You are not alone this is reality for millions of blind people

That's a very real thing and I know that feeling way too well. You are not alone. I've now known three people who went through sudden sight loss and I think everyone gets this.

I know it's easy to say but you absolutely do have job prospects. I think it's important to be honest and the reality is that there are obviously a bunch of things you aren't going to be able to do. I had that myself, I was training to be a television camera operator and that all went away. I remember reacting very strongly to the people saying I could have a different life which would be just as good. Dear counseling and medical people, never say that to people, because you are devaluing what they have lost.

The thing is is that you do have job prospects. It's easy to say and hard to do but in the end there is a massive (and growing) amount of stuff you absolutely can do. The thing is, it takes a massive amount of extra work. Massive. It's like having two jobs, and one of them you don't get paid for, have to do all day every day, and can't quit. I'm not going to give you the line about it being different but just as good because it still chafes sometimes and I think it always will, but when there is no virus I'm a session musician and one of the directors of a musicians agency and I make more than the national average wage. It can be done. It's totally exhausting. You'll fall into bed at the end of every week wishing you hadn't bothered. But I'll say it again. I will be realistic. It's a hideous awful work load, you will not like it and you will always regret things, I don't like it, I regret things, that's human life. But I promise it can be done.

Definitely not alone. My vision issues aren’t severe, but it’s still difficult. I was an ... of all things...how’s that for a kick in the pants? :) I laugh about it, because it is kinda funny...but it does suck having to reinvent my career. The thing that helped me most was meeting a blind professional in real life. I cannot overstate the importance of that.

I'm not VI but I feel this way for sure. I never finished college, had a good enough social life , job etc then 10 years ago I moved to a rural area for my now husband, stay at home mom, lonely, boring life. When I meet up with my old city friends I feel like you do, they would have high flying jobs, great incomes, excellent holidays etc. I'm jealous for sure. I've relied recently on heavily involving myself in the voluntary sector and learning a language to feel a bit of self worth, confidence, trying to fill up my CV/resume etc. Could that work for you? I work in a charity shop/goodwill, I've a weekly zoom class which I have to say esp in lockdown is a nice social activity, and I joined the school PTA

You just need to take life at your own pace. I get it, though. I thought I would graduate uni this year but ended up deferring last year. I decided to swap degrees (this is my 4th degree swap butwhatever) and go with distance / online uni. Learning to walk properly with a white cane and learning grade 1 Braille makes me feel like a kid again. But yeah, I know it’s easier said than done but you just gotta take life at your own pace and there’s no need to compare yourself to others :)

I do not feel this way, as succeeding by following the same formula as everyone else is not a demonstration of worth in my opinion.

What makes sense to me, and hence what I value, is the ability to succeed doing something different that few people have tried, pushing the envelope in uncharted territory, and trying to be productive as a byproduct of having fun. Blindness gave me the opportunity to do just that. It's not what I wanted, but 5 years after going blind I did accept it, started training myself in hopes to become useful again, and meanwhile am having fun while attempting to be productive in my own way. Obviously I could be a lot more productive, and have a lot more fun, if I hadn't lost my sight, but I've learned to focus on what I can do rather than on what I can't.

I'm a little privileged though, because I lost my sight after 12 years of contributions to social security in my country, which allowed me to unlock enough disability benefits to live comfortably without working. I do not know whether I'd feel happy if I still had to work, but I do know that until my mindset changed I felt very unhappy and suicidal, because material resources don't really matter when you don't feel like you have a purpose in life.

I had the same at the beggining but after two years I gather myself up and now I'm working hard and progressing. You have to keep your head up and work harder!

It’s just part of life. *shrugs*

I think I have more then one reason for this but eh. It’s not even something to cry about but yeah.... for me it’s like okay..... sure.... I’ll get somewhere when I am ready. Practically very capable but there are other things a few things that are just human or particularly to certain people. But okay.

I was 18, just graduated like 6 months before, when I went blind. I was planning on going to art school, then I rapidly lost vision, got brain damage and after a botched procedure got spinal damage. I would have likely gone into tattooing and piercing, would have definitely moved away, and hopefully would have had a successful career that I love but instead, my triangle of physical disabilities and the garbage effects its had on my memory and mental health mean I can't work. The US puts so much worth on what you do and how much money you have, so it definitely doesn't help me feel like a full grown adult when I'm unemployed, living off disability, and can never get married unless I want to give up my disability pay and have my partner pay for literally everything.

I hate to be that optimistic guy but have you tried finding blind folk doing what you were getting a degree in your field?National Federation for the blind might help with that