I think i understand how you feel because quite often i feel like a failure myself. And i'm older than you and i don't have a job, an education or any hope of ever getting any of those. But i want to share something with you because once when i felt really hopeless i called my mum and told her i felt bad for not being where all my friends are, you know, through with an education, in a job, earning more than i'll ever have and all that stuff.
And she said "it doesn't really matter with all these things. So your life didn't turn out that way, but the only thing i want for you, is to be happy. You might never get an education or a job, but as long as you're happy i don't really care."
And you're young. And there's plenty of time to get all those things. I always felt like i needed to be a mum at the age i am now, have a partner and everything that comes with it.
I think what you need to do now is to make peace with yourself and your life. You know, at 22 you've barely lived. And i think, that as with me, nobody wants you to do this and that and in this and that time. They just want you to be happy. And i think that's what you gotta focus on. It's ok to be confused, it's ok to feel scared and pessimistic about the future. And hey, you HAVE done things. You've moved into your own place. That's a big step, actually. And there'll be enough time to find out where you wanna go and what you wanna do.
There's so much pressure on young people to do well, to be successfull, to do all sort of things. But i am sure that no one will think badly of you for taking a few detours, Hell, my mum didn't know what she wanted to do until she was nearly 50.
What i'm trying to say is, don't feel bad. You may have made some wrong decisions but it's never too late to start anew. And don't feel pressured into thinking you need the perfect grades, the perfect job, the perfect family. What matters most is your happiness and your inner peace. The rest will come in good time.
And don't feel like you're a failure for still cutting at 22. It has nothing to do with being a failure. Recovery takes different time for different people. I think you should tell your psych that it doesn't help when he says these things, that it makes you feel bad about yourself. I think he meant it in a nice and optimistic way but if it didn't feel like that to you then tell him. He won't be mad.
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