In my city, there’s a walking group that mostly consists of seniors. Personally, I think this is such a great way for older folks to stay active. They go on long, brisk walks together, swapping out routes to keep things interesting. The cost is $0.00.😁 Another popular hobby here is bocce ball. It's mostly the men who get into it, but it seems like a perfect fit for their age group. I believe the price is about $0.00, especially since they handle everything themselves—maintaining the courts, buying the gear, and setting up their own tournaments. Then there’s year-round ocean swimming, though I wouldn't recommend that to just anyone. You'll see plenty of seniors doing it, and some swear it actually saved their lives. Again, $0.00. On one particular beach, you’ll find groups of people, many dealing with various health challenges, practicing Tai Chi 😳. Someone showed them how it’s done, and now they teach each other and welcome everyone into the circle. It’s all about community and cheering each other on. At that same beach, when the weather is nice, the men hang out playing cards or chess. It keeps their minds sharp, and they get a good walk in just traveling to and from the shore.😁
Hannah Davis18, if you're looking for something to help those wounds heal faster, maybe try some Neosporin? They even have versions with antibiotics if the cuts are a bit deeper. Honestly, it works wonders and it's super safe—you can just grab it over the counter at any CVS.
I used to use it on my son whenever he’d take a tumble or get a bad scrape, just to speed up the healing and make sure he didn't end up with scars.
Back when I was struggling heavily with anxiety, I used to read these threads all the time. Honestly, nothing got under my skin faster than people trying to turn everything into a scientific debate about what’s happening to someone with a specific disorder, blah blah blah... I didn't care about any of that. It just made me feel like some specimen in a lab being dissected, like my own pain wasn't even being acknowledged.
The girl just needs support and empathy, not a lecture on who's right or wrong.😠
I doubt anyone is actually reading you guys besides yourselves—you can be pretty exhausting!
My experience wasn't quite bulimia, though I definitely fall under the eating disorder umbrella. For me, it was a genuine phobia of food—I was terrified that if I actually swallowed something, it would kill me. Beyond that, one thing led to another and the symptoms just kept piling up. I started fearing scents or perfumes, washing my hands and dishes way more than necessary, couldn't even go for a swim in the ocean, and lived with constant anxiety... It sounds like you might be going through something similar, Little Red Riding Hood. Just wanted to share that psychotherapy and group sessions really turned things around for me; now, I can eat anything. Having trouble with food doesn't mean you need a specialist specifically for bulimia; any skilled, compassionate therapist can help. I managed to get through everything without medication because I simply decided I had to get better. I couldn't live like that anymore.
There are plenty of great professionals in Washington, D.C., and there are lots of people here on this forum willing to help by recommending solid therapists, though I'm not from the D.C. area myself.
I just want to send some support to everyone out there fighting through any kind of disorder. I also want to offer some hope. There are incredible therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists out there who truly help, so please don't give up. Back when I was struggling, I found myself washing my hands constantly. But you can't make progress if you're just hyper-focused on the symptoms themselves. The real answer lies somewhere else entirely; it’s not about forcing yourself to stop washing your hands. If you just try to white-knuckle it, a different symptom or some other "shameful" habit will just pop up to take its place. You have to dig deep, face those heavy, painful emotions, and let them out. It's strange how once you do that, you suddenly realize you aren't washing your hands anymore. The symptoms just fade away without you even noticing. One day, you'll just realize you ate an apple without washing it ten times first.🙂
Just wanted to offer some comfort to my ladies out there—there was actually one stretch in my life where I wasn't such a freezing person: pregnancy and the postpartum period. Honestly, I'd get hot feet even in the dead of winter. But just like everything else, it passed. Now, I'm back to being perpetually frozen.
A little tip from me: never wear tights in the winter. Stick to thick socks, preferably cotton. And gloves are a total must—get the kind that fit snugly so they actually trap the heat. I pretty much sleep in cotton socks most of the year just to keep my feet warm. If you really catch a chill, nothing beats a hot bath or shower. I can handle water so hot it would give other people burns. When I'm sitting at the kitchen table, I always toss a blanket over my chair so my backside doesn't freeze. Beer definitely doesn't warm you up; that’s strictly a summer drink. For warmth, go with tea spiked with rum, punch, or mulled wine... 👍 Layering is the way to go. It makes it so easy to adjust as you go. Besides, I absolutely love the snow. 😍
In my personal opinion, your Barbie is doing better mainly because he feels loved and cared for. He knows someone actually gives a damn. Of course, the hospital and the meds play a part, but the emotional side is what really drives it. If he didn't have the will to fight, nothing would work. He’d just shut down and retreat into his own world. Having someone in your corner provides that spark.
That’s just my take—definitely not a professional opinion—but hey, I'm allowed to have one.
If you're nervous about therapy, just think of it like a conversation on a forum.
The first time I posted here in an anxiety thread, I was actually shaking all day after hitting send.
I used to be just like you—completely closed off, bottling everything up and pretending nothing was wrong. But there were plenty of issues, much like yours. Sexual struggles were the biggest one. Believe me, though, it gets better. It did for me. Now, I actually enjoy intimacy more than I ever thought possible. It wasn't that I didn't like it before, but there was just too much mental clutter keeping me from relaxing. I struggled with my self-image and felt like I wasn't good enough at anything. Deep down, I knew there was something trapped inside me just waiting to be set free.
One more thing. In my group, there’s a girl whose father and brother struggle with alcoholism, a woman with an alcoholic father, and another woman whose husband is an alcoholic. It's honestly heartbreaking, isn't it?
Honestly, my only advice is to go see a professional. I know I probably sound like a broken record by saying this, but you might have missed it earlier. I spent years struggling with all sorts of symptoms before I finally bit the bullet and started psychotherapy. It was easily the best decision I've ever made. I still attend group therapy sessions—even though my symptoms have cleared up—because it helped me work through so much. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Reading stuff like this just makes me so angry. No parent should ever treat their child like they're less than human. And what if you actually did have a lower IQ? Don't you still deserve love and support from those closest to you? Do you really think people will accept you just because of a number? I'm honestly at a loss for words, especially since I struggle to get enough recognition from my own parents myself. Go check out the mother-daughter relationship thread over on Reddit.
I remember doing that out of pure love back when I was younger and still searching for my soulmate. I’d meet some guy and just lay my entire soul bare right then and there, basically telling him, "Here I am, completely vulnerable and totally yours." Usually, I don't even pay attention to who the guy actually is—and honestly, that's usually where I mess up; I see something in them that isn't even there. The guy either gets hit with Fear, or he just has no clue what I'm talking about because he's mentally checked out, or he falls for me like I'm some kind of queen, at which point I lose interest entirely. It's frustrating. The hunger for love is just too intense, and you feel like you have to satisfy it immediately.
I totally get what you mean about the volcano. For the longest time, I’ve had this Fear of swerving into an oncoming car in the middle of the night. Those headlights just paralyze me. They look so beautiful and warm, almost calling out to me: come here, come here, come here. It doesn't feel like death; it feels like something peaceful and radiant. Maybe it's Heaven? I try my best not to stare at those lights while I'm driving.
I just swallow everything to keep from crying. It’s not for Richard Murphy6, though—it’s for myself. Every single thing he writes feels like a mirror of my own life. Sure, I didn't grow up being physically beaten by my father, but there is just so much else. Honestly, I could almost copy-paste his stories onto my own life. As for whether we're all crazy or not? Personally, I've embraced being crazy. So what if I am? It actually feels pretty great to just admit it. I can shout "I'm crazy" here as loud as I want.
Here’s a quick positive update on my therapy journey. I’ve been doing group sessions for about a year now. I work with a psychoanalyst who doesn't prescribe medication. When I first started, finding someone truly expert was my top priority. Everything just clicked when they caught onto my very first lie—I was trying to dodge a specific part of my past. Honestly, if you don't trust your therapist, what's even the point? You just know after that first session, don't you? That said, if you aren't dealing with anything major or behavioral issues that feel truly out of line, maybe just talking to a kindred spirit would suffice. But isn't it incredibly hard to find one of those people?