I was laid off after eight years and I do not know who I am without that badge
Best replies here sound like: “That makes sense.” “That sounds exhausting.” “I can see why this hit hard.”
Quiet readers often stay here because the words feel safer than explaining.
This thread has a real pulse.
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Reading this felt like looking in a mirror. You put words to something I have carried silently for a long time. Thank you for being brave enough to post it.
The version of you on the other side of this is going to be so grateful you kept going on the days it felt pointless. Please keep going.
If no one has told you today: you are doing better than you think, and you do not have to have it all figured out to be worthy of a good life.
Sometimes the bravest thing is simply admitting how heavy it has been. You just did that. That counts for so much more than it feels like.
What you are feeling makes complete sense given everything you described. You are allowed to feel it without rushing to fix it or apologise for it.
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