The vast majority of mental illnesses are a completely tangled, impenetrable web of maladaptions resulting from a lifetime of bad experiences i.e poor childhood, poor adolescence, compounding into a poor adulthood. Obviously there are other discrete events which can precipitate a decline into severe mental illness e.g fighting in a war, suffering a traumatic experience (rape etc) that fall outside this pattern as well.

In any case, the problems that are all captured under the banner of "mental illness" are so complex and personal to the individual that the idea that any of them can be solved with a prescription for an SSRI and a powerpoint printout that explains how to breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds and then breathe out for 4 seconds is garbage.

The current medical system is obliged to be seen to be 'doing something' about mental health problems because an ostensibly functioning society has to be seen to be taking action toward resolving these problems. We all know mentally ill people exist so there has to be an idea within the collective public consciousness that there is medical help available for those with mental problems.

The reality however is that in order to properly untangle a mentally ill person's problems would take personal resources several orders of magnitude greater than what is currently available (or ever will be). There aren't resources to assign each mentally ill person a consultation with a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist, for an indefinite number of sessions, to unpick the person's mind and work toward resolving their problems, paid for by the taxpayer.

What we have is a handful of people trying to bail out the Titanic with buckets (if they even still care). At some point you have to accept, at least I did, that much of the 'mental health support' provided to end-users is simply paying lip service to the public's IDEA that "help is available" if they reach out.

Ok, so I have lifted for a couple of years. Found great success, results, and it has become a recurring habit out of enjoyment. Going to the gym and getting stronger, more fit, is not a chore, but an activity I always look forward to.

How do I achieve the same enjoyment and success in other areas of life? Financial, social, etc.

Financially I don't need much besides the necessary for comfortable living, yet I am afraid of growing old and not having a house of my own or missing out on having a family and ending up alone. I could make more money to start a family, but, I don't even have a good woman to be with in the first place.

Socially, I am and have always been pretty introverted so I don't even know what to work here. Most of my childhood and college friends have gone abroad or to other places, so I only talk to them by text and I don't really fit in with the average normie, who is obsessed with status or banal shit.

I wish everything in life could be like the gym. That is, put in effort, get results. A simple, linear relationship with no bullshit, no mind games, no favors required.

>>81624209
>wonder
i wonder at life :D
i see the beauty in all things - a lot of folks tell me i might be faceblind but i genuinely believe there's someone for everyone!

>>81624216
it just clicked that i'm probably acting like michael jackson here...
guys' issues was that he never really got to experience childhood no? thats why he had those kids over to come play at his house

i feel like i'm doing the same thing with these girls...

>>81621304
>the fucked up thing about "healing" this shit is that you have to cross over to the extreme - narcissism, grade A genuine asshole

I honestly feel that every proper adult I meet has crossed this invisible boundary while on their way to adulthood. Like perhaps not into actual narcissism but there appears to be a level of self-serving self-interest that is required to survive as an adult.

When I look at function adults with relationships, families and friends, they are able to easily prioritise who and what is relevant to them and theirs. Anyone who isn't relevant to this personal bubble of theirs may as well not exist. Which is to say, functional adults don't care about the opinions of everyone, only those who matter to them.

I am stuck in the adolescent, or even earlier, mindset of wanting to be liked by everyone. This is what drives any displays of 'selfnessness' on my end. It's performative and leads nowhere. As you say I would be better off openly acting in self-interest and investing efforts in targeted ways but instead I am desperate for the approval of any and all strangers.