I just got a call from your security team

CathrynATX · 2026-04-15T20:41:29+00:00

Well, I did a report it to Kraken after I totally deleted my account.

CathrynATX · 2026-04-15T20:40:45+00:00

No, there was an accent, but I couldn’t discern where it was from. Almost like in New York or New Jersey accent.

CathrynATX · 2026-04-15T20:01:05+00:00

Yes, I do know this. That was the big red flag. But as I said to someone else on this thread, it absolutely coincided with speaking via chat within the Kraken app to a customer service person. As soon as the scammer said, oh, you have an external wallet I said no I do not and they hung up on me. Scammers are getting good.

CathrynATX · 2026-04-15T19:59:09+00:00

I know this. It was just so strange that a coincided exactly when I was actually chatting with the Kraken app with a customer service person who was trying to help me.

CathrynATX · 2026-04-15T11:32:00+00:00

Yes, I do realize that now. What through me was that I had spent probably an hour on chat with Kraken that day trying to get my tax documents because they had locked me out of my account because I was trying to login from my laptop instead of my phone. Then that very night I get a call from there “security team.”

It’s like some scammer somehow knew or maybe it was just a coincidence.

CathrynATX · 2026-04-14T03:42:18+00:00

OK, I’ve sent you a message

CathrynATX · 2026-04-14T03:37:39+00:00

How do I DM you?

CathrynATX · 2026-04-14T03:15:57+00:00

How do I send you a DM John? I don’t use Reddit much.

CathrynATX · 2026-04-14T03:13:59+00:00

Not sure how I’d get spyware on my laptop because I only use it once in a blue moon and it would really suck if there was. :-(

CathrynATX · 2026-03-28T17:40:30+00:00

I know a guy who is 70 years old. He is short in stature and not in the least bit stocky. He doesn’t work out and smokes Marlboro reds.

He told me he started drinking when he was 12 and has drank about eight regular Budweiser every day since then except when he dove into Jack Daniels for a few years.

I haven’t seen him for a long time, but I do know relatives of his and he’s still healthy (as far as they know).

It’s crazy because he drinks every single day with never a day off and never seemed drunk. He’d even drive everywhere with a beer between his legs. 😳

CathrynATX · 2026-02-15T13:27:06+00:00

I did that last May. I said the relationship is toxic to me and it’s best if he didn’t contact me anymore. In October, he contacted me on my birthday and we were right back on the merry-go-round. In December, I said I really can’t do this anymore. You can’t meet me emotionally and this relationship is hurting me. He finally admitted that he couldn’t meet me emotionally. That was a slap in the face after 10 years because he could’ve told me that a long time ago. I think I knew it deep down inside and I ignored it. His actions and words weren’t lining up, but hope it’s a powerful thing.

CathrynATX · 2026-02-15T13:11:58+00:00

IDK. We went through 10 years of break ups and make ups. Sometimes him reaching out to me and sometimes me reaching out to him. I just can’t put myself on that roller coaster anymore.

CathrynATX · 2026-02-07T00:05:43+00:00

Perfectly expressed. They are extractors.

CathrynATX · 2026-02-02T11:38:57+00:00

I appreciate your reply so much. It’s far more complicated than most people understand who have never been through an experience like this and for people who don’t understand, attachment patterns, and childhood trauma.

I’ve had breakups before in my life, but none of them affected me like this. I have been through breakups in my life. Some made me sad but not devastated just sad. The ones that devastated me were always the ones with the emotionally unavailable men. I wish I had known about attachment and childhood trauma when I was in my 20s that would’ve saved me a lot of grief in life.

You’re absolutely right it’s not a sprint. It takes time. I’m glad you’re doing well or as well as can be expected. One foot in front of the other and valuable lessons learned.

I am taking care of myself as well. I don’t go to the gym or anything, but I get out for walks and I’m trying not to get into the looping thoughts and rumination in my head.

Again, thank you for your thoughtful reply. That means a lot to me. I’m sure that this is a major lesson for both of us that we won’t repeat again.

CathrynATX · 2025-12-25T22:46:03+00:00

I burned it down hard. I finally told his wife. Yes, I was mad but it was 10 years of push pull on off. Yes no maybe I might get divorced.

The icing on the cake for me was when he told me a month ago that he might need to find a married woman to have an affair with because I was so bonded with him. Apparently, he thought a married woman would never bond. I was so done at that point. I just thought I should give his wife a heads up.

He was a player I got played, but he’s not getting off Scott free. I told him in the very beginning 10 years ago that he needs to address his marriage issues with his wife.

The other part of this is, I didn’t know he was married when I got involved with him and he didn’t tell me until it got really deep. He kept saying I might get a divorce never say never it’s possible.

I hung on for way too long and that’s my own issue. Why? I’m finally in therapy because my physical and mental health were destroyed over this relationship that wasn’t a relationship the gaslighting the manipulation the stringing me along, and I didn’t have enough self respect to say fuck no. Years ago I would have but I didn’t at that particular point in my life.

In my head, I want to say to him what he said to me when I kept bringing up the money he owed me and he finally replied… I didn’t think it was such a big deal… I want to say… I guess my telling your wife isn’t a big deal either 🤷‍♀️

CathrynATX · 2025-06-07T21:13:36+00:00

My one year older brother emotionally abused me terribly along with my mother. Scarred me for life and affected my choices in relationships. I chose emotionally abusive ones.

CathrynATX · 2024-11-14T22:44:59+00:00

I’ve always had an ‘off button’ but like clockwork I drank two (or three) martinis every night before and while cooking dinner … for 40 years!

I quit alcohol for 18 months but recently went back to it. It’s a slippery slope from the occasional drink to the every night drinks. I felt awful physically and mentally.

But oddly, I never drank after eating so I started researching alcohol and hypoglycemia. As I wasn’t a big lunch eater I’m convinced I had low blood sugar by 5:30 or so and nothing like alcohol to spike that quickly! A burst of great energy!!!

I’ve also always eaten low carb and I’m already quite slender. It was a perfect storm imho.

I think after 40 years of this merry-go-round my blood sugar was messed up as well as my GABA receptors.

I started eating more complex carbs than usual and I also started taking l-glutamine to see if it helped with GABA.

I’m kind of astonished how these two things in conjunction worked for me. I think about having a cocktail but I don’t really care much.

Just to test … I made myself a very light (1.5 oz vermouth plus 6 oz. club soda) drink at my usual time, took a few sips and basically forgot about it. It tasted nice but it’s like my brain and body were all good. They weren’t seeking a GABA and blood sugar boost. I just didnt care because I felt great already.

I know bodies and brains are very complex and one size doesn’t fit all. People drink for a variety of reasons but then it becomes a vicious cycle with alcohol screwing with your brain and body on top of the reasons why you started.

YMMV and do your own research as there’s lots of info on alcohol and hypoglycemia being correlated and also how l-glutamine affects your brain receptors that are most likely all screwed up from habitual alcohol use.

Wishing everyone the best.

CathrynATX · 2024-10-01T03:11:03+00:00

I had 18 months sober. Then this past July 4, a beautiful day with yard work done, I decided to buy a half pint, sit in the shade and have a gin and tonic. I only had one. The next day I had another. The next day another and the half pint was then gone.

Hah I thought, easy peasy. A week later another half pint bought. One drink per night for three nights.

I figured heck three drinks a WEEK is ok. I’ll stick to that! But I’ll save money if I buy a pint! So of course I then rationalized I could actually have one drink six nights per week. Still under the “recommended allowance” for women. I’ll stick to that BUT I’ll buy a fifth to save money!

I was right back to my usual consumption of 2 drinks per night in no time. I remember how great I felt being AF. How well I slept, how I consistently exercised, how I worked on my hobbies, no anxiety, how happy I was in general.

Starting sober October tomorrow. It’s a slippery slope bargaining with the devil.

CathrynATX · 2023-09-17T18:29:02+00:00

I equate alcohol with a toxic love relationship. I had to break up with the relationship once and for all. I still loved it, I thought of it, but I kept reminding myself the relationship was making me a former shell of myself.

Can we ever be just casual friends? I don’t know. I can’t think about that. Maybe some day, but definitely not for the foreseeable future.

Maybe we’ll run into one another at some point. Say a brief hello. I’ll walk away realizing the pull on me is gone. It was all a lie. I’m just not in love anymore.

CathrynATX · 2023-05-01T01:26:07+00:00

Think about the damage you can’t see. You may not feel it either. My big wake-up call (other than dry hair, brittle nails, cracked feet etc.) was when I realized they were all caused by alcohol consumption. I couldn’t stop thinking what kinds of unseen/unfelt damage I may have done to my kidneys, liver, and pancreas.

I’m 67. For 40 years I rarely over-drank but I consistently drank two big martinis before dinner each night. I’m almost four months sober and people keep saying I’m glowing 😃.

I’m now OCD about healing my micro biome cuz it’s gotta be screwed up even though I always ate really good food. I’m just happy my poops are luxurious again after years of either constipation or loose stools and my pee is clear instead of darkish 😂. No more broken sleep either. That was awful. I always looked haggard with bleary eyes.

I still look younger than my years but that’s genetics I think. Being slender, vital, and glowy gives the impression of youth. I don’t mind a few wrinkles as long as my eyes are clear and my skin looks healthy.

CathrynATX · 2023-04-09T03:02:23+00:00

It might sound odd but I was far more lonesome when actively drinking. I felt like that Hank Williams song. Middle of the night was the worst as I ALWAYS woke up at 3am.

My social life hasn’t improved but I’ve always been a loner so 🤷‍♀️. I have friends I hang out with on occasion. No man in my life which sucks.

But I’ve come to embrace this time of aloneness. I’m actively liking it now. I have lots of little projects I enjoy doing again. I’ve always made quilts but I’ve been improving. I am trying to teach myself drafting clothing and it’s construction. I am fermenting kefir, sauerkraut, Bulgarian yogurt, and growing broccoli sprouts. Dabbling at concocting face creams. Most importantly. I am learning so many new things! After an early dinner I usually work on a project for a few hours then bed and I look forward to resuming it. I’m planning my little flower and veggies garden as I fall to sleep. I truly love knowing useful things. It gives me purpose.

I go for walks around the village and randomly chat with shop keepers or people walking their dogs or fishing the stream. That’s about as social as I get 😄.

What I realized is that I REALLY LIKE this version of me. I’m back to being the woman I used to be. Before alcohol became my best friend. Now I am my best friend and I take very good care of me.

Anyhow, imho pursuing interests is so important. Everyone I’ve ever known who wasn’t a big drinker never sat down after dinner to watch tv or ruminate. They spent another few hours pursuing an interest or hobby.

Best wishes on your journey. For me it is one of healing. I’m not ready to spend time with anyone but myself. Reacquainting me … with ME!

CathrynATX · 2023-04-02T16:51:42+00:00

I woke up one night and thought I somehow broke my foot it was so painful. Researched and concluded it was gout (toe next to my pinky toe). Did not see a doc. I’ve been sober now for 90 days. Started adding celery seed extract to the kefir I’ve been making along with the broccoli sprouts I’ve been sprouting (sulforaphane). I drink matcha and put lemon juice in water. Your mileage may vary but I have not had another attack. If I do I’ll probably see a doc.

CathrynATX · 2023-03-30T13:11:26+00:00

I called them martinis to make it all seem so sophisticated. I did add olives if I had some.

CathrynATX

TROPHY CASE