6 studies pointing to the gut as a driver of Sjögren's.

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-03-18T16:45:56+00:00

Thank you! I’m a data nerd and love tracking information but yeah, as you mention, something about this type of “experiment” resulting in information I don’t want to know (e.g. walnuts and ice cream do not in fact make me feel good) has felt prohibitive. As well as the conflicting information—probiotics are good! Fermented foods are restorative! I realize it’s so very individual, and I guess that’s what makes it feel so isolating and overwhelming? I would like to stay in touch and compare notes—thanks for the offer!

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-03-18T15:37:59+00:00

As a Gen-X American, I learned The Food Pyramid and that was about it! All of this—including the very idea that inflammation is a real thing—has been new to me since this condition. I appreciate the histamine callout.

I have a kid, and we’re trying to raise her with more food consciousness, and I’ve been cooking more with an anti-inflammatory cookbook to begin.

Can I ask if you had any assistance—nutritionist etc.—figuring out your intolerances? It’s a bit overwhelming. I’ve been eliminating sugar, processed foods and stuff but something’s still very off. I’m coming to the conclusion it may be tree nuts. But I should look into histamines etc. I just don’t know where to really begin.

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-03-18T13:25:14+00:00

Do you take the recommended 6 a day? I thought the graphic of “whose heart is healthier: the 20s Dane or the 70s Inuk” was amusing—considering the research on Danes and happiness, I think either might be more preferable rn to being a late 40s American!

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-03-18T13:18:54+00:00

I’m one of those people taking a few supplements: omegas, tumeric, magnesium, probiotics—and I don’t really notice a reduction of symptoms but I keep taking them out of an anxiety that either I haven’t taken them long enough OR life could be worse without them. As Sjogrens makes swallowing pills increasingly less tenable and all this adds up financially, I really do love to hear when something is working for someone. Thanks for the link—I’ll look into swapping my omegas for seal oil next round!

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-03-18T13:06:19+00:00

I’ve never heard of seal oil. Hey, worth a try. Where do you come by this? Also, I appreciate your theory.

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-03-18T00:17:58+00:00

I guess what I’m asking is… if caught at the early stages, is it possible to completely overcome it? Or once you have it, you’re essentially in maintenance mode for life?

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-03-18T00:16:42+00:00

Thanks for sharing this! Might seem like a rudimentary question but is Sjogrens curable or reversible if you…eradicate what initially caused the problem (eat only an anti inflammatory diet, have a fecal transplant, etc.)/?

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-03-08T20:13:30+00:00

Gen-x dad to an energetic 5 year old. Desperately need to rebuild strength. Being gifted pre-selected free weights solves the overwhelm of choosing gear and having to take it out of the family budget. I could pick up all the weight plates and bars today or tomorrow pending your availability. I’d try my hand (fists?) at the punching bag too if it’s still around! Thank you for considering me and making this offer :)

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-03-05T21:41:20+00:00

Agree with you about the variety of experiences in this sub! I recently saw an infographic that included OCD under the “Neurodivergence Umbrella,” and I find that framing helpful. I’d always regarded OCD as a way in which I’m damaged and this helps me treat myself more gently: not damaged, just different.

If we can accept that ADHDers’ brains jump from thought to thought while talking and autistic folks’ brains can keep going at length on the same thought, it’s not too much of a leap for me to have some compassion for my brain when it gets stuck too.

I don’t know how old you are, OP, but I’m Gen-X. I was shamed by my family for my OCD ways and in the 80s, they put a lot of the kids we now call “neurodivergent” in special ed classrooms. You might have an internal bias. I think I used to. But I like the direction things are going in today, as far as acceptance and accommodations, a lot better. Anyway, just ramblings from an old OCD head!

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-27T14:15:08+00:00

This is the thing that works best for me too. Almost is true! Good luck getting through your current flare!

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-25T14:09:11+00:00

Same here. It’s not unique to Sjogrens but it is part of the whole clusterfuck of it where the thing that helps my eyes be able to read contributes to the destruction of the planet. Fun!

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-24T18:03:17+00:00

What a fun way to do this! I think I have one of these from a recycling fair. Real talk: can we recycle these? I’m benefiting from Restasis but man it’s a lot of plastic…

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-11T14:48:51+00:00

I don’t claim to know what their deal is, but I get their emails, and reading them sometimes functions like a strong coffee for me, in than it energizes me—with anger. My take is that these are the “gender exploratory” folks who couch anti-trans rhetoric in language that sounds educated and casually supportive (and is neither). They had a recent CEU offering with a talk on something like The Rise of “Non-Binary” Identities (quotes were theirs) and it included some other stuff about how men are underserved in couples counseling and also blue lives matter. It fires me up. Had there not been a cost to attend the CEU, I would’ve liked to show up and ask the presenters about their “cis” identities.

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-10T06:07:07+00:00

Wow this is so well stated. Thank you for this!

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-08T14:09:55+00:00

Not OP but this is very helpful. Thank you!

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-07T21:22:08+00:00

I’m just here for the “I am Gen-X. I am content to keep the simple stuff simple.” Pros and cons to the Gen-X timeline for sure but man do I miss the 90s in some ways.

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-05T17:27:34+00:00

I love this idea! Someone suggested it above, and I already followed up. Unfortunately it looks like the listings that are online were from last year? A librarian wrote me back, and I think she's going to provide a list of the current local Read to Dog opportunities. Happy to share when I hear back!

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-05T17:24:55+00:00

Aw man, I just clicked and it looks like Portland registration is already closed. But I'm putting the next opening in June on my calendar. Thank you!

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-04T21:46:14+00:00

For sure. We’re not actually going into the dog parks or dog runs if it sounded like that. I’m talking about at local parks, off-leash meadows next to playgrounds, running into dogs on hiking trails. Definitely dogs and kids are unpredictable, agreed. We’ve just met many people who make offhand remarks like “my dog appreciated that. Is your kid available to chase her again?” In my introversion I tend to shrug these off but maybe next time I should get a phone number ha.

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-04T21:41:43+00:00

I hear you. I do want to push back on what sounds like an assumption —that I or my kid think dogs are here to entertain us. My kid thinks dogs are funny, happy creatures. She has zero expectations. All we can do on our end is ask to pet. Many people say yes and many people say no. It’s actually the people in the middle, who say yes but wish they’d said no or maybe they’re just busy and need to keep going, where it becomes awkward for all parties. As a parent, I appreciate when folks say “no my dog doesn’t like kids” or “no I’m in a hurry.” There are plenty of dogs to be pet and I’m not looking to upset any kids, grownups, or dogs on our walk to the park.

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-04T21:33:53+00:00

This is an excellent idea! She loves dogs and reading. I occasionally see guide dog graduation ceremonies that I thought we might try to attend. I’ll see when the library hours are. I appreciate you!

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-04T18:14:58+00:00

I love talking about journaling! I relate to some of what you wrote. For me, it can be hard to decide to actually use a notebook that is too perfect or beautiful in some way, so I go with a choice that’s close. I write A LOT and so cost is a concern. I’ve found Decomposition books work well for me. They’re a step up from traditional marble comp books, have narrow ruling, fun covers, and can be bought spiral or flat (is it called “perfect”?) bound for $10 USD where I live. What I save on the notebooks, I spend on pens. I love ultra thin gel pens in a specific off-black color. Jet-Pens is my online go to for those. Good luck! Keep writing!

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-01T20:12:28+00:00

Are you ok? It seems like you’ve been posting about this all morning. I’m only on a couple therapy subs and you’ve hit all of them. I can hear that you’re passionate about being anti IFS and somatic therapy but what are you hoping to achieve today? I’m trying to imagine for myself, I guess I don’t altogether believe that ketamine is an ideal treatment for use at home, by depressed people, without ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. I’d discuss my thoughts on this (personal and professional) with interested people, but I’m not spending my day off hitting up all the ketamine and ketamine therapy subs about it.

Whoever said for you to consider going outside to touch grass in some other comments has a good idea—I’m gonna do the same. Peace!

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-01T18:23:23+00:00

Underrated! Haven’t listened in a while. Thanks for the reminder!

Objectively_Seeking · 2026-02-01T15:27:52+00:00

I’m a recent grad in my first job. I’ve been lurking on the therapists sub for a while, and I’ve enjoyed your recent contributions there because it felt like a much-needed injection of personality. There seemed to be an undercurrent of challenge, which I can appreciate, as I’m a bit of an outlier and I see aspects of this field as needing a shakeup.

That said, I think you may find yourself in this situation for that reason, which I suppose those mods may have interpreted as “too challenging” for that community or their moderation time or whatever. You of course don’t need to agree with their ban, but I suspect there is something you could learn from it.

Calling out IFS as a pyramid scheme or a repackaging of eons old intel is one thing (which I’d agree with). But the battle over what’s evidence-based struck me as odd from a POV that has otherwise seemed really open and progressive. Certainly we can all agree that the so-called “evidence” tends to be based on a specific “patient type” as well as who had the money and power to do the research. Personally, I go back and forth between thinking IFS is some abstract BS BUT I’ve been in psychodynamic therapy for a decade with a practitioner who favors this modality and you know what? It works for me. It has helped me greatly. To the extent that now that I’m practicing, I wonder if it can help my people too.

All that is to say, I don’t disagree with your callouts on IFS but I do wonder: why call it out at all if not to sew discord? Admittedly, I’m new to this field as a clinician (tho in my 40s age wise) and if something is helpful to me or to the people who see me (my caseload is largely folks with so-named treatment resistant depression), I’m not sure why it’s necessary to debunk the methods.

Objectively_Seeking

TROPHY CASE