Late 30s, struggling to start over

I’m 38, and on the outside my life looks good: I have a solid work-from-home job, own my house, have some investments, and it’s just me and my dog in Austin. Everyone tells me I should be happy, but I’m not.

Most days I wake up feeling stuck, not sure what I’m supposed to be doing with my life. I just got out of a relationship a month ago, and since I’ve basically been in relationships nonstop since I was 18, being single at this age feels strange. I only have one friend, I don’t get out much, and I don’t really know how to meet new people.

I also have ADHD (just figured that out recently), which has made keeping friendships really tough. I’m bad at maintaining connections—texting people back, inviting them to hang, following through on plans. On top of that, I’m indecisive, procrastinate a lot, and always feel like I’m in “alert mode.” For years I thought it was just anxiety, and drinking was how I coped, but it turns out it was undiagnosed ADHD the whole time.

Adding to it, I don’t have parents or siblings—all of my family is gone. So there’s no built-in support group to fall back on.

I think what I want is close friendships, the kind you see on shows (yeah, probably unrealistic). I don’t drink anymore, so the bar scene doesn’t work for me. I’ve lived in Austin my whole life and sometimes think about moving, but I’m scared I’d regret it—especially without family support.

I’m trying to focus on myself: working out, reading, building healthy habits. But it all still feels kind of aimless.

So here’s my question: How do you rebuild your life and social circle in your late 30s when you’ve got ADHD, no family support, and feel completely lost?

Posted Sep 13, 2025, 10:43 PM UTC

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