u/possumtreasures

I've had plenty of dreams where I'm missing items of clothing or otherwise being underdressed for an occasion, but recently I had a dream that I was at an outdoor event fully dressed but without shoes. I was on a gravel path in a park where we were having a party to celebrate one of my friends winning an award or something (not a real person, just a generic "dream person"). I looked down during a conversation to see I had no shoes. I could feel the uncomfortable gravel poking into my feet. The people I were talking to obviously noticed but weren't bringing it up.

Soon after I noticed, an older woman angrily stomped past us complaining about something and I noticed she had no shoes either. The people I was talking to seemed to know her and joked that she was crazy. Which made me question if I looked crazy to them without shoes, too.

This has really stood out to me as it didn't feel like a typical "undressed in public" embarrassment dream. But the shame felt more real somehow, like I needed to pay attention. Any ideas what this could mean?

This has been an issue for me for years and I feel like I just need to express it to someone other than my close friends.

I have loved VNs as a medium since I was a teenager. I've made bits and pieces of them over the years, but I always quit before finishing anything significant. I do my own art, know how to code in Ren'py, and do my own writing. Things I don't do, like music and sound effects, I know where to find. I've purchased a lot of game making assets over the years but never use them. I have tried to collaborate with friends many, many times and the projects always fall apart, too. I'm extremely frustrated with myself.

My issue is every single project I try never feels "worth completing". I'll draw a bit, write a bit, but then I see flaws and just give up. It's not even boredom with a project that stops me. I'm worried I'm wasting my time making something that no one will like. It's not rational imo, still I've been stuck in this loop for years. I desperately want to make a VN but it has to be a "good" VN. I don't even want to sell what I make, I just want to finish a project I can be proud of.

Does anyone else feel this way? Have you broken through a loop like this and just, well, found peace finishing a VN on your own that wasn't "perfect"? 😅

Hopefully this is an acceptable thing to ask here- does anyone else feel like their phobia is related not to their own pain/discomfort with "it" and more about negative reactions from other people? Especially family/friends?

​

I have had gastrointestinal issues my entire life, but I can link my phobia starting from the shame I feel from the unwanted attention I get when I feel sick (positive or negative).

​

When I was a kid "it" was a common occurrence for me, often in public, due to undiagnosed autoimmune disease. The many different reactions of family members and strangers alike enforced a feeling of deep embarrassment. As an adult I panic when I feel sick because I would be so embarrassed if someone knew. Similarly, if an adult or teenager becomes visibly sick around me I will get cold sweats and need to leave the area they're in.

​

However the weird thing is, babies, little kids or animals being sick doesn't bother me at all. I can care for/clean them up on my own. I have had both dogs and cats with stomach issues, and helped care for sick babies/kids in my family plenty of times. There's no feeling of judgement or shame from them. But adults, or myself, I always get lightheaded even thinking about "it".

​

I've been surrounded by easily angered people my whole life and have had so many experiences where I was belittled, mocked, or even yelled at when I even mention I feel sick. The shame is so deeply engrained in me. Does anyone else feel this?

The last few days after I started taking iron supplements (in the morning as directed) I wake up feeling slightly better, but not only that, I can't remember my dreams much at all.

​

Nightmares have been an issue for me as I have PMDD and PTSD on top of anemia. I have had nightmares frequently for the last 15 years, ones I almost always remember in detail. I've often been afraid of going to sleep. Over the years I found meds that worked for me in the daytime, luckily, but nothing worked for the nightmares. Nothing else has changed in my life recently other than the iron supplements.

​

I'm going to be so relieved if iron supplements somehow help this particular issue. Want to know if anyone else here has noticed this kind of improvement for your mental health, and if it's lasted for you?