23M loser
By "loser," I don’t mean by societal standards—I don’t really care about those. I mean by my own standards. I know exactly who I am, what I want to be, and what I want out of life, but I’m stuck in a cycle of self-sabotage and bad luck. I’m highly ambitious, but I feel completely bound.
I want to share my story, my reality, and the foundation I'm building to break out of this.
The Reality of Where I’m At
Debt & Employment: I am 23 and managed to put myself $50,000 in consumer debt (currently in the process of Chapter 7 bankruptcy). I was also recently fired from my apprenticeship for a minor issue. I have filed for unemployment.
Compulsions & Rumination: I have chronic rumination and a serious spending problem. I’ve also used porn as a coping mechanism since I was 11 or 12. Even when working, I have zero control over my spending and no savings.
Relationships: Despite getting external attention from women, I have never been in a relationship or been sexually active. Because I'm unhappy with myself, my natural instinct is to reject people when they make a move, even if I regret it later.
Mental Health: Last year, I had to admit myself to the ER because I felt severely suicidal.
The Background (How I Got Here)
My life has never been stable. I was born in the US, sent to live with my stepmother and siblings abroad at age 3, and came back at age 10. My stepmother used to feed my half-brother and leave me hungry. Starting at age 6 or 7, I would wander around to random wedding venues just to look for food.
When I came back to the US to live with my biological mother, it got worse. She is abusive—emotionally, verbally, and physically. She instigates fights between her kids constantly. Coming to a new country with zero guidance, support, or safety at home completely broke me.
Right now, my home is still unsafe. Recently, my oldest sister (34, unemployed) attacked me. I locked myself in my room and recorded it. When she couldn't break the door down, she called the cops and lied, saying I had a gun and tried to shoot her. The next day, she keyed her own car and told our mom I did it. I could be thrown out at any moment.
The Silver Lining
The only things keeping me grounded right now are that I am in great physical shape, I love boxing, and I have a strict meditation practice. I have meditated 30–60 minutes a day for 140 days straight. Now that I’m unemployed, I’ve increased it to 3 hours a day until I get back on my feet (then I'll drop back to 1 hour).
In 3 months, I start a city-backed IT program. Doors have to close for others to open.
My 7-Goal Foundation List
I made a list of things I must complete to stop feeling bad waking up in the morning. This isn't about becoming a "winner" overnight; it's about building a foundation so I can finally leave this house and make something of myself.
- Go 90 days without porn or masturbation.
- Teach myself Applied Mathematics. I am almost done with Algebra 1. My goal is to progress through Algebra 2, Trig, Precalculus, and Calculus 1 by dedicating 10–15 hours a week over the next 4 years.
- Take the Security+ exam. (I don't have to pass on the first attempt, I just need to take it).
- Prepare for my first amateur boxing fight. Keep sparring 2 days a week, do my roadwork, and get in the ring (don't have to win, just have to do it).
- Keep meditating 3 hours per day for the next 90 days.
- Complete the IT project I’ve been putting off for over a year.
- Learn to lucid dream. (A bit random, but I think it’s cool and useful).
I know the odds are stacked against me right now, but I refuse to stay down. Has anyone else climbed out of a hole this deep with a toxic family holding them back? Any advice on staying disciplined when your environment is chaotic?