I had to open this thread, because I saw the title and thought "No way is Mercy an idiot". ((hugs)) I've learned that when we trust too much it's because we judge others by how we ourselves would act. We would want a second chance, and WE wouldn't spoil it! We would do it better. It's hard for us to understand how some people just won't. I don't want to ever be stupid. But erring on the side of trust/love/compassion, even when it bites me sometimes? I'm okay with that. So please don't feel bad. Their behavior is on them. Agreeing they are not worth your emotional energy.

How to find reliable information on the internet, in particular about health related issues. I was originally thinking about "how to know when you need to go to the doctor" but this would cover it. I have seen young adults go to the doctor or hospital over silly things, then NOT GO for things that were dangerous. Evaluating media sources on the internet is so important.

Chicken 6 oz (I don't weigh but estimate), 2 servings roasted vegis in a little olive oil, single serving brown rice, or whole grain pasta or potato, or a fruit for "dessert". For non-dieters you could do more of the carb. My fave breakfast is 2 scrambled egg with spinach and onion sauteed in a little olive oil with a slice of killer dave's whole grain toast. Or 2 boiled eggs with avocado toast. I don't focus on weighing but more proportions. Carb is there at every meal but the smallest serving. Heavy protein, heavy veg, little carb. For me it meant simpler meals rather than casserole type meals. Too many ingredients so hard to monitor exactly what I was getting with casseroles. If I "food prep" I make up a large amount of roasted vegis of different types, and a large pan of spinach and onions I can separate into single servings and add to eggs.

I've been following a clean eating plan with 2-1-2-1. 2 proteins, 1 healthy carb, 2 vegis, and 1 healthy fat. Also no carbs by themselves, since they can set off cravings. No refined carbs, although I sneak one in occasionally. It's been not too difficult and very effective. That's per meal.

I had one DO that was awesome. When I moved I found another DO. He was more rigid, closed-minded, quick-to-prescribe than a regular MD. So who knows!

After the first dose, 35.2% of placebo recipients experienced systemic adverse events (AEs). "Conclusions and Relevance In this systematic review and meta-analysis, significantly more AEs were reported in vaccine groups compared with placebo groups, but the rates of reported AEs in the placebo arms were still substantial. Public vaccination programs should consider these high rates of AEs in placebo arms. Importance Adverse events (AEs) after placebo treatment are common in randomized clinical drug trials. Systematic evidence regarding these nocebo responses in vaccine trials is important for COVID-19 vaccination worldwide especially because concern about AEs is reported to be a reason for vaccination hesitancy." https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2788172?fbclid=IwAR3UPYSSDPQwFn5-w43wykBwEXcl8guTI_JNk83fsha49eK1VbQrxdQM-Bw

Our local animal shelter raised $10,000! This was an awesome tribute to Betty.

I wish we understood more about the people who are asymptomatic, even before or without the vaccine. My mom, 88 at the time, smoker, dementia, under-nourished (because she won't eat) was positive before vaxxes were available and asymptomatic. How in the world does that happen? This virus is so crazy-freaky and unpredictable.

I think I'm the same with strep. DD had it over and over again as child. She would sleep in my bed and cough in my face. 😳 Never had it. And yes I got tested and was not a carrier either.

Struggling to imagine a young earth astronomy class... 😳

Each one carries his own load, but we are told to carry each other's burdens. I like that model. 🙂 I will chime in that "we all have our crosses to bear" has always come across to me as "suck it up buttercup! You're not special!"

This is very true. What I did was make sure my husband was giving me feedback. I talked to him extensively and told him to let me know if I seemed angry, or worse in any way. The possibility of a bad reaction is real, so you should let someone close to you who knows you well aware of what is going on and let them know to say something. My daughter had to get on meds several months ago, and I let her know at the beginning don't be discouraged if the first meds don't work, just keep giving your doctor feedback. I am "stuck" on a medication I've been taking since I had DD 23 years ago because I have severe discontinuation syndrome trying to get off it. Sometimes I think I regret getting on it, but in absolute honesty I would not have made it through my post-partum depression without serious damage to myself or my relationships. Therapy was NOT helping at that time, although it has helped me greatly at other times. Sometimes medication is what you need to do to have a decent quality of life.

Yes WAY too long. A few days, meh. But WEEKS? No way.

QFT I am grateful to be somewhat protected from hospitalization. (2 shots plus booster.) But seriously??? I too have accepted that with Omicron we are all going to get it now regardless of precautions. I read an interesting article that said if they want to prevent infection rather than serious illness they need to focus on intranasal vaccines and I think that's exactly right. Sorry OP!

Sorry, I have to laugh here... have you never been on a thread before? I'm starting to feel like your need "stop the detours" is a deliberate attempt to control the conversation. 😉 Maybe you should consider why you would impute bad motives to everyone simply doing what is ALWAYS done on a thread. 😄

Dang, you go girl!!

That's not encouraging me! 😆

It seems like conversion therapy is being used as far too broad an umbrella. After all, much of therapy is challenging conclusions you have reached and how you reached them. Does it mean your conclusions are wrong? No. It means that there is value in assessing the process you used to reach them and what factors played into it. There was a female friend of mine who came out of an abusive relationship with a man and came out as a lesbian. Her therapist helped her work through some of her issues as far as was she really a lesbian or was she making certain assumptions about female vs male relationships. Totally different than "being a lesbian is bad". I understand Joker's concern though that it could easily be *used* as conversion therapy. But it seems it's a line that needs to be walked rather than avoided entirely.,

Anything that helps? I am 55 and have been having them for three years. I haven't had a monthly cycle in two years. I really thought they would be gone by now. SO.DONE. 😐

Would someone please share what states have these laws that would make psychotherapy for trans persons illegal? I don't think I've ever heard that and would like to read about it to confirm exactly what that means.

Isn't it possible to believe both things, that there can be social pressure impacting kids negatively as well as actual trans kids that need treatment? I don't see how those things are mutually exclusive.

I have seen such nasty comments on our local Facebook page in the vein of "Your health is not my responsibility! I don't need to wear a mask, why would I wear one to protect YOU? If you have risk factors you should just stay home!" There is definitely no vibe of "taking care of each other". As a Christian who believes in "seek not your own advantage, but that of the other person" it's very discouraging and sad to see other Christians rage about "Not my problem!" 😥

This is a good point. The general population has never been in the middle of this ugly middle phase of finding the right formulation, as well as fighting so much resistance. The reality was not so simple as "A fully functional vaccine was introduced and no one ever got X again!"

Regarding vaccines keeping you from EVER getting a disease, think about the more recent measles outbreaks. They occurred in primarily unvaccinated groups, but some vaccinated people still got sick in those outbreaks. That shows how much vaccines rely on a fully vaxxed population.

My MIL has gone off the deep end into conspiracy theories. She is an amazing woman who I have loved for years. She has always been into natural/alternative medicine, but in a healthy, supplemental way, not a crazy way. I read an article that a lot of conspiracy and propaganda spreaders were targeting "natural medicine" followers, because those type of people often have a distrust of medical authorities or authorities in general. I truly believe that was how she got hooked in. Since she went down the rabbit hole, she is literally paranoid of everything. Everything is a conspiracy and not to be trusted, and anyone who disagrees "just think's she's stupid". I have NEVER thought this woman was stupid (although I now seriously question her judgment).. She is very intelligent. But now she has a view that everyone who disagrees with her thinks that. It's sad the level of "you're being attacked!" that accompanies all of this.