Posts by brightridge59

casualwolf12 said:I suspect many have fundamentally misconstrued the priest’s remark regarding her departing "with honor and dignity." It seems there is a widespread misunderstanding at play here. I don't believe he was referring to some external, third-party standard of dignity—as if she were somehow forfeiting her reputation or her perceived innocence in the eyes of her parents or the local community. Rather, I would argue his comment pertained entirely to her own internal perspective. Is it not more likely that the loss of dignity is a matter of self-perception? That is certainly my contention.
From my particular vantage point, if I were to find myself being brutally dispatched by a silverback gorilla and stuffed into a shipping crate, I suspect I would feel at least a marginal sense of lost dignity. Is there truly any individual among us who wouldn't experience a certain erosion of self-respect when forced into actions—or subjected to circumstances—against their own volition? One would assume that the preservation of agency is central to the human condition, wouldn't they? To be coerced, whether by nature or by force, seems inherently contrary to the maintenance of one's pride. 🤷

As for her father, perhaps he finds some small, hollow comfort in the fact that she wasn't assaulted before the murder occurred. Or perhaps that is merely a delusion? I suspect the reality hasn't truly sunk in yet, especially considering how visibly shaken he appeared when those reporters were badgering him for a statement.

What kind of innocence are we talking about here?
Are we discussing the purity of a divine being, or just the fact that nobody has managed to tear a hymen yet (which is something we can't possibly know)?

from my own perspective, if some massive brute tied me up and forced themselves on me, I think I’d feel at least a slight loss of dignity. Honestly, I don't think there's a soul alive who wouldn't feel their dignity stripped away by actions taken under duress, against their will... 🤷

Most people would likely feel that loss of dignity.
Personally, I would feel violated. But there is a profound difference between feeling violated because someone forced something upon you and feeling a loss of dignity because of something you brought upon yourself.

I can't help but wonder what kind of reaction a priest would have to the desecration of a corpse?
Specifically, regarding sexual acts involving one. Would that be considered desecration? Would the clergy and the Church actually be outraged by it, or would they simply argue that once the spirit leaving the body has occurred, the remains are just a body? 🙄 Yes, I realize we are drifting from the main topic... but I find it equally hypocritical.

I fail to see why an unfortunate girl should be hailed as a hero, even if it's "just" to provide comfort to her family.
This whole situation just proves that both the Church and society still view survivors of assault through the exact same lens. There is still this underlying layer of disgust and contempt, acting as if the victims themselves are somehow to blame. 🤮 You see it clearly in a case like this, where the victim wasn't even assaulted in the traditional sense.

It would honestly be better to die than to face such a violation. Jesus. 🙄

What I’m really getting at is the difference between an elevator that services every single floor versus those setups that only stop at even or odd levels. 😬
In theory, those specialized patterns should help cut down on the wait times and congestion, but how can they actually make a dent in the crowds when the cabs are so tiny you can barely squeeze two people inside? 🤣

I had a bit of a realization while I was heading down to the local Target earlier—it turns out that this specific elevator, the one that only services certain floors, really does only stop at the even-numbered ones. 🤣 😵
It was actually the first one of its kind I've ever encountered in person. 😬

Still, it leaves me wondering: what is the actual purpose behind designing them this way? 😕

I’ve been chewing on this little quirk for quite some time now, especially regarding the layout of certain high-rise buildings—including the one I’m currently calling home.
It seems there are always two distinct types of elevators in play: those that serve every single floor, and then those specialized ones that strictly service only the odd-numbered floors. To be perfectly honest, I don’t think I’ve ever actually encountered an elevator dedicated solely to even numbers, and even if one did exist, I struggle to see the practical logic behind either setup. 😕

I mean, if we already have a perfectly functional elevator that stops at every single floor, what is the actual point of having one that limits itself to just the odd or even levels? 🤷

By the way, has anyone had a chance to sit down and watch the movie yet?

Grace White10 said:Look, we are talking about love—but the reality of the situation goes much deeper than the simple whims or troubles of some lovestruck girl.

I truly believe you are right. 🙂
If you have fallen for someone else, I really don't see any obstacles standing in your way regarding a divorce. From everything you've shared, it sounds like your husband simply isn't providing the stability a husband or a father should offer.
I want to emphasize that I am basing this entirely on your own account of the situation.

A man who chooses to harass his wife while intoxicated right in front of his children doesn't deserve to have a partner by his side—especially one who is capable of, and eager to experience, genuine love. You want that connection, and honestly, you deserve it.

Of course, the kids will be hurt if you decide to split up, but I urge you to consider how much more deeply they will be wounded if you stay in a broken marriage like this.
Growing up witnessing harassment and abuse leaves incredibly deep scars, creating consequences that people often spend their entire adult lives trying to heal.

Please, try not to carry any guilt; you aren't "hurting" your husband by leaving. He isn't going to change because of your decision. Your priority should be saving yourself and protecting your children.

You have every right to pursue happiness. It might be best to move out and establish your own space first, then perhaps take things very slowly with this new person. Just take it one small step at a time. 😘

Wait a second, have you gone and fallen head over heels for someone?? 🙂

I thought I’d share a little bit of clarification I found over on Wikipedia to help clear things up. 🙂

* (F20.) Schizophrenia
o (F20.0) Paranoid schizophrenia
o (F20.1) Hebephrenic schizophrenia
o (F20.2) Catatonic schizophrenia
o (F20.3) Undifferentiated schizophrenia
o (F20.4) Post-schizophrenic depression
o (F20.5) Residual schizophrenia
o (F20.6) Simple schizophrenia
o (F20.8) Other schizophrenia
o (F20.9) Schizophrenia, unspecified

* (F21.) Schizotypal disorder

* (F22.) Persistent delusional disorders
o (F22.0) Delusional disorder

* (F23.) Acute and transient psychotic disorders
o (F23.0) Acute polymorphic psychotic disorder without symptoms of schizophrenia
o (F23.1) Acute polymorphic psychotic disorder with symptoms of schizophrenia
o (F23.2) Acute schizophrenia-like psychotic disorder
o (F23.3) Other acute predominantly delusional psychotic disorders
o (F23.8) Other acute and transient psychotic disorders
o (F23.9) Acute and transient psychotic disorder, unspecified

* (F24.) Induced delusional disorder
o Folie à deux

* (F25.) Schizoaffective disorders
o (F25.0) Schizoaffective disorder, manic type
o (F25.1) Schizoaffective disorder, depressive type
o (F25.2) Schizoaffective disorder, mixed type
o (F25.8) Other schizoaffective disorders
o (F25.9) Schizoaffective disorder, unspecified

* (F28.) Other nonorganic psychotic disorders

* (F29.) Unspecified nonorganic psychosis

And if you're interested in seeing the full list of classifications, here is the link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICD-10_...ural_disorders

Does anyone else have experience being able to coherently explain how those around them reacted once they found out about their diagnosis? I’d really appreciate any insights you could share. 🙂

Physicality really doesn't mean much if you don't have that spiritual connection to back it up. Without it, even if you experience what people call 'divine light'—or whatever poetic term you prefer to use—it might just end up being nothing more than a momentary, intense physical rush.

It’s much the same when you're pursuing spiritual fulfillment without any physical element involved. It just doesn't seem to hold much weight in the long run. You can strive for all the spiritual enlightenment your heart desires, but I truly believe that the act of sexually uniting with another person can be an incredibly profound, eye-opening experience that brings its own kind of revelation. 😁

Oh, Walter Ramirez3, I can certainly relate to what you're going through... when it comes to "body image" issues. Personally, I don't really struggle with my legs or my backside; my battle is always with my midsection, which just refuses to budge no matter how much I complain about it—though, if I'm being honest, I haven't actually been trying to change anything lately! As for stretch marks, there isn't a magic wand to make them vanish completely, but you can definitely make them less noticeable. Maybe try hitting up a tanning salon? I know they won't disappear entirely, but it helps. Honestly, I think the best thing you can do is try to embrace them as just another part of who you are, because they're a permanent part of your story. Once you truly accept yourself exactly as you are, you'll find you stop caring so much about those ultra-skinny models who look like they might snap in half at any moment. 😬

I realize it’s easy for me to say this from the sidelines, and believe me, I’d probably be feeling the exact same way if I were in your shoes, but please just try telling yourself that you are beautiful exactly as you are, imperfections and all. 😘

Richard Murphy6 said:I guess we're just waiting for our friend here to chime in, since they've got schizoaffective disorder rather than just schizophrenia.

🤣

I was wondering, for those of you living with schizophrenia, how long did the suspicion linger before you finally received an official diagnosis? Also, if you decided to open up about it, how did the people closest to you—like your parents, partners, or best friends—actually react?

Andrew Ramos10 said:It’s honestly been so fascinating reading through everything under this thread. Who would have thought?!!
I was recently watching a movie on TV starring Russell Crowe. The premise goes like this: he plays this incredibly brilliant guy—a university professor who’s basically a genius at cracking complex codes—so the U.S. military decides they need him for some top-secret project... blah blah, the details don't really matter. Anyway, halfway through the film, we realize—and the protagonist realizes too—that the military wasn't actually recruiting him for a mission; he just imagined the whole thing himself. It turns out he’s actually dealing with schizophrenia. Luckily, he has a wife who sticks by him and helps him through it. Even with his mental struggles, that mathematical brilliance is still there, and he uses his high Intelligence Quotient to spot tiny patterns that help him recognize when his "hallucinations" are about to strike. For instance, a little girl and a friend who appear in his life always stay the exact same age, no matter how many years pass. I mean, it's like he's trying to use pure logic and reason to somehow master his own illness...
What do you all think? Is that actually possible?

That particular film was actually based on true events.
So, yes, it’s certainly possible. It just seems like his hallucinations continued, but he simply stopped perceiving them as separate from reality.

Azrael, look... nobody here is actually CONDEMNING Tencent or Upwork.
He was the first one to claim that "we" (presumably the conformists, the small-minded, and the rest of the crowd) are just chasing money to buy luxury Mercedes cars—which is such a sweeping generalization—whereas he, unlike us unilluminated souls, is chasing money just to get high.
It’s as if he’s positioned himself above the rest of us, acting like he’s somehow more spiritually evolved because he’s supposedly cracked the code to the meaning of life or existence or whatever it is.🙄

Now, I’m certainly not defending comments like "let the worms eat him," but honestly, that’s just a much more radical way of saying "you brought this on yourself." I’m convinced about 90% of people would say that exact phrase if they actually had the guts to do it. Most "average, everyday" Americans just don't have any sympathy for addicts.
They’re selfish, they don't contribute anything to the community, no matter how you define society, and they wreck the lives of everyone around them without giving a single damn.

And then, predictably, they act surprised when they end up poor, isolated, rejected, and judged by everyone.
Give me a break.

Oh, come on, JPK, let’s be real here. It’s perfectly fine to offer advice, but as someone who has personally dealt with drug issues—not through addiction itself, but through being very close to a former addict—I feel I should be able to weigh in on this without everyone labeling me a moralist or some small-minded critic. 🙄
I’m not entirely sure who you were directing that comment toward, but it felt a bit misplaced. Most people in this thread have genuinely tried to help (even if they perhaps shouldn't have 😕), and if you haven't noticed, quite a few of them have had some kind of connection to drugs at one point or another.

I remember vividly how I used to insist that I could function perfectly normally while I was using; I would lie, cheat, and manipulate everyone, most of all myself, constantly coming up with justifications for my actions. In reality, though, I was just tearing down my own life and everyone else's too, which is something both the original poster and 99 Luftballons seem to stubbornly refuse to grasp. It isn't just about "them"—the impact ripples out to everyone.

@Noah Sanchez7
You’re such an incredibly bright (young😕 ) guy, but it’s a real shame how much you’re weighed down by your addiction. Even if you aren't actively using, it’s like this shadow that follows you everywhere. Every single thread you start somehow circles back to drugs, and in every discussion—whether yours or someone else's—you try to convince people that using is actually cool, or even "healthy" (!), if they just choose to see it that way. Honestly, man, you really need to move past that innate, nihilistic streak of yours. 😉

@Teenah
I honestly don't get why you came here looking for help of any kind, because when I read through your posts, all I see is one apology after another. Do you want to know why your child cries the very second you step away from them? It's because they feel you—they sense your struggles and the grip your addiction has on you. Please, don't be naive and stop trying to convince yourself that what you're doing is "right" or the only way to handle your situation. If you truly wanted to get clean, you would have done it already. It really is as simple as that.
Instead, you showed up here and found support from yet another addict—one who, frankly, is still a question mark🙄 regarding whether he's actually sober—who now acts like some enlightened guru, lecturing everyone on the forum as if he’s the only person to ever survive this. 👎

I wanted to reach out and tell you that you really need to move past the addiction, regardless of what any drug test says, though it sounds like you’re already fully aware of that reality. I just hope those tests don't end up being your only reason to stay clean; honestly, approaching a struggle this heavy with a "no biggie, it'll be fine" attitude doesn't usually cut it when things get tough.

I've dealt with my own struggles with substances—not specifically with methadone, but I have someone very close to me who has—so I truly understand how daunting that decision is, knowing how hard it can be to finally walk away from it all. But you actually have the ultimate motivation right in front of you: your son. 🙂

Also, as much as you feel like you're doing an amazing job as a mom, please try not to use that identity as an excuse if you happen to slip up. Life has a way of throwing unimaginable curveballs at us, and even when you think you're being incredibly careful, things like an overdose can happen in the blink of an eye.

As for the detox process itself, I wouldn't recommend those hospital stays or intensive rehab programs. You might want to look into this instead.

casualtiger2 said:When your astral body detaches from your physical one—which happens during these experiences and often while you're sleeping—you get those vivid dreams of flying.
Then, when you're coming back down to earth, you dream about falling—something that actually happens quite a bit right as you're drifting off.
During that middle ground, you might find yourself fully aware of everything around you while your physical body feels completely paralyzed—it’s because the astral body hasn't fully reconnected yet. Think of the physical body as "dead" matter without that link; in fact, that break in connection between the two is basically what we call death.

These things are perfectly natural, so there's really no reason to freak out or think something is wrong with you medically—though, I'll admit, it can definitely feel a bit unsettling at times.

PS
Flying and falling can also carry symbolic weight in your dreams, but honestly, you'll have to figure out what that means for yourself—everyone's interpretation is different.

Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that the astral layer is attempting to separate from the physical form, but fails to do so, resulting in those physical twitches as the two layers struggle to 'reconnect'?

casualtiger2 said:When your astral body detaches from your physical one—which happens during these experiences and often while you're sleeping—you get those vivid dreams of flying.
Then, when you're coming back down to earth, you dream about falling—something that actually happens quite a bit right as you're drifting off.
During that middle ground, you might find yourself fully aware of everything around you while your physical body feels completely paralyzed—it’s because the astral body hasn't fully reconnected yet. Think of the physical body as "dead" matter without that link; in fact, that break in connection between the two is basically what we call death.

These things are perfectly natural, so there's really no reason to freak out or think something is wrong with you medically—though, I'll admit, it can definitely feel a bit unsettling at times.

PS
Flying and falling can also carry symbolic weight in your dreams, but honestly, you'll have to figure out what that means for yourself—everyone's interpretation is different.

I recall reading some fascinating theories about various methods of astral projection quite a while ago.
It seems that the astral body can launch itself into the interspace, which wouldn't cause the physical body to die, but would result in a separation where the physical shell continues to function on this plane, albeit without the consciousness that has moved to the other side.

Oh, man, those Gingerbread Men. 😛 😍
I was actually just sitting here thinking the other day about how it’s been way too long since I had one, and I realized I absolutely have to go out and grab some soon.

Honestly, if you ask me, they beat Hershey's any day of the week. 🙂

Just dive right in and grab him.
I actually did exactly that with my current partner—I cornered him against the wall and just went for it. He didn't really have much of a choice in the matter, poor guy! 😁
Now he’s officially stuck with me, so I guess he’ll just have to deal with it. 😬