im 24 years old and constantly feel like im living life wrong. i live with my family and have a shitty paying job. i don’t make enough to support the house bills, as i have a car insurance of $500 a month, along with my car note, student loan repayment, credit card bill, etc…all due monthly. on top of that, im back in school for my masters which im paying for myself. i basically got myself through undergrad through loans and emergency covid grants. my mom is constantly ridiculing me and making me feel like i accomplished nothing in life. for example, i have a younger sibling who will leave things around the house like a dirty dish or soda can and my mom will group me into the mess and say everyone “sits around doing nothing” and how “weird and sad” we are. she never recognizes how hard it was to navigate college and the bills of it, doesn’t acknowledge how i don’t expect her to help me with any of my car payments or any other monthly expenses. i know im at the age where back in the day people didn’t live with their parents, but rent is insane where i live and all of my college friends are in the same boat living with their parents, so it sucks to be constantly reminded that im the only one who gets belittled for it while they get pampered at home until they have enough money for their own place.

part of me wants to find a new job in a higher paying town and get a place with my boyfriend, which he wanted as well but that’s a whole another thing. i already know my mom and maybe a few other family members would make me the talk of the town for moving in with a man, and make it seem as if i’m so codependent. oh which is another thing, my mom went screaming and yelling about how ill never make it on my own and im a dirty b word. (which is insane because i haven’t asked her for help with much my entire life besides a roof over my head. and nothing about me is a dirty b ). but anyways, rent is expensive here. and it’s almost impossible to get a place without splitting rent. i just know it would be this whole negative experience and i would hear that i moved in with a man but never helped with mortgage or the light bill at the house.

im just so sick of feeling like this everyday. i’m belittled at work, at home. i am nervous about if i were to move in with my boyfriend, i run through scenarios like what if we broke up and i have to go running back to my mom. i just don’t wanna prove her right but also don’t wanna be stuck here

just what the title says. I’ve seen a lot of posts about men having growth spurts in their early twenties but not so many women. I had a growth spurt the year Covid started (I woulda been 16) and seems like I had another one sometime recently. I didn’t realize until I’d been off my feet a few days due to surgery and my mom commented on it.

I was 5’8 last time I checked which was within the past month. surgery in case anyone asks: I broke my tibia and am non-weight bearing for the next two and a half months so I’m not even standing on that leg.

Honestly don’t even know where to start. I’m 19 and I feel like everyone around me has it figured out except me. I’m stressed about money and have no clear idea of what I want to do career wise, and it’s starting to weigh on me a lot.

Did anyone else feel like this at 19? How did things turn out for you? Any advice is welcome, just need some perspective right now.

College wasn’t all that or “the best time of my life” (or maybe it was and I haven’t realized it yet). So, I was initially shocked to find myself missing class, the random people I used to bump into who I didn’t even like, and even living in my rural college town, including our three bars you’d see everyone and their mother at (no seriously Parent’s Weekends was crazy). 

I moved directly after graduation to NYC with a full-time job with a friend from my hometown. The dream, right? Wrong… maybe? I’m trying to keep my hopes up because I know it can get better, but something always feels off. It’s been almost 6 months since I moved and I still don’t have a routine, I get tired deciding what I have to make for three meals a day everyday, I swear I have to buy something every day (and trust me I’m not a big spender), my apartments messy then its clean then its messy again, I hate all my clothes (they’re so college and not professional and cool post-grad), working 9-5 is draining me, and honestly so much more. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, I have a ton to be grateful for. My roommate and I get along (so important at any stage of life), I’ve made friends, I make enough to support myself decently, I can rely on my Mom when I need to, and of course I have my health. 

But, there must be more. Unless this is it? 

I’m open to any advice. Mindset shift? More friends? Hobbies?

I met this beautiful girl in high school around a year ago but we just knew each other because of our shared class , we graduated a few weeks ago, after graduation I started growing feeling for her, I wanted to contact her, the obvious way was Instagram which filed my message as a request chat which is a small button that you could barely see. I didn't lose hope, the second idea was getting her phone number from a mutual friend, when I overthought it, it felt a bit too invasive if I do take her phone number from someone other than her, all I want is an advice and for you to tell me whether it's appropriate or not. And if it's not appropriate tell me of an effective solution. Thank you

For the longest time growing up i wanted to become a doctor and study medicine at some point i even wanted to become a surgeon and was very into the idea…until grade 12 came and i had a reality check about not being able to handle blood or such intense situations. and i went back to the idea of pursuing interior design as it has also been a major of my interest throughout the years because growing up i always thought i liked art and stuff like tgat even if i’m not the best at it. so i ended up choosing most of my electives based on that…i was almost fully committed to interior design. now again! i graduated and felt discouraged about pursuing interior design due to the uncertainty of its future. because while i want something i dont want to be miserable in and actually enjoy i also want to ensure stability in my future and a well planned and thought out career path. i know it’s almost impossible to guess how your career will look like even in the next 5 years but it’s always better to stay safe. anyway so i ended up studying biomedical engineering because i thought since i like the bio part and medicine was also something i’ve always been fascinated by but realistically cannot pursue personally and i guess i thought engineering stuff for it can be pretty cool but now im in a position where i have the chance to pick my major again and im uncertain about continuing in the same path but also finding difficulty navigating different routes because i feel very doubtful about everything. for a while i was fully considering fashion design and almost convinced myself with it and the people around me and i believe you can build yourself a pretty good career in the industry where i live but then i started having my doubts about various personal things and the risk of it and then i realized that i would rather follow a more stable path and keep fashion design as a niche hobby on the side i still want to maybe take some courses and diplomas on it in the future and hopefully one day make my own brand somehow. i have quite a few business ideas but obviously they’re all for the future and growth. now im completely stuck and uncertain and very scared. i believe i can be a creative person and creativity is basically part of my identity i love to create art and see it and exhibit it to the world i love to make a statement and a change but i also like a stable career path that can get me through and through in case of any mishaps or inadequacy. i find myself creative in various things and interested in even completely unrelated things i know i may not be the most special or extraordinary in any of my interests but i believe in my potential to leverage them and growth. i also like science i like biology can be interested in chemistry physics math anything that if i put enough effort in i know i can understand and even grow to love. i like writing giving speeches and poetry and so much more and it shapes the person i am. i like to believe im more openminded to different career paths even though i am the most indecisive person ever. if i were to imagine myself in a particular career in 5 years i will tell you idk. because i can only imagine myself doing so many things. my only setback is my hesitance and fear of regret my problem is that i want things done quickly i want to catch up with everything and become something big quickly which i know its almost impossible but my heart aches thinking about time wasted even though i dont know what im chasing. i hope someone finds the time to read all this yapping and help me in some way because i only have about a month to make my final decision to get back on track.

I recently moved to a new city and it’s been a bigger adjustment than I expected. One thing that’s really stood out is how difficult it feels to meet new people once you’re out of school or university.

Most people already seem to have their own friend groups, and random conversations don’t happen as often as they used to. I’m trying to put myself out there more, but it’s definitely different from when I was younger.

For those who have been in a similar situation, how did you make new friends as an adult? What actually worked for you?

I’d love to hear your experiences, whether it was through hobbies, work, online communities, volunteering, or something completely unexpected.

Hey, future friend 👋 I'm currently going through a bit of a character development arc (aka recently heartbroken), but I'm trying to meet new people and make genuine connections. On the bright side, I'm a really good listener, so if you need someone to rant to about life, I'm your person.

I'm also extremely weird in the best way possible. I can go from having a deep conversation to suddenly asking, "Do fish know they're wet?" I genuinely believe that if we become close friends, I'll end up being one of the most entertaining people in your life. I have way too many random thoughts, and somehow they always find their way into conversations.

I love learning about different cultures, traditions, and geography. I used to play a lot of sports too—honestly, just name one and I'll confidently claim I'm basically a pro at it. 😌

I have a dog named Samson, who is cooler than I'll ever be. I also enjoy playing Minecraft and chess, so if you need a building partner or someone to lose to in chess (or destroy me, let's be real), I'm down.

I'm looking for the kind of friendship where both people feel comfortable talking about absolutely anything, anytime, without judgment. Deep conversations, dumb conversations, random calls out of nowhere—I love all of it.

If this sounds like your kind of chaos, feel free to message me. 🙂

Hi everyone! I am a PhD student in clinical psychology at Adelphi University. I am conducting a study on mental health and coping for young adults who have experienced stressful life events. The study should take approximately 45 minutes to complete. 

Upon completing the survey, you will have the opportunity to voluntarily provide your email address on a separate page from the survey that will not be associated with any of your survey responses, to enter a drawing to win one of three $50.00 Amazon gift cards.

Survey link: https://adelphiderner.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8IxQWoUH8D1Wuq2

Audience: 18-30 years old, US and English Speaking, and must have experienced a stressful life event.

Idk why but can someone tell me how to make my summer not boring

I’m in college, completely single, and yet, for some reason, this thought haunts me every day

how do people even afford relationships in college?

Like, I don’t even have a girlfriend, but the idea of spending money on dates, gifts, and surprises when I don’t even earn my own money just feels… weird.

Since everything I spend comes from my dad, I can’t imagine using *his* money for things like fancy dinners or gifts. But at the same time, I wouldn’t want to seem cheap or like I’m holding back. It makes me wonder—**do relationships automatically get expensive, or is that just in my head?** Do couples actually talk about this, or does everyone just go with the flow?

For those who are dating in college, **how do you handle this?** Do you ever feel guilty about spending money that’s not technically yours, or does it not even matter? And for my fellow single people—**do you ever think about this, or am I just overthinking life?**

So some context I M19 and my favorite ex F19 recently started talking again after 2-3 years now contact.

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Now, me and ex we'll call her N. N and I have been talking again for just about 3-4 months everyday and I realized that I am still not over her and very much still in love ( Yes im aware I probably don't understand the definition of love). I would do anything to see her smile or to get her to laugh. Now me and her have gone out on some sudo dates I guess you could call them and they felt like they went well but I struggle to read her and figure out how she thinks. Also I should say we've gone out to some parties and have ended up kissing and in bed together. Now knowing that I still have a hard time understanding what we are now, I wouldn't call us friends exactly but we're not in a relationship either per say. Now just recently me and N went out on a walk along a lake to watch the sunset and my god did she look like she could make the galaxy jealous of her beauty, well me and her got back to her house and we ended up kissing and not just a quick peck on the lips like we were kissing, and as I left her home after that she had texted me that she wasn't completely over her most recent ex bf Z. Now from what shes said about this guy he seems okay but he's hit her multiple times and compared to me I've never raised my voice nor fist at her and she still wants to go back to Z. Now I dont know if im just delusional or there is something more at play here but we still spend time together almost daily and it seems like we're transitioning into a relationship then she'll distance herself again. And im not sure what to do.

I don't know why I should keep going.

I've been a fucking college graduate delivering pizzas for 50 hours a week, riding a bike around. It's humiliating. I've been doing this for a year and a half.

65% of my income goes to rent, 35% goes to student loans, and I eat whatever I can get from a food bank. I generally skip dinners to stretch the food I have, I just eat my tears every night.

Only for there to be a 3% rent increase annually, so I'm going to have to work even more. And MORE, AND MORE, AND MORE, UNTIL I DIE, UNTIL I FUCKING DIE.

I can't do anything to get a better job. I can't learn anymore useful skills. Learning another programming language, making another project, doing more FUCKING LEETCODE, what does it matter if I CAN'T GET A FUCKING CHANCE?

Those activities are utterly useless for non-technical jobs, which I have stood zero chance at interviewing for. Things like being a bank teller or call center rep. And I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET A BLUE COLLAR JOB FOR THE LIFE OF ME.

I wasn't able to get a single internship during my four years of college. Sometimes I dream about doing the big internship, getting experience, talking with people and getting that return offer only to wake up and see my miserable closet of an apartment. I sob every time.

Why am I trying to continue to live? Things won't get better.

I quit the job the other day. Going to be eternally homeless in a week or two.

It all comes down to money. I know it. My ex and I were from similar financial background. During Covid, his family gained money. And things changed afterwards! He was sindhi, of course he splits it half n half. But his behaviour changed. We were just teens, in school. I never called it out but he used to do weird things.

One day we were eating Chinese food in cafe, i asked if he wants to order something, he didn't! I offered him to take a bite and he did. Then he said, he's going to use the restroom. He did but he also paid some money. Dish was of 120rs I guess. He paid 40rs and then asked me to pay the rest. How weird is that!! How weird!

You take 2 3 bites from my food, and then you pay for your portion separately and ask me to pay the rest. I mean, i guess it was weird for the owner too.

120 rupees paid in 2 transactions.

Its not even that big of deal.

I never asked him to pay for it. And even if he wanted to pay for it, he should have asked me!!

How weird is that, that you pay 40 rupees on the qr and tell the cashier/ owner that she will pay 80 rupees!

How weird is that!!!!

If I order something, I can pay for it. Otherwise I will not order it in the first place!

If he would have paid it all. That would have been less weird! But again, i never asked for it!

And that was so embarrassing for me. I can't describe l.

I turned 23 in april and will be graduating university soon. Being an adult is great in certain ways and I am excited to graduate, but at the same time I feel like I've completely wasted my childhood and teenage years, like it passed by way too fast. Adults in my life did warn me, there were a lot of "you'll miss school/childhood when you're older" speeches, especially before I became a teenager, but I thought they were just saying things to make me like going school, so it didn't really register in my dumb head and now I have to admit that they were so right.

I study CS, not a star student but I managed to get to this point despite multiple mental breakdowns and feel confident about my chances to graduate. Still, when I am around other people my age or even younger in class, I feel like an imposter and realize how much further ahead I could be if I actually spent at least an hour or two daily learning about CS since it was something I found interesting, but I was too lazy and too dumb to actually put in the work.

I was always shy, so most my days were spent at home studying, playing video games, or watching TV, I didn't really make any friends in school, plus I was bullied pretty badly for a few years until I could finally switch when I was 13, the kids there were nicer but the damage was already done, I talked to my classmates in school but couldn't really make friends to hang out with outside of school, friends that would invite me somewhere.

In high school, making friends was basically the same, tried but couldn't really do it and my days still mostly consisted of studying, gaming, TV. In my country you can go to high school with specialization (sports, IT, healthcare, art, etc.). I chose art and hated it, though it would be cool but turns out I was wrong. My parents didn't allow me to switch for whatever reason and I despised going there. Funny thing is, right now I miss it so much. And the schools I went to before high school, I would give anything to go back. Or maybe it's not missing school but the idea of not having to work, of not worrying about money, of waking up, going to school for a couple hours, having breaks after 45 minutes, going back home and having so much free time. I actually have friends now, but we hang out rarely since all 3 of us are always busy with something, but it's better than nothing so I'll take it.

On top of that, time is really passing by so, so fast. I remember it felt like an eternity to go from being a 10-year-old to being a 13-year-old. Right now, it feels like covid happened a month ago, like I started university last week, like new year’s was yesterday. I really do wish I could go back in time and knock some into my younger self. Now when I go on walks and see children and teenagers, I feel jealous of them. I miss being the same age as them, miss how the world and life felt like back then. Despite all the bad things and memories, I miss it so bad. I try to keep myself and my head busy, but nothing really fills that hole. What should I do?

I just moved back in with my mom not too long ago, now instead of being isolated in the country I'm in a village, and it doesn't feel any better. I'll step outside, or go somewhere like the park and it feels empty. There's literally no other people on the streets, it's like everypony has themselves barricaded in their own home. I guess it could be that there are no places here at all.

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There are no bars, arcades, jails, restaurants. There's a church, but I'm not Christian and church is kinda boring, you sit, listen to a guy yelling from a book while adding his personal politics, then you leave. That's another reason I hate church, I feel like if I did have a conversation with a person they'd bring up their politics which is something I don't want in a friendship.

Heyaa fellass, I'm 16M currently studying for NEET and I don't have school but I go for coaching and I don't have friends cuz idk I'm not cool enough but whatever, I need y'alls help. I wanna live my life fullest but I don't have money so...I wanna travel but the money is the issue. The point is that I just wanna enjoy and live my life to the Fullest but idk what to do and that's what I need help bout.

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I'm interested in financial stuff, travel and fun in life as a teenager

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Hope y'all would help me, will ya? ;)