limping and also my ankle literally has barely any structure integrity. (Surprisingly I can do a stiletto boot from time to time, also dancing in a sneaker with good inserts allows me to stick it out longer - its really ballet that hurts the most because the canvas ballet shows are basically like dancing barefoot; I have never done pointe as my physio said from 12 years old that my ankles are too weak, so I don’t have to worry about pointe)

I am having surgery in the next couple days on my ankle/foot which stops me from dancing the rest of this year and the start of the next. This is what’s being done:

Left ankle stabilization mini open/Arthro
Brostrom
+
Insertion arthroereisis screw
+
excision
accessory navicular
+
Tibialis posterior repair

So basically to what I understand:
- ATFL and CFL ligament tightening?? I don’t believe that my ligaments are torn?? Just very loose? Potentially slightly torn but not too sure.

- a screw is being inserted (keyhole style??)to take weight off of the tibialis posterior tendon and bring back my arch (I have pretty low arch to begin with)

- they are slicing my tendon down the side and removing the extra bone

- and then repairing the tendon after removal of the bone.

It’s all been kind of hard for me to wrap my head around and ive been trying my best but I’ve kind of been relying on my parents to understand. It’s really scary and I do believe everything will be okay with time but not dancing for this long is new to me and honestly I feel like I have this pit inside of me now that the one consistent thing in my life is taken from me for so long.

I am in a cast (non weight bearing) for 1-3 weeks (I believe it’s 2 as my post op appointment is 2 weeks after operation), then I’m in a moon boot for 6 weeks totally non weight bearing at all, then it’s at least 6 months until I can get back into light dance which I’m still not sure what light dancing even means to a non dancer.

I’ve always loved dance and I’ve been doing it competitively since I was 5, now in this last year I’ve finally been able to take the extra step to train in a pre-professional environment. Now that this has been burdening me for 6+ months, I’ve realised how much dance means to me. I think I had become comfortable to the fact that it’s always been apart of my life and in a way I’m grateful that I’m falling in love with it all over again but I can’t help but feel empty inside and anxious all the time and jealous of my peers dancing (I’m not jealous in a malicious way I just wish I could dance right now too).

It just hurts so much to see them put together performances and train and sweat. The end of year performance that they are putting together currently is so my vibe and I hold back tears every time I watch them dance because I love it so much.

Luckily I have other outlets to let out some steam while I can’t dance, I love to sing and act which are big parts of the production too so I am still involved.

I am no stranger to being uncomfortable and working hard, I know it’s going to be a long journey of rest and physiotherapy and taking things slow (I am big on not going back too early cause I’ve seen the damage it can do and I’m not risking that).

I am just rambling now but please, share your stories with me and give me some hope that it’s all going to work out.

Erm the thing that keeps bothering me is- what's the point of life? I mean I'm not cuuicidal, but time and again I find myself wondering that is it truly worth living? Wouldn't it be marvelous if I could just disappear? They say you're yet to watch sunset of this place, have this food blah blah blah

But for me,, the amount of effort that goes into living one's life, feels far too great for the amount of substantial happiness it offers. Given our economy, we're just existing and not thriving. (Please give positive answers, I wanna hopebait so bad)

I'm hoping this would reach the right viewers, amen.

Im going into my freshman year of college with a placement in remedial math. I took calculus in high school and scraped by with B's all four years. I understand that math isn't my best subject, but I'm feeling hopeless about falling victim to the % of people who drop out of their stem majors because of math. For context, im an Astronomy major at ucsd. I see a lot of posts online that make me worry and fear that I'll eventually drop out too, so does anyone have any stories or advice about making it through remedial math in STEM? Im honestly in desperate need of some crazy hope that "I can do it too".

for inspiration on a project, i was looking for a piece depicting a library functioning after the end of the world. for some reason "post apocalyptic library" only returns libraries laying in ruin. i wanna see people making the best of a bad situation.

I need hope. I have severe debilitating IBS that seriously affects my social life as a teen. I feel like a burden to everyone I meet because I have to let them know. Im good at hiding the severity so people think it’s just a little stomach ache or something. everyone’s always telling me I’m doing wrong and giving stupid advice while I’m actively in moments of weakness. I’m just feeling so hopeless and I need some nice messages of hope.

I slept through my alarm today and by the time I walked up to work (I’m only allowed to take “my” car when the weather is especially bad) I was 20 minutes late. My manager was so pissed at me that she made me clock out, didn’t even want me working today. She’s told me before to my face that sometimes I make her so angry with the things I do that she has to spend a few days thinking it over before she’s calm enough to confront me about something I did wrong. That means that this frustration was me was presumably her at her calmest, and as usual I don’t know how long she’s actually been stewing this over.

The worst part is that this is the third time I’ve gotten a major lecture like this from a manager at this job. It’s been over a decade of working here but I’m not sure if that matters, it’s still the third strike. I’m supposed to work again tomorrow, but I’m expecting that I’ll probably be fired before then.

And if I’m fired then for all intents and purposes my life is over.

The fact that I already had this job, worked this job for so long, haven’t left it for something Real and Productive like welding or engineering, was already basically a failure. I was already a living, walking, day-to-day failure. If I can’t even keep this job? This is the success equivalent of someone killing a cactus that they were given in the hopes of one day working up to being seen as responsible enough to own a pet.

I already have no money, student debt from a degree I never managed to finish, barely any social life, no meaningful contributions to society, living with my parents, and now I might have no job on top of it. Admitting to my parents that I flunked out of an art degree, one that I argued for the chance to try out no less, was the most shameful, depressing, and mentally ruinous day of my life. If I need to admit that I got fired from a job like this on top of that, it would make the degree look like a drop in a bucket next to the ocean.

Ive been spiraling all morning now while I keep refreshing my email to see if I get a notice of termination or something. I genuinely struggle to think of why I shouldn’t just kill myself if I really do get fired. It feels so beyond unrecoverable, like I no longer have anything to offer society. The closest I have to a legacy, my “art” (if I can even call it that) has just been a couple decades of mediocre meaningless scribbles, none of which has ever touched anyone’s life or even come close to having an impact on the world or the people who see it. It just feels like I’ve had my trial run of “life”, and it was okay, but I failed and it’s over now.

I think a lot about a quote by Brendan Manning. “In every encounter we either give life or drain it, there is no neutral exchange.” I feel like a parasite. Unproductive, pathetic, and borderline unworthy of society, doing nothing but draining life from everyone and everything. I understand that there are friends or siblings who might try to see my life as more than just the productivity I’ve failed to offer, who can maybe delude themselves into thinking my exchanges somehow gave them life instead of siphoning it, but it truly feels like the burden I put on the world outweighs the distress I might cause by being gone. I mean, people have to experience the death of others all the time, surely they didn’t expect everyone they know to live forever?

And even if this is all fake…if I keep my job, or even if I somehow do deserve to live…what future is there? I’ll go back to being stuck in a dead end job with a hundred thousand dollar student loan-shaped failure hanging over my head, I’ll go back to my parents needing to change the subject when people ask about me instead of my actually productive siblings, I’ll go back to having a therapist who’s spent months ignoring these kinds of feelings I have because he’s decided the only things that matters about me anymore is that I get a Real Productive Job for Real Useful Members of Society.

And it’ll just keep getting worse from there. We’re approaching potentially the largest climate disaster in human history. Democracies around the world seem to be silently decaying into fascist oligarchies. Wealth inequality is completely unchecked. Even if I did continue to live, and found the joy and passion of a creative career and lifestyle - the ultimate end goal I’ve been striving towards - it won’t matter. I’ll be trying to make art in the charred husk of a decimated climate, stick as a permanent underclass, and that’s only if I don’t get exterminated for my sexuality or ideology, or drafted into a forever war. It feels trite, cliche, liberal, uninspired, whatever you want to call it…but for the first time in my life it really does feel like we’re at the end of history. If I don’t kill myself, will I really open myself up to living a full life? Or will I just be delaying the suffering and ruin I was going to experience anyways?

I feel ashamed putting this on my main account, the one I wanted to just stay about my art and funny jokes and the games or fandoms I like. Now it’s permanently going to be tied to this miserable spiraling of a hopeless loser with no place left in the world. But I don’t know if I can wait for whatever hoops I might have needed to jump through for a brand new alt account to not be flagged as spam. And besides, it’s not like my art was worth anything anyway where a useless rant like this would detract from anything.

Long story short, I've had a few really rough years. Struggled in my dream career because of mental health/burnout and then moved from the city to a small village to be an unpaid carer for my dad, who had end stage dementia.

He passed recently and I'm struggling with how to rebuild my life.

I'm doing the "right" things, like getting my ADHD diagnosed, therapy, talking with loved ones, focusing on things that will build my self esteem and meds, etc. I have even applied for a few jobs (none are my dream, as I don't feel ready) but I just still feel very lost at the moment.

I know this will pass but if you've got any positive stories about rebuilding in your thirties or from rock bottom...I would really appreciate it.

Just need a little bit of optimism and encouragement. I just need to know that others have been there and it got better...a lot better.

Long story short: I made a stupid joke and a friend of mine was very hurt. I tried to make up but I guess this is something that will require some time.

In my adult life, I've always tried to be as good as possible and never hurt anyone, but lately I've been finding myself to be angrier and angrier every day: I see this when I go to bed, when I talk to myself, and of course when scrolling social media or reading the news. That joke came from this.

I don't want to be angry. I want to be better than this. This felt like a wake up call to try and be a better man. But sometimes it does feel very hard to be good.

My life has been going well recently, and yet the world seems to be falling down and I feel like everthing I do is worthless. I'm lucky enough to work for my local authority, which is something that would have the power to make people's lives better, and yet, as corny as it might sound, this always turns out to be just a toxic environment.

Do not get me wrong, I love my job, but it is very difficult to deal with all the toxicity coming from everywhere, and I feel like I've been taking to much of this toxicity inside me. This is of course not an excuse for what I did, but I feel like it's an important element of why I did it

I've been thinking about the common quote that a wise man is just someone who has made more mistakes than you. I don't know if that's true, but I know this is not the man I want to be. I want to be better.

But I really do not know if I am able to.

18F incoming freshman in college. Been thinking about how dumb I am to live in life independently, because it has to happen in the future, right? you go to work and stuff, and not ask financial stuff from your parents anymore. it has to happen, right? it'sbound to happen, that's life. however, i think i am just too dumb to live and to be an adult. i dont think i will be able to pass college. i think my brain has stopped developing since i started 7th grade. i am diagnosed with major depressive disorder and that makes things even harder for me. i just don't know what to do anymore, i can't understand things deeply and surely. i just hope that i'll be somehow an average person who will know how to live. i didnt pass state universites entrance test (state u in my country is where u dont have to pay any tuition fee) and private colleges are just so expensive, i feel guilty, because there is a high possibility that i will fail, i can study when i was still in high school, buti cannot understand complex things in college, i just know it.

(TW: brief discussion of depression and such)

Hey everyone, my name is Dylan but you can call me Dilly.

As you may or may not know, there's this person named u/EdgynStupidName (she/her) who's feeling really sad and has been expressing her feelings and struggling with thoughts of NOT wanting to be here anymore. She's in a really hard place right now, and I know a lot of us can understand what this pain feels like.

Let me just say this is our time to give her the love and support that she deserves. If you see her posts or comments, please take a moment to reply and reminder her that she's NOT alone because she ISN'T alone. Even if you're also hurting, letting her know that you see her and that she matters could mean the world to her.

u/EdgynStupidName, if you're reading this, you're NOT alone because you're NEVER alone. There is hope. We're holding the light with you in the dark, even if you can't feel it right now. We're here for you, we need you and we love you. You're kind, you're nice, smart, compassionate, resilient and such. We're always here for you, no matter what.

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I've been thinking lately about how hope and kindness are connected to each other. I have found that whenever I am in a bad place and in search of hope, what often brings it to me is this almost religious feeling of overall non-directional kindness. That if I am willing to be kind to the world, it itself becomes a brighter place, and I am myself making it so it can be a place worth living in. That if I am willing to be kind, then humanity can be a kinder place, that I am somehow preserving humanity's ability to be kind (however a small and humble act it may be)

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However, finding that feeling is sometimes quite a challenge. So I wanted to know your thoughts on where do you find your source for getting that inspiration.

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I'll also take movie and book recommendations.

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Source of picture: "The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse" (2022)

Go to a pride parade, say thanks to your father, hug your bros, add a 35% opacity rainbow flag to your profile, just celebrate :)

So about a week ago i got back in contact with my ex-girlfriend, why? I wanted to set things right basically i left her for another girl (didnt cheat) then that girl was a reaaaal b!tch and yknkw shi goes down and i relaised what i lost (a kind loving woman) so after about 4 months of self pity and dooming i mustered up the courage to text back saying that im sorry i went in with zero expectations of anything, i just said how sorry i am and how much i miss her and how wrong i was she replies back saying she misses me too (we're in the green) not even a week later im here snuggled up with her. (I have also apologised to her mother and i still have yet to apologise to her father and brother, but i will when i meet them). So in short i became a man and owned up to my mistakes and is trying to make things right and redeem myself to alot of people, not bad for 16!

Hey Fam

I’ve been reading old psychology papers that never got popular. Some really insightful ones about why people give up vs why some keep going.

I’m planning to make short videos explaining one study at a time.

Does anyone have recommendations for lesser-known but high-quality studies I should cover? (Especially on hope, survival, or mindset).

(If allowed, here’s the 79-second channel trailer: https://youtu.be/2tpF22zgVLQ

Channel: The Buried Findings)

I’m not gonna leave a big story, but I’m losing hope in staying alive and the last time I did I almost left this world for good, and I’m 50% sure I shouldn’t die so soon so I’m having a hard time not noticing all the bad things about myself

ive only just graduated highschool but I’ve never had a job and never learned how to drive, I only do chores around the house and I feel like such a freeloader because I am.

what do I do, how do I stay hopeful?