panning left and right will do man

dont EVER give up man

what are you stuck with? some people start with drums, loops, a bassline or they like to write a melody first

Ooooh man, I can give advice on this. A lot. Because I'm exactly the thing you are affraid of becoming in that original post.

Discovered internet at like 12 (which is sadly to say almost 14 years ago ) and I know what you're talking about. Exactly. Whenever the real world sucked, I just escaped. Went on the internet to read about something interesting, something cool, learn something new. Also intersted in coding, some hillariously failed attempts at 3D graphics and VFX, then migrated to music. That I loved. So I started throwing days, months, years into it. Real life went past meanwhile. Bad life habbits took it's toll. Now I'm 25yo fat bloke with no passion for any sport, losing hair quite badly and my personal life is pretty much a mess. So the danger is f*cking real. Trust me.

On the other hand though! ...I've always thought thats just what it takes at this time and place. That's the price of this hobby. So wrong. (Where's that Hobbit meme, when one needs it? ) I wish I knew this back then, but I've met people who just nailed it. Same hobby, some serious skills, but "normal" fit sporty people with I believe quite cool lifes. It got me at first, but the truth is, whenever I meet some of them, I feel good. ...this little detail. I'd write it on a paper and send it back through a timemachine in a heartbeat.

So I think the solution is in socializing. Don't close yourself in front of that screen just because it offers more than the real world around you. Find compatible people. People nerdy in the same way. Depending on where you live it could be tough, but trust me, they are out there. (Do it especially if you're still in your school years, where "friendships for life" are fromed.) Then the world might actually reveal itself as interesting as the internet is ... or even more.

yeah i agree with you man , its good to find balance and i strongly agree, i train at a local sports centre, swim, study and will soon live independent from parents for awhile, at the same time i put in more than 8 hours + producing a day, even more on weekends if i have time, once in a while i play small gigs for friends or student parties

its ALOT of computer work, but at the end of the day, playing with synths makes me happy and making melodies, i dont look around at others too much cause you enjoy what you are doing and you need total focus in the studio and you cant produce with distractions on your head

you get weird around your head if you are in the studio too much..so take breaks, you need to find some rest, too after all those hours sitting in front of a computer , rest is as important as producing
i can relate man, cause there was a time where i was up until 3am and my life was getting wrecked but its all about balance and thats life

study your favourite artists, their tracks, imitate the best you can while making it your own
do anything man, watch their interviews, tutorials, magazine articles

if its composition or sound design that needs work, try and develop that day by day even if its small
also in the end, try and have fun

have a look at the vandalism sound banks, i think they have some for harmor

if not you can always try freshly squeezed for spire, massive, sylenth for dreamy sounds etc

learn synthesis, chord progressions and study your favourite artists

hmm... maybe you should start off small and with the fundamentals like learn basic music theory,
its nice to play around with the piano once you understand music theory

and try learn a synth and try make some sounds by yourself by looking at presets, a basic bass, lead, pad, etc and try build on from that