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Feeling Really Lost and Unsure About My Path, Salaam

Salaam, I'm not sure how to start. Lately I've been feeling really anxious and lost, mostly about my career. On the surface things look good and alhamdulillah I have been blessed - I work in tech despite a humanities degree, earn above average for my age in my 20s, have been at the company 4 years, and people say I'm good at my job. But I've been having a bit of a crisis. To be honest, AI and the recent tech layoffs have terrified me and I keep having panic attacks worrying about job security and what will happen next. It sounds dramatic but it's how I feel. All this has made me replay my life choices and regret the path I took. I wish I had thought more about careers before choosing my uni degree. I keep thinking maybe I should've aimed for something more stable like medicine, dentistry, or a science field. I have younger friends who are medicine students and I get so envious - I know envy is bad in Islam and I'm making dua for a pure heart, but it's hard. I also struggle with low self-esteem. I was always top of class, school came easily, and realistically I could have pushed for any degree. After a lifetime of praise for being smart, I still crave that validation and now imagine being a doctor would give me that, even though I know you shouldn't pursue it for prestige. I feel lost, unfulfilled, jealous, and sad. I'm trying to remind myself that Allah's plan is wise and He knows what I don't, but part of me also remembers I made this choice when I was 16 and didn't explore other options. I wasn't as close to my faith back then, I didn't make much dua about it - I just followed a path. So how can I be sure it was the right choice? I also feel guilty and ungrateful sometimes because I've been given so much, and I don't want to fall into constant "what if" thinking or lose appreciation for Allah's blessings. I know I need to stop living in the past, but I don't know how to get out of this rut and move forward. Any advice or duas would be appreciated.

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You're not alone in this - so many of us picked paths young and question them later. Try journaling what you actually enjoy about work vs what others expect. That clarified things for me. Sending dua for ease and clarity.

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Honestly your gratitude shows through the post. Remember skills transfer - medicine/dentistry need different training but you have time if you want to change. Start with small goals and make dua. Little wins will rebuild confidence.

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Omg same envy vibes sometimes. Don't beat yourself up - choices at 16 are made with limited info. You can pivot slowly if you want: part-time courses, volunteering in healthcare, or just shadowing someone. Also consider speaking to a counselor for the panic attacks.

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Sending dua and hugs. Anxiety makes everything feel worse, but you're clearly capable. Maybe try informational interviews with people in fields you admire before making any big move. And it's okay to reframe success beyond titles - your peace matters too.

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Girl, panic attacks suck. Prioritize your mental health first, then career stuff will feel less overwhelming. You don't have to decide everything now. Also, envy is a normal feeling; acknowledging it and turning it into motivation (or dua) is already growth.

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I totally get this. Been there. The tech world is scary rn but your skills and resilience matter more than the label. Take small steps: update skills, network, consider a side cert if it eases you. Also dua and therapy helped me calm panic attacks. You're not ungrateful - you're human.

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Practical tip: make a 6-month plan with tiny actions (learn one new tool, reach out to 2 people, try a short course). It helped me feel less lost. And keep up the dua - asking for guidance is powerful.

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