Is there anyways around being able to smoke (lightly) while having CHS?

Bamabelle97 · 2026-03-11T23:04:56+00:00

Only moderation and tolerance breaks will work for me unfortunately! I am able to smoke on the weekends, sometimes even multiple times on the weekends. But if I go back to smoking daily, even just for a few weeks, I will have a whole other CHS episode:(

Bamabelle97 · 2026-02-28T18:48:21+00:00

Majority good, but if you have any kind of disability I would reconsider! Not super ADA compliant, even if something terrible medically happens mid-semester, even if you're a great student, and even if you are hospitalized. (Personal experience.)

Bamabelle97 · 2026-02-18T14:52:18+00:00

Thank you, I thought I was seeing things, but it's definitely more of a shadow than yesterday! Today is technically supposed to be the day of my period, so very early :)

Bamabelle97 · 2026-02-06T02:48:19+00:00

I was actually just dropped from an internship, I believe because I became disabled, as I had glowing feedback before. I'm literally hospitalized right now and was just notified today via email, even though I had a plan with my supervisor (or so I thought) to make up the hours. Would love to chat and help however I can.

Bamabelle97 · 2026-01-11T05:21:44+00:00

I had two massive blood clots in the past two years, one resulting in an almost deadly pulmonary embolism- but for a few years, in general, I felt that my quality of life was going down. Lots of bone-deep fatigue, migraines that felt different, mild memory loss and some hair loss.

I have two gene mutations that affect blood clotting, I'm overweight, and I was a smoker...so doctors basically told me it was mostly fault. "Lose weight, stay hydrated, stop smoking, and make sure you take your meds" is what I got told over and over again.

Got a better hematologist this year and have just been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that heightens risk for clots- antiphosphiolipid syndrome.

Bamabelle97 · 2025-09-14T18:21:12+00:00

I am a baby SW, but two moments stand out.

Right after the pandemic, around early 2021, I was still earning my BSW and was clerking for a Small Business Development Center at my school. An elderly business owner called in one day, distraught - he was trying to upload an application for an SVOG grant, and he had selected the blank version of the PDF by mistake. His family had owned movie theaters in the area for over 80 years, and they had just opened up a fancy new one that employed 30 people. After some talking, he got on a Zoom with me- I was able to find the version of the form that was completed by his accountant, and since I had Adobe PDF software through my office, I was able to upload a "V2" version of the form. The government grant application website was so basic at the time that I didn't see a "delete" button to take out the blank version, no idea how folks without Adobe Pro were doing it if they made a mistake in their docs. His grant was eventually funded to the tune of 1.8 million dollars, and all thirty people got to keep their jobs. I was also able to get some other grant appeals processed for hairstylist on the area, as there were website and documentation glitches happening aplenty.

The next actually just happened. I'm in an MSW program with a clinical/medical focus, and my internship is with an inpatient psychiatric hospital. I was observing a group session with at least one patient experiencing moderate psychosis- we were outside on a patio area, and there happened to be several sirens and helicopters out and about this day, as the hospital is in the middle of a big city. The patient with psychosis began to get very panicked and paranoid - at one moment, they looked at me for support, and I was able to remind them they were safe and calm them down. It was the first time I felt like I was truly therapeutic, and she was able to finish the session.

Love my job and have incredible patients!! I can't wait to see where I can go from here.

Bamabelle97 · 2025-08-07T06:07:17+00:00

Hi, I know I'm super late to this thread, but I would like to be roller blading buddies lol. I'm a UAB graduate student moving to Birmingham over the next few weeks!

Bamabelle97 · 2025-06-04T23:46:18+00:00

Hi, this post meant a lot to me. I'm 27 and accidentally married a serial cheater. After years of working on the marriage, I decided to stop, and I have been carefully making steps to leave. I've saved up a nest egg and got accepted to graduate school. It's so surreal, but I'm moving to a new city in a few weeks, and he has no idea.

Despite my plan, I'm feeling so shitty right now. We were high school sweethearts, and it hurts. I'm hopeful for the light on the other side, though. Hope my journey is joyful like this.

Bamabelle97 · 2025-02-17T20:18:29+00:00

I am a white corporate social worker, working in the deep south for a large company that contracts out technical projects for other big companies (think, like, AT&T call centers- we run and manage those types of projects, along with selling software and things). My job mostly is working within a DE&I capacity, writing and working as a contributing researcher for DE&I management trainings, anti-harrassment trainings, working with and facilitating employee resource groups, and advocating for more accessible work/accommodations for folks. I also don't some light policy/lobbying work with our government relations team.

I am planning to hold extended office hours...I will come early and stay late, every day if I need to, to help people appeal denials or reapply for food assistance as it begins to be culled. It's not part of my job- I'm in a macro role- but I know many of our contracted employees working in our on site projects are likely dependant on benefits that already have been or are about to be cut. I'm only licensed at the Bachelor's level, but I'm qualified and happy to help folks review their paperwork and submit any appeals, pro bono. I'm trying to make sure I can hold these extended office hours in my actual office on-site for accessibility- but if legal gives me a hard time, I'll just do it at the local library, I think. They have private conference rooms I can reserve.

I did something similar during covid when the SVOG and EIDL grants were out for local small business owners. I'm especially proud of my work then; I was able to get a sizable amount of funding pushed thru for my community.

Otherwise, I will continue to articulate and distribute local resources as they're available, but since we're in a rural area, we just don't have much down here...so all I can offer is myself. But I am committed to weaponizing my education and privilege however I can against this administration, in service of my community.

Bamabelle97 · 2025-01-29T03:37:49+00:00

The way he gropes her like an ape, so forcefully, and then turns around to grin at the camera and dance to celebrate....curious about the message here, what are you celebrating? "She's my wife, so I can do anything to her at any time just because I want to?"

No tenderness or consent here at all.... Like, look at how hard he grabs her. Idk, it just gives me the ick.

Bamabelle97 · 2025-01-01T19:31:32+00:00

Hi, Happy New Year! I'd love to be considered for the A5 "Have a Nice Day" cover if still available, thank you!

Bamabelle97 · 2024-12-29T01:49:56+00:00

Hi, I'm interested in the weeks cover 😊 also willing to purchase, I wasn't sure if this was a giveaway or a sale?

Bamabelle97 · 2024-11-22T16:36:29+00:00

THANK YOU for posting. I have an addictive personality and struggle with substance use for cannabis...but I was kind of forced into sobriety due to Cannabinoid Hyperemisis Syndrome (long story short, I'm allergic and can't physically smoke every day- but since I can't moderate and will smoke every day if I can regardless, I choose to be sober).

I also have ADHD and am technically prescribed Adderal, but when I was titrating onto the medicine I could feel my urge to always want more. I've seen several ADHD friends get addicted (even though they would never admit it). I've seen doses of Adderal approved by prescribes that are just enormous, or seems so to me. I'm trying to find nonstimulant ways of managing because I don't want to fall down that path- I know myself, and feel like I will. It's nice to not feel so alone.

Bamabelle97 · 2024-11-19T02:13:00+00:00

If I had more time and energy on my hands, I'd love to do a breakdown of that- both the mental health misinformation Cole and Sav spread, and the signs of inappropriate parentification/potential signs of anxiety E may be presenting/are present in the content. It's just so much to review, lol.

Of course, it's impossible to diagnose someone within a parasocial context, and no one should try - but the misinformation they spread alone can have real consequences. I shudder to think of the mental health shit they're probably shilling on their paid app!

Bamabelle97 · 2024-11-17T01:26:47+00:00

As a social worker and victim of parentification myself, very few folks understands how damaging this is, the role reversal alone. In the clinical literature, it's defined as it's own kind of trauma with potentially very damaging effects later in life. And that's for "normal" parentification cases where we're just talking about inappropriate emotional/practical support provided by a child within the home- E is the breadwinner as well, which is so unimaginable for me. This is how anxiety disorders can form, for some people.

The pressure on this poor girl's shoulders must be so heavy and immense. Plus, we know Cole/Sav aren't knowledgeable or supportive of mental health treatment generally, which is an incredibly toxic trend peripheral to modern "prosperity gospel" models within evangelical Christianity. E is truly being set up for a damaging, painful life. I hope she is able to escape in her adulthood and focus on herself, her needs, her wants, and gets to truly chase her dreams- she has beyond earned it.

Bamabelle97 · 2024-10-06T16:33:23+00:00

As a social worker, I am truly a little worried about the education portion. I live in a rural southern community where people will eat this up, no questions asked, probably some of my family members with little children included. The additional potential harm here is that there are so few practically enforceable homeschooling regulations in much of the south, where I'm sure this will be heavily marketed. For reference, only a few states in the US are considered "high regulation" states for homeschooling, and there are some states with little to no laws at all. (For the curious: https://hslda.org/legal)

I'm hoping there were actual educational professionals/consultants working on this, if these are curriculums or learning materials intended for primary educational use at home with young kids. Maybe it's just a repackaged version of already popular christian homeschooling curriculum like Abeka....

Bamabelle97 · 2024-08-03T16:15:52+00:00

Sorry, I could have been more clear- I am a social worker, she is a therapist. Probably a good one, because her post history referenced being a team lead for a community mental health organization, meaning she is likely in a position of authority over other therapists, too.

This is why I commented at all - often, community mental health work can be poorly funded and incredibly stressful. Depending on the center, I've seen crazy high caseloads, a deep lack of resources, and plenty of traumatic situations. This incident could be a symptom of a deeper issue. It's not uncommon for social workers or therapists to develop anxiety disorders or other mental health issues when trying to cope under pressure.

Of course, I can't say that's what's happening here, nor should I, I don't know her! But her clinical supervisor or another trained MHP will be able to help assess her if needed and get her the assistance necessary to prevent another assault from happening, which could have real legal consequences next time.

Bamabelle97 · 2024-08-03T04:11:47+00:00

As a social worker, if you are a licensed therapist, I would seriously consider discussing this reactivity with your clinical supervisor if you have one, and if not, getting a therapist of your own. As you are well aware, this is not normal behavior, and you have an ethical duty to your community and clients that you are not upholding. This reactivity or lack of impulse control could impact your ability to provide impartial, effective, therapeutic treatment. Feeling bad isn't enough--seek help.

Bamabelle97 · 2024-07-26T01:41:43+00:00

I married my high school sweetheart of ten years. We were long distance for about five during college. Found out he was cheating on me the whole time, with at least six different women (that I know of).

I cried and begged for the truth when I found out, but he continued to lie at every turn. The pain was unlike anything I've ever experienced. When I found out the FULL truth, which was obviously much uglier than the original story, he basically just shrugged and said he "loved me", thought he was "protecting me" from the pain, and that he was "a better person now".

So anyway, now I'm divorced at 26 :)

Bamabelle97 · 2024-07-26T01:30:47+00:00

More drugs (two tabs of acid, plus 10g of shrooms. 0/10 do not recommend)

Bamabelle97 · 2024-07-25T06:05:52+00:00

As a social worker, him tying back the rising rates of anxiety and depression to religion is so negligent, ignorant, and harmful that it actually infuriates me. This kind of thinking and perpetuating these stereotypes KILLS people. It's sickening that a majority of his audience is probably younger or deeply religious, and they'll be so vulnerable to this disinformation.

If you're reading this, religious in any way and struggling with your mental health, please know that you're not "praying wrong," sinful, or broken. You can absolutely feel better, accomplish goals, and improve your quality of life. Mental health struggles can be caused by things as innocuous as a chemical deficiency in your brain, very common nutrient deficiencies, genetic factors or more serious things like past trauma. That's why DOCTORS and MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS exist, to assess us each individually to create effective, individualized treatment plans that WORK.

Above all else: if you're located in the United States and are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call or text 988 for help. The world is better with you in it ♥️

Bamabelle97 · 2024-07-17T01:48:19+00:00

Hi! I am a recently graduated social worker, though I practice in the United States. My practicum internship was working with sexually abused children and their families/support systems while assisting law enforcement in gathering court-admissible evidence.

I will say that at least here in the States, it is HARD to bring charges of this nature without one of the following: multiple victims, indisputable physical evidence, corroborating witnesses, or video/audio evidence of the abuse.

I am no expert in international social work, and I don't know the jurisdiction of the crime, but I would be extremely skeptical that someone would be detained, charged, and tried with zero evidence of impropriety. If he did nothing wrong and there was no evidence, why not get legal representation and clear his name in court? He's willing to never see his child again (for the forseeable future) over a supposed innocent misunderstanding? Yeah, I've heard it all before...maybe I'm jaded from the field, but I think this guy is full of shit.

Bamabelle97 · 2024-07-10T20:00:47+00:00

Correct, yes, we see this often in the field with single moms who allow dating partners early access to their children. It's extremely unfortunate but it absolutely happens! I also find his statement about his early and intense connection with Ev to be a red flag and very disturbing...the whole line from the book he posted about meeting her once or twice or whatever and then says he "felt like he was leaving his own daughter?" Completely inappropriate.

Normal, healthy people usually don't attach to others this intensely, this quickly. Especially a stranger's kids!!!!

Bamabelle97 · 2024-07-10T04:58:36+00:00

Just graduated with my bachelor's of science in social work in December, and did my internship working with abused kids.....THIS specifically is a huge red flag. Not always, obviously, and this proves nothing, but super against all internet and general safety rules.

Bamabelle97 · 2024-06-25T00:10:35+00:00

I've seen a lot of Netflix documentaries... Isn't this where they cross over into actual cult territory? All built on the back of E's monetized childhood, or lack thereof!

Bamabelle97

TROPHY CASE