Posts by Amanda Stewart7

You haven't blown it all just yet, but you’re definitely heading down that path.
Look, you’ve got a solid relationship here—a partner who actually cares about you, gets you, and has your back.
So why on earth are you pushing away the one person in your life who is actually trying to help?
If the roles were reversed, you’d be stepping up for them, wouldn't you?
Seriously, give this some thought. This is a pattern you need to break. If you don't deal with it now, it's just going to haunt you later when things get even more complicated.

And hey, you messed up. So what? Everyone trips up sometimes; the important thing is actually learning from the mistake.

You're asking what happens next. Honestly? It's not the catastrophe you're making it out to be. You finish out your notice period, take a little breather, stick to your medication schedule, and find a low-stress job to get your feet under you. Talk to your doctor, breathe, and just let things settle back into place naturally.
I’d also suggest looking into psychotherapy. Just do a quick search for whatever specialists or clinics are available in your area.

Christian King4 said:Greetings, everyone.

I want to know how many of you struggle with high blood pressure, specifically hypertension. Recent studies suggest there is an almost universal link between elevated blood pressure and psychological distress. What has your experience been? What actually worked to bring your numbers down once the issues surfaced?

A few years ago, I was perfectly healthy. Then, out of nowhere, chest pains started and my blood pressure spiked. Since then, I have shifted my focus toward more community-oriented activities—things I never bothered with before. I’ve put this entire situation under the psychological microscope. Every specialist I’ve consulted agrees: hypertension is deeply tied to how we process, or fail to express, our emotions.

Tomislav

Look, it could be psychological, it could be genetic, or it could be a mix of both... but the bottom line is that high blood pressure can kill you.
If you're feeling chest pains, go see a doctor immediately. And stick to the medication they prescribe you.
The idea that hypertension is linked to emotional expression doesn't mean much if you end up having a heart attack or a stroke.
If you were healthy just a couple of years ago and now you aren't, take it seriously.

Robert Martinez6 said:Ever had this dream of living in some refined, civilized utopia populated exclusively by decent people?🙄

I’m just too polite—too well-bred, really. In today’s world, that seems to be a liability, a fact I've learned the hard way.
My parents raised me this way, and frankly, I can't seem to shake it—even though part of me wishes I could.
For instance, if there's even a slight misunderstanding with a neighbor, my first instinct is to extend an olive branch—to check if *I* was the one in the wrong and offer them a drink to smooth things over.
I always greet acquaintances on the street, I always give up my seat on the subway, I actually use silverware (yes, even for watermelon), and I have a genuine distaste for any form of crudeness...
I was just heading down to the corner store. In those ten short minutes, I witnessed absolute chaos: people blocking the crosswalk while they chatted (forcing me to walk through the grass just to get past), some guy spitting right on the sidewalk, and some idiot flying through a red light and splashing pedestrians with a puddle...

The rude ones always seem to come out on top, but I simply don't have it in me to change...

And honestly, why even bother changing?
Just stay true to yourself. I don't see the issue. 😉

Robin Gonzalez3 said:I was wondering—is it actually okay to have a drink while I'm on these pills?

Definitely not. For what it's worth, Loquen works basically the same way as Seroquel.

Matthew Rodriguez9 said:Girl, you are seriously buying into his nonsense! 👎

Look, honey, if someone is actually hooked on heroin, it’s pretty hard to believe they’d just get high for three or four days and then magically quit. I haven't heard a single story like that in my life... unless it’s one of those "tried it once and never again" excuses.

We aren't talking about weed here, where you can hit it once and then not touch it for months or even a year... hey, wake up before things get ugly.

Honestly, looking at your posts, it seems like you don't really get how heavy-duty drugs and addiction actually work.

You should probably go talk to someone working at a rehab center or a recovery community, because they’ll give you the real rundown on addicts, the symptoms, and what actual dependency looks like.

Yeah. I guess she isn't giving us the full story. Honestly, I think she knows way more than she's letting on.
I'm with you on that one.
Princess, what exactly are we supposed to know about methadone? And why are you pinning everything on methadone therapy?

Kenneth Brooks9 said:Look, I can't even sit here and spout all those sob stories about his life, like having issues with his folks or having a messed up upbringing... I'd be lying if I said that. Specifically regarding his parents, they are some of the nicest people I know, and he actually has their support. As for that part about me never being with an addict... I didn't even know he was using until we were already together and he finally told me....
The quality of our relationship is basically zero right now because of his treatment. Just read up on what methadone does to a person and what kind of willpower someone like that even has left... None... But otherwise, during the times we were together when he was clean, it was amazing. I felt loved, fulfilled, and happy...

And you're calling injecting methadone "therapy"? I really hope you didn't start this whole thread just because of the methadone. You mentioned he's "hooked on the needle."
Look, just give him a glass of water and tell him to stick to his treatment. That's about all you can do for him at this point.
Besides, so many people struggling with addiction have ended up slipping away because of that kind of administration... and it happens fast. It settles in your lungs like fine dust, and once you hit that individual breaking point, there's just no coming back...

Sandra Nguyen3 said:So my neighbor—she’s a doctor—had some guy prescribe her Tramadol, but then another MD caught on because she was acting so sluggish. When she spilled what she was taking, he basically lost it—like, "Who even gave you this? Why?" Apparently, Tramadol is such a heavy hitter it's practically a narcotic, and the addiction potential is massive. They hand it out to patients who are already fading away just so they don't suffer quite as much while they're dying. Sort of like morphine, I guess.

Here's a little breakdown of the side effects:

Among the antidepressants, note that Trazodone (Desyrel) causes severe drowsiness that Paxil (Deroxat, Paxil) and mirtazapine (Remeron) are known to promote the kilos that venlafaxine (Effexor) causes nausea and sertraline (Zoloft) frequently causes diarrhea.

http://desyrel.instablogs.com/entry/md-talks/

Trazodone (Desyrel) hits you with intense drowsiness, while Paxil (Deroxat, Paxil) and mirtazapine (Remeron) make you pack on the weight; venlafaxine (Effexor) triggers nausea, and sertraline (Zoloft) is famous for causing diarrhea. Hm... SERTRALIN... honestly, the name fits perfectly. You almost don't even need to be sick if you're taking stuff like this—the meds alone make you feel unwell. So what kind of misery must you be dealing with for these things to seem like the "lesser evil"??!

And then there's the impact on your sex life. I saw someone posting on Lumber Liquidators saying Desyrel and Paxil don't affect anything, which is total nonsense. Generally, SSRIs—selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors—tank your libido. But for some women, Trazodone (Desyrel) does the exact opposite—it can trigger PSAS - persistent sexual arousal syndrome, which people joke about, but it means even a tiny vibration—say, from a subway train or a vacuum cleaner—can trigger an orgasm. Some women report having 200 orgasms a day. Trust me, that's not exactly a dream scenario.😍 For guys, Desyrel can cause priapism—which sounds great, like a permanent version of Viagra, but the issue is the body isn't built to stay like that indefinitely; it starts hurting after a few hours and you end up needing surgery.

Not to even get started on antipsychotics that wreck your liver so you drop dead before 60, or the ones that make you gain so much weight you're basically waddling around like a 330-pound human keg. That's a classic. Anyway, it's all great for you—definitely better than being in a psychotic break and bothering everyone around you. Just remember lobotomies and electroshock therapy—this is way more "humane," right?😁😁😁😉

Tramal is about as strong as any painkiller you can get your hands on here.
It doesn't matter if someone claims it's milder or meant for chronic stuff; it’s mostly used for acute pain, like helping people through physical withdrawal.
One woman had it prescribed after she broke a rib. The surgeon treating her actually made a huge scene over it.
And honestly? He was right. A standard ibuprofen or even Advil would have been more than enough.
Plus, it’s true that Tramal—or tramadol—can hook you really fast. It shouldn't be treated as a first-line option.

Rebecca Scott3 said:Falling in love isn't exactly something you can put under your control... but as for who you end up loving? Well, you might have a little more wiggle room there.🙂

Short, sweet, and spot on.🙂

Is falling in love actually something we can control?
No way. We don't get a vote in who we fall for. Not the where, not the when, and definitely not the "why."

It sounds like you’re describing a specific manifestation of schizoaffective disorder—those delusions or irrational fixations where someone holds onto beliefs that simply have no basis in reality. It's about false certainties built on nothingness.
The thing about true delusions is that you can't just talk someone out of them. It doesn't matter how much education they have or what their background is; you can't reason with a broken perception of reality.
A patient might be convinced they're being followed, that there's some massive conspiracy against them, or that their phone is being tapped. They might even believe they have this "special" ability to receive messages through the media. Then there’s the idea of ideas of reference—that feeling that everything everyone else does is somehow directed at them, or assigning deep, hidden meaning to totally mundane, everyday occurrences...

Casey Morgan26 said:I wanted to start a thread for anyone else out there struggling with insomnia... how long has this been your reality?
Has it completely shifted the way you live your life, or have you found a way to manage the chaos?
Honestly, I never realized sleep could become such an overwhelming, heavy burden...
It’s not even about being shocked or feeling depressed anymore, or even mourning what I lost. It’s just pure, unadulterated hatred. I hate my life, I hate everything surrounding me. I despise this whole mess, and frankly, I feel like if I just stopped existing tomorrow, it wouldn't matter. Why bother trying to function when I can't even live like a normal person?
It’s exhausting. Everything feels like too much, and I'm just... done. I'm tired of looking for a purpose in a life that feels broken. It seems like one disaster after another follows me around, and now, on top of everything else, I'm stuck with this.

Not sleeping can be way more dangerous than people realize. If you go too long without rest, you're heading straight toward getting sick. The state you're describing is a direct result of sleep deprivation, so yeah, obviously your life has changed. When you aren't sleeping, you can't think straight; you can get totally numb, or aggressive—usually, chronic insomnia leads straight into psychosis. If you're feeling this bad, take something to help you sleep tonight, and then get some professional help first thing tomorrow. Try to stay grounded and convince yourself to calm down, because all these dark thoughts and conclusions are just the fallout from the lack of sleep.

shadowtrucker18 said:I honestly don't quite follow you all. You're over here praising the linebacker, yet I’m still walking past the local park today feeling a bit anxious, half-expecting some kid to launch a football straight at my head. Back in my day, the linebacker's primary job was basically to make sure whoever was at the bottom of the defensive line got hit hard enough to stay humbled. It was less about strategy and more about making an example out of people, I suppose. You call this a game, but if you ask me, it isn't really a game at all; it's more like a war 😢

I'm with you on that.
Trout, spot on!

Donna Wood52 said:In a situation like this, you're probably better off just taking a Xanax—it actually does the trick.

Only if you have a prescription.

amberfox4 said:🤷Personally, I haven't had any issues with sleep, though I did undergo surgery for something in my abdomen a while back. If memory serves—and it's a bit hazy since this was about six years ago—I believe they gave me something like Dormicum; I recall it being a small, oblong pill in some sort of light pastel shade, perhaps blue? Honestly, the details are a bit fuzzy, but I think they called it Dormicum, and I was completely out of it.

That’s possible, since they administer it before procedures to get you under quickly. It really messes with your natural sleep cycle.

Actually, I tried Persen Forte a few years back, and it honestly worked pretty well for me, though I did feel a little bit lightheaded the next morning.

amberfox4 said:I was actually given some Midazolam at the hospital prior to my surgery, mostly because I checked in a day early and the whole thing wasn't scheduled until the following morning, and quite frankly, my nerves were such that sleep was an impossibility. For me, the dose felt incredibly heavy—just complete, total unconsciousness. I didn't even wake up until I was already being wheeled into the operating room; the transport over to the surgical suite didn't even nudge me back to reality, and half the experience is just... gone. It’s been completely erased from my memory. Apparently, I even managed to walk to the restroom with a nurse earlier that morning, but I have absolutely no recollection of that happening. My last conscious thought was taking the medication, and then—nothing—until the next scene: the OR and the prep for anesthesia. That stuff is potent. Perhaps it's because I rarely take any medications or anything of that nature, though I couldn't say for certain.

It’s one of the heavy hitters. It isn't really your standard sleeping pill, either; it's usually administered alongside other medications.
Mostly used for people dealing with more serious issues while they're hospitalized.
No doctor is going to write you a prescription for this just because you're having trouble sleeping.

Sleeping pills aren't some kind of permanent fix, because you actually have to figure out *why* someone can't sleep in the first place. There's a massive difference between someone who hasn't slept in three days because they're stressed out at work and someone dealing with an actual clinical sleep disorder.
A sleep disorder can be a seriously heavy issue that requires long-term management. Most of the time, insomnia is just a red flag for an underlying health issue—it’s often a symptom, if not the primary indicator, of other medical problems.
It’s like saying you’d try to help someone with high blood pressure by giving them some aspirin. It doesn't make sense.
So many people mess up by just leaning on sleeping pills because they're overworked or constantly under the gun with stress, but it's not sustainable.
@shadowtrucker18, have you ever actually taken something like Ambien? I mean, has a doctor ever even put it on a prescription for you?
Ambien is much stronger than something like Lunesta, and I hear everyone raving about it. Now, Lunesta is potent, but it builds a tolerance so fast that after a while, it doesn't even do anything for you anymore.

Basically, just roll with it is how you put it:
They say the best leader is the one who pauses, takes a beat to think, and then charges forward at full speed without looking back—because we all know that dwelling on "what if" is a complete waste of energy.
The biggest issue is usually just refusing to face reality. An indecisive person often knows exactly what the best move is in the short term, but they struggle to actually accept it. They let their wishes clash with the facts, and suddenly you've got this messy web of overthinking and endless analysis... they end up wanting to go back to square one, but they can't because their thoughts are totally tangled, which just leads to frustration and paralysis...
A decent way to live would be to just make the absolute most of whatever you have right now. That’s where everything starts. From there, you actually start growing and figuring out how to realistically build better opportunities for yourself.

So, yeah, "just roll with it" is a solid point, I just didn't catch it before...
basically, take what you've got right now and run with it, that's the starting line...

You're a trip. Total Pol Pot vibes... always doing your own thing... it's easy to just shrug and say "I'm crazy"😉, always taking the path of least resistance... just don't claim you have nothing and play the fool---

Mark Campbell5 said:I have a sudden urge to be a complete nuisance. 😈

But I'm keeping it together... mostly.🙂

And look, like brightridge59 said, I have zero intention of getting myself banned just because of you. 😉

Anyway, let's get back to the actual point. ☕

Long story short......... 🙂

Which, obviously, is something you aren't going to do. 🤷

So, the only thing I can really tell you is this: 🙂

You're gonna need 😢

P.S. There’s no such thing as an ex-addict—there are just addicts who haven't relapsed in a while.

But hey... we've definitely crossed paths before😍, and I remember thinking how all women fall for red heels... provided they're worn by someone who is, well... actually smart.🙂

Anonymous said:I am incredibly, paralyzingly indecisive. It’s a struggle that has haunted me for years, but it really started eating me alive once I finished college.

Life was easy enough when I was just following the script—elementary school, high school, moving along like everyone else. When it came time to pick a major, I spent forever agonizing over whether to go for a technical degree or something more liberal arts, or which specific track to take. I eventually scraped by with a choice, though looking back, I feel like I've made almost every decision since then wrong.

That suffocating feeling of being unable to choose really kicked in after I got my diploma. It usually follows this exact pattern:

1. Should I join the military or look for a civilian job? One option offered a stable career path, but I had no idea if that was actually what I wanted. Looking back now, I actually kind of regret not going, but at the time, I just couldn't wrap my head around it. By the time the window for active duty closed, I ended up in a civilian role instead.— SO, IT WASN'T REALLY A CHOICE I MADE; CIRCUMSTANCES DECIDED FOR ME. Even today, I still can't tell if I made the right call.

2. Should I take a job at a small local startup or aim for a massive corporation like Amazon or Google, even if the work would be entry-level and totally unrelated to my degree? Once the deadline passed for the big corporate applications, I just defaulted to the small firm.— IN OTHER WORDS, THE EXPIRATION DATE MADE THE DECISION FOR ME.

3. Around that same time, I met an amazing girl. But instead of stepping up, I played these weird games of "hot and cold," acting like this polished, successful engineer when I was really just winging it. I couldn't make a move. By the time I finally realized how much she meant to me, she had already moved on to someone more decisive.— AGAIN, I DIDN'T MAKE A CHOICE; I JUST LET LIFE HAPPEN TO ME..

4. After joining that small firm, I quickly realized it was a shady, poorly run operation. Still, I clung to it, telling myself, "At least I'm working in my field." I was too paralyzed to decide whether to quit, so I stayed until the whole company basically collapsed.— ONCE MORE, FATE AND CIRCUMSTANCE MADE THE CALL, NOT ME.

5. I accepted the next available job offer, even though I wasn't sure about it. I kept telling myself I needed to keep leveling up and hunting for something better, but I lacked the guts to actually pull the trigger on a big career move. Maybe I was just blind, or maybe I was just waiting for the company to fail so that DESTINY COULD DECIDE MY NEXT MOVE FOR ME AGAIN.

6. I dated someone else, but I constantly pressured her with questions about whether we were "meant to be"—almost like I was trying to force her to give me the answer I couldn't find myself. We broke up, and I wasn't even sure if that was the right move. History repeated itself: while I was sitting there overthinking whether to try and win her back, she had already found someone else.— ONCE AGAIN, I LEFT IT UP TO CHANCE AND CIRCUMSTANCE.

7. A friend offered to help me transition into a new role at a different company, but I couldn't commit. It's like I lack basic common sense sometimes; I just couldn't decide. I think I was just waiting for the "perfect moment" that never comes. Well, that moment passed. When I finally called the hiring manager to ask for another week to think it over, he told me he'd already hired someone else. And honestly? Part of me felt relieved because the decision was taken out of my hands.— I HAD ONCE AGAIN SURRENDERED MY FUTURE TO SOMEONE ELSE, and technically, I should be upset about that.

8. I bought a car, but I spent the entire time wondering if I should have taken out a loan for a newer model or if buying used was the smarter play. Predictably, I ended up pulling the trigger only when the very last one at that specific price point was left on the lot. I didn't buy it because I wanted it; I bought it out of a fear of missing a deal.
>
Basically, this graveyard of missed professional opportunities is starting to choke my personal life, too. My romantic life looks just as messy because, in that arena, I haven't been able to make a single real decision, and the ones I did manage to make turned out to be total disasters..

X-Y. It happens when I'm just buying clothes, too. I'll try everything on and leave the sales clerk standing there in complete confusion because I can't commit to a single item. If only I were this indecisive about my wardrobe and not my entire existence.

So, what's wrong with my brain?🤷
Is it a lack of courage?
Am I just lazy?
Or maybe I'm just too picky?
Maybe I wasn't built to lead, but more like a mule that needs someone constantly barking orders at it?
Or maybe I’m actually fine and just spiraling?
Or am I just a coward who's terrified of my own shadow?

I was a top-tier student, and honestly, people in my social circle think pretty highly of me. But deep down, I’m miserable. I simply don't have a clue what my life looks like six months from now, let alone five years down the line. I’m just letting life happen to me. It feels like since I graduated, I haven't even moved an inch forward.

I overanalyze everything to death every time I have to make a choice. It’s cost me countless sleepless nights, and I still walk away feeling like I picked the wrong path every single time. I think the stress is even starting to mess with my blood pressure. I don't know how to fix this. I have zero vision and the uncertainty of the future is eating me alive.

A few times in my life, I actually made the right call and it paid off big time, but lately, that sense of reward is gone. I don't feel like I'm on the right track anymore, so I can't even commit to anything. I end up looking incompetent, even though I know deep down that isn't true.

Long story short:
I don't know. Honestly, I have no idea what would actually make me happy. I don't know what's wrong with me. I find a reason to quit in every single situation....
If I actually knew what brought me joy, I’d go after it, but right now, nothing feels worth the effort. I clearly have a broken decision-making process....

Does anyone have any advice? Has anyone else felt this way? Any book recommendations? What is actually going on in my head? What do I need to let go of? What should I be working on?
Is there any hope for me?

You're just bored with life. The Spaniard has this great verb "aburrirse" which means to be bored, and it comes from the word for donkey, because apparently, only a donkey gets that bored. And no offense, but you're being a bit lazy. Go do something. Stop the endless analyzing and figure out how to get your act together. If you actually had to work to survive, you wouldn't be sitting here whining. Set a clear goal for yourself and then actually hit it. You aren't practical, and you lack the discipline and persistence needed to stick with anything.
You need to do something constructive every single day. To start, give yourself a task to do after your main job—like two hours of learning something new, or at least find a hobby and explore what actually interests you. Try different things; if you don't try, you won't know if they suit you or if they actually bring you joy. What's your priority? Define it, because nobody else can do that for you. You say you started on the right path, but you aren't even sure if it *is* the right path?
It's going to be incredibly hard for you to take that first step. You want to step out firmly, but then you hesitate and pull back, and... you stay stuck in place, just spinning in circles. Just step out decisively. Once you do that, you'll see all those doubts just vanish.