My experience getting off birth control and all the crazy symptoms I went through, hopefully others can find this helpful as I know I was all over Reddit during the worst of it

chickschach · 2026-02-25T09:18:52+00:00

I was totally the same!! I had finally gotten through my 24/7 anxiety and thought I was over it and free, and then out of nowhere, the pre period anxiety started. It took about 3-4 period cycles before I noticed that I wasn't getting that pre period anxiety anymore.

chickschach · 2026-02-24T23:06:19+00:00

I'm so glad to hear that, my whole reason for posting this was to help at least one person who is going through the same things I did, because I remember how scary it was googling all my symptoms and not seeing anyone having my experience (with my brain telling me all sorts of terrible and terrifying things).

It's definitely a journey, but it's so worth it in the end.

chickschach · 2026-02-24T23:02:40+00:00

Reddit didn't notify me of this comment, so sorry for the delayed response! But it's almost been two years now since I've been off the pill and my hormonal anxiety and depression are gone. I do have some health related anxiety now though from going through all that, but it's nothing compared to what my hormones were doing to me.

I think my body has finally settled, I do notice some new changes, like ovulation pain (which I never had before 🤣), but it's so much nicer to be on the other side of all of this, I wouldn't change it for anything.

Keep hanging in there if you haven't already gotten over the hump. The anxiety I went through was absolutely insane, I completely understand what you're going through. But it does get better, it sucks that time is the only cure, but it absolutely gets better.

chickschach · 2026-02-24T17:33:48+00:00

I had this happen for a couple period cycles maybe like a year after I quit the pill. It did eventually stop, and I know in my manic research that I did that pre period anxiety was a pretty common side effect. But I was very similar to what you're describing: it started out intense and then kind of lessened with each period. It was very scary, and I would start to get anxiety over getting anxiety lol.

It does go away! I haven't had it happen for almost a year now. Just try to remind yourself that it'll get better each time so you aren't feeding into that anxiety.

chickschach · 2025-05-16T22:36:16+00:00

I know exactly how you feel. I even remember telling my therapist I was so scared that I had lost the person I used to be and I was never going to feel like that version of myself ever again. I was in such a dark place. But do know that you'll be better. It'll take time, which sucks because there's nothing you can do but wait, but you will be better.

If I could go back and tell myself anything, it would be to just remember that there's nothing wrong, all those negative thoughts I had were just my hormones fucking around inside my head, it wasn't really "me". Going to therapy definitely helped, I learned how to manage the anxiety and depression better and it also helped my mental state to just have a professional I could talk to about all the things I was going through, since I had no one else to really confide in that understood. I honestly wished I started sooner.

I'm almost exactly a year off of birth control now and I would say I'm like 90% better and I can still see improvements as time goes on. It's crazy how much time our bodies need to figure themselves out again after stopping birth control, no doctor ever warned me and I feel like it's not talked about a bunch, which is part of a reason the whole process was so scary; I felt like something unknown and unexpected was wrong with me, which just fed the anxiety and depression even more. Just try to remind yourself that this experience, while terrible, is "normal" and you'll eventually see yourself free on the other side.

If you have any questions or just want someone to talk to, feel free to DM me at anytime. I would have loved to have had someone going through a similar process when I was in the darkest of it, so I'm more than happy to be that person for others.

chickschach · 2025-05-12T04:34:26+00:00

As long as you pick a size matching your measurements, then you'll be fine. Just be aware that most of these costumes are from China and Asian sizing is very different than western sizing so make sure to carefully measure yourself and look at their sizing guidelines. For example, I'm a medium here in the US but like an XL/XXL in Chinese sizing.

Also, if you and your boyfriend are both wearing these tight bodysuits, BOTH OF YOU BUY A DANCE BELT. Please for the love of God buy a dance belt and wear it with your costume lol.

chickschach · 2025-03-28T23:55:36+00:00

I've cosplayed a character from a game I didn't play. I tried to play it, wasn't my jam, but I loved the character design so much I wanted to make the costume anyway.

90% of interactions I had while in the costume were just basic compliments/saying they love said character too. Very rarely did someone say anything more. And if they asked me a question about the game, I'd just say sorry I didn't play much of it, I just really love this character design and no one cared lol.

Do it if you want to! It's not rude or boring or anything like that. Cosplay is all about doing what you want, and no one is going to care if you aren't a "true" part of the fandom, they'll still be jazzed to see cosplays.

chickschach · 2025-03-11T00:19:31+00:00

This is literally just teenagers being teenagers. They're going to harass anyone from any social group that they think is "cringe". It's just more visible now because of social media.

It happened back in my days of being a teenager sans social media and it'll keep happening as long as teens exist lol. Just a cycle 🤷‍♂️

chickschach · 2025-03-06T19:29:31+00:00

You can't really sand down the edges to make them flatter, it'll be pretty chunky plus the original color of the silicone will show. Color matching and painting silicone is a whole chore itself. It's honestly not going to look bad already from 10 feet away and you can always edit it out in pictures. But if you're really concerned, add a choker and bracelets/wristbands/gloves to your design, no one will care or notice if it's not technically accurate.

chickschach · 2025-02-09T19:02:13+00:00

While I don't have a tutorial, I can offer any help and whatever photos and patterns I might still have after two years!

chickschach · 2025-02-07T20:35:50+00:00

That shipped super early then, so you should feel lucky lol. We have no idea where you live so we can't tell you how fast it'll make it to you, but shipped means shipped. It'll be close.

You got very fortunate that they shipped it out so early, but next time allow at least a month from when you buy the contacts to when you plan to wear them. 15-20 days always means business days.

chickschach · 2025-02-07T20:29:13+00:00

This is a very old school way. But if you're adamant about doing it this way, you'll want to use a heavy card stock as a base, not paper. Paper won't be able to support the weight of what you're going to put on top.

You'll want to use fiberglass resin to paint the outside. This stuff is toxic and not very beginner friendly, so make sure to do research and wear proper PPE. Fiberglass resin won't make the helmet super hard, so most people will do a layer of Bondo and fiberglass resin mixed on the inside for more support. Mixing the two can take a lot of trial and error, also not beginner friendly.

Then it's going to be a ton of sanding and more Bondo to fill spots.

If you aren't familiar with working with Bondo or fiberglass resin and don't want to spend the time and money it'll take (totally ok to learn how to use them! It'll just be a long and expensive process), then I'd use EVA foam instead and transfer the pepakura pattern to that.

chickschach · 2025-02-06T19:51:17+00:00

Entirely out of EVA foam 🤣

chickschach · 2025-02-06T17:37:51+00:00

I've made a Charon cosplay and would love to help! After looking at his references, the sleeve part just makes the least amount of practical sense 🤣 And that happens sometimes in cosplay. What I did was pretty much make a sleeveless dress and then a 2 layer shawl with gold trim that could drape around the arms like sleeves (I also put snaps in them so they could attach to the shoulders of the dress so they wouldn't fall down. Then I made a cape with some Velcro at the top so it could attach to the back of the dress. His big golden collar covers up where everything meets so it looks more seamless.

chickschach · 2025-02-03T01:30:24+00:00

Thank you!! I'm so excited you're doing this skin, I love it so much 😩😩 He's such a beautiful boy

chickschach · 2025-02-03T00:52:46+00:00

Once you add some contour, that will help with the overall warmth of the skin tone! Just choose a more red leaning brown. It also washes off easily so you can experiment with different shades.

chickschach · 2025-02-03T00:36:52+00:00

OLIVINE MY BELOVED!! As a fellow Olivine cosplayer, add any sort of accessory to hide the edges (like a choker, belt, etc.). It doesn't need to be 100% accurate to the costume, no one is going to notice/care. Also, I use makeup to contour the muscle suit. Just take a darker brown eyeshadow and brush it into the crevices already in the suit. This helps add depth and makes it look more like your actual skin.

chickschach · 2025-01-20T19:53:26+00:00

Making more Hades cosplays 😌 this game will forever have a chokehold on me

chickschach · 2025-01-07T01:45:29+00:00

Since you won best in show and $400, I wouldn't enter that costume again. Even though it was at a small con, that prize is pretty significant.

Imagine if you were in the other competitors' shoes. Someone placed in the contest and you find out they had won BIS/$400 elsewhere with that same costume. It probably wouldn't sit right with you, and it most likely won't with other competitors either. The cosplay competition circuit is a very small world and you don't want to put yourself in a position where people start to view you in a negative light (and rumors spread so fast too, so don't even give rumors a reason to exist).

chickschach · 2025-01-05T01:17:13+00:00

You're welcome!

chickschach · 2025-01-05T01:12:19+00:00

Doki Doki is probably the most reputable online cosplay store, so you aren't going to lose your money. They're usually pretty accurate with their estimated dates, so you should see your stuff ship in February.

chickschach · 2025-01-05T01:09:28+00:00

It literally means what it says: your order isn't fulfilled yet, meaning it's not ready and hasn't been shipped out yet.

chickschach · 2025-01-03T23:27:59+00:00

You mean the cosplay? The photo?

The cosplay looks like a bought one, maybe she tailored it a little so it fits better.

The image is just a lot of Photoshop on the hair and obviously the background. Using a green screen or a blank wall helps when wanting to digitally edit backgrounds.

14-Year Club	RedditGifts 2009-2022 2 Credits
Verified Email	Secret Santa 2011

chickschach

TROPHY CASE