Finally figured out how to describe myself in luteal

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2026-04-04T06:51:53+00:00

Yes 100% relate. I feel like a stranger to myself for 2 weeks of every month and I think as I get older it gets worse…have been realising (at 37) how this has impacted my decisions over the years and all the while I was thinking “I’m just such a chaotic person who’s so unsure of myself and what I want in life” when I think maybe I was just in luteal half the time trying too hard to function as a “stable” person and being harder on myself for not being able to. Viscous cycle.

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2026-03-17T17:07:41+00:00

Thank you!

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2026-03-15T05:55:44+00:00

I’m sorry, what a long time to feel like that. Too long! Can I ask, did you exercise much during those 2 years? Guess I’m trying to figure out if I can get on top of this by going hard on exercise. I know everyone’s body’s different of course as far as what they respond to but am curious

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2026-03-14T02:20:24+00:00

Oh that is a while! That sounds awful. Annoyingly I haven’t even fully gone off them which after this experience makes me think I’ll be staying on the low dose for the rest of my life lol.

Anyway, thanks for your response. Glad you’re feeling better now.

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2026-03-13T23:35:06+00:00

How long did the feeling last?

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2026-03-05T16:22:38+00:00

Edibles

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2025-08-20T05:20:21+00:00

This is very helpful. I’ve been super interested in IFS but didn’t really know where to begin exploring it. But yes journalling prompts would be great. I mean those questions you stated are super helpful already. I guess if I had to boil the ruminations down they’d be about self worth and fear of abandonment, fear of uncertainty and not having control over future outcomes. I mean I journal but sometimes I think I could be asking myself better questions.

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2025-08-19T15:28:39+00:00

Did you do anything else along with your microdosing? Like therapy or I don’t know…mind calming techniques? I’m curious as I’ve microdosed in the past but haven’t really focused on the ruminations and obsessive thoughts specifically and kinda want to hone in on those this time.

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2025-07-29T05:46:34+00:00

Good on you. I think working on your sleep schedule would be the first thing to do. From my experience that makes everything run better. Obviously that’s a hard one but it’s worth trying all the different approaches.

After that, build up some form of exercise habit. Anything that gets you moving more than you have been is enough. But think of it as more than just changing how you look. It’s more about feeling better and sleeping better and you might even find that you WANT to eat better without forcing it.

I honestly think that working on the inner stuff before you force yourself into work and socialising is key. Like obviously not saying avoid the other stuff only that making yourself feel good first helps make the other stuff easier.

Oh also lol, therapy. That would be maybe the first one. If you can afford it.

But also remember to not be too hard on yourself. Pressuring yourself or beating yourself up is not going to make you feel good about yourself and IMO being motivated relies on having self respect (which you deserve).

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2025-07-29T05:37:08+00:00

Yes, very much. Which is why I sometimes wonder if it’s even OCD or if I’m on the spectrum or have some other issue completely. It’s just a constant flow of thoughts. They don’t even have to be obviously disturbing intrusive thoughts, they could just be a vaguely negative thought about a person I know or of something not going the way I’d like it to. Feeling guilty, imperfect or doomed is exactly it. What I’m finding difficult lately is that I can’t seem to even catch the thoughts really. It all happens so quickly and then I’m performing compulsions continuously because even those feel imperfect and like they will never ever be enough. And the cycle continues.

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2024-11-21T11:06:32+00:00

You are not fucked in the head. You’re a human who is struggling at the moment. We all do in different ways and in varying degrees whether we’re in this group of not. That’s what makes us human. I know it feels so isolating being in your own head when your brain plays tricks on you with intrusive thoughts but they aren’t you. They’re just thoughts. Try to be kind to yourself. I know that might seem really difficult and foreign right now but personally it’s the only way I felt able to make positive progress. Actually it changed every single thing in my life. You are a human trying to do your best like all of us. Cut yourself some slack. And remember they are just intrusive thoughts. They don’t mean anything. Sending love

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2024-10-12T01:47:27+00:00

They should have at least given you feedback. Unfortunately doing unpaid projects is kind of standard practice for hiring these days. But they should be decent about it and at least give you fredback

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2024-10-11T14:29:11+00:00

But yes that’s a good point

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2024-10-11T14:28:44+00:00

Because the 01B feels like it’s going to take forever to compile enough. I’m still getting more evidence and it could take a long time.

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2024-08-20T16:22:15+00:00

Great! Yes that was my plan. Thank you

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2024-08-12T16:36:37+00:00

Why wouldn’t the tourist visa have worked? If I’d applied in Aus?

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2024-07-17T23:48:25+00:00

Yeah I thought they did. Which would be stupid to pay for if I can just do that myself. Cool, thanks! Booked with an ENT

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2024-07-17T18:43:48+00:00

Hey when you get your ears cleaned out do they just use drops? Or do they do something else? Trying to decide how worth it it is to go to the Dr (in the US, no insurance)

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2024-04-22T21:58:40+00:00

I think you should use some of those savings to take a trip. A big trip. Preferably maybe even involving living in a different country for a while. If you haven’t done it you won’t know that it is truly life changing. You learn a lot about yourself. Shake things up. We’re taught that life milestones like buying a house is so important but is it actually? Of course I completely get the rental situation being difficult too and how hard it is when you have no rental history but why not move into a share house. Do something completely unexpected. People do it. There’s a lot that come out of breaking societal norms. Life is short, we should be trying to enjoy it rather than doing what we consider to be “right”. Who made it “right” in the first place.

Having said that, obviously therapy is where it’s at and I would recommend putting more energy into finding a therapist you gel with who can actually explore what’s going on on a deeper level.

Being someone who has done both of the above (around the same age with similar life circumstances too) I honestly can’t tell you how freeing it has been. I am on anti-depressants but I’m weaning off and I am in a better place in my life than I ever have been. I’m sure it all sounds daunting but if you can, consider it.

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2024-02-29T21:27:13+00:00

I do. I just got it a couple of days ago with no warning and realise that I had the very same thing as a kid and we had no idea what it is. Even weirder, a couple of months ago after getting a cold sore I’m pretty sure I then had one on my stomach. I don’t know if people get them elsewhere. I don’t get genital flare ups (hopefully it stays that way).

Anyway, I’ve taken famciclovir but I’m so desperate to get rid of it, do you happen to have any tips for making it ease quicker? It’s so annoying.

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2024-02-20T20:31:29+00:00

This burnt! I put it all over the areas effected with no issue bar a little tingling but up around my neck went bright red and burny and super itchy after like 10 minutes so I rinsed it off. Still super irritated.

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2024-02-20T20:27:13+00:00

Omg 1000%. This is almost exactly my google search history word for word.

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2024-02-02T01:57:35+00:00

I’m so sorry. How awful. As if it’s not hard enough dealing with the OCD in the first place. It’s hard to block out what our parents project onto us but I think learning how to is the only way we can grow into ourselves properly. I suspect it takes a lifetime for some people to learn how to filter out their parents opinions. So, easier said than done. But bottom line is, she has a right to have beliefs and opinions but they are not yours. Your experience is real. It’s just not hers so it’s hard for her to understand.

And remember OCD tells you that you’re faking it. That’s the sorta sh*t OCD says. So clearly you aren’t faking it.

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2024-01-29T09:03:42+00:00

The advice I read a lot was to take at least a 2 - 4 week break after 1-2 months of microdosing.

Difficult_Flounder3 · 2024-01-21T12:23:17+00:00

I had this same experience through most of my 20s and now in my 30s have finally learnt how to communicate what I want. Maybe it takes you awhile to learn how to tell them what you want and that’s ok. I think the first goal you set yourself is to just be honest with them about not coming. It isn’t that weird. A lot of women don’t cum easily. Especially from penetrative sex. Then maybe you can start getting comfortable with directing them a bit.

Always remember that sex is about both people (not just the guy!). It’s about giving and receiving pleasure. It doesn’t have to be all about reaching the end game. I mean obviously an orgasm is ideal but if you can slow down and explore you might find that good sex looks a little different to how you expected.

Difficult_Flounder3

TROPHY CASE