Does anyone feel like this? It could be because of a lack of maturity, academic achievement, career advancement, independence, etc. Would you say that your SA is the primary factor behind your lack of progress?
The media has made it seem like that unless you have a six-figure job, a hot wife/husband, three kids, big house, have ten extracurricular activities, and know four languages by the time you're 30, you're a big loser.
However, those of us that live in the real world know that's not the case.
We're all just doing the best we can with the resources we have. There's no "threshold" that you need to be at when you're at a certain age - we all progress and go through life at different speeds from different angles with different backgrounds and knowledge.
I know it's hard to think that when you're depressed and you feel that anxiety has stripped away what you think you could have, but that is the reality for people around the world.
This answer is so very true, Mikey C. Now, besides cute I think you are smart <3
I think I dont act as a mature man as some thing in my age , some times especially when I am under emotional pressure I act like kid. socializing make people look more mature , and most people with SA act like kids or at best under their actual ages compared to their peers .
I think I've made a lot of mistakes-- some of it has been the anxiety and some of it has been other things. I don't want to say it's all because of the anxiety because I think that would prevent me from addressing other shortcomings that aren't related to it.
I've never been very ambitious, so no to career and academia. Fast-paced productivity or 'leaving my mark'/playing the status game has never been as important as doing what I believe in... plus, you can feel good about pretty much anything as long as it has a clear purpose, aligns with your convictions and you're doing your best.
But I do think that anxiety has made it harder to put myself out there, and I'm probably more likely to tell myself 'no' than 'yes' to things I might have wanted because I just don't want to put my nerves through the wringer all the time.
Ultimately, I think that my biggest stumbling block has been with relationships. I know for sure that anxiety makes me less attractive to the opposite sex. I've always longed to be that confident carefree person everyone likes, or at least to feel comfortable speaking up in a group of people who are supposed to be my friends. I guess I would just like to meet someone who understands/isn't turned off by it.
I am ashamed to even post on FB or interact because I feel like people are judging me for where I am at in life.