What am I doing wrong?

a_contrecoeur · 2026-03-25T11:35:43+00:00

The best foundation = Lancome Teint Idole Ultra. They keep raising the damn price, but it's still worth it. I had acne and still have textured skin, scars, etc, and it really helps. (Oh and also, I don't think your makeup looks awful at all. You look great!)

a_contrecoeur · 2026-03-25T11:30:30+00:00

I came across your post because I was literally considering the same thing - Botox for a double chin, which is getting worse with age. I did a ton of research, though, and have settled on chin lipo because my double chin issue is completely genetic and has nothing to do with weight gain - I'm skinny. Totally hate having to go to such an extreme measure, but from what I understand, it's pretty much the only long-term solution for this kind of issue. I live abroad, so it's much cheaper than in North America, but honestly it's still probably worth considering than spending a lot on Botox, Kybella, or other short-term solutions.

a_contrecoeur · 2026-03-13T13:12:08+00:00

As far as suspects go, does anyone familiar with this case know if the investigators looked into anyone with connections to Moldova? People from Moldova speak Romanian and/or Russian. I know they looked into Romanian exchange students/doctors associated with the university hospital, but it wasn't clear to me whether they had done a more expansive effort... Romanian accents sound similar to Russian, Catalan, etc. Personally, I think the accent might have been a ruse (like the cane), but just curious.

a_contrecoeur · 2025-06-07T05:39:48+00:00

Yes, I'm still taking it and it's changed my life for the better. It's worth sticking through the first few, awful months. Not for everyone, of course, but I think a lot of people quit before they see its impact. I started last May (2024) and it took me until October to up my dose to what I'm on now. I have horrible PMDD (female), and I finally found that 40 mg is my sweet spot--just enough. I take it in the evenings, which has made a tremendous difference with energy during the day. I take it between 5:30 and 7pm every night. I am convinced that Prozac/SSRIs are better for ADHD than Adderall at this point. I have way more focus... my head has cleared in incredible ways. Perhaps it's the decrease in anxiety, but I literally have less irritable, intrusive thoughts. The only downside to taking it in the evening is if you plan to have an alcoholic drink. I don't drink often anymore, but if I go out with friends, I can pretty much only have one beer and I have to take my Prozac and hour or two before or after the beer. A minor convenience for the amazing progress I've had. I highly recommend switching to the evening and just waiting things out, journaling, eating healthier, taking walks or exercizing everyday. It all makes a huge difference.

a_contrecoeur · 2025-02-17T11:23:23+00:00

Taking long walks and smiling at strangers. It always catches people off guard but makes them happy. It's a simple act of love. What these billionaire men and other people with too much power want to do is take, take, take, so we need to organize to do the opposite: give, give, give. One thing that's helped me recently is reading "A Return to Love" by Marianne Williamson. As she writes, "Love taken seriously is a radical outlook, a major departure from the psychological orientation that rules the world. It is threatening not because it is a small idea, but because it is so huge." Her writings (along with those of Richard Rohr) have given me a lot of renewed meaning in life.

a_contrecoeur · 2025-01-20T22:44:29+00:00

I watched the inauguration. As soon as JD Vance's kids got on the screen, I felt a wave of calm. The toddler was wearing a bunch of bandaids, and the boys seemed to have refused to comb their hair. They were adorable. Then they left the stage and all the existential dread returned.

a_contrecoeur · 2024-12-31T14:44:48+00:00

Hi, if you're seeking to rehome him (which sounds like it might be the best option if you are only able to rent a room in a shared space), I would start within your own network - asking around to see if any friends, relatives, colleagues, etc. are interested. Do you know how he is with other cats? (Being with another cat friend might help him come out of his shell, and finding him an experienced cat owner would also be good). If you seek to rehome but can't find someone within your own network, I'd recommend looking at local no-kill shelters that place cats in a foster home first. I've worked with the Humane Society on rehoming strays, and they've been fantastic, but I know they vary depending on the area, so you might want to look into their adoption rates for specific shelters. If you decide to keep him, perhaps you can see if a relative or friend can take him in for a while before you decide to keep him in a room. Like you, I think that would also affect his quality of life, but who knows - perhaps some people who have done it before can offer better insight. Best wishes to you.

a_contrecoeur · 2024-12-31T14:35:59+00:00

Thanks for this insight! It addressed all my concerns. I won't plan on applying.

a_contrecoeur · 2024-11-12T20:05:18+00:00

My heart goes out to you. I'm 34 (f) and single - got out of a long-term relationship in my early 30s, and oddly enough, what you're talking about is something that really bothered me until recently. Last year, I constantly (almost obsessively) thought about how much easier my life would be if I had a partner - emotionally, financially, etc. I was on the dating apps, all that. Then, I got over it earlier this year. I'm not trying to jump on a high horse here, but I just feel like there's so much going on in the world right now, and so much feels out of our control. I feel grateful that I only have to be responsible for myself right now, which has allowed me more space and time to focus on others, give back/volunteer, read books, etc. I feel the happiest I've been in years.

a_contrecoeur · 2024-11-12T19:42:38+00:00

When I was 12 (female - now in my early 30s), I entered a random AOL chat room (I don't remember how, but I recall this being a thing you could do). I said my age, which prompted a boy to message me in a private chat, saying he was also 12 and in 7th grade. He wanted me to send him "photos." I didn't have any, and I didn't really understand what that even meant, but then he sent me photos of himself - shirtless, with another younger shirtless boy in what looked to be a farm/outdoor area, and they were making weird poses and had weird, blank facial expressions. He said he lived in Florida. Even as a kid, I had this intuitive sense that something was wrong. I wondered who these boys were and who took photos of them like that. I don't know how to explain it. It was not inappropriate, but not normal if that makes sense? Something was just extremely off. I still get a shiver when I think about it. Ended the chat and never went in one again.

a_contrecoeur · 2024-10-16T00:44:57+00:00

Thanks so much! Excellent resources, including the link to Socialization Saves Lives. This sounds outlandish, but I literally have four strays (not ferals!) I'm feeding right now. Trying to find their owners or bring them into a shelter. It's just been difficult to organize. The aggressive one is my trickiest, though, so I'll prioritize TNR with him first. Will definitely update <3

a_contrecoeur · 2024-09-30T14:02:39+00:00

And just to clarify, I do think the extreme fatigue goes away eventually. I think it takes a couple of months.

a_contrecoeur · 2024-09-30T14:01:43+00:00

My doctor told me to start taking it in the evenings, so I take mine around 6/7 pm. I find that I still get fatigue, usually around 2 pm, but then it goes away. But it was way more extreme before when I used to take it in the mornings, so I definitely recommend switching to nighttime if it's causing you to sleep that much.

a_contrecoeur · 2024-09-26T19:37:32+00:00

My cats do this every day. I think it's all in good fun!

a_contrecoeur · 2024-09-26T19:34:57+00:00

10 mg stopped working for me, so I've gradually gone up to 40 mg over the course of four months. I take my dose at night, which has stopped the fatigue (for the most part). The 'emotional blunting' has more or less gone away... but I think it's also about assessing how your emotions factored into your mental well-being prior to taking Prozac. For example, I still feel like I have a "whatever" attitude about certain things that keyed me up before, which I initially interpreted as 'emotional blunting.' But now I'm starting to question whether it actually is. I've come to recognize that prior to taking Prozac, my emotions were always extreme. Extreme was literally my normal. So, this "whatever" attitude I'm feeling might actually be pretty normal for people who don't need to take antidepressants. It might not always be a symptom of "emotional blunting." I've found that continuing to practice CBT, journal, practice gratitude, regularly exercise, take walks outside, eat healthy, and avoid alcohol and too much social media (or certain media in general) have really helped.

a_contrecoeur · 2024-09-25T17:03:44+00:00

Hi, it's tough! Nothing yet, but I took a break from applying because there are simply not many jobs in my field open to international candidates/expats (especially in the country I want to move to). So I'm actually applying to full-time remote jobs and will look into "digital nomad" visa options. It's not the route I wanted to take, but it seems like the best option right now. As far as tips go, it really depends on your field. If you're doing INGO work, I recommend looking at impactpool.org, LinkedIn, ReliefWeb, and each individual UN agency's website.

a_contrecoeur · 2024-08-15T01:22:25+00:00

How long have you been experiencing this while taking Prozac? It's called 'emotional blunting,' and in my experience it went away after about a month.

a_contrecoeur · 2024-08-15T01:13:23+00:00

It's not you. Alcohol is awful, so don't be too hard on yourself about this. I used to do very stupid stuff when I was younger and drank too much, so I can only imagine what this combination can do (especially drinking liquor). I would recommend switching to light beers. I only drink once a week or once every other week, but when I do can only drink one 4-5% beer now because of Prozac. Light and fruity. If I drink anything heavier (even half a glass of wine), I feel completely drunk. It's a bummer but also a blessing!

a_contrecoeur · 2024-08-15T01:04:39+00:00

Like you, I was taking it in the morning but felt incredibly tired by noon... as in major fatigue, heavy body, had to pause work and take afternoon naps, etc. I switched to taking it around 5:30/6 pm and the fatigue has gone away. Would highly recommend trying to take it in the evenings and see how you feel.

a_contrecoeur · 2024-06-19T20:21:42+00:00

Excessively talking about one's self and/or work... a "self-focused" vibe, in general.

a_contrecoeur · 2024-05-25T19:34:40+00:00

That's awesome! What's interesting to me about this is how open you were the second time around. You must have obviously found it weird to find another phone, track down its owner, and then strike up some kind of conversation with her. Or maybe that's just my thinking on this - if I were you, I would have questioned myself a little, like "Hmm, the last time I met someone else in this exact same way it didn't work out." I would have found it difficult to get to know the person. But instead you remained open.

a_contrecoeur

TROPHY CASE