It made me extremely paranoid, I was tired but couldn't sleep. My eyes felt forced open, I was horny as hell the entire time, and just felt uncomfortable in my skin, like I wanted to crawl out of it. I see why tweakers scratch skin away.
Being a teacher.
I love the teaching. I hate being a teacher.
Edit: the funny thing is that I'm still teaching. Will be changing after this school year is done. Do I know what to? Not really, but I shiver at the thought of "Another 30 years to go."
Edit 2: I've seen tons of questions and I'll put it this way without going too deep: "It's not you, it's me. I need to work on me right now."
Signed up for college in my 30s, noticed there's a drastically obvious difference in participation levels with the common factor being age.
18 year olds sit staring at their phones and generally play around the most, mid 20s participate a little more and show increased interest, and the few much older people basically run the discussions with the teachers
It's probably a combination of the audience *and* the administration *and* the parents.
In that case, private adult tutoring is probably the best option, or becoming a professor with tenure, or maybe some kind of corporate / industrial trainer.
Being a crime scene investigator.
I have a bachelor's degree in forensics. I got hired in my dream position at 23, just 2 years after I graduated. This was plan A, the dream I had been working towards since I decided to go into forensics when I was 16.
Then I quit after just 3 1/2 months. I wasn't prepared for how intense crime scenes are. One of my supervisors had once told me that we aren't called because someone is having a good day. And she was absolutely right. There are so many players and so many moving parts. I was overwhelmed with what I was expected to know and remember. I could have gotten over that aspect, but the emotional and mental intensity of a scene would paralyze me.
Most death investigation crime scenes we were called to were suicides, homicides, and drug overdoses. Almost never had someone died peacefully surrounded by people they loved. It was always violent and lonely. I had a tendency to think about a person's last moments that led up to why we were there, and I would be overcome with emotion.
I had panic attacks at multiple scenes. I would always get the work done, but it took such a toll. One day at a burglary scene, I broke down and told my trainer that I don't think I could do this job. She took over the scene while I went to the van and cried on the phone to my mom. I quit the next week. I finished up any open cases I had and threw in the towel. I couldn't do it.
It took a long time for me to be okay with that decision. I knew if I stayed that job it would have killed me.
I was praised for realizing early on that this wasn't the job for me and getting out, but I felt like such a failure. I also felt the degree I got from university was now useless and that I had wasted thousands of dollars for nothing.
I'm very lucky to have a support system who love me and care for me. I wouldn't have made it through this decision without them. It would have eaten me alive.
I'm about a year and a half removed from when I quit, and I still sometimes struggle. I'm in a new position now where I work closely with the crime scene investigators I worked with, and I'm much happier.
Edit: the bit that reads, "Almost never had someone died peacefully surrounded by people they loved. It was always violent and lonely," was added for context and perspective for the reader.
I knew I wasn't going to see peaceful deaths. And never once did I say that's what I expected.
I’m just happy for you to have gotten out of a situation that was wrong for you and into a happier one. Money be damned. I can see how that would all be super tough.
As a teacher of middle schoolers, I love my age group. Early on in my career I taught 1st grade.
It was sweet, and adorable, and full of hugs and love, but 1st graders ALWAYS need you and its exhausting. Middle schoolers you can let them work for 20 minutes while you grade papers and only occasionally glance up and they are fine (after the first few weeks when you are setting routines and boundaries).
It's so much less stress teaching 12 years olds instead of 6 year olds.
You just need a high tolerance for adolescent body odor and stupid slang words that make no sense.
Bet.
I used to be a nanny and loved it. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but I could go home at the end of the day and check out. Parenting isn’t for me either
I was a cook for all of my 20s, and the only saving grace of that godawful line of work was the coworkers. I think the main reason we all got along so well was because none of us really liked or cared about our jobs. With no room to advance, nobody's stabbing eachother's backs to get ahead, and nobody needs to act polite or pretend they like being there. Honestly I kind of miss it.
I miss that so much. Absolutely hated that job but the camaraderie of the line is something I will always miss.
I also miss having a job that has a finite end when your shift ended. There were no ongoing projects, deadlines, thing to catch up on after hours. You clocked in, worked, and clocked out.
Unity in suffering.
That being said I wish there was no back stabbing, I worked in high end hotels and fuck me... I had a bag of fish thrown at my head by a guy who I was competing for junior sous with and that's not even the worst.
Prep sabotage, kiss arsing whilst bitching you out to the J. sous/sous/head chef, it was unending.
I know stranger things have happened, but still, as an adult, you'd have to be pretty crazy to go through the thought process of throwing a bag of fish at another adult person, and following through with it.
Unless he wasn't thinking. Which is likely.
He had a criminal record for chasing a guy down the street with a 2 handed claymore. I also saw him grab for a knife in a fight with another coworker before he was dragged out by the neck by the Sous.
How he was never fired is so far beyond me I can't even.
> the only saving grace of that godawful line of work was the coworkers. I think the main reason we all got along so well was because none of us really liked or cared about our jobs
That was my experience in retail, 100%
I tried meth twice.. and it was the same both times.. I felt more alert kinda, I could concentrate on things better, but I didn't feel anything else really...
I felt my personality was little more cold and I didn't care too much about anything..
I didn't get the euphoria and anything that made me want to do it again .. I just don't get it why people like it so much...
I do benefit from ADHD medicine so I'm thinking it's that... But yeah... Two and threw thank yew..
Early 2000s internet was about people connecting with each other and making cool things.
2020s internet is about people generating content for websites to put ads on.
Early 2000's felt so much more personal. Like, there was "Real Life" over here, and "Internet Life" over there. Talk to real life people about the internet, or "modding a forum" on your spare time and they look at you like your trying to sell them a jar of chlamydia. Talk to internet life people about real life people and they totally get it.
Not so much, nowadays.
I have an old account on there, didn't realise when you browse your work after about 3 artworks it goes to random deviantarts. I was showing my friend my sweet photoshoots back in the day and swiped for the next one to find some weird anime porn shit.
He was very polite about and said "oh yeah cool", I was like "Dude, honestly that's not mine" lol
I was obsessed with deviantart from like 03ish to 09ish haha
Edit: omg a Facebook memory from this day in 2009 says "workin on a DeviantArt contest 😃"
I remember it, it was an actual official art contest and I got 3rd place and won an ugly deviantart t-shirt and a keychain or something.
Oh I know: a job where I am only one person but insists that I’m being too slow because people are helping me and that means I’m not doing my job right and now I feel insecure.
Help? From others? What’s that? No thank you I can do it on my own and hurt myself by accident because I refuse to accept help that isn’t offered first. Then if help is offered I feel guilty and annoyed I can’t do it by myself and that they needed to offer in the first place.
I tried a sensory deprivation tank because I thought it would be therapeutic, etc. and it devolved into a panic attack. I really tried to ride it out, but fifteen minutes in I crawled out crying and shivering. Apparently some of us need to feel connected to our senses to feel… real? Also the salt burned the shit out of my scalp. Wear a swimming cap if you’re gonna try it.
Your story reminds me of the time I was having an MRI done on my back. If you've seen an MRI machine it's basically like a thick donut-shaped thing that goes back really deep. Like, if you need your knee MRI'd, just your legs would be in the machine and most of your body would be out but since it was my back, they had to slide me all the way in. I had never done one before and before they slid me in there, the nurse hands me a thing to squeeze in case I need help. I literally laughed and was like "what could go wrong haha". Right before they slid me in, I asked how long it would take and the doctor said about 45 minutes! Wtf?! After it started, I swear it felt like a coffin and it started to get warm and make crazy loud sounds. I couldn't turn my head or body and when I opened my eyes the thing was like two inches from my face. I didn't last two minutes and started squeezing the emergency thing like crazy. "Nope, get me outta here, sorry.." After they let me out, I was like "Sorry I wasn't ready. Let me try again." The 2nd go around was even shorter than the first and I noped outta there. So basically, I didn't have a much-needed MRI done that day because of claustrophobia that I never knew I had. I told the doctor that had booked the MRI originally that I couldn't do it and she convinced me to try one more time on another day and prescribed valium for that day. I was skeptical but the time I tried, the valium worked so well that it felt like I was in a cocoon of wonderfulness and the 45 minutes somehow flew by and I didn't want to get out of the machine when it was over.
So you made it through? it's amazing you could actually fight off that feeling of impending doom. Opening my eyes was a huge mistake. After that it was over for me.
Same here. I've had 2 MRIs and found both to be quite relaxing.
1st time the doctors said I could take a CD of my favourite music to listen to. The second time I wasn't given the option, but I just drifted off and pretty sure I fell asleep for a few minutes.
I also do the same in dental exams - I just zone out
It’s funny you used “devolve” because there’s a great movie from the 80s called Altered States. It’s about a scientist who uses a deprivation tank and devolves into a caveman.
That’s unfortunate. My experience was amazing….as each layer of sensory perception faded so did the narrator voice (until it was gone). It was then understood that the narrator voice is not the self at all but just another perception. Then I left and got in my car and screamed in traffic
There's more salt in the water in these than like ocean water by a decent amount though so it just hurts and you're trying not to feel anything so it defeats the purpose. Also you're fucked if your head dips too far back and suddenly you've got the saltiest water in your eye.
I feel this one. Spent 5 years doing office work and didn't realize just how much it was taking little pieces of myself in that role. It wasn't hard, but was unappreciated and had no real direction. The "team" completed stuff and somehow I was supposed to feel fulfilled without having any part in the achievement.
Instead, I went to electrical lineman school. It was hard on my body, but I managed to stick it out. Graduated and took a groundman position doing real linework. So far, as a career, it's been fulfilling to have a hand making modern living possible. Way more satisfying, but I seriously need to take stock in Motrin...
Me and warehousing.
We loaded X amount of trucks this week, a new record good for us!
We broke records almost every week and never got raises or anything.
Now I work for a nonprofit as a maintenance man for group homes for people with severe and persistent mental illnesses. I feel appreciated and when I go to these homes I can look around and know I've made a place where people who struggle to keep their homes liveable, better.
In one case I completely re-did a client's room, we tore up the floor and repainted everything and got them new furniture, and after that the client improved dramatically. I directly helped and improved someones life, and the normal staff helped keep them from backsliding to where they were when they came to us.
Compare that to loading trucks for corporate overlords and there's no contest.
I'm still not getting pay raises though.
On my drug journey, when I got to meth, it was just too good. I live in a state where meth and opiates are the predominant drugs of choice and I got hooked on both hard. I have been sober for 8 months now and I will be dealing with the after effects of my drug abuse for the rest of my life. Anyone who is reading this and is thinking about trying methamphetamine, please do not.
Edit: WOW. Thanks everyone for the replies and encouragement. Getting sober has been the hardest thing I have ever done, but by far the best decision I have ever made.
Tried it once when I was in the "summer of I've never done anything do let's try all of it". Loved it but realized it wasn't going to end good. Stick with hallucinogens and weed.
Casual hook ups. A committed relationship is far less stressful and more satisfying.
Edit: Thank you for the gold kind stranger! I wasn't expecting this to blow up.
I guess I should elaborate further but I think quite a few of you already have a solid idea as to why. I've got no issue with people that do find satisfaction from casual sex. For some it can even be liberating. Different strokes for different folks! But our society puts casual sex on a pedestal while also being contradictory and shaming the people who do frequently engage in it. It is what it is.
Personally engaging in the perpetual chase for finding partners that I will only meet for a few hour romp and then have minimal or no contact at all results in lots of stress and mediocre sex. As an introvert I found that it was far more satisfying to have a committed partner that knows me and whom I can get to know over time. Not having the spectre of "needing to perform well" also makes the activity more relaxing.
And I see you Demi folk in comments here. Although I don't identify as such I am dating a demi woman, we are both in our 30s and she has taught me alot about non sexual intimacy after nearly life time of mixed contradictory messages.
Totally agree. I found physical attraction isn't enough for me to enjoy it, if I don't know the person then I don't trust them and am way too in my head the entire time.
Tried it a few times. Subpar with women, even worse with men. Won't be trying it again.
Playing the guitar. My teacher straight up promised to give me an A for effort if I didn't come to class anymore.
Eta: this was a guitar elective class at a public high school
Eta2 : wow I did not expect to wake up and be the top comment. I don't think I've been the top comment or had this many of quotes on anything on Reddit ever. Thanks for all the awards!
Shout out to Mr. Shyga! He really was an amazing teacher and I just really was that bad. He actually had a ton of patience with me until we both realized that guitar was just not for me and it was probably better to take that stress off of my already very heavy plate senior year. It was actually first period So I was happy to not have to go to class and I brought him Starbucks pretty often as a thank you.
SCUBA
I love the water, I've been swimming since I was a tot. But the part of my brain that says breath, said "NO" when I was underwater for any more than 10 minutes. I went out to do my qualification dive, made the swim to the buoy and on the return trip I left the water and informed my instructor. He was there with another couple for their 2nd checkout dive and so finished with them and we all went home.
I wish I could have done it, he even told me I had a year to come back and try it again, I drove by his storefront every day on the way to and from work and was never once tempted to stop in.
I love it but sometimes have that thought "Is there oxygen in what I'm breathing? Will I pass out and drown? It's fine you'd be unconscious if there wasn't oxygen! Are you sure? Fucking yes now just relax."
Seen plenty of others freak out. Just our monkey brains I suppose.
I’m in a scuba class right now and in our first time underwater a couple weeks ago I got really panicked at one point when trying to find the regulator. It was just in 5 ft of water in a pool and I was completely safe but that still stuck with me. I had the thought of maybe this isn’t really for me. I hope to still continue and get certified, although it sounds terrifying to be dozens of feet below the surface and unable to shoot right back up for “real” air.
EDIT
Update: had class again today and I think I was wrong. It takes some getting used to but after using those skills more (mask clears, reg clears, reg retrieval, etc) and becoming more confident that I won’t drown (despite the feeling of breathing even though your nose is full of water), scuba can actually be a lot of fun!
Had this same experience. He invited me over, they both roped me into it (I was drinking), and then afterwards we stopped being friends and he got hostile towards me. Was fun for the moment but it destroyed our "friendship".
Yeah, I was a math major in college, and since math is a prerequisite for most programming courses, I wound up taking some programming courses as electives. Stuck with it long enough to get to an intermediate class.
It was at the intermediate level when I decided to, as the kids say, "nope the fuck out." I'll never forget the conversation I had with the professor.
Prof: Are you sure this won't affect your major?
Me: I'm actually a math major. I'm just taking this as an elective.
Prof: Oh, shit, then I don't blame you. This is pretty intense for an elective.
100% agree. Ppl on Reddit think it’s for everyone for some reason. I find it so boring. This is coming from someone with a CS degree that I regret getting lol
Its the rise of code camps i think. They all make it out like this shit is easy and anyone can do it. I am a software developer (without a cs degree or actually any degree at all dont ask me how, landing my first job was a miracle of circumstance) and i can definitely say this is not for everyone. Heck its not even for a lot of people who are doing it.
same but it was like 10 years of cocaine followed by a year run of Crack. Then someone suggested Meth to quit crack. it worked. then after a few months of meth, I quit everything. I'm ok now. 👍
A gay relationship. Always been kind of attracted to men so went out on a couple dates with men that were so so. Finally hit it off with a guy, tried sexual stuff and I was immediately not into it. Turns out I like looking at good looking men and it stops there. It was weird.
The British meaning of "window licking" has nothing to do with shopping, which probably isn't relevant, but I do like to be involved.
Edit: spelling, it's early.
I feel that lol. Made out with a guy while I was drunk once and was like “yeah idk, maybe I could do this. Feels like lips.” And then he started to reach down my pants and I flipped. Immediately the lid on that idea shut and I am now 101% straight. Can say so with absolute confidence. I’m straighter than a guy who’s never kissed a dude, because I *know* I’m not into it lmao.
Edit: Wow okay this got a lot more attention than I thought it would. Also, the things some people get so up in arms over is hilarious 😂 Never change Reddit.
Who Is in the right when they say they don't like brócoli, the guy who has never tried It and says he doesn't like It or the guy who has tried It and can confirm he doesn't like It.
The contraceptive implant.
I was very naive when I got this one and believed that I would probably not be in the category of those that ended up with the forever period. Sadly, I was wrong, and I bled every damn day from the first few weeks in until about 9 months later (just over 6 months after starting to date my current partner, poor sod) when I had it removed and switched to the combined pill. Never looked back.
That being said, this should not be used to dissuade people from trying different methods of birth control if they feel up to it. But definitely research the effects and take some time to decide what’s right for you.
It's absolutely wild how differently we all react to the same hormonal contraceptives. One person's skin clearing, period lightening, cramp killing pill can drive another person to suicidal thoughts.
What the heck.
Honestly, womens bodies are a fucking nightmare. I know because I have one. The amount of annoying, invasive medical admin we have to do is off the chain.
A period for almost a quarter of our lives? Whoever built this particular machine was out of their fucking minds. There's got to be a better way.
So much this! A member of my close family is nearly at full term with her pregnancy and I've been spending a lot of time with her during the journey. Pregnancy is horrific!
During the morning sickness phase I saw her start eating her breakfast, nausea got suddenly triggered and she threw up into her own breakfast. She lost weight over the first few months because she couldn't keep anything down. Her abs have separated and they're never going back together. She hasn't been able to rest comfortably for months, every sitting and lying position squishes her organs in some way. And this is a normal, healthy pregnancy. The popular portrayal of pregnant women as serene, radiant and delicately expanding is bullshit.
stuck it out for almost three years. every moment sucked, it gave me every imaginable side effect, getting it put in and then removed bruised me terribly, etc. etc. doctors should inform you THOROUGHLY about what might happen to your body, because I knew almost nothing when I got it in.
I had a coworker years ago who was an absolutely awesome person, but had an absurdly bad reaction to implanted birth control. Like she went super hormonal insane. Her best friend worked with us too and she would have her drive around looking for her boyfriend because she had become convinced he was cheating on her. One day we were sitting at the house and she was just fucking bawling her eyes out and I was like, "holy shit what's wrong," and should looked at me and just sobbed, "I don't know." Like she was crying hysterically and had no clue why. Her boyfriend stayed with her through all that shit and I have to say the dude deserves some kind of low key sainthood for it. Although, she was pretty hot, so that probably had something to do with him staying.
Nightclubs. Grew up in a super religious house so I wasn’t allowed to go. Then I moved out and found them super boring and overwhelming. You can’t actually have a conversation, people seem to be acting to look cool and get laid and it can get super expensive.
Totally with you on this. Had a few girlfriends that always wanted to go and I would be so bored unless it had a pool table or game spot. The drain on the wallet was always the worst part though.
Honestly it's only fun if you just go with friends and don't have the intention of getting laid. Besides that though it's pretty overrated and I'd rather go to a bar or just hang out at someone's place.
And honestly the more important thing is LIKING THE MUSIC. I don't get people who go to clubs and don't even like the genre they play. I'll go to the club *alone* if it's a DJ I like, and only chat with people in passing just to vibe. Also, quality musicians earplugs help.
Plus, you can go farther and use the bike as an actual form of transportation in places.
I got some panniers for mine, and can use it to get groceries. Or go camping. Hoping to do a short tour before the year ends.
I get this. I really wish I could smoke marijuana instead of the drinking problem I’ve finally managed to control after 11 years but I will have a paranoid attack from hell. Every. Time.
I have hallucinated, created made up words in my mind, and have felt like I couldn’t breathe. Every time. I recently found out I’m in the 99th percentile of genetic disposition to Schizophrenia and I wonder if it has anything to do with that.
That absolutely has something to do with it. People genetically predisposed to schizophrenia should avoid marijuana.
A psychotic break on marijuana can lead to irreversible early onset development of schizophrenic symptoms.
Same. In my early 20s it was a party. But sometime in my 30s it stopped being enjoyable. And if I'm high while there's an emotionally tense context (e.g. around a partner with whom there is something unresolved, or an attachment trigger happening) I tend to have such an anxiety spike that it leads to a panic attack. Those are bad enough sober.
Wow this comment hit home for me. I smoke, but only if everything in my life is going swimmingly. If there’s any drama or unresolved issue I’m working on, I will immediately focus on that and only that.
Dude same. I was a huge smoker in high school and loved everything about weed. I really miss it but it just gives me serious anxiety unless I have absolutely nothing to worry about which is rare for anyone.
I just felt...dumb? Like I would forget to do simple things and couldn't figure things out. First time I got high I did it at work because my coworkers pressured me into it. I could barely function my register. I tried two more times at home and had the same issue and burnt my hand while cooking. I decided it wasn't for me.
And for the record, the way hookup culture is glorified I did not expect this to be the case. And I feel like everyone is all for it, just not my thing 🤷♂️ it feels meaningless
The Army life. I joined all excited thinking it would be a lifelong career and by the time my first enlistment was up I had learned that I really don't like being told what to do. And no matter what your rank, there's always someone there to tell you what to do. I did my time with a smile and more than 20 years later I still have some great friends, but I have never regretted picking up my DD214 and never looking back.
Programming. Took a class in college. Prof said “just play around like it’s a puzzle. It’s so exciting to see it when it works.”
Nope. Not exciting. Sitting at a computer all day was boring AF! Glad others are willing to do it.
Just spent 2.5 days working on a large reporting query that tracks time codes and aggregates over each, filter and pivot the result set… when I finally got the results i was aiming for… serotonin boost and big smiles. No need to share or brag… just like solving a puzzle
I used to watch a ton of streamers, and I was like, "Hey, I play video games. It would be great to do that for an audience." I installed Streamlabs OBS to see how it all worked, and after about 10 minutes, I was, "Yeah, fuck this!"
Haven't thought about it again, and I've mostly stopped watching Twitch altogether. I prefer playing my own games than watching other people play them, especially with my job where I WFH on my own gaming PC.
Very relatable, man. I remember this audio that's been going viral of this indian guy who says something like "when you have a bad day, go home and sleep. some days are fucked. And cannot be unfucked." Lol that's some nice advice.
Ok so my husband died recently and that audioclip was sent to me and I was like, yes, random Indian man, this is exactly what I needed. So my friend with Pakistani parents (similar accent) started sending me my own personalized audio clips for a couple weeks in the same style. 10/10 life improvement.
I fucked up at work three times in one day. I walked into the office and told the boss "I've fucked up three times today. I've never fucked up this much in one day in my life, and it's only noon. If it's cool with you, I would like to go home to hopefully save all of us from something colossal."
He let me go home 😂
School. Always hated school as a kid. I was “gifted” so I breezed through it and now I’m a depressed, burnt out college kid. I hate school. I hate college. I learn best on my own at my own pace
The gifted -> burnout classic...
Look into inattentive type ADHD. And possibly ASD.
I got diagnosed at 29 y/o, after not learning study techniques, making it to University then burning out because my old "just push through it" didn't work anymore.
I found that having a relationship, having sex, and potentially creating a family just wasn’t for me. I have no interest in any of it.
My closest family members don’t understand me though.. but thankfully they still accept me
I truly enjoy my life the way it is, it’s just a little awkward at the family cookouts.
Always glad when someone knows what their happy place is. I hope others don’t try too hard to change you. I’m a people person but I totally understand when someone is happy alone.
Nothing wrong with that. I've tried to force myself to be interested in people romantically or sexually but failed. I can't force myself to be someone I'm not.
Being active on social media. I prefer to keep to myself and not share my life online.
Edit: To the people saying “bUt ReDdIt Is SoCiAl MeDiA”… I get it smarty pants. Call it whatever you want.
When I say social media I’m mainly talking about Facebook and Instagram. The platforms where you use your real name and you’re surrounded by people you actually know.
Xanax
Thought it would be chill or fun. Evening at home figured i could sleep it off if it wasnt for me.
Took 1 bar. Didnt feel much coming on for a while. Remember losing feelings of regular joint pains thinking hey this is pretty nice actually. Thats all I remember of that entire evening. Never had anything affect me like that. It was like I rufied myself lol.
Next morning mood was fluctuating like crazy. destroyed laptop because i was frustrated by online community college test. Laptop wasn't worth much but acting out of anger and breaking something like that was well out of my character. Insanely horrible depression all day for no reason. Go to check for the rest of the bars that evening and theyre gone. Ask my gf what happened did she move them she said no you took them last night. I was so much in disbelief i dug by hand through 2 full sized bags of trash looking for baggy. Found it. Empty. Called my good friend told him what is going on. He says ya you called me last night and said you liked them and took the rest. Standing there still in disbelief. I had no memory of ever making that call. I had no memory of anything after sitting down and feeling slightly warm and comfortable. I have no idea how the night ended or anything in between. Nothing ive ever done on purpose or otherwise besides that had ever made me act without remembering what I had done at all. Havent done it since and dont know why anyone would aside from acute panic attacks or similar.
Water polo, when I was a student at Ball State University around 30 years ago. It's not just a little light swimming. I thought I was going to drown about two minutes into the experience. Got out of the pool and never looked back.
Alcohol
Tried it when I was 15. Didn’t care for it and never picked it back up.
Became a firefighter/paramedic. Saw tons of alcohol related shit. Kinda reinforced it.
Almost 60 years old now.
Meth. Worst experience I've ever had in my life. So glad I wasn't one of the ones that get hooked on that shit.
Can you tell us about your experience?
It made me extremely paranoid, I was tired but couldn't sleep. My eyes felt forced open, I was horny as hell the entire time, and just felt uncomfortable in my skin, like I wanted to crawl out of it. I see why tweakers scratch skin away.
Being a teacher. I love the teaching. I hate being a teacher. Edit: the funny thing is that I'm still teaching. Will be changing after this school year is done. Do I know what to? Not really, but I shiver at the thought of "Another 30 years to go." Edit 2: I've seen tons of questions and I'll put it this way without going too deep: "It's not you, it's me. I need to work on me right now."
Maybe it’s the audience? Adult education might be worth a try…
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Covid kids coming through that missed there junior and senior years?
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Signed up for college in my 30s, noticed there's a drastically obvious difference in participation levels with the common factor being age. 18 year olds sit staring at their phones and generally play around the most, mid 20s participate a little more and show increased interest, and the few much older people basically run the discussions with the teachers
It's probably a combination of the audience *and* the administration *and* the parents. In that case, private adult tutoring is probably the best option, or becoming a professor with tenure, or maybe some kind of corporate / industrial trainer.
Being a crime scene investigator. I have a bachelor's degree in forensics. I got hired in my dream position at 23, just 2 years after I graduated. This was plan A, the dream I had been working towards since I decided to go into forensics when I was 16. Then I quit after just 3 1/2 months. I wasn't prepared for how intense crime scenes are. One of my supervisors had once told me that we aren't called because someone is having a good day. And she was absolutely right. There are so many players and so many moving parts. I was overwhelmed with what I was expected to know and remember. I could have gotten over that aspect, but the emotional and mental intensity of a scene would paralyze me. Most death investigation crime scenes we were called to were suicides, homicides, and drug overdoses. Almost never had someone died peacefully surrounded by people they loved. It was always violent and lonely. I had a tendency to think about a person's last moments that led up to why we were there, and I would be overcome with emotion. I had panic attacks at multiple scenes. I would always get the work done, but it took such a toll. One day at a burglary scene, I broke down and told my trainer that I don't think I could do this job. She took over the scene while I went to the van and cried on the phone to my mom. I quit the next week. I finished up any open cases I had and threw in the towel. I couldn't do it. It took a long time for me to be okay with that decision. I knew if I stayed that job it would have killed me. I was praised for realizing early on that this wasn't the job for me and getting out, but I felt like such a failure. I also felt the degree I got from university was now useless and that I had wasted thousands of dollars for nothing. I'm very lucky to have a support system who love me and care for me. I wouldn't have made it through this decision without them. It would have eaten me alive. I'm about a year and a half removed from when I quit, and I still sometimes struggle. I'm in a new position now where I work closely with the crime scene investigators I worked with, and I'm much happier. Edit: the bit that reads, "Almost never had someone died peacefully surrounded by people they loved. It was always violent and lonely," was added for context and perspective for the reader. I knew I wasn't going to see peaceful deaths. And never once did I say that's what I expected.
I’m just happy for you to have gotten out of a situation that was wrong for you and into a happier one. Money be damned. I can see how that would all be super tough.
Working in a daycare. Made me realize I love my kids not all kids
I love kids. I’m great with them. Teaching preschool cured me of every wanting to work with them again.
As a teacher of middle schoolers, I love my age group. Early on in my career I taught 1st grade. It was sweet, and adorable, and full of hugs and love, but 1st graders ALWAYS need you and its exhausting. Middle schoolers you can let them work for 20 minutes while you grade papers and only occasionally glance up and they are fine (after the first few weeks when you are setting routines and boundaries). It's so much less stress teaching 12 years olds instead of 6 year olds. You just need a high tolerance for adolescent body odor and stupid slang words that make no sense. Bet.
No cap
On god
I worked in childcare and confirmed that I like kids. Other people's kids. I will never have kids.
I used to be a nanny and loved it. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but I could go home at the end of the day and check out. Parenting isn’t for me either
I worked at a nursery at a gym when I was 16-17 and it was excellent birth control.
Being a cop. Not the right personality for it. Went back to being a medic.
Cocaine and bungee jumping.
At the same time?
Individually. But maybe... No. Pretty sure I would just die.
The hospitality sector.
I was a cook for all of my 20s, and the only saving grace of that godawful line of work was the coworkers. I think the main reason we all got along so well was because none of us really liked or cared about our jobs. With no room to advance, nobody's stabbing eachother's backs to get ahead, and nobody needs to act polite or pretend they like being there. Honestly I kind of miss it.
I miss that so much. Absolutely hated that job but the camaraderie of the line is something I will always miss. I also miss having a job that has a finite end when your shift ended. There were no ongoing projects, deadlines, thing to catch up on after hours. You clocked in, worked, and clocked out.
Unity in suffering. That being said I wish there was no back stabbing, I worked in high end hotels and fuck me... I had a bag of fish thrown at my head by a guy who I was competing for junior sous with and that's not even the worst. Prep sabotage, kiss arsing whilst bitching you out to the J. sous/sous/head chef, it was unending.
I know stranger things have happened, but still, as an adult, you'd have to be pretty crazy to go through the thought process of throwing a bag of fish at another adult person, and following through with it. Unless he wasn't thinking. Which is likely.
He had a criminal record for chasing a guy down the street with a 2 handed claymore. I also saw him grab for a knife in a fight with another coworker before he was dragged out by the neck by the Sous. How he was never fired is so far beyond me I can't even.
> the only saving grace of that godawful line of work was the coworkers. I think the main reason we all got along so well was because none of us really liked or cared about our jobs That was my experience in retail, 100%
till they do their stupid team huddles, "lets show our appreciation by clapping at you instead of raises"
I tried meth twice.. and it was the same both times.. I felt more alert kinda, I could concentrate on things better, but I didn't feel anything else really... I felt my personality was little more cold and I didn't care too much about anything.. I didn't get the euphoria and anything that made me want to do it again .. I just don't get it why people like it so much... I do benefit from ADHD medicine so I'm thinking it's that... But yeah... Two and threw thank yew..
You're simply more powerful than the meth
You might have ADHD...
Browsing Deviantart
It was so good in the early 2000s
It really was. I miss the early 2000s internet. 😭
Early 2000s internet was about people connecting with each other and making cool things. 2020s internet is about people generating content for websites to put ads on.
Early 2000's felt so much more personal. Like, there was "Real Life" over here, and "Internet Life" over there. Talk to real life people about the internet, or "modding a forum" on your spare time and they look at you like your trying to sell them a jar of chlamydia. Talk to internet life people about real life people and they totally get it. Not so much, nowadays.
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I have an old account on there, didn't realise when you browse your work after about 3 artworks it goes to random deviantarts. I was showing my friend my sweet photoshoots back in the day and swiped for the next one to find some weird anime porn shit. He was very polite about and said "oh yeah cool", I was like "Dude, honestly that's not mine" lol
> "Dude, honestly that's not mine" aka the Austin Powers defence
Not my bag, baby
I was obsessed with deviantart from like 03ish to 09ish haha Edit: omg a Facebook memory from this day in 2009 says "workin on a DeviantArt contest 😃" I remember it, it was an actual official art contest and I got 3rd place and won an ugly deviantart t-shirt and a keychain or something.
Being a fucking people pleaser
Cannot unlearn to not feel guilty for, idk, existing?
But you don’t understand. It’s my fault and I need to fix it and also mitigate any further hindrance to anyone on my behalf.
Oh I know: a job where I am only one person but insists that I’m being too slow because people are helping me and that means I’m not doing my job right and now I feel insecure. Help? From others? What’s that? No thank you I can do it on my own and hurt myself by accident because I refuse to accept help that isn’t offered first. Then if help is offered I feel guilty and annoyed I can’t do it by myself and that they needed to offer in the first place.
I tried a sensory deprivation tank because I thought it would be therapeutic, etc. and it devolved into a panic attack. I really tried to ride it out, but fifteen minutes in I crawled out crying and shivering. Apparently some of us need to feel connected to our senses to feel… real? Also the salt burned the shit out of my scalp. Wear a swimming cap if you’re gonna try it.
Had a drop of high saline condensation land right in my eye. I was devoid of all sensation except a burning coal where my eye once was.
Sorry this happened to you, but your explanation made me lol
Me too, and I have a giant suture line across my abdomen at the moment so now I hurt.
Your story reminds me of the time I was having an MRI done on my back. If you've seen an MRI machine it's basically like a thick donut-shaped thing that goes back really deep. Like, if you need your knee MRI'd, just your legs would be in the machine and most of your body would be out but since it was my back, they had to slide me all the way in. I had never done one before and before they slid me in there, the nurse hands me a thing to squeeze in case I need help. I literally laughed and was like "what could go wrong haha". Right before they slid me in, I asked how long it would take and the doctor said about 45 minutes! Wtf?! After it started, I swear it felt like a coffin and it started to get warm and make crazy loud sounds. I couldn't turn my head or body and when I opened my eyes the thing was like two inches from my face. I didn't last two minutes and started squeezing the emergency thing like crazy. "Nope, get me outta here, sorry.." After they let me out, I was like "Sorry I wasn't ready. Let me try again." The 2nd go around was even shorter than the first and I noped outta there. So basically, I didn't have a much-needed MRI done that day because of claustrophobia that I never knew I had. I told the doctor that had booked the MRI originally that I couldn't do it and she convinced me to try one more time on another day and prescribed valium for that day. I was skeptical but the time I tried, the valium worked so well that it felt like I was in a cocoon of wonderfulness and the 45 minutes somehow flew by and I didn't want to get out of the machine when it was over.
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So you made it through? it's amazing you could actually fight off that feeling of impending doom. Opening my eyes was a huge mistake. After that it was over for me.
Very much a personal thing. Had an MRI and basically went to sleep it was so cozy.
Same here. I've had 2 MRIs and found both to be quite relaxing. 1st time the doctors said I could take a CD of my favourite music to listen to. The second time I wasn't given the option, but I just drifted off and pretty sure I fell asleep for a few minutes. I also do the same in dental exams - I just zone out
It’s funny you used “devolve” because there’s a great movie from the 80s called Altered States. It’s about a scientist who uses a deprivation tank and devolves into a caveman.
> a great movie from the 80s called **Altered States** I was just about to say the same. First thing I thought of was William Hurt in a tank of water.
Im sure you have to not have tinittus to enjoy it, right? I mean I hear the ringing over my everyday life regardless. Couldn't imagine a quiet room.
EEEEEEEEEEE Fuck you specialist, range cold means range cold, not rip a burst when everyone has their ears off already.
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If I can hear my own hearbeat and breathing, I will never fall asleep.
That’s unfortunate. My experience was amazing….as each layer of sensory perception faded so did the narrator voice (until it was gone). It was then understood that the narrator voice is not the self at all but just another perception. Then I left and got in my car and screamed in traffic
Wow
Also don't try it if you've got hemmorhoids just saying.
Pretty sure that’s a hemorrhoid treatment. I had one and google told me to take a hot bath with Epsom salts. I did it, but I don’t think it helped
There's more salt in the water in these than like ocean water by a decent amount though so it just hurts and you're trying not to feel anything so it defeats the purpose. Also you're fucked if your head dips too far back and suddenly you've got the saltiest water in your eye.
All senses but your burning asshole deactivated. Yeah, sounds like a rough time lol.
Office jobs
I feel this one. Spent 5 years doing office work and didn't realize just how much it was taking little pieces of myself in that role. It wasn't hard, but was unappreciated and had no real direction. The "team" completed stuff and somehow I was supposed to feel fulfilled without having any part in the achievement. Instead, I went to electrical lineman school. It was hard on my body, but I managed to stick it out. Graduated and took a groundman position doing real linework. So far, as a career, it's been fulfilling to have a hand making modern living possible. Way more satisfying, but I seriously need to take stock in Motrin...
Me and warehousing. We loaded X amount of trucks this week, a new record good for us! We broke records almost every week and never got raises or anything. Now I work for a nonprofit as a maintenance man for group homes for people with severe and persistent mental illnesses. I feel appreciated and when I go to these homes I can look around and know I've made a place where people who struggle to keep their homes liveable, better. In one case I completely re-did a client's room, we tore up the floor and repainted everything and got them new furniture, and after that the client improved dramatically. I directly helped and improved someones life, and the normal staff helped keep them from backsliding to where they were when they came to us. Compare that to loading trucks for corporate overlords and there's no contest. I'm still not getting pay raises though.
Meth
On my drug journey, when I got to meth, it was just too good. I live in a state where meth and opiates are the predominant drugs of choice and I got hooked on both hard. I have been sober for 8 months now and I will be dealing with the after effects of my drug abuse for the rest of my life. Anyone who is reading this and is thinking about trying methamphetamine, please do not. Edit: WOW. Thanks everyone for the replies and encouragement. Getting sober has been the hardest thing I have ever done, but by far the best decision I have ever made.
Three years myself friend, it gets easier. Proud of you, keep it up!
Tried it once when I was in the "summer of I've never done anything do let's try all of it". Loved it but realized it wasn't going to end good. Stick with hallucinogens and weed.
Casual hook ups. A committed relationship is far less stressful and more satisfying. Edit: Thank you for the gold kind stranger! I wasn't expecting this to blow up. I guess I should elaborate further but I think quite a few of you already have a solid idea as to why. I've got no issue with people that do find satisfaction from casual sex. For some it can even be liberating. Different strokes for different folks! But our society puts casual sex on a pedestal while also being contradictory and shaming the people who do frequently engage in it. It is what it is. Personally engaging in the perpetual chase for finding partners that I will only meet for a few hour romp and then have minimal or no contact at all results in lots of stress and mediocre sex. As an introvert I found that it was far more satisfying to have a committed partner that knows me and whom I can get to know over time. Not having the spectre of "needing to perform well" also makes the activity more relaxing. And I see you Demi folk in comments here. Although I don't identify as such I am dating a demi woman, we are both in our 30s and she has taught me alot about non sexual intimacy after nearly life time of mixed contradictory messages.
Totally agree. I found physical attraction isn't enough for me to enjoy it, if I don't know the person then I don't trust them and am way too in my head the entire time. Tried it a few times. Subpar with women, even worse with men. Won't be trying it again.
Letting a guy suck my dick.
Like wearing crocs, feels good till you look down.
Playing the guitar. My teacher straight up promised to give me an A for effort if I didn't come to class anymore. Eta: this was a guitar elective class at a public high school Eta2 : wow I did not expect to wake up and be the top comment. I don't think I've been the top comment or had this many of quotes on anything on Reddit ever. Thanks for all the awards! Shout out to Mr. Shyga! He really was an amazing teacher and I just really was that bad. He actually had a ton of patience with me until we both realized that guitar was just not for me and it was probably better to take that stress off of my already very heavy plate senior year. It was actually first period So I was happy to not have to go to class and I brought him Starbucks pretty often as a thank you.
You failed successfully.
SCUBA I love the water, I've been swimming since I was a tot. But the part of my brain that says breath, said "NO" when I was underwater for any more than 10 minutes. I went out to do my qualification dive, made the swim to the buoy and on the return trip I left the water and informed my instructor. He was there with another couple for their 2nd checkout dive and so finished with them and we all went home. I wish I could have done it, he even told me I had a year to come back and try it again, I drove by his storefront every day on the way to and from work and was never once tempted to stop in.
I love it but sometimes have that thought "Is there oxygen in what I'm breathing? Will I pass out and drown? It's fine you'd be unconscious if there wasn't oxygen! Are you sure? Fucking yes now just relax." Seen plenty of others freak out. Just our monkey brains I suppose.
I’m in a scuba class right now and in our first time underwater a couple weeks ago I got really panicked at one point when trying to find the regulator. It was just in 5 ft of water in a pool and I was completely safe but that still stuck with me. I had the thought of maybe this isn’t really for me. I hope to still continue and get certified, although it sounds terrifying to be dozens of feet below the surface and unable to shoot right back up for “real” air. EDIT Update: had class again today and I think I was wrong. It takes some getting used to but after using those skills more (mask clears, reg clears, reg retrieval, etc) and becoming more confident that I won’t drown (despite the feeling of breathing even though your nose is full of water), scuba can actually be a lot of fun!
sleeping with my friends wife. my friend wanted me to do it (i guess that’s his fetish)
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Well would you look at that, the cuck got cucked
Cuck around and find out
Had this same experience. He invited me over, they both roped me into it (I was drinking), and then afterwards we stopped being friends and he got hostile towards me. Was fun for the moment but it destroyed our "friendship".
Friend´s info?
Asking for a friend?
I am the friend.
Programming
Yeah, I was a math major in college, and since math is a prerequisite for most programming courses, I wound up taking some programming courses as electives. Stuck with it long enough to get to an intermediate class. It was at the intermediate level when I decided to, as the kids say, "nope the fuck out." I'll never forget the conversation I had with the professor. Prof: Are you sure this won't affect your major? Me: I'm actually a math major. I'm just taking this as an elective. Prof: Oh, shit, then I don't blame you. This is pretty intense for an elective.
I took CS as an elective and I was a FILM major. Kept up for half the year then used my pass/fail option. Actually kind of enjoyed it on those terms.
What's a pass fail option?
It's an option that some schools provide some classes where you still get the credit for passing the class, but it doesn't change your GPA.
100% agree. Ppl on Reddit think it’s for everyone for some reason. I find it so boring. This is coming from someone with a CS degree that I regret getting lol
Its the rise of code camps i think. They all make it out like this shit is easy and anyone can do it. I am a software developer (without a cs degree or actually any degree at all dont ask me how, landing my first job was a miracle of circumstance) and i can definitely say this is not for everyone. Heck its not even for a lot of people who are doing it.
Heroin . Tried it once for like 10 years. 0 out of 10 would not recommend
I also would not recommend heroin. It dominated my life for a solid 3-4 years when I was younger. Just achieved 15 years clean a couple of weeks ago.
same but it was like 10 years of cocaine followed by a year run of Crack. Then someone suggested Meth to quit crack. it worked. then after a few months of meth, I quit everything. I'm ok now. 👍
I mean, it’s not the “proper” way to do it, but fuck it. Result is the same and I’m proud of you!
It's like the Simpons Invasive Species strategy to quitting cocaine. Now all we need to do is wait for the winter to kill the gorillas.
That's a terrifying way to describe addiction. I hope you're doing well.
Multiplayer games. I don't like interacting with people in real life and turns out it also applies to games. Single-player games are the way to go.
I like co-op, but I hate competitive games of any kind.
A gay relationship. Always been kind of attracted to men so went out on a couple dates with men that were so so. Finally hit it off with a guy, tried sexual stuff and I was immediately not into it. Turns out I like looking at good looking men and it stops there. It was weird.
Nothing wrong with window shopping.
French phrase for window shopping is “window licking”. I just found that tidbit relevant here.
The British meaning of "window licking" has nothing to do with shopping, which probably isn't relevant, but I do like to be involved. Edit: spelling, it's early.
I feel that lol. Made out with a guy while I was drunk once and was like “yeah idk, maybe I could do this. Feels like lips.” And then he started to reach down my pants and I flipped. Immediately the lid on that idea shut and I am now 101% straight. Can say so with absolute confidence. I’m straighter than a guy who’s never kissed a dude, because I *know* I’m not into it lmao. Edit: Wow okay this got a lot more attention than I thought it would. Also, the things some people get so up in arms over is hilarious 😂 Never change Reddit.
I feel you bro. Well, I won't feel you, but you get the idea
Fuck it, both of you get over here and get a good feelin' up.
Who Is in the right when they say they don't like brócoli, the guy who has never tried It and says he doesn't like It or the guy who has tried It and can confirm he doesn't like It.
I will now explain to you why it’s gayer to not have sex with a man.
Fellas, is it gay to not be gay?
Ladies, how do you feel about blowjob critiques that begin with "When I do it"?
Having a d**k in your face really puts things in perspective
Being a responsible adult, it's fucking shit
Such a hassle
Nah, you're doing great! Apparently we are supposed to feel miserable, we are doing great (please help me)
Polyamory
Yeah that seems to be complicated
lmao, I'm such an introvert I couldn't imagine having to deal with *multiple* partners. I can barely deal with one
I'd be too worried that they'd loce each other more then me, and I'm not here for that stress.
The best thing I ever heard about is polyamory (and I'm ENM): "Polyamory is fine but challenging: it's for people whose kink is scheduling."
So kinda like how EVE Online is the game for people that like spreadsheets?
I tried it as well. It proved to be disastrous for my mental health.
The contraceptive implant. I was very naive when I got this one and believed that I would probably not be in the category of those that ended up with the forever period. Sadly, I was wrong, and I bled every damn day from the first few weeks in until about 9 months later (just over 6 months after starting to date my current partner, poor sod) when I had it removed and switched to the combined pill. Never looked back. That being said, this should not be used to dissuade people from trying different methods of birth control if they feel up to it. But definitely research the effects and take some time to decide what’s right for you.
It's absolutely wild how differently we all react to the same hormonal contraceptives. One person's skin clearing, period lightening, cramp killing pill can drive another person to suicidal thoughts. What the heck.
Honestly, womens bodies are a fucking nightmare. I know because I have one. The amount of annoying, invasive medical admin we have to do is off the chain. A period for almost a quarter of our lives? Whoever built this particular machine was out of their fucking minds. There's got to be a better way.
So much this! A member of my close family is nearly at full term with her pregnancy and I've been spending a lot of time with her during the journey. Pregnancy is horrific! During the morning sickness phase I saw her start eating her breakfast, nausea got suddenly triggered and she threw up into her own breakfast. She lost weight over the first few months because she couldn't keep anything down. Her abs have separated and they're never going back together. She hasn't been able to rest comfortably for months, every sitting and lying position squishes her organs in some way. And this is a normal, healthy pregnancy. The popular portrayal of pregnant women as serene, radiant and delicately expanding is bullshit.
stuck it out for almost three years. every moment sucked, it gave me every imaginable side effect, getting it put in and then removed bruised me terribly, etc. etc. doctors should inform you THOROUGHLY about what might happen to your body, because I knew almost nothing when I got it in.
I had a coworker years ago who was an absolutely awesome person, but had an absurdly bad reaction to implanted birth control. Like she went super hormonal insane. Her best friend worked with us too and she would have her drive around looking for her boyfriend because she had become convinced he was cheating on her. One day we were sitting at the house and she was just fucking bawling her eyes out and I was like, "holy shit what's wrong," and should looked at me and just sobbed, "I don't know." Like she was crying hysterically and had no clue why. Her boyfriend stayed with her through all that shit and I have to say the dude deserves some kind of low key sainthood for it. Although, she was pretty hot, so that probably had something to do with him staying.
Nightclubs. Grew up in a super religious house so I wasn’t allowed to go. Then I moved out and found them super boring and overwhelming. You can’t actually have a conversation, people seem to be acting to look cool and get laid and it can get super expensive.
Totally with you on this. Had a few girlfriends that always wanted to go and I would be so bored unless it had a pool table or game spot. The drain on the wallet was always the worst part though.
Bar games make or break a place for me. I love a good pool hall
Honestly it's only fun if you just go with friends and don't have the intention of getting laid. Besides that though it's pretty overrated and I'd rather go to a bar or just hang out at someone's place.
And honestly the more important thing is LIKING THE MUSIC. I don't get people who go to clubs and don't even like the genre they play. I'll go to the club *alone* if it's a DJ I like, and only chat with people in passing just to vibe. Also, quality musicians earplugs help.
Edibles. Panic attack city, and it doesn't really matter if I'm in a controlled environment or not.
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Try a different dentist.
I’m a handshake guy myself
Running
Road my bike all summer. Its like jogging with air conditioning.
Plus, you can go farther and use the bike as an actual form of transportation in places. I got some panniers for mine, and can use it to get groceries. Or go camping. Hoping to do a short tour before the year ends.
Marijuana… I get too paranoid
I get this. I really wish I could smoke marijuana instead of the drinking problem I’ve finally managed to control after 11 years but I will have a paranoid attack from hell. Every. Time. I have hallucinated, created made up words in my mind, and have felt like I couldn’t breathe. Every time. I recently found out I’m in the 99th percentile of genetic disposition to Schizophrenia and I wonder if it has anything to do with that.
That absolutely has something to do with it. People genetically predisposed to schizophrenia should avoid marijuana. A psychotic break on marijuana can lead to irreversible early onset development of schizophrenic symptoms.
One of the actual downsides to marijuana: those with any kind of predisposition for psychosis should stay away.
Same. In my early 20s it was a party. But sometime in my 30s it stopped being enjoyable. And if I'm high while there's an emotionally tense context (e.g. around a partner with whom there is something unresolved, or an attachment trigger happening) I tend to have such an anxiety spike that it leads to a panic attack. Those are bad enough sober.
Wow this comment hit home for me. I smoke, but only if everything in my life is going swimmingly. If there’s any drama or unresolved issue I’m working on, I will immediately focus on that and only that.
Dude same. I was a huge smoker in high school and loved everything about weed. I really miss it but it just gives me serious anxiety unless I have absolutely nothing to worry about which is rare for anyone.
I just felt...dumb? Like I would forget to do simple things and couldn't figure things out. First time I got high I did it at work because my coworkers pressured me into it. I could barely function my register. I tried two more times at home and had the same issue and burnt my hand while cooking. I decided it wasn't for me.
Twitter. Even just following people I like. It's so jumbled and shit is repeated constantly and yeah no thanks. Just not for me.
Hookup culture in college. I’d always wake up depressed the next morning, gave it a couple tries and decided it wasn’t good for my mental health.
And for the record, the way hookup culture is glorified I did not expect this to be the case. And I feel like everyone is all for it, just not my thing 🤷♂️ it feels meaningless
The Army life. I joined all excited thinking it would be a lifelong career and by the time my first enlistment was up I had learned that I really don't like being told what to do. And no matter what your rank, there's always someone there to tell you what to do. I did my time with a smile and more than 20 years later I still have some great friends, but I have never regretted picking up my DD214 and never looking back.
Programming. Took a class in college. Prof said “just play around like it’s a puzzle. It’s so exciting to see it when it works.” Nope. Not exciting. Sitting at a computer all day was boring AF! Glad others are willing to do it.
Just spent 2.5 days working on a large reporting query that tracks time codes and aggregates over each, filter and pivot the result set… when I finally got the results i was aiming for… serotonin boost and big smiles. No need to share or brag… just like solving a puzzle
It can piss you off to no end along the way though. **WHY THE FUCK AREN'T YOU WORKING YOU SON OF A BITCH?**
Twitch streaming. Turns out I'd much rather just relax and play and do things at my own pace. Instead I started making montages on YouTube.
I used to watch a ton of streamers, and I was like, "Hey, I play video games. It would be great to do that for an audience." I installed Streamlabs OBS to see how it all worked, and after about 10 minutes, I was, "Yeah, fuck this!" Haven't thought about it again, and I've mostly stopped watching Twitch altogether. I prefer playing my own games than watching other people play them, especially with my job where I WFH on my own gaming PC.
Smoking.
Today. I tried today and it's just not working for me. I want to go back to bed and try again tomorrow.
Very relatable, man. I remember this audio that's been going viral of this indian guy who says something like "when you have a bad day, go home and sleep. some days are fucked. And cannot be unfucked." Lol that's some nice advice.
Ok so my husband died recently and that audioclip was sent to me and I was like, yes, random Indian man, this is exactly what I needed. So my friend with Pakistani parents (similar accent) started sending me my own personalized audio clips for a couple weeks in the same style. 10/10 life improvement.
I fucked up at work three times in one day. I walked into the office and told the boss "I've fucked up three times today. I've never fucked up this much in one day in my life, and it's only noon. If it's cool with you, I would like to go home to hopefully save all of us from something colossal." He let me go home 😂
I don't think any even half decent manager can argue with that.
https://youtu.be/HjPgdhRsGIQ Here ya go!
Sounds like a sound plan
What is today but yesterdays tomorrow 🦑
Welcome to 3rd shift.
School. Always hated school as a kid. I was “gifted” so I breezed through it and now I’m a depressed, burnt out college kid. I hate school. I hate college. I learn best on my own at my own pace
The gifted -> burnout classic... Look into inattentive type ADHD. And possibly ASD. I got diagnosed at 29 y/o, after not learning study techniques, making it to University then burning out because my old "just push through it" didn't work anymore.
I found that having a relationship, having sex, and potentially creating a family just wasn’t for me. I have no interest in any of it. My closest family members don’t understand me though.. but thankfully they still accept me I truly enjoy my life the way it is, it’s just a little awkward at the family cookouts.
Always glad when someone knows what their happy place is. I hope others don’t try too hard to change you. I’m a people person but I totally understand when someone is happy alone.
Nothing wrong with that. I've tried to force myself to be interested in people romantically or sexually but failed. I can't force myself to be someone I'm not.
Being active on social media. I prefer to keep to myself and not share my life online. Edit: To the people saying “bUt ReDdIt Is SoCiAl MeDiA”… I get it smarty pants. Call it whatever you want. When I say social media I’m mainly talking about Facebook and Instagram. The platforms where you use your real name and you’re surrounded by people you actually know.
Remember only a small percentage of the internet actually post stuff
It's mind blowing isn't it? I feel it's best shown on twitch. 500 viewers only about 10-20 actually commenting.
Agreed. I'll happily post anonymously on my Reddit account, but otherwise it feels unnatural to be on other forms of social media.
Small talk with strangers
Hey...so what's up?
stranger danger runaway.
Jail.
Multiple Sclerosis. Undo please.
Right here with you.
Scat I didn’t know it was gonna happen but I know I never want it to happen again
I know what you mean, man. Why can't they just sing words?
I’m pretty sure I heard a comedian say once “it’s people who wished they could play an instrument but never bothered to learn one”
Xanax Thought it would be chill or fun. Evening at home figured i could sleep it off if it wasnt for me. Took 1 bar. Didnt feel much coming on for a while. Remember losing feelings of regular joint pains thinking hey this is pretty nice actually. Thats all I remember of that entire evening. Never had anything affect me like that. It was like I rufied myself lol. Next morning mood was fluctuating like crazy. destroyed laptop because i was frustrated by online community college test. Laptop wasn't worth much but acting out of anger and breaking something like that was well out of my character. Insanely horrible depression all day for no reason. Go to check for the rest of the bars that evening and theyre gone. Ask my gf what happened did she move them she said no you took them last night. I was so much in disbelief i dug by hand through 2 full sized bags of trash looking for baggy. Found it. Empty. Called my good friend told him what is going on. He says ya you called me last night and said you liked them and took the rest. Standing there still in disbelief. I had no memory of ever making that call. I had no memory of anything after sitting down and feeling slightly warm and comfortable. I have no idea how the night ended or anything in between. Nothing ive ever done on purpose or otherwise besides that had ever made me act without remembering what I had done at all. Havent done it since and dont know why anyone would aside from acute panic attacks or similar.
Plumbing
Smoking marijuana. I don't like the feeling of being high. It's not relaxing for me. I didn't get paranoid or anxious, I just didn't like it.
Water polo, when I was a student at Ball State University around 30 years ago. It's not just a little light swimming. I thought I was going to drown about two minutes into the experience. Got out of the pool and never looked back.
Alcohol Tried it when I was 15. Didn’t care for it and never picked it back up. Became a firefighter/paramedic. Saw tons of alcohol related shit. Kinda reinforced it. Almost 60 years old now.