How do you rebuild your life after years of feeling stuck?

I’m posting here because when I shared this in a twenties-focused community, a lot of people seemed more interested in mocking or nitpicking parts of my story than discussing the actual issue. Some people made assumptions about my situation without knowing the full context. I can’t share every personal detail online, so I’m hoping to hear from people who have been through difficult phases in life and can offer some perspective.

I graduated with a B.Tech in Computer Science, and for the last few years I’ve been trying to build a career with very little success. Some opportunities turned out to be scams. I also can’t actively go out and search for jobs because of family restrictions, which has made things even more difficult.

Over time, the lack of progress has affected my confidence. I’ve spent a long period feeling stuck, isolated, and unsure of what direction to take. I used to be focused, disciplined, and genuinely excited about learning. I did well academically and genuinely believed I would build a good life for myself. Now I struggle with motivation, concentration, and believing in my own abilities.

My physical health has also deteriorated. One of the reasons I want to move to a Tier-1 city is to access better healthcare and opportunities. Before anyone asks why I can’t simply get treated where I am, the situation is more complicated than that. I can’t share every personal detail publicly, but living with pain and health issues isn’t something anyone would willingly choose.

The hardest part is feeling like life has been on pause while everyone else keeps moving forward. Every year that passes makes me feel further behind. I look at the person I used to be and wonder where that version of me went. The confidence, ambition, and optimism I once had feel very far away now.

I know I’m not the first person to go through a difficult phase, but after years of setbacks, isolation, health problems, and failed attempts to get my life moving, I’m exhausted. Sometimes I feel like I’ve spent so long trying to survive my circumstances that I’ve forgotten how to actually live. I don’t know whether I’m looking for advice, hope, or just proof that it’s possible to come back from a period like this.

For those who went through years of unemployment, poor mental health, health issues, family difficulties, or simply feeling completely stuck, how did you recover? How did you rebuild your confidence and get your life moving again?

I’d genuinely appreciate hearing your experiences.