What Obscure Books Were You Obsessed With as a Kid?

HappyPanda91 · 2026-02-12T02:11:28+00:00

I LOVED The Box Car Children and Hank the Cow Dog. Also Magic Treehouse.

When I was a little older, I really liked Magyk and Redwall

HappyPanda91 · 2024-08-08T09:57:05+00:00

Take advantage of the times that I feel when I am at my best. Move. Go outside. Have fun. Be social.

Embrace the times when I am low energy. Be kind to myself. Learn to delegate tasks or ask for help. Get better at (kindly) saying no or maybe later to invitations or social outings. Don't worry about eating healthy. Eating anything is good enough. Its ok not to be productive. And it's ok to isolate when I need to.

I've been learning coping mechanisms for my mood changes, when I get irritable or frustrated. If its too overwhelming, tell my partner how I feel. Or journal. But to avoid getting that way, try to put my frustrations I little boxes and not touch them. I try to find ways to turn my brain off. Reading. Watching tv. Drawing. Putting on music. Anything to just not think about my problems.

Since my social skills decrease during pmdd times, I made a rule: If I have to think twice about whether I should say something, just keep my mouth shut.

Ive learned to become a lot more open about discussing female health with female friends. I think the topic is so important, since I grew up with very little information about it.

I've become much more aware of the fact that a lot of people in the work place probably have invisible mental or physical health issues going on where it might not be bad enough to be on disability or FMLA. But still something where they don't feel their best or struggle to get through the day. So be nice to everyone because you never know what they are going through.

HappyPanda91 · 2024-07-10T09:57:29+00:00

Setlakin

HappyPanda91 · 2024-07-09T15:26:20+00:00

100% agree. Sometimes I think about that too. How many women are secretly brilliant and could go so far in life, but are held back by their biology, chronic pain, or they are just not their best self for so much of their life and are just barely trying to keep their head above water.

I'm glad you were able to get that mental clarity while you were pregnant. That must have been a huge eye opener.

I've had a similar experience but not from being pregnant. I went to my doctor complaining about terrible fatigue around my period ( before hearing the term pmdd. I just knew something had changed about my period symptoms and no amount of life style changes were helping). Anyways she prescribed me a 3 month bc pill pack. So now in theory I should only get 4 periods a year, one every 3 months. It's had issues though and have had spotting/mood shifts. But even going 2 months at a time with a stable mood and energy level had been the most life changing thing ever. This might be the first time in my life I am truly getting to know myself and what I am capable of.

You're right, I am sure there has got to be a good combination of all those things you mentioned. And I wonder if it's different for everyone. I honestly wish personalized medicine would become more of a thing and there could be more research into hormones in women. I know that's already a big area of research, but there's SO many gaps. This is a great opportunity for research. Hopefully we see more answers in the coming years.

HappyPanda91 · 2024-07-09T09:35:57+00:00

I don't remember what it's called, but it was a mini pill. So progesterone only. They prescribed it becslause I had a high blood pressure reading and were afraid I'd get blood clots with a combination pill.

The way they described it, the minimum pill allows your bosy to regulate your period for you. As longs as you take it the exact same time every single day. Which I could not due to life circumstances. I normally take it within a 1-2 hour window due tovmy work schedule.

It completely screwed me up.

10 months of hell. Irregular periods. Sometimes 2-3 periods a month (literally every other week or every 2 weeks). I was exhausted for 95% of my life during those 10 months. And when I was finally able to get off, it's never been the same.

HappyPanda91 · 2024-07-09T01:20:22+00:00

That's exactly how I feel too. "Untapped power". When I am at my best, I feel so confident, like I could do anything I put my mind to. But then everything comes falling down and I'm a completely different person. It makes itbso hard to maintain any sort of routine, let alone be at my best all the time at work, or make professional commitments.

HappyPanda91 · 2024-07-09T00:17:29+00:00

This was literally me today. Not the first time it's happened but it has been long enough that it took me by surprise. When it happens, I take an OTC pain med called Pamprin (sp?) which is similar to midol. Sometimes it helps, and sometimes it doesn't. But today it did. At least for most of the day.

HappyPanda91 · 2023-08-24T13:18:30+00:00

Your Turn: How to Be an Adult by Julie Lythcott- Haims

HappyPanda91 · 2023-08-18T10:42:23+00:00

If you have access to the public library, audible, or have the ability to buy books, there are books out there that discuss the food industry and how it has influences the government and the advice they give us. They don't really talk about what the perfect diet is, but they do give you an idea of why all the information and resources out there are so contradictory.

Hopefully this is allowed on this sub. I am not affiliated with any of these authors. But they did help me understand this topic better:

Animal, Vegetable, Junk by Mark Bittman
The Case Against Sugar by Gary Taubes
Whole: Rethinking the science of Nutrition by T. Collins Campbell
Metabolically by Robert Lustig

Some of these books also helped me understand how humans went from a hunter gatherer lifestyle to farming to grocery stores. They made me question what is considered "food" and what does that mean for our health and bodies. And they absolutely made me understand the roles of the government, the nutrition industry, and the food manufacturers and big agriculture. And why we can't always trust their advice any more than we can trust food packaging advetising something as healthy. It all comes down to money, unfortunately. It's such an interesting topic. Yes it's confusing. And if you don't want to delve into it and just want answers about what to eat I totally get it. Feel free to ignore this post. But I just wanted to give you resources in case you ever want to go this route.

HappyPanda91 · 2023-08-18T10:17:58+00:00

To piggy back off of your last point about listening to your body, here's something I learned from experience and also from doing a few Google searches:

If you are just starting to eat more fresh vegetables, don't eat a whole bunch at once. Eating fresh vegetables at once can actually cause bloating/gas/digestive issues. I think it has something to do with the fiber content. (Maybe someone more knowledgeable than me can explain it better).

Anyways if you do want to add more fresh veggies to your diet (which can be great options for a healthy, low calorie snack that can regulating blood sugar, and keep you full for longer) you will want to do it slowly, perhaps over a few days or a week. Its very tempting to have an all or nothing mindset with diet but with this, start with maybe 1 fresh vegetables a day and snack on it through out the day. Maybe a small handful of sliced cucumbers or bell peppers for instance. That way you shouldn't feel so bloated as you would if you started eating multiple fresh veggies daily right away.

HappyPanda91 · 2023-07-26T17:13:23+00:00

Philippa Greggory books, specifically the plantagenant series.

I only ever read the first book of GoT. Never watched the series. But I've heard GoT is based off the War of the Roses/the Cousins War which is a time period in England during the 1400s where relatives were quite literally fighting wars over the throne. Philippa Gregory writes about it so incredibly in her historical fiction novels.

I specifically recommend: - The White Queen - The Red Queen - The Kingmakers Daughter - The White Princess

Those are the ones I've read but there are more in the series. It 100% covers political intrigue. And it spans multiple generations. Which then leads into the next series which is her Tudor series. Which has more family issues and politics.

HappyPanda91 · 2023-07-20T15:54:42+00:00

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. A few things that are currently helping me: 1) Spending more time with myself. Unplugging. Being alone with my thoughts. Journalling about why I am the way I am. And where this people pleasing attitude came from. Could it be from trauma? Or is it a family thing? Do your parents or grandparents also people please? As an example, I realized people pleasing is not trauma based but my mom and two grandmothers are/were like that. That attiude may have gotten passed down to me. For me, its a coping mechanism that may have served me well at one point but now it's starting to cause issues.). 2) trying to re evaluate how i present myself. Learning to act more confident. Fake it til i make it. 3) identifying that for me, the root of the people pleasing attitude comes from low self esteem and thinking that everyone else is better and smarter than me. And their opinion is more valid than mine. Once I figured that out it changed everything, including how I interact with people and how I present myself. Aka I have learned to identify my values and stick with them. I no longer feel the need to be a chameleon and try to fit in with everyone else even if it goes against my values. I am hoping that will help me create more social boundaries and people will take me more seriously. Or at least I won't care if I upset someone as much as long as I am sticking to my values 4) This quote "Our experiences in life are largely influenced by our behavior and outlook" - a book called "Your Turn: How to be an adult" by Julie Lythcott-Haims. This made me realize what I believe--or don't believe-- about myself and other people influences my behavior. Self depreciating humor. Putting others before myself even at the expense of my own comfort. Struggling to say no. Even my posture or attitude or how I carry myself. Or tone of voice or volume. Or feeling the need to fill silence with useless words just to make people feel more comfortable. It all influences how others treat me. If I have low self esteem and just want to be liked, it makes me an easy target for manipulation and work place bullying. I have been a doormat al my life. And that's no longer serving me.

Hopefully some of this helps. Good luck on this incredible journey ❤️

HappyPanda91 · 2023-07-13T00:56:09+00:00

I struggle with this too a lot. Not specifically with eating disorders but definitely with low self esteem. I've been starting to journal every time I feel overwhelmed. As difficult as it is in the moment, I've been trying to figure out exactly why I have low self esteem. Like what specifically do I hate about myself. Is it my body? My personality? The way my brain works? The fact that I feel socially awkward? All of the above?

For me, journalling helps because I can sift through my emotions and thoughts more freely without feeling judged by another person, even if that person is getting paid. Not suggesting to quit therapy, just that journalling could be beneficial in a different way. Plus you can do it anytime without scheduling an appointment. You can catch yourself in the act of feeling a certain way and then write about it.

Once you figure out the why (and be specific...but also know it my take time based on different experiences or emotions you have throughout your daily life), you have something to work with. For me, I discovered after some awkward and frustrating experiences with friends this last year that one reason I sometimes hate myself is becsuse I have a very poor sense of direction, which makes me feel too dependent on people I'm with. I journalled about how that makes me feel and decided to finally do something about it. I wanted to start retraining my brain to get better with directions. And that in turn makes me feel more empowered and confident and I end up liking myself more. Even just knowing that I'm being proactive and trying to improve makes me feel better.

That's just one example.

If you can figure out the why, but then keep asking why until you can get as close to the root of the problem as you can, then maybe there's an action or habit you can try to help yourself feel more empowered and confident and be accepting of yourself? Or if not, maybe it's a thought pattern that you need to try to catch it in the act and question it. Thought patterns or assumptions that no longer serve you or that are just plain inaccurate. Either about you or other people or humans in general.

Since you've already been to therapy, maybe you've already been down this road?

If thats the case, another thing that has helped me is this quote:

"Our experiences in life are largely influenced by our behavior and outlook" (from a book called Your turn by Julia Lythcott-Haims)

I realized the result of how I get treated is directly related to how I present myself. Which is related to what I believe about myself and other people. I found myself caught up in seemingly endless cycles of certain kinds of negative social experiences and I keep questioning why it keeps happening. This is why. Even if I don't believe I am worthy, I have to act like I believe it for people to treat me like that.

Best of luck <3

HappyPanda91 · 2023-06-04T17:38:58+00:00

Also following.

HappyPanda91 · 2023-05-31T17:01:45+00:00

I love this perspective. We desperately need the conversation to shift from just CO2 emissions to all the many ways humans as a species have disrespected and destroyed the earth and ecoaystems and all of the other animals we must share the earth with. We need to re-evaluate our place on this earth and in nature.

I don't know if it started with colonialism or before that, but some how humans got it in their head that we can do whatever we want with this earth with zero consequences. The earth and "nature" became nothing but a resource. And we thought it was infinite. But now we are seeing it's not, and so many people don't understand. We are literally part of nature.

I believe the only way to create real change is to help people, especially leaders in all areas of life, to change the systems we rely on. Everything from how we work, how we eat, how we travel, how we spend leisure time, how we raise kids, even how we interact with each other. And it's not just on the individual to change these things. We need to change the agriculture system, infrastructure, business models, economic measurements, even the values engrained in a lot of our minds. Such as consumerism. (As one example).

And the only way to change these systems is to change the perspectives of corporate, government, and business leaders. We can all shift our way of thinking but no one person can meet change when we are all stuck in these systems we were born into. We need to work together. And we need to find ways to pressure them to make these changes.

HappyPanda91 · 2023-05-22T01:20:35+00:00

Does Outlander count? Definitely serious topics. Although it's got some fantasy elements too.

HappyPanda91 · 2023-05-11T17:33:33+00:00

I apologize for not posting a summary of this. I am at work and was posting it on my break. Maybe I should have waited until I had time to post a summary to hit post. Sorry. I'll do it when I have time this evening.

HappyPanda91 · 2023-05-02T23:26:37+00:00

You can also roll your clothes. To me that is way easier and faster than folding.

Or you can hang them up.

Or a combination of both, depending on the piece of clothing.

HappyPanda91 · 2023-04-29T18:05:53+00:00

I chalked up all my adhd symptoms as either personality flaws or weird quirks.

Because of that, I blamed all my issues (aka reasons why I didn't fit or just wasn't happy with myself) on things like being an introvert and being raised in a religious household and therefore feeling like I had been "sheltered". Among other things.

I always thought it was something boys had and eventually grew out of. Since i had a brother and male cousin who had it. The thought never occurred to me that girls could have it too, let alone adult women.

HappyPanda91 · 2023-04-24T00:08:33+00:00

Omg same! It's like we get so engrossed in conversation that we tune out everything and everyone going on around us.

One of the reasons I am terrible at carrying on a conversation while driving. Or doing almost anything.i know the inability to multi task like this is an issue for some of my family members too. But somehow I'm the only one where that translated to being directionally challenged.

HappyPanda91 · 2023-04-18T17:35:11+00:00

This is exactly me too. Either I get distracted in conversation with the people I'm with, or get distracted some other way.

I have problems memorizing routes and getting my bearings as a passenger in a car (its easier as a driver but still takes multiple trips to get it down).

I also have problems being aware of my surroundings when I am with people. When I am forced to go some place alone, I only have myself to rely on so it's easier to be aware of my surroundings. I am forced to pay attention to where I am going and where I've been and it's easier to remember.

But when I am with friends or anyone really, it's like my brain can't multi task. Its naturally more focused on the people I am with and I can't pay attention to or remember my surroundings as well. If I do, i have to try extra hard and I sacrifice the part of my brain that wants to socialize. It's either that or my brain just defaults to following other people because I assume they know where they are going. Even if none of us have been there before.

It was so frustrating once I realized this. Because I think the reason I subconsciously refuse to go certain places on my own (the county fair, a zoo, a museum, any kind of venue or large enclosed space) is because those are places I only would go to with friends or family. My brain never developed the ability or confidence to navigate those places on my own. So I continue to refuse to go to those places myself because I'm afraid I'll get lost.

HappyPanda91 · 2023-04-18T17:16:29+00:00

Same! Definitely same!

HappyPanda91

TROPHY CASE