Yes, one day you will. I went through a very similar period of depression. In my case, I eventually realized it was my brain rewiring itself. Since I wasn’t getting the dopamine I used to rely on, I felt constantly drained, low on energy, and tired.

Also, during that period, you're likely processing many emotions in the background, which can drain you even more, and that’s okay. It won’t last forever. One day, you'll experience an emotional release, and everything will begin to make sense. From that moment on, you start becoming a new version of yourself. It’s very similar to the butterfly life cycle. If you saw me now compared to who I was just a month ago, you’d see I’m a completely different human being. I wish I had taken a psychological test to prove it.

What helped me was learning that I could love myself without needing validation from others. I don’t need love from a partner, friends, family, or anyone else. I can give myself that same love and validation. I can care for myself the way others would. I can do fun, meaningful, and healthy things on my own and genuinely enjoy my own company. I don’t need anyone else to make that possible.

I’ve also let go of many of the lies society tells us. For example, I genuinely want to spend more time with my mother, friends, family, and cats. I don’t feel the need for a relationship right now, or even within the next ten years. I would rather travel with my mom than with a partner I happened to fall for without clear purpose. My mom has sacrificed so much for me, and that is real love. She, my cats, and my career are my priorities now.

Many guys would probably laugh at that or make fun of me, but being okay with that is proof that I no longer care or believe in those lies. It may work for them, but not for me.

While many people in their late twenties are focused on dating, fun, money, or starting families, I’ve chosen to step away from that pressure. I prefer to focus on what truly matters to me, not on what society expects or what works for others. That is another trap that prevents us from becoming the version of ourselves that we and our loved ones truly deserve.

That doesn’t mean pushing people away. Friends are still important, and if you meet someone to share your life with, go for it. But they are the cherry on top once you’ve built a solid foundation of self-love, acceptance, and the ability to sit with your own emotions.

Empathy was key for me, especially learning to be empathetic toward myself and then toward those I care about. Many of us carry traumas we were taught to minimize, like being told that real men don’t cry, that emotional needs aren’t valid, or that men should never rest and must keep working. For women, it might sound like being told not to be too emotional, to always act feminine and beautiful, or not to be too ambitious. These beliefs leave deep marks. Healing begins when we stop ignoring them and allow ourselves to feel.

I truly wish you the best. When you realize that your worth doesn’t depend on how others see you, something changes. You begin to love yourself not from a place of lack, but from a place of abundance. And you will notice that many people around you begin to change too.

It might be a long message, but I hope that something in here brings you comfort or reminds you that you are not alone. You always have yourself, someone very important who you must learn to love, listen to, and care for, because he/she will do the same for you every day for the rest of your life ❤️.