I failed out of college at 20 due to a severe depressive episode that nearly ended with me taking my own life on many occasions. I finally went back to go to community college and was doing fine until another strike of depression came over me causing me to fail one of my classes. Ever since then I haven’t been back. I’m 25 now, I feel like I’m running out of time. I’ve been promoted three times at my job but I can’t work retail the rest of my life. I have so many things I want to do, I want to finish school, I want a business degree, I want to open a sandwich shop, I want to make music and write stories, anything but I can’t get myself to do it. I’ve turned this into a sob story for myself but between the depression and my ADHD, What on gods green earth can I do to get myself back in the right headspace and push myself to do what I need to? I’m medicated but it’s still not enough. How can I possibly fix this?
I have failed everybody including myself. How do I get out of this?
r/Advice
Comments
I’d forget about the college thing, because it will take too long. You could immediately get a job at a restaurant, and spend your free time making music, and writing stories. Do it!
I dropped out of college 5 times before getting my first degree. You have plenty of time
It’s gonna be okay, hv u tried therapy if u wanna do something why not start small go hv very little changes in ur routine very small tiny tiny changes, in the morning go out for a walk in whatever clothes u hv , go and try journaling it helps figuring one self out on the first day of joining just write whatever u want ramble write gibrsih anything slowly 🐌 you will get back on track but pls remember it will be slow so try to enjoy the journey while getting closer to the destination
First of all, congratulations!! You already have more than most people in your situation — you actually know what you want! You’ll get there. Second, choose one goal, what’s most important rn?
What you’ve described isn’t failure, it’s surviving through brutal circumstances, and still holding onto ambition and drive. That’s resilience. The fact that you still want to create, build, and grow means there’s a fire in you, even if it feels buried right now.
Start with tiny, achievable actions. Not “finish school,” but “look up what classes I’d need to retake.” Not “start a sandwich shop,” but “write down three ideas for a menu.” Momentum doesn’t come from giant leaps, it builds from small wins. And yeah, meds help, but they’re only one piece.
A structured routine, accountability (maybe a coach or therapist who understands ADHD), and treating your creative goals as valid, even if they take time, can shift the way forward