dustymaker642 said:And why on earth wouldn't that be possible? 🤷
I wasn't even entirely certain if I was actually dealing with a hemorrhoid, so I did what any rational person does and turned to Google—only to have it confirm my worst suspicions.
Keith Miller9 said:I don't think that’s actually external. If it just vanished like that, there’s a good chance you're dealing with internal hemorrhoids that prolapse outward—usually right after a bathroom trip—only to slide back inside after a little while.
Thanks a million! I think I’ve had something similar happen maybe two or three times now, but honestly, the idea of hemorrhoids never even crossed my mind at the time. I suppose I was just far too young to realize that such things could actually be a source of misery.
It’s finally starting to settle down a bit, but I can't help wondering—is this actually worth making an appointment at the Mayo Clinic, or am I just overthinking things?
Linda Johnson15 said:I’m not even on some strict diet... I just have discharge issues and my pH is completely out of whack because I basically nuked my immune system with medication.
Personally, I try to stick to more natural remedies. Lately, I’ve been incorporating more garlic, yogurt, and fruit shakes with flaxseed into my routine. I've cut back on sugar, rarely touch sweets, and don't overdo the bread either... Honestly, I can't quite figure out where things went sideways since I feel like I'm living a pretty healthy lifestyle. 😢
I actually tried that one... though I've been taking Lactogin for a while now too. Honestly, looking back, I think my biggest mistake was focusing entirely on treating myself while completely ignoring my partner...
As for those vaginal suppositories, they're a hard pass for me; they always seem to make things feel even worse than before... I don't really deal with itching or burning...
Wait, so it's just discharge? For me, it usually comes with this really annoying, light itching. Are you following an anti-candida diet as well?
I can't seem to shake this infection, and it feels like it's constantly wearing down my immune system.
When I’m being serious, my face tends to settle into this sort of permanent scowl. It’s like my facial expressions are turned up to eleven; whether I’m feeling down, moody, or just awkward, it all leaks out onto my face. I know this because my inner circle won't stop pointing it out. Honestly, if it were me, I’d just embrace it as part of the package—we aren't all required to fit into some standardized mold of "pleasantness." I was actually grabbing coffee with a friend the other day—someone I hadn't seen in ages. Usually, when we reconnect after a long stretch, the whole vibe is upbeat and sunny, but that day I was just feeling... meh. You could definitely see it on my face, but truthfully, I couldn't bring myself to care one bit about how I was coming across. 🤣
That said, if you're genuinely bothered by it and want to change how you present yourself, you can always work on your social cues and communication skills through some practice. A little Google search might give you some pointers.
Taylor Swift, you hit the nail on the head. I’m well aware that moderators tend to scrub certain posts from the board now and then, but seeing a hundred of them vanish feels like a bit of an overkill 🤣
Trying to pray to your subconscious is kind of a lost cause, really—mostly because that part of the mind is packed with what we call limiting beliefs, patterns, or old programming. And let's face it, those things usually hold more sway over us than our conscious thoughts do. We can influence that subconscious content through intentional action to eventually shift our conscious reality, but it’s a pretty complex process. Wherever we run into trouble in life, you can bet there are some limiting subconscious programs at play. Someone trying to heal might be fighting one or more deep-seated ideas, like "I don't deserve to get better" or "I'd rather just give up." You usually uncover these through various psychological techniques. People who know their stuff can work through this on their own, though most people see a therapist. That said, there is a simple way to at least identify which beliefs are holding you back, which makes taking next steps much easier. If anyone's interested, I'm happy to write more about it.🙂
Please do write it 🍿
I've definitely had a few moments where reading Murphy left me scratching my head too.
The main thing is that things are actually happening...
See, this is exactly why I feel like kids would actually run things way better than those people who think they're all "grown up"...
So, what's stopping you from just waking up happy and smiling at the sun right now??... You wrote that for no reason! Like, do you even need a reason to just be happy for no reason at all?... 🙂
Morning is almost here... 😉
It’s just not quite "that" feeling anymore 🤷 I can force myself to do it, sure, but the genuine joy isn't there like it used to be. I don't experience that full-body sense of bliss anymore; there's always this lingering something in the background—some sort of underlying anxiety or restless anticipation. 🤷
I could give you a much better description of my anti-unknowns! That's when it hits you... "descending"... everything seems to have "started" resolving itself, but in the complete opposite direction. Instead of The Whole! Just the Whole, the One, Life. what's actually happening is this HELLISH, EXHAUSTING SENSE OF SEPARATION from everything else in existence. It’s so physically draining that you feel the need to pinch yourself—hard—just to force your brain to pivot its attention toward something else, in this case, actual physical pain!
I had an extreme version of this once, way back in high school. I was just hanging out at home, lounging around. Then I started spiraling, overthinking my life and where I stood. We weren't living in some perfect utopia, obviously, but we weren't exactly struggling either. Suddenly, these dark, panicky thoughts began crashing down on me—this agonizing sense of my being being ripped away from the world. I bolted upright in bed (it was around 9 AM) and started splashing ice-cold water on my face in the bathroom. After a minute or two, that panic and that feeling of being split in two started to subside. I crawled back into bed to try and steady myself. And then the cold sweats hit. I started shaking like a leaf in a storm. Seriously, I was shivering as if I were lying naked out in a blizzard. The trembling didn't stop for about half an hour. I haven't had any more outbursts that drastic, though I have dealt with those bouts of dissociation a few times since. I actually wrote about it before—a similar sensation, actually:
I’ve noticed another really bizarre phenomenon in myself. I call it "psychological distance gazing." Basically, certain people—mostly people I know somewhat, less so strangers—trigger this stupid, inexplicable feeling in me. When I look them in the eye, I start feeling this intense discomfort coupled with a sense of mental detachment from them. To make matters worse, that same person starts looking back at me in that same weird way, almost as if I’m the one who induced the feeling just by staring at them. It mostly happens with specific individuals. With others, it never happens at all. Their psychological posture—their sheer mental grit—is such that they don't allow it. Yet, certain types of people trigger this in me. And the thing is, I can't pinpoint any specific traits in them. Nothing negative, for that matter. Does anyone else experience anything like this?!!
It makes you wonder whether there's anything profound or deep about all this... or if it's just nonsense!!??? Personally, I'm afraid it's the latter. It feels much like that state of mind people get into after they've had one too many drinks at a bar. Some start singing and hugging everyone, while others start swearing and looking for a fight. 😲 😁 The answer lies in this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s8D6VFSuvw 😁
I used to get hit by that "near-panic" during high school too, usually whenever I'd start dwelling on the concept of eternity; my head would just start spinning. 😵 Luckily, I had developed this great internal mechanism where I could just tell myself, "shut up," and pivot instantly to something else that didn't bother me. It worked wonders. Unfortunately, as the years go by, that mental switch has started to grind and creak. There were times it would break down entirely; now, it still functions somewhat, but man, you really have to grease the gears with some heavy-duty Advil every once in a while. 😬
unknown:
I've noticed a very strange phenomenon in myself. I call it "psychological distance gazing." Essentially, certain people (usually those I know somewhat, rather than strangers) trigger this bizarre sensation in me that's hard to put into words. When I look them in the eye, I start feeling this unease coupled with a sense of psychological detachment from them. To make matters worse, that same person starts looking at me with that same odd expression, almost as if my gaze induced the feeling in them. This mostly happens with specific types of people, whereas with others, it never occurs—their psychological presence is just too solid to allow it. Yet, I can't pinpoint any specific traits in these individuals. They aren't negative people by any stretch of the imagination. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?!!
It’s the same story. That’s why I actually prefer talking to people who don't come across as "over-analyzers"😲—even if they're a bit superficial or just breeze through a conversation. The truth is, most people aren't out here trying to psychoanalyze you or perform some deep soul-searching reading of their conversation partner; those little intrusive thoughts usually just pop into our own heads because we're the ones doing the analyzing. We end up sabotaging our own peace of mind with our own projections. If you really sit with it, the deepest question you can possibly ask is, "Hmm, what is this person really thinking right now?" Once you realize you can't actually know, and more importantly, that it doesn't actually matter, things start feeling a lot easier 🤷
People tend to obsess over everything youth has to offer because society basically forces that mindset on them, but most folks are just too stuck in their ways and follow the herd blindly, moving wherever the crowd goes. In your younger years, you at least have beauty and physical strength, if you're lucky enough to have those too.🤷 To be honest, I know plenty of seniors who are more agile and full of life than most people in their twenties.
Anyway, back to the topic: 👍 let's talk about the wisdom that comes with age.
For me, these little awakenings hit like an "aha!" moment—quick, sharp, and gone just as fast.
Looking at what William Roberts3 wrote, it feels like when I was younger, I lived in that state almost constantly. To be honest, I’m pretty sure I was more awake back then than I am now.
Lately, I’ve been stuck in this headspace where everything feels a bit flat, like I’m missing that drive or spark in my life. Maybe it’s just a phase, though. I still find myself looking back with a bit of nostalgia at those mornings when I’d wake up feeling genuinely happy for no particular reason, step out onto the balcony, and just smile at the sun sorry.😢
Sorry for the off-topic rambling; I know I didn't really answer the prompt, more like highlighted what's missing.🤣
Talk soon.
I'll be keeping an eye on this thread; I'm liking the direction it's going.👍
Lately, my dreams have been spiraling a bit out of control 😳
I’ve never experienced emotions this intense while sleeping before. I mean, sure, I’ve had moments where I’d wake up laughing or crying, but I always maintained that internal awareness that it was just a dream. These last two nights were different; they felt disturbingly real. In one, I was gripped by this overwhelming, suffocating anxiety that just wouldn't let up, and in the other, I was caught in this incredibly heated, frustrating argument that left me feeling totally on edge. Honestly, they were pretty terrible. I’d actually take a standard nightmare over this kind of emotional exhaustion any day.
Is it possible that this is just the brain or body performing some kind of "deep clean"—essentially surfacing all those things we suppress or ignore during our waking hours 🤷
Or maybe my conscious and subconscious minds just haven't reached an agreement yet?
James Thompson12 said:Sometimes I'll head back to bed just to decompress for a bit, but more often than not, I end up passing out again. 😁
It’s not exactly a rare occurrence that I end up running late for work. Even when I actually manage to stay on schedule, I’m usually in some kind of frantic rush just to make sure I clock in on time. But get this—it's pretty funny when you think about it, considering my shift doesn't even start until 9:00 AM. 😁
As for sleep, I don't really have any major issues. I can drift off and stay under just fine—at least lately, anyway. It’s just that my sleep always feels way too short. 😁
That's probably because the night is just too short.
James Thompson12 said:Haha, I’m in the exact same boat. I drift off almost instantly, but once I'm out, it's game over—I can barely wake up and I feel like a zombie all day. Even if my alarm goes off, I usually just crawl right back under the covers. If I don't get at least nine hours, I'm basically useless. I wish I had a physically demanding job just so I'd actually be tired enough to stay asleep 🙂
Man, I am so jealous of people who can function perfectly fine on just six hours of sleep 🙄
Personally, I can manage fine on six hours, but I find myself needing a solid seven or eight every few days just to stay upright—I guess my body just forces those catch-up sessions whenever it needs them. 🤷
Elizabeth Castillo87 said:I’ve been spiraling down this rabbit hole lately, just wondering about the actual distinction between what people call self-actualization and what they label as enlightenment. You know, some authors out there—and honestly, even some of the folks hanging out in these threads—seem to lump them together like they’re two sides of the same coin. But I don't know... is it really? Am I crazy, or does it feel like we’re talking about two completely different beasts altogether?
👍
I'll put my signature on that. I was just voicing the exact same thought on a different thread a moment ago.
nimblewolf11 said:Basically, the emotions are still there, but they no longer hold the reins.
It’s all about pure witnessing—not identifying with any of those internal or external shifts—and that won't make a person any less valuable in their relationships with others.
Drew Gray4 said:Sandra Morgan2: No, I haven't swapped them out in three years. I went through them pretty frequently during those first three years... and generally speaking, yeah, they wouldn't have lasted nearly this long.
To address the question I missed earlier... I'm not exactly an expert at articulating things in such a spiritual sense, nor have I devoured enough literature to pull sophisticated phrases out of thin air. What I was trying to convey is that I've finally learned to love myself. I’ve come to realize my own depth—an unspeakable depth that was previously obscured by my physical appearance, which I used to loathe and feel ashamed of (I'm referring to my looks, my financial standing, and things of that nature).
crimsonfox26, you hit the nail on the head: acceptance. It's about not fighting everything around you or within you. Life isn't a battle. So many people pay a heavy price for that mindset because they view everything as a struggle, and when you frame life as a fight, there's always the risk of losing. But personally, I can't lose anything, because I don't own anything besides myself—and since I am timeless, I can't possibly lose who I am. Something like that. :-)
Exactly right.
I actually have a few good links regarding this topic.😉
urbanwalker72, go ahead and drop those reading recommendations; there are plenty of us interested in diving deeper.😁
Anyway, since I started hanging out in this sub and reading through all these accounts of enlightenment, spiritual awakenings, and wild visions... it feels to me like it all eventually boils down to just grasping how simple life actually is. It’s about accepting whatever comes our way without getting too caught up in endless philosophical gymnastics or trying to run away from who we really are 🤷
I'm definitely not trying to offend anyone; if anything, reading these threads is actually quite motivating for me personally 😉