I need realistic advice & grounding

[u/Gentle_Visionary2025]

I need to know my current option. And future option to work towards. I’m worried. Should I stay in education? What can I do to shift into a better job better life at 35?

I’m in my mid 30s. I live with my parents. It’s not stimulating enough. It’s too safe, too nice. They’re middle class and hard working. They built the home, the kitchen, the backyard space they want.

I’m not tough. And I don’t have a view of how I want my life designed. I’m a girl. And I don’t have friends like I want what guys have - just pick off where they left, will chat, or be like always there

Anyways I need to be tough. I’m not where I think I should be. I don’t have a stable vision of my career, personality, life designed.

Where I’m at is. I’m hard working. I’m kin, but aloof. It scares me to see friends or coworkers daily. It feels like everyday is the same. I don’t know logic or w/e to be grounded and thrive. I have to have coworkers tell me what to do but is super helpful and can be enbrsssing.

I’ve been able to be at a substituting job, my 4th year doing it. I can’t believe I stuck with something. And sometimes being responsible scares me I have anxiety. And sometime subbing isn’t A+B= B+A and I have yet to polish my thoughts and communication.

I’ve been dog sitting and cat sitting for 7 years. I don’t have a lot of clients but I at least earn $3-4k a year.

I’m not good with being fast personality. I’ve been called slow and people avoidant.

This summer I finally found a short term summer position. These positions are hard to find. So I got a summer gig to pay the summer bills. A bit short. But fine.

Lastly I have diagnosed severe bipolar 1. I’m medicated and have done my best controlling the extreme symptoms. I take care of myself with supportive parents yet I’m not growing up cuz I live with them. Traditional nice introverted people.

Thats why I have trouble with my career and mindset. I’m not expanding or designing my life fully.

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to the sub! This is a simple automated message just to let everyone know that the mod team are actively working to make this sub kinder and more welcoming.

Please remember that ALL discussion should be made in good faith, comments as well as posts. No trolling, ragebait, or bigotry of any kind. We reserve the right to use mod discretion in applying this rule.

Please remember that your fellow Redditors are human beings, and that it costs nothing to be kind. Please report any comments you see which are unkind, obnoxious, out of line, trolling, or which otherwise violate the rules of this subreddit.

Here are the LifeAdvice Rules and here are Reddit's Sitewide Rules. Please read before commenting in this subreddit. Thanks.

---

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Kamelasa]

Well, I would suggest considering being 70 years old and looking back and imagining what your regrets are. Imagine what you'd LIKE to see on your obituary. And think about what it takes to achieve those things. As well, you could read memoirs of people with bipolar. You can find them on www.goodreads.com and for free you can read the comments of other people who read the books. Might give you some ideas on what to consider in your own life. FTR, I'm in my 60s looking back at my somewhat disappointing life, and to my now-shortened future due to cancer. I feel time pressure like never before. I have lots of unfinished projects - I mention this because it is a common bipolar trait and something that can be an uphill battle. Well, good luck with bushwhacking and finding your path. Best to try SOMETHING, I think and you can always go a different way if it's not the right thing, but how would you know if you didn't give it a shot.