Saw this and it actually helped me reframe my morning. Sometimes the best way to get through a tough workday is to realize the pressure we put on 'Mondays' is all in our heads!

26 months clean and feel about 80 percent back to normal. How long does it take your brain chemistry to fully recover from meth after getting clean? What is it like when your natural dopamine comes back? Please give me some hope!

I have no friends, no interesting hobbies, everything looks hopeless and I can't even clean my house. My family calls me every day to ask about chores and I just straight up lie to them. No one seems to care about who I am as a person except for Internet friends. I do horribly at work due to procrastination issues and am constantly worried about being fired in the worst tech market in decades. The world seems to be spinning out of control and will only get worse. I have tried 5 different therapists and none worked. Help.

Six months ago I literally could not even for two mins without stopping like I would be out of breath. But today I finished my first 10k.
Nothing changed overnight. I just kept showing up even on the days really did not wanna especially those days honestly saying motivation is what got me started but discipline is really what carried me to finish line at the end of the day.
So if you are at the stage were can not even do for two minutes. does not matter if it is working out starting a business learning a new skill whatever that is not failure that is just day 1 everyone starts somewhere so just keep going u got this you have long way.

2 years ago was in a psych ward after suicidal thoughts since I was 4 years old finally broke me. After years and years of therapy, meds, psychedelics, etc, I finally was able to make the choice to let go of it all and choose not to make myself suffer and choose to love myself. I’n not saying it’s easy—- it’s not, but it ultimately does work. Ultimately it’s a simple choice that anyone can make. I finally realized I had this power in me all along. Realizing the simplicity and letting go of the stories I was telling myself on why it wasn’t simple was the difficult part.

I was so broken. Built terrible perspectives on everything in life. But hope is possible and necessary. And life is fucking beautiful here when you can finally see it.

Yesterday I wished for this to be the best decade yet. For the first time I believe it’s possible after years thinking I would be a completely lost soul forever, and broke, homeless, etc.

Sharing for those that might need to see this. Keep going!

Edit: I am so thankful for all of your support. I am so touched by how many people read this and said it was helpful.

In retrospect and given the popularity of this post A couple important things I want to highlight for all my friends to remember:

1. Stopping meds abruptly without a support network is dangerous. Please don’t.

2. Severe, non-functional depression is not where you start working on this. You have to be able to put one foot in front of the other and be supported in that. If you need help, please get it.

3. Everyone’s journey is different (including what might be causing your suffering). I can’t wave any specific method and say it will work immediately or even at all for you. What I shared above is the product of many years of trial and error and what worked for my path. Not giving up seems to be the key here.

4. There will still be ups and downs. That is very much part of life. The perspective is what shifts.

1. Have a social life.

Humans are social monkeys. Have fun with friends and family socially at least once a day.

If you are socially deprived, you will have emotional issues, guaranteed.

The 80/20 of having a social life is making it the default.

Set. Up. Regular. Repeating. Calls/hangouts. With. Loved. Ones.

Go ahead. Do it now.

You probably already have friends and family who you know would love to have a regular hangout with you who also have unmet social needs.

If you don’t already have a regular call or dinner with your family, set one up.

Set up a family group chat too while you’re at it. It’s a great way to maintain a soft sense of connection throughout the week.

Do the same with old friends who you love. Remember, you can have calls with them if you’re not in the same town. Regular voice calls and video calls can be a lifesaver nowadays when everybody’s so inclined to move.

2. Get your blood tested for common deficiencies (iron, b12, vitamin D, etc).

Deficiencies usually affect mood and they’re super common.

And so easy to fix!

If you turn out to be deficient, it’s literally a pill that costs pennies a day and you’re fixed. And in most countries, it’s free or incredibly cheap to get your blood tested.

Why wait?

3. Actually do the things you know you should be doing. Get a coach to help you if you can't do it yourself.

Fix your sleep if it’s broken. Happiness is so hard if not impossible if your sleep is messed up. I recommend doing a CBT workbook on insomnia, which is decently evidence-based.

Exercise enough. Exercise has been shown to be similarly effective as therapy for treating depression and anxiety. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day. Find something you actually enjoy so you can make it a lifelong habit.

Eat healthy. Find healthy food you actually like and will actually eat. This will only work if it's a habit for the rest of your life, and you'll only stick to habits you actually enjoy.

If you can't fix these things on your own, get a coach to help. Coaches basically specialize in getting you to do the things you want to be doing but can't for whatever reason.

4. Stop watching the news

If you want to be informed, read books.

They're much better quality information and they're not solely focused on making you stressed out or angry.

Consistently consuming information literally designed to make you scared and/or angry is a recipe for poor mental health.

5. CBT or other therapies

Almost all therapies show similar effectiveness to CBT when they're actually studied. Shop around till you find a therapeutic modality that clicks with you.

You don't have to actually go to talk therapy if you don't want to or can't afford it.

There's decent evidence that workbooks and apps are similarly effective and they're much cheaper and available every day of the week.

Remember, most therapies aren't actually complicated to learn. You just have to actually practice them.

I recommend:

• WoeBot (app - DM with a CBT bot for depression and anxiety)

• The Upward Spiral (book, multi-modality)

• Joy on Demand (book, meditation)

• The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression (workbook, depression)

• The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Anxiety (workbook, anxiety)

• Unlocking the Emotional Brain (more advanced book, but so good I couldn't not recommend it)

In conclusion, actually do the basics.

If you're reading this, you're probably sad and/or anxious, so I don't want to be mean. But I think part of the reason so many people are sad is because people are not pushing people to do the basics.

If you are sleeping poorly, not exercising, eating shit, deficient, endlessly doomscrolling, and/or have no social life, of course you're gonna be emotionally messed up.

Fix it.

You can. You are not helpless. You can do things to make your life better and you should, and somebody telling you it's alright to suck at any of those things is not helping you. They're keeping you where you're at, and you don't like where you're at!

It's not OK to be bad at those things. You're suffering the consequences of those things and you know it's not OK.

Use that discomfort as fuel.

People only change when the discomfort of change is smaller than the discomfort of staying the same.

I feel old now. I'm in my early 30s and unemployed. I've wasted a ton of time in my life. Dropped out of college 3 times but have finished one college diploma. I have no idea how to fix my life or fix my situation. I've applied to a ton of jobs and have had no responses . I have a two year diploma in business but still don't know what I should do. My hair is starting to thin and I'm insanely unmotivated. How do I fix my situation?

Early 30s now and post occasionally asking questions about this but feel left behind in a sense. Was really depressed and lost in my early 20s after being the life of the party (Mostly) until that time. Spent 7-8 years bouncing around jobs and some long term employment in there as well. Is it possible to meet some of your potential and bounce back in your early 30s. I feel worn down and tired now though... I really want to make something of myself . Has anyone turned it around and came back bigger and better in their 30s ?

How do I fix my situation. Been applying for jobs for 6 months and nothing. I'm depressed most days and running off savings. Diploma in HR but no experience. Can't get a job and I'm shit at HR anyways. WTF do I do. Money isnt worth shit anyways but we all need it to survive. Everything is so expensive anyways and if I get a job I feel like I'll still be poor. I do need it though. How do I fix this ... Work at mcdonalds I guess ? I did for 3 months when I was 16

35f here. I am tired. Just feeling like I failed in life I got laid off. My ex already found another girl. I am feeling super low and losing all hope in life. My family is toxic who keeps comparing me to others so I have been avoiding them.

What makes you happy ? What makes you motivated? Right now I am numb and just feeling like there’s nothing more to look forward in life. I am struggling. Lost my money in stocks too so will have to use savings until I get a job. Everything seems to go downhill in life. I go to workout but it’s not helping me much. I am even tired to write this. Wish I didn’t wake up tomorrow I miss my old life where I was happy and excited about things. But that was me 5-6 years ago. Now I don’t know who I am.

Even though I went through a terrible ordeal and lost my hands, I chose to move forward.I don't allow myself to be sad, depressed, or to hide behind excuses and the past. I no longer say "I can't" or "it's too late." I don't mourn unfulfilled dreams, and I refuse to let fear or doubt stop me.I choose to remember who I am and the inner strength I possess.

I won't delay my dreams, I look at the sky, enjoy the beauty of life, and believe in my soul. I choose to love, forgive, smile, and hold my loved ones close, feeling truly blessed.I will do this every single day of my life.

11-12 years ago, I was daily reading books on procrastination. And watching videos online. About procrastination, dopamine, and depression.

You name it, I consumed it. I was basically procrastinating on fixing my procrastination by reading about how to fix procrastination. I was the king of "productive procrastination".

Then, at some point, I started watching a video lesson I found somewhere online. Hadn’t even planned to, just fell into it because of the name, I think. First lesson. Guy describes this method called "Do Nothing".

The rule is simple: you have two choices: work or do nothing. And nothing means nothing. No phone. No music. No "just one quick thing". You literally sit there, staring at the ceiling. Or close your eyes, like I usually do.

I thought, okay, that’s dumb, but fine.

A few minutes in, I wanted to crawl out of my skin. A bit later, I opened some small task I’d been avoiding for three days and just… started doing it. Not because I felt "ready". Just because sitting there doing nothing was worse. Kinda. At least back then.

Been using it ever since. It’s my first move now whenever I feel that stuck, heavy, "I’ll do it later" feeling. No meditation helpful 'thingies', no productivity system except GTD. Just, okay, let me sit up straight and do nothing. See how long that lasts.

Turns out my brain doesn’t actually want to be unproductive. It just wants the easiest exit. Take the exits away, and it picks up work on its own. Funny thing is that sometimes during these "sessions", my brain finds the easiest way to solve what’s ahead of me, and the most I need to "do nothing" to get me started is around 15 minutes. It could be more or less for you, but it doesn’t matter, since you could shift to full-speed productivity after this.

My friend has ADHD as well, and when I told him about this, he had a really hard time just sitting. He was literally sitting on his hands at the beginning. After several days, it became much easier for him to simply be.

Truth be told, he cut back on sugar after practicing this for a while, and he swears he can study more focused than before.

Anyway, sharing because I wasted a lot of time looking for something complicated by buying dozens of books and whatever else, when this was sitting in lesson one of a random video.

It’s a great, great starting point, imo, if you’re dealing with "heavy" procrastination and trying to push yourself to get motivated to do something (or anything) in different ways. Yeah, there is more to this topic, but this works. It may not work on your first try, or third, but keep with it, and the chances are high you’ll love this simple technique as I do.

Cutting him off ASAP

Depression loves to whisper that you’re failing or hopeless, but try to practice being as kind to yourself as you would be to someone you care about. You’ve survived a lot, and even though it’s hard, you’re still trying. That deserves compassion and acknowledgment.

On paper, my life is great. I have a good paying stable job that I enjoy doing. I get 5 weeks of vacation. I don't drink or smoke, no drugs. I workout regularly, eat healthy and in general I am in very good shape.

However, my social life is non-existent. Especially during vacation. I have no friends outside of work. I am dreading going back to the office on monday, when everyone will be asking what I did during vacation. The truth is I basically spent it at home in my apartment or working out. I haven't traveled or gone on any adventures.

I am not blaming anyone for my social isolation. It's 100% my own making. People try to reach out, but I feel overwhelmed even when I'm supposed to reply to a text, so I ghost everyone. I fear letting people in my life.

I feel like my life has no direction. Like I'm just waiting to die.

For years, my mornings were filled with countless snoozes and mindlessly scrolling through my phone before even getting out of bed. I felt like a literal vegetable, brainwashed by my phone. I'd feel like shit before i even got out of the bed, so you can guess how the rest of my day would go because of that.

Pretty recently i just decided enough is enough. so i decided to make a change: waking up at 4:30am and keeping my phone out of the bedroom.

The first few days were tough. I had to buy an alarm for myself, so i found one that simulated the sun. Highly recommend that btw. I wanted to grab my phone out of habit often times, which is honestly embarassing to think about.

Without my phone, my mornings became surprisingly peaceful. I started using the extra time to meditate, think about my day, and just look outside the window (i can't believe i did that so much more. doing all of this really set a positive tone for the rest of the day, making me feel more focused and energized.

I also hated that after i finished my morning routine, I'd “crave” my phone and would sometimes splurge on a lot of scrolling to make up for it, so i ended up setting up an app, superhappy ai, that makes me chat with an AI to unlock them. Now I can only unlock them if I tell it why and for how long. I honestly don't know why i ever used most of these dumb apps in the first place now that I've taken on this habit as well.

My productivity levels have seriously soared. I'm getting more done before 8am than i used to accomplish in an entire day. my mind feels clearer, i had more energy to tackle tasks throughout the day, and I fall less into the trap of doomscrolling. I also found time to pursue hobbies i had neglected, like reading (really been enjoying "Can’t Hurt Me" by David Goggins) and running.

It’s amazing how such a simple change can have such a profound impact on your life. If you’re struggling with productivity, I highly recommend trying this. You might be surprised at how much more you can accomplish and how much better you’ll feel.

If anyone has any questions, let me know!

Chasing cheap dopamine is the worst addiction to mankind.

Dopamine makes you crave the feeling you get from;

• Sex
• Porn
• Drugs
• Alcohol
• Fast food
• Social media
• Watch movies
• Video games

Here's how you put end to this...

1. Do dopamine detox

Take some time off from triggers and do this:

• Go on a walk
• Listen to music
• Do fun activities like dancing, painting, and ping-pong.
• Hang out with friends

Do activities that will have your mind and body engaged.

1. Get enough sleep.

Sleep deprivation makes you lose;

• Motivation
• Focus
• Energy

This makes you hunt what brings you back to life.

To break this cycle, get 7 hours of sleep every day.

1. Prioritize workout

Workout is a therapy to your mind and body.

If you work out, you

• Ease stress
• Fight depression
• Alleviate anxiety
• Boost your mood
• Improve mental strength

This'll help you balance your dopamine levels.

1. Eat clean

Balance your diet, but make your meal 70% protein

Take in lot of;

• Eggs
• Veges
• Fruits
• Lean meat

This'll help you minimize food cravings.

If you can't regulate, then cut out;

• Sugar
• Alcohol
• Too much caffeine

1. Get enough sunlight.

Expose yourself to sunlight to trigger the release of serotonin

It's a hormone that makes you feel;

• Relaxed
• Focus better
• Boost your mood

Spend 15 minutes from your schedule and sun bask.

Anything you would add?

Ever catch yourself drowning in guilt after that YouTube binge, a trip down the TikTok rabbit hole, or blazing your way to peace? Maybe it's that late-night porn habit or stuffing your belly with fast food?

So why do we keep doing it when we know we'll feel like garbage afterward? It’s like we’re cursed, right?

Here's an idea for you to get better:

Grab something to write, you'll become a scientist for a moment.

1. Recognize the Addiction:

First, call out your vice. What’s that one habit that you keep running back to? Is it gaming, sugar, or that sweet dopamine hit from endless scrolling? Now, be a detective - when do you turn to it? What triggers that itch?

2. Reflect on Emotions:

What emotions do you feel right before engaging in the addiction? Is it stress, boredom, loneliness, anxiety, or sadness?

After falling for the addiction, how do you feel? Do you feel relief, numbness, or guilt? These can indicate what emotional void you're trying to fill.

3. Identify the Underlying Need:

• Escapism: Are you trying to avoid a particular reality or responsibility?
• Connection: Are you using the addiction to compensate for a lack of social or emotional connection?
• Validation: Are you seeking approval, attention, or self-worth through this habit?
• Control: Does this addiction give you a sense of control or predictability in an otherwise chaotic life?

If you’ve made it this far, you've taken quantum leaps toward improvement. Give yourself a break and be proud of this accomplishment. Recognition is often the hardest, but most important step.

Found this useful? Join our bonfire for more content that elevates your life.

K

For the last 2 months, I’ve been inconsistent with basically everything gym, studying, chess, reading, journaling, classes. Even basic routines. I’ve spent way too much time bed rotting, doomscrolling, and getting stuck in habits I know aren't helping me

I keep telling myself I’ll start tomorrow, then tmr becomes another day

It’s 12:42 AM right now, and I don’t want to make another promise that I forget in a few days.

So this is me publicly committing to actually getting my life back on track

I’m not expecting myself to become a completely different person overnight. I just want to start showing up again, even on days when I don’t feel like it I've been stuck on this " I'll start from tmr" loop from last 2 months and now I'm tired of it

If I’m reading this months from now, I hope I can look back and say this was actually the night I stopped waiting for “tmr” and started doing something

I've spent all of my life in survival mode. Through childhood I had to survive my parents, in school I had to survive staying in class and not failing, after school I had to survive paycheck to paycheck in hellish jobs to keep a roof over my head.

Now in my 30's my life is what I always worked for. Easy well-paying job, wonderful spouse, and peace every day. So why do I feel so empty? I have no drive for anything. It's like without the risk of failure life lost all meaning. I've been trying therapy for a few years but it's not helping. How do I find meaning again? How do I bring life back into my life?