I need serious help to address my situation please
I’m 26 and avoidance is wrecking my school, work, and finances. How do I actually break the cycle?
My biggest problem is that I understand what I’m doing wrong, but that awareness never turns into consistent action. When something feels difficult or overwhelming, I escape, tell myself I’ll handle it tomorrow, and repeat.
It’s affecting everything:
- School: I’ve been in university since 2018 and have spent over two years trying to finish my last six courses. Every semester, I pay $3–4k, avoid the work, then fail or withdraw. I’m enrolled again and haven’t even opened my course pages. My employer and most friends think I’ve graduated, which adds shame and pressure.
- Work: I landed an internship that became a full-time aerospace project-coordination role. I dislike the workplace, but my avoidance also shows up there: I put off tasks and asking questions until everything piles up. I want another job, but haven’t finished updating my resume.
- Money: I earn $78k CAD before tax but owe roughly $80k, including $23k on a credit card. Debt payments are around $1,000/month, and I have about $2,000 in cash. I keep researching side hustles without actually starting.
- Daily life: I escape into weed, porn, scrolling, or hours in bed. Sometimes I do useful things like meal prep to avoid the task that actually needs attention. My sleep is poor, and any momentum usually lasts only a day or two.
Starting schoolwork can feel physically uncomfortable. At the first sign of confusion, I want to quit. In the moment, postponing feels completely justified, even though I know exactly where it leads.
I have goals, especially becoming a pilot, but I’m overwhelmed by the gap between what I want and what I actually do.
I have been to therapy on and off but it hasn't helped as I can't take even the actions from my sessions back to do some work. it all sucks.