YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

I've turned my back to every road fork I've ever encountered and, suddenly, there's movement. Something happened and my body is now on an exciting journey but, my head is on backwards.

Incredible milestones are approaching and I'm terrified that I have absolutely nothing to do with any of them. Every major decision I have ever made has been planted in my head by my parents. They have been lying to me and manipulating me for my entire life and I'm just now realizing it. This revelation has knocked the wind out of me. I feel pathetic and weak and I'm afraid that after 29 years of taking it, I won't be able to change. I don't know how to proceed.

Does anyone out there know what's going on here? Does anyone experience this?

I apologize. This is a terrible introduction. I just don't know what else to say right now.

Hello Olive, welcome to our little forum.

Your introduction is not terrible. We are cheering for you, and for your greatest today and tomorrow. We wish to play a part in you coming out from the shadows of your parents. Please take care, all the best.

my advice is: do something fucking crazy. make a bad descision (not to terrible,mind you, get drunk on a weekday or something) than you will get a taste of personal failure, you'll see u can handle it fine, and later down the road if you really fuck up (and u will, everyone does) it wont be so foreign. stake your claim mottherfucker! win or lose, you will learn from it have some fun, and leave your own mark