Posts by Sean Vaughn8

I went through something pretty similar back when I was in college. Other projects totally pulled me away from my main focus. 🙂 But honestly, finding something I actually cared about—something I was actually good at—was what gave me enough of a confidence boost to go back and crush those brutal exams I'd been avoiding.
Now, I’m not saying you should literally do the exact same thing, but just realize that those side hustles or hobbies where you actually shine? They matter way more than you think.

You need motivation, sure, but you also need people in your corner.

So why the act?
What’s the worst that happens if you just show people who you really are? Or if you actually ask for help?

In my family, the rule was always "just smile and pretend everything is fine." I only felt accepted as long as I was performing perfectly. 😁 To avoid letting my parents down, I forced myself through a major I absolutely hated until I hit a breaking point, all while they had zero clue how much I was struggling.

If the people around you actually care, they’ll stick by you through the fear and the rough patches.
If they can't wrap their heads around your struggles—then they aren't your people.
Either way, there’s no reason to carry all this weight alone or hide the mess you're going through.

Can I join "Sean Vaughn8" without the underscore? Thanks.

Sure thing, just hit up Miami.

Look, according to our buddy Google, Dismenol is basically just standard ibuprofen. 🙂
http://www.drugs.com/international/dismenol.html

So, what does "forgiveness" actually look like to you?
Honestly, it’s best to just move on. 🤷

Thomas Roberts9 said:And how heavy is your flow usually?
I’m honestly just asking because I wonder if this might offer even a tiny bit of relief for those of us dealing with truly abnormal levels of pain... I know pain is subjective, of course, but I don't think there's much comparison between someone who can go about their day with their period and those of us who are practically bedridden or unable to move because the cramps are just so overwhelming...

My bad, just saw the post now.

Sometimes it hits me, sometimes it doesn't, but last time was brutal. It felt like my uterus was literally tearing itself apart, sending these sharp pains straight to my pelvis. I actually felt like I was going to pass out. I couldn't move for about 45 minutes straight—the only thing that saved me was some Diclofenac I had on hand, and even then, it took a minute to kick in. Those first couple of days, that extended-release Diclofenac was my lifeline. It didn't kill the pain entirely, but it let me function enough to stay upright without moving too much. Which was a nightmare, honestly, because I spent the entire first day traveling and jumping between different buses and trains. 😁).

I think for me, it all comes down to how much I actually look after myself during the previous month. It’s like that—everything builds up. 🧐 Periods, leg cramps, bloating, trouble sleeping—I don't really sweat the small stuff like that. When I was younger, my cycles were brutal, honestly painful. But now? They’re almost painless. A couple of Tylenols or one Advil 600mg usually handles the whole thing. These kinds of extreme shifts just don't happen to me much anymore these days.

Don’t crucify me here, but I honestly think psychology plays a huge role in this. My mom dealt with brutal cramps her entire life, and she was the kind of woman who never really embraced her own sexuality. Maybe there’s a connection there. She passed that mindset down to me, too—treating periods like some kind of heavy, cursed illness rather than just part of life. I noticed a pattern: the first time I had a period that didn't absolutely wreck me was right after I moved out for college. Now, it's almost like a rule: when I'm back home, the pain hits hard. When I'm away in a different city, I feel fine. These days, if I'm on my bike during my cycle, I'm good to go. That's about it.

I won't even get into the details, but honestly, that Magnesium and Calcium combo is a total lifesaver for my whole PMS routine—mood swings, stomach issues, cramps, the works. My only issue is I keep forgetting to actually take them every month.

Taking calcium and magnesium supplements a few days before my period really helps ease the symptoms for me. Just a daily dose of minerals—nothing crazy.

Chloe Hernandez83 said:Uh.....😍

Thanks, really helpful... I always jump straight to the worst-case scenario.

I'm stressed out—just that low-key, constant stress over everything 😍 (especially my last final exam), but I figured if things were actually bad, I’d be stuck in bed unable to move. 😍

Honestly, I have no clue if this is just an aging thing. My OB-GYN mentioned it might just be my hormones leveling out or something. (In the past, I’d legit stay in bed for two days straight because the pain would make me pass out.)

My last one was actually pretty brutal (definitely the first time in about four years), so I'm heading in tomorrow for a checkup to see what's up. You should definitely ask your doctor too, nothing to lose. 🙂

It’s been kind of like that for me too. For the last five or six years, I've barely even noticed my period coming around, which is a huge shift from how much of a nightmare it used to be. And honestly, I feel totally fine physically.

Nicholas Moore2 said:For the sake of actually keeping this conversation going, let's stick to our forum handles... mine is Nicholas Moore2!

My last "case" happened over the last month and went something like this: he shows me he's interested, and I feel the same way. We spend an evening out at a concert, laughing our heads off, having a blast. We kiss at the end of the night and go our separate ways. Two days later, he surprises me by asking me out for coffee. During the date, I'm cracking jokes, trying way too hard to be cool, nonchalant, funny, whatever... he’s getting totally confused because nothing makes sense, but he kisses me again at the end. Later that day, I text him to see if he wants to grab a drink, and he says yes. A few days later, I'm out with friends and feeling pretty "festive," so I text him to see if he's out. He says he's out with his crew, so being all "high-spirited," I head to the bar where they are. I think I overdid it there. I ended up following him and his group to another bar, and then he basically sent me home with a couple of other people after giving me a goodbye kiss... instead of taking that as enough, I send him a text asking: "Coming over in 5?" ☕ He didn't reply until much later saying he saw the message too late, and since then, things have gone cold.☕
We hung out one more time over the weekend, where he told me I don't seem sincere and that I don't act like I actually care when we're out. Part of that is true, because I act the exact opposite of how I actually feel... this past weekend he asked me if he was boring me, or if I looked like I was just tolerating him... that's how it looks to him. I want to know how to stop these defense mechanisms, like my fake lack of interest in someone I actually like. 🤷

You're definitely overthinking this🤷. Maybe try to stop spiraling about them when they aren't even around? You just end up building these massive mental scenarios, then when you finally see them, you're trying way too hard to force things toward some script you saw in a movie or something. Just chill out. When you're relaxed, it’s easier to catch those little moments where you can show interest without it being a whole thing; honestly, that's way more attractive. In my opinion, people worth your time don't want to feel like they're being hunted or approached with some aggressive "blitzkrieg" energy—unless it's just something casual.

Second thing: when you're less wound up, it's easier to step back and really figure out how much you actually like him—which is what really matters here. 😉

Grace Chase97 said:I don't think you realize just how much flooding we're talking about here.🙏 For me, a tampon and pad combo would be totally soaked in maybe 20 minutes.😲😲

I'll give that Vitamin C thing a shot. It’d be awesome if it actually worked!😛

Too bad it's a bit late for me now, though. My period is basically wrapping up!🤣 🤣

I had similar heavy bleeding when I was taking Advil for cramps. Okay, maybe not quite 20 minutes, but within an hour, things were getting pretty messy... Either way, it's probably worth seeing a gynecologist (even if everything feels fine, obviously).

Michelle Sanchez55 said:What causes those heavy flows?? On day one it’s light, kind of pinkish, a little painful, but nothing crazy. But day two? I absolutely have to wear two layers of pants everywhere I go because blood is literally running down my legs. Not even exaggerating. I’m wearing double socks, underwear, boxers, tights, AND pants, and it still leaks through... no joke. On that second day, it’s just pouring out of me—straight blood, no mucus. By day three it’s back to normal, and the whole thing lasts six days. Is that enough of a reason to hit up the OBGYN?

Just grab some tampons 🤷 and pads for extra backup. I deal with the exact same thing on day two, so I just load up on supplies and swap them out constantly. No biggie.

Also, Vitamin C is a total pro tip. Pop a 500 or 1000 mg tablet once or twice a day, especially when you know you'll be moving around a lot, and it really cuts down the bleeding. (I used this trick to get through several summer music festivals without any issues..)

One more thing: pain meds can actually make the bleeding worse. Advil and Motrin are a disaster for this. You're better off sticking to Tylenol and/or maybe a muscle relaxant, like Buscopan.