Posts by Daniel Gomez10

nimbletinker10 said:Some antidepressants skyrocket your appetite, while others suppress it significantly. That’s the general rule, of course, but everyone reacts differently. I personally know people who packed on 40 or 50 pounds on one antidepressant, only to drop all that weight and maintain a perfectly healthy baseline once they switched to another. Most of the newer generations of meds rarely cause significant weight gain as a side effect.

It honestly drives me crazy when doctors prescribe Xanax for sleep, especially if they intend for the patient to be on it long-term.

Regarding side effects, any antidepressant that acts as a stimulant could theoretically exacerbate anxiety or tension.

@mellowtinker7 - for most antidepressants, symptoms actually intensify during those first few weeks; you just have to push through it.

It mostly comes down to how the specific antidepressant (or other psych meds) actually works in your system.
Blocking those H1 histamine receptors and the 5HT2C serotonin receptors is usually what triggers that extra hunger and weight gain.
With antidepressants, Mirtazapine and some of the older tricyclics are known for that.
As for the ones that help suppress appetite, I think Fluoxetine is pretty much the main one that does that significantly.

Rachel Jones8 said:
3rd warning and 30 points for targeting another user
It’s about this post.
Since it's obvious the moderator is always right, I know this will end up the same way, but I'm still going to share my thoughts even if no one listens.
The thread was actually discussing whether PE teachers who can't jump rope or properly demonstrate exercises should even be allowed to teach, suggesting they should have their pay cut and so on.
Regarding that, I asked if someone should be allowed to work with kids if they publicly label certain children as "abnormal." I was referring to what the other user said, not the user himself. If someone on this forum—who also happens to be a psychologist and a moderator—writes a claim stating that kids are abnormal because they don't throw tantrums (or that parents are lying), and that claim isn't deleted or penalized, and I haven't seen it anywhere else besides this site, then I don't think it breaks any rules to comment on that claim with a question:
I mentioned that there are bad apples in every profession and asked:
Should a psychologist who claims a child is abnormal just because they didn't act out at age 1-3 really be allowed to practice, or should they face immediate termination?
Should a person making those kinds of statements even be allowed to hold that job?
I didn't say anything about the person specifically, nor did I name them; I was asking about the professional standard... would such a person (meaning anyone in that position) be fit to do their job?
This whole discussion is about people easily calling for others' pay cuts or jobs, while they themselves write things that make them reconsider their own careers.
I didn't write anything about the author or target him; I focused on what he stated... regarding other people's "abnormal" children and teachers who should lose pay because they can't jump rope like elementary schoolers.
If it's okay to express an opinion about incompetent teachers who deserve pay cuts...

...then I think it should be okay to express doubt and ask if someone who labels a group of children as abnormal (without naming names) should even be working as a psychologist.

I also feel it's unfair that the moderator doesn't react to statements that insult a specific group of people, leaving them standing there without a warning or a strike... all while others see the opinion of a respected psychologist and moderator, even though what was written goes against both the forum rules and common sense.
Yet, every single question or follow-up comment gets punished.
So, it's fine to be insulting, but when the person being insulted speaks up or asks a question, they're the ones who get penalized. 🤷

Commenting on another user's statement counts as targeting them.
You didn't ask about psychologists in general; you were asking about *that* specific psychologist who made that specific comment on the forum.
Targeting a user is against the rules, no matter how you frame it.
Unlike the other user, who commented generally about teachers and their PE classes, you didn't comment on psychologists as a whole—you pointed directly at one specific psychologist, and we all know who.

As for that famous post, I already touched on this in my last reply, but I'll add it here: in my opinion, that post doesn't label anyone as abnormal or insult anyone (according to the rules), and it's actually quite common sense.

Rachel Jones8 said:1. post
The reason given for deleting the post was this:

Are there any rules about how much time needs to pass before you can't comment on old posts anymore? I'm talking about a post from 2011.
I wasn't trying to dissect anything; I just quoted a small part of the post to ask a question based on it. Since the rules say to use Quoten for the specific part you're responding to, I don't see the issue.
The Quoten part was:

And the question following that quote (it was deleted, so I can't quote it exactly) was basically asking if parents of kids who *don't* throw tantrums on the floor—thinking maybe they aren't "normal"—would take them to a psychiatrist, and how a doctor could help those kids become "normal."

Why wasn't the original post deleted if it's off-topic... or why wasn't it flagged for calling a certain group of people "not normal"? As far as I know, you aren't allowed to call homosexuals "not normal" on this forum, so why is it okay for some other group, like kids who don't have meltdowns on the floor?
Why is it fine to label someone as abnormal when that post stays up, but my post asking a follow-up question (like, how can psychiatrists help such kids) gets wiped?
If the excuse is that I'm responding to an old post, does that break any rules?
They also said the post was being dissected, which isn't true since I only used one tiny quote.

Your comment on that post and a few others after it were removed because they didn't really fit the thread title, which was unconventional parenting methods.
The amount of time that has passed doesn't actually matter. There aren't any rules limiting you from replying to older posts; what matters is that you aren't constantly circling back to old threads every chance you get.
I honestly don't know why you took that post personally. Personally (and from what I've seen with plenty of other users), I didn't find anything wrong with it. To me, the author was just vividly telling parents worried about "bad" toddler behavior (screaming, floor tantrums, etc.) that it's totally fine, and that kids who act that way are actually quite rare.
Once that post was live, the discussion happened. There's really no need to drag the conversation back out after all this time, especially since it’s completely off-topic now.

jadetinker32 said:I went through something pretty much identical, just that constant feeling of wanting to throw in the towel, but I guess I managed to pull through somehow.. you just gotta find a balance, honestly, hitting it three times a week is more than enough 😉

If you hit it at least 3x a week, you should see progress without getting injured.
You definitely need a rest day once a week.
So, doing it 6x a week is totally fine too.

Casey Gomez said:Over time, a man learns to find genuine pleasure in the pain of a workout. Listening to music helps immensely, elevating that sense of aggression. ☕

Feeling actual pain while training isn't normal.
And yeah, music is definitely one of those "natural highs."

Casey Gomez said:I’m not so sure about that; honestly, I don't feel particularly "pleasured" while I'm out running. 😲

and I see nothing wrong with a heroin addict replacing that unnaturally intense high they got from drugs with more natural methods of achieving the same feeling.

I never claimed it was bad; I am simply analyzing the physiology of addiction.

Nobody feels great while they're mid-run—that rush usually hits once you're finished.
Plus, there are plenty of other natural ways to get that same kind of high besides working out.

Michelle Evans said:There’s a clear line between a solid habit and a true addiction.
Since we're talking about "real" addictions—though I'm not quite sure what qualifies, given that anything you can't quit is technically a real addiction—take wine, for example. Having one glass a day is considered healthy. But if you need a whole bottle or more just to function, that’s an addiction.

If someone can't function without something (and this applies to anything) and starts neglecting the rest of their life because of it, they're addicted...

I'm guessing she meant "true" addictions are things that are inherently harmful, so they couldn't possibly be considered good for you or promote health like working out does.
Honestly, out of everything someone could get hooked on, nothing else comes close to being harmless or even beneficial in small doses, besides that daily glass of wine we mentioned.

Plus, according to official medical classifications, you can only technically be "addicted" to psychoactive substances, or gambling under the newer DSM-5 guidelines. Everything else, like internet, shopping, or sex, is still mostly classified as impulse control disorders or compulsions while researchers study them further.

Casey Gomez said:I remember watching this documentary on a German network about a decade ago featuring a former junkie who completely reinvented himself as an Ironman triathlete. Essentially, he just swapped one addiction for another.

But what's the harm in that?
Personally, I don't think you can call someone addicted to triathlon just because it's an extreme sport that takes up hours of their day.
Exercising is such a natural way to feel good, and honestly, everyone needs that in their lives.
I don't see anything wrong with a former addict finding a much more natural way to chase that same sense of euphoria they used to get from drugs.

Usually, when opioid users relapse, they swing toward alcohol or other substances, which is a much darker path.
Even with positive shifts, some people finishing rehab programs—which often have a religious lean—end up becoming incredibly devout or even joining the clergy.
To me, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

That’s why people call it a positive addiction.

Here’s a few more little puzzles for you 😁

It’s only been two months since I joined, but things are moving along nicely! 😛
As for my routine, I actually stepped away from lifting weights at the gym (for a few different reasons), cut back my running to just once or twice a week because of some annoying shin splints and IT band issues, and have been sticking with Focus T25 instead. 😁
I've also been cleaning up my diet a little bit, just keeping it simple.
I am honestly thrilled with the results—especially seeing more definition and tone—though I wouldn't mind dropping those last few pounds we were all talking about.
The plan is to wrap up Focus soon, tackle a month of the Unique Move program, dive into a glute-focused routine, and hopefully get back to running more often.
We'll see how it goes!

http://i42.tinypic.com/2s1m491.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/28alw5e.jpg

Here’s how I look after 6.5 months of running and hitting the 500-mile mark.
Not too shabby, though I know I can push it further.
I'm 5'6" and 115 lbs.
Before I started running, I was around 123 lbs and honestly in pretty bad shape.
Years of being a total couch potato (with those random few-month bursts of trying everything under the sun) definitely caught up to me.
Plus, I've had two pregnancies in the last five years.

The main thing bothering me is a little extra softness on my stomach. I really want to tone up my glutes and get some more muscle definition.
To make that happen, I've started focusing on my diet—which is definitely my weakest link—and hitting the gym for strength training.
We'll see if the progress shows by springtime!

briskjackal5 said:Big W for Steve!

C-c-c-c-c-come on!!

-Steve

I told you before, I don't really use all caps.

You're losing track of time again 😳

briskjackal5 said:I just stumbled upon this audio clip and a little mini-feature that I am absolutely loving--

The title "how teachers deal with parents" isn't exactly perfect, I guess, but hey, it gets the point across.
The concept and the way they pulled it off are just 👍!

-Steve

Steve, I was actually laughing while listening to this. My mom mentioned she heard this ages ago and it definitely doesn't reflect what happens in a real American school.
Still, it's such a cool piece 😁

Nicholas King said:And how many minutes does "culture" actually take?

Kids—I’m convinced of this—possess more than enough cognitive capacity on their own. The real issue lies with the adults: both the teachers in the classroom and the parents at home. They seem obsessed with forcing math into rigid, predictable templates instead of... well, if parents aren't capable of doing it themselves, they probably shouldn't be doing it at home, but rather letting schools handle it—letting them actually play with logic puzzles and brain teasers instead.

Maybe 30 minutes?
Or maybe just half an hour? 🤔

Donna Johnson16 said:maybe you guys should get together and study this a bit more... that’s how you actually develop a solid, effective repellent ☕

That's a great idea! 👍

It would be pretty funny to see if the mosquitoes go after any of us who they usually skip over because they're looking for "better" targets..

Oh man, don't go scaring me with all that talk about breathing issues... 🙂
I actually had one year where I wasn't even on an antihistamine and didn't have any trouble breathing while running.
If you're saying it might happen again, then maybe it's not even worth messing around with...

I've started running again lately (and doing it out in the suburbs, which is basically paradise for allergy sufferers like me 😁), and thank goodness I haven't had any breathing problems at all. Everything is working perfectly, and I really hope it stays that way...

Donna Johnson16 said:Maybe you have type A blood? I heard they don't get poked as much. 🤷

I'm O positive, so they definitely don't love me! 🙂

I'm not even a huge fan of garlic myself. 😁

Tyler James5 said:Two Fexofenadines? 🙂 Just kidding... personally, I find Zyrtec works better for me, but everyone reacts differently (and obviously, don't go switching up your meds without talking to your doctor first)

Trust me, there were times when I was so desperate that I’d take one in the morning and another one at night just to get through it. 😳
I'm not really suggesting you do that, anyway—the instructions clearly state that bumping up the dose won't actually give you any better results.
I tried Zyrtec before switching to Fexofenadine, but it just wasn't strong enough for me. 🤷

velvetmoose9 said:So, which specific symptoms are hitting you the hardest? Which ones are constant, and which ones seem to be ramping up?
I'm assuming you're taking Fexofenadine 120mg? One option might be temporarily bumping it up to 180mg (provided you don't get side effects—younger people often deal with some diarrhea when they do that...).
Tyler James5 makes a good point; Zyrtec is often like the "napalm" option, though it can be pretty sedating for a lot of people, which is why they usually pivot to Xyzal, even if it's slightly less punchy.
As ElGatoFelix once pointed out, those antihistamines can actually dry your eyes out even more, even while they're working to "quiet down" the allergic reaction itself.
While not everyone agrees with this approach, back in previous years when pollen counts were hitting those terrifying levels, some people found relief by mechanically flushing their eyes with saline. You basically let the tearing subside and then apply local drops or ointment. Quite often, the tear ducts (for a bunch of different reasons) just can't adequately or quickly enough "wash away" that massive amount of debris. If you just put a drop or two in, the allergen particles stay behind, continuing to trigger inflammation both mechanically and chemically. Flushing isn't exactly a walk in the park and you have to be super careful, but for many, it significantly improved their quality of life. Of course, you should definitely check with your doctor first since they actually know what's going on with your specific situation 😉
.
Then again, if you didn't start the Fexofenadine early enough (like, about 5-7 days before the pollen really started blowing in), that could definitely be the catch...
Histamine isn't the only mediator involved in the inflammatory process causing all this chaos, so even the best, most potent antihistamines won't always provide total relief. That's why therapy often gets combined depending on which symptoms are dominating the show...

The symptoms from this "breakthrough" are hitting me hard: itchy, red eyes, constant sneezing and sniffing, and an irritating dry cough—it’s all happening at once. 🙄
I've actually been doing pretty well staying covered with Fexofenadine, though I still get hit with some of those symptoms every once in a while—just nothing too intense.
I've been taking Fexofenadine 180mg. 😁
I actually started taking it pretty early this year. I really didn't want to deal with that same mess from last year where I waited way too long to get started! 🙂)
It’s funny because back when I was four months pregnant, I didn't take anything at all since I was nursing, and I actually made it through ☕
I remember having a couple of pretty miserable weeks, but after that, everything was just peaceful ☕
Now that I'm finally on medication, things aren't going great 🙄
The eye irritation is the absolute worst. I grabbed some Optanol drops and they help settle things down after I use them (though, full disclosure, I tend to overdo it and use more than the label says—I'm terrible at following directions)
That rinsing idea sounds like a great plan, I'll give it a shot (until now, my only solution was frantically splashing cold water on my eyes whenever I felt desperate)
I can handle the nose stuff, though; I really don't want to deal with those nasal sprays.
I have to admit, this cough is starting to get really annoying too.
Do you happen to know the name of that latest allergy med that just hit the market?
Someone mentioned it worked wonders for them.
Is it maybe Xyzall?
And what else is out there besides the usual antihistamines?

dustymarlin10 said:It’s actually kind of weird; mosquitoes just don't seem to like me. Instead of biting me like they do everyone else, they just steer clear.
Yesterday I followed one: it flew right up to me, almost like it was "sniffing" me, and then just flew away. No bite.
I haven't had a single bite all year, even though I'm always outside near the woods.

Any idea why these little bloodsuckers would act like this?

Sorry if I'm in the wrong subforum...

Me too, I'm in the same boat! 😁
We were at a local park yesterday and there were huge, nasty mosquitoes everywhere. They bit the kids a few times, but didn't touch me once.
I'm not complaining, 😁 but it would be pretty cool to know why.

Could it maybe be something like anemia? 🤔

My allergies have been driving me absolutely crazy these last two weeks, even with the Fexofenadine 🙂
. I know this is peak season for everything in the air, but having these symptoms break through every single year is just getting on my nerves. Plus, the eye irritation is constant—I really wish one pill could just handle all of it.
Maybe I'm asking for too much? ☕

Anyway, does anyone know if there’s anything "stronger" than Fexofenadine?