No motivation

[Directionless]

1. Due to my ptsd and trauma from my childhood and early teenage years I started smoking pot and tobacco at age 15. I'm now 22, I struggle with anxiety about basically everything as I've had such a sheltered life and no real experiences. I left school at the age of 12 due to my home life. Something I regret immensely. But I've spent all my time since 16 sitting in my bathroom smoking, every single day. I don't have friends, hobbies, activities I do outside of being at home. I basically go to the shops every week for food shopping then straight back home. My health is getting worse, my teeth are becoming black and I've recently just lost half of one at the back causing so much pain. Due to that I've had a realisation my life is headed no where. How do I get out of this funk of always smoking, feeling like I need it but not doing anything with my life. How do I commit to a full-time job when I've never had any sort of commitments like that before. I struggle to adjust to the thought of spending 8+hours a day at work and having barely and time for myself but on the other hand having no money for dental, a house to live in, a car.. I feel so lost. Like I'm the only one who's messed there life up so terribly that it feels irreversible. How do I move forward from this funk? 

[Fiatlux]

Hi Guest,

I can only offer you some moral support here.

Are you living with family members? 

I can only assume that you would be relying on Social Security benefits to keep a roof over your head and to feed yourself.

You may not be ready to hear this, but you firstly need to deal with your addiction to smoking. Can you see a GP to assist you and refer you to a mental health professional to help you with your ptsd?

Further you will need to accept that you would need to return to some form of education. In the past there were adult education providers to assist those who didn’t complete secondary education. 

Work out what you love doing. Do you love to cook or bake or even love to be outside and maybe gardening may interest you. My 27 year old son was a little bit lost when he finished High School and has possibly finally found what line of work interests him and he is now working mostly full time in his chosen profession. At one point he was considered a chef’s apprenticeship but found that he just loves to cook but only at home for himself.

There are hobbies like photography that some people actually find that they can earn a living from.

I understand that everything is going to be a start from zero for you but you could also try volunteering somewhere that isn’t too stressful for you either. My eldest son has been an SES volunteer since he was eighteen and is now working full time in the emergency services sector.

Making contact with your GP is going to be the first step. Baby steps to start with and you can get there. 

Keep in touch and hope this helps you. Fiatlux 🙏🏼

[David35]

Are you on centrelink? If so, try joining a men's shed to get exposed to something positive (people, skills, experiences,etc.). It may give you something to be interested in and to look forward to. It gives you a reason to get out of your environment. Having a purpose is the best drug of all...