Posts by James Ramirez10

Everyone else seems perfectly fine, so maybe I’m just losing my mind, but what can you really do about it? 😕

Technically speaking, the only real advantage a mother has is being able to breastfeed. And even then, she might not even be able to nurse the whole time.

Nicole Barrett76 said:Is this a normal reaction?

From what I can see in the prescribing info, that dosage is standard...🤷

You typically start low and titrate up gradually. You don't just jump straight to a high dose, otherwise, it would be a total shock to your system.

James Allen6 said:👎

Maybe it really is better if you don't become a mother.

A little humor wouldn't hurt here. Why can't we just admit that kids aren't always little angels? It's just the truth of the matter.

There’s a search function available, and Roger Morgan4 already dropped the link for you earlier. But hey, just to save you the trouble, here it is:

Could we merge this thread with the one about psychopharmacology? There’s some good info over there regarding tapering off meds. My first piece of advice is always this: never try to go it alone—always coordinate everything with your doctor first!

Keith Jones76 said:It’s not about saying some people deserve more than others; I’ve just seen enough to have a bit of a more realistic perspective on the situation.
Most ER calls end up being nothing more than unnecessary nuisance calls. About 60% of X-rays don't even result in a diagnosis—so I guess those are just wasted money at that point. Then you have the massive overprescription of antibiotics that patients ignore, or worse, they don't even finish the full course like they're supposed to. All of this creates these massive systemic costs, which means there isn't enough funding left for actual life-saving surgeries and critical procedures.
Personally, I’d look at reducing Medicare coverage for those types of avoidable cases. That money could be redirected toward people dealing with things like eating disorders, where current treatment options aren't nearly sufficient to meet the actual need. At least then we wouldn't be draining funds for oral surgeries for alcoholics who refuse to follow medical advice in the first place.

But honestly, this isn't really a patient issue. It's more about primary care physicians ordering unnecessary tests and pharmacists dispensing meds that aren't needed, right? 🤷

We've drifted pretty far off-topic here, but I felt I had to weigh in. It breaks my heart to think anyone would want a system where people might lose their health insurance just because they aren't considered "profitable patients."😢

What would you do about people struggling with bulimia? Or those with binge eating disorder? Would you bump up their premiums too?

I have to be honest—the idea of you being a doctor who decides certain people deserve more help than others makes me incredibly uncomfortable.

But how are you going to determine who is actually being watched? How can you distinguish between someone dealing with high cholesterol due to genetics versus someone whose levels are purely a result of their diet?

It’s not like the definition of "healthy" stays still. One year everyone is praising red meat, and the next, you're told to stay far away from it. It isn't nearly as straightforward or obvious as people make it out to be. Besides, should people living in crowded, high-traffic cities have to pay higher insurance premiums?? Because at the end of the day, they could just move out to the countryside for a healthier lifestyle...

Keith Jones76 said:Exactly. My only suggestion would be to make them do it at their own risk. In other words, if they end up getting sick, they should foot the entire medical bill themselves. We shouldn't be draining the taxpayers—people who actually work for a living and rightfully avoid this stuff—just to subsidize someone else's choices. It comes down to a simple choice: do you find meaning in being responsible and keeping your feet on the ground, or is the "meaning of life" found in "receptor confusion" and mystical trips? (If that isn't an oxymoron, I don't know what is.)
If anyone still thinks this sounds like a great idea, go for it!

True. By that logic, you could apply it to anyone living life on the edge—reckless drivers, people with terrible diets, extreme athletes... the list goes on forever.

That used to be the case, but everything changed once the new credit system was introduced! It really varies depending on which college you're looking at. For instance, at a school like NYU, you can't get in without a formal petition, whereas at a place like UCLA, I think you could just enroll as a part-time student. You should definitely look into it!

Actually, you can't just enroll in two different degree programs at once. You generally need a GPA above a 4.0 and official approval from the dean's office. I'd suggest looking into the specific university requirements first.

Hannah White2 said:Licensing sounds extreme, but honestly, it wouldn't hurt if society—through actual therapists—stepped up to provide real support for raising kids.
If it were up to me, I’d tie any kind of government child tax credits or assistance directly to passing certain assessments. In principle, we should probably be checking in on potential parents starting way back in high school.
Look, I'm not talking about some utopia here, but there's always room to make things better.
Plus, nowhere in our schools are young people actually prepared for the reality of parenthood or even just basic interpersonal communication—it's all about grinding out math formulas they'll never use in the real world.

But how would you actually go about doing that?😕

Look, let’s stop trying to sugarcoat this. Depression isn't something to be ashamed of; it's just another health issue that can hit anyone, much like any other physical illness. Doctors have seen it all before—there shouldn't be any surprises there.

For now, just try to convince yourself to take that first step. Practice saying it out loud, almost like you're asking for a routine referral to an eye doctor or something similar. Just one simple sentence: "I need a referral for a psychiatrist; I haven't been feeling like myself lately."

Or look at it this way: if you’re already heading to the doctor for something else, just ask them to write you a referral for a psychiatrist while you're there, especially since things have been feeling heavy lately. I mean, if you can't bring yourself to make a specific appointment for that, just bundle it with your regular visit.

And you’ve got a solid signature too 😉

So, what am I supposed to tell you then? What’s actually weighing on your mind?

Things will look up soon.

It’s possible, but you’ll need to maintain a GPA above 4.0 at your current university and submit a formal petition.

Jerry Martinez5 said:Here's the topic: Sword symbolism (assuming that's what we're discussing).

Look, if you're asking what purpose that prop serves, the answer is pretty obvious: it's decorative.

EDIT: You guys are in the psychology section now, not politics. Read the psychology subforum rules so you aren't confused when posts get deleted or users get banned.

Should we just move this entire thread and all five posts? 😬