Hey, thanks everyone. I thought I had put up another response here, but it looks like the internet ate it.

A few points: I have been speaking with a therapist every other week for a couple months and that has been helping. On Saturday I just felt like … I don’t know, like I wanted a second opinion? (or third, or fourth, the more the merrier) I was just really down and had to vent. I chose this site because I’d read a few articles and found them to be very insightful. Specifically, the first article I read – “Scared to Try: Moving Beyond the Paralysis of Perfectionism” – really resonated strongly with me, as I felt like it put perfectly in words a feeling I had never been able to describe. (Good catch Jim.)

I just … I don’t know what I want out of life. All I know is that I’ve been sitting where I am now for a couple years now and I just keep feeling worse and worse. In fact, last autumn I quit my old shitty job (one of the few things in the past few years I’m absolutely certain was a good idea). But rather than go out and find something I would actually enjoy I did nothing. I didn’t know what I wanted, I didn’t apply to anything because I didn’t feel qualified. I only got my current job because of some help with my friends, which is to say that I was dragged (kicking and screaming) into employment.

And I know in my head that it’s all foolish and that there really isn’t anything to be afraid of. I’ve read a lot of articles with really good advice, but it doesn’t change how I feel.