How do I stop feeling like a bad Muslim?

Yes, you can, starting by being fair to yourself. Every Muslim sins and falls short, and Allah made returning to Him easy. Feeling bad about your mistakes shows your heart is alive. But constantly telling yourself you're a "bad Muslim" usually pushes you further away, not closer.

Everyone falls short

The Prophet ﷺ said: "If you were not to commit sin, Allah would sweep you out of existence and He would replace (you by) those people who would commit sin and seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would have pardoned them" (Sahih Muslim 2749).

Allah didn't create people to be flawless. He created us to make mistakes and come back to Him. Missing prayers, losing your temper or slipping into old habits doesn't cancel your Islam.

Allah's door stays open

قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا "Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.'" Quran 39:53

Even if it's the same sin again and again, keep repenting. See Will Allah forgive me if I keep committing the same sin?

Where the feeling comes from

Comparing yourself with people online who seem perfect.
Harsh voices at the mosque or on social media who focus only on rules.
All-or-nothing thinking: "I missed Fajr, so my whole day is ruined."
Low mood or depression, which makes everything look darker, including your faith. See Is depression a sign of weak faith in Islam?

How to move forward

Focus on the next prayer, not the ones you missed. One good step resets the day.
Pick one habit to improve this month instead of fixing everything at once.
Don't give up after a slip. The Prophet ﷺ said to "seek help from Allah and do not lose heart" and not to dwell on "if only" (Sahih Muslim 2664).
Notice the good you already do: your shahada, your duas, your effort to learn. These are real deeds.
Choose kind teachers and friends who remind you of Allah's mercy, not only His punishment.

Guilt vs. shame

Guilt says, "I did something wrong, so let me fix it." Shame says, "I am bad, so why bother." Islam uses the first to bring you back and never asks you to live in the second. If shame feels constant or overwhelming, a therapist can help you untangle it, alongside your prayer and dua.

Key points

Every Muslim sins; returning to Allah is what matters.
Allah forgives all sins for those who repent.
Focus on the next good deed, not past failures.
Shame that drives you away isn't from Islam.

Tip: Each night, name one thing you did for Allah's sake that day, even something small like a kind word. Ending the day with gratitude instead of self-criticism changes how you see yourself.