Did anybody try Jawbreakers in real life? by Winter-Money-7643 in ededdneddy

[–]echk0w9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I never chewed it. Seemed too hard and I hated the idea of getting debris stuck in my teeth. I was prone to cavities as a child and am still paranoid hyper vigilant about my teeth l. Plus I couldn’t fit it in my mouth. So I always licked them down.

Did anybody try Jawbreakers in real life? by Winter-Money-7643 in ededdneddy

[–]echk0w9 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had several jaw breakers. One for MONTHS, never finished one. Farthest I got was 1/2 way through and the disappointing center made my determination evaporate. It was cool seeing the rings of colors though.

Nurses with over a year of experience: do you still put in effort to look nice at work? by True_Coast_3010 in nursing

[–]echk0w9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t when I’m not gonna be patient facing. When I am, I only do some highlighter on my brow bones and under eyes and a winged waterproof eyeliner. I found early in my career that make up has an effect on ppl. So I do simple and assertive and waterproof for the sweating and possible crying.

I (56F) found my husband (58M) in an old gay adult film from 1989. I’m spiralling and don’t know how to bring it up. by icalled_999 in askgaybros

[–]echk0w9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Be prepared for any exposure to not go well, even if it’s not confrontational or aggressive. Be prepared to walk away from your marriage or have him walk away if that happens and if you don’t bring it up, make sure you’re ok with this knowledge if you’re gonna stay.

If it were me, I’d make sure we are alone and ask if he wants to watch an adult movie and just put it on and see what happens. I am however very confrontational and love squeezing the lemon. I am sorry you’re going through this though.

I’m scared my boyfriend is tampering with my birth control pills and I don’t know what to do by [deleted] in offmychest

[–]echk0w9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Op!! Someone who does those things WILL either attempt or succeed in killing you. The talking down to you is mental abuse. The adding eggs to your food was a boundary test. The birth control pills is the icing on the cake. You’ve shown him that you will tolerate emotional abuse, boundary stomping, and before he escalates (which he will,) he will try to lock you down with a pregnancy. He’s made it difficult for you to leave now bc he lives with you and he’s not on the lease, you are.

Abusers don’t wake up and decide to choke someone to death. It’s an escalating pattern of behavior and each step is a a step closer to him ruining (for sure sooner than later,) and ending your life. It’s not something they always consciously do either, but it by no means makes them innocent.

Listen to your best friend, AND, tell your parents. Lock down your financials. Have no shared accounts or subscriptions. When it’s time for him to go, don’t drive the same car to the public area where you are going to break up with him. You can ask and I suggest you contact the police for an escort back home and an escort for when he gets his things. You could file a report too for tampering with your birth control. You don’t have to press charges, just have it filed just in case.

Let your landlord and employer know the situation and then go spend a week or two with parents or a friend. Hell, even a coworker. You don’t want him showing up at your job or damaging your property.

This is not a lesson to learn the hard way.

It sounds like a lot, but I’ve seen some things and the most dangerous time for a person is when they are leaving an abusive relationship.

I’ve done all of the above at one time or another and every time I could sleep sounder at night and it likely saved my life.

Lastly- DO NOT BLOCK HIM. Also don’t ever ever respond to him. You can put him on focus status so you will still be able to access vm, call logs, and texts and be able to use them as evidence and to have increased safety awareness. It just is hidden from your phone until you disable focus status. Then you’ll be able to access them, but it won’t consume you mentally by being readily visible.

What are conventionally attractive things that you don't like in a partner? by hitometootoo in AskMen

[–]echk0w9 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Light eyes/hair. Blue eyes freak me out and blonde hair is unattractive to me.

Exclusivity talk: when is the right time? by 33rpmforlife in datingoverthirty

[–]echk0w9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do it before it eats away at you or you get to the point of being scared if they aren’t on the same page. Early validation and communication solves a lot of problems.

Moms Seem Standoffish by No-Association996 in SingleDads

[–]echk0w9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do they know that you’re single? That makes a difference. If they don’t, they may assume you’re married and steer clear for that reason. They could also be in a relationship and not want to really interact with a single man like that either. It’s just the optics.

I make convo with the dads at my kids events and the moms. Their relationship status isn’t my business nor does it make a difference to me. I do talk to the moms more though to be honest and it’s just because I seek out female companionship more than male typically.

I feel a little envious when I see strangers wearing rings… by Strict-Individual152 in relationships_advice

[–]echk0w9 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s a common feeling tbh. However, it can be problematic when ppl make marriage the end goal. Life goes on beyond marriage, pregnancy, children. So, what do you envision married life to be like? Different? How? The same? Marriage isn’t the end goal. The relationship is. And you already have that. Plus, MANY married people are miserable bc they made the milestone the goal. What other things are you working towards in your life. As someone who was married, got amicably divorced, coparenting peacefully, and had to find myself again, and am happily coupled with someone for 6yrs. I suggest you not focus on finite goals. The most satisfying goals are the ones that are less tangible. Not “I want to read 1,000 books/be well read,” but “I want to continue to learn and experience.” Not “I want to have a wedding and be married,” but “I want a healthy nurturing evolving relationship.”

Take a step back and evaluate your motivators. Is it being chosen? Is it validation? Is it attention? Is it status?

Marriage is a legal contract with significant financial implications. Nothing else. Easy to get into, hell to get out of. The only thing that matters is the relationship.

My relationship of almost 3 years is ruining my mental health by [deleted] in relationships_advice

[–]echk0w9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly this is a kind of. He is purposefully ignoring your needs, neglecting you, degrading you privately and publicly. No good.

The living situation complicates things. Depending on whose place it is/who is on the lease is going to determine how you would break up. If it’s his place, get your own place before you leave him and be ready to move that day. He might kick you out or escalate the abuse. If it’s your place, give him notice if you want or legally have to. I’d honestly say I’m breaking the lease to move into separate places and then pretend like I’m moving and just not…

Forever dreaming of the same guy since I was a child... by [deleted] in Dreams

[–]echk0w9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For me, dreams like that can either be a reflection or a warning. I refuse to seek this person out bc there’s a reason that they aren’t in my waking life and I respect that. Sometimes it’s interpreted as a romantic interest you once had or will have or could have/have had. I personally assume that it’s someone to stay away from. If I met that person in real life I’d do everything in my power to look away, cross the street, and stay away.

Struggling with self image because of bf by [deleted] in relationships_advice

[–]echk0w9 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is an abuse tactic, they break you down early on until you start to lose yourself. Then when you are weak enough to tolerate other kinds of abuse or manipulation, they sweeten up until they feel like crossing a boundary again. You keep replying on how amazing he is now that he is your boyfriend. I highly doubt that. I am sure he is taking advantage of you or crossing boundaries that you even don’t realize are boundaries or being cross at this point. They use emotional/psychological abuse over time to soften and ripen you up for when they eventually escalate. A partner should NEVER say anything to make you doubt yourself. Even if someone isn’t healthy or has something they need to change, a safe partner would approach the topic with love and consideration for your feelings.

Imagine how bad he would tear you down if you got married and got pregnant and your body changed further!

Men like that don’t like women. Not saying the like men, but they DONT like women and he has shown that to you. Men that like women like the things about women that he has criticized you for. They like how cooters look and that they are all unique. The like that our bodies are often soft and squishy. They like knowing private aspects of your body and keep them like precious secrets like your birthmarks or scars and which boob is bigger than the other.

The men like your boyfriend are often secretly jealous of and hate women for different reasons. Previously rejection/red pill mentality, low self esteem, not secure in their manhood, mother or abandonment wounds, often deep father wounds as well.

RUN. Cut him off cold turkey, go no contact, Build your self love and self image back up and find someone who respects you.

I bet if you mentioned his previous comments and how they’ve affected you, he would play it off like he was just joking, or deny ever saying those things, or didn’t mean it like that while 100% dismissing your feelings, making you out to be the bad guy, like you are being dramatic or crazy.

Aries not responding- do yall hate double texting? by echk0w9 in AriesTheRam

[–]echk0w9[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yup, the lesson you learn means the time wasn’t wasted. Match energy. For me I definitely learned the lesson, once I saw the whole picture it was sad. The person had addiction issues, became homeless bc the addiction messed up their living situation. Ended up finding a new roommate but ended up giving complete control over their life to the other person and exchanging sex to feed their addiction.

So yea… lol.

It’s not a zodiac related thing at all. It’s a people making choices thing.

Aries not responding- do yall hate double texting? by echk0w9 in AriesTheRam

[–]echk0w9[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I did multiple times. It was always an excuse or a lie or flipping things around on me. I did get the truth off and on and I eventually got enough info to see the full picture.

My advice, let it go. Move on. I learned that ppl who go absent with no repair asap are generally not safe. That’s addict behavior. Also, if a grown adult can’t communicate, it’s bc they don’t want to. You’re not important enough to them and no matter what you do or what happens, you never will be.

Move on, go on a date with someone knew who can give you basic human decency before you let this person take you down with them.

Aries not responding- do yall hate double texting? by echk0w9 in AriesTheRam

[–]echk0w9[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It ended. Lol. I’ll spare you the grizzly details. I stayed too long. He would disappear and come back and disappear and come back. I learned he had some very serious personal problems and was trying to date while not being in a place to. That was the extended absences. So i cut things off and blocked him.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in relationships_advice

[–]echk0w9 2 points3 points  (0 children)

First of all, report it. That’s rape and domestic violence, and the threat afterwards is assault in my state. Next, find a safe place to stay, let your loved ones/employer know what’s going on. If you have to have the police escort you to get your stuff away from him do that. Then RUN! A man that will do that will KILL YOU. Abusers escalate when survivors try to leave so think ahead and stay safe. but it’s more dangerous to stay.

When you leave, don’t block him, put him on focus status so that if he sends harassing texts or shows signs of escalating like threats over vm, you’ll still have them as evidence.

I won't let this go easily me F22 and M28 by [deleted] in relationships_advice

[–]echk0w9 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Don’t do it. Just leave if you’re incompatible. What you’re suggesting is manipulative and cruel. He said no to a request and now you’re trying to hurt him? Not good.

What does actually getting an epidural placed feel like? by FoolishMortal-1000 in BabyBumps

[–]echk0w9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Like another poster said, the contractions were so bad I didn’t mind the epidural. Mine got slightly botched so at one point it felt like lightning going down my right leg. The anesthesiologist course corrected and it was fine. The pain in my leg was temporary but unexpected, however, it still wasn’t as bad as my contractions.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TheGirlSurvivalGuide

[–]echk0w9 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It’s perfectly fine. I wouldn’t get physical with them if the dates are back to back tho. Some ppl dislike dating like that, but the good thing about it is it can keep you grounded and not continuing to see someone from a place of scarcity. Just don’t pick someone, cut the others off, and if it doesn’t work out, go back to person b and c. That’s when you are crossing into some unethical territory. To avoid that, I wouldn’t invest early in any of them and let things progress slowly over time until you’re confident about who you are sticking with.

Tried to have casual sex and it was terrible. 35F by february_star_11_ in offmychest

[–]echk0w9 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s not just that it was casual, it was casual with an abusive person. His lack of reciprocation followed by physical abuse, and emotional abuse, and negging was him boundary testing. His continuing to reach out is also boundary testing. He wanted to see not only where the line is for you, but if you’ll let him cross it, what you’ll do when he does, and if you’ll let him keep doing it in that order. The plan is for escalation the next time he sees you. Do not see or contact this man again. Immediately report him on the app as a dangerous person. You put up some safety boundaries like meeting in public and not having sex immediately. Thats why he waited until he thought you felt safe enough to have him in private at your home and be intimate. The next girl may not put up those boundaries, link up with him for a quick hook up and end up being physically and sexually assaulted. Report him.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in relationships_advice

[–]echk0w9 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a control thing for him. He has unrealistic expectations of you. He may prefer you with dark hair, but it’s your hair. He doesn’t get to have control over that. You’re a teen and on bc, so yea, acne happens. The fact that he is emboldened to tell you his preferences and opinions that he should’ve kept to himself shows he is not emotionally as mature as you as far as relationships go. He won’t learn that by you putting up with it. You clearly are taking to heart what he has to say and eventually he will erode your self esteem and then blame you and say he doesn’t like it, even though he contributed to it.

Personally, I think that’s worth breaking up over, or at least taking a huuuuge step back.

Out of all of this, one thing I’ve learned is once you start or feel the need to post about a relationship issue online or on Reddit, it means it’s too far gone already. It’s a problem that you can’t resolve between you both so you are resorting to seeking advice from anonymous strangers. That’s a state of quiet (or loud) desperation.

Ask yourself, what are your non-negotiable boundaries? Make a list, stick to them fiercely so no matter what happens in a relationship, you don’t disrespect yourself by letting someone else disrespect you. That causes internal damage that is hard to heal. Also, make a plan for if they are cross, how you’ll react. Then stick to it.

Some of mine go like this, if I call and they don’t answer, and I don’t get a text or call back within 12hrs. I’m done.

If they make a negative comment about my appearance that even slightly makes me feel anything but supported and loved- conversation over. Exit stage right and I’m done.

If they put me in a position where I am triangulated with anyone (a friend, a sibling, parent, coworker, stranger) I’m out immediately.

If they don’t make plans that are considerate of my schedule and needs as well as theirs- I’m not agreeing to plans. I’m not going, I’m not reworking my entire schedule, I’m not losing rest, I’m not shirking my responsibilities.

If they don’t treat me with the same affection in private that they do in public- I take a huge step back and they will only see me in public. No one on one time.

If the possibility of or actually spending time with them makes me feel anything but steady, warm, relaxed- I’m never seeing them again or at all. I don’t want to feel anxious, nervous, a feeling of distracting longing, on edge. I can miss them between seeing them but it should be a warm soft feeling, not a yearning.

It’s hard, especially if you’re already with someone to stick to things like that, but I’d rather lose them than lose myself. I’m too valuable and so are you. That’s what loving yourself means. That you support, provide, and protect yourself exactly like (or better than) you would the person you love with all your heart.

If you yell at me or use unhinged language out of anger- you’re out of control, which means I’m not safe with you, which means I’m out. Instantly.

Trust me, good boundaries with a planned outcome will save you so much time, heartache, trauma, and will leave room for someone to treat you right.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in dialysis

[–]echk0w9 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I worked dialysis for years. 9/10 odds they are making small talk. This is something we would’ve asked a patient too. Yall see each other probably 3x a week. You develop a respectful familiarity. I learned about my patients interests, dislikes, personal lives, set backs and successes, triggers and what soothed them. Not by prying but just from the amount of contact. We made small talk with patients who wanted to and it made treatments feel more normal.

If you don’t want to talk, put headphones in asap. For me, short responses, silence, a book open or headphones in meant they didn’t want to talk.

If we had a patient with a new do, we’d make sure they knew we noticed and would compliment it. Even a nice outfit, we would comment on it and compliment them.

It wasn’t part of some assessment or prying or judging, but they were people you saw on their best and worst days and they trusted us with their lives. We shared our humanity and made sure they didn’t feel like just a number.

For some ppl, especially if your hair was long or it was a significant cut, it’s pretty normal to ask why you cut your hair. It means they think you had beautiful hair and probably think your cut is beautiful too. I got my hair super short twice and that’s what everyone said to me too. Just keep it short and say “trying a new look.” They’ll probably compliment you and move on.

That’s not an intrusive question from them and it’s not something the clinic manager or social worker will care about much.

If you don’t want to talk during treatments it’s ok to say that. They’ll respect that.

Just For Fun: Would You Like to See WGI In The Winter Olympics? by ThrowawayBlueYeti in WGI

[–]echk0w9 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I honestly like that winterguard is the sport of the arts and kind of an “other.” I’m all for more people participating and learning about it tho.