conversation: User (The1975ArcticHoodlum): "Im a casual redditor. I lurk and I post. And this time Im going to reddit to ask for help. I dont exactly know where to post this but. . here it goes. Maybe a few people will see this. \n\nSo for the past few months my mom and her second husband have been at each others throats with divorce and the constant threats and Court battles with my little 8yr old sister in their crossfire. Ive grown throughout most of my life justifying my mothers verbal abuse as "motivation" and as "the best for me" when Id be critizised for every little thing I did wrong or brought back home a 'B' being told how much of a failure I am and compared to themselves and hiw they did in school bringing back nothig but straight 'A's. Now that I look back on it, I was just the spitting image of the man she fucked for funsies in her 20's to end up with a kid she probably blames me for ruining her life never living up to her expectations and always being compared to everyone else who was better than me. Even when I decided not to join the military right before graduation after she dragged us to counselors office trying to knock some "sense" into me crying her eyes out and me finally giving in, it still wasnt enough. They say youre your own worst enemy but I can firmly say, she was. I know most of you will assume that this all cant be true because being a teenager the stereotype that we must rebel against our parents in this manner exists but thats bullshit. I went through a mental breakdown in my freahman year of college with the stress of this divorce and school and work losing my cognitive function to speak for a weak in the hospital given a boatload of pills ever since for depression, bipolarity, anxiety, eatig disorder, you name it. (P.S. fuck those people who romanticize depression.) \n\nBasically, I hate this woman. She cares more about a man that she started dating a week after she kicked out her second husband that live in Tijuana, visiting him every weekend to go see him while I took care of my sister, while the woman who shouldnt even be allowed to be called a "mother" got pissy and drunk with this man going to clubs and parties posting pictures of her on Facebook toting pistols on horses. And somehow shes the one that came into my room a couple minutes ago saying shes "Had enough." \n\nI didnt even fight back or say anything. I just listened to her telling me how shes leaving for a year or so and Ima have to start paying the rent, electricity, gas, internet, and everything else I own with my part time job at fucking subway. \n\nI just dont know what to do. All my dreams of transferring to UCLA and becoming a elementary school teacher and travelling to the olymoic games in Japan with the love of my life and buying a car and having fun and being young all came crashing down in my mind leaving nothing but black and Im scared of that idea of hopelessness I only ever read about in novels and survival in todays world alone with no family around to go to.\n\nI live in L.A. and I dont know what to start doing or where to even go.\n\nPlease, please help me.\n\nThank you and I love you."
  Self: "Hey man, sucks that you're going through this, but being in Los Angeles you do have a few opportunities you can take advantage of. Trade jobs in the entertainment industry are always hungry for apprentices, 'below the line' entertainment jobs are often ignored by people your age because they lack the prestige of the big creative stuff; but working in any of the numerous support jobs is incredibly rewarding, pays relatively well compared to other trades, and gives you access to a generally warm and accepting community. Literally any gig will pay better than fast food. The best thing you can do is work your ass off to earn your independence and get the fuck out of a toxic situation. \n\nSince you mentioned you were interested in traveling to japan, it may make sense for you to head over to the valley and visit Aeon.  Right now is the perfect time to staff up, companies like Aeon hire native english speakers to move to japan and teach english. I have some friends that have done it and it's a great experience.  They pay well, set you up with a place to live and take very good care of you as long as you're professional.  Check them out here: \n\nhttp://www.aeonet.com/life-at-aeon/a-typical-day-at-aeon/ \n\nThere are a ton of similar agencies, but Aeon has offices in Los Angeles you can visit immediately. I don't know your situation, but just getting away from your family, having an international adventure, and getting some perspective might be the best idea right now.  I mean, at least as an alternative to joining the military. \n"
  