Hi, I'm 23 years old and I feel lost in life. I know it's probably normal at this age, but sometimes I just can't cope with it. I don't know what to do with this feeling. I keep questioning whether I'm in the right relationship and whether I'm making the right decisions, ruminating my past, what I should do and so on. I wish I could feel safe, but my nervous system feels like it's falling apart. Every day feels like a battle just to feel a little better. I wish I could wake up feeling happy that a new day has begun, instead of waking up with the weight of worry on my shoulders. Please don't give me advice like sleep, meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, or walks in nature. I already do all of those things. Sometimes I don't know how to approach myself, because when I try to change my thinking, it feels like I'm fighting against myself. It's a bit like repeating affirmations that don't feel true to me and forcing myself to believe them. When I try to think more positively, the difficult emotions and trauma stay quiet for a few days, and then I break down and everything comes back all at once. On the other hand, when I allow myself to feel those emotions and simply observe them, I feel like I'm going to drown in them and that they'll never go away. I have a tendency to always want to fix myself, and I'm looking for ways to do that, even now, by writing this. But maybe I should accept that I'm lost, that I don't yet feel that sense of safety and peace. I'll probably go to therapy, but maybe someone has had a similar experience, or has some advice for me...

1. You enjoy deep conversations more than small talk. Talking about life, meaning, growth, and human nature interests you more than gossip and surface-level discussions. 2. You often feel different from the people around you. Not better. Not worse. Just different. You've never fully connected with what most people seem obsessed with. 3. You value peace more than excitement. While others chase constant stimulation, you find joy in quiet moments, simplicity, and inner calm. 4. You spend a lot of time reflecting. You naturally think about life, relationships, purpose, and lessons that many people overlook. 5. Material things don't impress you for long. You appreciate comfort, but you know that money, status, and possessions cannot provide lasting fulfillment. 6. You've always felt older than your age. Even as a child, you often felt more mature, thoughtful, or aware than people expected. 7. You learn from pain instead of becoming bitter. Life's difficulties make you wiser rather than harder. 8. You enjoy being alone. Solitude doesn't scare you. In many ways, it helps you reconnect with yourself. 9. You are highly empathetic. You easily sense how others feel and often understand people's pain without them saying much. 10. You question everything. You don't blindly follow trends, beliefs, or social expectations. You prefer understanding over conformity. 11. You are drawn to wisdom. Books, philosophy, spirituality, psychology, and timeless teachings naturally attract you. 12. You often feel nostalgic for things you never experienced. Certain places, stories, music, or moments create a strange sense of familiarity you can't explain. 13. You see lessons where others see problems. Even painful experiences become opportunities for growth and understanding. 14. You don't need a large circle to feel fulfilled. A few genuine connections mean more to you than countless acquaintances. 15. You frequently think about life's bigger questions. Why are we here? What truly matters? What makes a meaningful life? These questions stay with you.