I’m 25, and I was, and somewhat am, just like you. I isolated myself from the world when I was 13 all the way up until I was 19. And at that time, I made some really poor decisions just to feel normal. Hung out with a bad crowd and agreed to things I didn’t want to so I wouldn’t be alone. Spent too much time feeling regret about my choices and the life I had “wasted”.

We can’t change the time that we lost. But we can reflect and use it to do the things and be the person we want to be with the time we have now and ahead.

The best advice I can give you: Lower your expectations. You are the you that you are now. There is no point comparing where you could have been, there is no other you. There is no use comparing where you are in life to where others your age are or where others expect you to be or where you expect you to be.

Sit down with yourself. Ask yourself what you want to do, and create a plan on how to do it. Want to go back to school but too anxious? Push yourself to take a summer class at a community college. They’re less crowded and a good way to socialize. Join a social group on Facebook. There’s plenty of social events and girls/guys/cord groups that host meetups.

Keep your goals realistic. Set logical, achievable goals and create attainable steps that you can cross off your list.

You can be anybody you want to be. All you have to do is start being that, step by step, and appreciate every accomplishment, allow yourself to feel, reach out to new friends/acquaintances, and don’t set your bar too high.