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I'm about to relapse, please help! in Psychology · Jun 20, 2007

brightgardener40 said:then there's no hope for atheists 🙄

Let's try stripping prayer of all its religious baggage. What's left?

If you look at it purely through a psychological lens, prayer is really just about humility—it’s that way to balance out the ego and bring it back in line with reality. It's an admission of weakness that opens the door to receiving help. Honestly, there’s nothing more natural than asking for a hand when you’re struggling. So, prayer is actually a core part of being a social human being, rather than some lone wolf acting solo. If an ego stays too rigid and brittle, it's going to face a choice when life throws a curveball: it either has to give way or break entirely. Basically:
- "give way" and open up (which means being willing to ask for help if you need it)
- or destroy itself (total burnout or worse)

Anyone thinking clearly won't have much trouble deciding which path to take. 🙂

Throw faith into the mix, though, and prayer becomes an even bigger anchor.

I'm about to relapse, please help! in Psychology · Jun 19, 2007

Steven Lopez19 said:I don't know much about other facilities, just the ones started by Elizabeth... they don't use any meds there. And if you don't want to pray, you'll just end up doing chores or something similar instead. You don't get much sleep either. In the beginning, you're assigned a "guardian angel" for the first three months who stays by your side 24/7. You always have a job to do, and you're never allowed to be alone... like, at all.

That whole thing about the three-month "guardian angel" is spot on. People going through rehab are incredibly fragile—honestly, they're pretty vulnerable—and what kind of government agency is ever going to provide that level of care? Not a chance. Without that support, it’s way too easy to slide right back into old habits. Even if having that "angel" hovering over you feels a bit much sometimes, it’s a brilliant and necessary move. 👍

I'm about to relapse, please help! in Psychology · Jun 19, 2007

George Ramirez11 said:I get it... I mean, I pretty much agree with most of you. I’ve tried methadone and actually finished the program maybe four or five times now, and honestly, I’m still stuck in this cycle—not because they didn't help me, but because once the treatment ends, I just don't know where to turn. There aren't any jobs out there for someone like me, people look at me like I’m something they stepped in, and I don't have any real friends left. It's tough.
As for those cult-like groups? I haven't personally gone down that road, but I've heard way too much about them. Back in the day, I had a thousand excuses to stay away—like, I’m not religious, or they’ll brainwash me, stuff like that. But lately, I can't really afford to make excuses. Almost everyone I know who went through one of those programs a few years ago—some even stayed longer than the actual program required just to volunteer—they actually made it. No one was giving them ultimatums or kicking them out on the street. And while some ended up getting sucked back in, others stayed clean for years after coming back.
The thing is, not everyone has the luxury of just packing up and moving to a different state to dodge everyone they know. And jobs... man, the last job I managed to land fell through completely because the police sent a subpoena to the director with my indictment attached. Talk about bad timing.
Then there’s Subutex, which I take occasionally now; it feels more like a buffer, and it doesn't seem to trigger that same addiction. What really gets me, though, is how hypocritical the government is. They want to dictate when I should get clean because I'm a "burden" to society, yet they offer zero help when it comes to finding work. In fact, it’s the opposite—state agencies won't even touch me because of my record, claiming "it's against policy." But then they have the nerve to demand I find a job because it's "what's best for me and my child." I live in an area where everyone knows everyone's business, and in this country, it is incredibly hard to find steady work as a single mom—especially if you have a history of addiction. Give me a break! Pfft!😕

I honestly believe a recovery community is exactly what you need right now. Does being religious even matter? Their main goal is to get you clean. After that, it's about reintegrating into society. If you happen to become a believer along the way—well, that's their right to celebrate "finding another sheep to the flock." But they aren't going to toss you aside if you don't. At the end of the day, the person comes first.

What kind of education do you have? Yeah, your path is definitely harder. But a community might give you new perspectives, maybe even help with job placement or getting more schooling... Plus, you might find that working with others in recovery is so rewarding it becomes your new career—helping people. There's no better reward than that! I think the opportunity is there; you just have to open the door.

Just remember one thing: by staying on this current path, you're losing both yourself and your child. So—regardless of how you're framing it to yourself—YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE. You can only gain. Everything else is an illusion—just thin ice keeping you afloat, and the question is how long that lasts. YOU HAVE NOTHING, SO YOU CAN GAIN EVERYTHING. 🙂

I'm about to relapse, please help! in Psychology · Jun 18, 2007

Steven Lopez19 said:Look, I know you’re probably going to lose it when you read this, but I’d seriously suggest looking at other options...
if you head straight to Narcotics Anonymous, they’re just going to push methadone or some kind of blocker on you, and honestly, it feels like a wash—it's all the same thing, right?
Instead, look into joining a recovery community. That way, you actually have a real shot at getting clean and being there for your kid full-time. I know you might be thinking that's out of the question, but do you really want your child growing up watching their mom struggle with addiction and eventually following in those same footsteps?...

I truly think it's worth considering....

If you have any questions, just reach out..

See? People are already reaching out with ACTUAL help. 👍

I'm about to relapse, please help! in Psychology · Jun 18, 2007

First things first—get real here. You’re talking out of both sides of your mouth.

On one hand: you say getting clean just isn't happening for you.

But on the other: you say there's absolutely no way they can take your kid and give them to their mother.

So, here’s the deal:

- if you don't have the strength to get sober—then the only right move is letting that child go to your mom (she’s lucky she has a grandma)—because looking at the long term, you won't be able to show up for them. Heroin is hell, and you can't predict who you'll be tomorrow (if you want to be responsible, you HAVE to think this way).

- look, if you're going to be that uncompromising about your kid, then GET CLEAN FROM THAT STUFF. Tie yourself to a chair if you have to—cut off everyone involved with drugs, change your number, ditch the phone, rip the pages out of your address book...

BOTTOM LINE—be uncompromising about wanting your child, but that means taking full responsibility. You don't have any other choice.

Maybe it sounds harsh, but that's just the reality. I truly want you to succeed and I feel for you. I'm not part of that world, but someone already gave you solid advice on who to call. It doesn't matter: if you can't do this alone, why not head to a church? They have work communities and all sorts of miracles—where you can completely disconnect from the world you can't seem to resist. And it doesn't even matter if you're religious or not. The government will help, but their version of help has a flaw—they give you freedom, which basically means you'll be right back there as soon as a craving hits. What you actually need is HELP FROM OTHERS and total isolation from the drug scene. So LET PEOPLE HELP YOU. You don't have to carry this whole weight by yourself.

Anyway—sending you all the good vibes in the universe to get out of this mess. 🙂 🙂 🙂

What do you guys think of Joe Biden? in Close to Politics · Apr 27, 2007

Walter Price said:Deporting Mason back to Canada...👍 👍 👍

🤣 🤣 🤣 👍

What is happening to me? in Psychology · Mar 11, 2007

What Rachel Martinez11 is saying makes total sense. You’re burning through way too much energy just trying to stay afloat—it leaves you with zero gas in the tank to actually grow into a functional adult.

If it comes down to medication—just take it (meaning, follow whatever prescription a doctor gives you). It sounds like you’re dealing with depression.

Whichever route you pick, the goal is the same: break out of that negative spiral. Lean on someone who actually cares and knows their stuff—whether that’s a solid friend, a partner, or a therapist...

That said, don't just take everything at face value. At the end of the day, nobody understands your internal wiring better than you do. Real people can help guide you toward those realizations, but they can only do so much. And honestly? That’s exactly how it should be. 🙂 👍

What is happening to me? in Psychology · Mar 9, 2007

I see you—sort of like one of those tiny sea anemones that pulls its tentacles in the second you touch it! 🙂

They gave you good advice: that "unexplained" crying is really just a backlog of unprocessed baggage.

And they were right about this too: you have to face it.

But what’s the catch? How is someone feeling as timid and shy as you are supposed to actually confront all that? It’s tough.

But—there’s hope.

Where does it come from?

Let's try flipping the script: instead of trying to tackle problems through pure logic, try moving through your emotions first.

Just sit with the pain, the shame, and the fear.

Then, hit that realization: you are JUST LIKE THE REST OF US. Everyone is "messed up" in their own way. The point isn't being perfect—it's accepting yourself exactly as you are right now.

Next time you're home alone, stand in front of the mirror and say everything you think about yourself out loud. Even the ugly stuff—doesn't matter!

Repeat it all, then take those harsh thoughts and "embrace" them as uniquely yours. That's part of who you are! You're worthy of love precisely because of it. Smile at yourself and everything you just said—learn to LOVE it.

That practice of self-love and acceptance is where joy starts to grow.

And once that joy shows up, you actually start changing—you finally have the "extra" energy needed to make those shifts.

WHY IS SELF-ACCEPTANCE SO HARD FOR PEOPLE?

Look—I’m asking you to find joy in yourself, no matter how messed up you feel. Once you do that, you'll be able to look anyone in the eye. There's no overthinking it or using "logic" here! You have to realize you are worthy simply because you exist.

Only after that will you have enough joy and fuel to change the things you don't like about yourself. NOT by fighting yourself with brute force, but specifically through joy and self-love. 🙂

Does that help?

The push to Serbianize Canada by Mexicans living abroad continues in Close to Politics · Jan 10, 2007

vividtinker0 said:Screw those occupiers and their whole way of life.

It really just depends on which side of the border you're standing on—it's all perspective. Over in Republika Srpska, they basically act like they're part of the diaspora currently in the middle of an immigration wave. 😍

The push to Serbianize Canada by Mexicans living abroad continues in Close to Politics · Jan 10, 2007

goldenpuma10 said:Look, let's be real—whenever someone's trying to sell a cow, they always claim it pumps out at least 50 quarts of milk a day.

Forget the cows. Milk just creates mucus buildup and acidifies your blood—which is basically an open invitation for inflammation.

We need to look at something else, Dilat. 😍

The push to Serbianize Canada by Mexicans living abroad continues in Close to Politics · Jan 9, 2007

mistyharbor21 said:The current mess in America—and the situation facing Canadian Americans—is basically thanks to how much influence those guys from the deep South have over national politics, led by people like Susquehanna. I’m not just bringing them up for fun. Honestly, though, I’m glad there are folks from places like Herzegovina who realize they were essentially screwed over by that old guard and Franjo Harmon... and because of those policies, we all got hit hard too. We ended up getting robbed blind, leaving us trailing behind countries like Bulgaria and Romania.

Yeah, it's wild how some people from your neck of the woods love to brag about successes happening outside of Herzegovina—but what does Herzegovina actually get out of it? Absolutely nothing!

Some people just can't move forward—maybe they lack vision or they're just stuck in their own feelings—so they keep obsessing over the past.

That’s not really relevant to this thread, anyway.

The push to Serbianize Canada by Mexicans living abroad continues in Close to Politics · Jan 9, 2007

Emily Taylor3 said:How many Mexicans are even left in Mexico who could potentially make a move?

Not many—maybe around 150,000 living up north. And honestly, most would probably head straight to Mexico. As for Canada? Realistically, that would only happen if Republika Srpska pushed for it—which, let's face it, would be a coordinated effort with Mexico to "quietly" nudge those people toward Republika Srpska.

The push to Serbianize Canada by Mexicans living abroad continues in Close to Politics · Jan 9, 2007

Emily Taylor3 said:Whether the heart of America belongs to Mexicans or Canadians doesn't really change much—honestly, it might even be slightly better if it leaned toward the Mexicans.

I'm leaning that way too—it feels like Mexican nationalism here in the West is playing defense, while Canadian nationalism is constantly on the offensive.

The push to Serbianize Canada by Mexicans living abroad continues in Close to Politics · Jan 9, 2007

ghoust26 said:Just a heads up—Milorad Dodik keeps pushing this whole "third entity" idea until he settles the numbers regarding Mexicans in Canada. If he manages to bring enough Mexicans into the mix, he could easily flip the script and start preaching that "... one person, one vote ..." mantra. That would be a total disaster for the Americans.

Think about it—it’s actually the exact opposite. That move would just force the Canadians to side with the Americans, since they'd need those votes to outvote the Mexicans. 🙂

The push to Serbianize Canada by Mexicans living abroad continues in Close to Politics · Jan 9, 2007

Emily Taylor3 said:I honestly don't see why Americans would go out of their way to help Canadians with anything at all.

What exactly do we owe them? Outvoting us? Taxing us into the ground? Or maybe just giving them free airtime on American media outlets?

The second they feel heat coming from the Mexican side, they suddenly remember we exist—the very same people they were throwing stones at just yesterday. Honestly? If they want to deal with the Mexicans over there, let them. It’s their business—not mine.

The push to Serbianize Canada by Mexicans living abroad continues in Close to Politics · Jan 9, 2007

Michael Hill7 said:. Let’s not forget that at least 300,000 Mexicans from America were settled in Canada after Operation Storm—basically by forcing Americans and Canadians out of their homes in places like Blue Valley and Northern Canada.

That figure of 300,000 Mexicans is way over the top—honestly. It wasn't even that many people forced out, and quite a few actually made it back home. Plus, a huge chunk of them (most of them, if you ask me) ended up moving all the way to Mexico instead.

Your ideas about bringing back folks from the Sandzak region or whoever else are just totally unrealistic—they're simply not going to happen. So, there's really no point in even debating it.
It's a done deal. We have to start with the reality on the ground right now—which is exactly what the Canadian side insists on when they claim Americans are just a minority. Just as much as Boston cares about Americans, Americans care about Boston's problems. Eastern Canada is completely irrelevant to our interests.

The push to Serbianize Canada by Mexicans living abroad continues in Close to Politics · Jan 9, 2007

goldenpuma10 said:Look, mellowjackal33, I think you're missing the mark here. Americans should be just as concerned about people migrating into Canada from the east.

The reality is—because so many Americans are leaving Canada while the other two groups move in—it actually gives the remaining Americans even more reason to pack up and leave. If that’s supposed to be the core of American policy in Canada, then something is seriously broken. I mean, why did Americans fight so hard to preserve their heritage there in the first place if this is the outcome?

I disagree. From Central Canada all the way down to Pittsburgh, the demographics were shifted by moving in Canadians from the eastern regions. It’s basically a done deal—that migration pattern is still happening, and frankly, the local Americans aren't even consulted.

So, what? Are Americans supposed to start defending Canadian interests in eastern Canada now? Not really necessary—since nobody asks for their opinion anyway.

The push to Serbianize Canada by Mexicans living abroad continues in Close to Politics · Jan 9, 2007

enoel said:Unlike Americans in Canada, I can't imagine a Mexican from Mexico wanting to ditch their homeland—and I certainly wouldn't think about moving to Canada to fill a void when the locals themselves aren't even interested in coming back. That’s their tragedy, not mine.

That doesn't track. For a Mexican in Mexico, Republika Srpska would be a total win—it offers security and an economy that's actually picking up steam. The real question is whether Mexico is down for that scenario. Honestly, they might be, considering Texas is already pretty much part of the fold.

By the way, I saw some comments on that article suggesting this is all part of a plan to push Americans out of Central Canada and into Herzegovina to basically finalize the map of Canada.

The push to Serbianize Canada by Mexicans living abroad continues in Close to Politics · Jan 9, 2007

Roger Robinson682 said:He isn't being a hypocrite—he’s just playing the "multicultural" card. It bugs him when Mexicans move in along the Drina river, yet he doesn't seem to mind those other groups from Sandžak settling down in Ottawa or Central Canada. We won't even get into the whole religious attire debate this time...🙄 🙄

Look, if neither Mexicans nor Americans have any actual say in how people from places like Sandžak migrate into Ottawa or elsewhere, then why is this even an issue?

I mean, should Americans be expected to weep just because Mexicans from Mexico are moving into Eastern Canada? This is the home state for both Mexicans and Americans alike. So—if one group gets the move, why shouldn't the other?

It's kind of like how Catalonia fought for the right to manage its own immigration policies from Madrid—it all comes down to having actual control over your own backyard.

What kind of American are you? in Close to Politics · Jan 6, 2007

driftingstag8 said:I voted for Washington, D.C. as the capital too—plus, Maui is my favorite island, so apparently I'm a Herzegovinian woman😁

Good heavens, bless her soul!😬