“Growing up in poverty. Constant low-level trauma.”

I'm the AAPI Culture Editor here at BuzzFeed, where I cover everything from trending news to pop culture to AAPI issues.

"It's even worse with the cycle of 'send resume -> wait for an answer -> get ghosted/rejected -> repeat.' I want to do something, I want to work, I want to be better, but the constant rejection drains your will, little by little."

"This. I had a bike stolen from my backyard, and my sense of security was broken, and it took months to finally feel at peace in my home again."

"This is it. I've been in a few accidents, most recently being T-boned last summer, and what I struggle with the most is the fact that I know all it takes for something to go horribly wrong is a moment of not paying attention. I've already had the misfortune of being in an above-average number of accidents, so when people try to comfort me by focusing on the statistics, it really doesn't help because I already feel like I'm an outlier, so who's to say it won't happen again? And when I do see people driving carelessly or I witness a close call, it shakes me up, and it takes a while for me to stop fixating on it. I've made some progress with the fear and anxiety, but it is still there and still affects my daily life a lot, TBH."

"And then when you're finally old enough to understand the situation and communicate what was wrong, is still missing, and what you think would improve it, you're met with 'yeah, I guess we missed it,' and zero additional effort beyond that. Whatever 'it' is, because I don't think they understand the problem beyond recognizing that I'm upset at something.

Yeah, I was easy because I knew to solve my own stuff and not to bother you with any negative feelings at all because I wasn't going to get real help anyway. Exactly like now, apparently, even though I'm almost 38 years old. Great stuff."

"'Oh, she's so independent.' Nope, I needed you, parents."

"I struggle with this intensely, but only for myself. I spoil my daughter rotten; I’ll get her anything she wants. If she asks for Starbucks, we get Starbucks, and I struggle with whether I should also be allowed to get one for myself."

"I think being poor made me almost hyper-consumerist. I rarely had anything growing up, and if I ever did get something I wanted, there was also a legit fear that it might get pawned (and then lost because it's not like my parents would pay to get it back) for cigarette money. Now that I can afford things, it's like I just want all of the things."

"Piggybacking off that, C-sections. Mine was pretty traumatic. You’re very aware of what’s going on, you’re cold cut open on a table, you could hemorrhage (like me), and suddenly feel like absolute trash. And nothing is in your control."

"Separation after birth. Having your baby suddenly whisked away to the NICU and not having any clue what’s going on, right after the most intense medical event of your life. Truly deadening."

"I survived six years in a very toxic work environment, and even after two years at a very healthy, functional employer, it's still with me. The hard part is having all these things done to me and nasty things said, and knowing I'll never even get so much as an apology. The people who did things probably don't even remember they did them, and even if they do, they probably don't think they were in the wrong. Looking back, I don't know how I made it."

"The axe forgets, but the tree remembers."

"I'm 30, and I realized fairly recently that I've never been able to engage in a hobby and just enjoy it because of this. I have to dominate at it and be the best there ever was. Otherwise, I feel like I'm failing at the hobby. As if you can fail at just having fun."

"Yeah, people think it's just a thing that brings you back from the dead. They don't realize that it's not uncommon to end up with broken ribs, lung damage, aspiration pneumonia, etc. If someone survives the CPR, they will likely spend weeks or sometimes months recovering from these injuries alone (ignoring why they needed it in the first place)."

"Yes, I still have a photo on my desk of my cat that died almost 30 years ago, and I still think about him all the time. I lived alone in my early 20s when I had him. He was my partner in crime."

"This is my pick, too. People don’t talk about how traumatic it is. They just want you to move on and say things like 'there are other fish in the sea.' Being cheated on can really rock the foundation of who you are."

"This, especially as a woman, where it’s very tied to gender expression and not as much an expectation of growing older. Losing my hair after a long illness was horrifying."

"Had a friend whose parents divorced in middle school. Asked him how he felt about it, and his words were: 'I'm glad they're finally separated.' Kids can feel the tension in the home — better to split than let it fester."

"Yeah. It affects every part of your life and just makes you feel so, so isolated and alone. Every day, I try to be thankful, but at the same time, internally screaming, 'Why can’t this just stop?'"

"I find that to be just as bad as a romantic breakup. My first breakup was actually with a friend. Couldn't eat, sleep, or concentrate. Even my mom, who wasn't observant, asked me if I was OK. Only as an adult did I realize that was my body and mind reacting to the loss."

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.