Justin Brooks91 said:To sounds more like agoraphobia to me. slygull92, are you actually terrified of the crowd itself, or is it just the fear of being judged by some random individual buried in that mass—you know, that nagging anxiety over what people might think of you?
It isn't about people, and it definitely isn't about their judgment; I don't even know them... it’s just that I feel like I’m going to collapse in an open space because there’s absolutely nothing nearby to lean on..
I honestly think I might be dealing with agoraphobia.. Whenever I find myself walking through Times Square, I get this overwhelming sensation that I’m about to pass out at any second. My legs just turn to jelly, and I feel this desperate urge to scramble toward a wall, a lamppost, or even a clock tower—anything just to get away from the wide-open space surrounding me. It’s like I have this constant, nagging feeling that I need to crouch down or sit right there on the pavement because I'm just going to collapse. Though, in all that time, I’ve never actually collapsed.
The strange thing is, it doesn't happen if I'm out in an empty field or something, which is also technically open space; it only seems to trigger when I'm in those massive urban plazas.
The other day, I caught this segment on PBS about that Plamenka Profeta woman and her supposed "healing methods in China." I think it was on some show called "Life in Silver" or something along those lines. It’s nothing but a blatant scam targeting desperate, sick people who are just grasping at any straw they can find. They actually invited the woman onto the show, but then she didn't even bother to show up—not that they bothered to explain why. Apparently, people are actually traveling all the way to China for this. They get a few massages, maybe fifteen sessions total, and they shell out something like 90 bucks for the whole thing$0.00. Some eyewitnesses mentioned they felt a slight spiritual boost, sure, but physically? Absolutely nothing. And we're talking about people dealing with MS and similar conditions...
boldwolf27 said:If you're in Chicago, I’d suggest heading over to the Eye Care Center for an exam first. You really need a specialist to run through the numbers—get your prescription dialed in and figure out which lens type actually suits your eyes. I'm not sure what their current waitlist looks like, but expect maybe a month or two for an initial appointment.
I've personally been wearing Johnson & Johnson soft lenses for about seven years now, and they’ve been great 🙂. My prescription hasn't even budged since I made the switch, and honestly, the sense of freedom is hard to describe. I don't even touch glasses anymore 🙂
I used to stick with annuals, but lately, I've switched to bi-weekly or daily disposables. They're significantly more comfortable than the yearly ones—plus, you have to consider that annual lenses usually start feeling irritating after only 8 or 10 months. Not to mention, the maintenance routine is totally different.
I honestly don't know who has the willpower left to deal with this anymore. I mean, who actually has the patience to wait one or two months just to secure an appointment, only to show up at the hospital and then sit around in some dark, gloomy hallway for another hour or two? It's just exhausting. There is absolutely no way in hell I'm stepping foot in a public county hospital!!!
If you give the Cleveland Clinic a call in the morning, you’ll likely be sitting in an exam room by that afternoon—or at the very latest, the next day. I guess most private practices around here operate under pretty much the same timeline. The checkup was... well, let's just say it's done. $33I guess if you end up buying your contact lenses directly from them, they might throw in the lenses for free. Maybe. Your contacts should be ready in just a few days. So, if you happen to place your order on a Monday, for instance, there’s a very good chance you could actually have them in hand by Thursday. What kind of contact lenses and months of waiting are we even talking about here...?
I find myself in total agreement with everyone who suggested the Cleveland Clinic. They were incredibly quick and highly professional. I also happen to side with those who aren't exactly fans of contact lenses. I went through a similar phase of thinking—I was just getting bored with my glasses, so I decided to try contacts instead—but honestly, the whole process is such a massive hassle that I ended up giving up after just one month. For what it's worth, the eye exam and the soft contact lenses ended up costing me about $217.
I honestly find it hard to wrap my head around the fact that, even now in the 21st century, there are still people out there clinging to such incredibly primitive ways of thinking...
Morgan Williams4 said:The truth is, I have no idea which specific pesticides those grandmas are spraying, much less you.
And why on earth would you assume I’m clueless? I actually graduated with an agronomy degree and spent nearly five years working in the field, which involved a massive amount of site visits where I saw just about everything there is to see. I honestly shouldn't even get started on what's actually being used in rural American farming or within the supposed "organic" industry here. I've seen enough to know that I’d rather grab my produce at a Kroger than some local roadside stand. At the end of the day, it’s all about personal choice. You go ahead and buy from the old lady on the corner; I'll stick to the greenhouse stuff...
Look, I’m not talking about those grandmas who just grow a few tomatoes in their backyard for themselves and their grandkids... obviously, there isn't any pesticide used in that scenario. If they rot, they go in the compost; if they look good, they get eaten, and that’s the end of it.
What I am actually talking about are those elderly folks selling produce at the local farmers' market... now, that is a completely different story. Their whole mantra seems to be, "Oh, I wouldn't dream of eating my own stuff..." As long as they can squeeze a little extra cash out of those meager Social Security checks, they don't care. They'll let anyone eat whatever they want; the fact that the crops were sprayed with chemicals just two days ago doesn't seem to matter to them, as long as it carries that "homegrown" label.
Morgan Williams4 said:Nobody’s getting cancer from eating organic produce, but plenty of people are getting sick from all those synthetic preservatives!
As far as those tomatoes you see in the local Walmart or Kroger goes, they get treated with just about everything under the sun. I mean, if they were actually grown naturally, there's no way every single tomato would look absolutely flawless and identical, right? And the same thing applies to apples. Honestly, an apple isn't even good if it doesn't have a worm in it. Because a worm isn't going to touch fruit that's loaded with toxins!!! So, I guess it's up to you: do you want to eat wormy, natural apples, or those perfectly shaped ones grown in some highly controlled lab environment!!!
"Everything under the sun"... alright then, since you're such an expert, why don't you list exactly what they use on those tomatoes... and explain specifically why those substances are bad for the human diet... It's all those various preservatives labeled as E-numbers—or whatever the American equivalent is—that you ingest every single day when you drink a Coca-Cola, chew some Orbit gum, sprinkle seasoning on your food, or grab a hot dog, some deli ham, or a can of soup. Nobody ever makes a huge scene about that stuff...
And regarding this talk of treating crops with "poisons," do you really think grandmothers out in their backyards aren't spraying things? The difference is, they don't have a clue about the proper dosage or timing, unlike the professional production technicians. Maybe you should try growing your own vegetables in your backyard without spraying or fertilizing them even once, and then we'll see how high-quality and long-lasting your harvest actually turns out to be...
Believe me when I say the absolute worst tomatoes are the ones you pick up from those "local farmers" at the roadside stands.. I suppose our local small-scale farmers—especially those elderly folks at the rural markets—don't have the slightest clue about modern production technologies. It seems their entire strategy is just to dump as much fertilizer as possible onto the soil to make sure the produce looks "pretty and green." They spray everything haphazardly, too; if they see a neighbor doing it, they’ll just grab whatever pesticide is nearby or follow some questionable advice from a half-literate clerk at a local farm supply store.... I actually went out into the field to see the process firsthand, and honestly? NO THANK YOU!
The produce you find in major supermarket chains comes from highly controlled environments managed by actual professionals. Everything goes through specific quality checks to ensure it meets established standards and nutritional norms. All these wild conspiracy theories about hormones or fish genes are just fairy tales for children and the uneducated masses who clearly don't understand anything about agricultural science or biochemistry.
And this applies to pretty much everything; I really can't help but mention the fresh cheese and cream sold at those little market stalls. Once I saw the conditions where that cheese was being made—the barns were a disaster, cows standing knee-deep in manure, flies swarming all over the kitchen area... ugh, it honestly made my stomach turn. Since then, I exclusively buy Tillamook fresh cheese. At least I know it was produced under sanitary, hygienic conditions.
shadowviper12 said:If you dig through some of the older threads, you can actually find one that I started last year about this exact same nightmare....
I didn't realize 100% that we were dealing with bed bugs back then—last year I just couldn't get rid of them, even using those spray insecticides or one of those hand sprayers filled with Benzyl benzoate that I used to douse the bed... eventually, I just gave up and replaced the whole bed and the mattresses....
And everything was fine until the weather warmed up again this year... now, it's happening all over again... honestly, I can't even begin to tell you how pissed off I am, because if this keeps up, I could be dealing with this crap all the way until autumn...
WHAT CAN I USE TO KILL THEM? HOW DO I WIPE OUT THIS DISGUSTING SWARM THAT'S BITE-BITING ME ALL NIGHT?!?!?!?!😠 😠
Thanks in advance for any help...
Hahahaha,
Do you even have the slightest clue what mites actually are??? 😕
First and foremost, you really have to sit him down and talk, because if he refuses treatment, there is simply no way to force him into it. Being an alcoholic isn't a criminal offense.
Beyond any cosmetic procedures you might choose, you absolutely have to overhaul your diet and ditch those nasty habits.
Cut out the greasy stuff—I'm talking pizza, fries, burgers, bacon, mayo, heavy sauces, chocolate, and cookies...
Instead, try eating plenty of fruits and veggies, dairy, whole grain bread, poultry, and lean meats. You should also probably steer clear of coffee, alcohol, and cigarettes..
Look, I know it isn't easy, but maybe just try sticking to it for a month? You might actually surprise yourself...
Rinsing your face with chamomile tea helps too, and if you can stomach it, adding a little lemon juice occasionally might help 🙂
northernmarlin79 said:Interesting, thanks for all the input.
Regarding that spinal issue, I think I’ve come across similar info in a few places... I suppose you might ask if you've ever dealt with any neck injuries, or perhaps just issues from poor posture, or whatever else might have triggered this disc degeneration?
Back when I was a kid, I used to be prone to anemia... though that hasn't been the case in recent years... and I do take B vitamins... As for anxiety—hardly. I'm quite happy and satisfied with my life.
I actually went to see a physical therapist because of some pain in my shoulder and upper arm... and honestly, I nearly fainted during the exam when she told me to tilt my head back as far as possible... apparently, it was all due to weak neck muscles and cervical spine deformation caused by sitting too much, lying down constantly, and generally having terrible posture...
Anonymous said:How much does Famcirlovir cream cost without a prescription?
And is it even possible to get it without a script? In my experience, Virolex doesn't really do anything for me; it just makes everything soggy and actually makes things feel worse. The Bioherpin gel works okay for me since it dries things out quickly, but then the skin cracks and starts bleeding...
It doesn't really matter anyway; that neighborhood in a US city is way too far out of my way.
I just knocked it out quickly, paid those $67 and I don't regret it one bit. I mean, I don't exactly do this often enough to justify skimping on the cost... (this was actually my first time). It’s already been six days since this hit me, and the pain just won't let up... I suppose maybe after a few rounds of therapy there might be some progress, but honestly, this has become absolutely unbearable...
Thanks, I'll check the directory. I really can't get behind this idea that it isn't worth spending the money. Personally, I don't see the point in waiting weeks just to snag an appointment, only to end up stuck in crowded waiting rooms and wasting hours just to get an image. It’s not like this is something I’m doing every single week, and a scan like that shouldn't cost more than 200-$100. With a private clinic, you just call, show up, and you're seen immediately; you get your results right then or shortly after, you pay, and everything is handled smoothly. I mean, I'm not about to start cutting corners when it comes to my own health, am I?
Does anyone here happen to know where I can get a cervical spine scan done in Chicago? I'm looking for a private radiology clinic where I won't have to wait an entire month just to land an appointment. The cost isn't really my main concern—I just need it done quickly, and if possible, somewhere on the West Side of town? All I know of is Dr. Cavka over by Maxim, but surely he isn't the only private specialist practicing in Chicago?
My neck... it just hurts, hurts, hurts. I finally went in for an exam today, but they can't tell me anything for certain until they've actually seen the imaging results.😢