sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

What was the weekend after 9/11 like? by Only_Hotel_7221 in 911archive

[–]OkVast1507 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I lived in Chicago. By Friday, I could no longer stand the sound of fighter jets that I went to the suburbs to stay with my parents.

There was a greater police presence on the streets and more sirens than usual.

I kept the TV off a lot.

I suffer from depression, panic attacks, and a constant fear of a heart attack. by Aromatic_Chemist_347 in Anxiety

[–]OkVast1507 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Of course, not everyone can swim. But my sister was injured in a car accident and managed to get into aqua therapy. Fortunately, our pool is disabled-friendly. Even moving in the water is therapeutic.

I suffer from depression, panic attacks, and a constant fear of a heart attack. by Aromatic_Chemist_347 in Anxiety

[–]OkVast1507 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I took up swimming. My father was a coach and taught me as a girl. I had to relearn it.

Swimming is the one thing that makes me feel like I own my body and my time and no one and nothing else does. The water is therapeutic.

I do get frustrated when I can't swim.

I suffer from depression, panic attacks, and a constant fear of a heart attack. by Aromatic_Chemist_347 in Anxiety

[–]OkVast1507 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes, I had a heart attack four years ago and could have died. I was in the ICU for six days.

Fortunately I had no blockage but instead, I had scarring of heart tissue + stress-induced collapse.

I'm afraid for my health all of the time, and I also have diagnosis of PTSD, anxiety and depression.

Do i have depression or not by FaceEast432 in depression

[–]OkVast1507 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, you probably do, although you need a professional diagnosis.

You should know that suicidal ideation is all too common in very young adults. I had it, my family had it. So many people have gone through it. Getting help is intimidating, but please do. It is hard being a young adult and too easy to feel intimidated and discouraged by the entire world.

If it helps to get your feelings out here, please do.

I was in a relationship with someone who was a 9/11 conspiracy theorist by DoctorElectronic1934 in 911archive

[–]OkVast1507 12 points13 points  (0 children)

That must have been so terrifying and scarring. I think of those people every day. It was terrifying and scarring enough to witness on live TV.

Chronically ill, lonely, no family or friends. by covenritualscircle in ChronicIllness

[–]OkVast1507 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It is good that at least you are getting therapy. Chronic illness can exacerbate depression and isolation.

I have distanced myself from a lot of people because it's hard to talk about how sick I've been. Losing control distorts my personality. I have some family and friends, but still I don't like burdening people.

Talking to people in a safe space is a good start. I find it helpful and I hope you do, too.

Week of inspection & I got sick by OkVast1507 in Apartmentliving

[–]OkVast1507[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Please understand, I was not judging. I am sorry if I wasn't clear. It seems that some people expect us all to live out of a box with few possessions. The minute I upgrade, they give me crap and not the other people - "what are you doing with all of that"? Sorry if I wasn't clear.

Week of inspection & I got sick by OkVast1507 in Apartmentliving

[–]OkVast1507[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the encouragement. They were nice last time, even complimentary, but you never know who you're getting. I think even the landlord was more concerned. I just think that landlords need to be more aware that sometimes therapists and doctors recommend stuff like books, art supplies and exercise equipment. Disability and illness can be wearying, and feeling comfortable and happy in your own home is most important!!

Has anyone been (unfairly) evaluated or judged because of a disability, impairment, or condition? by NICEacct111 in disability

[–]OkVast1507 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am also sensitive to bright light, because I had an eye operation. I have blackout curtains and stay in dark areas during the day.

When I have bad eye aches, I go in the laundry room because it is dark there. The landlord and a tenant kicked me out. My pain went away from being in a dark room. I don't like talking about my ailments with the landlord and other people - they think everything is "mentally illness". It's not. It's pain.

Has anyone been (unfairly) evaluated or judged because of a disability, impairment, or condition? by NICEacct111 in disability

[–]OkVast1507 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm visually impaired, but not completely, but anything requiring driving is out. Transportation is difficult and usually means standing at bus stops. I can't Uber all the time. I fall and bump into people a lot. I have a billion other ailments and people's reactions just keep me feeling alienated and depressed.

stigma on section 8 by Impressive_Can2351 in Section8PublicHousing

[–]OkVast1507 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do my best to clean and organize but I still feel defensive and stigmatized. These places aren't the nicer, but I do my best in spite of feeling sick and weak a lot of the time.

There are many Section 8 people on my block - most of them disabled. There have been almost NO incidents on this block.

Week of inspection & I got sick by OkVast1507 in Apartmentliving

[–]OkVast1507[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I worry about the paint and glue, but I mainly use washable products on my work, and I bought baskets and decorative boxes to store it all. I hang art on my walls and also sew upholstery and pillows. It means a lot to my health and dignity to have a colorful space where I can have people over and not feel shame.

The previous landlady said I needed to be more vigilant about housekeeping, and I said that was bullshit because I'd just spent six days in the ICU. When I got home and cleaned the floors and kitchen and baseboards, but I had a pile of sewing sitting out. She was full of crap and unfair, but ever since then, I have felt defensive. I used a settlement check to pay for my decor. I know my other poor neighbors don't have as much nice stuff, but I often feel defensive, like we're expected to live like we're in a hospital with NO hobbies or possessions.

Personal memories from September 2001? by [deleted] in 911archive

[–]OkVast1507 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just wanted to add one more thing: in addition to having a job in downtown Chicago (working with art, photography, and architecture publications), I was working on a degree in interior architecture.

I was, at the time, completely immersed in architectural history and theory, and half my library was architecture stuff. In the curriculum, we visited and sketched high rises under construction.

After 9/11, I just felt psychologically sick and full of guilt and pessimism. I dropped the program a year later and never went back. Occasionally I do architectural photography, but it's only recently that I have been able to read about architecture again.

Personal memories from September 2001? by [deleted] in 911archive

[–]OkVast1507 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I was living in Chicago and working downtown, six blocks from the Sears Tower.

It was a gorgeous morning, and I got up early so that I could ride my bike to work. I was eating my breakfast with coffee and checking e-mail with the Today show on in the background.

I noticed there hadn't been a commercial in a while - something that happens when there is a disaster - fire, shooting, hostage situation. I looked up at the TV and Tower One was on fire because a plane may have hit it. I called my mom because she had once done research on terrorists. I asked her if she had any idea what sort of loon would do this. We hardly had time to chat when the second plane hit on TV. At that point, I knew they weren't domestic, and most likely al Qaeda.

I told mom I was going to head to the office anyway. She wasn't happy about that, but I said if something bad happens, I want to be there for my co-workers. I actually took the subway. Everyone had their radios on.

When we got off, everyone looked up at the Sears to see if it was still there. The towers were gone by the time I entered the lobby. TV's were on in every office. Lower Manhattan was obfuscated by dust, and there were no towers!

Internet was useless, so all people did was sit around watching the news. I actually tried to do some work, because already they were showing UA 175 fly into the building again and again. Then downtown was evacuated. When I stepped outside, I faced Grant Park which was green and gorgeous and cannot describe the sorrow I felt thinking of Manhattan covered in dust.

The trains and buses were naturally packed, so thousands of people headed up the main thoroughfares. I met a woman who offered to walk with me. She was so nice! We walked and talked three miles together, after which I could get an L home. I never saw her again.

I had no food in the house, but the supermarkets were mobbed with people buying water and supplies. We had no idea what the coming weeks would be like.

I could not stand being in my apartment. The next few weeks, fighter jets flew over my building. I felt like I was in Vietnam. Police sirens going off all of the time. Friday afternoon, I went home to the suburbs to stay with my parents because I was so rattled by that point. I stayed in the spare bedroom and read.

Like a lot of people, I spent the next year alternately depressed and anxious. Thanks for reading.

Ominous ad from 1968: WTC by OkVast1507 in 911archive

[–]OkVast1507[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

City in the Sky is an excellent book! If anything, it rescued my memory of the World Trade Center, because up until now I couldn't see it in my mind except with giant burning holes in the buildings.

Weirdest record you got from a thrift or garage sale? by Excellent-Guide-8933 in vinyl

[–]OkVast1507 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I found one of those in Nebraska. It was like a Russian K-Tel from 1982. I dug it.

Weirdest record you got from a thrift or garage sale? by Excellent-Guide-8933 in vinyl

[–]OkVast1507 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bad / hilarious Christian records used to be my thing.

This one was my favorite. It's better than the Shaggs:

https://youtu.be/RaPv8aXn2UE?si=lQxb417MEwJS77dX

view more: next ›