A young man sits on his parents' couch and watches TV.
Stock photo unrelated.
Am I the bad guy for still not having a job at 26?
I'm still unemployed at 26. I have never worked a day in my life. I've gone to a few interviews and sent one or two applications, not many. Friends also tried to help me, and I mostly tried to do it if it was doable for me, but I got rejected every time.
The problem is I have anxiety, and I can't do well on interviews. Same goes for anything I'm doing. I can't do anything while I'm being watched or judged. I'm also slightly agoraphobic. It was kinda bad when I was in high school, and I used to avoid leaving my house at any cost. All I could do was go to school and try not to get noticed and come back. I eventually got over it, but it returned during 2020 (I was at university at that time). So I had to get over it once again. Right now, I'm way better at it, but I still get anxiety attacks if I'm in a crowded place or being watched. I also tried to find a remote job but no luck in that either.
A crowd of people that might induce a panic attack in the poster of this story.
Scene is illustrative and does not depict actual individuals or events.
All of my friends (same age as me) already work and have their own income. I am jealous sometimes, I won't lie, and I do make jokes about how they should quit and become homeless with me whenever they vent about not wanting to go to work. They laugh and tell me not everyone is as 'spoiled' as me, and I really get that (because my parents really are very sweet). They make jokes about me too and I have no problem with that as it helps me to cope with my problems.
Friends laughing with their friend about his unemployment and failure to launch.
Models for explanatory purposes only.
But recently, my friends started telling me that it's morally wrong for me to not try harder and find a job and it seems it's really starting to bother them. They keep telling me it's not my parents responsibility to take care of me at 26, especially when they have a low income. I'm trying to not be a financial burden as all of my education was free, and I don't ask for money if I don't need it for food or transportation. But maybe it's not enough and doesn't make a big difference.
My parents never said anything about it. My mom also has anxiety, so she kind of understands. All she tells me is that I need to try different things and not avoid the opportunities if it comes my way. Both of my parents are really sweet and understanding so I've started to think that I'm taking advantage of them. I could go to more interviews obviously and try the lowest income one. It's not impossible, it's just that it would cost me a lot of stress and energy.
Nice parents, who are too nice to tell their adult son to get a job.
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I'm really terrified to be out there, because I tend to get the instructions very wrong every time, and then get more nervous next time, and the cycle continues. Or maybe I've been entitled and spoiled all these time and everyone feels that anxiety and they overcome it? I never looked at it or complained that I have it harder than others, but it's been bugging me lately that I might actually have it easier than others?
So am I wrong for taking my parents for granted and trying to kind of put my comfort above my responsibilities?
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