Posts by Roger Morgan4

I’ve been on Lexapro (10mg) for just over a month now, and honestly, it feels like I’m taking nothing at all. I haven't dealt with any side effects—which is a relief—but I’m not seeing much of an actual improvement either, aside from feeling less empty and finding a bit of enjoyment in things again. I was actually considering just stopping altogether, but then I read that you really need to stick with it for at least nine months. To be perfectly candid, I’ve always been quite skeptical about these kinds of medications. I went through two different ones before settling on this one, and I still find myself dealing with these massive mood swings—which, if I'm being honest, feel even more intense than they did before I started medication. It’s reached a point where I felt like my moods could actually land me in some serious trouble. So, I am seriously contemplating whether the meds themselves are causing this volatility and if I should just quit cold turkey. Has anyone else found themselves in a similar spot?

I honestly find it hard to believe there’s such a massive obsession with foot fetishes lately. It feels like most people popping up in these discussions are either just trolling for attention or wildly exaggerating things. Just because someone finds it a little appealing doesn't mean they're deep into a fetish.

I am being completely serious when I say you should go find a priest and lay everything out for him. I was reading this book recently called 'How to Recognize the Traps of the Devil' by Don Milivoj Bolobanic—you can probably find a copy at a Barnes & Noble near a major cathedral. Essentially, only about 2% of people who are possessed actually require an exorcism, specifically those rituals mentioned in the previous post. I’ll try to dig up the specific passage where he describes how the devil torments his victims, matching exactly what you described, especially regarding how they are driven toward suicide. It mentioned something about a person losing their mind from the strain; I didn't quite grasp the weight of that before, but after reading your post, it makes perfect sense. Honestly, I think making a general life confession would be a wise move. And please, try to attend Mass on Sunday. This might sound a bit radical, but I truly believe you don't have any other choice. As for seeing psychics, getting "curses" lifted, or any of that nonsense—don't even entertain the thought. You might feel a momentary sense of relief, but in the long run, you'll end up feeling ten times worse. All those fake healers, those folks into the "alternative" scene, the magicians, the mediums... they are all just leading you deeper into the devil's influence. Get to a priest as soon as possible and definitely pick up that book. I should also warn you (as the book points out) that there are plenty of priests who won't take these issues seriously because they aren't well-versed in the subject. Don't give up until you find a priest who actually understands how to help you. Here are some instructions on how to approach a general life confession. But first, find a priest you can trust enough to tell him everything, and he will guide you through the process of a formal confession. I wish you the best. Try to keep reminding yourself that none of this is real—that the devil is simply testing you and wants nothing more than to feed your fear. Best regards!
p.s. If you happen to be in the NYC area and are struggling to find a priest, send me a private message.

I’ve heard good things about Liljana Skrinjar over at the Laginjina 16 Health Center. She works through Medicare. I haven't personally gone to her, but a friend of mine had her face done by her and the results were actually really lovely.

Amanda Stewart7 said:I know a woman whose mother and grandmother both struggled with bipolar disorder. Her grandmother ended up taking her own life, while her mother managed to live a pretty decent life—as much as one can given the diagnosis. She kept things steady: held down a job, cooked, kept a clean house, and most importantly, she never missed a single dose of her prescribed medication. She was fully functional. She had a family, people respected her, she put in the work with her kids, and everyone could see how hard she was trying.
Now, looking at this girl I know... she started out with just minor issues, nothing that stopped her from being a perfectly normal part of society. She worked, hung out with friends, lived a totally standard life.
But then, she traded that stability for a crowd of toxic people, heavy drinking, and experimenting with drugs. It didn't take long before she spiraled into a full-blown illness that manifested way more aggressively than anything her mother ever dealt with. Today, unfortunately, she’s a very severe psychiatric case.
My point is, I think there’s a level of personal responsibility involved here. Regardless of the diagnosis, you have to try. At the end of the day, your lifestyle choices might actually play the biggest role in how everything unfolds.

That’s true, but look at it from this angle: if I know there is a 99% chance my child will inherit something like SCH, isn't it selfish of me to bring them into this world? No matter how advanced the medication becomes, or how great the psychotherapy and support systems are, a person still feels the weight of their condition. I can't shield my child from the reality of their own illness. In that light, wouldn't it be more fair to simply not have them at all?

I’ve been chewing on a particular thought for quite some time now, and I’m hoping I’ve landed in the right corner of this forum to bring it up..

How would you all approach the idea of having children if you were dealing with a mental health condition—whether we're talking about something severe like schizophrenia or just something relatively "mild"? I realize it isn't as simple as a binary yes or no question, and I know this could spark an entire debate, but I'm looking for some general perspectives..

Furthermore, how does one actually determine the hereditary component of these conditions? To what extent is a disorder passed down? For instance, with schizophrenia, I understand there is a significant probability that if one parent is affected, the child will be too, largely because genetics play such a decisive role in its onset. Does that logic hold true for most other conditions as well? Where might one go to find reliable information on this?

I wouldn't go so far as to call her crazy; OCD isn't exactly a one-person show. She might just need some medication to level things out and perhaps a steady course of psychotherapy. That’s really the crux of it. There isn't much else to it—you can't just "will" this away on your own. It’s such an overwhelming thing to deal with, and honestly, I fear seeing a psychiatrist might be the only real way forward.

It’s incredibly positive that she has you in her corner right now. Having that kind of support is massive when it comes to gently nudging someone toward professional help. I know the idea of seeing a psychiatrist might feel a bit heavy or even shocking at first, but try to look at it through a different lens: think about how much easier life could become for both of you once she gets the right care.
Best of luck!

Patrick Hernandez27 said:That’s just how I’d put it...

I’m not trying to diminish anyone else’s pain, I really am. But I lived through the most extreme version of OCD imaginable. It wasn't just those occasional waves of obsession that hit you and then eventually subside... For me, it was just life. Every single day. Honestly, I don't even know how I made it through all of that. Someone in my shoes would have given up on life a long time ago...

Psychotherapy helped me out, more or less... I was on this medication called Fever, and honestly, it took about six months before I even started noticing a difference. I ended up staying on it for several years, taking it every single day without fail. About a year ago, I finally decided enough was enough. It was getting in the way of my studies and just interfering with my life in general, so I made the call to stop on my own... I went through a bit of a rough patch at first, dealing with those chemical dependency withdrawals, but after four months, I was finally clear of it for good.

It’s been exactly one year since that whole ordeal... and I haven't had a single symptom since.

I’d argue that what really matters here is willpower. Every obsession draws its strength from fear—fear being the ultimate killer. Once you manage to destroy that fear, you've achieved a massive victory...

Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think it's helpful to claim your OCD was the most extreme. Most of us deal with this on a daily basis. For instance, what makes things particularly difficult for me is how closely tied my struggles are to religion and faith. I won't go into detail, but it hits me hardest in that area. Ultimately, arguing over who has it worse is a pointless exercise.

As for Fever, I used it for over six months and found it completely ineffective. In fact, if I'm being honest, I think it had a negative impact on me. I'm not sure if you've heard, but some studies suggest that SSRIs—the class of drugs Fever belongs to—can actually increase suicidal ideation. But I won't dwell on that; psychiatrists tend to dismiss those findings, and there were other complicating factors for me regardless.

You might be right about the fear aspect. But I can't help feeling terrified of whether the symptoms will resurface or not. It would be "unnatural" if I didn't feel that anxiety. What more can I say? I feel utterly discouraged regarding my future treatment; I've lost my drive and my hope that things will ever truly be okay. I've almost accepted that this is a chronic condition that can't be cured, but I simply don't know how to live with that realization. I can only hope my psychiatrist has something positive to tell me, though I have my doubts. Anyway, I'll stop venting now. Cheers, and once again, I am genuinely glad that at least one person has found their way to recovery.

Patrick Hernandez27 said:
This has been haunting me for years. My first obsessions and compulsions started when I was only five. It was this overwhelming thought that I had to put my hand in my mouth and push as deep as possible... because I felt this strange sense of guilt. That eventually stopped, only to resurface during puberty as extreme obsessive ideations—this time without the physical compulsions.

Basically, I’ll hear a song and it just loops in my head all day long. I can't shake it. Or I'll see a flower and the image stays stuck in my mind, paralyzing me. I started treatment again recently, though, and the symptoms have subsided. I can honestly say I don't struggle with it anymore today.

I actually had the most extreme version of OCD imaginable... looking back now, I honestly don't know how I survived it all.

Could you be more specific about the treatment? Was it psychotherapy, medication, or something else entirely?

It’s wonderful that you were able to fully overcome it—congratulations!

I actually think point number two is a brilliant move (alongside everything else, obviously). Even if you end up tripping up occasionally, it doesn't really matter; you just shake it off and move on. You’re in a place where nobody knows your history, and you don't know them either. It’s a clean slate, yet it provides that essential hands-on experience needed to actually build some social muscle.

Your strategy is honestly solid. Just take a page out of Thomas Morales752's book and take things one step at a time. I know the urge to see immediate results is probably overwhelming, but even those tiny, incremental shifts are massive wins. In my view, having this plan in place is already a success in itself. Just keep at it!

I just wanted to add that you strike me as an incredibly sharp individual, and I truly believe you have what it takes to make it happen. So, don't you dare give up now! 🙂

Look, if you’ve burned through half the self-help section at Barnes & Noble and you're putting in the work, yet you're still spinning your wheels, there might be a point where you have to admit that reading isn't enough. Honestly, I think it would be best to take Thomas Morales752's advice here and go find a licensed therapist to help you navigate this. It might be worth asking around the forum to see if anyone has a solid recommendation for someone reliable.

Thomas Morales752 said:I wasn't really looking to dive into the "why" behind everything, but honestly, I totally agree...

What's done is done. Now it's just about facing the world head-on and figuring out how to actually navigate life with other people.

Oh! And Sam Hall59, I just thought of something else regarding actual advice. Maybe try chatting with people through Discord, Skype, or whatever online tools you use? It gives you that little buffer of safety because there’s distance—you don't know them personally, and you actually have time to breathe and think before you respond...

That approach really worked wonders for me. Even though my mind moves pretty fast, I find I can express myself much more clearly now. I used to struggle with saying the right thing at the right moment, and then I'd spend the rest of the day overanalyzing how I could have phrased things differently. Now, everything feels a bit more fluid, almost effortless. So, I’d definitely suggest taking this advice to heart; it might just help smooth out your communication skills over time. It’s been a proven lifesaver for me. 👍

Thomas Morales752 said:We really need to draw a line between people who are just naturally a bit more introverted and those who are actually struggling to function in their day-to-day lives. When it starts getting in the way of normal life, we’re talking about social maladjustment—which can look a million different ways, obviously... But honestly, you shouldn't brush this stuff off! If left alone, it can lead to total isolation, loneliness, low self-esteem, anxiety, and all that good stuff. Luckily, the fix is pretty straightforward: social skills training.

At the end of the day, social skills aren't some permanent thing you're just born with or without. They're learned! There's absolutely no reason to fake being someone you're not. You just have to work on them a little bit until they're developed enough that you don't feel stuck anymore.

So, I was completely off base. 🙂

I honestly don't think you can just flip a switch and become an extrovert, mostly because we’re all wired differently—some of us are just naturally introverted and that’s that. You could certainly learn the art of performing that persona if you wanted to, but I’m not sure what the payoff actually is. In my own experience, trying to fake being outgoing is incredibly draining. Eventually, I realized that forcing it just made me feel like a fraud, like I wasn't being my genuine self at all.

It might be more practical to just embrace who you are and deal with the reality of it. That said, I know how tough it can be to stay reserved in today's world. It seems like life—whether it’s career advancement, building friendships, or just navigating daily interactions—tends to favor those who are open and communicative.

Anyway, that’s just my two cents, and I could easily be wrong. See what everyone else has to say and take their advice for what it's worth. Regardless, good luck with everything! Best,

I’ve been wondering lately—is anyone else here dealing with intrusive thoughts? Specifically things like sudden, unwanted profanity popping up at certain moments? I’ve noticed most of the discussion here seems to lean toward compulsive actions rather than the mental side of things... and one more thing, has anyone actually managed to beat OCD for good? Like, truly move past it so it never resurfaces, regardless of the method used? thanks

Look, we aren't all built the same way! That’s just common sense—we differ in so many ways. Is it really such a disgrace to admit that we aren't identical? I also find it interesting when people talk about gender strengths and immediately try to force an equality of capability. If I say women are the weaker sex, I’m not trying to be insulting or condescending; it’s simply a biological reality. Now, rights? That’s a completely different conversation. We are all human beings, and we deserve equal rights under the law.

I suppose I’ve drifted a bit from the main point... what I mean to say is that ability is an individual trait. It feels somewhat pointless to argue or make broad generalizations based on whether someone is male or female. There isn't much more to be said there. We are all unique individuals, but we should all have the same rights! Simple as that.

Well, I just got back from the grocery store, and I ended up using the very last of my cash to pick up some French and Pol cheese for my sister. 🙂

I found a lot of solace in a book called *Conversations with a Mirror* by M. Rijavec and D. Miljkovic. It can be a bit tricky to track down unless you grab a copy from Barnes & Noble, though you might have some luck finding it at your local public library. I truly recommend it to anyone who’s been feeling a bit lost within their own head lately.

Now, look, I usually steer clear of the whole "self-help" genre—mostly because most of those books just repackage the same old nonsense in slightly different fonts—but this one is actually quite engaging. You don't even have to read it cover to cover; it's filled with these little vignettes and life snippets that make it easy to pick up and put down.

If I had to pinpoint the biggest takeaway, it would be the idea of practicing positive self-talk. I know, I know, it sounds like a total cliché, but it genuinely makes a difference. It isn't nearly as easy as people make it out to be; learning how to stop reflexively blaming yourself for every little hiccup is a massive hurdle.