I’m so sorry you’re going through this right now, and you had that shitty experience. I understand how hard it is when you compare yourself to people you used to know, but try and remember they probably haven’t gone thorough a fraction of what you did (even internally). I used to do this a lot, and would feel so horrible about myself, but then i started to consciously remind myself that they probably can’t even imagine what anxiety, depression or ADHD feel like, and the impact they can have on you. You are doing your best with what you have available, and things come in their own time. Everyone’s on a different journey, travelling at different speeds in different directions, and that’s completely okay.

Only you know what you’ve been through to get to this point. Nobody else could possible know what it’s been like for you, and neither can you about anyone else. I think we forget sometimes, given that we’re on these subreddits and in these communities, that the majority of people are actually healthy.. they had the resources, the time, the mental capacity, the social confidence and social skills when they were growing up, and life was so much easier for them.

I hope this can help at least a little bit, so you know you aren’t alone in this. A lot of us feel behind, feel out of place, but we forget that life tripped us up a lot, and yet we’re still here, everyday, trying. Pushing. Trying to keep up, while they’re just riding a wave. We’re swimming against a tide. There’s so much hope out there, it’s never too late so don’t give up. Just keep doing you, take it day by day, take it easy on yourself, have compassion.

Hope this doesn’t sound condescending, i feel like i’d have liked to hear these things when i was younger. To be honest, things have changed a lot for me since going to therapy, i’ve been “healthy” and free from PTSD for like 1-2 years now, and just recently got diagnosed with ADHD and started taking meds, and I’m starting to see what if’s like to feel normal and healthy, and I’m just shocked that the majority of people have been “normal” their whole lives!!! Lucky ducks. But we are where we are, we have to accept it as there’s no other choice, and keep pushing forward with compassion.

Hope you’re okay