Does anyone ever feel like they are the younger version of themselves trapped in their current adult body?
What I mean is that I am 23 yrs old and I still feel mentally like I'm stuck at 18 at times. I go through periods of time where I feel like I can't be an adult and handle the things I deal with as an adult in my day to day life. I feel like life has paused almost for me mentally at times but I've continued life on physically. I can't explain it any better, but does that make sense? It is such a bizarre feeling and I feel like a weirdo...
I feel the same way sometimes! In fact I was just thinking earlier today about how I still feel mentally 15 despite being physically 20, like my brain stopped going and my body left it behind when I got sick
The stresses of adult life can feel like too much and it makes me feel like a kid who doesn't know what's happening lol so you're not alone, don't worry!
I feel this way all the time. I am 29 but I feel mentally like I'm 18-20. Which to me is scary because I'm about to turn 30. But I just remind myself that having some of the issues I have it would sometimes feel that way. My kids are 2 and 3 and they are my reminders that I can do anything. It does get better. Hang in there you are not alone
I regress into feeling 8 or 9 I found out it's because something tramatic happened then and I had to grow up quick didn't get to enjoy my younger years
this makes total since, since I feel that my maturity level stopped around the time I started having traumatic life experiences. it makes sense that since we had to grow up so young so fast maybe we reached our peak in maturity? idk I'm not a professional just my take
21 now, but i often mentally feel anywhere between 13 and 21. i'm already bad at letting go of the past and reminisce a lot as it is, but something about my mental health just keeps throwing me back to feeling like myself from those years. i feel inadequate and not adult enough sometimes as a result.
I relate to that. I attribute (at least some of) it to traumatic/adverse experiences I had growing up, as well as that I started experiencing psychiatric symptoms fairly young. I’m 26 and have been on my own since age 18, but still have times when I have to repeat to tell myself “I’m an adult” because I don’t always mentally feel like I’m there 🤷♀️
yes! that makes perfect sense you could have described it better. the only way I could describe it is feeling like I got emotionally mature at a specific age and my maturity is now stunted at that age as my physical body keeps getting older. I never emotionally or mentally feel as old as I physically am. like I'm constantly mentally trying to play catch up with how old I'm supposed to be if that makes sense. LOL, I guess it's just my roundabout way of saying that I get what you're saying.
100% relate. I dropped out of highschool freshman year due to mental health and I feel like I've barely developed since then. I still feel no older than maybe 16, and tend to regress even further on bad mental health days. It makes it hard to take care of responsibilities. It's really strange to experience.
I’m 29. People see me as a normal adult because I mask very well. But Every day I feel like I’m still trying to nurture and protect the little girl in me who didn’t get enough care growing up. The body is older but the feelings are the same. ❤️
I never learned to “grow out of” the weird kid feeling. Always been the outcast and have always been hard on myself for it. I’m finally trying to accept and love that weird little girl who needed me back then.
☝ This content is generated by our users and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Share
Copy Link
Copied
Join the Alike community
Discover your Alikeness™ with people who are on the same journey, gain wisdom and get emotional relief in a secure & anonymous space.
Sparkie
310d
Does anyone ever feel like they are the younger version of themselves trapped in their current adult body?
What I mean is that I am 23 yrs old and I still feel mentally like I'm stuck at 18 at times. I go through periods of time where I feel like I can't be an adult and handle the things I deal with as an adult in my day to day life. I feel like life has paused almost for me mentally at times but I've continued life on physically. I can't explain it any better, but does that make sense? It is such a bizarre feeling and I feel like a weirdo...
11
13
Share
Anxiety (Including GAD)
Lunarr
310d
2
perrygirl2019
310d
1
LaylaCallahan
310d
4
SourLemons
310d
2
SheGathersRain
310d
1
Angelica98
309d
1
Duckyqueen123
309d
1
Quinzel
309d
0
andooe
309d
0
Liz93
309d
0
Braxs
309d
0
☝ This content is generated by our users and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision