34 ... you have a LOT of future if you decide to have it. It is in your hands .. to do all you want to do with it. I would not throw that away for any reason.

I feel that way quite often, but like people have told me numerous times. You are young, you can still change things for the better(I don't know your situation exactly but it's probably still relevant). Do not give up just because things seem to be low, they can turn around quite quickly just as fast as they go down. Is there anything in particular that is troubling you so deeply?

Well I read a story years ago about a girl whose family was having terrible luck. Terrible. And the mother went to a soothsayer who told her to find the daughter with bad luck and kick her out of the house.

To cut a long story short, they find the daughter, boot her out into the snow, she wanders around until she finds her luck living down a well, drags it out, scrubs it clean, gives it a clip around the ear and her entire life changes for the better.

You get out what you put in. If you are losing despite your best efforts, you need to find a way to start thinking outside the box.

And don't always listen to what your head tells you. Five years ago I was a suicidal basket case with no future, no ability to put a sentence together. I have dragged myself out of that because it's not what I want.

I am free to live how I want. I got free to live how I want. That has changed everything.

You own your life. this is the only one you get, and if you don't like it you need to change it. :)

You have stress in your life that is beyond your ability to control. (Your mother and her fears.)

I do not mean to minimize your mother's fears, but freeing yourself of responsibility for her fears (and from the responsibility of resolving them) may be your best hope for now.

Easier said than done.

Gentle hugs

My first reaction to this was to feel what you feel, then when I read a post about not settling your mom's issues I panicked and thought what if this is my child? So what would I say to my own child versus what would I say to someone else. I would try to dig in deeper with my own child and try to help her work through what ever is going on, and try to find out what I am doing to make her suffer so.

As someone other than my child, I would react as sayiing I know how you feel, I'm really down today myself. I'm emotionally exhausted and have NO ONE I can turn too. No one except for the people here at DS. This is my ONLY outlet. If it were not for this place I think I would be suicidle much more often than I am.

Hey sweetie.

I'm sorry I'm just now seeing this post. I was hoping so much that things were getting better and your mom was doing better ( I won't say any more about that on here, you know what I'm referring to ). I know how horrible depression can make us feel and when we are facing hard obstacles and the uphill climb feels like your facing Mt. Everest without being able to see the other side, it makes it even worse. I know how much you've accomplished since I've known you here and I'm so very proud of you . I also know how difficult things are and how overwhelming it can all be. Please, please don't give up hope that things will improve. I know they can N. I don't know if you've seen your therapist lately, but if you haven't , I hope you will get in contact with her and see her. You are so much stronger than you give yourself credit for. You are. I know you are. I am keeping you ( and your mom ) in my prayers. Please don't give up on your hopes and dreams you've been working so hard for.
Love you.

((((((((((((((((( HUGE HUGS ))))))))))))))))))

LMT

Hey WanderingVet, I guess I am just at the point where I don't see anything but despair in my future. The only hope I had that things would get better is being ripped from me.

Hi Enigmaticloner, I am in a situation where I am probably going to be forced to put my degree on hold or forced to drop out of school altogether. This was my only hope for building a better life for myself.

Hi LMT. See above. I may be forced to give up my dreams. :( Love you!

What's going on with your life that makes you feel that school is your only way at a better life? I dropped out of school years ago and I still don't regret it to this day, I'm not happy but I know I would have been feeling worse if I stayed and that's for sure.

I need a marketable skill set a degree could provide me instead of being stuck in minimum wage jobs that nobody can live on.

Have you thought about pursuing any career that does not require a degree?

I am not sure what good careers are out there that doesn't require a degree.

I googled this: "careers that don't require degrees"

and got a LOT of hits. The suggestions are varied, so not all of them will appeal to everybody. You can look at them, try to imagine yourself doing them, and then look into the ones that you like.

Me, personally, I like the idea of operating heavy machinery!!!

There's plenty of good careers out there, it really depends on what your interests and skills are more than anything. You should probably focus on those things and then try to look into careers involving them.

"According to census data, 209.3 million people in the United States are 25 years old or older, and 66.9 million have a bachelors degree or higher (such as a masters, professional or doctoral degree). That means about 68 percent of them do not have a bachelors degree. If we include people who have an academic associate degree -- about 11.7 million people -- the percentage of people without a degree declines slightly, to 62 percent.

The U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics looked at the same question in a 2014 longitudinal study that followed young people to age 27. It found that by that age, 72 percent of respondents did not have bachelor's degrees. "

You are mistaken that there are no good careers that do not require a degree. Your notion you have two choices .. college graduation or death is way out there.

I am also reminded of all the stories I hear about college grads with degrees who cannot find a job.

Degree vs. career is a myth.