u/ClassroomOk7243

I work 10–11 hours a day, mostly in a low‑entry job. People like me. I know how to be funny, how to be the “chill guy” in the room. But when I get home and the door closes, I’m just lonely and exhausted.

At 15 I moved abroad with my mom and her boyfriend. I basically wasted two years there, came back with no school, no plan, nothing. I barely passed classes just to have some kind of education. Around the same time, my dad, who I barely knew, died of cancer a few months after I asked him for child support at 18. I had this idea that maybe I could use that money to study and build something, but that fell apart too. Family stuff was rough; I learned early not to show weakness.

I’m the “fun, sharp” guy who talks a lot and makes jokes, but I’m closed off. I can’t be who I pretend to be, and it’s draining. I work long hours just to afford basics and try to catch up on things I “should” already have: license, car, some kind of future. I finally have my own money and can afford things, but I’m still miserable.

I grab any chance to go out because being alone is worse. I have one friend I see outside work, and a few people I meet once every few months. That’s it. I’ve never been in a relationship. I sometimes lie about it, because I’m ashamed that at 22, some 15‑year‑olds probably have richer social lives and better memories than me.

Most people I work with are studying, building something for the future. I’m stuck in a low‑entry job with no real prospects. Studying while working feels impossible for me. After 10‑hour shifts my social battery is completely dead. All I can do is play games, watch something, or lie in bed.

I was diagnosed with ADHD a while ago. It explained a lot: the random rambling, feeling drained by the end of the day, school and routines being nearly impossible, my brain treating anything “not interesting” as unfocusable. I’m extremely self‑critical and beat myself up all the time, but I’m starting to understand that a lot of this isn’t just “me being lazy”.

I’ve tried therapy and SSRIs. They help a bit, but I don’t want to depend on meds; without them I feel completely broken. I don’t see a realistic path to a “normal” life: a partner, stability, something that feels like mine.

Right now I’m a 22‑year‑old with no driver’s license, no car, working 10h/day to try to make up for everything I missed. I’ve never been in a relationship. I’ve never really felt important to anyone. I’m always the third person, the extra friend, the optional one.

People who know me wouldn’t believe how my life actually looks if I told them. I can’t share too much, because then I get pity, and I don’t want to be seen as a victim. The more time I spend with people, the more I realize how much I don’t fit in. Despite all the work I’ve put in, I don’t feel better. The same sadness, loneliness, and need to be alone are still there.

I don’t even know what I’m looking for here. Maybe just to say this out loud somewhere. Maybe to hear that I’m not the only one who feels like this at 22, working all the time and still feeling permanently behind everyone else. Maybe to get some perspective on how people with similar backgrounds built something that feels like a real life.

I work 10–11 hours a day, mostly in a low‑entry job. People like me. I know how to be funny, how to be the “chill guy” in the room. But when I get home and the door closes, I’m just lonely and exhausted.

At 15 I moved abroad with my mom and her boyfriend. I basically wasted two years there, came back with no school, no plan, nothing. I barely passed classes just to have some kind of education. Around the same time, my dad, who I barely knew, died of cancer a few months after I asked him for child support at 18. I had this idea that maybe I could use that money to study and build something, but that fell apart too. Family stuff was rough; I learned early not to show weakness.

I’m the “fun, sharp” guy who talks a lot and makes jokes, but I’m closed off. I can’t be who I pretend to be, and it’s draining. I work long hours just to afford basics and try to catch up on things I “should” already have: license, car, some kind of future. I finally have my own money and can afford things, but I’m still miserable.

I grab any chance to go out because being alone is worse. I have one friend I see outside work, and a few people I meet once every few months. That’s it. I’ve never been in a relationship. I sometimes lie about it, because I’m ashamed that at 22, some 15‑year‑olds probably have richer social lives and better memories than me.

Most people I work with are studying, building something for the future. I’m stuck in a low‑entry job with no real prospects. Studying while working feels impossible for me. After 10‑hour shifts my social battery is completely dead. All I can do is play games, watch something, or lie in bed.

I was diagnosed with ADHD a while ago. It explained a lot: the random rambling, feeling drained by the end of the day, school and routines being nearly impossible, my brain treating anything “not interesting” as unfocusable. I’m extremely self‑critical and beat myself up all the time, but I’m starting to understand that a lot of this isn’t just “me being lazy”.

I’ve tried therapy and SSRIs. They help a bit, but I don’t want to depend on meds; without them I feel completely broken. I don’t see a realistic path to a “normal” life: a partner, stability, something that feels like mine.

Right now I’m a 22‑year‑old with no driver’s license, no car, working 10h/day to try to make up for everything I missed. I’ve never been in a relationship. I’ve never really felt important to anyone. I’m always the third person, the extra friend, the optional one.

People who know me wouldn’t believe how my life actually looks if I told them. I can’t share too much, because then I get pity, and I don’t want to be seen as a victim. The more time I spend with people, the more I realize how much I don’t fit in. Despite all the work I’ve put in, I don’t feel better. The same sadness, loneliness, and need to be alone are still there.

I don’t even know what I’m looking for here. Maybe just to say this out loud somewhere. Maybe to hear that I’m not the only one who feels like this at 22, working all the time and still feeling permanently behind everyone else. Maybe to get some perspective on how people with similar backgrounds built something that feels like a real life.

I work 10–11 hours a day. People like me, but inside I’m just lonely and exhausted.

At 15 I moved abroad with my mom and her boyfriend, wasted two years, came back with no school, no plan. My dad died of cancer months after I asked him for child support at 18. Family stuff was rough; I learned early not to show weakness.

I’m the “fun, sharp” guy, but I’m closed off. I work long hours to afford basics and catch up on things I “should” already have: license, car, some future. I have my own money now, but I’m still miserable.

I grab any chance to go out because being alone is worse. I have one friend I see outside work, and a few people I meet once every few months. That’s it. Never been in a relationship. I sometimes lie about it because I’m ashamed.

Most people I work with are studying, building something. I’m in a low‑entry job with no real prospects. Studying while working feels impossible. After 10‑hour shifts my social battery is dead. All I can do is play games, watch something, or lie in bed.

I was diagnosed with ADHD. It explained a lot: random rambling, feeling drained by evening, school and routines being nearly impossible. I’m extremely self‑critical, but I’m starting to see this isn’t just “me being lazy”.

I’ve tried therapy and SSRIs. They help a bit, but I don’t want to depend on meds; without them I feel broken. I don’t see a realistic path to a “normal” life: partner, stability, something that feels like mine.

I’m 22, no license, no car, working 10h/day to make up for lost time. Never been in a relationship. Never felt important to anyone. Always the third person, the optional friend.

People who know me wouldn’t believe how my life actually looks. I can’t share too much or I get pity, and I don’t want to be seen as a victim. Despite all the work I’ve put in, I don’t feel better. Same sadness, loneliness, need to be alone.

Maybe just to say this out loud. Maybe to hear I’m not the only one who feels like this at 22 with ADHD and no energy left.

I’m 22 and I honestly feel completely behind everyone else.

I spent years being extremely lonely and barely leaving my house. I’ve never had a girlfriend, never really had a proper friend group and missed a lot of the normal teenage/young adult shit. My family situation is also pretty fucked. My dad died years ago and I haven’t seen him since I was 8. My mom has her own life and another child and outside of my grandma I basically don’t have much family.

I’ve changed a lot recently. I lost a lot of weight, improved my appearance, got a job and started actually going outside again. The problem is that I feel like I’m trying to build a normal life while missing years of experience everyone else already has.

Meeting people is fucking hard because of that. Most conversations eventually turn into your life, what you’ve been doing, what you’re planning, where you’ve been, holidays, concerts, university, work, relationships, whatever. And I just don’t have much to say. There’s a huge blank space in my life.

It’s not that I can’t talk to people. I can have conversations and sometimes I actually get along with people really well. But when someone asks what I’ve been doing lately or what I did last weekend, there’s just not much there.

I work 8–9 hours a day, sometimes even 10, just to catch up on things that most people either had handed to them from the start or already have by my age. and sometimes Saturdays, and when I get home I often have absolutely no energy left. I’m not studying because I genuinely don’t think I could work this much and study at the same time without completely burning myself out. If I want anything, I have to work for it myself.

Then I look at people my age and see people who already make good money, have cars, study, have relationships, have friends, or have wealthy families helping them out. I know comparing myself to other people is pointless but it still gets to me.

I’m saving for my driving licence and a car, but it feels like every bit of money I make disappears into basic shit. Food, clothes, whatever. I don’t even rent my own place, so I don’t really have much freedom either.

I recently got close to a girl for the first time in my life and obviously got attached because I’ve been lonely for so long. She can be great to be around and I feel completely comfortable with her, but she can also randomly insult me, make fun of how I look and generally make me feel like shit. I know I should probably distance myself, but she’s also one of the only people I regularly spend time with.

That’s probably what makes it harder.

I don’t want some insane life. I’d honestly be happy with a normal one. My own place, a car, a few good friends, a girlfriend, being able to go somewhere for a weekend and actually enjoy myself.

I just want to have a fucking summer where I’m not constantly working or recovering from work. I want to go somewhere, meet people, have fun and actually feel 22 for once.

I’ve made a lot of changes already and I know I’m doing better than I was a year or two ago. But it still feels like I have so much catching up to do and I’m fucking tired.

I mostly work because without work literally nothing would be happening in my life. I don’t have much of a family, I don’t have any close friends, I’ve never been in a relationship, never been on a date and never really had an actual party or anything like that. Most of my going out is getting a beer, going to a bar or taking a walk, and even that drains me really quickly because I hate crowded places and my social battery is shit.

The biggest problem is that I feel like I have nothing to talk about. Most conversations eventually become about what you’ve been doing, your plans, places you’ve been, relationships, funny stories, holidays, concerts etc. And I have a massive blank space there. For 22 years it’s basically been school, home, and now work, home. I feel like I’m trying to meet people while having no life to actually talk about.

I work 8–9 hours a day, sometimes 10, just to slowly catch up on things that most people either had handed to them from the start or already have at my age. I don’t earn much, I’m saving for my driving licence and eventually a car, but everything takes forever because I have nobody I can rely on financially. I don’t study because I genuinely don’t think I could handle work and university at the same time without completely burning myself out.

I have ADHD, which makes studying and learning things I’m not interested in extremely difficult, and I’m also on antidepressants which make me feel pretty numb sometimes. After work I often have no energy left for anything.

What makes it worse is seeing people my age who already have friends, relationships, cars, hobbies, money, plans, whatever. They just seem like normal people who know how to live. I don’t. I can be pretty social at work and I actually get along with people, but I can’t seem to turn those relationships into actual friendships outside of work. Everyone already has their own people.

I also want a girlfriend badly. I want someone close to me, but at the same time I genuinely can’t imagine myself as someone who could actually be in a relationship, even though I really want one. Because of my insecurities and low self-esteem, I shut myself off for years and barely left the house or spent time with anyone. I started working on myself way too late, and now I feel stuck trying to catch up with everyone else. I have this stupid feeling that I have nothing to offer. No car, no money, no interesting life, no idea what people even do on dates because I’ve never been on one. I don’t even know what I would be like as someone’s boyfriend because I’ve never experienced any of it.

I’ve actually changed a lot. I lost a lot of weight, improved my appearance, got a job and started leaving the house again after years of barely doing anything. I’m trying to save money and build something for myself.

But I still feel like nothing is moving.

I’m 22 and I feel like I’ve missed the part of life where everyone else learned how to actually live. I don’t want some crazy successful life anymore. I just want friends, a girlfriend, some freedom, some good memories and something to look forward to.

Right now I just feel completely alone and like I’m constantly trying to catch up to a life everyone else already has.

I mostly work because without work literally nothing would be happening in my life. I don’t have much of a family, I don’t have any close friends, I’ve never been in a relationship, never been on a date and never really had an actual party or anything like that. Most of my going out is getting a beer, going to a bar or taking a walk, and even that drains me really quickly because I hate crowded places and my social battery is shit.

The biggest problem is that I feel like I have nothing to talk about. Most conversations eventually become about what you’ve been doing, your plans, places you’ve been, relationships, funny stories, holidays, concerts etc. And I have a massive blank space there. For 22 years it’s basically been school, home, and now work, home. I feel like I’m trying to meet people while having no life to actually talk about.

I work 8–9 hours a day, sometimes 10, just to slowly catch up on things that most people either had handed to them from the start or already have at my age. I don’t earn much, I’m saving for my driving licence and eventually a car, but everything takes forever because I have nobody I can rely on financially. I don’t study because I genuinely don’t think I could handle work and university at the same time without completely burning myself out.

I have ADHD, which makes studying and learning things I’m not interested in extremely difficult, and I’m also on antidepressants which make me feel pretty numb sometimes. After work I often have no energy left for anything.

What makes it worse is seeing people my age who already have friends, relationships, cars, hobbies, money, plans, whatever. They just seem like normal people who know how to live. I don’t. I can be pretty social at work and I actually get along with people, but I can’t seem to turn those relationships into actual friendships outside of work. Everyone already has their own people.

I also want a girlfriend badly. I want someone close to me, but at the same time I genuinely can’t imagine myself as someone who could actually be in a relationship, even though I really want one. Because of my insecurities and low self-esteem, I shut myself off for years and barely left the house or spent time with anyone. I started working on myself way too late, and now I feel stuck trying to catch up with everyone else. I have this stupid feeling that I have nothing to offer. No car, no money, no interesting life, no idea what people even do on dates because I’ve never been on one. I don’t even know what I would be like as someone’s boyfriend because I’ve never experienced any of it.

I’ve actually changed a lot. I lost a lot of weight, improved my appearance, got a job and started leaving the house again after years of barely doing anything. I’m trying to save money and build something for myself.

But I still feel like nothing is moving.

I’m 22 and I feel like I’ve missed the part of life where everyone else learned how to actually live. I don’t want some crazy successful life anymore. I just want friends, a girlfriend, some freedom, some good memories and something to look forward to.

Right now I just feel completely alone and like I’m constantly trying to catch up to a life everyone else already has.

I mostly work because without work literally nothing would be happening in my life. I don’t have much of a family, I don’t have any close friends, I’ve never been in a relationship, never been on a date and never really had an actual party or anything like that. Most of my going out is getting a beer, going to a bar or taking a walk, and even that drains me really quickly because I hate crowded places and my social battery is shit.

The biggest problem is that I feel like I have nothing to talk about. Most conversations eventually become about what you’ve been doing, your plans, places you’ve been, relationships, funny stories, holidays, concerts etc. And I have a massive blank space there. For 22 years it’s basically been school, home, and now work, home. I feel like I’m trying to meet people while having no life to actually talk about.

I work 8–9 hours a day, sometimes 10, just to slowly catch up on things that most people either had handed to them from the start or already have at my age. I don’t earn much, I’m saving for my driving licence and eventually a car, but everything takes forever because I have nobody I can rely on financially. I don’t study because I genuinely don’t think I could handle work and university at the same time without completely burning myself out.

I have ADHD, which makes studying and learning things I’m not interested in extremely difficult, and I’m also on antidepressants which make me feel pretty numb sometimes. After work I often have no energy left for anything.

What makes it worse is seeing people my age who already have friends, relationships, cars, hobbies, money, plans, whatever. They just seem like normal people who know how to live. I don’t. I can be pretty social at work and I actually get along with people, but I can’t seem to turn those relationships into actual friendships outside of work. Everyone already has their own people.

I also want a girlfriend badly. I want someone close to me, but at the same time I genuinely can’t imagine myself as someone who could actually be in a relationship, even though I really want one. Because of my insecurities and low self-esteem, I shut myself off for years and barely left the house or spent time with anyone. I started working on myself way too late, and now I feel stuck trying to catch up with everyone else. I have this stupid feeling that I have nothing to offer. No car, no money, no interesting life, no idea what people even do on dates because I’ve never been on one. I don’t even know what I would be like as someone’s boyfriend because I’ve never experienced any of it.

I’ve actually changed a lot. I lost a lot of weight, improved my appearance, got a job and started leaving the house again after years of barely doing anything. I’m trying to save money and build something for myself.

But I still feel like nothing is moving.

I’m 22 and I feel like I’ve missed the part of life where everyone else learned how to actually live. I don’t want some crazy successful life anymore. I just want friends, a girlfriend, some freedom, some good memories and something to look forward to.

Right now I just feel completely alone and like I’m constantly trying to catch up to a life everyone else already has.

I’m 22 and I honestly feel completely behind everyone else.

I spent years being extremely lonely and barely leaving my house. I’ve never had a girlfriend, never really had a proper friend group and missed a lot of the normal teenage/young adult shit. My family situation is also pretty fucked. My dad died years ago and I haven’t seen him since I was 8. My mom has her own life and another child and outside of my grandma I basically don’t have much family.

I’ve changed a lot recently. I lost a lot of weight, improved my appearance, got a job and started actually going outside again. The problem is that I feel like I’m trying to build a normal life while missing years of experience everyone else already has.

Meeting people is fucking hard because of that. Most conversations eventually turn into your life, what you’ve been doing, what you’re planning, where you’ve been, holidays, concerts, university, work, relationships, whatever. And I just don’t have much to say. There’s a huge blank space in my life.

It’s not that I can’t talk to people. I can have conversations and sometimes I actually get along with people really well. But when someone asks what I’ve been doing lately or what I did last weekend, there’s just not much there.

I work 8–9 hours a day, sometimes even 10, just to catch up on things that most people either had handed to them from the start or already have by my age. and sometimes Saturdays, and when I get home I often have absolutely no energy left. I’m not studying because I genuinely don’t think I could work this much and study at the same time without completely burning myself out. If I want anything, I have to work for it myself.

Then I look at people my age and see people who already make good money, have cars, study, have relationships, have friends, or have wealthy families helping them out. I know comparing myself to other people is pointless but it still gets to me.

I’m saving for my driving licence and a car, but it feels like every bit of money I make disappears into basic shit. Food, clothes, whatever. I don’t even rent my own place, so I don’t really have much freedom either.

I recently got close to a girl for the first time in my life and obviously got attached because I’ve been lonely for so long. She can be great to be around and I feel completely comfortable with her, but she can also randomly insult me, make fun of how I look and generally make me feel like shit. I know I should probably distance myself, but she’s also one of the only people I regularly spend time with.

That’s probably what makes it harder.

I don’t want some insane life. I’d honestly be happy with a normal one. My own place, a car, a few good friends, a girlfriend, being able to go somewhere for a weekend and actually enjoy myself.

I just want to have a fucking summer where I’m not constantly working or recovering from work. I want to go somewhere, meet people, have fun and actually feel 22 for once.

I’ve made a lot of changes already and I know I’m doing better than I was a year or two ago. But it still feels like I have so much catching up to do and I’m fucking tired.

I’m 22 and I honestly feel completely behind everyone else.

I spent years being extremely lonely and barely leaving my house. I’ve never had a girlfriend, never really had a proper friend group and missed a lot of the normal teenage/young adult shit. My family situation is also pretty fucked. My dad died years ago and I haven’t seen him since I was 8. My mom has her own life and another child and outside of my grandma I basically don’t have much family.

I’ve changed a lot recently. I lost a lot of weight, improved my appearance, got a job and started actually going outside again. The problem is that I feel like I’m trying to build a normal life while missing years of experience everyone else already has.

Meeting people is fucking hard because of that. Most conversations eventually turn into your life, what you’ve been doing, what you’re planning, where you’ve been, holidays, concerts, university, work, relationships, whatever. And I just don’t have much to say. There’s a huge blank space in my life.

It’s not that I can’t talk to people. I can have conversations and sometimes I actually get along with people really well. But when someone asks what I’ve been doing lately or what I did last weekend, there’s just not much there.

I work 8–9 hours a day, sometimes even 10, just to catch up on things that most people either had handed to them from the start or already have by my age. and sometimes Saturdays, and when I get home I often have absolutely no energy left. I’m not studying because I genuinely don’t think I could work this much and study at the same time without completely burning myself out. If I want anything, I have to work for it myself.

Then I look at people my age and see people who already make good money, have cars, study, have relationships, have friends, or have wealthy families helping them out. I know comparing myself to other people is pointless but it still gets to me.

I’m saving for my driving licence and a car, but it feels like every bit of money I make disappears into basic shit. Food, clothes, whatever. I don’t even rent my own place, so I don’t really have much freedom either.

I recently got close to a girl for the first time in my life and obviously got attached because I’ve been lonely for so long. She can be great to be around and I feel completely comfortable with her, but she can also randomly insult me, make fun of how I look and generally make me feel like shit. I know I should probably distance myself, but she’s also one of the only people I regularly spend time with.

That’s probably what makes it harder.

I don’t want some insane life. I’d honestly be happy with a normal one. My own place, a car, a few good friends, a girlfriend, being able to go somewhere for a weekend and actually enjoy myself.

I just want to have a fucking summer where I’m not constantly working or recovering from work. I want to go somewhere, meet people, have fun and actually feel 22 for once.

I’ve made a lot of changes already and I know I’m doing better than I was a year or two ago. But it still feels like I have so much catching up to do and I’m fucking tired.

I’m 22 and I honestly feel completely behind everyone else.

I spent years being extremely lonely and barely leaving my house. I’ve never had a girlfriend, never really had a proper friend group and missed a lot of the normal teenage/young adult shit. My family situation is also pretty fucked. My dad died years ago and I haven’t seen him since I was 8. My mom has her own life and another child and outside of my grandma I basically don’t have much family.

I’ve changed a lot recently. I lost a lot of weight, improved my appearance, got a job and started actually going outside again. The problem is that I feel like I’m trying to build a normal life while missing years of experience everyone else already has.

Meeting people is fucking hard because of that. Most conversations eventually turn into your life, what you’ve been doing, what you’re planning, where you’ve been, holidays, concerts, university, work, relationships, whatever. And I just don’t have much to say. There’s a huge blank space in my life.

It’s not that I can’t talk to people. I can have conversations and sometimes I actually get along with people really well. But when someone asks what I’ve been doing lately or what I did last weekend, there’s just not much there.

I work 8–9 hours a day, sometimes even 10, just to catch up on things that most people either had handed to them from the start or already have by my age. and sometimes Saturdays, and when I get home I often have absolutely no energy left. I’m not studying because I genuinely don’t think I could work this much and study at the same time without completely burning myself out. If I want anything, I have to work for it myself.

Then I look at people my age and see people who already make good money, have cars, study, have relationships, have friends, or have wealthy families helping them out. I know comparing myself to other people is pointless but it still gets to me.

I’m saving for my driving licence and a car, but it feels like every bit of money I make disappears into basic shit. Food, clothes, whatever. I don’t even rent my own place, so I don’t really have much freedom either.

I recently got close to a girl for the first time in my life and obviously got attached because I’ve been lonely for so long. She can be great to be around and I feel completely comfortable with her, but she can also randomly insult me, make fun of how I look and generally make me feel like shit. I know I should probably distance myself, but she’s also one of the only people I regularly spend time with.

That’s probably what makes it harder.

I don’t want some insane life. I’d honestly be happy with a normal one. My own place, a car, a few good friends, a girlfriend, being able to go somewhere for a weekend and actually enjoy myself.

I just want to have a fucking summer where I’m not constantly working or recovering from work. I want to go somewhere, meet people, have fun and actually feel 22 for once.

I’ve made a lot of changes already and I know I’m doing better than I was a year or two ago. But it still feels like I have so much catching up to do and I’m fucking tired.

I’m 22 and I honestly feel completely behind everyone else.

I spent years being extremely lonely and barely leaving my house. I’ve never had a girlfriend, never really had a proper friend group and missed a lot of the normal teenage/young adult shit. My family situation is also pretty fucked. My dad died years ago and I haven’t seen him since I was 8. My mom has her own life and another child and outside of my grandma I basically don’t have much family.

I’ve changed a lot recently. I lost a lot of weight, improved my appearance, got a job and started actually going outside again. The problem is that I feel like I’m trying to build a normal life while missing years of experience everyone else already has.

Meeting people is fucking hard because of that. Most conversations eventually turn into your life, what you’ve been doing, what you’re planning, where you’ve been, holidays, concerts, university, work, relationships, whatever. And I just don’t have much to say. There’s a huge blank space in my life.

It’s not that I can’t talk to people. I can have conversations and sometimes I actually get along with people really well. But when someone asks what I’ve been doing lately or what I did last weekend, there’s just not much there.

I work 8–9 hours a day, sometimes even 10, just to catch up on things that most people either had handed to them from the start or already have by my age. and sometimes Saturdays, and when I get home I often have absolutely no energy left. I’m not studying because I genuinely don’t think I could work this much and study at the same time without completely burning myself out. If I want anything, I have to work for it myself.

Then I look at people my age and see people who already make good money, have cars, study, have relationships, have friends, or have wealthy families helping them out. I know comparing myself to other people is pointless but it still gets to me.

I’m saving for my driving licence and a car, but it feels like every bit of money I make disappears into basic shit. Food, clothes, whatever. I don’t even rent my own place, so I don’t really have much freedom either.

I recently got close to a girl for the first time in my life and obviously got attached because I’ve been lonely for so long. She can be great to be around and I feel completely comfortable with her, but she can also randomly insult me, make fun of how I look and generally make me feel like shit. I know I should probably distance myself, but she’s also one of the only people I regularly spend time with.

That’s probably what makes it harder.

I don’t want some insane life. I’d honestly be happy with a normal one. My own place, a car, a few good friends, a girlfriend, being able to go somewhere for a weekend and actually enjoy myself.

I just want to have a fucking summer where I’m not constantly working or recovering from work. I want to go somewhere, meet people, have fun and actually feel 22 for once.

I’ve made a lot of changes already and I know I’m doing better than I was a year or two ago. But it still feels like I have so much catching up to do and I’m fucking tired.

I’m 22M and the last few years have been pretty messy for me. I lived abroad, my education fell apart during the pandemic and I’m still trying to get my life back on track. Recently I met a 19F and for around four months we were hanging out almost every day, mostly going to the gym, drinking a beer and talking about random stuff.

I liked her and thought she was attractive, but I never made a move or told her I had feelings. I even hoped maybe I would eventually feel something romantic, but I just didn’t. I still valued the friendship and put a lot of hope into it because I don’t have many people I can genuinely trust.

There were already issues. She cancelled plans, talked about my private life to random people and would later apologise and act close again.

The final argument started when we saw a guy I vaguely knew from school. I couldn’t remember his name, but she kept asking about him, looking for him online and saying I didn’t want her to find him because I was jealous.

I told her several times I didn’t care who she dated. She refused to believe me and kept saying I was secretly attracted to her. Later she started insulting my age, appearance, education, family situation, lack of a driving licence and even the fact that I take antidepressants.

I insulted her back and said things I knew would hurt her. I’m not pretending I handled it perfectly, but I also wasn’t some jealous guy losing his mind after being rejected. I was angry because someone I had trusted was using everything she knew about me against me.

What confuses me is that she claimed she had never liked me and only hung out with me because she got something from it, even though she regularly initiated plans, confided in me and wanted to spend time together.

The friendship is over and I know that’s probably for the best. I’m just tired of trying to build connections when it feels like anything personal you share can eventually be used against you.

Please, I know I’m 22. I don’t want comments like “you’re still a kid” or “you have time.” I get it, but it doesn’t change how I feel. Some 15 year olds have more life experience than I do. At work I’m treated like any other adult.

I feel like I have nothing to show for my life.

I grew up with family problems, instability, ADHD, social anxiety and depression. For a long time I wasn’t living, just surviving. I didn’t have support or guidance, so I became an adult without the confidence or experience other people have.

I quit my job because I couldn’t take it anymore. The pay was lower than I expected, people were getting fired, and I felt like I was next. Now I’m looking for another job, but with mostly call center experience, it won’t be easy.

I’m saving for a driver’s license, but it’s a lot of money. For years I barely bought anything for myself and neglected my health, so now doctors, meds, skin treatment and clothes are hitting me at once. I lost weight and take meds for depression, anxiety and ADHD. I’m trying, but I feel like I’m always catching up.

The only real thing I do outside the house is go to the gym with a friend. Other than that, life is just routine. I go out, come home, and still feel empty.

There was a girl I liked. People joked that we were dating, but I never tried to make it more because I knew it would be a mess. It’s hard to imagine dating when deep down you feel like trash and like you haven’t achieved anything.

I don’t have a license, car, my own place, degree, plan, or relationship experience. I still live with family. I look young for my age, which makes me feel less like an adult.

I don’t have stories from my life. There’s not much to say about myself. It’s hard to connect when you feel like you have nothing to tell people.

My life is better than two years ago. I’m proud. But I’m still lonely and unhappy. I’m not looking for pity. I just want to hear something kind, or from someone who felt behind and still built a normal life.

Please, I know I’m 22. I don’t want comments like “you’re still a kid” or “you have time.” I get it, but it doesn’t change how I feel. Some 15 year olds have more life experience than I do. At work I’m treated like any other adult.

I feel like I have nothing to show for my life.

I grew up with family problems, instability, ADHD, social anxiety and depression. For a long time I wasn’t living, just surviving. I didn’t have support or guidance, so I became an adult without the confidence or experience other people have.

I quit my job because I couldn’t take it anymore. The pay was lower than I expected, people were getting fired, and I felt like I was next. Now I’m looking for another job, but with mostly call center experience, it won’t be easy.

I’m saving for a driver’s license, but it’s a lot of money. For years I barely bought anything for myself and neglected my health, so now doctors, meds, skin treatment and clothes are hitting me at once. I lost weight and take meds for depression, anxiety and ADHD. I’m trying, but I feel like I’m always catching up.

The only real thing I do outside the house is go to the gym with a friend. Other than that, life is just routine. I go out, come home, and still feel empty.

There was a girl I liked. People joked that we were dating, but I never tried to make it more because I knew it would be a mess. It’s hard to imagine dating when deep down you feel like trash and like you haven’t achieved anything.

I don’t have a license, car, my own place, degree, plan, or relationship experience. I still live with family. I look young for my age, which makes me feel less like an adult.

I don’t have stories from my life. There’s not much to say about myself. It’s hard to connect when you feel like you have nothing to tell people.

My life is better than two years ago. I’m proud. But I’m still lonely and unhappy. I’m not looking for pity. I just want to hear something kind, or from someone who felt behind and still built a normal life.

I'm 22M. I know 22 is still young, but I don’t feel young. I feel like I’m supposed to be starting adult life now, but I missed a lot of the normal steps that were supposed to prepare me for it.

I’m not in college, I don’t have a degree, no driving license, and I still live with my family. I recently lost my low-entry job because the company let many people go, so now I’m looking for work again and it feels like starting over.

High school was not normal for me. Bad family situation, ADHD, low mood, and a lot of isolation. I had friends for a while, then I drifted away. I never really dated, never had a girlfriend, and never had that normal teenage phase people talk about.

There’s a girl I like now, and I think being around her made me realize how ashamed I feel about what I missed. She’s pretty, funny, easy to talk to, and I actually feel something around her. But instead of enjoying it, I start comparing myself and thinking, “why would she choose me?”

I’m jealous of people who had normal families, trips, memories, relationships, school stories, and stupid teenage mistakes. I feel like I was in the background while everyone else was living.

I don’t think my life is over. I lost a lot of weight, I take better care of myself, and I’m trying. Some days I feel okay about myself, other days I feel very insecure.

The hardest part is feeling disconnected. I can talk, joke, make people laugh, and seem fine, but inside I often feel like I don’t belong anywhere.

I want a better job, a driving license, more experiences, and a normal life. But I’m tired of constantly feeling behind. ADHD plus my past makes me overthink everything.

I'm 22M. I know 22 is still young, but I don’t feel young. I feel like I’m supposed to be starting adult life now, but I missed a lot of the normal steps that were supposed to prepare me for it.

I’m not in college, I don’t have a degree, no driving license, and I still live with my family. I recently lost my low-entry job because the company let many people go, so now I’m looking for work again and it feels like starting over.

High school was not normal for me. Bad family situation, ADHD, low mood, and a lot of isolation. I had friends for a while, then I drifted away. I never really dated, never had a girlfriend, and never had that normal teenage phase people talk about.

There’s a girl I like now, and I think being around her made me realize how ashamed I feel about what I missed. She’s pretty, funny, easy to talk to, and I actually feel something around her. But instead of enjoying it, I start comparing myself and thinking, “why would she choose me?”

I’m jealous of people who had normal families, trips, memories, relationships, school stories, and stupid teenage mistakes. I feel like I was in the background while everyone else was living.

I don’t think my life is over. I lost a lot of weight, I take better care of myself, and I’m trying. Some days I feel okay about myself, other days I feel very insecure.

The hardest part is feeling disconnected. I can talk, joke, make people laugh, and seem fine, but inside I often feel like I don’t belong anywhere.

I want a better job, a driving license, more experiences, and a normal life. But I’m tired of constantly feeling behind. ADHD plus my past makes me overthink everything.

I'm 22M. I know 22 is still young, but I don’t feel young. I feel like I’m supposed to be starting adult life now, but I missed a lot of the normal steps that were supposed to prepare me for it.

I’m not in college, I don’t have a degree, no driving license, and I still live with my family. I recently lost my low-entry job because the company let many people go, so now I’m looking for work again and it feels like starting over.

High school was not normal for me. Bad family situation, ADHD, low mood, and a lot of isolation. I had friends for a while, then I drifted away. I never really dated, never had a girlfriend, and never had that normal teenage phase people talk about.

There’s a girl I like now, and I think being around her made me realize how ashamed I feel about what I missed. She’s pretty, funny, easy to talk to, and I actually feel something around her. But instead of enjoying it, I start comparing myself and thinking, “why would she choose me?”

I’m jealous of people who had normal families, trips, memories, relationships, school stories, and stupid teenage mistakes. I feel like I was in the background while everyone else was living.

I don’t think my life is over. I lost a lot of weight, I take better care of myself, and I’m trying. Some days I feel okay about myself, other days I feel very insecure.

The hardest part is feeling disconnected. I can talk, joke, make people laugh, and seem fine, but inside I often feel like I don’t belong anywhere.

I want a better job, a driving license, more experiences, and a normal life. But I’m tired of constantly feeling behind. ADHD plus my past makes me overthink everything.

I'm 22M. I know 22 is young and people will say I still have time, but I don’t feel young. I feel like I’m supposed to be starting life now, but I skipped the part that was supposed to make me normal.

I’m not in college, I don’t have a degree, no driving license, and I still live with my family. I recently lost my low-entry job because they basically fired everyone there. Now I’m job hunting again and it feels like I’m back at zero.

High school basically didn’t happen for me. Bad family situation, ADHD, depression, loneliness. I had friends for a while, then I didn’t. I never really dated, never had a girlfriend, never had that normal teenage phase people talk about.

There’s a girl I like now, and I think this spiral started because of her. Not in a bad way. Being around her just made me realize how ashamed I am of everything I missed. She’s pretty, funny, easy to talk to, and I actually feel something around her. But instead of enjoying it, my brain goes straight to “why would she ever choose me?”

And yeah, I’m jealous. Of normal families, trips, memories, relationships, school stories, stupid teenage mistakes. I feel like I existed in the background while everyone else was living.

I don’t think I’m hopeless. I lost a lot of weight and it was hard as fuck. I take care of myself more now. I can look decent, sometimes even good, but other days I feel disgusting. My body is still average and I’m insecure about it.

The worst part is loneliness. Even around people, I still feel lonely. I can talk, joke, make people laugh, but inside I still feel like I don’t belong anywhere.

I’m trying now. I’m saving money. I want a better job, a driving license, more experiences, maybe a normal life. But I’m tired. ADHD mixed with my past is exhausting. I overthink everything. I can’t sleep, my head hurts, and I keep analyzing myself until I feel insane.

I'm 22M and idk, I feel like people don't really get how lonely and behind I feel.

From the outside I probably look kinda normal. I work, I talk to people, I joke around, I can make people laugh, I can act chill. I don't think most people would look at me and think I'm doing this bad.

But mentally I’m nowhere near as okay as I probably look.

I've never had a girlfriend, never been in a relationship, I don't have a driver's license, I don't study, I still live at home and this is my first real job. I have some people I talk to, but I don't really have a friend group or someone I can just text like "yo let's go somewhere" and actually go.

I feel like I missed the normal start of life. Dating, parties, trips, first relationships, stupid teenage mistakes, all that stuff people just kind of experience. For me even going out for a beer with coworkers feels like a big thing, because I barely had that before. And honestly it feels embarrassing to even say that.

My home life was always cold. No real support, no father figure, no feeling that I mattered that much. I always felt like I was just there, like an extra person in my own family. I think it messed me up more than I want to admit.

I've had depression, ADHD, anxiety and social anxiety for years. I'm getting psychiatric help now, but I still get really dark thoughts sometimes. There are moments when I'm alone and it feels like I just shut down. And even when I'm with people, joking or drinking or acting normal, I still feel disconnected. Like I'm there, but not really part of it.

That's probably the worst part. I can be around people and still feel alone as hell.

I'm trying to fix my life. I lost weight, started caring more about how I look, got a job, save some money, help with some stuff at home and I want to get my license. I want a better job, maybe study, move out one day, actually build something.

But it's hard when loneliness drains you all the time. People say "just improve yourself" and yeah, I get it. I'm trying. But I also don't want to wait until I'm some perfect version of myself before I start living. I already feel like I waited too long.

I don't hate anyone and I don't think anyone owes me anything. I just feel like I'm trying to enter life late with no confidence, no experience and no real support system.

Most people probably wouldn't guess this about me, because I can act fine. I can joke, talk, look normal.

But a lot of the time I feel like I'm just pretending.

I'm 22M and idk, I feel like people don't really get how lonely and behind I feel.

From the outside I probably look kinda normal. I work, I talk to people, I joke around, I can make people laugh, I can act chill. I don't think most people would look at me and think I'm doing this bad.

But mentally I’m nowhere near as okay as I probably look.

I don’t have a driver’s license, I don’t study, I still live at home and this is my first real job. I have some people I talk to, but I don’t really have a proper friend group or someone I can just text like “yo let’s go somewhere” and actually go.

I feel like I missed the normal start of life. Trips, parties, going out, stupid teenage mistakes, having a group, making memories, all that stuff people just kind of experience. For me even going out for a beer with coworkers feels like a big thing, because I barely had that before. And honestly it feels embarrassing to even say that.

My home life was always cold. No real support, no father figure, no feeling that I mattered that much. I always felt like I was just there, like an extra person in my own family. I think it messed me up more than I want to admit.

I've had depression, ADHD, anxiety and social anxiety for years. I'm getting psychiatric help now, but I still get really hopeless thoughts sometimes. There are moments when I'm alone and it feels like I just shut down. And even when I'm with people, joking or drinking or acting normal, I still feel disconnected. Like I'm there, but not really part of it.

That's probably the worst part. I can be around people and still feel alone as hell.

I'm trying to fix my life. I lost weight, started caring more about how I look, got a job, save some money, help with some stuff at home and I want to get my license. I want a better job, maybe study, move out one day, actually build something.

But it's hard when loneliness drains you all the time. People say "just improve yourself" and yeah, I get it. I'm trying. But I also don't want to wait until I'm some perfect version of myself before I start living. I already feel like I waited too long.

I don't think anyone owes me anything. I just feel like I'm trying to enter life late with no confidence, no experience and no real support system.

Most people probably wouldn't guess this about me, because I can act fine. I can joke, talk, look normal.

But a lot of the time I feel like I'm just pretending.