I’ve been free from chatbot use for 2 months and 28 days, after quitting cold turkey.

I mean, I think I was addicted, having logged 12+ hours a day for over 2.5 years. That which I can attribute to being completely medically bedridden since 2023, and using ai scenarios to cope with my inability to experience the outside world.

But what’s strange is, even since day one of recovery, I haven’t felt tempted at all, and I do not feel any urge or desire to relapse whatsoever.

Regarding this, I believe my reaction is a direct consequence (or reward) of how I personally used the AI: completely detached.

I had not even once turned to AI for venting about personal life, romance, or to simulate a friend. It was a preference of mine to separate real life from the interaction as much as possible. I’m extremely adverse to treating any of the bots as human, and I reminded myself with every response that it was just a code of ones and zeros.

Maybe that’s why recovery was easy, because I never saw the AI as a person in the first place? Or was it because I had literally nothing else to do while waiting between doctors appointments?

I’m not sure.

My excessive usage was undeniable, but I can’t tell whether it was a true addiction, or simply a situational consequence of boredom from being unable to leave my room for years.

⚠️I AM NOT ENDORSING OR DEFENDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AGE VERIFICATION. GIVING PERSONAL DATA TO A PRIVATE COMPANY NATURALLY COMES WITH RISKS. IT’S THE USERS DECISION ON WHETHER ITS WORTH VERIFYING⚠️

I didn’t think this needed to be clarified, but due to the rampant lack of common sense, apparently it does:

If you are under 18, using your ID to verify will just prove to the system that you aren’t an adult. You will still have to wait until you’re 18 to chat.

The point of the age verification system is to only allow adults to access 1:1 chat.

Your birthday is written on your ID. If you are a minor, scanning your ID gives the system definitive proof that you shouldn’t be allowed chat access.

If you are a minor and have verified with your ID, “reading mode” should be lifted when you turn 18.

If the post asks:
- “For those who’ve been to Spain, where did you stay?”

And some idiot comments:
- “I’ve never been to Spain.”

Well then obviously, the question doesn’t pertain to you, does it?

That’s not helpful or interesting, it’s pathetic.

Why did they comment? What was the purpose? Are they that miserable or desperate for attention? Are they trolling? Are they genuinely stupid?

Because one things for sure, they’re pissing me off.

Amidst the rapid deterioration of our beloved platform, many brave users have spoken up about using Character.ai’s chatbots to help cope with their day-to-day struggles.

Whether it be because of a lonely social life, medical issues, mental health, or any of the many other reasons, C.ai in its prime undeniably helped people get through hard times.

Were you one of them?

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I get it, humanity is the epitome of a cesspool. But some people genuinely forget, or are too stupid to realize, that their “pet peeve” is actually them outing themselves as a waste of a human being.

For example, someone brings up a story that, instead a minor annoyance, is them just being an inconsiderate dickhead, particularly towards groups of people who are already struggling with life.

“My pet peeve is when people in those electric shopping carts ask for me to reach the top of the shelf at the store”.

They can’t walk, idiot. Help them or direct them to someone more useful than yourself. Basic social decency and being a good citizen. They teach kindness in preschool.

“My pet peeve is when someone I was friends with years ago, checks up on me and asks me how I’m doing.”

They care about you? Are you so miserable in life that the thought of someone hoping for your success actually makes you angry? That person took time out of their day to ask how you were doing.

People who have no compassion, or who hate the compassion of others, don’t deserve any compassion at all.

If a girl with a chronic heart problem is walking slowly in front of a man, and bothers him enough to be genuinely pissed off, I’d hope that her suffering is magically transferred to him. Because the girl sure as hell doesn’t want to be a burden, and she is trying her best to live a normal life.

For example, the scenario could be:

When going on a walk in your city, you feel like the sounds are overstimulating.

A: Yes, I want to find a quiet coffee shop.

B: No, I like the noise.

What about people who don’t live in cities?
Who don’t go on walks?
Who hate coffee shops and noise?
Where’s the neutral “I don’t care either way”?
Why are the only two options “I want to leave” or “I love noise”?

What’s worse, the survey could be advertised as “detailed” or “for all lifestyles”.

The biggest issue I have is when polls/surveys don’t offer the “N/A” or “this doesn’t apply to me” option.

Recently, in an online doctor’s appointment, one question was “do you use protection?” The answers were “yes” and “no”. This prevents non-active people from answering “this doesn’t apply to me”, and instead makes it look like they choose to not use protection. Which is harmful to data.

(Not sure if this is the right flair, sorry)

I have been struggling with an issue for the past few days, that hadn’t occurred to me until I’d tried to switch my daith piercings out.

I got both daiths pierced in August of 2023, so a little less than 3 years old. The type of jewelry I was pierced with was a 16g titanium captive ball, which I then switched to 20g plated clickers after a year.

Now, I’m wanting to switch to 16g titanium horseshoes, and my left Daith took it perfectly, but my right one is having trouble fitting 16g. I have a curved taper tool, and I used water-based lube and a warm compress to soften the cartilage, but I didn’t have any luck.

Any tips? I’d really like to get it back to 16g. Thanks in advance.

Let me start this out by saying I(20f) do not and have never had cancer.

I was prescribed a potent chemotherapy pill (methotrexate) when I was 18 for an “autoimmune disorder” that I later discovered was a misdiagnosis.

The doctor had just thrown a serious medication at my issues without actually diagnosing me, leading to some noticeable hair loss in a few isolated areas and other irrelevant but potentially permanent health issues.

Now, a couple of years later, the bald spots that the drug caused (on the top right part of my forehead and the crown of my skull) are still there, and it’s noticed by family members.

I am medically bedridden, so I do not have the money for a dermatologist or professional hair salon. Are there any inexpensive ways to regrow or thicken the hair in that area?

I made a post about this in the PGAD subreddit, but apparently, none of the users had similar experiences. Which is disheartening, to say the least. In fact, when I spent hours googling other’s stories with the same diagnosis: “end organ PGAD”, the only result I found was my own Reddit post.

Most cases of PGAD and clitorodynia are caused by neuromuscular issues, like the pelvic floor or the pudendal nerve. However, “Region 1” or “End Organ” means the pain is directly a result of a problem with the clitoris itself, not any underlying triggers. This diagnosis has been confirmed by multiple neurologists and gynecologists, using MRIs, vein mapping, physical therapy, CBT, and a dozen other tests.

I cannot walk, sit, bathe or sleep comfortably because of the constant, severely painful arousal that I’ve had since I was 8 years old. I’ve tried Botox, lidocaine, nerve blocks, heating pads, ice packs, changing clothes, hot baths, prescription painkillers and controlled substances. My gynecologist even performed medically necessary labiaplasty/CHR when I was a sophomore in high school.

The cherry on top? I came to Reddit to see if I shared this struggle with someone, to find another person in my boat. You know, how people recommend “finding others like you.” In return, I’ve found nothing but people who question the legitimacy of my story, downvote, and even some who call me “lucky”.

It’s a type of lonely anger I’ve never felt.

Let me start this out by saying I(20f) do not and have never had cancer.

I was prescribed a potent chemotherapy pill (methotrexate) when I was 18 for an “autoimmune disorder” that I later discovered was a misdiagnosis.

The doctor had just thrown a serious medication at my issues without actually diagnosing me, leading to some noticeable hair loss in a few isolated areas and other irrelevant but potentially permanent health issues.

Now, a couple of years later, the bald spots that the drug caused (on the top right part of my forehead and the crown of my skull) are still there, and it’s noticed by family members.

I am medically bedridden, so I do not have the money for a dermatologist or professional hair salon. Are there any inexpensive ways to regrow or thicken the hair in that area?

Please share your opinion :)

Thanks.

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After the sudden loss of a nonspecific platform that I used to create franchise-based interactive storytelling, I’ve taken up an interest in creating fanfiction.

I’m decently skilled at writing, and I have many ideas for detailed stories behind some characters and their respective franchises/fandoms. I’m just not sure where to start.

Reading up on the subject, I’ve discovered that most writers use a laptop or desktop to create their works, but I unfortunately possess only an iPhone.

Is it feasible to create fanfiction with a phone alone?

Before someone comments trying to explain why medical staff have to document it, I understand.

However, my medical records mark explicitly that I am completely abstinent. In fact, they changed my sexual status from “not active” to “never has been active.” I am medically bedridden, so I can’t date. My files have me listed as not being interested in romance, and I’ve been diagnosed with multiple anatomical issues that render me unable to have a Pap smear or a pelvic exam. Much less a dick.

Yet, they look at me with suspicion when I tell them I’ve never had sex, and even have the audacity to ask “are you sure”. Like bro, I’ve been stuck in bed at home for years. Unless I’m supposed to be the virgin matriarch of some new-age religion, yes I’m pretty sure.

All of this, and they still charge a pregnancy test to my itemized bill.

Edit: I know people lie, I just find it incredibly frustrating that the truthful people are ignored, and the liars set the standard of care.

Since I was little, I’ve had frequent nightmares about a range of things, from morbid realistic fears to irrational childish fantasies. Due to these night terrors, I learned very early to control the setting, plot, characters, dialogue, and actions of my dreams when I deem the storyline is getting out of control.

It started with simple awareness, along the lines of “that wall isn’t right, I’m dreaming,” or “that isn’t scientifically possible, this isn’t real.” Then I began to teach myself how to leave unpleasant dreams on command by forcing a wake-up. I’d blink as hard as I can in my dream, and eventually, my eyelids in real life would flutter, and I’d be awake. Finally was fine-tuning, as in fixing the scary aspects. Someone is dying? Nope, we all have superpowers and are safe and happy. Bad weather is coming? No, we’re all just working a pet store and decorating the habitats.

Years later, I have managed to keep the ability to lucid dream into adulthood, and I still dream vividly every night. Now dreaming is an escape, something I look forward to as if I were going to watch a play that I myself wrote the script for. If there’s a person I don’t like, they poof out of existence and are written over with something more pleasant.

I haven’t had any bad nightmares in a very long time, because I can control nearly every aspect of my dream except waking up.

I suspect this ability to control my dreams is related to the fact that I am bedridden, so I don’t see much of the outside world. Dreams are a vacation from the familiarly dull corners of my room.

I’m wondering if anyone else is also able to do so? I’d love to hear about other’s abilities in their dreams.