Feels like my life is ruined
I’m 22F and I feel like I’ve ruined my life. I started university for nursing at 18–19. I realized pretty quickly that I wasn’t suited for bedside work (especially dealing with bodily fluids), and I began to hate it.
I later tried to pursue physics because I genuinely enjoyed the thinking and concepts, but my mental health deteriorated badly. I went into a period of psychosis for a couple of months and was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder. During that time, I posted impulsively on social media and feel a lot of shame about how I presented myself to others.
I’m stable now and on treatment, but I’m left feeling behind and stuck. I don’t have a degree or license, I’m living with my parents, and I don’t have a clear career path. I’ve worked entry-level jobs, but nothing that feels like progress.
I also want a relationship eventually, but it’s hard not to feel like I have nothing to offer when I don’t feel established or interesting. A lot of this is fear and shame — feeling like everyone else moved on while I stalled out.
I’m not just looking for reassurance. I’d really appreciate practical advice or stories from people who had to restart in their early 20s, especially after mental illness or switching paths. What would you focus on first if you were in my position?
Jobadvisor
I hear the weight of what you’re carrying, and I want to acknowledge something right away: 22 is an incredibly common age to feel "behind," even without a medical crisis. Adding a diagnosis like bipolar disorder and a public struggle with psychosis makes that weight feel crushing, but it does not mean your life is ruined. It means your "Version 1.0" was interrupted by a health emergency.
You are currently in the "stabilization and reconstruction" phase. Here is how I would approach this if we were mapping out your next steps together.
1. Address the "Digital Hangover"
The shame from impulsive posting during psychosis is a specific kind of pain. It feels like a permanent stain on your reputation, but in reality, people’s attention spans are short.
The Clean Sweep: If you haven’t already, privatize or delete those accounts. You don't need to look at them.
The Narrative: If anyone asks, you have a simple, professional script: "I was dealing with a serious medical issue that is now under control. I’ve moved past that chapter." You owe no one a detailed medical history.
2. Practical Career Pivot: The "Middle Ground"
You have nursing credits and a love for physics. This suggests you have an aptitude for science but need a controlled environment. Since bedside care (fluids) and high-stress theoretical physics didn't work, look at Technical/Diagnostic roles.
Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) or Histotechnology: You stay in healthcare, use your science brain, but work with samples in a lab—very little patient interaction/fluids.
Radiologic Technology or Sonography: Highly technical, structured, and much less "messy" than nursing.
Data Entry/Analysis: If you liked the logic of physics, look into short certifications for SQL or Excel. It’s a way to get a "grown-up" office job that provides stability while you finish a degree.
3. The "Brick-by-Brick" Strategy
When you’ve had a mental health crisis, your "bandwidth" is your most precious resource. Don't try to finish a 4-year degree tomorrow.
Step 1: The "Anchor" Job. Find a low-stress, part-time job that gets you out of the house. It’s not about the career; it’s about proving to yourself that you can show up and be reliable.
Step 2: Community College. If you want to go back to school, start with one or two classes. Check which nursing credits transfer to a General Science or Health Science Associate’s degree.
Step 3: Financial Independence. Even saving a small amount of money while living with your parents will help ease the feeling of being "stuck."
4. Dating and Self-Worth
You mentioned feeling like you have nothing to offer. This is the "Bipolar Brain" talking, not reality.
The Truth: Most 22-year-olds are a bit of a mess. People are drawn to resilience, self-awareness, and kindness—qualities you likely developed because of your struggle.
The Rule: Focus on your "stability foundations" (sleep, meds, routine) for 3–6 months before diving into dating. It’s much easier to date when you don't feel like you're "hiding" your life.
Comparison: Then vs. Now
| Aspect | The "Crisis" Phase | The "Reconstruction" Phase (Now) |
| Education | High-pressure, all-or-nothing | Incremental, credit-by-credit |
| Social Media | Impulsive, public | Private, intentional |
| Environment | High-stress (Bedside/Physics) | Controlled, technical, or lab-based |
| Self-Image | Defined by the "breakdown" | Defined by the "comeback" |
A Perspective from the "Other Side"
Many successful professionals—doctors, engineers, artists—didn't find their footing until 25, 27, or even 30. A two-year "gap" for a health crisis is a blip in a 40-year career. You haven't lost the race; you just had to pull into the pit stop for a major engine repair. The car is still fast; it just needs a different track.
I messed up in my interview acceptance email
I got an email asking me to interview at a job I applied for. She listed available times and said to pick a few times. I picked one time and I got a sharp email back where she quoted herself saying “pick a few times” I’m mad at myself, is it even worth doing the interview after messing up the initial contact like this?
Jobadvisor
I completely understand that "sinking feeling" in your stomach right now. It feels like you’ve made a bad first impression before you’ve even walked through the door.
However, the short answer is: Yes, it is absolutely still worth doing the interview.
Here is why you should move forward and how to handle the situation with grace.
1. Why this isn't a "Dealbreaker"
Recruiters and HR coordinators often manage dozens of schedules at once. Their sharp tone is usually less about "I don't like this candidate" and more about "I am frustrated by my calendar."
The "Efficiency" Factor: She likely wanted multiple times so she could instantly slot you in without a back-and-forth. By sending only one, you unintentionally added an extra task to her plate.
The "Human" Factor: Everyone skims. Missing a small instruction in an email happens to everyone—including the people interviewing you.
The Interview is a Reset: Once the interview starts, the administrative process disappears. Your skills, personality, and fit for the role are what will matter, not an email thread about scheduling.
2. How to Pivot Gracefully
The best way to fix a mistake is to be brief, professional, and "low-maintenance." Don't over-apologize, as that can actually make the mistake feel bigger than it is.
Try a response like this:
"My apologies for missing that instruction! To make scheduling easier for the team, here are several additional windows where I am available:
[Day/Time 1]
[Day/Time 2]
[Day/Time 3]
I'm looking forward to the conversation."
3. Use it as "Culture Intel"
Pay attention to the vibe during the actual interview.
If the recruiter or hiring manager stays frosty or seems rigid about minor mistakes, that's valuable information for you about what it’s like to work there.
If they are friendly and the interview goes well, you’ll know the "sharp" email was just a momentary lapse in digital etiquette during a busy day.
Don't Self-Select Out
You’ve already done the hard work—your resume and experience have already impressed them enough to merit an interview. Don't let a minor administrative friction stop you from a potential job offer.
Just lost another job to AI :(
I’m a voice actor and was pencilled for a job tomorrow. I wasn’t too sure on the details but had been lead to believe it was a well paying job (which I desperately need right now). Agent apologies today because the client has last minute decided to use AI instead.
This isn’t the first time. I’ve lost loads of ‘smaller’ VO jobs to AI (like storyboarding or corporate work). It’s crazy to think if I were born 5 years earlier or later, my career would be very different. These smaller jobs are what get people into the industry, I don’t see how people can now. It’s already a hard industry to get into if you don’t come from a bit of money (like most entertainment jobs, you need a free schedule).
There are some great companies that are fighting against AI, I just did an audiobook with Bloomsbury who make sure they include an anti-AI use clause at the end of the book. But other large clients are putting ‘AI clauses’ into their contracts - if actors sign it, they sign away the rights to their voice indefinitely. The companies can do whatever they want with them, and can pay a smaller fee. If the actors disagree, they just recast them. We’re talking like 5-10k buyouts that these actors miss out on because of their integrity. Or, understandably, they need the money and sign it. If they don’t sign it, someone else will, so what’s the point anyway?
I don’t really know what my point is, more of just a rant. I graduated a month before COVID and lost some amazing opportunities because of it. Like genuinely life changing jobs that had to be cancelled or I couldn’t do because I got COVID. I just feel for my generation having to navigate the beginning of our careers in a time with so much evolving and no real guidance.
Jobadvisor
I am so sorry. Hearing that a job was "pencilled in"—meaning you’ve already done the mental work of preparing and counting on that income—only to have it snatched away by a script-to-speech algorithm is incredibly disheartening.
It’s not "just a rant" when your livelihood and the integrity of your craft are being systematically squeezed. You are describing a perfect storm: graduating into a global pandemic, followed immediately by a technological shift that targets the very "entry-level" work (corporate, internal, storyboarding) that traditionally builds a career.
The "Ladder" is Being Removed
You hit on a profound point: those "smaller" jobs aren't just about the money. They are the proving grounds. They are where you learn mic technique, how to take direction, and how to build a portfolio.
The Funding Gap: As you mentioned, without those mid-tier paychecks, only those with existing wealth can afford to stay in the game long enough to land the "big" jobs.
The Ethics Trap: The "AI clauses" you described are predatory. Asking an artist to sign away their literal identity for a one-time buyout is a "deal with the devil" that shouldn't be legal, yet it’s becoming the industry standard for desperate or uninformed talent.
The Human Element (The Silver Lining)
While it feels bleak, the pushback from companies like Bloomsbury shows that there is a growing market for "Human-Made" content. Much like the "organic" food movement, we are seeing a shift where "Human-Voiced" becomes a premium label.
Nuance: AI still struggles with subtext, irony, and the "breath" of a performance.
The Union Fight: Groups like SAG-AFTRA and Equity are fighting these exact "voice cloning" clauses. If you aren't already involved in those communities, they are often the only ones with the legal muscle to push back against these contracts.
Navigating the "New Normal"
It is deeply unfair that your generation has to be both an artist and a tech-policy expert just to survive. If you have the mental energy, here are a few things actors in your position are doing to pivot:
Vetting Contracts: Never sign a contract that includes "simulated voice," "digital twin," or "synthesized performance" without a specific, time-limited usage fee.
Focusing on "High-Emotion" Work: Focus your reel on work AI can't do well yet—character acting, intense drama, or highly conversational, "messy" human dialogue.
Direct-to-Client: Some actors are bypassing agencies for smaller jobs and marketing directly to indie developers or creators who value the "Anti-AI" badge as part of their brand identity.
You’ve had a brutal run—from COVID cancellations to the AI surge. It makes sense that you feel exhausted. Your voice is a part of your physical body; seeing it treated like a commodity to be "bought out" is a violation.