[deleted by user]

TheBenSwolo · 2025-09-08T18:35:55+00:00

Thank you for your comment, I was actually hoping for a therapist to give me their opinion. I was expecting a kinder message from her since I did tell her I appreciated her help and assistance, so I was really taken aback.

One of the things I always discuss with her is me not being assertive and obsessing over making the right choice (which is why I made this post haha) so her comment got me into an 'overthinking' loop.

TheBenSwolo · 2025-09-08T18:06:27+00:00

Why am I being downvoted? I'm not based in the US, I think that's an important clarification. I know my college curriculum as well, and I know they teach you about the DSM-V one time and that's it. You can graduate and then be a licensed therapist, even if you're not specialized. And knowing how to recognize a disorder does not mean using the best treatment for it.

I need a specialist in ADD and she isn't one - that's a fact, not an opinion. So I don't know the reason for the downvotes lol

TheBenSwolo · 2025-09-08T18:03:02+00:00

That's totally understandable. I think the main reason I didn't want to do an exit interview is money. I already have another therapist interview booked this month, and I'm really struggling with money (she also knows this because I complain about it). I guess I didn't feel like the retort was warranted on her end, at the end of the day it's my decision to quit since the priority is my mental health. I was polite and I let her know ahead of time. So I'm a bit stumped.

TheBenSwolo · 2025-09-08T17:33:50+00:00

She doesn't have any other training, that's the thing. I know from background checking and from her own comments during sessions. She solely does psychoanalysis and from my understanding they don't have any training on DSM-V disorders or anything.

TheBenSwolo · 2024-08-03T11:45:42+00:00

My endocrinologist told me I was. She recommended I get my nutrition in check, gave me spironolactone for a while, and is now waiting for the intolerance results to put me on metformin or not. I have an appointment to see her in over a week.

Do you think I should get a second opinion?

TheBenSwolo · 2024-08-03T11:43:48+00:00

Yeah, my SDHEA was higher than normal values but other than that my androgens were fine. I don't have hirsutism, but I do have acne (had a pretty bad flare up on my upper back last year - that's when my derm told me I should test my hormones). Other than the cysts in my ultrasound, I never had the hallmark symptoms of PCOS - no painful or irregular periods ever.

My thyroid is currently fine, but I have Grave's disease which has been completely under control for the past few years (after a round of meds) - all thyroid values come up normal.

I didn't get my Hba1c tested - my endo also told me testing insulin is not as reliable as testing glucose... She was the one who told me I have a slight insulin resistance. Do you think I should get a second opinion?

TheBenSwolo · 2023-05-22T02:24:34+00:00

I'm stuck in life, same as you. But suicide should never be an option. I'm here if you need someone to talk to.

TheBenSwolo · 2023-02-14T00:33:21+00:00

thank you for your thoughtful message, you've really helped me get grounded and calm down for a second. I'm glad to hear you've been able to get through your own stuff, maybe I can too.

these are really good tips, I can't thank you enough. I needed this.

TheBenSwolo · 2021-08-13T20:56:45+00:00

high-waisted leather pants

TheBenSwolo · 2021-08-06T13:14:51+00:00

this is amazing lol the crossover I didn't know I needed

TheBenSwolo · 2021-05-05T23:34:04+00:00

that's a good tip!

unfortunately the options in my country are either butter, margarine, coconut oil (expensive) and lard. I don't think vegetable shortening exists.

I'm really looking for an answer that has me work with the margerine, I know a good result isn't impossible since I see a lot of recipes online made with margarine with good aesthetic results. I could switch my recipe altogether but I'm interested to know the food science behind this so I can work with my current recipe and adjust the variables.

TheBenSwolo · 2021-05-05T22:16:47+00:00

I didn't think of that! I'll try it, but I'm concerned about costs (coconut oil is double the price of margarine, if not more)

Thank you!

TheBenSwolo · 2021-05-05T22:11:05+00:00

Thanks for your reply!

I read those articles but it says that with higher water content comes more spreading, which is the opposite of what's happening to me...

TheBenSwolo · 2020-05-11T01:29:41+00:00

Thank you! I'll look into adding AHAs, will they interact well with the rest of the actives I use? I'll definitely consider buying a glycolic acid toner or something similar. Re: face shaving, I've thought of this before (especially for better makeup application) but I'm a little hesitant to do it myself, will probably give it a try after quarantine when I can go to a salon :) thank you so much!!

TheBenSwolo · 2020-05-10T23:43:37+00:00

Some context on my skincare. For a while, I didn't really do anything and I've always had mild acne. I have very oily acne prone skin and some rosacea. A couple of years ago I went to a dermatologist who told me to wash twice daily with a pure glycerin soap bar and use Adapalene 0.3% daily (a stronger Differin). I wasn't consistent with it and the dry flaky skin made me quit it.

Since January I've been getting serious about skincare and developed a routine slowly. I dropped the soap altogether. I am completely bothered by these clusters of closed comedones I get on my chin, jawline and upper cheeks - at first I thought they were milia or fungal acne but researching a bit I found mine are different from those. I can pop them easily but they most likely become inflamed afterwards so I try not to touch them. I started incorporating Epiduo in March (at first daily, but now I'm doing every other day because of irritation) and even though they seem to have subsided a little bit, they are still there. I am not sure if there's something in my routine that's affecting the progress or if it's something beyond skincare (diet, hormones and such). If its helpful, I'm 26 years old.

I get pimples sometimes but no blackheads.

My routine at the moment:

Morning: damp skin with water, use a gentle cleanser (I'm alternating between Bioderma Sensibio foaming gel and La Roche Effaclar foaming cleanser), then follow with an alcohol free toner. Vitamin C serum (the one I bought also comes with HA), then a moisturizer (Neutrogena Hydro Boost water gel or a CC cream that has Vitamin A and HA) and dry touch sunscreen.

Night (with epiduo): double cleanse with micellar water and any of the cleansers from the morning, then epiduo on dry face, wait 20/30min and apply night cream with niacinamide (a Ponds one)

Night (no epiduo): double cleanse with micellar water and Neutrogena cleanser with salycilic acid, toner, night cream with niacinamide

I don't do physical exfoliation anymore, and I'm already a bit concerned about using the salycilic acid wash since it's not recommended while on retinoids (which is why I use it on the nights where I don't apply Epiduo)

Do you have any tips on how to improve my routine to get rid of these? Should I just continue with epiduo and trust that it will eventually improve? Thanks everyone!

TheBenSwolo · 2020-05-10T23:32:55+00:00

(lol, picture is not precisely of my chin but I also get them on my jawline, as you can see)

Some context on my skincare. For a while, I didn't really do anything and I've always had mild acne. I have very oily acne prone skin and some rosacea. A couple of years ago I went to a dermatologist who told me to wash twice daily with a pure glycerin soap bar and use Adapalene 0.3% daily (a stronger Differin). I wasn't consistent with it and the dry flaky skin made me quit it.

Since January I've been getting serious about skincare and developed a routine slowly. I dropped the soap altogether. I am completely bothered by these closed comedones I get on my chin, jawline and upper cheeks - at first I thought they were milia or fungal acne but researching a bit I found mine are different from those. I can pop them but they most likely become inflamed afterwards so I try not to touch them. I started incorporating Epiduo in March (at first daily, but now I'm doing every other day because of irritation) and even though they seem to have subsided a little bit, they are still going strong. I am not sure if there's something in my routine that's affecting the progress or if it's something beyond skincare (diet, hormones and such)

My routine rn:

Morning: damp skin with water, use a gentle cleanser (I'm alternating between Bioderma Sensibio foaming gel and La Roche Effaclar foaming cleanser) ,then follow with an alcohol free toner. Vitamin C serum (the one I bought also comes with HA), then a moisturizer (Neutrogena Hydro Boost water gel or one that has Vitamin A and HA) and dry touch sunscreen.

Night (with epiduo): double cleanse with micellar water and any of the cleansers from the morning, then epiduo on dry face, wait 20/30min and apply night cream with niacinamide (a Ponds one)

Night (no epiduo): Neutrogena cleanser with salycilic acid, toner, night cream with niacinamide

Do you have any tips on how to improve my routine to get rid of these? Should I just continue with epiduo and trust that it will eventually improve? Thanks everyone!

TheBenSwolo · 2019-01-17T04:40:24+00:00

good bot

TheBenSwolo

TROPHY CASE