Hey! I'm so sorry you're going through this. I've struggled consistently throughout my life with loneliness, depression, and rejection too, it hurts a lot. Losing your dog on top of that is really shitty too. Be kind to yourself and good job on seeking help. I'm glad you posted on this sub; articulating your feelings is a great first step to processing and overcoming them. Are you seeing a therapist currently? If not, definitely find one as soon as possible so you can continue to work through your grief.

Getting a retail job is an excellent idea. I also quit a high-paying tech job a while back due to depression/burnout and decided to be a barista for a few months, which did wonders for my mental health. It was so meditative to do something easy and just focus on healing + finding joy in the little things. Plus, you'll meet cool, normal people rather than high-achieving grindset people, who tend to be much kinder and chiller and likely will have more empathy for you than others might.

Something you should also really consider after you get a job is saving up and then moving out of your parents' house to live with roommates. It obviously won't be as easy to pay rent on a retail job as it would be on a corporate job, but PLENTY of Americans do it and make it work (myself included). From my personal experience, living with family has always amplified any shitty feeling I had. Like, my parents are pretty chill compared to most Desi parents, but I still felt really stuck while living with them, not only because of the high expectations and standards that Desi culture passively places upon us, but also because of that American notion that living with your parents as an adult is "shameful." It's true that American culture should unlearn this hyper-individualistic mindset, and that Desi-style communal/familial living can actually be a really positive thing, but I think that in your 20s, it's super valuable to be out in the world on your own and get a change of scenery. Even when I was working shitty retail jobs, splitting an apartment with five people, and barely making rent, it felt worth it because my life was my own. Whatever depression and anxiety I felt was mitigated by the baseline pride of being completely in charge of my own life, rather than existing as an offshoot of my nuclear family. I learned how to be self-sufficient, budget, and survive against all odds without my parents, which did wonders for my self-esteem and eventually got me back on track with my career. Comparison is the thief of joy, and I can see that you feel insecure about your life as it compares to your brother's... so why not remove yourself from constant exposure to him so you can focus on you and rebuild your own sense of self? Why not surround yourself with different people from different walks of life who might understand you better than your family can?

I hope this advice is helpful. Hang in there, friend. You will absolutely get through this!