I can't take this anymore

Hey

I don't even know where to start—my life has been a total mental wreck for as long as I can remember. I'm 28 and honestly, nothing has ever gone right. I find myself thinking about ending it almost every single day. I look at everyone else and just *know* they’ve got it way better than me. I'm constantly on edge, but the biggest hit is that I can't land a decent job because I never finished high school. Every employer I've talked to has passed on me, so I'm broke, I can't go out, I can't do anything. I've even ghosted a few girls lately—not because I wasn't interested, but because I'm terrified of what happens when they realize the truth: that I've got no diploma and zero cash in my pocket 🤷 it's a brutal spot to be in. It's not like I'm lazy! I've taken whatever odd jobs were thrown my way, but without that high school diploma, I can't get anything steady 🤷 so everything I pull in is basically peanuts 🙂 I want to enroll in night school to get my GED, but it's too expensive, and my parents can't exactly bail me out... maybe if a friend could lend me the cash to get through it.

Bottom line, my mental state is trashed. All my relatives are killing it—driving luxury cars, landing huge corporate roles, the whole nine yards

I didn't mention why I dropped out of high school earlier, but some stuff went down back then—it was another hellish chapter of my life, but I won't get into the weeds right now.

I've lost hope of finding enough work to pay for classes. If I put myself in an employer's shoes, I get it—why would I hire someone without a diploma when there's a line of people who actually finished school?!

I even tried using a connection to get a foot in the door, and even that flopped

I was pulling some shifts at a warehouse earlier this summer, but now I can't even find something like that.

I feel like I'm on the edge, like I'm dead inside. Nothing brings me joy anymore. I'm just sinking deeper every day, and I've lost weight just from constant stressing -.-

A lot of my acquaintances and even Fred's crowd have no idea I didn't finish school. I'm too ashamed to tell them 🤷 and some of my family doesn't know either.

I just want to live a normal life for once—go out every weekend, have money for drinks, buy a car someday, maybe travel a bit, and see the bright side instead of always being stuck in the negative.

This past Saturday was rough too, so around 2 AM I headed to a bar, grabbed a few beers, and some girl was flirting and pinching me—for a second, I actually felt better. But the moment I got home and woke up the next day, reality hit: no job, no nothing. I spiraled right back into a depression. It feels like I'm never going to make it, and I'm running out of strength and hope to change things.

If anyone has advice, or knows someone without a diploma who's actually making it work, please let me know! I'm planning to sign up for night school in October if I can scrape together the cash by then.

The worst part is knowing my best years have just been wasted on stress and misery 😢

Hey, you mentioned you want to head out every single weekend.

I know plenty of people who rarely step foot outside on the weekends—mostly because I’m one of them myself.

Back in high school, that whole scene used to really pull at me, especially during those long summer breaks.

But eventually, I realized there was just no point in stressing over it.

Even the media loves to hype up Saturday nights like they're some massive, life-changing event.

Ever since I reached that realization, I haven't felt any need to be jealous of the people who are constantly out on the town.

Staying focused on my own path and spending time here on the forum has actually been a huge help.

By swapping ideas with others, I feel like I'm making steady progress within myself.

Honestly, how much beer did Steve drink? Or how much did Blaise mess up with his girlfriend? Why should I care what Joe earns working in Austria, or what Peter Del is up to in Zurich?

As for education... well, even with a degree, finding a decent job around here can be a real struggle, so you know how it goes.

The less we obsess over the people we know personally, the better chance we have of grasping the things that actually matter.

You can't turn back the clock, but you can certainly look back at the good times and try to recreate them under different circumstances, maybe even bring some of those old ideas to life.

granitetiger102 said:Hey

I don't even know where to start—my life has been a total mental wreck for as long as I can remember. I'm 28 and honestly, nothing has ever gone right. I find myself thinking about ending it almost every single day. I look at everyone else and just *know* they’ve got it way better than me. I'm constantly on edge, but the biggest hit is that I can't land a decent job because I never finished high school. Every employer I've talked to has passed on me, so I'm broke, I can't go out, I can't do anything. I've even ghosted a few girls lately—not because I wasn't interested, but because I'm terrified of what happens when they realize the truth: that I've got no diploma and zero cash in my pocket 🤷 it's a brutal spot to be in. It's not like I'm lazy! I've taken whatever odd jobs were thrown my way, but without that high school diploma, I can't get anything steady 🤷 so everything I pull in is basically peanuts 🙂 I want to enroll in night school to get my GED, but it's too expensive, and my parents can't exactly bail me out... maybe if a friend could lend me the cash to get through it.

Bottom line, my mental state is trashed. All my relatives are killing it—driving luxury cars, landing huge corporate roles, the whole nine yards

I didn't mention why I dropped out of high school earlier, but some stuff went down back then—it was another hellish chapter of my life, but I won't get into the weeds right now.

I've lost hope of finding enough work to pay for classes. If I put myself in an employer's shoes, I get it—why would I hire someone without a diploma when there's a line of people who actually finished school?!

I even tried using a connection to get a foot in the door, and even that flopped

I was pulling some shifts at a warehouse earlier this summer, but now I can't even find something like that.

I feel like I'm on the edge, like I'm dead inside. Nothing brings me joy anymore. I'm just sinking deeper every day, and I've lost weight just from constant stressing -.-

A lot of my acquaintances and even Fred's crowd have no idea I didn't finish school. I'm too ashamed to tell them 🤷 and some of my family doesn't know either.

I just want to live a normal life for once—go out every weekend, have money for drinks, buy a car someday, maybe travel a bit, and see the bright side instead of always being stuck in the negative.

This past Saturday was rough too, so around 2 AM I headed to a bar, grabbed a few beers, and some girl was flirting and pinching me—for a second, I actually felt better. But the moment I got home and woke up the next day, reality hit: no job, no nothing. I spiraled right back into a depression. It feels like I'm never going to make it, and I'm running out of strength and hope to change things.

If anyone has advice, or knows someone without a diploma who's actually making it work, please let me know! I'm planning to sign up for night school in October if I can scrape together the cash by then.

The worst part is knowing my best years have just been wasted on stress and misery 😢

Your plan to enroll in night school is a solid one. I looked into the costs myself. It isn't cheap, but they do offer payment plans. At a local community college, for example, the annual tuition is around $2333, payable in four installments, with the first one being $833.

Maybe someone in your circle can help you out. There might also be student loans available. You could check with the local unemployment office to see what's available, or you could head down to the social services center to ask if there are any programs for subsidized education.

Jobs are scarce right now, but perhaps you could pick up some freelance or odd jobs to scrape together enough for school? Do you have a driver's license? If there aren't any official listings out there—like my own line of work, for instance—maybe you could take the initiative and hunt them down yourself: check in with local contractors, look for openings at a warehouse, a Home Depot, an auto detail shop, or even some agricultural work... just show up and ask in person. We're entering the season when people are stocking up on firewood; maybe you could lend a hand there. Or perhaps a moving company might need extra muscle...

From what I gather, you’re living with your parents, which means your housing and food are covered. To fund your education, you'll likely need to work for about three months, plus another month for everything else.
When you have a worthy goal—and yours certainly is—any job becomes bearable, even if it isn't exactly your dream work.

While you're mapping out how to execute this plan, try to remember that you actually have quite a lot going for you. You have family, a roof over your head, and the essentials that so many people struggle to find, all because you're healthy and, clearly, the girls in your life care about you 🙂, not to mention the fact that you still have ambitions and desires.

Perhaps you also need a hobby, some kind of pressure valve to let off steam.

You're only 28. Your whole life is stretching out ahead of you, and nothing is truly lost. I wouldn't go around advising everyone to move abroad, but there's more opportunity out there than what we see here at home. So, if you find yourself needing to head somewhere else for a while... why not?

Reach out to your friends, more intensely than ever before. Be honest with them and ask for advice, for company, or even for concrete help in finding work, whether it's steady or just temporary. As a stranger, I can tell you to take any job, even physical labor. If I knew you personally, I might hesitate to suggest such things... but if your friends know you're looking for anything at all, they might be able to point you in the right direction. They might not think to offer you anything if they don't realize you're searching.

One more thing. Don't feel ashamed about not having finished high school. While most people follow that path, if you stumbled or simply didn't have the luck, your genuine desire to fix that will earn you respect from any decent person.

Good luck.

Thanks for the tips 😉 I just got my driver's license recently, and honestly, I probably screwed up the whole plan—should've gone to business school first, but whatever, it's done. Getting that license was a massive stretch financially; my folks had to chip in, lend me some cash, and I scraped together what little I could myself... wouldn't have stood a chance without them. Plus, I passed on the first try, because if I'd failed, who knows if $333 would've even been able to cover the retake? I'd owe them big time... anyway, my main goal is just to finish high school before the clock runs out. Have you guys seen the job postings lately? It feels like every single opening requires an AFL-CIO certification or a diploma now—it wasn't always like this. Even at the employment office, they told me straight up that I’m not qualified for anything... I mean, sure, I can always hustle for some quick cash, and I know plenty of old-timers out in rural areas who never finished school but still pull through, but it's tough. I've basically been working under the table this whole time—night shifts, farm work in the summer, all that—but now even warehouse jobs and security gigs are asking for a diploma. Still, I can't lose hope, right? Hopefully, I can land something temporary soon just to save up enough for school... I did take an IT course a while back, too, but it doesn't mean squat without that high school diploma

I'm genuinely terrified of what my future looks like if I don't wrap this up and find a steady gig.

Hey there. It feels like everyone thinks they’re having the worst time ever. Just yesterday, I found myself thinking how much easier life would be if I just wasn't here at all.
..it's the same way you're beating yourself up over not finishing high school or struggling with money... we're all way too hard on ourselves. But not having a diploma doesn't define who you are; what actually matters is your character and your heart. Honestly, if people judge you because of your education, they aren't worth your time anyway. Since you have a driver's license, why not look into something like delivering pizzas or working a taxi service? I know things are rough right now, but even here on this forum, you can find a good crew to hang out with—maybe grab a beer or just sit somewhere and talk. You've got something to offer this world, so please don't let these societal struggles get the best of you. Things take time to change, so just try not to lose hope.🙂

Look, if you get the chance to finish up some schooling, go for it—but don't let that be the only thing defining you while you wait. On your resume, definitely list that high school you attended, but just be upfront and say it was cut short because of some sudden, unexpected life stuff. It shows employers that you actually have an appetite for learning and weren't just sitting around, even if things didn't go perfectly according to plan. And hey, mention that IT course too. Honestly, nobody’s going to come crawling at you asking for official accreditation for that kind of thing.

Since you've already got your driver's license, why not look into delivery gigs? Seriously, getting that license was a smart move—most bosses out here won't even look at you unless you've got your standard driver's permit in hand.

In the meantime, try picking up some side hustles. You could help neighbors fix their computers, mow some lawns, tutor kids in subjects you actually understand, or even do some translation work if you're fluent in another language. Just lean into whatever skills you've actually got under your belt.

And about the dating scene—don't be so stiff and awkward with girls. If someone approaches you, just be real. Tell them straight up that you aren't really feeling ready for a serious relationship right now because you're between jobs and, frankly, broke. Most girls won't give you a hard time about it as long as you're a decent guy. Plenty of people our age are struggling to find work, and most women realize that landing a job isn't always a walk in the park.

What you're saying about women is spot on 🙂

The ones who look at your struggles and see them as some kind of "red flag"... honestly, you did yourself a massive favor by weeding them out early, because those are exactly the types of people you don't want in your corner anyway...

And trust me, even when everything finally clicks—you've got the career, the cash, the nice car, the apartment, and a great partner—even that "perfect" girl can still turn your whole world upside down and bring all that stress right back into your life 🙂

Just keep grinding and doing what you can, helping people out where you can; often, folks will tip you for a job well done, and most of the time when you're lending a hand, you'll end up with a free meal and a ride home on top of the cash, so it’s really not a bad way to live...

As for those people acting all high and mighty with their luxury cars, constant nights out, and fancy vacations—believe me, 80% of them are drowning in credit card debt, just like almost every American trying to keep up appearances when they want to have it all 🙂 I know from experience, man...

Let me give you an example from my own neighborhood.
The guy is in his 50s, and while I know finding work used to be a lot easier back in the day, here is how he played it.
I think he only finished maybe two years of high school, if that. He got hired at a local cabinetry and flooring company—you know, the kind that does windows, furniture, hardwood, all that stuff. He started out just cleaning the factory floor.
Slowly but surely, he started tagging along with the installation crews, helping them carry gear, setting things down, doing the grunt work.
Eventually, they showed him the ropes on window installation. It’s not rocket science, right? Today, he’s the top installation expert at the company. Most of the other installers have full high school diplomas and followed almost the exact same career path, but he just worked harder than everyone else.
He’s married, too; his wife actually has a college degree and works as an accounting manager for a major corporation.
He probably dealt with some life stuff that prevented him from finishing high school properly, but you see that it’s possible to make it anyway. It’s not an excuse; he just had to grind a little harder.

My dad lost his father right when he was supposed to start high school. They eventually found a local manufacturing plant that offered to sponsor his education. In exchange, he had to work for them through high school and for three years after graduation. He worked as a laborer—don't go thinking he was some white-collar executive. That was how he managed to finish school, since my grandmother couldn't afford to fund four kids going to school in a big city like Chicago on her own.
It wasn't until he was about 35 that he finally enrolled in college for civil engineering and finished the degree. He was easily the oldest guy in the classroom. People didn't always pursue lifelong education back then like they do now.

Go from company to company and ask for any kind of opening. Around here, there are tons of small shops working with steel or wood; someone has to clean the shop, haul materials, load trucks, move inventory. Once you're inside, keep your eyes open. Ask people to show you how things work. Show genuine interest.

Having a driver's license is also a huge plus.

Good luck, stay tough.