this post was submitted on 11 Nov 2024
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I'm starting to think that my life is over and I don't want to live anymore. As of writing this I am a 23 year old woman with no qualifications or education. I have learning disabilities and my IQ is just 76. I struggle with things like talking, maths and spelling and I can't find a job.

When I was a kid I knew I was different. Things that were easy for the other kids to do took me ages to learn. Kids used to make fun of me because of the way I talked and in general I could fit in. As I got older my learning disabilities become more noticeable. I was diagnosed with ADHD and low intelligence and therefore struggled academically but my dad refused to put me in a special education program because he thought it would be an embarrassment. School was very hard for me. I would work my ass off just to get C's and B's and my father was very abusive. He would expect me to do well in school and if I didn't he would beat and punish me. I had to repeat the 7th and 9th grade but I eventually graduated but very poor grades and no qualifications. When I was around 15-18 started to do drugs like weed and alcohol just to cope.

I left my parents house when I was 19 and went to live with a friend. I have very little money as I'm addicted to drugs and my lack of education makes getting a job practically impossible. I don't see my life going anywhere and when I'm not on drugs I'm miserable. My brothers and sisters have done so much better then me and it makes me so jealous, angry and ashamed. I know this may sound cringe but I honestly can't do this anymore.

EDIT: I now have a job at Burger King as a cook. It's not glamorous but it's some money.

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[–] Nexy@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 2 days ago

I have like 148iq, 30yo, I still didn't ended the college and I still live with my parents.

IQ means nothing, like I don't think musk have more IQ than you for example.

Ignore all that shit, just live your life the best you can and don't let anyone tell you your value. You are not quantifiable in numbers and you are irreplaceable, even if the society try you to think so.

[–] MrFunnyMoustache@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It can be very demoralizing, but remember that IQ is only a part of intelligence, and grades in school matter a lot less than you think. Also C's and B's are respectable grades. Focus on the things you are good at and enjoy doing. Do you like animals? There are people who pay for grooming or dogsitting. Maybe you have a good sense of humor and can make it as a comedian. Perhaps you like outdoors and plants?

Please don't give up and lean into your strengths.

[–] SpaceFox@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I'm ok with animals and I don't think I'm that funny. I really can't think of any strengths. Maybe cooking as I now have a job at Burger King which I'm pretty excited about

[–] MrFunnyMoustache@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Awesome that you have a job. If you like cooking, I highly recommend getting as much knowledge from free platforms like YouTube, there are a lot of great and passionate creators to learn from, and their enthusiasm is infectious. Watch videos, try to pay attention to techniques more than the recipes themselves. Keep an open mind and jump at opportunities when you see them.

I believe in you!

[–] SpaceFox@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

There is no reason to be bad at cooking in 2024. I mean Gordon Ramsey has a cooking channel for christ sake

[–] MrFunnyMoustache@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago

Exactly. I used to be bad at it, but then I discovered Chef John from Food Wishes and this got me to cook better, and these days there are so many incredible cooking creators on YouTube that I have an endless stream of inspiration.

P.S. If you like Italian cuisine, I highly recommend watching Italia Squisita.

[–] POTOOOOOOOO@reddthat.com 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Hi. I hope my own experience can help you. I have a whole bunch of learning disabilities and very bad anxiety/panic issues. I graduated high school with a 5th grade reading level; and frankly I was pissed. No one should have fallen between the cracks as much as I did.

I got stubborn and angry and I did something about it. I refused to let life just push me down and accept it. It's a bumpy, rocky, uphill climb. But you can do it.

IQ doesn't mean crap. I encourage you to go out there. Walk outside. And be pissed off at everyone who told you that you were not good enough. Now imagine proving them wrong. Let that guide you a bit.

Feel free to PM me if you want to talk. I've been in your shoes. It does 100% get better.

[–] SpaceFox@lemmy.ml 0 points 4 days ago (5 children)

Why does everyone think IQ doesn't mean anything? It does and you're insane for thinking it doesn't. My whole life I have been held back by IQ so it's very annoying to see people dismiss it.

[–] miracleorange 2 points 1 day ago

TL;DR: Skip to the last paragraph.

So, I studied psychology in university and this is to the best of my knowledge.

IQ is basically scientifically outdated and based in racism and classism. The guy who popularized IQ testing in the US, Lewis Terman, was a horrible racist who loved using it to prove White people were superior to black people. There are much newer theories of intelligence that view it more as a domain-based thing (e.g. someone might not be musically intelligent, but they might be mathematically intelligent and so on).

There are also different ways your score could've been thrown off, too, especially if your ADHD is relatively severe. Unless you have some sort of developmental disability like Down syndrome, it's actually pretty likely your IQ is roughly the same as your siblings'.

Honestly, the real issue here is the ADHD. Take it from someone who also has it: if left unchecked, it can be a life-ruiner. I was a B and C student and had no clue why until I was almost 23 and finally got diagnosed. I got into university, but it was only after spending 4 years in community college. The guy who diagnosed me said that he doesn't know how I actually managed to do it. He said it was like I had been trying to swim with cement blocks tied to my feet.

Forget intelligence for a second. You are very obviously an capable person. You worked hard in school, you have a good command of the English language, and you're holding down a job in fast food (a field that sent me to tears multiple times, mind you). Your problem is that you've had a very rough life with little support. Prioritize kicking your addictions (maybe try and find a recovery group). See a therapist to talk through your father's abuse. See a psychiatrist to talk about medication for ADHD (non-narcotic, of course). You deserve to be satisfied with your life, and I believe you can get there.

[–] Deme@sopuli.xyz 5 points 3 days ago

IQ is an attempt to represent a persons problem solving abilities with a single number. This is bullshit, because intelligence isn't that simple. There's different kinds of intelligence. Some people are better at some kinds of intelligence, while others have their strenghts in other areas.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

[–] Chulk@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 days ago

I understand how frustrating that must be. It sucks to have people tell you all of your life that you can't do certain things because of your intelligence and then have someone tell you it's "not real".

I think most people who say this (including the person you're replying to) are trying to reassure you, not dismiss you. The origins of IQ are arguably racist/classist and the science behind it is disputed by many. I was told all my life that i had an above average IQ, but i never understood why. I didn't feel smarter than my classmates and I did poorly in school. I later learned that I did well on the IQ test because of my economic background and the resources that I had available to me from a young age.

Intelligence is such a broad concept that we frankly don't fully understand yet. So the fact that we measure peoples intelligence and worth over a number is bullshit and dystopian. This is where the split in your experience comes from. You feel the effects of a low IQ because society values it too much. But most people know it's a metric that's used as a cudgel against others.

In other words, I very much believe that you are treated differently and have fewer opportunities as a result of your IQ, but that's an indictment of our society; not you. On top of it all, it sounds like you didn't have the support network that other people have. Verbal and physical abuse from the people who should be our guardians and champions (your father) will stomp the spirit out of anyone.

I know it might not be comforting, but I read your post and you didn't seem unintelligent to me. Sure, your sentence structure might be different than mine, but you seem like a thoughtful and connected person. What I'm missing, most likely, is the effort, time and energy that it may have taken you to write your original post, which i dont want to discount. But you're able to get your thoughts and feelings across just fine, at least in the form of writing.

Alright, enough with the pep-talk. Do you have any interests or things you like to spend time with? Video games? Animals? Exercise? Drawing? Writing? Makeup? Anime? Cooking? It doesn't matter if you think you're bad at them -- I'd recommend pursuing those interests. Sometimes volunteer work opens up opportunities that you haven't considered. It can also help you create that social safety net that I was talking about earlier.

I would try to get a job that gets you by (I know, easier said than done). Something like janitor work, fast food, retail, or hotel service. It doesn't have to be permanent, but just something to keep a cashflow while you give yourself time and room to grow. I'm not sure where your located, but I would check for non-profits or local orgs that offer assistance to folks.

Don't let our psychotic and unhealthy society dictate your worth. You are a human being who has thoughts and feelings. Your ability to hold a job or quuckly solve a problem is relatively superficial.

[–] GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 days ago

Well, you're both right. IQ means something, but it's only a predictor for outcomes. Many high-IQ people have led very mediocre lives and many low-IQ people have had very successful lives. Certainly, a high IQ can make life easier for you, as can being born in a prosperous country, having a wealthy family, knowing the right people, or getting lucky. The other half of that equation is hard work.

From what you've said, you don't have good family connections, high IQ or know the right people. You haven't said where you live. There may be resources there to help you, or not. Either way, accessing those resources or getting ahead without them will be hard work. If you decide to go down that path, there will be pretty menial jobs, long hours, and not much money. There will be a lot of hard work in your down time to see what you can do to improve your abilities so you can improve your prospects in the future. Likely you will find none of this fun. There's no guarantee it will succeed. But, like with many people, those are typically the only options before you to get someplace better.

[–] POTOOOOOOOO@reddthat.com 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

IQ does not define your destiny.

I don't know what my IQ is. Nor do I care what it is.

You sound smart enough to ask for advice. I don't think your IQ is as low. Let's go through some steps. You can type, read, write, use the Internet, figure out how to get on the fedi, realize you have an issue, and you asked for advice. That's more than 99% of people can do. My parents couldn't do what you did.

I was once told a story about an IT worker. They got called by a doctor about their mouse not working. The IT person tries to troubleshoot the issue with no luck. They go over to the Doctor's work station. The Doctor is trash talking them. The IT guy looks at the computer and realizes the issue instantly. The mouse is upside down. (This is a true story)

We are all smart in our own ways. We all have talents and gifts. What can you do well? And if you don't know that answer; ask your friends. Take inventory of yourself.

[–] jeena@piefed.jeena.net 1 points 3 days ago

Honestly I thought it was a fake story because of how they presented themselves while doing in on a very niche fediverse platform like Lemmy where practically only people end up who are very interested in technology, politics, freedom, etc. All topics which require quite a degree of abstract thinking and knowledge.

So even if this IQ number were correct, which I have a hard time to believe because if how eloquent they use language and how analytic they see their life, it probably has no base in reality but was a test fluke.

[–] Analog@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 days ago (2 children)

You vastly overestimate the competence of the workforce in general. If you show up on time, work hard, and work to improve over time (don’t expect to be perfect! Just learn from mistakes!) you will be a coveted employee.

Hopefully this leads to improved feelings of self worth.

Reminds me of the YouTuber Mat Armstrong w/motto “Hard work beats talent.”

As others have said, pick a trade. Make bank. Get some friends who value you for you. F everyone else. Not literally lol

[–] tetris11@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

"You don't need to be smart, you just need to be useful."

I live by this creed everyday and it's served me well. I don't count myself as smart, but I do have some skills that others dont and vice versa and that's enough to get stuff done

[–] emmie@lemmy.ml 0 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Yeah well good luck with adhd at: work hard, show on time, remember that you have any work at all

First month is always all cool and nice thanks to inhumane amount of energy but then it catches up with you and you plunge hard

The more monotonous and routine something is the worse it gets. Same tram every day at same hour? Two weeks max before inevitable disappearance to never appear again.

It’s like walls are closing on you and anxiety attacks start and you have to run and regain your strength to try anew somewhere else.

Once it got so bad I almost got paranoidal psychosis because I just felt so bad so to preserve my mental health I had to disappear and barricade for half a year to recoup.

It’s no fun standing in public and feeling like you are about to die, freaking out about it, freaking out about freaking out about it and that you are crazy, running like mad from the place that gave you this suffocating feeling

[–] Analog@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago

I dunno if all ADHD is exactly like yours, but I doubt it. Your version sounds pretty hellish, to put it lightly.

Good info though, thanks for deeming us worthy of your time (not sarcastically) and sharing your experience. Pretty eye opening for us neurotypicals.

[–] isolatedscotch@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Everyone's thinking it, I'm just saying it

stop with the fucking drugs already

[–] SpaceFox@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 days ago

I can't disagree

[–] PullPantsUnsworn@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Your English is perfect. There is no indication of low intelligence from the way you described your issues. B and C grade are pretty average and indicates you can learn with hard work. I think what you might be experiencing is anxiety and that is causing you to think you don't have skills or intelligence. I am not from US so I don't know what kind of help might be available for you there, but I would suggest you to look for a job with something you like to do even though the pay might not be great and then eventually your interest will take you further in your career.

[–] cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Was going to say the same. Where did this IQ test take place anyways?

Also I had pretty shitty grades all through high school too because probably ADHD and also Jesus Christ 90% of those courses were mind numbing and my mind would be wandering.

Fast forward, I'm making good money (close to double those in my peer group) and surviving just fine so far. It's a lot easier for me to focus on things my brain likes to think about.

To OP, it can be done. Persevere.

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Nobody with 76 IQ will get past the Lemmy landing page when they start talking about instances.

[–] kellenoffdagrid@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 3 days ago

First off, I'm so sorry to hear what you've been through. Your family (especially parents) failed you by not supporting you in your education and early adult life -- that's when people need the most support as they grow. Nobody deserves that, and I hope you're able to keep finding the support you need. It's a relief to hear you have/had a friend to live with, and I sincerely hope you're able to keep finding that kind of support.

Hope is a difficult thing. It's often swayed by external circumstances, but ultimately it's a concept that you foster for yourself. Hope might be an irrational desire, but it's the reason anyone ever does anything. My outlook is that every person has potential to do good, and that potential is only "wasted" if they stop reaching for it -- that idea gives me hope for others and for myself. I've heard some pretty rough stories very similar to yours, but the common thread with many of them is that those stories didn't end there, they kept going and ended up somewhere. It just took them time; years, decades maybe, but it got them to a place where they were happier and more self-assured.

Really, the biggest factor in all of this is time. I'm also in my 20s, and I've also made some mistakes that "set me back" a few years and had me in a similar place of feeling hopeless and incapable. The biggest part of all of this is that we're still very young, and the years it takes to learn and grow feel longer now than they will when we're old. I think it's important to see this part of your life as a time to make mistakes and struggle and hurt, but also as a time to slowly but steadily grow and learn and find your people.

Your past happened and led you here. You had some say in it, but many of those factors of your early life were far outside your control, and now they're a done deal. But now, now is an important time. This moment is different from before: in many ways you have more freedoms, and while in other ways you'll still feel held down by familiar forces, now you have a different environment with different options that could build up to something better. This is what ultimately matters: doing what you can, in this moment.

I know I may also sound cringe in this long-ass post, but I think cringe often a by-product of sincerity. I sincerely do have hope for you, even if you're a stranger, even if I don't know your whole story, even though what you've said is an absolutely horrible experience, I still have hope for you. Why? Because you showed a scrap of hope by even posting this. A truly hopeless person wouldn't care enough ask other people what they thought, but you did. That tells me you want a better life badly enough to keep trying, and that's a huge step.

I hope all that philosophical/life outlook stuff I said helped you feel at least a little better. Even if it didn't, I really do mean it when I say I hope the best for you and truly believe you can get yourself to a place where you're happier. But I'm sure you're tired of my yapping about humanity and hope and potential, so I'd like to say something more materially helpful. The specifics depend on where you are, but I can list a few real things that you can do (or already have done) that can help you build some stability. All I ask is that you go through this list looking for things that might work, and try not to focus on what "won't work." I know I tend to focus on the latter when I'm struggling, so I hope this reminder helps if you do too. Now, here's some ideas that might be helpful:

  • Research some local resources. I'm intentionally vague here because there's a lot of ways you can go, but here's some resources to look into:
    • Addiction clinics and treatment resources. You seem like you don't love how drugs are affecting your life, so I think it's worth spending a lot of time and effort trying to find some treatment/guidance to gain back control here
    • If you have a public library, please look into the programs they offer. They're honestly the greatest public good in this world, and depending on where you are and how your library is funded, they likely offer lots of free online education resources and in-person workshops, some aimed at people entering the workforce. If nothing else, libraries offer a place to be, a change of scenery, books, movies, computers, and music, all for free. Libraries are pools of knowledge with people who genuinely want to help you learn, so don't pass them up.
    • Places for art/creative expression. Super vague, I know, but that's because this depends on what your interests are and your location. These kinds of gatherings and communities may be online too, but it's worth finding real people nearby first and foremost. Do you like music? Your city probably has cheap bars or house shows you can go to. Like drawing, painting, graffiti? Good hobbies on your own, but even better when done in a communal setting. Local cafes, restaurants, and other businesses might host artist gatherings. Into DnD, TTRPG, or other games? Same as before, local businesses probably host DnD/game nights, and these circles are often welcoming and have a lot of down-to-earth people. Whatever the case, finding places where you can see and express creative work is important for the human spirit. Plus, getting to know people keeps you sane and increases your "network," so you might stumble into new opportunities thanks to one of these connections. You can find these kinds of meet-ups through city websites and social media pages for your library and local businesses.
  • IQ is a scam and has no bearing on your worth. It's a shaky metric and it's validity has been questioned for years. Worst of all, it reduces you to a number; I don't care how "valid" a metric might be, it becomes dangerous as soon as it's used as a value judgement. Besides, you strike me as pretty smart considering you got grades in that B-C range under all that stress with zero actual support, and using a Reddit alternative tells me you're inquisitive. That matters.
  • Life might be a series of distractions, but those distractions can be great parts of your life. All this to say, if you don't already have a hobby or creative outlet of some kind, think about what interests you and find some cheap ways to fulfill that interest. Drawing is pretty accessible, you can even get most of the supplies for free if you keep your eye out. Making music is now very doable for free on phones or computers, see things like Bandlab and other online tools for free playgrounds. Writing can be done digitally or physically cheaply too. Reading is free thanks to libraries. Finding things to do that interest you are one of the biggest things you can do for yourself.
  • As someone who also has ADHD, I know how that can make everything harder. It takes time and you keep learning, but I know it's possible to build routines and structures that better mesh with the way your brain works. You're not in this alone.

I've written too damn much now, but I hope something there meant something to you. I'm sure you've heard a few of these things before, but I know when I'm hopeless I need to be reminded what my options are. From one young person to another in a rough world, I genuinely hope you're able to find what you need. I'm proud of you.

[–] Hexadecimalkink@lemmy.ml 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I think part of your problem is you're comparing yourself to others that are different to you. It's like thinking you're lesser because you're not a tall basketball player, when you're not meant to be a basketball player. IMO if you can hold a steady job to pay yhe bills that's probably the first thing. Then a good way to get off the drugs is to focus on exercise and eating healthy. If you can keep that up for a year theoretically you should feel a lot better about yourself. Maybe get into reading books as well. Even the most trashy of books.

[–] SpaceFox@lemmy.ml 0 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

How can I control my own thoughts? I can't choose what I think. The truth is that my brothers and sisters are just more accomplished then me. There all in university or graduated. They've all got there $hit together. Why me? Why can't I be like that? I hate to think what they think of me. Don't get me wrong I love my brothers and sisters but I don't like talking or seeing them because it fills me with such shame. They all look down on me and makes me so mad and sad at the same time. I just don't understand why I didn't turn out like them.

I'm not good at reading books. I've tried in the past but I can't. They always take forever to read. The words go everywhere and they get so boring.

[–] Hexadecimalkink@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

Sounds like you might have ADHD. Anyway, don't give up. I found mindfulness practice 15 mins a day helped me a lot.

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 0 points 3 days ago

I read this post yesterday and I went back to find it to write a response.

First, let me clarity when I give advice, I speak my mind, saying what I would do if I know what I know now but were in your shoes. It isn't intended to make you feel better, but genuinely a matter of "this is the easiest way to reach my goals".

First, let's address the problems you can fix, and ignore the ones you can't. You say you're 76 IQ, but to be honest you wrote a more comprehensive post than most people can. In any case, check out this video by a guy who claims to have 70 IQ and how he holds down a job at McDonalds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjDXvXACIEA

Why a job at McDonalds? For a few reasons:

  1. You already live with your friend. You're not about to be homeless. This is the best time to start working.
  2. Getting a job means getting experience working. You might not think much of it now, but that's step 1 to getting a job at a company with a union, or a company that will offer you full time for health insurance
  3. Getting a job will preoccupy your time. You can't quit drugs and alcohol if you're not distracting yourself with something else
  4. A new job means meeting new people and learning new things. You might find another path yourself
  5. McDonald's will let anybody interview and start working. So you can get this job

Second, you need a long-term plan. This is why I mentioned a full time job with a union: it doesn't matter if it's an Amazon Warehouse or a Walmart, a union will look out for your best interests. They will give you a livable future and be the backbone you need for support, since it seems you can't turn to your family for that.

Getting a job at a company with a union is harder, but that's why you do step 1 first. When you have experience and a reputation working, these doors will always be easier to open up.

[–] etchinghillside@reddthat.com 0 points 4 days ago
  1. This doesn’t look like it was written by someone that isn’t intelligent.

  2. You’re probably self medicating yourself through ADHD and/or anxiety and it’s also not helping with the anxiety and/or depression you might be experiencing.

  3. 20s is prime “what do I do with my life” for most - and it doesn’t always go away as you age.