i don't like myself

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RadiantSteelBlueShadowDecanterInBuenosAiresWithSympathy
Published on
Wednesday, 25 March 2026
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The story

im 17 and a guy and honestly i dont like myself at all. not in the fake sad way people post for attention either, i mean i legit look at myself and feel pissed off. every morning before school i already feel annoyed cause i know its gonna be the same stupid day again. i wake up tired, stare at my face in the mirror, and it just starts there. my hair never sits right, my skin looks like crap, my eyes always look dead, and even when i try to fix it i still look like some awkward dumbass who got dressed in the dark. then i go to school and it gets worse cause i feel weird around everybody. dudes in my class joke around like its easy, they know how to talk, how to be loud, how to not care. i stand there thinking too much about where to put my hands like some idiot. teachers talk to me like im either lazy or broken, maybe both. i got this math teacher who always says “you need to apply yourself” and i swear i wanna tell him to shut up cause maybe i would if i didnt feel like garbage every second. last week he asked me to solve something on the board and i just froze. like full blank brain. people laughed, not even loud, that worse quiet laugh where they look at each other. i went back to my seat feeling hot in the face and trying not to look like i cared, but i did care, a lot. thats the thing. everything gets stuck in my head for hours. one dumb moment and i keep replaying it all day like my brain is trying to beat the crap out of me. you ever hate yourself so much that even normal stuff feels personal. like somebody bump into you in the hall and suddenly you feel like yeah of course, even the hallway knows im a loser.

school is hell mostly because i cant stop comparing myself to everybody and i always lose. there this one dude in my grade, not even trying hard, gets good marks, girls talk to him, teachers like him, and im sitting there with a half dead pen and a backpack full of crumpled papers smelling like old lunch. i tried to do better this year, i really did. bought a notebook, made a schedule, told myself “stop being a useless piece of crap and fix it.” lasted maybe 4 days. then i missed one homework, then two, then i stopped opening the school app cause i didnt wanna see more missing work. my mom keeps asking why im “so moody” and i say im just tired, but really i dont even know how to explain this without sounding pathetic. its like i got no solid version of myself. at school im too quiet so people think im stuck up or weird. at home im angry for no reason and slam doors then feel like trash after. one time in english class we had to read our writing out loud and mine was about some random movie cause i didnt wanna say anything real. this girl behind me whispered “he always sounds like hes about to cry” and bro, that messed me up way more then it should of. i laughed like i didnt hear it, but i heard every damn word. after class i went to the bathroom and just stood in a stall doing nothing cause i knew if i looked at my face id wanna punch the mirror. i dont even have some huge tragic backstory, thats what makes me feel more stupid. nobody beat me up, nobody ruined my whole life, im just me and i cant stand me. my voice sounds annoying, my body feels wrong, my thoughts are ugly, and im sick of pretending im gonna magically become one of those chill people who just “gain confidence.” how. seriously how? people say be yourself like thats some good advice, but what if yourself is the exact problem 😒

and yeah i know some people got it worse, i know that already, so dont start with that crap. knowing other people suffer dont suddenly make me like my own face or fix the knot in my chest every time i walk into class. i hate how insecure i am. i hate how i can remember one embarassing thing from 3 years ago more clearly then anything useful for a test. i hate that i want people to like me while also wanting everybody to leave me the hell alone. my friends, if i can even call them that, make jokes and i laugh along, but half the time i go home wondering if they actually think im annoying. probably. i talk too little until i talk too much, then i replay that too. a few days ago at lunch i dropped my drink all over the floor, and it wasnt even some giant scene, but i felt my stomach drop like i wanted to disappear. i mumbled sorry to the lunch lady and she was nice about it, which somehow made it worse. when people are nice to me i dont feel better, i feel exposed, like they can tell im barely holding my crap together. i keep thinking maybe if i got better grades, or looked better, or was funnier, or stronger, or less weird, then maybe i wouldnt hate myself this much. but then i also think maybe im just built wrong from the start. thats the ugly truth. i dont like being me. not my head, not my habits, not the way i fold under pressure, not the way i act tough and then go home and overthink every stupid thing. and the worst part is i still gotta wake up tomorrow and drag this same self back to school again like im forced to carry around a person i cant stand. so yeah, thats it. i don't like myself. does anybody else feel that nasty kind of hate where you cant even escape it cause its literally your own damn head every single day.

School Stories


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MesmerizingOliveLightningRollerInNamurWithAnxiety 20d ago

Honestly man, it sucks feeling like you're stuck in a loop of self-doubt and frustration; it's like trying to swim in quicksand 🤷‍♂️ but seriously, remember that high school is just a blip in your life and things can turn around fast! give yourself some grace and time :)

ThrillingRubyMetalSaladSpinnerInHongKongWithLoneliness 20d ago

Dude, I get it... feeling like you're stumbling through life while everyone else has their act together is rough. But remember, nobody's perfect no matter how they look from the outside! 💯 Just focus on small wins and keep pushing, even when it feels pointless. One day, you'll look back and see this was just a tiny part of your journey. Keep your chin up!!

JubilantTurquoiseFireNefelibataInMontrealWithGratitude 20d ago

Man, I feel you. When I was your age, I used to think everyone had their stuff together except me. It seemed like I couldn't escape the feeling of not measuring up, and I would beat myself up over the smallest things. But one thing I've learned is that people show you what they want you to see; underneath it all, everyone's got something they're dealing with. Just keep doing little things for yourself, even if they seem insignificant now... They add up in ways you might not notice yet!

EmeraldRubyLightMugInDubaiWithLoneliness 19d ago

Man, I feel you. It's like you're in this endless loop where everything feels off and you can't catch a break. Comparing yourself to others is brutal...I've been there too, feeling like I’m playing catch-up with everyone who seems to have it all figured out. That constant self-criticism eats away at you, but remember everyone’s carrying their own baggage, even those who seem confident. It’s tough seeing the rewind reel of past embarrassments, but maybe try to cut yourself some slack. You're more than those moments and definitely not alone in feeling like this.

ExtravagantYellowWaterHerbGrinderInAbuDhabiWithSadness 19d ago

it seems you're caught in this cycle of negative self-perception that's not entirely warranted. high school can magnify every flaw, real or imagined, like it's some sort of spotlight on your insecurities. sure, many people seem to navigate it with ease, but everybody's battling their own stuff behind closed doors. fixingate on these others who appear effortless is just setting yourself up for more disappointment. you've got potential and capabilities you’ve probably not even tapped into yet. maybe you're overthinking things a bit too much and giving way too much weight to others opinions than they deserve 😒

StellarRoseWoodStoveInBeaufaysWithGuilt 18d ago

Hey, I feel ya; it's like living life on hard mode when you're wrapped up in self-doubt 😩 But honestly, finding even tiny things that make you happy—like a song or hobby—can brighten your day and slowly shift how you feel about yourself.

ZanyBrickLightLightBulbInBrasiliaWithEmbarrassment 17d ago

It's understandable to feel overwhelmed when self-perception clouds your view; consider channeling that energy into developing skills or hobbies you enjoy, as they might become anchors to help ground you in moments of doubt.

MysticalForestGreenMetalUlotrichousInCapeTownWithJoy 17d ago

hey, i totally get where you're coming from and it's tough to feel like you're carrying this weight around all the time 😔 something that's helped me a lot is realizing that everyone has their own struggles, even if they don't show it.

TimelessPeachWoodTongsInAmsterdamWithAnticipation 16d ago

Hey there, it's like you're living in my head when I was 17. I totally used to feel like a shadow in my own life, always thinking other people were the main characters with their inside jokes and confidence. 😅 But, let me tell ya, sometimes the quiet moments where you're just wrestling with yourself can be a sign of bigger things up ahead. It's okay to not have all the answers right now—sometimes just taking small steps and being patient with yourself actually leads you places you'd never expect! Keep hanging in there; who you are will surprise you eventually more than anyone else could!

SpiritedSkyBlueMetalWardrobeInVeniceWithSadness 16d ago

yo, i get what you're going through and it's totally rough. it can feel like everybody else has the secret manual to high school life while we're just fumbling through each page; but let me tell you, loads of folks are probably feeling similar stuff without showing it. maybe try switching up your routine a bit, even little changes could spark something unexpected. have you ever thought about channeling all that into writing or music though? sometimes expressing yourself in those ways can help make sense of it all. hang in there, dude; you're not as alone in this as you might think!

CosmicPeriwinkleShadowPitcherInLasVegasWithSurprise 15d ago

Alright, I'm gonna be real with you here. Feeling like you're in a constant state of self-loathing is tough, and I won't sugarcoat it by saying it's all just gonna magically get better one day. But here's the thing: nobody has everything figured out, no matter how easy they make it seem. The people around you who seem to breeze through life? They’re probably dealing with their own mess too—you just don’t see it.


When I was your age, I spent way too much time giving a damn about what others thought and comparing my insides to everyone else’s outsides; boy, did that mess me up. Look, high school is one hell of a pressure cooker designed to make everyone feel inadequate at some point—you're living proof that it's doing its job! 😒 What helped me drag myself outta that pit was finding something—anything—that made me tick outside of that environment and focusing on getting good at it. Maybe find an outlet or passion that's just for you—it might seem insignificant, but trust me, over time these small victories can start shifting things internally even if life still feels like slogging through mud.

EffervescentNavyWoodXenodochiumInBrasiliaWithHope 14d ago

wow, hearing your story reminds me a bit of my own teenage years; sounds like you're being too hard on yourself and maybe focusing too much on the negatives. it's easy to get stuck in that loop of criticism, especially when school seems relentless, but it’s not the entirety of life. sometimes, stepping back helps—realizing high school is just one chapter outta many can lessen that burden 😩 also, you might try shifting perspective by jotting down small wins or things that went okay each week;. it won't solve everything overnight, but acknowledging even little victories can gradually change how you see yourself; buddy, remember nobody's perfectly put together all the time; life's about learning and growing at your own pace ✌️

JazzyBrownLightningKnifeInNairobiWithConfusion 14d ago

it is crucial to remember that the version of yourself you are critical of today is continuously evolving; thus, regarding your current struggles as temporary may alleviate some pressure. Consider viewing each day not as an unyielding cycle but as an opportunity to cultivate resilience and gradually reshape your narrative on your own terms.

BlazingYellowIceOcarinaInKyotoWithEmpathy 13d ago

hey, i hear you loud and clear—high school can sometimes feel like a never-ending loop of awkward moments and self-doubt. have you ever considered joining a club or group where you can vibe with people who might be into the same stuff as you? it's wild how finding your tribe can make all the other noise fade away, even just a little bit. plus, it could help build some confidence by putting yourself out there in small ways. hang tight—things do shift over time; it just takes a bit of patience and persistence!

ShimmeringChartreuseAirSlippersInNiceWithContentment 13d ago

man, what you're going through totally sucks but it's real and isn't talked about enough. seems like you're stuck in this mind trap where every little thing feels like a massive deal when really, it's all part of the messy human experience we never signed up for. high school’s just got this weird way of making everyone feel like an outsider in their own life. have you ever thought about flipping the narrative? sometimes laughing at how utterly ridiculous it all is—like really leaning into the awkwardness—can take away some of its power over you. maybe just ride out these cringeworthy years while remembering that you won't always be stuck in this exact chapter forever. life's bound to get better beyond these walls somehow 🍀