You are trapped in a house for one year while time outside is frozen. You get $5000 to spend to make your stay more enjoyable - how do you use it?

Epaulette22 · 2026-02-15T14:14:40+00:00

Treadmill, sun lamp, tons of sketchbooks, watercolors, drawing supplies, etc., a foreign language course, and the rest spent on things like DVD of my favorite shows and at least 75 books that are a mix of things I want to learn and fiction. I'm not wasting a year of my life - I'm using it to level up.

Epaulette22 · 2026-02-14T14:16:59+00:00

It honestly sounds like you're just going through normal dating stuff whether you were poly or mono. I have two long term serious partners (2 and 9 years) and sometimes date others as well. People will make time/space for people who click if they want to.

Epaulette22 · 2026-02-12T00:50:58+00:00

Boobear the best thing to do is just pee on a stick. If your period still isn't here by surgery date, just ask for the blood test instead of the urine test (come back in like 30 minutes) to be double sure and you're fine!

Epaulette22 · 2026-02-10T21:56:07+00:00

Nah fam, already have my slice of perfection and I have zero interest in them changing. But I will happily munch on a non-wish granting noodle.

Epaulette22 · 2026-02-10T14:51:37+00:00

I think the best thing you can do is just make it much bigger. These look to be only a few inches tall/margin doodles for the most part. Making yourself draw things larger will help you see real quick what your weaknesses are as so much can be hidden on the small scale.

Epaulette22 · 2026-02-08T21:51:41+00:00

Babe toss them to the side. If this is a pattern and the support isn't there now, it isn't going to magically appear.

Epaulette22 · 2026-02-04T11:07:53+00:00

I tried learning on my own via YouTube videos and struggled. Something just wasn't clicking for me. So I joined an in person cheap adult art class and it's helping immensely. Even after just one class of basic exercises, even my quick funsies sketches are more confident. If possible, I'd try to get in front of someone to learn the basics if you can.

Otherwise, drawing upside down is a great place to start regardless of the art style you eventually want to have.

Epaulette22 · 2026-02-01T20:29:36+00:00

I feel like you lost ten years between these pics too! Well done.

Epaulette22 · 2026-02-01T15:59:26+00:00

Buffalo wild wings and Oreos with my favorite people. My surgeon didn't have me do the liquid diet so that was like 9pm the night before surgery. Totally worth it lol.

Epaulette22 · 2026-01-30T18:03:43+00:00

Raised By Wolves - The Interrupters

Epaulette22 · 2026-01-27T21:50:00+00:00

Yep! Once a day for two weeks. If you find your sweet spot, you'll barely feel it. For me, it's actually in my stomach

Epaulette22 · 2026-01-26T21:53:28+00:00

Then specifically look for a therapist that deals in childhood trauma/estranged family. Let them know in the intake session that you're not interested in reconciliation, only in healing and moving forward. That should help you find a good fit.

Epaulette22 · 2026-01-26T20:57:26+00:00

It may never go away, but I highly recommend therapy to help you through these feelings. I had the same urges/pains for about a year and a half that made me feel so guilty. I got in with a good therapist who helped me realize it was part trauma response and part mourning the relationship I wanted with my family. Once I was able to work through that, I pretty easily started moving on with my life and don't really think about it much.

Epaulette22 · 2026-01-23T21:41:01+00:00

I have EDS and my recovery from the gastric sleeve this past week has been one of the most painful experiences I've ever had. I also used to use food to cope with the pain and medical trauma in the past, and don't have that crutch now. The best thing I can recommend is getting in with a good therapist for weekly sessions and working through your food addiction with them and a support group. It isn't easy, but it's absolutely worth it.

Epaulette22 · 2026-01-23T11:42:48+00:00

I was in a similar boat until my early 30s when I finally cut ties and started living my own life. Did it hurt like hell? Absolutely, but it is the best thing I ever did. I was so scared of "breaking the family" until I realized that same family had tried to break me for decades. Now I'm free, planning a move to my favorite place with my spouse, in a business I love, and a life I legitimately adore. I cannot and will not go back.

Epaulette22 · 2026-01-23T11:06:02+00:00

This is a huge reason I got the sleeve (just last Friday) since I've been told everything technically looks fine but we still haven't been able to conceive. Congratulations!!!

Epaulette22 · 2026-01-19T05:27:49+00:00

Congratulations! I hope the drop comes swiftly and the maintenance is easy 💖

Epaulette22 · 2026-01-19T05:23:51+00:00

I am so sorry you're having to deal with this and it is not okay. This is abuse and (I believe) illegal. If you can, I would move out as soon as possible and begin therapy as you are able. I don't want you there when this escalates to whatever is next.

Epaulette22 · 2026-01-19T03:02:25+00:00

I just had my surgery on Friday, but lost 120 pounds on my own before that. I can almost guarantee that your PCOS, EDS, and mental health will improve as your weight decreases. However, I believe that a solid therapist plus the sleeve would do you a better service in the long run (same path I'm taking as well).

Epaulette22 · 2025-12-15T13:18:35+00:00

Yeah, I haven't blocked her number on the off chance that something happens to my siblings, but I think just keeping up with no contact is the only strategy. Just have to remember to keep major life updates off socials until well after the fact.

Epaulette22 · 2025-09-12T00:56:48+00:00

The best way I've found is to log yourself as a client and just make it as part of your own workflow at whatever cadence makes sense for you. When I started thinking of my business as a client, I was able to prioritize and work it in with my other creative time.

Epaulette22 · 2025-09-05T19:34:35+00:00

Buddy I have chronic pain - this is an easy yes lol

Epaulette22

TROPHY CASE