For me, it's been about 5 years. Having poor social skills, poor self esteem, and a sensitivity to rejection makes things difficult.

I started college as a way to gain access to resources to help me, such as FAFSA money, free student therapist, workshops to help me work on my social skills, and the chance to network with people. I'm also trying to find a job on campus because the people there are actually nice and respectful to us students who are having trouble so I would feel more comfortable working there than another place. If I can't get a job there, than at this point, I would take homelessness before working in fast food or retail because I can't deal with such a high stress fast paced environment with so many people and rude customers and what not.

My long term plan is to make it either as an online freelancer or entrepreneur because the only way I can see myself functioning in society at all is if I can choose my work schedule and work from home without having to go out everyday and deal with people. I'm planning on starting an LLC soon and establishing a business so that I can qualify for business loans and credit within the next year so that I can make a living entirely off it and not work a regular job. I plan on getting into ecommerce and offering freelance services or possibly doing some internet marketing in order to make a decent living on my own terms.

If I can't make a living like this than I would rather live off disability and plasma money because I would hate working a regular job and being told what to do and treated like crap for the rest of my life.