Unfuck Yourself

: Breaking

't magically perfect, but it was manageable. He was getting things done at work, his apartment was staying clean, and his relationship with Lau

hat the forward momentum he'd built would collapse if he slipped just once. Max was al

book. He had crossed off nearly everything on his list, the one Dave had inspired him to make, but th

ore than the others:

was deeper, more complicated. His issues with anxiety, his fear of failure, and his tendency to shut down when things got tough-all o

e. Time to take th

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because they had a bad relationship, but because Max had always struggled to talk about his deeper emo

he said when

was warm, but Max could hear the concern underneath it. She knew

confident than he felt. "Actually, I've been working

she spoke softly. "I'm really glad to he

rry I've been distant. It's just be

ng through, but he shared enough to let her know that he was serious about making cha

tied to the things he hadn't said to the people closest to him. It wasn't just about his relationship with Laura or his job-it was about

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een ignoring. He started journaling every morning, writing down his thoughts, fears, and frustrations. He reached out to old friends he had lost touc

ax felt like he had taken a massive weight off his chest. His therapist didn't have all the answers, but she helped him start asking the right questions. Why di

days when he wanted to quit. But now, for the first time in his life, he didn't feel

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r dinner. They had been doing well-better than ever, really-but there was still a

ngs he was uncovering about himself, about his fears and his struggles. It wasn't easy, and there

at him with a softness in her

I know this hasn't been easy for you, but y

ough him. "Thanks. I'm just trying to k

said, squeezing his hand. "

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ing kind of hope that came and went depending on his circumstances, but real, solid hope. The kind that came from knowing that no

But now, piece by piece, he was breaking the chains that had held him down for so long. The small steps wer

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echoed in his mind as

chance to take another step forw