Career over before starting

Started off strong at a target school. Had severe anxiety and wasted time drinking to calm down anxiety. Failed and took a year extra to complete undergrad. Developed severe health anxiety with severe OCD of checking my bp 200 times a day. Am 29 now and have moved in with my parents after a few stints in consulting which I didn’t last long at. Few corporate finance type roles and internships. Nothing is helping. Severe white coat hypertension and chest pain always. Done over 300-400 tests including 150 ECGs, stress test, CT scan. MRIs etc Parents telling me to commit s so that they can be free.

14 Comments
 

Nothing is over, and definitely don't listen to them. 

This sounds like a toxic environment that is not helping. No parent should say that to their child, ever. Take it easy, and look for a chill corporate finance role. Even if the pay isn't stellar, you can move out and support yourself. From there, just take it easy. Doctors don't seem to be helping either, so maybe lifestyle change will. Maybe some bad habits you can cut, or more exercise or better diet. But no matter what, it'll be better than this.

You're young, nothing's over. You are college educated in a good field. You're ahead of most of the country, and nearly all of the world. Keep your chin up, you got this.

 

schmunkey:

Nothing is over, and definitely don't listen to them. 

This sounds like a toxic environment that is not helping. No parent should say that to their child, ever. Take it easy, and look for a chill corporate finance role. Even if the pay isn't stellar, you can move out and support yourself. From there, just take it easy. Doctors don't seem to be helping either, so maybe lifestyle change will. Maybe some bad habits you can cut, or more exercise or better diet. But no matter what, it'll be better than this.

You're young, nothing's over. You are college educated in a good field. You're ahead of most of the country, and nearly all of the world. Keep your chin up, you got this.


I studied in the US and I’m back to India. That adds the pressure of being in a judgemental and a downright awful society.
I exercise everyday for 2 hours. That’s the only thing I force myself to do. If it wasn’t for the gym or squash I wouldve been worse off

 

Do you have the capability to move internationally? American target school degrees are valued worldwide. Not sure what your immigration status is like, but best of luck.

 
Most Helpful

I went through HS and graduated with a 2.1 GPA. I had a majorly fucked up childhood, and it carried over into my school life. I basically had nothing going for me from ages 0 to 18. I also struggled with neurodivergence and addiction issues. What did I do? I decided either I was going to take charge of my life, put it back together, and prove everyone else wrong, or I would rot. So, I went to community college for 2 years, transferred to a semi target, managed to break into trading, and have managed to do pretty well for myself. I'm now in a position where I'm genuinely happy and have a wonderful supporting family, great job, and pretty good prospects for life. 

Life is only over once you give up on it. I got close, so many times, but I didn't. At the end of the day, you can make it out, 100%. It won't be a straight path, or one that others have trotted, but it will 100% be yours, so OWN IT. Be the best version of yourself. In the grand scheme of things, 27 is still pretty young, so don't give up yet. 

 

usernameladiesman217:

I went through HS and graduated with a 2.1 GPA. I had a majorly fucked up childhood, and it carried over into my school life. I basically had nothing going for me from ages 0 to 18. I also struggled with neurodivergence and addiction issues. What did I do? I decided either I was going to take charge of my life, put it back together, and prove everyone else wrong, or I would rot. So, I went to community college for 2 years, transferred to a semi target, managed to break into trading, and have managed to do pretty well for myself. I'm now in a position where I'm genuinely happy and have a wonderful supporting family, great job, and pretty good prospects for life. 



Life is only over once you give up on it. I got close, so many times, but I didn't. At the end of the day, you can make it out, 100%. It won't be a straight path, or one that others have trotted, but it will 100% be yours, so OWN IT. Be the best version of yourself. In the grand scheme of things, 27 is still pretty young, so don't give up yet. 


I’m 29

 

When I went to community college, I saw people in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond all looking for an education. There were former dropouts, military vets, career switchers, and all sorts of people putting things back together. Never once did I hear someone in their 30s and 40s say their life was over because their age. They managed to put it all together in the long term. Using something as an excuse gets you no where. Your life experiences are a gift, and you can use them to your advantage. 

 

The most successful people in the world would give up every penny they have to be 29 again.  Think about that.  The time you have in front of you is more valuable than anything money can buy.

Anxiety treatments are generally not life-long.  We always hear about the partiers and rock stars abusing those treatments, but the real-life track record is that people in your situation get help and most of the time they come out much better off.

 

You seem to have some deep-rooted pathologies at the psychological level. Could be due to trauma, could be due to how you're wired, could be both. Consider psychedelic therapy - it's an odd suggestion that many on this site would probably think unusual, but I've known people in your position, and it seems to be the closest thing that's come to an effective solution. Don't get on the pharmacology bullshit, the SSRIs and ADHD meds and whatever you have it.

 

Anonymous Monkey:

You seem to have some deep-rooted pathologies at the psychological level. Could be due to trauma, could be due to how you're wired, could be both. Consider psychedelic therapy - it's an odd suggestion that many on this site would probably think unusual, but I've known people in your position, and it seems to be the closest thing that's come to an effective solution. Don't get on the pharmacology bullshit, the SSRIs and ADHD meds and whatever you have it.


I’m scared of having a bad trip and going bonkers

 

Big dog, I know a lot of people don't like to go this route for any number of reasons but you need to be in some kind of therapy and probably on an SSRI appropriate for people with OCD and anxiety. 

 

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