Afraid Of Turning 18

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You Read The Title. My Birthday Is June 14, Which Means I Turn 17 This Year. I'm Scared Out Of My Shoes Because This Means Next Year I Will Be An Adult! Mentally I Still Feel Like I'm 14-15 And Even Physically I Look Like A 14 Year Old. Also, How I Act Can Seem "Childish". Mainly, My Impulsiveness. I'm Afraid Of Being Labeled An Adult And Being Given The Responsibilities Given With The Title Of "Adult". Can Someone Here Console Me Or Something?

I also dreaded turning 18, 19, 20, 21... etc.

Life goes on.

You Sound Like My Dad.

Perhaps he went through the same thing. Life doesn't stop just because you're emotionally unprepared for what comes next, so you're forced to deal with it as you encounter it. You go to war with the army you have.

You don't have full freedom, your freedom is always constrained by the available options, that means sometimes having to face unpleasant situations head-on regardless of what one might prefer. You didn't choose to play the game, but unless you're going to choose to quit, you have to keep playing.

If I could be 18 again, I would want it to be like I am now, as in being diagnosed and being aware and educated about ASD, but have the body and appearance of an 18 year old, and I'd want to be living in my own apartment like I am now. When I was 18 I was undiagnosed, having horrible anxiety, put on psychiatric medications with intolerable side effects, and I didn't move out until I was 21, and that was to stay in a group home.

And while I'm dreaming anyway, I'd like the world to be like it was when I was 18, which was in the early-mid 90s, except that people are aware of ASD and autism like they are now, only they accept it.

I know it's the biggest cliche ever to say it, but if you think being 18 is going to be bad, just wait until you're 50 and over. If there's a world left by then.