Years of fear and hopelessness

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How can I get over the years of fear and hopelessness I endured, especially after high school ended? Since then, I haven't furthered my education, go into the workforce, or do anything worth knowing. For the last 3 years I was living in my parents house. On Facebook, I have less than 100 friends. I feel like a loser and it shows because of my unusual deep nasal slow voice and skinny guy appearance. I feel like I'm physically incapable too. I have no resources for anything, so I only stay with my parents.

This being said, I really need to go to college to get a complete education, but I fear that it's too late, because I believe I didn't pass the PSSA or whatever it's abbreviated as I can't remember (the test requirement for high school in Pennsylvania where I live).

I live in northwestern Pennsylvania, which is a boring region where a lot of young people are dropping out because of no good-paying jobs. I really would settle for any job at this point no matter what the pay was. I want a cure for all the fear, hopelessness and sedentary. I'm sure you guys have some good advice for me.

Sometimes, you could go to community college without even a high school diploma. They have GED programs that extend into community college classes.

But you seem to have some kind of diploma. Why not try the community college in your county?

Community college is real college, it's not some low-rent college. The credits count. Once you get 60 credits in community college, you're pretty much automatically admitted to a 4-year institution--provided you pass a basic test in English and math.

Nothing changes until you take action, I understand how difficult it is to take action when you feel fearful and hopeless. But you wrote the post so now you can find a tiny bit of courage and hope there is a chance this could be different. I think you can get your GED online now and community colleges don't all require the college entrance exam [ACT, SAT??]. If Penn requires a graduation exam they will provide review classes. Nothing will happen until you get over this hump. You have to get one 'win' under your belt, just one. Then when you have that win you will have the courage to get another. Set your eyes on simple steps, don't have any expectations and find the determination to complete a step. I know it can be done and no one teaches us how to start over...they say just do it..which doesn't work. Tell yourself you will try and then try your best.

"I want a cure for all the fear, hopelessness and sedentary".

Of course you do. In that one sentence, you have concisely and elegantly stated your problem.

Well, naming the problem accurately is the door opener to change - you have made that most important first step.

The "door" represents our movement from the problem to the solutions - visualise the door opening right up to you and inviting you in to a new room to explore.

This word "cure" is a bit of a misnomer, as there is no pill we can take like an antibiotic for pneumonia. I know what you mean though: you what healing which brings about positive change for you - which you will bring about for you.

I think you have made a terrific start, in accurately identifying your three main challenges right now, which have held, and are holding, you back from where you want to be:

fear
hopelessness
sedentariness

Change, as you probably know, is a process of steps towards a different outcome.

May I suggest that you choose whichever one of these 3 life issues which is the least daunting for you to contemplate and develop a plan for that. The first plan you come up with may or may not be the one that will work best. Doesn't matter - just start the process. When we know better, we do better. Break your plan down into realistic steps and stages. Keep a record. Give yourself credit for every bit of progress you make!! Don't beat yourself up over any blips; as long as the learning curve is continuing in a positive direction for you, the blips are just part of the trial and error learning process.

Believe me, enormous personal transformation is possible. You have power within you which you have not even begun to realise. It takes courage to enter the transformation journey. And it grows as the journey gets underway.