Posts by driftingfox11

What's up with everyone? You all gone quiet on me?

Back in 4th grade, I went on a school trip to Florida and absolutely fried myself out there... I had some pretty nasty burns, and my skin was basically peeling off for a week straight. It was a total nightmare, though luckily I didn't end up with any lasting damage at the time... anyway, getting to the point...

What are my actual chances of developing skin cancer later in life because I was so reckless back then? I read somewhere that "skin has a memory," and if you get a massive sunburn as a kid, it might not show up as cancer until much later in life...

I'm 18 now... I doubt anything will happen right away, but you never really know what might pop up down the road... and honestly, probably nothing even now...

Melissa Garcia51 said:You're spot on—the older generation just doesn't get it. It’s frustrating, but they honestly don't grasp it, and at this point, I don't think they ever will.
And hey, don't be afraid to share how you're feeling, even if it's just here on the forum.

Look, this probably isn't some new thing for you. It’s likely been weighing on you for a while now. Honestly, it might be worth reaching out to a pro—maybe go see a psychiatrist. Just as a heads-up, most Americans who actually take care of themselves have one. In the US, it’s not some big taboo; it’s just part of staying healthy.
It looks like we’re dealing with more than just nerves here—this feels like actual phobias or even full-blown depression. But I’m guessing you already clocked that, which is probably why you didn't step in. Since that route is off the table, let's figure out another way to lend a hand.

Look, first off, stop thinking everyone hates you. It’s just not true. I can say this with total certainty: nobody actually has a problem with you. I honestly think you feel rejected by the world, and that's creating this weird, irrational urge to believe people hate you rather than just ignoring you. It’s easier to process being hated than being invisible, right? You probably feel like you don't have a single friend, and you might even be pulling away from girls you actually like because of it. That feeling of being "ugly" has nothing to do with how you actually look. It’s all coming from your own insecurity and the fact that you haven't learned to accept yourself yet.

So you're saying you'll be graduating high school in just a few months? Honestly, it feels like that deadline is only making your anxiety spike.
Is it because one chapter of life is slamming shut, leaving all that uncertainty hanging over you as you face whatever comes next?
I honestly think that staring down the barrel of graduation is terrifying. It’s that heavy realization that once school wraps up, people start drifting away—even close friends. That whole idea of your circle shrinking just because you aren't in the same building anymore? It hits hard.
Maybe you’re feeling uneasy about this new setup because, way back when, a big change left you with a nasty bruise. You took a hit, and now your brain is stuck on autopilot, trying to protect you by repeating old patterns. It's like flinching when you see someone reach for a hammer because you once got hit by one. Your subconscious is just trying to play it safe.

One more thing—did you actually intend to enroll in this school from the start? Or if you did, were you worried you might end up changing your mind about your career path later on?
If you could hit the reset button right now, which school would you enroll in?
What's your favorite way to spend your time?
What tasks are on your "absolutely not" list? (And just to be clear, I’m not using the word "hate.")
If you could pick anywhere to call home, where would you land?
Anyone else still got someone you actually trust? Someone you know truly has your back?
What kind of environment are you living in?

Either give me an answer here or just shoot me a DM if you'd rather not talk about it in front of everyone.
If it means anything to you, I’m right there with you. We've got a long road ahead, but we'll get through it.

I think you hit the nail right on the head with this one. Everything you said is spot on. Every single bit of it!

Alright, let's get this show on the road.
I’m feeling pretty sidelined lately, and honestly, it’s all because of school. Back in elementary school, I had a huge circle of friends. They were my whole world, and I was theirs. We were a tight-knit crew. But ever since I started high school, everything has just shifted...

Maybe this self-loathing stems from the fact that my dad never actually acted like a father to me. We never had a real, heart-to-heart conversation—not once. I don’t necessarily need that kind of closure now, but back when I actually needed him, he just wasn't there. It wasn't like he was physically abusive or anything, but he constantly leaned on that old cliché: "As long as you're under my roof, you play by my rules." And I mean that LITERALLY. If he gave an order, I followed it. Every single time. But no matter what I did, I could never be good enough for him. In his eyes, I’m always a failure, a junkie, an idiot, or a complete waste of space. I’ve never talked back to him, I've never insulted him, and honestly, I don't even touch drugs or alcohol. Yet, because of him, I’m stuck wondering if I really am just the screw-up he says I am.

When I was signing up for high school, I had to pick the vocational track, otherwise my old man told me I wasn't coming back home. For me, there’s no such thing as a job I hate versus a job I love. With the way he raised me, it doesn't matter if I'm out cleaning the yard, chopping wood, or taking down a 250-pound hog—I just get it done.

I think high school was my big turning point... When I first started, I didn't really talk to anyone much. Even when I did try to speak up, people treated me like I shouldn't bother—you know the type, those kids from the suburbs who act like they’re better than everyone just because they live in a nice zip code. In reality, they're total posers, bigger than I'll ever be, but honestly? I don't even care anymore. Now, I mostly stay quiet unless someone asks me a direct question. People label me as a nerd or a loser, but whatever, I can grind through these last four months. To make matters worse, there was this one person who made my life a living hell—not physically, but mentally. And we all know words cut way deeper than a punch. Because of that, I stopped showing any emotion in class. While everyone else is laughing, I just give a tiny smirk or nothing at all. It's gotten to the point where I'm even silent around my friends...

My lack of self-confidence? That’s on my old man. Every single time he saw me mess something up, he’d just blow up at me instead of actually teaching me how to fix it. Now, whenever I have to tackle a task, I look like a complete wreck. I start sweating, I get super anxious, and I'm terrified of failing because I can still hear him yelling and calling me names like "junkie" or "good-for-nothing."

One time, after I finally snapped, I told him exactly what I thought to his face. Instead of listening, he tore into me like I was some kind of animal. There wasn't any physical stuff, but the verbal abuse was so intense I couldn't take it. I won't even repeat what he said... ("What does a seventeen-year-old kid know about lecturing me?"). Long story short, I had to accept that my opinion doesn't count.

Lately, he’s already starting on me about how once I get a job, I’ll need to take out a loan so we can buy a car... Well, if I’m taking out a loan, it won't be for a car. It'll be for a house, just so I never have to listen to him again...

coastalsurfer12 said:hey!
I’m reading through your post and I get where you're coming from, more or less. I’m guessing that "17" in your handle means you're seventeen, right? What do you do for a living, anyway?
By the way, try browsing some threads on other forums—like those mental health boards or the psychology subreddits here. You'll see plenty of people feeling the exact same way you do. It’s nothing weird or out of the ordinary.
I’d really suggest sitting down and talking through everything you're feeling with a pro, like a therapist or a psychiatrist.

Well, I've got about four months left until I graduate high school to become a retail clerk... My job relies heavily on customer service, but since my mental health is a total wreck, people look at me like I'm a freak. I can't even bring myself to say "hello" to a customer because everyone just seems so hostile...

That 17 is old news. I was 17 when I posted that. Now I'm officially an adult... UNFORTUNATELY...

I honestly don't know who else to turn to... I'm at my breaking point...

I’m terrified of being out in public. Every single person I see on the street feels like a threat, like they're just waiting to hurt me. My moods are all over the place—I probably swing through 25 different emotions a day. One minute I’m fine, the next I’m crashing, doubting everything about myself, or even hating my own skin. It’s exhausting. I feel like the whole world is against me. Things are spiraling, and now even my friends are starting to drift away... I JUST CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!

My parents just don't get it. They tell me it's all in my head or that "depression isn't real." They think I just need to "get a job and toughen up," but that's the thing—it's gotten so bad that I can't even function normally. During my internship, they're already starting to think I'm unstable... The second I try to focus on a task, my mind just wanders and I end up messing everything up.

And don't even get me started on dating... I've just accepted that girls are going to make fun of me or treat me like a joke because I'm so withdrawn and, frankly, because of how I look. I've lost all confidence in myself and the world around me. If this keeps up, I know I'm going to have massive issues fitting into society, let alone keeping a career.

If anyone has some actual advice, please speak up...

But if you've got nothing to say, I get it. People like me aren't exactly easy to accept...

Pro Alarm picks up

OH MAN!!

Queen just isn't the same without Freddie Mercury

Sophia Clark2 said:I’ve been struggling with anxiety and depression for years now... I’m actually seeing a psychologist, but honestly, I’m terrified I’ll never get past this. Sometimes I just start crying out of nowhere... I don't even know why. On paper, everything looks fine—I have a job, my own apartment, I look okay, I have family and friends... but my biggest issue is being alone.
When I'm home by myself, the fear hits hard. It turns into full-on panic attacks.
I always feel like I need someone nearby. And when I'm not in a relationship, the depression feels totally unbearable...
Has anyone else dealt with this??
How do you move past it?

I've been dealing with depression since I started high school three years ago. Mostly because I never really fit in and it feels like nobody in my class actually likes me. I'm the quiet kid, usually just talking to the same three people...

The anxiety hits me constantly too. It makes me want to cry, and sometimes I even get suicidal thoughts...

My old group of friends tells me they don't even recognize me anymore. I don't even want to go out because it feels like everyone is out to get me. As for dating? Forget about it. I feel like I'm so unattractive that people just turn away from me...

I try to keep it together, though. I just bottle everything up inside... I try to cope through music, and it helps for a day or two, but as soon as something goes wrong, I'm right back in the gutter...