Life Stories and Everyday Drama - page 32

This is not a joke. I'm trying to be as serious as I can.

I’ve had a weird relationship with feet for a long time, but it wasn’t until 2018 until I started feeling like it became an issue.

I always had a sense of control with it, but now it just feels like an annoying bad habit.

In more and more places I go to, it seems like dangling shoes had become more common, distracting me and making me curious. In 2020, I discovered that I could heal if I actively searched for that kind of stuff, but when it surprised me, it made me nervous. Around 2025, my internet access had been severely limited, and now I can barely search for anything. I can’t look at these images in a comfortable place while at the same time not getting yelled at by my mom for using my phone. She will even notice when it disappears. Even worse, around April I found a new artist I loved, and I searched deep and got startled with a drawing of a character dangling their flat shoe. I also got into another piece of media that suddenly had the character heelpopping which took me off guard especially since I thought it wasn't the kind of thing to do that.

It’s harming me mentally and I can’t search for it willingly to try and relieve myself or draw/commission someone to help me with it. What do I do? What would you do? Also, sorry if this vent seems a bit weird, but I had no other way of letting it out without obvious ridicule.

I met a guy on a dating app, and we've since become boyfriends. He's 20, and I'm 22. We've been physically intimate to a degree, including kissing, and he wants to have sex. I'm unsure whether I should just go with the flow or think rationally before taking such a step. Since I'm older, I feel a sense of responsibility to ensure he is physically and mentally ready

trigger warning for attempted stabbing, suicidal ideation, and mental illnesses I.E schizophrenia and psychosis.

I feel kinda awkward using this, but i need to get this off my chest.

for some backstory, my mother has diagnosed schizophrenia and psychosis, and she also never stays on her meds. which led to two weeks ago, where she had a psychotic episode. She was going on about killing herself and leaving so she could, I was trying to stop her from doing so because she's my fucking mother and I don't want her to die. I guess she must've stared hallucinating because she eventually stormed into the kitchen and grabbed one of the sharp kitchen knives, holding it above her head with the point in line with me where my shoulder meets my neck. She looked at me, and her eyes were just cold and far away and swung the knife. I was able to grab her arm before it could actually hurt me. that seemed to snap her out of wherever she was because she then turned the knife on herself to try and stab her instead. I had to wrestle the knife out of her hand and lock all of the knives and scissors in our China cabinet while she was distracted. Not to mention how my dad wasn't even home and my mom just barged into our house. I'm just lucky no one got hurt and that my little sister (the middle child) was with her friend and my youngest sister was still at school. But at the same time, because she's schizophrenic, my family keeps telling me I shouldn't be upset because she didn't do it on purpose, they keep downplaying it and getting mad at me whenever I bring it up. i just don't know what to do, I keep seeing the look in her eyes whenever I close my eyes and my brain keeps playing it over and over. I've gotten like four hours of sleep total during the past four days. I feel so guilty for being scared and upset about this because I know it's not her, it's her mental illnesses. and I have diagnosed mental illnesses too so I get that. But I'm being forced to pretend like everything's normal, I still see her on saturdays and tuesdays and I still go to work. it's gotten to the point I have to go to the bathroom at work just to cry. and it's stupid because she's done worse to me so I don't know why this time it's affecting me so much. it's not like being forced to pretend it's normal is new either. I've been doing this since I was five, so why is this time so much harder? Why can't I just push it down like I normally do? Why is this the one that seems to affect me so much when she's done much worse to me before? I just wish it would all stop.

I've always been a bit of a daydreamer growing up. During class, I would often zone out, thinking about simple things. However, over time, my daydreams evolved into something deeper. When I was about 12, I started daydreaming about traumatic events happening to me. It began slowly, occurring only once or twice a month, then progressed to weekly and eventually daily. Now, I find myself thinking about these scenarios more than I do about everyday tasks. This cycle has never stopped or faded. I'm currently 16, and I still daydream about these things daily. It feels like an escape from reality—issues that distract me from real-life problems. Many of these daydreams revolve around situations that could happen but are extremely unlikely. I've even started to believe that some of these dreams might actually come true, but I don't fear them, I feel like if they happened I would be able to stay calm. I've never had any trauma but I do have anxiety and depresion and I think I have adhd but my parents don't belive me and wont let me go through a diagnosis. Is this normal? if not can you tell me what I should do?

hi. im a highschooler (17F) who's going into her senior year in august.

i feel like my friends aren't really my friends. it's as if i keep trying over and over to be a good friend, to be there for them, but they never care to do the same. i'm alone. i could walk into a room full of 100 people at my school and still feel completely alone. there is nobody who notices me the moment i walk in, nobody who makes me feel seen. i feel like a ghost.

it's the worst feeling i've ever experienced. sometimes i consider doing something awful to myself. objectively, i have a good life. i'm fortunate enough to have a roof over my head, and i'm on the track to being accepted to one of the best art schools in the world. but i'm tired. i'm so, so tired.

is there anything i can do to stop this loneliness? thanks for reading.

Yeah, the title kind of gives my story away but i wouldn’t know how to explain this in any other way than that. I’m male, 16 and currently go to college (which is normal where I’m from, don’t worry)

I haven’t had these feeling before I started college, I never liked another guy in any other way than just friends but ever since I’ve been passing by this art school besides my own school, I can’t help but feel a little weird in my stomach. You know that feeling when you see someone you like? It’s just that.

Everytime I look at these guys, I feel weird. I really feel weird. I’ve never found another man physically attractive in real life to a point where I’d just want to kiss him or get with him. It’s different online though.

I know it’s kind of wrong but I get off from looking at how other guys.. you know. It makes me feel a little disgusting and it’s not normal for guys to look at guys doing it. Most friends I know always talk about how they look at women while I’m just stuck here, looking at fucking men. Does that make me gay?

Or do my feelings for the emo guys from the other school make me gay? I need help. A part of me just want to like girls because everyone else does. I just want to feel like this is all normal and that I’m just straight

I don't remember a time when I liked myself. I guess to be more clear I don't remember a time when I didn't hate myself. I'm 34 now and ever since can remember I've hated being me.

Waking up in the morning is a constant disappointment because it means I didn't stop breathing. Even on the happiest of days I'm still always filled with dread, doubt, anxiety and self loathing. I understand what created this mindset, but unfortunately it's not something I can just pack up and hide in a dark corner of the attic.

I'm sorry, and I don't mean to throw a pity party but I'm just wondering if the day will ever come that I wake up and I'm happy that I'm still breathing?

I hate it when people tell me what a great person I am. I truly do because it's not true. I'm not a bad person per say but I'm not the great person they think I am.

My who always tells me how lucky she is and how I'm the best husband she could ask for. If only she knew that I had slight resentment towards her for using sex as a tool to keep me in the relationship until she felt we were close enough and in love enough that sex was no longer a want I would have. If only she knew that I have strong romantic feelings for one of my best friends, even while being fully dedicated to her as a husband.

My close friend who tells me how lucky she is to have me as a friend, even giving me a card for my birthday saying how I have given her back a feeling of hope in the world. If only she knew that I have strong romantic feelings for her, even though I'm in a dedicated marriage. If only she knew how often I think about her even though I shouldn't.

My other friends who tell me that I have such a kind and loving spirit. if only they knew how much I hated most people, to the point that I wish harm on them. if only they knew how I still haven't forgiven them for turning their backs on me so many years ago. If only they knew that sometimes I still think about it and wish I could hurt them back.

My best bud who tells me he couldn't imagine not having me in his life. If only he knew when allowed his ex (and mutal friend) to rent a room from me that I knew it would hurt him but didn't care because I still held a grudge against him for disappearing on me after high school. If only he knew that I have given up hope on helping him find love and peace because I don't think he'll ever let himself be happy.

My mom who tells me I was the best decision she ever made. If only she knew that don't trust her in any way. if only she knew that I don't have many kind words to say about her to others. If only she knew that was always happiest when she wasn't around.

If only they all knew. Then maybe they would get upset with me when I give a honest response to their compliments. I always reply, "No I'm not a great husband."

"No, you can do better then me."

"No, I'm not as good as you think."

"I give you new hope for the world? That's really sad."

"Your honesty just settling for less and can do better "

My responses are honest, sincere and mean them whole heartedly but they just think it's my lack of self confidence. Maybe it is but it's also just me knowing who I am.

If only then knew every time they tell me how great I am that I actually wanna cry then find a deep hole somewhere and die so I don't have to worry about hurting them.

Lately I’ve been feeling like I have been falling behind in life compared to other teens. I often see my peers hanging out with friends or significant others on the weekend, whilst I bed rot and constantly scroll through my social media. I feel a deep sense of hatred and disgust towards myself because I’m not pretty enough, skinny enough or smart enough. I also struggle with my body image because I feel uncomfortable inside my own body and sometimes feel like I want to rip my skin off. I feel like I’m watching my youth fly by me day by day and I don’t know how to stop it.

I am a terrible husband, or at least that's how I feel. fir the record, I am not abusive physically or mentally, and I am not the type to cheat on my wife. She is a great wife, and she means the world to me. She supports my crazy ideas and vice versa.

But the reason I feel like a terrible husband is because while I love my wife dearly, I have very similar feelings for a close friend. One of my best friends, actually. We met not too long after I started dating my wife neatly 10 years ago. From the day I first saw her I was blown away by how beautiful she was.

We were co-workers and so we spent a lot if time together and so we became close friends. Even after the company closed, we remained close friends. Now at no point in time have I ever made a pass at her or done anything dishonest with her. But over the years I have slowly developed romantic feelings for her. I never meant to and never thought I could developed those feelings for another woman while feeling the same way about my wife.

The whole idea seems like something out of a movie and not something that could happen in reality. The feelings are selfish and constantly eat away at me. When I'm around her I wanna open up and confess how I feel and take the plunge like an idiot. But when we part and I get home to my wife I am reminded of my feelings for her and become overwhelmed with this dreadful feeling of how unfair I'm being to her.

The whole thing is beyond selfish and unfair to both of them. I would never destroy the life me and my wife have created and the bond we share because of someone else. But I also would never destroy my friendship with my friend because I'm having feelings I shouldn't, especially when she has no idea.

I feel so awful and I honestly hate myself for feeling the way I do. To make matters worse I have no one in my life I can talk to about it. Sometimes I go to bed a night hoping I don't wake up so I don't have to feel this way anymore. What kind of a man let's this happen? I never thought something like this was possible.

I'm so lost in all this and don't know what to do. I cant turn left and I can't turn right. Words can't begin to describe how sorry I am to both of them. Both can do better than me and deserve better than me.

I can't keep up with this never-ending cycle of pandemonium at work. At 37, you'd think I'd have some semblance of balance between my professional life and personal sanity, but nope, not even close. It's like being caught in a whirlwind of task assignments constantly flying at me — deadlines, meetings, KPIs... you name it. It's like trying to juggle flaming swords while riding a unicycle; one misstep and everything burns. My brain is fried to the point where caffeine doesn't even make a dent anymore; feels like I might as well be IV-dripping espresso straight into my veins. ☕️

I've tried talking to my boss about this chaos, but their response is always the same spiel about how "we need to show hustle" and "it's just the nature of the beast in this industry." Give me a break. 🙄 Is it really necessary for every report to be ASAP? And why do we even need 47 meetings a week when half of them could be emails? It feels like I'm on this soul-sucking treadmill, and not in the hip, let's-get-fit kind of way. More like the absolutely pointless, "why-am-I-even-here" sense. I've worked in marketing for a long time now, long enough to know that while some stress is inevitable, this — this is beyond ridiculous. You ever experience those moments where you wonder just how far you can stretch yourself before you snap? I'm there, tiptoeing on the edge.

Last week, I almost lost it during a client pitch. The VP kept interrupting with her "constructive criticism," because apparently, needing to interject every five seconds with irrelevant noise is the highlight of her day. 😤 It’s like: "No, Karen, I'm sorry that you think adding a flashing neon sign with glitter would grab the consumer's attention more effectively, but we're not in Las Vegas, and things called 'design principles' exist." It's the never-ending condescension and micromanagement that make me question why I’m still here. I almost told her where she could shove her feedback, but instead, just swallowed my pride; because, of course, professionalism, yada yada. But what's the point of professionalism if it feels more like perpetuating a mask to hide the mounting fatigue? Sometimes I wonder if they see us as humans or just cogs in their money-making machine?

I debated making a change, like jumping ship entirely for something less demanding. But then, what if the next gig is just another version of this absurd rat race with a new set of faces? 🌪️ The imposter syndrome kicks in, and I'm left second-guessing every decision — is it me, or is this the norm now? Life wasn't supposed to be this monotonous grind. How can I break free from this overwhelming chaos and reclaim a life that doesn't require a mental triage every single day? If there's a silver lining, I haven't found it yet; and hey, if you've got any tips, I'm all ears. But if not, and you're in the same boat, know that you're not alone — we're screwed together in this never-ending abyss of work life. Offering virtual hugs to anyone feeling the same. 🤗

this story is based around my sister and what she does/is doing now she’s on her period(she’s almost eighteen btw and im younger). So last night I had went into the bathroom to use the bathroom while she was taking a shower and she just asked me a simple request of getting her chocolate milk and Dr Pepper and her cheesecake and since I’m a good sister I do, then she sees that and says “oh hey, im on my period so im prob gonna be asking for a lot” and I say okay because she usually always asks me for small things like getting her a drink and im used to that even though it is frustrating. But tonight I finally had enough because she has been forcing me to do so much for her like making her food even though she’s already in the kitchen and getting her money and getting her a drink and I feel like she’s just using that to her advantage. And I even turned the sound off of our microwave to avoid waking up our mom and as soon as I go to sit in the living room she turns it back on to try and get me to go over there and start making her food again. And not to mention she’s trying to gaslight(idk the proper word for it) me into making her food “properly” even though im doing it how she normally does it. And she said “okay but you usually come to me so I can stir my food and then you put it in for another minute” and when I dump it out and make her a new batch of noodles she starts to complain that they “weren’t” cooked even though they were, they were just soggy because of the water. And she could not comprehend that fact. And she’s been using the excuse that she was tired and that it’s only fair because she’s working and im not(im not even old enough to get a good job yet with good hours like her job) and she has been making me do all of the tougher chores like the kitchen and bathroom(bc she has a “weak” stomach) and all she does is just sweep the floors and dust and she usually bounces out halfway done sweep and makes me do the rest along with vacuuming and mopping most of the time. And she says it’s only fair because she buys me food(which is only when our parents force her to which is barely) and like im thinking “yo wtf you don’t have to, you’re forcing yourself to” and I don’t think she gets the fact that i have enough money to buy my own food either. Because I can pay her or my mom to buy me food and they will just as long as I pay them for it. And a while ago she asked if I had money to buy me food and I said no and a little bit after that my dad gave me some money as allowance and when she found out she was all like “okay so then you were lying to me about having no money just for free food?” And I tried to explain to her that it was after that and she didn’t even believe me and made a big deal about it. And the funniest thing about all of this is the fact that she expects us to be all buddy-buddy after this

Im 15, female I feel like I can’t turn to anyone right now even to family and friends, but I can’t even talk to anyone anyways because my mom had taken away my phone for a month because of my grades and I’m not sure when I’ll get it back. And my family can’t even handle their own feelings and yell too much so I don’t know or wanna know how they would handle mine, I’m uploading this on a computer by the way. I don’t have a problem with my phone getting taken away but she thinks I’m too distracted with it even though school ended a month ago, so when I went on call with one of my friends on a zoom meeting because I was getting lonely and I didn’t have anything else to do. She came in my room and I tried to turn off my computer because I knew she would get angry and she did. And she was also mad at the fact that I was trying to hide it from her, so she just started yelling at me how I never tell anything to her but I don’t like to because she assumes the worse about me when I explain. She asked if I was hungry after she yelled at me but I said no because why would I wanna eat around her right after that so she walked out of my room leaving my door open and started yelling again that she’s gonna take away my door and that I can choose not to eat then become anorexic and she made sure I heard too then she was just like “but Im right though” like that would give her an excuse to say that. I honestly don’t know why she even said that, it’s not even about the devices anymore. I didn’t know how to react when she said that I felt so numb at the moment. This was too difficult for me to tell anyone I know and her words hurt me so bad for the past few days and even now she did that right before my birthday in June. I didn’t really want to do anything for my birthday the next day. And I feel like all of that is too normalized in my family and maybe it’s because of generational trauma idk anymore because my mom acted normal towards me the next day. My relationship with my mom wasn’t always like that though I was a mommy’s girl because my dad is present in my life, and after my mom said all of that she was like “what happened to my little sunshine” but I don’t know what happened either. This summer break made me realize that school is an escape from my house and I think all of done this summer was lay in my bed and hope no one came to bother me in my room. Im pretty scared for the future especially the future generation because as I keep getting older expectations get higher, I know it may be apart of life but maybe Im not fit for existing here. I do hope I can get through it though because things can change in the future. This was hard for me to share even anonymously please be kind to me.

To my stalkers.They will never see me speak and talk to me in person until they die. They will never meet me in person. They will never know how great I am in person and how funny I am and all those wonderful things. Lol.

life is like my cousin, I love it