[_ywdj]

> I suffered a rare illness (still have it...)

> with a low everything

You have an illness. That's all there is to it. Don't be ashamed. I think you probably have an illness of the kind that mainstream medicine/society is very bad at understanding, treating and accommodating. I know you think it's "in control", but that's likely because you don't even know what it's like to feel and be "normal".

Everyone who seems to be doing so much better than you is doing it in a way that comes fairly naturally to them, as their health, and the way the feel and think is very different. It's not your fault that it hasn't worked out this way for you yet.

I've been through a somewhat similar path. It's awful, I know, I really do. I'm 45 and only just fully overcoming the illness I've had for much of my life - I desperately hope. It took till my very-late 30s to start earning a good income, and I became a father for the first time at 43. Life is now pretty good and getting better. But I've had to endure so much pain and shame on the way here.

Be kind to yourself. You're still very young. Keep getting therapy. Do more research into what's doing on in your body and how to get your body and mind working better. There are many options. It will probably take a long time to figure it out and get to a place where life is really great, but you absolutely can get on to a path where you're feeling better, functioning better and achieving better things week by week, then in several years you'll look back and be amazed at how far you've come.

Pay no attention to your peers who seem to be doing "better" than you now. Many of them will crash and burn in their late 20s or 30s, or just end up mediocre in middle-age. I see it a lot. If you get onto a path of healing and growth now you can live a life of steady improvement and optimism that will be incredibly fulfilling.

I wish you all the best.

[user-extended]

I'm very glad you've been able to overcome your illness and that you're on a better path now, I know it is not easy.

For me, it took me 5 months of constant pain, lots of tests, and stuff I don't want to get into. But long story short, it doesn't affect my mental capabilities (asked medical professionals about this several times). Obviously, it has had side effects on anxiety and other stuff which may collaterally have effects on my general intelligence.

I wish no ill on others, so I don't hope they crash and burn.

I will try getting onto that aforementioned path, thank you.

I also wish you the best.