Why do I feel like I can't handle normal adult responsibilities?

Feeling unable to handle normal adult responsibilities like paying bills, maintaining a home, managing work obligations, or dealing with bureaucracy is more common than you might think and can stem from several different factors. Major depressive disorder often makes basic tasks feel monumentally difficult by depleting your energy, motivation, and ability to concentrate. What used to feel manageable might now seem overwhelming because Major depressive disorder affects executive functioning and makes everything require more mental effort. Anxiety disorder can also make adult responsibilities feel impossible by creating catastrophic thinking about potential consequences or by causing paralysis when faced with complex decisions or tasks. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can make it particularly difficult to manage the organizational and planning aspects of adult life, leading to feeling constantly behind or overwhelmed by the sheer number of things that need attention. Sometimes feeling unable to handle adult responsibilities reflects a lack of preparation or modeling - if you didn't learn these skills growing up or if your family didn't demonstrate healthy ways of managing adult life, you might feel lost when faced with these expectations. Psychological trauma can also affect your ability to handle responsibilities by disrupting your sense of safety and making it difficult to plan for the future or trust that things will work out. The transition to full adult responsibility can be jarring, especially if it happens suddenly due to circumstances like moving out, starting a career, or experiencing loss. Sometimes the feeling of being unable to cope reflects unrealistic expectations about what adult life should look like or comparing your behind-the-scenes struggles to others' apparent competence. It's important to recognize that adult skills are learned through practice and that everyone struggles with different aspects of responsibility. Start by breaking overwhelming tasks into smaller, manageable steps and celebrating small wins. Consider seeking support from friends, family, or professionals who can help you develop systems and skills for managing adult life. Remember that asking for help is a sign of maturity, not inadequacy, and that most adults are figuring things out as they go along more than they let on.