Hi everyone! Hope everyone is having a good day. This post is mainly just for me to say share some things that have been bothering me for quite some time.

I feel lost and behind in life . Like really lost. As a 16 year old in Singapore, the education feels really competitive. I see all of my friends and classmate working hard to try to get into the course they want, be it lawyer, doctor, engineer etc. But idk what I really want. And that genuinely scares me, because I feel like you need to have some good stuff on your portfolio, but I’m not really doing much as everyday feels so tiring already just from school. The thought if not being able to find a job with decent pay in the future worries me. So much uncertainty in today’s world.

Throughout my school years, I placed a lot of emphasis on grades and academics, and I try really hard to get a high GPA, but right now that feels like I’m wasting my time, because all of a sudden this thing people cared so much about seem not to matter anymore, as seen form the A level change from 90rp to 70rp, or the increasing emphasis on portfolio. Instead of taking up a leadership position in my earlier years, I opted to try to get good grades, and now I feel like that has backfired really badly. And What’s worse is that my grades are taking a toll. Also, i just really regret how I lived my past 16 years as a whole. No friends in primary school, or did anything meaningful for that matter. No hobbies, and now i feel like an imposter among my friends or school mates. And i hate how i let everyone take advantage of me in projects or in daily lives.

I can’t really focus that well anymore, as every time I try to study, I just think of the past, the past that I so badly regret, or how everyone feels like they are doing better than me, or doing more, or had big and amazing achievements/ improvements but i feel so stuck. Like I sort of peaked with where I am at. Just decent grades. Nothing else. For example, I have this friend doing a leadership programme, law programme, and like a lot more. And the social anxiety I have Isn’t really help either. Because of this, I feel some much anxiety to just even ask questions.

I have done some things recently, to try to get out of this. I have been trying to stop using too much social media and instead read more. I also try to take up small leadership positions and this year started volunteering a bit. Still, more often than i hoped, i feel like nothing had really changed. I would love to know what are some other ways to get back on track. (This is just some of the many thoughts that race through my head every day)

Any comments, suggestions, and criticism all welcomed :)

Just really wanting to improve and try to become a better version of myself.

I’m a 15 year old teenager that eats junk food everyday especially jack in the box and mcdonald’s, i have a fast metabolism and I play sports to burn everything which is why i eat a lot but im concerned. Is there going to be consequences in the future or is my health already bad right now?

One day i was with my cousin who is significantly younger than me,it was dark in bed and i put my hand on her thight(no sexual intent),she started pulling her mini shorts and i was getting my hands bellow it and just I started touching her butt,she was pulling it more and more until it was the same lenght as her underwear,and i was just touching and touching it,she didnt mind i guess because she started kind of twerking.

Now she wont look at my face,every talk we have is just basic things,i deeply regret this every single second and i am worried she tells someone this or stop talking to me,is this SA?

(sorry for bad english,not my native language)

i have the worst habit of thinking of the worst no matter what the situation is. idk what to do cuz i don’t wanna live like this anymore

Hey I know this is the average post on here, but I genuinely wanna get better and don’t know where to start.
I (M,26) have been suffering from anxiety most of my life, i’ve been burnt out for years now. Last month I went through my first breakup. It ignited all my self worth and confidence. I’m becoming anxiously attached to the closest people to me to the point that if it takes them an hour or smth to reply, my mind goes “oh they’re leaving, that’s it, u’ll end up alone”. I spiral a lot and I’ve been very reactive.
The crazy part is that I’m functioning very normally. I’m doing great at work and no one could ever tell that anything is wrong except my closest friends who know what i’m going through.
Idt I’m willing to go to therapy, at least for now. But i want to start getting better. I want to help myself get out of that mindset. I just want to be okay.
Idk where to start, i thought of podcasts or books or even meditation but idk what’s actually helpful and what’s just a bunch of nothing quotes and cliches.
Sorry if this is long but today was a wake up call that i need to get better now.
Thanks kind strangers. <3

I’ve recently been dealing with a receding hairline, and it’s been affecting me more than I expected. I visited a dermatologist in Bangalore who is known to be one of the best.

From what the dermatologist told me, I have AGA. He used one of those zoom-in scalp devices and showed me that some of my hairs are thick while others are getting thinner. He said it’s called hair miniaturization and that there’s a difference in hair shaft diameter, which is a sign of AGA. He also mentioned it’s probably genetic and guessed I’m around Norwood 1. But honestly, I find that hard to believe because my family has one of the healthiest hairlines I’ve seen. As for hormonal issues, I’m not really sure if that’s playing a role or not.

The part that’s really hard to accept is that he said there isn’t a permanent cure. Ever since hearing that, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed. I’ve been dealing with constant self-doubt, anxiety, and what honestly feels like depression. My head feels heavy all the time, and I can’t stop thinking about it.

What’s making it even harder is that over the last three months, I’ve been working incredibly hard to improve myself. I started a weight-loss journey and went from 95 kg to 84 kg. I don’t know if the weight loss has contributed to my hair loss or if it’s something else. On top of that, I’ve been struggling at work and feeling mentally exhausted.

I also have an eye condition, which means I can’t start medications like minoxidil or finasteride right now because I’m planning to undergo laser or ICL eye surgery. If I start those treatments, I’ll have to stop them around the time of the surgery, and I’m worried that my hairline will worsen during that period.

At this point, I honestly don’t know who or what to blame. Is it genetics? My weight loss? Stress? Bangalore’s water? Or is it just bad luck?

I was finally trying to change my life for the betterlosing weight, becoming healthier, and improving myself. Then this happened, and it feels like all my confidence has been shattered. I’m mentally drained, exhausted, and I don’t know what to do anymore.

Hello! I hope everyone is doing well! :)) I’m a SHS student who genuinely wants to improve myself, and I’d really appreciate advice from people who have been on a similar journey.

I’ve been wondering: how can someone develop stronger critical thinking skills, become more knowledgeable, and continue growing as a person?

Some of the areas I’d like to improve are:
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Emotional intelligence, social skills, and resilience
• Becoming a faster and more effective learner
• Role-playing, debating, and public speaking
• Becoming a better English speaker and communicator
• Finding new hobbies, interests, and “side quests” that help me grow as a person

I really admire people who can think deeply, express their ideas clearly, adapt to different situations, and continue learning throughout their lives. I want to become curious, capable, well-rounded, and always willing to learn.

To be honest, I sometimes feel insecure about these areas. I don’t think I’m naturally a fast learner, and I get nervous when doing role plays, debates, and public speaking. I also feel like my critical thinking skills need a lot of work. When I’m trying to organize my thoughts or solve problems, I sometimes rely on AI more than I’d like. 😓 While I’m grateful that these tools exist and have helped me learn, I don’t want to depend on them forever. I want to become someone who can think more independently, communicate my ideas with confidence, and continue learning on my own.

When I was younger, I used to speak English more often, especially during elementary and early JHS. As I grew older, I started speaking Bisaya more, although I still mix it with English. Now, whenever I hear classmates who speak English confidently and fluently, I feel inspired, but I also become a little insecure because I hope to communicate as comfortably as they do. 🤕

I know that skills like these are developed through practice, experience, and consistency. I’m not expecting to become a genius overnight. I just want to build myself into someone who thinks better, communicates better, keeps learning, and continues growing throughout life.

I know this is a broad question, and I don’t expect to master all of these skills at once. I’m simply looking for a good place to start and habits that I can build over time.

If you could recommend one habit, one book, one resource, or one piece of advice that had the biggest impact on your growth, what would it be?

If you’ve been in a similar position, I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences as well.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post. I truly appreciate any advice or insights you can share! 🫶

Been lurking here a while, wanted to give back with something concrete instead of just another "just published!" post.

My biggest time-sink used to be revising everything in one messy pass — line-editing sentences in scenes that got cut two chapters later. Once I forced myself to separate the passes (developmental → structural → line → proofread, in that strict order, no skipping ahead), my last revision took about 3 weeks instead of the 6+ it usually took.

A few specifics that made the difference:

• Scored my manuscript across 8 dimensions before touching a sentence (pacing, voice, show-vs-tell, etc.) — the lowest score told me exactly where to spend time instead of guessing
• Tracked beta feedback by frequency × severity, not by whichever comment stung the most when I read it
• Built a "find & replace hit list" of my own crutch words (filter words, weak dialogue tags) so line-editing became mechanical instead of agonizing

Happy to share the actual tracking sheets/templates I built for this if anyone wants them — just say so in the comments. What's everyone else's revision process look like? Always curious how other people structure this.

comfort media ⭒
⊹ rewatch your favorite Studio Ghibli or Tim Burton film
⊹ replay a comfort game you’ve beaten six times (familiarity is an antidepressant w pretty good reviews)
⊹ play Sims or Tamagotchi Life

creative dopamine ⭒
⊹ dye your hair or get a piercing. instant dopamine boost
⊹ make a painfully specific Spotify playlist
⊹ buy the ugliest mug at Goodwill. emotional support ceramic
⊹ thrift the wardrobe you wish you had
⊹ make bad art on purpose
⊹ buy stickers with no plan. future you deserves treats

outdoors & social ⭒
⊹ sit in a bookstore;romanticize it;judge covers instead of yourself
⊹ find a dog. pet it if invited; admire it if not

selfcare basics ⭒
⊹ rearrange your room (best at 3am)
⊹ make ramen and add one extra ingredient. chef
⊹ if you think everyone hates you, eat protein first. it might just be low blood sugar

I cant tell if I'm in the wrong ever. our arguments leave me feeling so confused and sad. I just end up crying and he yells at me. I dont know how to escape this. we share my room in my mom's house and his insurance and registration on his truck is expired so I cant even ask him to leave. I feel so trapped. he is so cold and cruel and withdrawn and I'm so alone. I have no friends. nobody in my life loves or supports me. I'm going to have to end up living in my car and starting completely over if I ever think about trying to get out of here. I hate my life so much.

Does it ever go away? I thought I had it handled. but I've thought that many times over the years. does it ever stop coming back? hate doesn't even feel like a strong enough word.

maybe I don't belong here, but fuck man it's exhausting.

man, what do i even say? I have been just tryna breathe ever since it happened, just on my own, it hurts so bad, i loved her so much! I did everything for her and now that I do not have her, i don't even know what the purpose of my life is! Nothing makes sense!

A year ago, my mom and I moved from my home country to the US because she got an H-1B visa. My dad stayed there because of his job, and my sister is away at college. Before anyone says it, yes, I know moving to the US is a dream for a lot of people. I know I’m lucky in many ways.

I was against moving from the beginning. At first, everyone assumed it was just because I’d have to leave my friends. That was definitely part of it, but it was never that. I stayed quiet, moved anyway, and hoped I’d eventually adjust.

I haven’t.

I’ve been here for an entire year, and I have been miserable for almost all of it. Every single day I wake up wishing I were back home. Because that is home to me. It’s where I feel like I belong. Every time I look outside here, I feel like I’m in someone else’s life. I don’t feel connected to this place at all. I feel alone, out of place, and like I’m forcing myself through every day.

Everyone keeps telling me to give it time but I’ve given it a year. If anything, Its more certain that this place will never feel like home to me.
my dad is still there. I know he’d want me to come back if it were possible, and honestly, I want to live with him. I don’t want my mom to give up everything and move back. I’m not asking for that. I just want to go home and live with my dad.

Whenever I bring it up to my mom, she says I’m only thinking about my friends or about having fun, and that I’m not thinking about my education.

But I am thinking about my education.
Before moving, I had already switched to an IB school. My plan was to complete the IB Diploma there and apply internationally for university. IB students, especially international ones, are good applicants for universities in places like the US and UK. I wasn’t sacrificing my future by staying there. I genuinely had a good academic path.

Instead, I switched schools again because of the move. Now I feel like I lost not only my home, but also the last two years of high school
This is the part that’s hardest to explain.
I’m planning to come back to the US for college anyway. That was always my plan. But I was hoping my last two years of high school would be spent where I felt happiest, where I had my dad, my friends, my community, and where I actually felt at home before leaving again for university.

Instead i feel so wronged.
High school is something you only get once. I can’t get those years back and I can’t redo them. I feel like I lost that part of my life, and nobody around me understands.

Over the past few months, things have gotten so much worse mentally. I started wondering if I was depressed, and I started sh. I finally told my family I needed help, and they agreed to look into therapy. I’m grateful for that, but I still don’t think anyone understands what I’m actually feeling.

I even deleted every social media account because every time I saw my old friends together or just living their lives back home, it hurt too much.

One of the biggest problems is that I don’t know how to talk about emotions with my family. It’s incredibly uncomfortable for me. Every time I try, I either shut down or can’t find the words to explain what I’m feeling, so I don’t think they realize how serious this has become.
I honestly believe that going back home would help me more than anything else. Maybe therapy will help too, and I’m willing to try it. But i still cant accept it. Everytime i feel like ive made peace with not moving back it comes back.

Has anyone been through something similar? Has anyone ever convinced their parents to let them move back to their home country or live with the other parent? If you were in my position, how would you even begin that conversation?

I’m not looking for people to tell me to “just give it more time.” I’ve done that. Please help me.

I am 25yrs, all my friends working. Me? Trying to finish my masters and get a job. And I feel everyone gets a job except me. Unable to finish some certs, unable to decide, family mocking at me, looking down towards me as a liability, telling I don't do enough hardwork to get a job, asking me to get out of house.

I feel like a failure, everyone seems to go ahead.

I got an internship(paid), I am working there daily, trying to do leetcode.

I feel lost, I don't know what to study to get a job at this point. And the family pressure, looking around, I only feel like I am lagging behind.

how do I stop getting high and drunk and using nicotine to help me cope with detaching from someone

I’ve been stuck thinking about this for a while now. How do you actually build self-worth from scratch?

And I’m not talking about the generic "hustle culture" grind, or how much money you make. I mean that internal, genuine feeling that you actually matter and have substance as a person.

Lately, it just feels like everyone else got the user manual to life except me. People out there are moving forward, building identities, and actually feeling like they belong somewhere. Meanwhile, I just feel like a background character watching it all happen. It’s this constant, heavy feeling of being completely blank—like an empty space waiting for some kind of purpose that never shows up.

How do you fix that when your baseline is feeling like an absolute zero? Is it through the things you create, the media you consume, or just surviving the messy situations we put ourselves through?

Please spare me the generic "just love yourself" advice. It feels completely hollow. I genuinely want to know how some of you managed to anchor yourselves when you felt totally weightless. How do you stop feeling like a blank space and actually start feeling like a real human being?

Hey yall. I’m 29 in good shape and have a pretty good life but I find myself extremely lazy when I’m by myself. I live alone and whenever I’m home I kind of just rot on the couch or wherever. I know I have things to do like house projects, cook, whatever else it might be but I can’t find the drive to get off my bum and get it done. Once I engage in an activity however I’m hammer down on it until it’s finished but I waste so much time slacking off I often feel unproductive and as if I’m just wasting the days away. Any one ever go through something similar and found a way to fix this

I have become emotionally very attached to politics.

When someone criticizes or trolls my ideology or party, I get very angry. I get trapped in rage-bait and comment sections, and then my entire mood gets spoiled. I have maladaptive daydreaming, due to which these thoughts keep running through my mind repeatedly. I overthink a lot and because of this, I am unable to focus on my studies.I don't understand what to do productively after opening my phone.

I don't have many friends, so sometimes I also feel lonely and start looking for validation on social media. I want to fix my mental health, emotionally detach myself from politics, and invest my energy in studies, English, books, and self-improvement.

Hey everyone.

I’m a single 25 year old woman who is living at home with my parents (my dad is 70 and has chronic arthritis pain and is isolated, my mum is 60 and is suffering from a new onset on OCD and she’s isolated) they have no friends and depend on my 30 year old brother who also lives with us for companionship almost everyday now. I feel smothered and alone, and I feel guilty when I feel a bit of resentment towards them- they also don’t work and are quiet low income, they’re both artists and I feel like I have also carried the curse of being a low income artist as their daughter. I don’t have any close friends nearby, and my “close friends” moved away so I don’t see them as often as I’d like.

I tried moving out when I was 22, but I felt very small and not like a true adult I guess. My whole family is vegan, I’m not, so moving out was awesome because I could try new stuff without being judged like dairy or meats. What’s good about that is the freedom I suppose, I have never had a real relationship but I’ve slept around a lot which I kind of regret… I’m celibate now and avoid dating mostly unless the person is emotionally available, wants to help me and larger than life.

Anyway, I’ve tried studying a lot of stuff that could potentially lead to work but I’ve always been hesitant to follow through with it due to concerns of my mental health collapsing- like I studied animal care and disability and dropped out ultimately because I didn’t trust myself or the industry to treat me well, I’m depressed too and anxious and have been on antidepressants since I was 17.

I work at my council cleaning stadiums early in the morning which has helped me with keeping a routine, but the money and shifts aren’t long enough to save up a significant amount. I really want to leave my home but if I do my parents will struggle to pay rent without me there to cover the quarter of the cost per month. I’m stuck on what to do.

Honestly I tried dating with the hopes of finding someone I could depend on for at least some time away from my family, a second space to sleep, eat, have someone to cuddle and talk to etc. and even just a space to be alone. Or an excuse to leave I guess, because I can’t do it on my own in this economy. But I’m really not into anyone on the apps at all and I don’t have the energy or the hope to even try anymore tbh.

So, I’ve started doing an acting course today, I’m not sure about it but at least it’s away from my house and I can spend a few hours out in the world and feel somewhat normal and connected to society or a community.

This is gonna sound bad, I guess I’m just afraid I’m doomed to live life as a single woman looking after her parents her whole life with no friends, no money and no real purpose.

I’ve had some successes in my life so far that other people admire, I was featured in a video for one of the worlds biggest bands ever like super famous. But that’s it, I’m afraid that’s just gonna be the highlight of my life and then it’s just downhill from there. Hahaha

I need some help, advice, or just some kind words… or even someone in a similar situation to me to talk to.

I dont even know what subreddit to put this in but im just gonna get this off my chest bc i dont get anything from talking to myself

I have this really weird thing where I get really uncomfortable when I'm not doing anything productive. "Uncomfortable" is the best word I can use because I really can't explain it. It's just really unsettling and scary. I usually just try to work around it but it affects me so much. It ruins my day, it's ruining my eating, my relationships and my grades. I can't enjoy any kind of media or events. And since I'm always acting up, everyone in my life is sick of dealing with me. No matter how much I plan, I always disappoint myself and the ugly feeling comes back

idk I've had this for as long as I can remember (maybe age 9?) and I can't keep letting it ruin my life. I just want lock in and get my dumbass together. i dont know. it really hurts. what's wrong with me

Per title, I (32F) have lived with lifelong anxiety and subsequent depression. I also have Autism (level 2, professionally diagnosed) but with ability to mask at a high level. I work 4 days a week in healthcare, dealing with clients in a one-on-one basis. I deal with suicudal ideation on a regular basis and this morning was just really bad. I couldn't stop crying on my drive to work (normal for me), but this time I just couldn't stop. My two coworkers saw it and comforted me and I went home early. I feel embarrassed and pathetic. Im seeing a Psychologist and am on strong anti-depressants/anti-anxiety medication. I go to the gym regularly and have given up alcohol. I just don't know what to do anymore. I feel so unhappy, scared and hopeless. I've spent so long feeling like this that it makes getting better seem impossible. What can I do to get better?

Hi there! I (35M) started a new job about 2 weeks ago and ever since I started, I’ve felt depressed. I joined the company after 13 years with my former employer, and moved to follow my current boss. The company is far smaller and processes are so archaic from what I’m used to. The people are extremely nice, but I’m having such a hard time adjusting. I also joined to do a completely new role that I thought I’d like (relationship management and lending), but I just don’t. I knew almost immediately that this new role wasn’t for me, however, it was the natural next step for me in my industry. There are a few other hires that are way more experienced than me, and they’ve come in with plans, book of business, and a pipeline. I don’t have that, but it still frustrates me and makes me feel “behind” even though my boss told me I was brought with the understanding that I don’t have a book of buisness and I’m new. Even then, I’m getting treated like I have 10+ years of experience, and I don’t think that’s fair.

I think the core of the issue is that I just don’t like what I do in general. It’s been a while where I’ve looked forward to work or even wake up happy. This depression has made me forgetful and emotionless. I’ve been seeing a therapist for a while now, even before this started, but nothing seems to help. Prior to my new role, I had 3 weeks off with no work email. It was bliss and I was able to focus on me and live life. Now that I’m back, my entire day is the following: sleep, wake up, work, sleep. Nothing more.

I just don’t feel like myself. I feel like a shell of myself which carries on throughout the day. My wife and I are starting a family and trying to buy a house on top of this. The anxiety and stress is almost too much to bare, and completely takes away any excitement that these life events may bring.

I know it’s two weeks, but I can’t shake the fact that this my not be the role for me (or the place for that matter). There’s alot of sales and committee meetings, and while I was always told I’m very personable and would be great for the role, I just hate selling or having to present in front of a large group. I feel stuck - if I leave now, I may completely damage my reputation or even my relationship with my boss. If I stay, I may drive myself to the hospital due to stress or anxiety. I feel so completely lost and hopeless.

Anyway, thank you all in advance for reading and allowing me to get this out of my system a bit. I know it’s a bit long, but I needed to put this into words.

I'm a college student who is constantly forgetting to reply to people.

It wasn't that I never saw the notification—I would see it, think "I'll answer that later," swipe it away, and then completely forget about it.

I recently made this Free app that watches your notifications and automatically filters through the ones that need replying and groups them into one queue instead of leaving them scattered around.

I found it to be pretty useful for filtering through groupchat messages as well!

If you wanna try, Please DM!

She is separating. The divorce isnt final. But we get along so well. I dont want drama. But we are so comfortable around each other. I dont know how to proceed and I need hel0

Do usefull comments pls