Anyone else been stuck, unemployed, at home for a long period of time? How does it make you feel? I'm currently studying from home and my last job was 2 years ago. I left school 4ish years ago. I just feel like shit. I have a small service based business I've been trying to get going, but its difficult and covid ruined most of my bookings this year. It's horrible feeling useless when it feels the whole world is moving, and everyone is graduating, getting married or idk reaching some other milestone and I'm just lost in an abyss of dark confusion.

What's that saying, every journey begins with the first step? Congratulations to you on your perseverance.

@Fear Strikes Out Thank you! I’d like to move on to something that more suits my talents. Still a little mired in cognition to make that step but hopefully I am, again, taking steps toward that.

@Alyosha What might that be in terms of career?

@Fear Strikes Out Artist, writer, historian, therapist. I’d actually just earned my master’s degree in history when the above hit. It’s been really hard to know how to frame all that went down after that.

@Alyosha There's a lot of different skills and potential career opportunities from the interests you listed. Are you up for more schooling to become a therapist?

@Fear Strikes Out I *love* school. ...Just need the money lol

I'm a trying henna artist. At the moment I only have 1 booking, but I'm using that money for good photo shots for my instagram. I'm struggling to grow it and get known in my area. Even just 4 or 5 booking a year would lead me to be able to register as an actual business, I cant do that yet as I haven't been passed the threshold. It's hard. I'm also studying to get my qualification to head off to uni, I want to study law. I'm 22. I feel guilty everyday for wasting away the last 4 years, being bed ridden, depressed, confused and failing. My parents are kind, they help me alot but I feel so useless to them. Hopefully my bro turns out better than me :(. I really need to pass my exams next year and get to uni as my mum has helped fund extra tuition for me.

@MJocd Tbh your response is heartbreaking. To hear you say you hope your brother turns out better than you... ? I heard someone say: the mental health issue isn’t your fault, but it is your responsibility to seek help and do what you can. You’re on here, looking for help. You’re working on starting a business. You’re studying so you can learn law. Don’t sell yourself short. In families, we take turns holding each other up. It’s ok to take your turn being the one who needs to be held. You’ll get there. At the end of each episode of “The OCD Stories” podcast, the host asks the guest “What would you tell your younger self?” One guest said, “I think I needed to go through what I did in order to become the person I am.” You see those four years as a waste, but maybe they’re just a tense, dramatic chapter in what is going to be a fantastic story. Hang in there.