Is There a Way to Turn My Life Around After So Much Struggle?

In summary, the protagonist graduated with an EE degree and entered grad school immediately after. He excelled and did ok in his classes and research but was not doing as well as he could have been. At the end of the first year, he started getting paranoid that he would lose his funding because he was not doing a good enough job. He also started thinking some rumors were being spread around about him, some of which were true. He asked a girl out and she turned him down, which started a rumor that he had asked her out. When he confronted her about it, she denied it. The others in the group found personal posts he made on a forum and started spreading rumors that he was an imposter. He dropped out of grad school
  • #1
physicist1985
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I graduated in 2008 with an EE degree and entered grad school immediately after. I excelled and did ok in my classes and research but I knew I wasn’t doing as well as I could have been doing (got a couple B minuses too). At the end of the first year I started getting paranoid that I was going to lose my funding because I wasn’t doing a good enough job (imposter syndrome). I also started thinking some rumors were being spread around about me, some of which I still think were. I asked a girl out in my research group and I asked her not to tell anyone in the group that I asked after she turned me down (she had a bf but I think she still liked me…). She went around telling people I asked her out because I could hear the other group members talking about it. When I confronted her about it she denied it. The others in the group also found some personal posts I posted on a forum because I heard them talking about it behind my back. I think they went through my browser history on my laptop. They also started saying that they didn’t think I deserved to have my name on the publications and whatnot. I also won first place in a national competition but most of the work was done by the others in the group. I just wrote the conference paper and gave the presentation and then I was given all the credit for winning.

I ended up in a mental hospital over my paranoia and I heard even the doctors and nurses talking about me and the rumors that were being spread. I heard them telling my professor that the brain scans showed low activity and she told the others in the group this. I can’t believe she would have talked about this to the others in the group. It pisses me off to this day. Then all the group members visited me in the mental hospital. At first I wanted them to visit but then I told them to stop coming in because it was embarrassing me. They kept coming anyways, which annoyed me.

I ended up dropping out of grad school shortly after because the rumors continued (some I admit were true but embarrassing). I spent the next year of my life locked in my room freaking out since getting my PhD was such a huge goal of mine for so long. I could not find a job anywhere. Most hiring managers were skeptical because I dropped out.

I went back again (to the same school) in a different research group. I couldn’t understand the work the group was doing and sunk in a deep depression. I ended up dropping out again. When I came home this time I found a low paying job as a process operator in a semiconductor company that was very boring. This job drove me nuts because I sat around most of the time with nothing to do waiting for processes to finish. I went back to the grad school I came from for a third time and found the same fate. This time I couldn’t handle the classes because I got severely depressed. I ended up dropping out again. I should have stayed at this job because my boss said he’d write me a letter of recommendation to get admitted to a much more prestigious school in my state for my PhD (his brother was the dept chair and his thesis advisor was on the board of directors of the company I was working for).
After leaving school for the third time I found an EE position at a new company. This job was also very repetitive and boring and I could feel my brain deteriorating from lack of use. I found a new job shortly after that I am currently at. My boss just tells me vague things like “go invent a new product for us” and gives me little other direction. I spend most of my days browsing the internet secretly and generally avoiding all the people there. I want to quit this job and find a new one but I think I should keep the job until I find something else.

I feel like I should have stuck with grad school the first time. I imagine that I would have been successful and that I would have eventually got that girl in my group (she has since found a new bf I believe).

Now I am a loser and I just want to die. I have friends but none of them call me on the weekends.

I have considered going for a teaching certificate and becoming a hs physics teacher. I really enjoyed tutoring as an undergrad, especially the hs students. I think I would really love teaching. But I can’t afford to go back to school and I don’t want to take out more loans (I already have 50K in loans) as it would be impossible to live on a teacher’s salary with so many loans.

Despite how the research group treated me in grad school I still miss the people there. I think I could have done well in the group had I stayed. There were also attractive girls at the university and I could feel that they were interested in me because I felt attractive and fit at the time. Now I am fat and feel ugly. Now most girls just give me dirty looks.

What should I do PF? Should I become a hs teacher? Should I look for a new job?

I am on antipsychotics and andti-depressants. I have tried therapy. Nothing works. Nothing.
 
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  • #2


Wow, that was a very poorly written post. I feel like I can't think clearly anymore. My brain is just mush.
 
  • #3


Well, I don't think it's your life that's making you depressed, because I'm not depressed and I'd trade lives with you in a second. I do manual labor part time... so yeah, not much money coming in for me. I don't have a girlfriend either, but that's more because I don't want one right now. But if you feel fat and ugly, start working out. Exercise might improve your mental state, too. You'll probably feel a lot better physically and mentally.
I think you should do whatever you can to accomplish your dreams. Hopefully you have some. I do, and even though my situation sucks, I keep looking forward to my goal of accomplishing my dream.

Depression sucks, it really does, and a most people don't understand it. I had depression as a side effect from medication and such from having my appendix removed and being in the hospital for a week because it ruptured. I felt fine in the hospital, and I couldn't wait to get out. But when I got out, I just felt sad for no discernible reason. I felt like crying. That went away though. But if you're depressed, I understand, at least partially, how you must feel. If your medicine isn't working, you should tell the doctor, or find a new doctor. Find something that works.
 
  • #4


Physicist1985 please get professional help, call a suicide hotline, go to an emergency room, what ever it takes.
 
  • #5


Don't give up. Where there is life, there is hope.

:smile:
 

FAQ: Is There a Way to Turn My Life Around After So Much Struggle?

1. Can all decisions really make my life worse?

While some decisions may have negative consequences, it is important to remember that not all decisions will have a negative impact on your life. It is important to consider the potential outcomes and make informed decisions to minimize negative effects.

2. How can I break this cycle of negative decision-making?

This cycle can be difficult to break, but seeking therapy or counseling can be helpful in understanding the root causes and developing coping strategies. Additionally, practicing mindfulness and self-awareness can help in making more positive choices.

3. Is it normal to feel this way?

It is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed or discouraged when faced with a series of negative decisions. It is important to seek support and remember that it is possible to make positive changes and turn things around.

4. What if I regret my past decisions?

It is normal to have regrets about decisions we have made in the past. However, it is important to focus on the present and future and work towards making better decisions moving forward. Reflecting on past decisions can also help in learning from mistakes and making more informed choices in the future.

5. Are there any benefits to making mistakes?

While mistakes can be difficult to deal with, they also offer opportunities for growth and learning. By acknowledging and reflecting on our mistakes, we can make better decisions in the future and become more resilient. It is important to not let mistakes define us, but rather use them as lessons for personal development.

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