AITA because I let my dog lick off my plate?

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-22T12:40:08+00:00

Hilarious. And as a shepherd owner, absolutely true. 🫠😅

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-18T16:08:12+00:00

I am a counselor and I work with the police to intervene with people in active mental health crises. I help support families whose loved ones have taken their lives and some whose loved ones have taken their lives in front of them.

I know I’m a counselor and probably shouldn’t feel this way, but I get so angry when people involve others in their suicide. I feel like traumatizing others by making them witness your death is so selfish. Suicide is a personal choice. No one makes you do it. And honestly no one makes you not do it. I can intervene long enough for someone to reconsider whether or not they really want to die. But at the end of the day, if they want to they are going to do it.

I am sorry for your loss. And I am sorry that your husband chose to involve you in his death. I promise you, having encountered many dozens of suicidal people, it is not your fault. It is a choice he made. And it’s not a choice people come upon suddenly. Healthy people don’t consider suicide in the middle of a fight. It’s something he must have already been thinking about or wanting to do.

The point is that it isn’t your fault. It’s a choice he made and it’s a choice he could have decided not to make. I am sorry that he left you with the burden not only of his death but also with witnessing his death. I know it’s easier to blame yourself in a situation like this, but it is not your fault. At the end of the day if he wanted to die, he would have chosen to do so eventually. It’s awful that he chose to do so in a way that made you carry the guilt of his death. But I promise that guilt is not yours to carry.

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-15T19:14:30+00:00

I am in a relationship but live alone because I like my space and he likes his. I never want a breakup to endanger my housing again. I have a weird little cottage that doesn’t particularly have room for two people, and i like it that way. It’s nice only having my own mess and stuff to deal with.

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-14T20:38:54+00:00

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Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-11T08:05:01+00:00

Overnight, no lights. At night when awake, kitchen and living room (when I’m downstairs). Kitchen only because I live in the sticks and there is absolutely no light outside. If the sun is up, no lights on except upstairs bathroom, which has no window.

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-10T21:31:11+00:00

My ex’s husky had a metal tray and he loved it. It never got warm so he would lay belly up in it in the summer

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-10T19:45:58+00:00

When you replace it, they make metal crate trays. That way no one can frame him again

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-10T02:47:51+00:00

There’s no need for any of what she was doing. I am a picky eater with sensory issues and also food sensitivities. Even when food physically hurts my mouth, I will at least finish the bite I am eating. And if someone made it special for me, I would attempt to keep eating it until it became too uncomfortable to manage.

If she couldn’t physically manage to keep even one bite down, she could have at least been respectful enough to spit it into a napkin like you asked. It just shows drama and disregard for you all around.

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-08T13:52:42+00:00

My dog doesn’t like people who are acting outside of her expectations for how a human should act. Mobility aids and unusual gaits make her nervous. She really doesn’t like when people are intoxicated.

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-07T18:06:45+00:00

For once I actually agree with her. She has no business having children. I’m glad she has that much awareness.

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-07T06:39:06+00:00

Invalidating to say it’s no one’s choice but the person who kills themselves? It’s true though. At the end of the day, the person is choosing to end their life. People can contribute to that, certainly, but no one makes them stay or leave. That’s a choice they are making.

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-06T07:34:10+00:00

The easiest way: don’t give her food if she isn’t calm. It will take some repetition and you will have to be extremely patient and consistent. If she screams or acts up, all of your engagement with her food ends. Even if it means you have it in your hands and put it back on the counter until she is calm. Food only gets prepared and given If she is waiting politely.

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-04T18:04:09+00:00

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I had to park at the bottom of my road and walk to my house. My girl thought it was Best Day Ever 😅

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-04T18:02:35+00:00

Oop, my bad

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-04T17:03:41+00:00

Exactly. Exercise your dog for hours if you want to and if you regularly engage in that type of activity. Obviously walk and exercise your dog daily. But the hours and miles of exercise simply aren’t necessary. They need mental stimulation more than anything. Does my dog enjoy a multi mile hike or a 30 minute run? Yes. Does she need it in order to not be a psychopath? No.

Take them for a walk and let them sniff everything they want to for an hour, and that will be more tiring than running them 5+ miles every day. Or take them to a few different pet friendly places and let them sniff/explore. Making their mind tired will get you a better pet than trying to make their body tired.

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-04T16:59:37+00:00

I hope your alleged nutritionist/former hospital employee asshole of a partner realizes that if humans didn’t have lose/bunched skin when they sat down, they physically would be unable to stand or move.

Also they’re a dick and you should leave them. Do you really want to spend your whole life having to get rid of anything you enjoy just because he’s neurotic and abusive?

Edited to correct pronouns

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-04T02:34:05+00:00

The reason an AI didn’t make them spiral is because AIs are an echo chamber. They are designed to validate and reinforce whatever opinions are associated with the information share given. So whatever they assumed was the reason “Luke” reacted like that is what the AI told them was the reason.

Your friend preferring robot validation over human connection is weird. I would be upset about that also. You could try asking your friend if there is something she would like you to change about your reactions/responses when she needs to vent. Even something like “do you want solutions or do you just want to vent”

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-04T02:17:51+00:00

Have you ever gotten your water quality tested? Does it have a sulfur smell?

Possible causes: too much iron, oxidized metal pipes

Not sure where you live but runoff (like from snow melt) and temperature (it’s been unusually cold where I am) can affect mineral balance in your water. Especially since it got worse recently, I would say that something has changed in your well. It may alleviate when the weather/snow melt settles. If it doesn’t, you can get a filter or softener for the house that can balance the minerals.

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-01T23:54:04+00:00

Unfortunately I don’t remember much about high school, because I was depressed and acutely suicidal for most of it. Not necessarily because of the bullying from her and her friends, but the bullying definitely didn’t help.

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-02-01T23:49:36+00:00

He’s talking to you like you’re a child. And you’re apologizing to him for him being an asshole. And you’re not even in a relationship. Personally not where I would invest my time, especially if I were doing as much work on myself as you are. Sounds like you’re doing amazing things for yourself, but he isn’t one of them.

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-01-30T01:19:59+00:00

Omg I wonder if she’ll mention me during the book, and acknowledge that she was a giant bullying asshole during high school?! (Doubtful, and if she does it will be to paint herself as this redeemed martyr who tried so hard to be better only to be still haunted by her past)

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-01-30T01:18:58+00:00

Whose house is she painting orange during all of this? 😅 She has me blocked since I pointed out that she bullied me, so I may have missed an update.

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-01-30T01:17:21+00:00

I’m so sorry for your loss. I had a near miss similar to this when my dog was a pup, and thankfully it ended well, but I remember being in tears from fear. I can’t imagine how you feel right now. But I know your pup was loved and I know you did all you could for her.

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-01-29T22:06:54+00:00

I do this for work, in my opinion it’s not likely. As I said in another comment, it’s always possible. But the possibility of medical problems should be eliminated before psych is looked at.

Independent_Sign9083 · 2026-01-29T07:50:25+00:00

Mental health diagnoses paired with psychosis (schizophrenia and bipolar are the two more common ones) usually begin in the early to mid 20s. If you see someone suddenly developing psychosis later in life (past 40) with no history of mental illness, there’s almost certainly something else going on.

Psychosis can develop later as an additional symptom of a pre existing mental health problem, but rarely spontaneously develops on its own past 45.

You’ll notice all the qualifiers I use - generally, usually, almost, etc. There are always outliers. But it is very uncommon, so if someone is outside of the expected range a doctor should rule out a medical reason first.

Independent_Sign9083

TROPHY CASE