26 posts shown.
Brandon Foster7 said:The only real problem here is that you and your boyfriend clearly lack any sense of ethics.
Shame on both of you!
What’s it actually like being with a loser like that? He’s using her now, and he’ll do the exact same thing to you.
Let me be crystal clear: this woman’s perception of reality is just completely warped. She’s under the delusion that he’s actually in love with her simply because they text all the time, and she’s out here voluntarily sending him money without him even asking. And what does he do? He blows through it in three nights flat. Personally, I would never touch someone else's money; I always find out about his spending after the fact when he’s out hitting up high-end steakhouses with his buddies. So, nobody is begging her for cash—she’s literally handing it over herself, fully expecting him to dump me and run to her. But guess what? That isn't happening. She is relentless. Honestly, she's acting crazy, but he isn't the one who's out of his mind. He isn't some pathetic loser. I mean, come on, if someone started depositing money into your bank account out of the blue, wouldn't you take it? I'm just stuck thinking about this whole distorted perception thing... I'm not exploiting anyone... at first, I thought the whole situation was kind of funny, but now it's stopped being hilarious and it's just getting sad and, frankly, pretty intense. Part of me thinks it wouldn't be a bad idea if she actually read this thread, maybe then she'd finally see things for what they really are, but I doubt it...
Nicholas Barnes74 said:Man, you really missed the mark with this thread...
I mean, you're actually asking for a diagnosis here...
So, we've got this woman who weighs, what, 650 pounds? And she’s a total knockout—plus, she’s footing the bill (how does that work, though? Is she just sending cash or are they actually hanging out?) and you guys are blowing through it... I mean, something feels off there, right?
The best question is probably: "What kind of schizophrenia are we even talking about?"
I'm gonna head out...🙏
She sends it remotely, since they live far apart.
If we assume there's some psychological issue at play—and honestly, it feels like there is—I'm not trying to play doctor or hand out clinical diagnoses, but there's clearly a disorder involved. What's the actual term for people who have such a fundamentally broken perception of reality? Like, what's the glitch in their internal wiring?
They don't necessarily have to be clinically ill to experience this, but I'm genuinely curious about how that works.
Nicholas Bailey3 said:The guy is basically an ATM for some insecure girl—and you’re really sitting here wondering what her deal is?
Good grief...
😁
I didn't really make myself clear earlier: it’s not like this happens every single day, it's more of an occasional thing—haha, just kidding...
To clarify, he isn't actually out there asking her for cash; it's more that she just reaches out and sends him a request whenever she feels like it...
I’m posting this here because I’m really trying to wrap my head around what kind of diagnosis we might be looking at in this situation...
So, here’s the deal... my boyfriend met this woman about two years ago who, frankly, isn't his type at all—and I don't just mean physically, though she does struggle with severe obesity, a limp, and a stutter. Regardless, she fell head over heels for him instantly and hasn't stopped blowing up his phone ever since. Even after meeting me, she just keeps going, completely relentless.
To give you some context—my guy has a bit of a habit of spending money he doesn't really have, and she, thinking she can win him over, has been sending him cash quite generously. He’s actually taking advantage of her infatuation and her totally warped perception of him. It’s wild... like, if he sends her a quick text or even just hits a heart button on a Facebook post, she interprets that as deep romantic interest. It’s like when someone asks you out for coffee without any underlying tension, but they walk away thinking it was a full-on date. We've tried explaining to her multiple times that there is absolutely no chance with him, but nothing sticks, because one little "like" on social media just resets her whole delusion. My boyfriend keeps feeding into it, playing along as long as the money keeps coming, which only deepens this intense fantasy she's living in. She’s completely disconnected from reality... For instance, if she were to look at Brand Ask and Angelina DZ, she’d probably tell herself, "Well, if he can be with her, he can certainly be with me." She has zero self-awareness regarding how she compares to me or the kind of partner my boyfriend actually seeks out. Just one single message from him acts like a blindfold over her eyes. Everyone else avoids her because she’s just so pushy, annoying, and suffocating. Can you imagine how devastating it’ll be when she finally hits a wall and realizes the person she’s obsessed with is avoiding her? But he won't pull away because he’s pitying her while also enjoying the financial perks. Honestly, we used to laugh at her profile pictures whenever she changed them, but now it’s stopped being funny because it's clear she’s genuinely unwell. I know this sounds harsh, but it’s the truth. Can anyone explain what kind of schizophrenia this might be, and more importantly, how should we handle someone like this?
Edit: I honestly think she’s never actually been in a relationship before and has no clue what intimacy actually entails. It seems like she thinks a relationship is just going for walks and hanging out, rather than the reality of sharing a bed, a home, dinners, and everything else that comes with it.
fadedorca66 said:First things first:
Are you currently in the US? If so:
- First off, you gotta check if that TV even picks up modern signals. Most Sony sets from around 2015 onwards should be fine.
- If it doesn't support it, you'll probably need an external converter box.
- If it does work, make sure you're scanning for digital channels instead of analog ones.
If you've done all that—meaning you've confirmed you actually have a decent enough signal to begin with—and you're still getting nothing, then maybe try:
- Moving the antenna around to find a better spot.
- Trying a different antenna altogether.
If none of that works, an indoor antenna probably won't cut it and you might need to hook up to an outdoor one.
I'm over in Canada right now. Sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner, but I'm heading over to my grandparents' place today so I can give this another shot.
fadedorca66 said:What TV model are we looking at? It should be on the sticker on the back or maybe the side.
It's an old Sony plasma, but honestly, I don't have all the specifics handy right now.
Roger Castillo9 said:I’m assuming we’re talking about the US here… and let me tell you, analog reception hasn't been a thing since back in 2009…
So, look, you really need to be hunting for digital channels. If your TV is more than, say, five years old—that’s just a rough guess, obviously—it might not even work. We had that big shift where the broadcast standards updated, moving over to the newer ATSC tech. If you're stuck with an older set, you’ll either need a brand-new TV that supports ATSC right out of the box, or you can grab one of those little external digital converter boxes. You just run the channels through that and plug it into your TV using an HDMI cable. That second route is probably only like $30 or $40, which isn't bad, but honestly? For elderly folks, messing with extra boxes and wires is usually way more confusing than just getting a decent new TV that actually works properly from the jump—which I'd guess would run you somewhere around $400 or $500.
Thanks, but I still find it hard to wrap my head around why that old way of receiving signals wouldn't work, especially since you see those types of antennas being sold everywhere. I'll give this a shot over the next couple of days and see if I can actually get something to show up on the screen....
wearymason4 said:...so, are we talking about an indoor antenna or one mounted outside?
...and does the antenna actually have a clear line of sight or enough range to reach the local TV tower?
It’s actually just an indoor antenna, and I'm on the top floor of the building.
I know hardly anyone ever posts about this kind of thing here, but I’m really trying to do right by my grandparents. They’re getting up there in years, and they’ve reached that stage where they just don't want to deal with the hassle—or the cost—of a monthly cable bill. Their pension doesn't leave much room for extra expenses, so they ended up unplugging everything, leaving them with this big, beautiful Sony TV I passed down to them. I thought I’d be a hero and just pick up a basic indoor antenna to get them some free channels, but I've hit a bit of a wall. Everything looks fine physically; the ports are all standard, but when I try to run an analog scan, the screen just stares back at me saying "No Signal." It’s like the TV and the antenna are speaking two different languages or something. Does anyone have any advice on how to actually get a picture so I can help my grandma and grandpa out? Thanks so much!
Jessica Morris6 said:I actually have a copy of where the bird sings beautifully sitting right here. I can send it over to you if you want...
Go ahead and send it my way. I'll shoot you a private message.
Lawrence Booth2 said:Tried watching el Topo again... gave up on it.
Man, what a mess.
Honestly, I’m not even really feeling the movie vibe lately. My heart is more in books, specifically the ones that have been translated from other languages.
I was just wondering if anyone knows if there are any e-books available online by this author?
Joseph Fowler33 said:You hit the nail on the head. His perception of reality is totally warped—who knows how deep that goes? Only he knows how intense it feels. It’s the same for anyone going through something like this; some people handle the mental anguish better than others, but it varies so much. In my opinion, he’s basically in a state of psychosis right now. His brain is under massive strain and isn't functioning normally. That explains why he has this insane burst of energy where he can pull 15-hour days of manual labor, but that can't last forever. The body has its limits, and his brain is essentially running on "high voltage," forcing his body toward a total collapse. His mind isn't listening to what his body needs; it's just driving it straight off a cliff. No sane person could work 15 hours a day of heavy physical labor without killing themselves in a very short amount of time. Personally? I wouldn't last a single week doing that. That also explains the social issues you mentioned—he's just not there right now. And about the medication—that part is true. I've been in a similar spot myself, where the meds just completely numb you and knock you out. It's unfortunate, but really, the best thing you can do is try to convince him to talk to a professional—like a psychiatrist—who can get him on the right treatment plan. He needs something adjusted so he can actually function, because he won't be able to keep this pace up for much longer...
Over these past twenty years of dealing with this illness, he’s gone to all sorts of counseling sessions. He even worked for an organization for people with mental health issues once. But unfortunately, it always comes down to the same thing: he talks to a professional, and then he just goes right back to doing things his own way. To him, everyone else he talks to seems to be operating on their own separate agendas too. Thank you so much for writing to me and explaining all of this; it really helps me make sense of things a bit better now. He’ll jump into any job offered to him, but it's always short-lived. He can't stick with anything; nothing holds his interest. As soon as he starts something, he’s already looking for the next gig or the next exit strategy. Right now, he’s working abroad where the pay is decent, but he’s already been hunting for something else for a month. He tries to be social, but only in this calculated way where he thinks, "I'll be extra nice to this person because they might be useful to me later." He has this knack for manipulating people into feeling sorry for him just so they'll hand over some cash. He never turns anything down. He uses the old line about his mother being elderly and sick and living off her Social Security, yet he doesn't send her a single cent. Instead, he spends money on expensive designer clothes, living entirely for the moment and acting incredibly immaturely. Zeljan is obsessed with proving himself, but honestly, all that posturing usually falls flat because it's just so over the top. I honestly can't tell if all of this stems from his condition or if it's just his fundamental character. He wants to charm and impress everyone, trying to dazzle them with his stories. Sometimes he doesn't even realize how much he's hurting people, and I suspect people will eventually start avoiding him. His situation is a complete mystery to me—I truly have no idea what's driving him or why he feels this need to insult and belittle those closest to him. What’s worse is that he talks trash about his own family to his new coworkers; someone who didn't know him would think, "Man, what a pathetic life he leads." I don't know what he's saying about me to whom, but I'm certain there's someone out there he's venting to or mocking me in front of. Unfortunately, it often comes back to haunt him—people end up making fun of him because of his tall tales, and eventually, he realizes it too...
I have someone very dear to me who is living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. To be honest, I don’t know much about the condition itself, but I find myself desperately wanting to figure out how to help them. It’s an incredibly heavy situation to navigate because I’m certainly no doctor, and they refuse to take the medications prescribed by their physician; they claim the meds make them feel like a "zombie," leaving them in a constant state of sleepiness where they just can't function normally in daily life. I wanted to write everything out here in detail, so if anyone has walked a similar path or dealt with something like this, I would truly appreciate it if you could reach out and share your experience with us...
So, looking back, about twenty years ago—right during the height of the war—this person was brought into a clinic. At that time, their speech was completely incoherent and disjointed, and their physical presence was totally withdrawn, almost coiled inward. They were talking about being persecuted by people... though I honestly have no clue how we even got to that point. Everything changed from that moment on. From the time they hit their twenties all the way through to today—they’re 42 now—they’ve only managed about three years of steady employment. In the town where they grew up, it was nearly impossible to hold down a job because word travels fast, and everyone knew they had mental health struggles. The thing is, this is an exceptionally intelligent individual. They’ve had several serious relationships over the years, but they always seem to fizzle out after about eighteen months or maybe two years at most. People who don't know them intimately—those who just meet them and perhaps spend a little time together by chance—can sense that something is "off," even if they can't quite put a finger on what it is. They frequently stir up conflict and constantly speak ill of those closest to them—the very people who have offered them the most support and unconditional love. There is absolutely no logical reason for them to lash out like that, which is the great mystery to me. Is their perception warped? Are they blurring the lines between reality and illusion? I can’t peer inside their mind to understand why, and that leaves me feeling lost. Right now, they’ve found work in another state, doing some kind of intense physical labor, working 15-hour shifts. They claim to possess a level of strength that makes everyone else admire them. Their ego is through the roof; they have this overwhelming drive to prove themselves to the world. They try so hard to present the best possible version of themselves, yet simultaneously pick fights with coworkers, claiming an "inner voice" tells them these people are negative influences, and that only they can know the truth. They used to use alcohol, which acted as a massive trigger and accelerated the onset of their illness, but they haven't touched it in a long time. No one at the job really understands why they act the way they do, but they've already started labeling them as frustrated or unstable. People see the cracks, even if they don't understand the cause. They’ve pushed away their mother and refuses to take her calls. They even cut off their best friend, claiming they felt "persecuted" simply because the friend reached out with a simple, caring text asking, "Hey, how are you?" Even when his mother asked for a small amount of financial help, he shut her out. There wasn't some grand betrayal or specific reason; it just happened. Meanwhile, they have this new friend who seems okay for now, to whom they vent all this negativity about the family members who stood by them when they had nothing—back when they couldn't even afford a cup of coffee or a pack of cigarettes. Lately, they've entered a phase of boasting about their achievements—they are quite the writer, actually, a true artist—and they carry this sense of superiority, as if they are above everyone else. They spend money recklessly, throwing it around as if they've forgotten that just six months ago, they were completely broke. Any time they form a connection with someone, it tends to sour quickly because they develop a certain image of that person—or create one entirely in their own head. They often seek out conflict as a way to force a break in communication; if someone bothers them or a situation feels uncomfortable, they'll spark a fight just so they have an excuse to stop interacting with that person. And then there’s the emotional aspect, which is my biggest puzzle. How can someone seemingly lack emotion, or at least refuse to show it, when just a week ago they were being tender and kind? It’s like a light switch flips. One day they are perfect, the next they are bitter and negative. One day they might treat you like the most important person in the world, and the next, they treat you with pure disdain. I can't wrap my head around how that behavior fits into any kind of "normal" framework. It’s not normal, obviously, but it’s so jarring. Either they are intentionally playing games with people, or they are struggling so deeply within themselves that they can't find peace. They’ve been doing this grueling physical work for two months now. About seven days ago, they complained that they had lost their "spark"—that joyful side of them that used to make people laugh at work—and that they just didn't have the energy to be the life of the party anymore. When they first started the job, they complained about stiffness in their hands, but that seems to have passed. Still, they won't touch medication and have no desire to. Communication is almost entirely one-sided; they talk incessantly but rarely listen. It’s mostly monologues about work or complaints about their loved ones. They have this uncanny ability to pretend everything is under control when it clearly isn't. Deep down, I know they are a good person, but being their friend is incredibly taxing. When you weigh the good against the bad, the bad side carries so much more weight. They reject any help from medical professionals because they believe their intellect alone is enough to manage their own life. And while they are undeniably brilliant and highly articulate, the conversations are often so bleak and heavy that people end up avoiding them or mocking them, which they perceive as further persecution. If anyone has dealt with a similar situation with a loved one, please reach out. I need to know what to do and how to actually help. They abruptly cut contact with me recently, but I know it might not stay that way—in a week or a month, they might just reappear as if nothing ever happened.
edit: It’s honestly wild how often he does something, and then later tries to turn it around and claim everyone else is doing it and that *they're* the ones in the wrong. It’s such a bizarre cycle. He’ll try to mimic people he actually admires, but he just ends up doing a terrible job of it, almost like he's wearing a costume that doesn't fit. And the jealousy? It’s palpable. Seeing other people build genuine connections clearly eats him alive, and instead of trying to build his own, he just burns bridges with everyone because he can't handle seeing those bonds exist. I don't know, maybe I'm overthinking it, but I can't quite put my finger on what this behavior is—it just feels fundamentally broken. You can sit him down for hours, have all the deep conversations you want, but talk alone isn't going to fix this kind of mindset... it just isn't right.
Sam Lee2 said:Have you ever looked into using geophysical methods?
http://www.scribd.com/doc/54468671/BMusic-Geophysics
Could you walk me through how someone actually puts these methods to work? I mean, sure, the theory is all laid out in the textbook, but that stuff is pretty dense and academic, and honestly, I’m looking for something more practical right now because I’ve got a trip coming up this weekend where I need to check some things out on the ground...
Angela Wright said:To be totally honest, you didn't really handle this very well, and you shouldn't try to blame your own mistake on how the healthcare system works. It's not like our medical system is some kind of paradise here, but someone smart finally realized that antibiotics shouldn't just be handed out like candy, especially when you're risking the whole mess of developing a superbug down the line.☕
By the way, you haven't actually finished your dose because you skipped a pill. Now, all you can really do is hope you're like a blind chicken that somehow manages to peck up the right grain and hits the mark so the treatment actually works.
Good luck!
Thanks to everyone for the advice. There’s a certain logic to the way you guys are picking on me, I suppose, but honestly, you should probably be a little more gentle instead of being so harsh—if any of you are planning on becoming doctors, that's definitely not the way to go about it—because I'm feeling pretty sick and I'm just not in the mood for this kind of talk. For starters, you don't even know where I live, how many miles I am from the nearest town, or how I even manage to get to a clinic... if I didn't have my insurance card right on me, they wouldn't even bother talking to me at the doctor's office to begin with... so what else am I supposed to do besides handle it myself and head back out on my horse? I'd like to ask the moderators to please delete this thread if possible, because reading these comments from certain people is honestly just giving me bad vibes and making me feel even worse physically... take care.
vividsailor7 said:When you're looking at bacteria in the urine, you can't just look at that in a vacuum; you really have to factor in the white blood cells and red blood cells too. It’s all connected.
Bactrim is basically a mix of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim—it's similar to what we see with brands like Solutron or Synergy here.
1. If you decide to just grab antibiotics without talking to a doctor first, and then even go off the prescribed dosage because you think you know better than the instructions on the label, well, what exactly do you expect to happen?🙄🙂🙂
It's honestly a mess.
Normally, I wouldn't handle it that way; I’d probably suggest something like Amoxicillin (Clavibel or Clavocin) or maybe a quinolone like Cipro or Norfloxacin.
I am following the dosage, I just took one of the first ones already. Everything else looks fine according to my lab results, except they noted a high bacterial count in my urine. The doctor at the ER mentioned that my primary physician might tell me to get a urine culture or maybe not, depending on how they interpret the findings... since the labs look a certain way, it's kind of up in the air. Honestly, our healthcare system is such a disaster; if you don't fight for yourself, nobody is going to step up and help you. I definitely don't live in America.
Donna Johnson16 said:you can actually brew cranberry tea at a much lighter concentration so it isn't quite so bitter, and honestly, it still works pretty well.
the thing is, most of that "cranberry tea" you see in stores is really just dried leaves from the bush, but the actual magic stuff—the components that help coat the bladder lining and make it harder for bacteria to stick around—is found in the berries themselves.
but look, let's be real, those are just supplementary aids; they aren't going to cut it when you're dealing with a serious bacterial UTI.
you really don't want to mess around with your kidneys here, so please, take that earlier advice to heart: get a urine culture done and use targeted antibiotics under a doctor's supervision.
...
I'm so grateful to you and everyone else who shared their thoughts. I actually rushed off to the ER hoping they'd give me a referral so I could get a urine culture done first thing Monday morning, but they told me I should just follow up with my primary care physician on Monday instead, which is what I'll do. Right after leaving there, I ran straight to the pharmacy and picked up some cranberry tea and some Bactrim, just to have them on hand. Even though the box says two tablets twice a day, I started taking just one at a time because the pills seem so huge to me. 😁 Please don't go too hard on me for grabbing medication without a prescription, but I just couldn't sit around waiting even one more second. I've been taking it for seven days now and the pains that were happening have finally settled down, but I've been sweating like crazy... though I haven't run a fever.
Angela Wright said:If you haven’t gone ahead and done a urine culture yet, you should definitely ask your doctor for a referral. Just grab a sterile specimen cup from any local CVS or Walgreens, and when you go to do it first thing in the morning, try the "midstream" trick—just pee a little bit into the toilet first, then catch the rest in the cup. Once it's sealed, take it down to your local clinic or the lab they recommend in your area. They’ll run an analysis to figure out exactly which bacteria is causing the trouble and, more importantly, which specific antibiotic will actually knock it out. So, you'll likely be on antibiotics for a bit. While you're at it, you really need to stay super hydrated; I mean, as soon as you go to the bathroom, go right back and drink a big glass of water or some tea. Try to steer clear of anything fizzy, overly salty, or alcohol. Personally, I think parsley tea, cranberry juice, or uva ursi tea works wonders. But here’s the thing about uva ursi: if you decide to go with that, skip the cranberry juice, because cranberries are acidic and uva ursi is alkaline, so they basically just cancel each other out. Pick one path and stick to it. For me, parsley tea has always been the winner.
And one more tip while you're finishing those antibiotics: try to have at least two servings of yogurt or some kind of probiotic daily, just to help protect your system from yeast infections down there.
I was thinking about picking up some cranberry tea since it might taste a lot better than that uva ursi stuff. I tried the uva ursi before, but honestly, it's so bitter it makes me feel nauseous. My question is: is actual cranberry juice more effective? And I'm assuming it needs to be pure, unsweetened cranberry juice, right?
vividsailor7 said:You’re spending all your time writing out this life story instead of just giving us the actual details we need.
What was the specific diagnosis from the ER?
Are you dealing with painful urination or dysuria?
Any fever?
Have you had kidney issues before—like stones or lithiasis?
The diagnosis is basically that I have a massive amount of bacteria in my urine. What’s the best way to clear this out?
p.s. Honestly, I didn't even know my official diagnosis until two days ago, so I was just typing out everything I thought might be relevant... sorry if I was being a bit much, I'm really not an expert on this stuff. Best,