Posts by Steven Hall2

😲 😲 😲 so that's how it works...

I caught a segment on this on TV the other day. Some doctor was discussing it—I can't quite remember if it was Palahniuk...

Since this topic has been around for a while, does anyone have any recent updates? It’s really piqued my curiosity...
How are the prices trending lately?

Jesse Ortiz4 said:Clearly, the issue is more mental than physical. Once you actually get your head on straight, maybe then you'll start 😁

True, but one can only wait for the moment it finally travels from the head down to the rear... 😁

I have such an affinity for Mance. It had been ages since I last listened to him, until a friend mentioned they’d stumbled upon some fascinating footage on YouTube—a recording of Mance performing at the Swamp! 🙂
So, I gave his work another listen. Truly wonderful... 😍
There is one line that really resonates with me: "When you set out on a journey, be sure to pack your sun aaaočale..." 😂

Previously, my cycle would vary by thirty days or more, though I was always consistent enough to never miss a month,
but ever since I started on hormonal birth control, everything has stabilized to a predictable 28-day rhythm, with lighter flow, less cramping, and a significantly milder PMS...

Thomas Bishop64 said:Hey everyone! So, here’s the deal. My job keeps me glued to a desk for up to 10 hours a day, which hasn't been great for my physique. Exactly one year ago, I was sitting at a solid 143 pounds, but now I've climbed up to about 163. I'm looking for some guidance on where to actually start with exercise, how to eventually maintain a healthy weight, and what a sustainable diet should look like.

I’m big on doing things the right way, so I'm definitely not interested in starving myself or jumping on those fad diets that promise miracles in a month.

Thanks.🙂

Hi there.

Thomas Bishop64 said:Hey everyone! So, here’s the deal. My job keeps me glued to a desk for up to 10 hours a day, which hasn't been great for my physique. Exactly one year ago, I was sitting at a solid 143 pounds, but now I've climbed up to about 163. I'm looking for some guidance on where to actually start with exercise, how to eventually maintain a healthy weight, and what a sustainable diet should look like.

I’m big on doing things the right way, so I'm definitely not interested in starving myself or jumping on those fad diets that promise miracles in a month.

Thanks.🙂

I was also at 143, and now I'm at 165. 😢
You'll find a mountain of advice here on the forum; if I may suggest, take a look at this thread over in the Fitness and Recreation subforum.
Weight Loss—Through Healthy Eating and Exercise
However, I have a bit of a different struggle... it isn't so much that I don't know what to do, but rather how to actually motivate myself to do it. My issue is entirely mental... 🙂

Ethan Richardson3 said:Whenever I’m stressed out, I find myself constantly raiding the pantry and just devouring everything in sight. Is that what we're talking about here? 😁

I suspect that isn't quite the case...
You’re just avoiding the work, and honestly, I do the exact same thing... but it happens far too often for it to be a mere slip-up, which is where the real trouble lies, and despite my best efforts, I can't seem to break the cycle... I’m not being irrational about it, even if I am fully aware that this isn't exactly the most productive way to live... 🙂

It isn’t that I’m constantly plotting my next meal, but when those waves of anxiety hit, I tend to eat my way through them. It’s how I deal with the nerves and the sadness...
Some days feel manageable, while others just spiral downward again.

Gregory Wells6 said:Oh, come on now! David Nelson74, it’s easy for you to say, but it really isn't that simple. Sure, maybe once or twice—even five times—people might be patient enough to listen and understand, but anything beyond that becomes a real struggle.
Just shut my brain off??? 😕 How would I even do that? If I actually knew how to do that—or if I had been able to—I wouldn't even be in a position where I need to take an antidepressant. On one hand, they help; I feel so much better, I'm crying less, I'm stronger, and things don't get under my skin as easily. But on the other hand... it’s almost like I’ve become numb. I love my husband and he loves me—he’s truly a wonderful man, my partner, my best friend, and my lover—and I really don't want to let him down. Maybe the best thing would be to just stop taking them altogether? 😢

I actually used them myself before eventually quitting because I didn't feel any better on them... specifically, I was on Zoloft. And even now that I've stopped, my libido still hasn't really bounced back. So, if they are actually helping you manage your other symptoms, I wouldn't suggest walking away from them just yet, because in my experience, if you quit and all those original issues come rushing back, you'll likely find yourself right back in the same situation regarding your sex drive... so... I don't exactly have a magic solution here... 😢

rowdylynx17 said:I previously mentioned St. John's Wort tea, which acts as a mild antidepressant.
Regarding boosting libido in women, according to the book "Walgreens" by James A. Duke, these might help:
damiana tea
Chinese angelica (dang quai)
kebraço
yohimbe
anise
chocolate
kola
horny goat weed
fennel
fenugreek
ginger
parsley
saw palmetto
wild yam
various essential oils (like sage, jasmine, or rose, though those are strictly for external use).

I've also heard that ginseng and noni can be helpful, too.

Based on that logic, I should be completely turned on all the time, but I’m just not... 😛

nimblepanther23, I appreciate it! 😍
1. I'll get my hands on one...
2. give it a real whirl...
3. and let you know how it turns out!

rowdylynx17 said:Hi everyone!

I have a few questions for those of you who have experience with antidepressants, or even if you haven't taken them but might know something about what I'm going through.
I recently started seeing a psychiatrist—I’ve been twice now, and tomorrow will be my third visit. So far, everything seems fine; I feel like I have really good communication with my doctor.
It isn't a massive issue, at least that's how I see it right now. For the time being, the diagnosis is just mild anxious depression or something along those lines. I won't go into every single symptom right now...
The main reason I decided to seek professional help is sexual dysfunction. Basically, my libido is extremely low; I just don't have much sexual desire (I mean, I do have it, but it's very weak and happens rarely), and while I can reach orgasm, I have issues during intercourse (I just realized it might be important to mention that I am female 🙂).
I have a boyfriend and we get along great, but naturally, disagreements and tension arise because he has a normal sex drive and all that...
Anyway, I've been discussing the possibility of starting antidepressants with my doctor. I'm open to the idea and I'm not afraid of it, but there is one thing that is really bothering me.
First, will the antidepressant have a sedative effect? I don't actually have trouble sleeping; in fact, I feel overly tired during the day and seem to need a ton of energy just to handle basic tasks that shouldn't require that much effort. I really wouldn't want this to make me feel even more "slowed down" than I already am.
Second, I've read in several places that antidepressants cause sexual dysfunction—that they actually trigger it?!😲 Like, they decrease sexual desire?
Well, that is the last thing I need, so what would even be the point then?
It is mentioned that duloxetine and antidepressants that don't affect serotonin neurotransmission have the lowest impact on sexual dysfunction, whereas tricyclics, SSRIs, and venlafaxine are the ones most likely to cause issues?
I'm planning to discuss all of this with my doctor tomorrow, but I was wondering what your opinions and experiences are?
What actually happens to your libido when you take antidepressants? What happened in your case?

Yeah... it’s the exact same story on my end, unfortunately... 😢 😠

rowdylynx17 said:Hi everyone!

I have a few questions for those of you who have experience with antidepressants, or even if you haven't taken them but might know something about what I'm going through.
I recently started seeing a psychiatrist—I’ve been twice now, and tomorrow will be my third visit. So far, everything seems fine; I feel like I have really good communication with my doctor.
It isn't a massive issue, at least that's how I see it right now. For the time being, the diagnosis is just mild anxious depression or something along those lines. I won't go into every single symptom right now...
The main reason I decided to seek professional help is sexual dysfunction. Basically, my libido is extremely low; I just don't have much sexual desire (I mean, I do have it, but it's very weak and happens rarely), and while I can reach orgasm, I have issues during intercourse (I just realized it might be important to mention that I am female 🙂).
I have a boyfriend and we get along great, but naturally, disagreements and tension arise because he has a normal sex drive and all that...
Anyway, I've been discussing the possibility of starting antidepressants with my doctor. I'm open to the idea and I'm not afraid of it, but there is one thing that is really bothering me.
First, will the antidepressant have a sedative effect? I don't actually have trouble sleeping; in fact, I feel overly tired during the day and seem to need a ton of energy just to handle basic tasks that shouldn't require that much effort. I really wouldn't want this to make me feel even more "slowed down" than I already am.
Second, I've read in several places that antidepressants cause sexual dysfunction—that they actually trigger it?!😲 Like, they decrease sexual desire?
Well, that is the last thing I need, so what would even be the point then?
It is mentioned that duloxetine and antidepressants that don't affect serotonin neurotransmission have the lowest impact on sexual dysfunction, whereas tricyclics, SSRIs, and venlafaxine are the ones most likely to cause issues?
I'm planning to discuss all of this with my doctor tomorrow, but I was wondering what your opinions and experiences are?
What actually happens to your libido when you take antidepressants? What happened in your case?

I was on them for four or five months, yet I couldn't detect even the slightest shift... Not a hint of improvement in my mood, nor any relief from insomnia, all while dealing with that complete and utter loss of libido...

Brenda Sanders46 said:It’s way too easy for her, honestly. She just hands out the antidepressants like candy... you show up to a couple of sessions and suddenly—bam—here we go, straight to the meds.👎

My doctor wrote them in for me during my very first visit... 😢

Bradley Watson3, the reality is that you aren't even looking to change things, and you seem perfectly content just staying exactly where you are... whereas I simply won't find any sense of peace until I've conquered this thing I feel compelled to master, regardless of what the paycheck looks like.

Emily Hayes said:Look, it wasn't an overnight fix. It took years.

Even after I finally managed to get my binge eating under control, I was still left dealing with all the fallout from those habits. I had to tackle the aftermath, too. Honestly, though, that part wasn't nearly as grueling because I’d already done the heavy lifting on the psychological side of things.

So, how did I actually pull it off?
I wish I could just hand you a step-by-step guidebook or a foolproof recipe for success, but I don't have one 🙂
What I did was dive headfirst into a mountain of books. I spent a lot of time deconstructing my own fears and insecurities, looking them right in the eye instead of turning away. I started mapping out the specific triggers—those exact moments that would send me spiraling. Once I recognized the pattern, I stopped using food as a way to numb my feelings or punish myself. Instead, I started pausing to actually process the impulse and deal with the root cause.

It was a long road. But over time, my awareness grew. I started catching those red flags earlier and earlier, and eventually, the urge to give in lost its grip on me. I truly believe having a professional therapist by my side would have made this journey so much smoother, but back then, I was young and didn't even realize that kind of support was an option. Plus, I grew up in a circle where mental health stuff was treated like something you only see in Hollywood movies, usually as some dramatic plot point involving a character in a torn shirt 🙄

😁

Emily Hayes said:Look, it wasn't an overnight fix. It took years.

Even after I finally managed to get my binge eating under control, I was still left dealing with all the fallout from those habits. I had to tackle the aftermath, too. Honestly, though, that part wasn't nearly as grueling because I’d already done the heavy lifting on the psychological side of things.

So, how did I actually pull it off?
I wish I could just hand you a step-by-step guidebook or a foolproof recipe for success, but I don't have one 🙂
What I did was dive headfirst into a mountain of books. I spent a lot of time deconstructing my own fears and insecurities, looking them right in the eye instead of turning away. I started mapping out the specific triggers—those exact moments that would send me spiraling. Once I recognized the pattern, I stopped using food as a way to numb my feelings or punish myself. Instead, I started pausing to actually process the impulse and deal with the root cause.

It was a long road. But over time, my awareness grew. I started catching those red flags earlier and earlier, and eventually, the urge to give in lost its grip on me. I truly believe having a professional therapist by my side would have made this journey so much smoother, but back then, I was young and didn't even realize that kind of support was an option. Plus, I grew up in a circle where mental health stuff was treated like something you only see in Hollywood movies, usually as some dramatic plot point involving a character in a torn shirt 🙄

I suppose I am making some headway in that regard. I’ll likely only seek out professional help if things take a turn for the worse, since my previous experiences with psychiatrists here in the States haven't been particularly helpful... nothing they did really seemed to stick.

Oh, I see. It’s just wonderful that I’m doing everything the "right" way. Tell me, how on earth did you manage to pull this off without any professional guidance, and exactly how much time did it take you to figure it all out...

goldenbadger54 said:I’m pretty sure I’ve got that too. Actually, scratch "pretty sure," I know I do... It’s just that every once in a while, it makes me want to throw up.

I honestly can't tell you which option would be "better"—whether I should purge or not. 😕
Since either way ends up being an absolute disaster...

Anyway, over on the other subforum:

Blue Note said:I suffer from senile bulimia. I remember to eat, but then I forget to throw it all back up. 😢

🙂 It sounds ridiculous, but unfortunately, it's the truth.

There’s a massive thread over on the cosmetics subforum dedicated entirely to dark circles...
..but I’m not dealing with those purple bags under my eyes, I have hollowed-out shadows instead...

I mean, I’d certainly love to know which specific cream we're actually talking about here...

Blue Note:

I have been following this discussion closely, and while I find some of the arguments regarding the recent regulatory shifts quite compelling, there remains a certain lack of clarity concerning how these changes will actually impact the average consumer in the Midwest... It seems we are all waiting for a definitive signal from Washington that may not come for months, if ever. If we consider the sheer scale of the proposed oversight, one can only wonder whether the bureaucracy will ultimately stifle the very innovation it claims to protect... It’s a delicate balance, isn't it? kaže: Honestly, who doesn't...

Well, most people—actually, quite a few...

Blue Note:

I suppose I should address the recent discussions regarding the policy shifts at the Federal Reserve... though I find myself wondering if anyone actually expects a different outcome this time around. It seems we are all just waiting for the other shoe to drop while the pundits debate whether the interest rate hikes will actually curb inflation or simply stall the entire economy... which, quite frankly, feels like a bit of a gamble given the current volatility in the markets. Still, one must remain observant... kaže: Just drop the link here along with any ideas you have on how to tackle this... though I assume we’re looking at psychotherapy as the primary route...

I don't have any suggestions to offer, because I’m currently searching for them myself while lying in a coma... 😢