303 posts shown.
Donna Hernandez4 said:Back then, I had no clue spider venom was heat-sensitive—I didn't realize I actually needed to warm up the bite site! Plus, I was out there all by myself at 5:30 AM, way out in the sticks about half a mile from the nearest house... no idea how I would've found anything hot fast enough to treat the wound. As for the fisherman, that was his story; I'm not sure what actually caused his finger to cramp up like that, but hey, I don't see any reason not to take his word for it.
Come on, those are just old fisherman's tales for kids. 😂
Thomas Garcia91 said:My dad was just diagnosed with a TIA. He’s already had a brain CT, an EEG, and an MRI—all clear, no damage found—but he spent a full week stuck in the hospital getting all those tests done. The episodes keep happening, though; sometimes he gets hit multiple times in one day, other times nothing at all.
The doctors are actually bringing up surgery as an option, even though his carotid arteries aren't narrowed by more than 50%. He’s on his prescribed meds, but honestly, I’m not seeing much of an effect—especially since it’s been over two months since that first episode (which we originally thought was a full-blown stroke).
I'm wondering if there are any other tests—maybe looking at different parts of the body that haven't been checked yet—that could potentially uncover something else?
Thanks in advance!
Could you describe the symptoms he's experiencing in a bit more detail, along with the specific medications he's taking?
Donna Fowler2 said:Hey, I'm Mary. I'm 17, turning 18 soon. 🙂
Anyway, I've been having some really weird symptoms that are honestly a little scary.
First off, I started getting dizzy—you know that shaky feeling you get when you're starving? It got way worse than that. Then my right hand went numb, and the right side of my face felt weak. I could still walk and everything, but talking was a struggle. After all that, a massive migraine hit.
The next day, the same thing happened, but much stronger. It got to the point where I couldn't say a single word properly (kind of like that feeling when you're super drunk and your head is spinning but you just can't get the words out?), and that’s exactly how it felt. Also, I have typing classes at school and I'm usually the best in my class, but that day it took me about five minutes just to type one single word correctly.
The day after that, the symptoms returned again, maybe even slightly worse, and of course, the migraine was absolutely killing me.
It hadn't happened again since then, but for the last four days straight, my left big toe has been numb!! It doesn't hurt, but it's driving me crazy!
You need to get to the ER at a local hospital and ask for neurology. You should probably get an emergency brain CT scan. What you're describing could be anything from MS or a brain tumor to an aneurysm.
Medical errors happen. It’s just part of being human, and let’s face it, we all slip up sometimes. But in our line of work, those slips can be fatal.
Then there's the issue of negligence, which absolutely needs to be held accountable. The golden rule is simple: do no harm. Every single one of us has to live by that.
Peter Taylor3 said:I've had two questions on my mind for a while now...
- How does cancer (like colon cancer) just show up in someone who's young, doesn't smoke, doesn't drink, eats healthy, and stays active?
- If someone actually has a tumor or cancer, is it possible for their lab results (like blood work or ESR) to look completely normal?
It's not about me personally, I'm just curious...
1. We know there’s definitely a genetic component to cancer. In some families, there's a higher frequency of colon polyps that can eventually turn into carcinoma.
Some families have various members dealing with different types of cancer, which points directly to a genetic predisposition.
2. With certain types of cancer, it is absolutely possible for blood counts to come back totally normal.
Car accidents are a leading cause of death in developed nations. In the US, we're actually seeing incidence rates that are reaching epidemic proportions.
We define polytrauma as an injury where at least two different body regions are affected, and one of those injuries—or a combination of them—is life-threatening.
There’s a growing number of young, inexperienced drivers getting behind the wheel of fast, expensive cars. Most of the time, they crash because they're speeding or just ignoring traffic laws altogether. We’re also seeing more frequent late-night street racing in major cities. Given those conditions, it’s really no surprise that the number of accidents and young fatalities is climbing. Back in 2003, statistics showed that 26,854 trauma patients were treated in hospitals across the country due to crashes, resulting in 701 deaths. By the first five months of 2004, the death toll from accidents had already jumped by 21% compared to the same period in 2003. Polytrauma is a very common occurrence in these types of wrecks.
To be clear, polytrauma means at least two body regions are injured, with at least one part being life-threatening. When an FBI crew arrives at a crash site, there are specific protocols they have to follow to care for the patient. They have to secure the scene first, making sure the crew doesn't become victims themselves due to the dangerous conditions that caused the initial accident.
When multiple people are hurt, it is absolutely vital to:
Avoid moving the injured in ways that could cause further damage. For instance, if someone might have a spinal injury, you shouldn't pull them out of the vehicle. Doing so can lead to severe spinal cord damage with permanent consequences. Even a simple closed fracture can easily turn into a complicated open fracture with bone fragments displaced if handled poorly.
The patient needs to be transported to a definitive care facility as quickly as possible.
Emergency services must be notified immediately upon the arrival of critically injured patients so help can be ready.
Provide on-site assistance and begin stabilizing the victims.
One major issue is how long it takes for the FBI to arrive after an accident happens. These crashes often occur on major highways. Because we don't have dedicated stations stationed directly on the interstates, response times for the FBI crews can be significantly delayed. This issue could potentially be solved by forming specialized FBI teams paired with helicopter services to slash those response times down.
Modern trauma centers are typically built outside of city centers and feature helipads to ensure smooth landings for helicopters. Here in the US, however, many hospital centers are located right in the heart of major cities. That's a huge hurdle. Even if the FBI crew reaches the scene in a reasonable amount of time (which feels like an eternity to the victim), they still have to fight through massive traffic jams. Honestly, sirens and flashing lights don't always cut it when the gridlock is that bad.
Once the FBI crew arrives, if there are multiple casualties, the doctor has to perform a quick assessment to prioritize care. They need to figure out who is in the most critical condition and needs immediate attention, versus who is less severely injured and can wait a moment.
To ensure fast and systematic assessment of an injured person, the American College of Surgeons has recommended a primary, rapid orientation method for initial contact. This ABCDE system has been adopted by medical institutions throughout the US and Europe:
A - Airway (checking the airway)
B - Breathing (respiration)
C - Circulation (blood flow)
D - Disability (neurological status)
E - Exposure (exposing the patient for a full body exam)
Airway
Airway — First, you check if the airway is clear. A patent airway is the absolute prerequisite for starting any treatment. If the patient is conscious and speaking clearly, it's a good sign the airway is open. However, for patients who are unconscious or in a coma, endotracheal intubation is mandatory (inserting a tube through the larynx between the vocal cords and connecting it to an Ambu bag and mask for ventilation).
Just breathing. Honestly, sometimes that’s the whole job. It sounds simple, right? But when life gets loud, just remembering to take a breath is everything.
When you're dealing with a pneumothorax—basically, air trapped in the space around your lungs—you’ll notice that breathing on the affected side becomes incredibly shallow or disappears entirely.
When checking breathing, you’re looking at more than just whether someone is inhaling. You have to see if they’re actually breathing at all, or if the injury has stopped it entirely. It's also about the quality—is it effortless, or are they struggling for every single breath? One thing to watch out for is paradoxical breathing. That’s when a specific section of the chest wall moves in the opposite direction of the rest of the torso. Usually, that’s a telltale sign of broken ribs. By simply listening to how someone breathes, you can get a pretty good idea of what's happening with the lungs and the pleura. For instance, if there's a pneumothorax—basically air trapped in the pleural space—you might find that breathing is either incredibly weak or completely absent on the affected side.
I’m just checking in on the circulation for this one. Any updates?
When we start looking at circulation, most people immediately jump to a few specific areas:
Dealing with heavy external bleeding caused by ruptured blood vessels can be pretty terrifying. It’s one of those situations where you really need to know how to step up and take control immediately.
Think about how much work your heart actually does. It’s basically the ultimate pump, constantly pushing life through your entire system without ever taking a break. When you look at it that way, the sheer efficiency required to keep everything running smoothly is pretty mind-blowing.
When we're talking about blood volume, hypovolemia, and how deep someone is into shock, things get pretty serious, pretty fast. It’s all about that delicate balance between what's in the pipes and what the body actually needs to stay upright.
When you're dealing with external bleeding, the standard move is to apply a compression bandage just above the wound. But you have to get it right—if the pressure isn't exactly where it needs to be, you're looking at the bleeding starting all over again. A little trick I've learned to prevent that is to wrap a first bandage, place a small stone or a firm object over the site, and then wrap a second bandage right over it. That extra bit of concentrated pressure helps keep everything sealed up. While you're working, don't forget to keep an eye on the vitals. You really need to check their blood pressure, pulse, and rhythm. I also always check the neck veins. It’s a quick way to tell what's happening inside: if someone is losing a lot of blood, those veins will look flat or empty, but if they're dealing with heart failure, the veins will actually bulge. If you're seeing heavy bleeding, watch out for signs of shock—the person might be sweating profusely, have a very weak or unmeasurable blood pressure, and a racing pulse.
He’s losing control of his sphincters, which means he's becoming incontinent. You really have to catch this kind of thing early and treat it right—otherwise, we're looking at a potentially fatal situation. We need to get an IV started immediately and hook him up to fluids.
Cardiac arrest is one of those things that sounds like it belongs in a medical drama, but it’s terrifyingly real. It’s not quite the same thing as a heart attack—though people mix them up all the time—but it’s just as critical. Basically, the heart just stops pumping. Everything goes quiet, and you have to act fast. It's scary stuff, but knowing what to look for can make a massive difference.
If someone's injured, has no pulse near the major arteries, and their blood pressure has bottomed out, they’re in cardiac arrest. You have to jump straight into CPR immediately. It’s all about that 30:2 ratio—you do 30 chest compressions on the sternum followed by two breaths. Speed is everything here, so don't hesitate!
Tension pneumothorax. It’s one of those medical emergencies that sounds intense because it is. Basically, air gets trapped in the chest cavity and just keeps building up, creating massive pressure that starts crushing the lungs and pushing everything else out of place. It's a serious situation that needs immediate attention.
If you see a patient struggling to breathe, with distended neck veins and blue-tinted skin, pay attention. If their breathing sounds muffled on one side of the chest, you’re likely looking at a tension pneumothorax. This is a massive emergency. You need to drain that pressure immediately by inserting a large-bore needle into the second intercostal space along the midclavicular line. Seriously, if you don't act fast, cardiac arrest and death can happen in a heartbeat.
Disability.
Over in Europe, they tend to rely on the Glasgow Coma Scale to track how much consciousness a patient has regained.
When you're doing that first neurological checkup for a disability assessment, getting an orientation on the patient's status is huge. Here in the States, we rely heavily on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to track consciousness levels. Basically, if someone is in a coma, they aren't opening their eyes, speaking clearly, or following commands. We measure three specific areas—eye movement, speech, and motor skills—on a scale that tops out at 15 points. It helps us categorize the situation: anything from 13 to 15 is considered a mild injury, 9 to 12 is moderate, and anything 8 or below is a severe case.
Head trauma.
When you're dealing with head injuries, things can take a turn for the worse incredibly fast. A patient might seem totally stable at first, but that can be deceiving. You have to stay on high alert because alcohol or drugs can easily mask how serious a situation actually is. One of the biggest red flags is sudden drowsiness. It’s easy to miss, especially since there might not even be a visible wound on their head. Their level of consciousness can drop significantly as time passes. Even someone who just suffered a concussion might seem a little out of it or disoriented. They often won't remember the trauma itself—whether it was a car accident or whatever else happened right before the impact. I’ve seen patients ask ten different times where they are or how they ended up in the back of an FBI ambulance, having no clue what just went down.
Exposure.
Exposure — This phase is all about doing a full-body sweep. You need to check every single area, from front to back, to make sure nothing gets missed. Once you’ve gotten your bearings and finished the initial assessment, focus on the main issue: which injury is actually the biggest threat to their life? When it comes to moving someone, remember that the specific injury dictates everything. It determines how you carry them and sets the stage for the medical care that starts right there on the scene.
Preventative Measures
It’s honestly wild how countries that allow a 0.08% BAC limit end up with way fewer accidents than we do here in the States.
The current approach just isn't cutting it. If you ask me, the real reason accidents are spiking is pretty obvious: people are ignoring traffic laws, driving drunk, speeding, or just don't have enough experience behind the wheel. Maybe the fix is making defensive driving a mandatory part of driver's ed and the actual licensing exam. It's clear now that the zero-tolerance laws haven't solved the problem. We're still seeing way too many drunk drivers causing chaos on the road. And again, it's such a head-scratcher that places with a 0.08% limit manage to stay much safer than we do.
So, we need a two-pronged attack: better education for young drivers and much harsher penalties for those who refuse to play by the rules. Any drunk driver getting behind the wheel is a walking time bomb for everyone else on the road. They should be pulled off the street immediately and lose their license for good.
It’s officially summer, which means the heatwaves are here. We’re all looking for any way to cool off, but that also means more people heading to the water. Unfortunately, we see an increase in drowning incidents every single year. Most of the time, it boils down to the same few things: people who can't swim well, jumping into water that's way too cold, or just getting exhausted. Stay safe out there!
Two different mechanisms.
The basics of first aid.
1. Moving fast but staying careful when pulling salvage from the water.
2. Reviewing and assessing the situation for those caught in the flood:
3. Keeping your airways clear and open:
4. Keeping your breathing and circulation on track:
5. Oxygen
6. Secondary drowning and how to handle it:
Two different ways to look at it.
No matter how someone actually goes under, the main physiological issue is always acute hypoxia. Basically, you're looking at a rapid buildup of CO2 and metabolic acidosis, which eventually leads to cardiac arrest and death.
There’s a massive difference between drowning in fresh water versus salt water.
Drowning in saltwater is a scary one. When seawater hits the lungs, it triggers this intense osmotic pressure imbalance. Basically, all that salt rushes into the bloodstream while the water stays trapped in the lungs. It creates a really dangerous situation called pulmonary edema.
Drowning in fresh water is actually a whole different beast compared to salt water. When you inhale fresh water, things go south in reverse. It rushes from your lungs into your bloodstream incredibly fast, causing hypervolemia. Basically, your blood gets way too diluted, which tanks your electrolyte levels—think sodium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium. On top of that, because your red blood cells start breaking down, your potassium levels spike. It’s a wild, dangerous chain reaction.
No matter how someone actually goes under, the main physiological issue is acute hypoxia—basically, a sudden lack of oxygen. This triggers metabolic acidosis (your blood pH drops) and hypercapnia (too much carbon dioxide builds up), which eventually causes the heart to stop. It’s pretty wild, but about 10-15% of drowning victims actually die with "dry lungs." This happens because the larynx undergoes a reflex spasm that seals everything off, preventing water from entering the lungs entirely. You see this most often in younger people, especially when they plunge suddenly into freezing water, triggering that intense vagal reflex that slams the airway shut.
The basics of first aid.
Knowing how to act when you come across someone struggling in the water is absolutely vital. You’ve got to stay calm and move fast—there’s really no room for hesitation when every single second counts.
Quickly and carefully pulling sunken cargo from the water.
When someone starts drowning in a classic panic, they don't just sink—they fight. They thrash around wildly, making these desperate, useless arm movements just to try and stay above the surface. Because their body weight keeps shifting so erratically, they end up bobbing up and down, repeatedly plunging under the water and resurfacing, all while swallowing huge amounts of both air and water.
Even just a tiny sip of water going down the wrong pipe can trigger an immediate reflex that tightens up your throat. If any of that water hits your lower airways, your bronchial tubes can constrict too, which leads to some seriously intense chest pain. Then comes the apnea—that terrifying moment where you're gasping for air and coughing uncontrollably. The real kicker is when your airway finally snaps open, only for more water to rush right back in. You can end up stuck in that frantic struggle for up to ten minutes, so you really have to stay calm and careful during the chaos.
If you’re trying to pull someone out of the water, be careful—they might grab your neck and try to drag you under with them. If you aren't feeling particularly strong, your best bet is actually to wait until they tire themselves out before you try to haul them in. If you aren't much of a swimmer yourself, don't play the hero by jumping in. Just toss them a life ring, or try to get them onto a boat or a flotation device instead. Now, if you're a trained lifeguard, you might even start CPR right there in the water using mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose techniques. When it comes to the actual physical rescue, just grab them by the arm, their hair, or under the armpits to pull them to safety.
If you suspect a neck injury, you need to get that cervical collar on while they're still in the water. Don't try to pull them out until they're stabilized on a backboard or a vacuum mattress. Safety first!
2. Reviewing and assessing the situation for those affected by the flooding:
If someone’s vitals aren't showing up, it's time to jump straight into standard CPR.
You really need to start with a quick check of the vitals. Focus on airway patency, breathing patterns, and circulation. If they aren't showing any signs of life, you jump straight into standard CPR protocols. But if the person is breathing and has a pulse, take a more measured approach. You’ll want to monitor their level of consciousness, check their blood pressure, and keep an eye on their temperature. It's also important to feel for a pulse along the major arteries.
If the person is conscious, we can generally expect a full recovery. Of course, you have to rule out any underlying medical issues or injuries that might have caused the incident in the first place, like epilepsy or a heart attack. In about 15-20% of cases, acute intoxication is actually the culprit. Also, keep in mind that jumping into water can cause blunt force trauma to the abdomen, head, or cervical spine.
Based on data from American trauma specialists, when looking at three survivors with spinal cord injuries, two ended up with quadriplegia (paralysis in all four limbs). We also can't forget the possibility of stings or bites from venomous marine life.
3. Airway management and clearing the path:
As soon as you get someone out of the water, check their mouth immediately. You need to clear out any mud, water, debris, or even dentures. If their abdomen looks distended (bloated), turn them onto their side and apply pressure to the upper abdomen, or cradle them from under the belly and lift slightly a few times to help drain the water from the stomach.
You need to jump straight into resuscitation (CPR) right away. For patients who are unconscious, endotracheal intubation—inserting a tube through the larynx—is essential to assist ventilation and protect the airway from stomach contents.
4. Maintaining breathing and circulation:
Don't give up on resuscitation even after 30 minutes, especially if the body was in cold water. Research shows that even when resuscitation starts very late, there can be successful outcomes specifically because the body’s temperature was lowered.
The fundamental issue here is hypoxia (lack of oxygen). That’s why you should start mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose breathing immediately. A trained lifeguard will even perform this while still in the water. However, if someone jumped into the water, you have to suspect a neck injury. Don't tilt the head back; keep it in a neutral position instead. Perform chest compressions once the person is out of the water or on a firm surface.
Keep going with resuscitation even after the 30-minute mark, particularly if the person has been submerged in cold water. It sounds crazy, but the hypothermia can actually work in our favor. When the body is cooled down, all metabolic processes slow down, meaning the brain requires less oxygen. Because of this, there is a much better chance of recovery for these patients, even if resuscitation starts later than usual.
5. Oxygen therapy
Providing oxygen is a vital part of the treatment. For conscious patients, we use a nasal cannula. For those who aren't breathing or are unconscious (apneic patients), endotracheal intubation is mandatory. This allows us to insert a tube past the vocal cords into the trachea so we can deliver oxygen and ventilate them effectively.
6. Secondary drowning and follow-up care:
Honestly, the most common reason people drown is simply not knowing how to swim.
In about 75% of drowning cases where water is inhaled, pulmonary edema develops. This is what we call "secondary drowning." It happens more frequently with saltwater inhalation due to the reasons I mentioned earlier. Watch out for symptoms like coughing, rapid breathing, paleness, sweating, vomiting, or loss of consciousness. Treatment usually involves diuretics to help flush out excess fluid, along with oxygen therapy.
A person treated this way needs to get to a hospital as fast as possible. Once there, they should be monitored closely for at least 24 hours. If everything stabilizes, they can be discharged. Again, the biggest factor is often just a lack of swimming skills. Traumas are also a huge issue—like hitting your neck by jumping into shallow water. First aid should really be left to trained lifeguards or strong swimmers. Otherwise, you run the risk of a struggling victim pulling a weaker swimmer under with them.
Amy King said:God! I'm the second daughter, and I just wanted to let you guys know that my dad made it out. 🙂 You all were such a huge help to us. It really meant a lot to have someone who actually understands this stuff explain things to us during that time, because we were all pretty much in the dark. Up until he ended up in the hospital, we thought he was perfectly healthy and fine... turns out, they found he has a heart defect—mitral insufficiency (I actually have it too, though mine was caught ages ago. Every time doctors asked if there was any family history, I'd honestly say no, just not knowing!). When they did his head CT, they also found some ischemic damage about 1.5cm in the frontal lobe, but they can't tell exactly when it happened. Whether it occurred during this hospital stay or way before is anyone's guess. Since the heart scans showed the heart issues are an "old thing" and there's already some scarring, it's totally possible it happened earlier. He’s just not the type to talk about health stuff; he hates doctors and hospitals, so unfortunately, things got complicated and led to all of this.
Since you all seem genuinely interested, I'd be happy to snap a photo of his discharge papers, but I don't want to overwhelm you with details... Anyway, he's home now and recovering slowly but surely. 😉 I just wanted to check in and let you know—if you remember us—that we have a happy ending. 🙂 Thank God, and thanks to the doctors and everyone involved! 🙂
It honestly surprises me that mistake wasn't caught sooner. He really needs to see a cardiologist. With a heart defect like that, atrial fibrillation is a real risk. That kind of arrhythmia could definitely be what caused the ischemic stroke.
restlessbadger2 said:Does anyone have experience seeing Dr. Višnja Škerk at the Fran Mihaljević hospital, specifically in the urogenital infection department? Looking for some feedback.
Professor Škerk is fantastic. I actually did a rotation there during my residency. I was specializing in family medicine and spent 14 days on her unit. She’s an incredible expert, but more importantly, she’s totally down-to-earth. Not stuck-up at all like a lot of my other colleagues.
wiredmarlin29 said:Hey there.
I need some info... I live in Chicago.
I've had the same doctor for 10 years here in Chicago.
I only go in occasionally when I need stuff—blood work, urine tests, referrals, various checkups, you name it.
The usual routine...
But I was down by the coast on vacation and my back seized up so hard I couldn't even get out of bed. They rushed me to a GP (in Sibenik)... they gave me an injection and prescribed Tramadol and Praxiten. They said since we all use the same system,
they'd just put in an e-prescription and those pills were good to go.
That was back in February. I went back for a follow-up two weeks later and mentioned I was heading back to Chicago. She just went ahead and wrote me another box of Praxiten and Tramadol. She told me to pick them up in Chicago once
I finish these ones. She said to take one Praxiten before bed and then the Tramadol as needed if my spine or neck starts acting up...
If it doesn't get better, she said to see my regular doctor in Chicago.
So now I'm back in Chicago, and the pain flared up again. Things were fine for three months, but
now it's starting up again...
I'm planning to see "my" regular GP in Chicago this Tuesday...
My question is: am I still officially her patient? Like,
am I still showing up in her computer records
as her patient, even though they saw me in Sibenik,
added me to their system, and issued
prescriptions for me?
Is she going to turn me away when she sees in the system
that I was being treated in Sibenik?
Can she just keep treating me regardless
of what happened in Sibenik, or do I have to call that clinic over there and
unregister myself as their patient so I can be back in Chicago properly?
And so on...
Maybe this is a silly question, but I honestly DON'T KNOW, and I'm worried that on
Tuesday in Chicago, I'll show up only to be turned away at the door.🤷
Don't sweat it. The doctor had to enter you into the system just to issue that e-prescription. They just logged you as a temporary patient. Your regular doctor hasn't changed. Honestly, I'm more worried about why your back pain and stiffness are hitting you so frequently. Ask your doctor for a CT scan of your spine to see if you might have a herniated disc causing the trouble.
Man, if you guys could hear what we women are thinking. I remember asking this one girl back in the day, and she just looked me straight in the eye and told me I was always the second choice. Just the perpetual runner-up. 🤣
Here we go again with the pipe dreams and the endless rambling from armchair revolutionaries.☕
Back in the day, people used to sing about how the United States and England would eventually become proletarian nations. Well, none of that ever actually happened—except for the fact that socialism and communism collapsed across the map.
Now, I’m seeing everyone craving the breakup of the United States. Trust me, you don't want that. It won't be like the USSR. 😁
Larry Lewis said:I was at a party last night—just trying to unwind, minding my own business—and I had these total strangers approaching me, telling me they knew I wasn't "crazy" and making all these comments about my spikes... people I have literally never met in my entire life. Look, I get it—I really do—and I suppose I should be flattered that they were trying to offer some sort of encouragement, but it’s incredibly grating when it feels like my medical history is public knowledge. It turns out word travels fast, even in a crowded room.🙂I still haven't quite wrapped my head around the fact that people look at me and immediately see a diagnosis rather than a person. It’s exhausting, honestly—it’s one thing to deal with the reality of having schizophrenia, but another thing entirely to have it served to you on a silver platter by someone you just met. Just let me enjoy the party without turning my mental health into the main topic of conversation, for heaven's sake.🙂
Look at it as an advantage! You can tell a girl, "Hey, if you don't go out with me, I might actually lose my mind."😂 🤣
slyfalcon7 said:How on earth did you deal with that?
I had a group of friends who were always working, so we spent every single day out on the town. My college grades definitely took a hit because of it, but hey, I made it through.😁
The girls I was seeing back then were about four years older than me.😁
These days, I find myself leaning more toward younger women.😉
Chris Thompson said:There is a certain peace in being a straight shooter and refusing to deal with such nonsense. I have a handful of guys at my university whom I haven't gotten along with—to put it mildly—since day one. Because of that, I find it perfectly natural to act as if one of them doesn't even exist when they happen to be standing next to a colleague I actually respect. I will carry on a conversation with the friend as if the other person were invisible, and that is where it ends. There is no wasted energy, no forced smiles, and certainly no fake politeness... let alone any gossip, sabotage, or arrogance.
I honestly feel for you women sometimes.
P. S. You really need to find someone you can trust to swap study guides with, someone who will push you to pass your exams by staying on track themselves. Those loners who try to fly solo end up dropping out 90% of the time.
Well, I guess I fall into that other 10%. ☕
Edward Murphy4 said:Look, at my college, being a total loner was actually pretty standard.
People mostly just hung out in tiny little cliques—like pairs or maybe groups of three.🤣 And honestly? Whoever you bonded with during freshman year, that was basically your crew for the next four years. That was it.😁
You didn't really see these big, outgoing social circles...
But hey, flying solo isn't exactly "normal" or even a good move either. If you stay too isolated, you eventually just drift away from the whole campus vibe.
That’s exactly what happened to me during my college days.
Roger Rodriguez said:I actually received a very similar explanation myself. During my first session with a psychiatrist, they thought my panic attacks were strictly due to trauma from an assault. But after going through extensive psychotherapy, we realized the real issue was the struggle to separate from my parents; I moved to a different city when I was only 15, and I just never truly processed that shift. To make matters worse, my parents aren't any easier to deal with than I am—they're even more intense about this stuff! They worry constantly and call me fifteen times a day. If I even have a slight fever, they'll jump in the car immediately to drive me back home so they can take care of me. I've essentially been conditioned to let them smooth everything over for me, yet I feel this growing need to finally become independent. Isn't it funny how hard it is to actually follow through? 😢
Wait, did that actually happen to you??😲 No wonder they're constantly hovering.😢
Justin Rogers5 said:The diagnosis is pathological anxiety. She says I'm so terrified it causes physical pressure and nausea. Once that hit, the apathy kicked in—I don't get pleasure from anything anymore. Just drifting through life. Honestly, I went to her to get off the Deprozel, but she just piled more on. My nerves are so fried I can feel them vibrating through my whole body; every little sound makes me jump. It's all fallout from a rough childhood and physical abuse from my old man. Figure it out.
Are you seeing a therapist? I really think that would be your best bet. Medication alone is a heavy lift, but hey, I'm not exactly a mental health expert myself.🤷
Larry Howard8 said:Basically, separation neurosis means that in my head,
I'm still just a kid.
Mentally—not physically—I can't seem to detach from my parents because I'm terrified of growing up and taking on real responsibility.
Given how old I am now, there's this constant internal tug-of-war between the adult and the child.
One part of me wants to step up, while the other is scared to death, and that conflict leads to
obsessions, anxiety, depression, and all that stuff.
Hopefully, that clears things up for you.
🙂
Hey, don't sweat it. I deal with that exact same conflict all the time.😂🤣
Except for me, it isn't woman-child, it's man-child.😂🤣