Is it normal to have a quarter-life crisis?

93% Normal
10 Comments

Is it normal to have a quarter-life crisis? I recently turned 19, and I think I’m going through a bit of a quarter life crisis. I can’t believe in less than a year I’ll turn 20 and my teenage years will forever be behind me. What makes it so terrible is that I look back and everything is just a blur. My parents kept me locked at home nearly all of my teenage years. I stopped going to school, never went out with friends, went to a party, played a sport, had a sleepover, none of the things that become so many people’s most special teenage memories. I hear over and over how special your teenage years are. I keep seeing classmates from years past writing and posting about all the amazing things they did and memories the made in high school as they head off to college. And it really depresses me to realize I’ll never get a chance to experience those things, at least not in that capacity. As a teenager you are in a position where it is “easy” to make friends. You spend your entire day surrounded by people your age. You don’t have the worries of adulthood and you’re expected to make mistakes. You have so many opportunities to go to dances and join clubs and teams and all, and it becomes more difficult later in life. People go off and start their lives, have kids and a job and a family. You just don’t have all the time in the world like you do as a teenager. I’m scared to death of turning 20. There are so many things I don’t know how to do. I’m terrible with people, I have depression and horrible social anxiety. I don’t have a diploma, I’ve never had a job, I’ve never been behind the wheel of a car. And I feel unbelievably alone. I would give absolutely anything to rewind a few years and get to experience the laughs and memories, good, bad and awkward that everyone tells me they are so fond of. I want friends to remember, stupid fun and stupid mistakes to look back on. I feel like I’ve done so little. Is this normal for people my age? Did anyone else go through this?

Voting Results
93% Normal
Based on 14 votes (13 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 10 )
  • Nolly-cyplop
    4 years ago

    Yes this is normal. My "parents?" are doing this to me right now.
    Home all day long sleeping on the living room couch because I cant have my own room while my brothers each have rooms. Nothing to do but finish high school on my phone and hang in the swamp behind the house full of hunters with guns & ticks.
    I hope you can make up for your lose to give hope for your future.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
      -
    • Anonymous Post Author
      4 years ago

      Your situation sounds remarkably similar to mine. I also sleep on the couch (sometimes the floor because the couch is old f-ing uncomfortable), while both my sisters have their own rooms. I used to bunk with my sister but when she turned 13 they chucked my bed out the door and told me she needed her own space.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
        -
      • Nolly-cyplop
        4 years ago

        Same. Used to have a room until a older brother kicked me out and took it as his. Sorta slept anywhere since.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
          -
        • Anonymous Post Author
          4 years ago

          That’s f-ed up. Good luck, I hope you do finish school someway or another. We’ll both get out of this shit someday, and I’ll never look back.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
          0
          0
  • RoseIsabella
    4 years ago

    I'm so sorry that happened to you! What was their reasoning for keeping you locked up during your teenage years?

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • BigToe
    4 years ago

    20 = still a baby. Worry about life you have wasted when you are 45.

    See know you know what to do! You have regrets but you are still young so live life up so when you do get old you can look back at them "when I was in my 20 something years" with a grin and no regrets.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • ApplePine
    4 years ago

    I'm having a 1/5 life crisis atm, ngl

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • Flawless
    4 years ago

    it's completely normal.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • Wellyoudliketoknoweh
    4 years ago

    Bad parenting.

    I am the same age, I feel the same way, believe me. A lot of people will tell u that u are still young and have all your life, but that age only comes once. The one good thing though I always see coming out of it is that there weren’t that many really dumb mistakes most teenagers make that have not really anything good about them. You always look back at times and think they were a lot easier than now or have a lot of regrets, but our brain fools our memories. Yes, one could’ve made other decisions, yes maybe there were some good times, but the thing is that when comparing the now to the past, you won’t get much out of it. Try understanding it, but don’t regret it too much, it’ll make it worse.
    I think you have to get to know yourself, what you like, who you are, what you can do. Which yes, in the state you’re in, is absolutely Horrifying.
    My therapist always tells me to get some goals, haha. It motivates you, but most people understand a goal as something really big. Try picturing a goal as something small too, like waking up, taking care of yourself, eating, maybe writing down your feelings, finding something positive about you and continue that, with time make it bigger, finding a job, going back to school, getting yourself into situations that really challenge your anxiety. I’d also recommend therapy and/ or medication. But yes, the costs. If u find the right medication it can help u a lot with mood swings and anxiety and stuff.
    Anyways do those small things, especially get into things you like, they might be the things you’re good at and maybe with that you can actually get out into society in the future if not in the present.
    I kinda think the nicest parts of your life are the years between ur 20s and 40s anyways.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • dimwitted
    4 years ago

    Horrify your parents and become a bartender.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0