#1
Minor injuries you used to be able to spring back from in a day take months to heal. You wake up every day never feeling 100% rested, that tiredness compounding day by day. You fall asleep as soon as you're resting in a chair, just like your dad or grandpa always did. All the fun things you used to be able to eat and drink suddenly don't sit right in your stomach, or will make your entire body feel uncomfortable. And the worst of all, you still feel relatively young in your mind, but then you look in the mirror and see an aging person with wrinkles and grey hairs and realize that's how everyone else sees you and that you'll never get to be the young person you still feel you are in society.
#2
tl,dr I thought it was weakness of character until it happened to me
I struggled with mental health all through my teens, had a really hard time, but basically always fulfilled my commitments even if that was literally all I did and everything else (eating, hobbies, socializing) completely went out the window. It was wrong of me, but despite spending a lot of time basically being a robot held together by obligation and string, I thought people who claimed to be too depressed to function would be powering through like I did if they had any personal integrity.
Then senior year of college rolled around and I just. Stopped. Stopped going to class. Stopped showing up for my campus job. Ghosted my friends. Stopped turning in my coursework. I knew on some level that I was ruining my life and my behavior would have lasting consequences if I didn’t get my stuff together, but I just…couldn’t care. Couldn’t anything. Miss Reliable who got straight A’s while still making time to take care of everybody else couldn’t get out of bed.
It has nothing to do with integrity or lack thereof. Depression is an illness, and it’s debilitating. It took ending up in the emergency room twice for me to turn it around. I did manage to graduate, thankfully, and that was years ago and I’m doing well now, but it was definitely educational.
#3
You learn some things only with time, and some lessons about aging teach you whether you like it or not. Ever had an older cousin who refuses to stay out past midnight or complains about back pain after sitting too long? Maybe you laughed it off, thinking they were being dramatic. When you’re younger, it’s easy to joke about it or brush it aside. But fast forward a few years, and suddenly you’re the one yawning at 10 p.m. Turns out, age really does have a way of humbling everyone.
#4
#5
It all sounds like utter BS until you are that person and then it feels like a curse. No one believes you until they are in the audience of the presentation, in the Lyft when the driver wigs out, at your place when the house falls apart comically, etc.
It’s constantly one thing after another. You become nervous when things start to go well because it never seems to last long. The moment the knot in your stomach goes away is when everything falls apart. Everyone assumes you are making it up, you are the problem, or you are the unluckiest person alive, but in the end, no one really wants to be around walking chaos.
#6
As we get older, our bodies quietly start changing behind the scenes. After 30, many people begin to lose lean tissue, which includes muscles and important organs. Your muscles may not bounce back as fast after workouts, and everyday tasks can feel a bit more tiring. This gradual muscle loss, known as atrophy, is completely normal. It’s one reason staying active becomes more important as the years go by. No wonder stretching suddenly feels like a necessity instead of a choice.
#7
Thought I was above that. But through years in grey and dark winter days in UK I genuinely couldn’t figure out why I felt so flat. Tried to live in a warmer country, with bigger windows, closer to water and suddenly everything was easier. We’re just plants with anxiety really lol.
#9
Body fat also tends to creep up after 30, even if your habits haven’t changed much. Many people notice weight settling more around the middle, especially near internal organs. Compared to your younger years, you could end up carrying significantly more fat. It’s not always about eating more, your metabolism simply isn’t as speedy anymore. This is usually when people start saying things like, “I just look at food and gain weight.”
#10
#11
Another surprise aging brings is getting shorter—yes, really. Over time, changes in bones, muscles, and joints can affect posture and spine health. Conditions like osteoporosis can cause tiny fractures in the spine, making the vertebrae compress slightly. This happens to everyone, regardless of gender or background. It’s subtle at first, but one day you realize you’re not quite as tall as you used to be.
#13
Yeah then I had my first one. My god.
#14
Yeah, no. Contractions were the most intense pain I've ever felt. I had back labour, which I've heard is worse than regular contractions. It felt like my spine was being crushed. Screaming was involuntary.
#15
Most people lose about half an inch in height every decade after 40, and it speeds up after 70. Over a lifetime, that can add up to one to three inches. The good news is that a healthy diet, regular exercise, and caring for bone health can slow it down. Strength training and calcium suddenly sound a lot more appealing. Turns out posture really does matter.
#16
#18
Feet also change with age, which explains why shoes you once loved suddenly feel uncomfortable. Over time, arches can flatten and feet may spread out. That’s why many adults find themselves buying bigger shoe sizes than they wore in their 20s. Comfort slowly starts winning over style. One day, you wake up and realize supportive footwear is non-negotiable.
#19
#20
