What do you do when you lost your way?

Question

I’m 20 years old and basically long story short literally all the plans I had for my future were ripped away. I am so very lost and stuck. Everywhere I look is a road block. I’m having panic attack that are waking me up at 2am, can’t sleep, can’t eat. Literally every area of my life has fallen apart (except I’m still breathing, can walk, and have a roof over my head) has anyone gone through this that can help? Advice?

Answer

I think most people go through something like this, or similarly life changing, in their 20s. It's sort of a right of passage.
I know it is hard, but hon, you're still young. You have your whole life ahead of you. I had multiple plans for my future that never panned out. The path I'm on now I didn't even imagine myself doing at your age. 
Don't worry about your whole future. You don't need to have it figured out right now. Focus on where you're at and what you want for your life right now. Get that built, then focus on where you want that to go.
You don't have to know it all at 20. It's ok to live a little bit of adulthood before you make huge plans for your future. 
Take a step back. Relax. It's all going to be ok..

Answer

You are not alone. I have been there. I started going to counseling, praying more, and set a goal that I decided to achieve no matter the obstacles.
When I started seeing my therapist, my hair was a mess. I was unhygenic. I felt like I was losing my mind because I was suffering from intrusive thoughts OCD. I was ready to admit myself into a mental hospital. My therapist practiced positive counseling which is better than regular counseling. Positive counseling is where they help you process the bad in your life, and then replace it with good things. These are some things that helped me:
° My therapist started me on a schedule. I was staying up until 8 AM and sleeping until 4 PM. I rarely left the bed. I didn't get any exercise. I didn't have a routine. We decided that I would start waking up between 8 AM and 10 AM and go to sleep around 11PM to 12AM, or whatever might work best for you. Then, we made a plan throughout the day. I'm in college, so i would go to my classes. Afterwards, I would go visit family or anything to keep me out of the house until it was time for me to pick my brother up from school at 4. Then, I went to the gym and worked out for a couple of hours. Then, I went home around 8. It was much easier for me to sleep earlier after days like this. I don't know exactly what you do throughout the day, but do things to keep you busy outside of the home until late at night. If you're unsure of how to do that, a therapist can help you. I highly recommend having a gym membership or exercising just by walking a couple of hours everyday. It made me feel 100 times better.
°There's an app called Pacifica that I use for the panic attacks that keep me awake at night. You have to pay for some exercises on there, but quite a bit are free and just as good. The app gives you meditation activities to do when having panic attacks. I have almost fell asleep to a few of these exercises, and they relaxed me and calmed me down really fast.
°Journal all of your feelings down. This can help the anxiety.
°Talk about your feelings with a friend. Talk about it with a life coach if you need one. Talking about things to people helps with anxiety and can help you find out what you want to do in life.
I don't know if you are spiritual or not but having a relationship with Jesus has helped me. Whenever I felt really overburdened with terrible thoughts and anxiety, I will pray and listen to upbeat Christian music. If you are interested in this approach, I can give a list of music for you if you'd like.
Nothing worthwhile in life comes easy. You have to set a long term goal and do whatever it takes to get there. My long term goal is to become a psychologist. It has been my goal for three years now. It has not been easy. There have been times where I wanted to give up because my plans were all falling apart. There have been many roadblocks, but there is always another way past them. Discussing these roadblocks with a therapist, friend, family, or if it's college related, counselor, professor, or higher up can help you overcome these roadblocks.

Answer

Read zen and the art of happiness. It’s short. Quick and easy read. 
Everything that is happening is happening for your benefit not destruction. Listen, things get chaotic often before they get amazing. Just keep holding on. You’re closer than you think to something amazing. You’re loved and supported. Buy that book. 
❤️

Answer

Focus on what you do have (you listed a few things: health, shelter, etc).  And know that at age 20: the world is still wide open to you. You can rebuild and you still have nearly limitless possibilities ahead of you. There may be a roadblock directly in front of you - but once you get past that: the road is long and beautiful.

Answer

Are you in college right now?  If so I would get in touch with a counselor at student support services

What do you do when you lost your way?

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey