u/Beginning-Eagle7458

Please at least say excuse me/look apologetic and vibe with the crowd. A group of like 15 teens cut and stayed right in front of us during Jade and just stood there! So annoying, and they glared at us when we were singing along to Angel of Our Dreams…such a vibe kill! Now I get why people don’t like teens here

Have been in a bit of a flow with books like this, such as The Bell Jar, The Lover by Marguerite Duras, Play it As it Lays by Joan Didion (And her other books as well), etc. I also have enjoyed books like My Year of Rest and Relaxation and Girl, Interrupted, but would prefer books that are bit more similar in nature to the formerly mentioned ones (i.e. less focused on/obviously about mental health as a concept, I guess?).

Any suggestions (preferably depressed authors over protagonists)?

I feel like my BDD is ruining my self-worth. Being unable to relate to the content I consume is a feeling I dread and haven’t been able to shake off recently. It’s obvious that most celebrities and actors are conventionally attractive, so all my comfort movies and shows have slowly turned into means of comparison for my own (un)attractiveness and self-worth, and suddenly they’re no longer comforts.

Every mainstream artist I listen to is objectively attractive, so it makes it hard for me to relate to even my favorite songs, even though music is one of my biggest passions in life. This contrast between the artist and me makes me feel like I don’t deserve to be a fan of them or consume their work. I feel silly and out of place when I enjoy an attractive artist’s song and feel like I'm unworthy to listen to it..

I even feel this when reading books, which is ridiculous. Book characters are essentially up to your imagination, and because of years of being conditioned to attractive artists and celebrities, what comes up in my head are attractive characters that I can’t relate to, despite whatever struggles they go through. Books about depression that I want to relate to? I just feel like my experiences are less valid because I’m less attractive.

Being unable to connect with art that I consume and want to relate to is making me feel alien and unhuman. Art is a representation of the human experience, what a shame it is to not be able to relate to it..

This emotion extends to my self-worth. A lot of times, I feel like I don’t deserve happiness and what I’ve earned in life because there’s always someone more attractive than me yet less privileged who can be enjoying what I’m enjoying. I feel self-conscious enjoying the wonders of life, like reading books by the pool, enjoying a beautiful view, being front row at a concert, walking under the sunshine, lounging in my apartment - I always think that these are things attractive people should do, not me.

Does anyone feel this? How can I stop thinking this? Obviously, I think everyone in the world should be able to enjoy what they love. For me, though, I feel like the case is different..

It’s giving your mom emailing your college professor about a bad grade you got on a pop quiz you didn’t study for. I’m glad we lost because I think winning would’ve been even more embarrassing.

My BDD is ruining my self worth. Being unable to relate to the content I consume is a feeling I dread and haven’t been able to shake off recently. It’s obvious that most celebrities and actors are conventionally attractive, so all my comfort movies and shows have slowly turned into means of comparison for my own (un)attractiveness and self-worth, and suddenly they’re no longer comforts.

Every mainstream artist that I listen to is usually attractive and so it makes it hard for me to relate to even my favorite songs, even though music is one of my biggest passions of life (my favorite artist literally being Lana Del Rey LOL). This contrast between the artist and me makes me feel like I don’t deserve to be a fan of them or consume their work. I feel silly and out of place when I enjoy an attractive artist’s song and desire relating that song to my own life experiences. It ruins my mood.

I even feel this when reading books, which is ridiculous. Book characters are essentially up to your imagination, and because of years of being conditioned to attractive artists and celebrities, what comes up in my head are attractive characters that I can’t relate to, despite whatever struggles they go through. Books about depression that I want to relate to? I just feel like my experiences are less valid because I’m less attractive.

Being unable to connect with art that I consume and want to relate to is making me feel alien and unhuman. Art is the human experience. I feel alone.

This emotion extends to my feeling of attractiveness and self worth. A lot of times, I feel like I don’t deserve happiness and what I’ve earned in life because there’s always someone that’s more attractive than me yet less privileged that can be enjoying what I’m enjoying. I feel self conscious enjoying the wonders of life, like reading books by the pool, enjoying a beautiful view, being front row at a concert, walking under the sunshine, lounging in my apartment - I always think that these are things attractive people should do, not me.

Growing up, I was absolutely addicted to The Sims 2 in my middle school years. I'd spend hours upon hours playing the base game, downloading custom content, building ugly af houses, messing around with cheats, making dumb videos, living out so many generations, and just exploring what the game had to offer. I have so many memories associated with that game that get unlocked just by certain songs, sounds, visuals, etc. It was the last Sims game to have that edgy, sarcastic humor that isn't present in its successors (especially The Sims 4), and was made during an era where I think major video game studios were really focused on making games fun and unique as opposed to whatever the fuck video games are now. My favorite thing about it is just the amount of detail the developers focused on - you can tell they really had fun and enjoyed making the game. Compared to its successors, there are technically fewer things to do and fewer features, but there's a certain charm that always gives me that itch to play it again.

I downloaded it on my Mac for the first time, and the last time I played it was probably around 2011-12? I literally spent almost 5-6 hours straight just entrenched in that shit without even any custom content. It truly reminds me of the good old days, the game (plus its expansions, etc) is just absolutely perfect, and now I'm tempted to uninstall it because I can't just be doing this on my days off!! But part of me is glad to have it back in my life as my little escape lol

My skin can barely tolerate Prequel Gleanser or Vanicream at night. I rinse with water in AM. I still want to use sunscreen since it’s summer and it’s always bright outside where I live. If my skin is feeling sensitive, can I just use hypochlorous at night as a cleanser (I.e rinsing with water and spraying it on)?

Does anyone experience this? Whenever I'm enjoying myself, taking in a beautiful view, enjoying food, laughing, carrying flowers, killing time with friends, reading a book in the park or by the pool, talking in a bar, shopping, spending time with my partner, decorating my apartment etc I always imagine someone more attractive doing it, like an actor in a movie, and suddenly I don't have the right to do whatever I'm doing because obviously I probably look like a greasy slob. It's hard for me to put it into words, but it's like I don't deserve the things I've worked hard for in life because I'm unattractive. I realize that this thought is absolutely ridiculous, but alas, it persists.

Anyone else experience this?

I’m somewhat of a cradle Catholic and agnostic at the moment, but Mary is that one girl I can never leave behind. I look back to when I was a child and learned about Our Lady of Lourdes and her apparition to Bernadette. I already attended a Catholic school named Our Lady of Grace, so seeing Mary having cameos in different cultures and as various races as some mystical, benevolent figure whilst holding a different title each time resonates with me. She typically revealed herself to the most random, most normal, the poorest people in society. Of course, in this day and age, people would think you’re psycho if you've claimed to have these experiences, though back then, these types of visions and experiences of ecstasy were so massively believed and led to long-lasting devotions worldwide. There is something chilling when you imagine Our Lady of Fatima appearing to three little children in Portugal and telling them three secrets about the future, or when Juan Diego showed the roses from his tilma and unknowingly revealed the iconic Marian image of Guadalupe, etc. 

Were most of these stories likely made up to convert people to Catholicism? IDK maybe, who knows? But I find this adoration culture created to be so intriguing, considering how the stories are presented, illustrated, and consumed in traditional Catholic culture.  I get the same feeling when I think about Mary statues weeping (there was a rumor that the Mary statue down the hall next to my second-grade classroom would cry tears of blood after 5:00pm every night, scary but also cunty idk). I know a handful of people who have effectively tried to change their lives (i.e. become sober, improve their mental health, etc) because of some vision or voice or whatever that they heard from “Mary”, and honestly, I'd rather hear that over the tech bro that cured his depression with ketamine and micro-dosing shrooms! I know in Mexico, Guadalupe is adored by even non-Catholics just because she is so intertwined with the culture, and at times isn't even a religious figure in the traditional sense. Iconic!

I honestly find comfort in the somewhat folk Catholic culture surrounding her overall. A lot of Catholics seemingly pay way more attention to her compared to Jesus or God lol. She is like her own religion - even the rosary and main prayers in Catholicism center her.  My parents’/my childhood home has so many different statues, plaques, and prayer cards of Mary and probably one or two of Jesus lol it’s kinda insane when you think about it. 

Hey guys! Ive been dealing with a damaged, acne prone skin barrier off and on for like 1-2 years now, mainly triggered by Tretinoin I think. I consider my skin combination (oily t zone) and have tried a lot of things. Just recently, I thought my barrier was good and started Azelaic acid 15%, but I think it was too strong and my skin is dehydrated again. My forehead is extra oily and my skin is looking more textured than usual. this is my current regimen:

AM:

- cleanse with water

- Laneige cream milky toner

- Prequel Multi Quench serum

- Prequel half and half lotion

- Dr Jart Ceramidin barrier cream or Skinfix Triple Lipid Cream

- SkinAqua sunscreen (this is pretty drying, might switch over to Purito)

PM:

- Prequel Gleanser

- Laneige cream milky toner

- Prequel Multi Quench serum

- Prequel half and half lotion

- Avene Cicaflate or Skinfix Triple Lipid Cream. I’m using Cicaflate more due to my skin dryness.

Even with this regimen, my skin still feels tight, mainly on my cheeks and forehead, which gets oily later on in the day.

Am I doing too much? Should I be adding more products? I’m holding off Azelaic acid/actives.

Thanks for any tips!