20 yo NEET lost after health issues

Hello.

I just discovered the term "NEET", a few days ago to label people like us.

In september 2024, I was about to begin higher education. Game design, as videogames has always been my passion. I've always loved drawing and writing, and was looking forward to beginning this course.
Burnout shattered everything in one day.

In hindsight, there's been a lifelong pipeline of hurdles leading there.

To begin with, nobody in my family would have ever guessed I'd ever experience such a situation.
I've always been a brilliant student and ahead of my peers in many skills. Teachers would praise my early reading, writing skills, analysis skills, etc. I was hardwroking, because I knew I couldn't "simply" rely on that.
However, I faced severe bullying from elementary school to high school, resulting in several health issues (sleeping disorders, anxiety, depression...you name it).

During my freshman year of highschool, odd digestive issues surfaced, paired with stomach pain. The latter was shrouded in mystery until, in my senior year of highschool, it worsened ; I nearly almost couldn't eat anymore, therefore losing over 10 kgs and being so underweight I was hospitalized several times. I still managed to graduate highschool with amazing grades.

So, back in sept. 2024, I was about to begin this game design course with excitement. But my body overloaded (what happened with the digestive issues was just the burnout buildup).

One morning I was simply paralyzed on my sofa, and I told my mom I couldn't go studying anymore.

My parents have been very supportive, but to sustain my mental health, they wanted me to keep an activity at home. I bought an online drawing course and stuck to the planning everyday. In January 2025, I tried applying for an online Game Design course of 6 months, with evening classes and projects to build a small portfolio. I had to cancel because of extreme anxiety.

In september 2025, I wanted to try applying again for a first year of Bachelor in Game Design. Same old story, except schoolphobia was adding up, so I canceled...again. Around october 2025 I had a burnout relapse until about January 2026, and couldn't draw for months. I just started again recently.

Right now, I don't feel ready to go back studying again. For the past 3-4 months, I've been sending several job applications in different fields, from translation to working as a janitor. When I'm lucky enough, I get clear rejections ; otherwise, I'm being ghosted.

I tried applying for internships as well ; however, as a NEET, AKA somebody who doesn't study, it's very hard getting a professional experience this way. Students are prioritized first of course.

I'm being followed by a counselor to help with my resume and job applications. However, after a bunch of appointments, the latter seems to think sending my resume for an internship to various companies, EVEN if they don't explicitly offer internships, and EVEN in the gaming industry, will get me an internship.

I keep holding the dream of game design, it gives me hope and is a true passion of mine. I've come to think the job market is widely unstable anyway, so rather there or anywhere else, nowhere is easier right now. Even if I can "only" join the industry in 10, 15 years...at least that's enough for me to hold on to.

However, I don't know what to do right aside from keeping my applications going. I was suggested to create a professional profile on the social media and post my art there. I don't know what else to do, if there's anybody or anything specifing I can reach out to. As a NEET, I don't have a clear status, and we're often left without guidance. I know I musn't have figured out every solution yet, hence why, if anybody got any advice, I'll gladly take it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this