24 years old, Lost, and Afraid of What Comes Next
Hello everyone, I hope you're doing well.
I'm a 24 year old student, and this year I’m graduating with a Master’s degree. Lately, I’ve been feeling completely lost. I’m dealing with a lot of anxiety and mental pressure, to the point where I feel constantly drained and unmotivated. I struggle to do anything even working on my graduation project or trying to learn something new feels overwhelming.
I live with my parents in a rented home. We’ve been renting for over 20 years and have never owned a house. This has always been my parents’ biggest dream, but now they’re getting older, and it worries me deeply. I’m afraid they might pass away before ever seeing that dream come true. And the truth is, if I lose them, I’ll be completely alone I’m their only son, and they are my whole world.
Even if I start working after graduation, it will take me years to save enough to buy a house, especially with the rising cost of living and real estate. Sometimes I just look at my mom and dad the way they smile at me, while the signs of fatigue and aging are so visible on their faces and it breaks something inside me. It makes everything feel heavier.
On top of that, I’m living in a country where opportunities are extremely limited, where doors are completely closed, and where it’s hard to see a clear future. It often feels like no matter how hard you try, you’re stuck in the same place.
More than anything, I want to leave and find better opportunities abroad, to change my life. But at the same time, the idea of leaving my parents especially in their old age weighs heavily on me.
Every time I try to make a plan to improve my situation, I quickly lose hope and give up. This has led me to isolate myself, not wanting to go out, and spending most of my days in bed especially since my internship is online.
I know that some people may see my problems as small, and I’m aware that others are going through much worse illness, poverty, and more. But honestly, these struggles have taken a big toll on my youth and my mental health. I think about all of this almost constantly.
Sometimes when I see successful and wealthy people actors, entrepreneurs, athletes I can’t help but wonder: why wasn’t I born into that kind of life? I know no one chooses where they come from, but I still question whether I’ll ever become successful or financially stable like them.
I don’t want to waste my time and effort for nothing. I know I won’t find out what I’m capable of unless I try, but my anxiety keeps holding me back 😔.
Has anyone else ever felt like this?
@consideratePrune3634
Your problems are not small 💚
I understand you completely!
I was lucky enough to travel the world from a young age, do things, see things, meet so many wonderful people and learn about their cultures.
Work.
Have fun.
Just live life.
Study
Learn.
Experience.
Then suddenly my parents got sick.
I didn't hesitate to come home.
I care for them full time.
And people often ask me, why?
When they are gone, what will you have?
But I say, I will have this time with them.
I will have memories.
I'll know, I cherished them and put them first.
I love them so that's all there is to the matter.
I will be heartbroken in the future, when they are gone.
It's scary.
It's sad
It's something that breaks my heart to think about.
But the future will be something I deal with then.
I'm happy with my decision 💚
It's not unusual in today's volatile world to feel so much mental pressure and anxiety, adding to the fact you're unsure of what lies ahead in the future. On top of those worries, you're concerned about the well-being of your parents.
The price of property/real estate is escalating constantly, with rent and mortgage payment costs taking a huge toll on living costs for so many people.
There is a housing crisis growing every day, but don't let that put you off... Keep everything in focus.
It is natural to fear losing your parents and this is enough to create further anxiety, which will resonate with so many people reading your post.
There are many challenges facing young adults like yourself, such as finding a regular job, being able to afford a home, facing issues with health care, social care, mental health and all manner of global events that are shaping the course of your young lives.
For all the information at their fingertips, people are oblivious to the realities of life, perhaps not through ignorance, but a means of protecting themselves and their children from the truth.
You currently live in country where opportunities are extremely limited and this makes your situation even more difficult.
Wherever we live in the world, we are all facing the same dilemma, as attrition takes it's toll... Leading us to ask... Shall I bother?
You want to leave your country to find better opportunities abroad and there are so many desperate people willing to risk everything, even their lives to do so.
In the United Kingdom, immigration has dominated the news and through careful press/media manipulation of the information, has caused so much misunderstanding and division within communities.
Every country must consider their security but there's no denying the fact people like yourself want opportunity to thrive and be financially secure, because your own country lacks the means to provide what you want.
Many leave their families behind and in doing so, they risk their lives for a journey with no guarantee of successful entry.
What people don't appreciate is the fact our own democratic lands (such as United Kingdom) are becoming more isolated, with more division and conflict within the communities, whilst the people are becoming financially weaker and opportunities are slowly diminishing.
Yet the governments and their wealthy supporters are getting richer.
Are the democratic countries doing to their own nationals the same as those that are now impoverished?
Our modern democratic countries are suffering a health care crisis, housing crisis, mental health crisis, fuel crisis, unpaid carers crisis and anything else to cause the people more hardship.
All countries take away the personal wealth from their people, leave them in forever debt whilst financial gains are awarded to the governments and their wealthy supporters.
It's distressing when people escape their impoverished country, only to be sent back home - without resolving the original reason why they left in the first place.
It's a personal choice whether or not you want to go ahead and leave your country, but even if you don't, it's important not to give up hope.
Let's be really honest and raise an important issue...
Rather than our democratic countries isolate themselves and shut everyone out, perhaps it's time these countries expanded and brought their prosperous way of life into those without opportunity - therefore giving encouragement and hope to so many people who actually don't want to leave their homeland.
Then so many people like yourself could stay home, help their parents and fulfil their ambitions. If they want to travel/work abroad, then they will be able to do just that - legally and safely.
This is something everyone should seriously consider.
At present, people are financially suffering and getting punished for wanting to improve their lives.
The freedoms and opportunities we take for granted in our developed, democratic countries are at risk of being eroded - and it's a growing situation so many of us are not ready to accept.
This is why a unification of thought is needed, with a positive, open mind by all.
Paul....
