u/JacksDestroyer

I live in a very busy housing estate, I've been here for 3 years and I thought I would have gotten used to the noise at this point but it seems to be getting worse as time goes on.

It's right by the very busy road so there's always the under lying sound of traffic at all hours, there's often building work going on at various times, sometimes drinking people taking a short cut through the estate from nearby pubs. I can deal with all these but the biggest issues for me sound wise is the sound of the neighbors kids screaming, this goes on 24/7.

I work from home and it is becoming very difficult at this point. This summer in particular really tested my patience, I've exhausted all options with talking and reasoning with the parents. They don't give a shit

So I need to do something to try to stop the noise from getting in. I believe the windows are the main issue, they're quite worn and there's large gaps around the frames on some of them. They are double glazed but pretty cheap and have been there since the house was built in 2004. I applied for the seai grant for windows and insulation and got approved.

I know this is mainly to help with heating but I'm hoping it will also help with outside noise. Would new windows help or is there something else I should look at? I tried all the usual stuff people suggest noise cancelling headphones, white nose machine

For the last few years I've been alone for the bank holiday weekend and I end up dreading this weekend. I would have loved to have gone to ATN but I really can't face going to a festival for 3 days on my own. Im my late 30s and pains me to admit that I basically have no friends, I'm also extremely single. Any friends I did have, have drifted, settled down, grown apart etc. This year in particular has been very mentally challenging, between job losses and various health and mental health problems, all of which I've had to navigate on my own. I think it's just hitting harder because I'm in such a bad headspace atm

Don't know if this kind of post is allowed so delete away mods if not appropriate

I'm 36, and I have never been in a relationship. I feel like I have no business dating because of it, and I'm totally unqualified to be in one at this stage.

I've always struggled with my mental health. As far back as I can remember, I've always had depression and anxiety. It caused me to hide away a lot during my teen years and then came to a head in my 20s. My 20s basically didn't happen, went to college but didn't socialise at all because of my issues. Then when I finished my degree, I spend years unemployed due to a complete breakdown. There were a couple of points where I genuinely thought I'd be dead before I was 30.

Managed to get on a better path in my late 20s by getting a job in my field and getting out there more but my mental health has never been good by any stretch. I'm currently going through one of the worst bouts of it I've ever experienced, due to a number of factors so dating just isn't an option now

I'm just wondering if I did somehow mange to sort myself out, and that seems like a long shot as I've been trying for nearly 20 years, is there any point in me dating at all? I feel like no one would want me, that I have nothing to offer. I'll probably be seen a some weird incel type

I have been on dates over the years some turned into short term things, but not something I could really call a relationship

Now I'm at the age where everyone around me is married and having kids. I 100% don't want kids as well, so I know that's another black mark against me.

There has been all kinds of rumours about me over the years in work and groups I've been in because people have never had any indication of me having a girlfriend. I wish people would just mind their own business. I've come to the realization that I'm probably neurodivergent in some way which would explain a lot but I can't afford to get a formal diagnosis right now.

I feel like I'm just a hard person to like in general and probably seen as hard work and a bit of a pain in the hole to be around. I'm naturally introverted and have a lot of weird quirks that would probably be totally unacceptable to most people

I've tried counselling a few times and with little success. I actually don't know if I even want a relationship, I honestly wouldn't know what to do if I was in one. I'm so used to my own company, the last few years, especially since any friends I did have settled down I've gotten so used to doing things by myself, be it going places on my own or going on holiday solo.

I'm honestly just so lonely, and I don't know what to do about it. I live alone and outside of hearing from my family the odd time, I don't really hear from anyone.