I thought I was finally done with Bell's Palsy on the right side of my face, then out of nowhere, two weeks ago, it hits the left side. Honestly, it's much milder this time than the first bout—hardly noticeable unless I yawn, which makes my mouth look a little crooked, or if I notice a slight numbness on my tongue. My doctors prescribed Medrol again, though I started it a bit late since it took me a week to realize what was happening. What’s weird is that the dosage they suggested is actually higher than last time; the ER doc recommended 96mg, but my infectious disease specialist and GP both said that’s way too high and told me to start with a lower dose. It's frustrating how doctors can't seem to agree on things like that. They all think it's bizarre that I'm dealing with this a second time, calling it extremely rare, but when I look online, I see plenty of people who have dealt with this five times or more. The weather didn't trigger it this time, so I'm not sure what the cause might be, though I did catch a bit of a draft recently. Could that be it? At the ER, they ran a head CT, did blood work, checked all my levels, and even tested for Lyme disease... everything came back normal. They recommended an MRI of my head and cervical spine, but who knows when I'll actually get an appointment for that. I'm finishing up my course of Medrol, taking B-complex vitamins, and doing my facial exercises, but that slight unevenness in my mouth is still there. Does anyone know anything else that helps with nerve recovery? What could be causing this, and is there any way to prevent it from happening again? Is it possible for me to be this sensitive to drafts or cold wind?
Dana Phillips4 said:Yeah, perfectionism and procrastination are definitely linked. I’d say one is usually just a symptom of the other—plus, there's a massive connection to a lack of self-confidence. How did you actually manage to move past it? 🙂
Perfectionism drives procrastination, which is fueled by seeking pleasure, which stems from a fear of success—specifically, the fear that once we experience that joy, we won't be able to replicate it. I found that focusing on a vision of future wins and new experiences helps break the cycle. I'm not sure if that's the universal truth, but it's what works for me.
Perfectionism and procrastination are so closely linked—it’s hard to tell which one causes the other. I suspect it all comes down to how we chase instant gratification. I’ve struggled with both, but once I shifted my perspective, I stopped chasing either.
Maybe we could use a slightly more detailed intro for the Pixar thread ☕
Any extra commentary is redundant at this point; people are clearly thrilled with every short film. Honestly, all you can do is sit here and wish they'd finally get Alien into Bloomkamp's hands.
I’m dealing with Bell's Palsy. It’s been seven days since the symptoms started—I think I did it to myself by sitting right in front of a blast of freezing AC for two hours while I was still sweating. The first four or five days were a total nightmare: I couldn't close my eye, my speech was slurred, sounds felt too loud, and chewing was nearly impossible. Things are starting to look up slightly now; I can feel some faint tingling in my cheek, and if I really focus, I can move things just a tiny bit. My doctor put me on a 14-day course of steroids and expected to see improvement within the week, but it feels like this is going to take much longer. It happened at the worst possible time, too, right when I have major job interviews and several celebrations lined up.🤣 Opinions on facial exercises seem pretty split. Some people say you absolutely have to work out those muscles every day so they don't weaken, while others argue there's no point until the nerve actually recovers and that pushing it might even do more harm than good.
Wow, a two-hour single take! What a masterpiece! It’s been a long time since a movie kept me this gripped from start to finish, and I’ve genuinely sat through everything that’s come out over the last two years. 👍🙏
So, here’s the deal: every single time I shut down my laptop, I have to restart it literally five times before it finally behaves. Windows boots up and the desktop icons show up, but the first four attempts just freeze completely—I can't click on anything. It’s bizarre because it’s always that fifth try that actually works perfectly. This has been happening for over six months now. Given that the laptop is about 5 or 6 years old, is it about to kick the bucket? What do you think the issue is, and is it worth trying to swap out parts, or should I just start saving up for a new one?
When people hear the term "lone wolf," they usually think of social outcasts—people who struggle to make friends, feel disconnected, or just can't navigate a crowd. They picture the emotionally wounded or the extreme introverts.
But that’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m referring to people who actually have plenty of friends, love going out, and are totally approachable and outgoing. They aren't oddballs; they just happen to prefer their own company most of the time because they genuinely enjoy being alone.
I’ve met a few people like this, and they all describe themselves as old souls. They aren't particularly interested in worldly pursuits and tend to view themselves as spiritual people.
This ties back to the concept of introversion versus extroversion. There’s a common misconception that personality is defined by these labels, but I read somewhere that it’s really about where you draw your energy—from being around others or from being by yourself. For instance, a colleague of mine is incredibly talkative and social; she makes friends effortlessly and screams "extrovert" to anyone watching. Yet, she describes herself as a lone wolf who finds her greatest peace in solitude. On the flip side, I know so many people who can't stand being alone. They feel bored without distraction, constantly inviting people over, and often admit they feel empty when they aren't in someone's company.
I’m one of them myself. Instead of heading out tonight, I’d much rather meditate, dive into a book, contemplate, observe, build my inner world, or work on writing.😁 I find that being alone is the only way I can truly "center" myself, returning to that point of calm and balance before I head back out to face the world again.
To be clear, I know plenty of people with actual social struggles or emotional baggage who call themselves "old souls" or "spiritual" simply because they don't know how to connect with others or lack a support system. This post isn't about them. It's about emotionally mature, well-adjusted individuals who have everything they need, yet choose solitude as their primary source of energy.
I’d argue that these true lone wolves are more deeply connected to their authentic selves. What do you all think?
So, would that imply that if someone reached the peak of spiritual enlightenment and lost their own child, they wouldn't feel any pain at all? If they actually suffer, then by that logic, they can't be a perfect soul or truly grasp the Truth. Clearly, something isn't adding up if "suffering" is still part of the equation... just a somewhat simplistic way of looking at it, I guess. ☕
Some people say you shouldn't get attached to anything you're afraid of losing.☕
We feel the sting when we leave a job we actually loved, when a relationship ends, or whenever we lose anyone or anything we were emotionally invested in.
Buddhism suggests that life itself is suffering because we are beings driven by desires—which cause pain—and fueled by emotions that lead to even more attachment.
So, what’s the actual lesson here?
How do we avoid getting attached to people or things? Is it even possible to remain completely detached? Maybe it all comes down to how we frame things in our minds—our perception of what we hold dear. Or should we just let logic override our feelings?
Is the "right" way to be empathetic without letting ourselves become overly emotional?
I’ve noticed something interesting about some elderly, deeply religious folks I've met—people who carry their prayer beads everywhere. They’ve outlived their own children, yet they don't seem to grieve with the overwhelming intensity a "typical" person might. It's almost as if they possess this profound sense of peace, fully aware of how fleeting life is.
But would that mean happiness and laughter are just the flip side of the coin? We know many famous comedians struggle with depression behind closed doors. Should we spend our lives in an emotional "flatline," avoiding the highs and lows? Is a state of total emotional neutrality the only way to truly grasp the Truth?
Brian Allen18 said:Well, you aren't entirely wrong... but let's be real: immature women fall for indifference, while men who have completely checked out of the sexual game are the ones turning to spirituality. 🙂
Of course, I’m talking about those who actually make an effort to master themselves. Those who just can't get a date don't really get a say in this. 😁
''Regardless of what Anando believes about Buddha, he still seeks clarity. He wants to know, among other things, why women strive to reach the essence of Truth. Buddha tells him it is because women lack self-control and are easily tempted. In terms of intellect, creativity, intuition, and self-awareness, a woman has the exact same opportunities as a man. Women simply express their emotions more intensely, which is the only real difference. It is precisely in the struggle to control those emotions—the tendency to lead with the heart rather than the head—that Buddha finds the primary reason women strive for the highest levels of reason.''
Why does it seem like spiritual gurus, thinkers, and philosophers are almost always men? Sure, you run into an occasional female spiritual leader, but most of the time, the spotlight is on men. I'm not talking about your typical churchgoers; I mean those people who dive deep into metaphysics and question the core meaning of existence. For instance, Bud suggests that while a woman can reach Nirvana, it’s a much steeper climb for her because she's supposedly more prone to those impulsive drives from the limbic system. Is this because women are biologically wired to stay out of leadership roles, leaving that space for men? Or could there be a connection to what the Bible says—that the man should be the head of the woman, just as Christ is the head of the man? What are your thoughts?
So, my doctor wanted me to get my testosterone, free testosterone, prolactin, and a few other hormones checked. I just got the results back today, but all I see listed is SHBG at 19.
I'm a bit confused—I thought this was the breakdown for all those different sex hormones. I was hoping to see the specific levels for each one individually. The reference range is 15 - 100. How am I supposed to figure out my testosterone or prolactin levels from this? Also, what does it actually mean if SHBG is high or low?
mistygull16 said:I get the feeling a good chunk of you guys are deep into some kind of spiritual journey or self-improvement grind... and honestly, I'm curious—what’s actually happening on your end? Like, what are the real results of all this work?
I know it's hard to pin down specifics, but I bet there's still an answer somewhere in there.
I’m also interested in the heavy stuff, like if anyone here has actually hit that "dark night of the soul" phase.
But hey, obviously feel free to lean more into the wins and the positive shifts too.
If you can, try to give me something a bit more... I don't know, unique? Let's skip the cliché stuff about having a "peaceful mind" and all that blah blah blah.😉
My biggest breakthrough has been a massive drop in anxiety about the future. It basically boils down to this: don't believe everything your brain tells you. Quiet the internal chatter, stay present, and just let life unfold when it's ready. Whenever you start anticipating something, you tend to project all these false scenarios onto the future. In my experience, those mental projections are wrong about 90% of the time.
I’m only 26 and I’ve already got nearly half my hair turning gray. Nobody else in my family deals with this until their 40s. What’s actually worrying me is that my eyelashes and other body hair are starting to turn gray too. Just please, don't hit me with the "just reduce your stress" advice 😁 I’m wondering if there are specific vitamins or minerals I should start taking so I don't end up completely gray by the time I hit 30. Thanks
I was reading 'The Golden Dawn' by Samael Aun Weor, and he covers this topic quite extensively. Basically, you shouldn't ever let the seed—the essence within the Hermetic vessel or Holy Grail—be wasted. 😁 Similarly, awakening the Kundalini isn't some mechanical process. You need a pure heart and clear thoughts. It involves intimacy with someone you truly love, where the Hermetic seals of the spinal column are opened through seed vapors, clearing the path for the "serpent" and so on. As wild as these ideas might sound, they actually make sense when you look at sexual transmutation—turning raw animalistic energy into creative power. It’s a known fact that many of history's greatest geniuses practiced celibacy. For instance, Michelangelo once remarked that what he couldn't give to a woman, he gave to his sculptures. 😁