First time poster introducing himself plus rant about life

[Agent79]

Hello. I've had an account with this forum for almost two years now but have never introduced myself, until now.

I'm a male, I'm 21 years old and I'm not where I should be mentally. As well as being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when I was 3, over the last 2 years I have been going through depression and social anxiety. I dropped out of university last year because of my mental health and moved back to my hometown to figure out what to do with myself. I made the decision to find work, however, more than 12 months on, nothing. I apply, hand out resumes, but it's always the same response "No". I am at the point where I am giving up looking for work because it is all the same response. Also I am sick of hearing "Don't give up, something will pop up". No it won't. The people they do end up hiring are worse than me, it is more about looks than experience most of the time.

During this time, it's become clear to me that I have aged/matured by more than 40 years. I don't feel young, I'm an old man trapped in a young man's body. Most of the things I use to enjoy doing I rarely have time to do now. For me, it all comes to first impressions, if I screw up, that's it. I can't be bothered meeting other people my age in this town because they all the same bandwagons as everyone else that I have no interest in.

Although things haven't been great for me most of time, there are some positive things in my life. The following list isn't in a specific order of preference

1. My best mates. Even though a few of them are away from town for most of the year due to uni or work, they are always there for me, whenever the next gathering comes up, I always look forward to it.

2. Counselling. I made this decision to get counselling and it has been quite helpful.

3. Finding some strengths. One example was when I was at uni, living independently (cooking my own meals, doing my hobbies in my spare time etc.)

4. Family, they are the front line for me when I'm not in the best mood.

5. Education: I am currently at TAFE, going pretty good, and considering going to Uni again (different course). The course I once did was something I was passionate about but lost interest when I was going downhill.

Anyway, sorry for the long introduction and possible spelling errors, but I thank you for reading and maybe understanding what I am going through.

[white knight]

Hi Agent, welcome finally lol

You've done well actually. Sometime uni students try to hang onto their course through family pressures but you've reassessed it and ended up doing TAFE. Great.

It seems from what you've said, you are doing everything right, just more of the same is needed including and injection of motivation and positivity. How do we get that.? How do we keep putting ourselves out there fir work when we get knocked back?

We moved to a country town when my daughter 15yo had to find work (my direction). She came home from her new school and said "my new friends told me the 3 take away shops wont hire anyone else". I told her to hand in her resume and do that every 8 weeks. After handing in her resume the first time she got 2 interviews and accepted both jobs! After 2 weeks she dropped the bad one off. She remained in the one job for 5 years, saved up buying a new car for cash while at uni. She's now a teacher.

Another example. A refugee in 1988 from Vietnam. For 8 months he knocked on our factory door every thursday for work. Each time I did what my boss told me, turned him away. One day I did thst but as he walked away my boss was entering the building and asked what he was doing. He said he was wanting work. My boss gave him a job in the main factory.

Sometimes you have to make your own luck.

This thread is the best example.

Use google to read the first post.

Topic: 30 minutes can change your life- beyondblue

Topic: depression and motivation- beyondblue

Tony WK