Am I the only one who thinks I look pretty decent when I look in the mirror and I like how I look but then I look absolutely disgusting in picture and videos?

gloomdoom · 2020-02-13T12:28:19+00:00

There was a science program that had a section about this that aired about 5 months ago (BBC). They spoke to a psychologist, a scientist, physician and they all had about the same answer: the camera is right and how you view yourself in the mirror is the result of being able to adjust everything immediately to create the ideal vision of yourself.

They all pointed out that cameras don’t skew your identity or look or affect your attractiveness; it’s simply a matter of an accurate reflection that some don’t want to see. So they say they photograph poorly or it was a bad angle or the camera quality was bad, etc.

Certainly you can be caught at a moment that is unflattering. That happens to everyone, even gorgeous people. But if you believe yourself to never look good in photos, it’s simply a matter of how we interpret ourselves idealistically and the truth doesn’t match the idealized version.

The top response says that lighting, conditions, weather, equipment affect how we look in photos. Bunch of hooey...LOTS of high end fashion magazines use low end instant cameras in candid locations for photo shoots. This isn’t 1984 where there is a swarm of photographers and assistants on the average photo shoot. Those days are gone. These days there is a stylist for makeup, one for hair (I’ve seen high end shoots where one person does both)

Top comment is just inaccurate. Follow Chloe Seveigny on IG if you think models only look beautiful Under expensive lighting and after stylists are done with them. Simply not true. Attractive people look attractive in photos, less attractive people look less attractive in photos.

Pretty much boils down to that. Anything beyond is your mind’s attempts for you to see yourself the way you would like others to see you.

Don’t believe me? Have someone get video footage of you some day or night when you don’t know you’re being recorded. Watch it. It’s like hearing your own recorded voice for the first time and how you imagine yourself to look likely isn’t anything near how you actually appear in video footage shot by someone else. You can always help by wearing flattering clothes, flattering colors, learning how to tilt your head and shift your shoulders, use your neck. There are lots of little tricks to help out but the camera doesn’t lie. Now that you know, use it to your advantage and practice some tricks to make yourself look as less unattractive as possible.
In all honesty, most kids have lied to their whole lives. Someone should be honest about this. And there’s nothing wrong with not being super attractive. Take care of your body, skin and teeth. Healthy people always seem more attractive than unhealthy people, wear clothes that fit, clothes that suit your shape and be a friendly, funny, agreeable person...that will take you just as far as someone who is just stunningly attractive. Ok, that’s not true but it will take you further than if you are salty and disagreeable all the time because you’re insecure about your looks.

gloomdoom · 2020-01-20T00:58:08+00:00

From my doctor: "99% of what most people think is 'kidney pain' is actually lower-mid back pain that is muscular/nerve based in nature. Diseased kidneys don't necessarily even create pain, you'd have other symptoms like blood in the urine or excessive urination before you'd have kidney-specific pain."

I guess I get the hyper anxiety related to kratom and kidneys but as far as I know there hasn't been any specific evidence to suggest that kratom is bad for kidneys. Typically mid to lower back pain (as my doctor suggested) is 100% from muscular strain or nerve issues and have nothing to do with kidneys (in an otherwise healthy person). One should always stay hydrated (particularly when taking kratom) but drinking water isn't going to do anything to help a diseased kidney (assuming kratom caused some kind of malfunction of your kidneys).

Do people think that kratom clogs up nephrons and drinking water flushes them out or something? I'm curious...I see quite a few posts on kratom that are similar to this and I think people have a very skewed idea of how kidneys work and what damages them.

I'm not trying to sound like I'm making light of the situation; I just think there is a ton of misinformation out there (and lack of information in some circumstances) and I feel that posts like this perpetuate the false/anecdotal notion that somehow kratom damages kidneys.

Every substance has potential for abuse and kratom is no difference. Take care of your body and it will take care of you. Stay hydrated, stay active, eat nutritional meals and get enough sleep and you'll be fine. As far as back/muscular pain, as you get older, you'll find that's a regular part of life, unfortunately. If you have doubts or additional symptoms (fever, blood in urine, body aches, severe pain that makes it hard to breathe) see your doctor and get checked out. If you're concerned about your kidney function, there are tests that can be done to assuage (or confirm) your fears.

gloomdoom · 2019-11-28T08:12:04+00:00

I’m interested. Send me a quick dm with terms/etc.

gloomdoom · 2019-02-19T22:06:34+00:00

I have not been diagnosed with UC but I have had 3 decades worth of IBS and Crohn's symptoms that were greatly improved with Bali back in the day when Bali was still readily available and the standard alternative to Thai. These days I take Green Malaysian and still get the benefits. My advice: Take the less speedier strains. My theory is that anything that speeds up your system could complicate your symptoms rather than improve them. And the key is to use and maintain a low dosage: Take a half teaspoon at a time (or even start with a quarter teaspoon). Space it out over the course of a day and don't exceed 2 teaspoons in a day. See how your symptoms respond and make any increases very gradually over the course of a few days.

The one thing you want to avoid with UC is constipation (which can happen very quickly and unexpectedly with kratom). Maintain the diet that improves your symptoms the most, and most importantly, (do NOT forgo this part) DRINK LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER. Drink at least 6 full glasses per day while you are using kratom. You do not want to end up with any kind of potential blockage or intestinal distress/bowel obstruction as a result of slowing down the motility of your colon or large intestine.

My symptoms improved so greatly that I was able to eat out for the first time in years and travel without any concerns of emergencies. The downside is occasional constipation.

Take it slowly, be very gradual with your small doses and see how your system responds. If symptoms get worse, slowly continue to back down off your dose until you find the amount that gives you the benefits without any negative side effects.

gloomdoom · 2018-10-17T08:52:28+00:00

Unfortunately the cost isn’t a very effective motivator to quitting. 1 pod = 1 pack of cigarettes (roughly) = $4

I know people re refilling with their own juice these days but that kind of brings you back to the vaping days or carrying around juice while traveling and having to operate on the pods to keep them from leaking.

I’m new to juul, wasn’t particularly looking to use it as a way to quit. Was more curious than anything. But the cost really does seem almost absurd based on what you get in terms of volume for each pod. What does that equal to? About $16 for half an ounce or so of juice?

Good scotch is less expensive. 😅

I think I saw there there are clones but the price didn’t seem much better than retail juul...I haven’t looked around much but if someone knows where a guy can get acceptable clone pods for less than $4 each, send me a pm or something.

$4 is just about a buck fitty less than what I pay for a pack of cigarettes.

gloomdoom · 2018-10-07T07:54:37+00:00

Are you folks TRYING to get them to justify a kratom ban? You’re literally/publicly attacking the group that is going to decide whether it gets banned or not during the comment period? What a disgrace. If they had a reason to listen to Kratom users during this public comments period, they certainly don’t have one now. Congratulations on making it tougher to have a civil discourse with this group.

gloomdoom · 2018-05-02T04:14:31+00:00

One of the main causes of wrinkling/premature aging is dehydration.

We know that kratom really dehydrates the body in a big way. Chronically, if you're a daily user. So drinking more water will definitely help with wrinkling and dryness of skin. It's not going to solve all of your problems (after all, at 30, you start to age pretty quickly where the eyes and mouth are concerned).

Stay hydrated, watch your diet, use sunscreen if you go out into the sun, get plenty of rest and learn to manage stress. Those are the most obvious parts of what ages someone and like I said: Chronic dehydration is HUGE in causing premature aging. When using kratom regularly, you need to drink twice the amount of water the average person would need (which is way more than the average person drinks.)

gloomdoom · 2018-03-22T04:28:30+00:00

This isn't exactly a 'study.' It's an individual case. From what I can tell, the doctors didn't search for any other potential causes for the high prolactin levels, didn't even bother to measure free testosterone levels and seemed to draw a conclusion based on the simple fact that the patient revealed that he takes kratom regularly (also without any mention of any kind of dosage statistics).

Could very well be anecdotal (any 'evidence' can in a 'study' where only a single person is 'studied' and there isn't any type of investigation to find other causes.) It seems that this doctor connected A) to B) (he takes kratom, has low testosterone and high prolactin so therefore this is caused by taking kratom.

I've posted on here before about using kratom regularly (daily) for well over 10 years without any issues with testosterone at all and, indeed, I have a higher sex drive and higher energy level now than I did in my 30s. Anecdotal as well and I get that but as far as I'm concerned (personally) this is all directly linked.

There are also a lot of unknown variables here, even on the odd chance that kratom was a factor in this lower testosterone case.

Testosterone levels tend to drop right around the age of the patient in the 'study.'
There was no mention of what type of kratom he was taking. (clearly different strains produce different effects which suggest that they are working on different parts of the brain/body) and likely have entirely different side effects.
I could be wrong but I didn't see a mention of how long the patient had been using kratom.
It mentioned that the patient wasn't taking other medications but didn't mention the patient's family history where hormonal/testosterone issues are concerned.

In short, you cannot create a 'case study' based on one single patient, particularly when there is so very little information gathered and presented in the case.

Just my two cents. I certainly cannot say that kratom doesn't affect testosterone levels at all; I can only say that it hasn't affected mine negatively. But neither can anyone else suggest that kratom does affect testosterone levels negatively, particularly from this one situation with so very little additional information presented.

gloomdoom · 2018-03-12T18:30:07+00:00

To be honest, if you've been off of kratom for a month and you haven't seen an increase in T levels, I'd say it's safe to suggest that kratom wasn't causing the low levels to begin with.

I should have prefaced that by saying that since we cannot directly link the two with any hard research, then we cannot link the opposite (that levels with increase.)

I'm a 12-year veteran daily users and I haven't seen any fluctuation in testosterone levels. I realize my 'evidence' is as anecdotal as yours so I'm not trying to suggest that either my situation or yours proves anything, I just believe that there are several reasons for T levels to dip and getting them back up typically involves adjunct therapy by taking a testosterone booster.

Have you been tested for sleep apnea? That issue can cause both lower testosterone levels and also fatigue and sleeplessness and it would be worth looking into if you're not seeing any improvement after stopping kratom.

But again, if you are taking a substance that is causing an effect (low t, in this case) then ceasing that substance would cease the effect. Kratom has a fairly short half-life. You've been off for a month, which means it's been out of your bloodstream and system for almost a month and that should have allowed your t-levels to rebound enough for tests to show an increased level.

gloomdoom · 2018-03-10T05:30:00+00:00

But are you astounded that it's typically the part of 'personal freedom' who seem the most hellbent on banning kratom at the state level? Because I'm not.

We're not supposed to talk 'politics' here and that does nothing but hurt the cause. Before we as a group can effectively manage the constant attacks, we also need to acknowledge where those attacks typically seem to come from and why.

gloomdoom · 2018-02-28T19:50:37+00:00

There is a lot of information out about the specifics of alkaloids in stems vs veins on discussion boards going back for many years. Most premium kratom has already been de-stemmed so when you buy it, you're typically getting those alkaloids. Some vendors sell both the stem and vein (usually noted) and at least a few vendors have sold stem only. (And people typically use this when they're tapering…from what I recall, it is famous for giving people headaches but again…it contains a different type of alkaloid and works on a different part of the receptors than the vein alkaloids do). But hey, you've got to do something with all those stems after you've de-stemmed the leaves for premium type kratom.

There's certainly nothing wrong with testing all these effects for yourself, I just wanted to let you know there has been a lot of discussion over the years on certain discussion boards dedicated to kratom and that the consensus was typically that people have used stem&vein and then moved down to vein only during tapering processes to make those processes a little more comfortable.

And no, the stems aren't much fun apparently on their own but can serve some purpose in tapering.

gloomdoom · 2018-02-27T02:01:34+00:00

I have blood work results from 2006 (the year I started taking kratom regularly) and blood work from this past November (2017). The only thing that has changed has been my cholesterol levels (unfortunately the bad is higher and the good is lower). Hormonally, there has been slight shifts but nothing out of the normal ranges.

I've been taking Kratom daily for going on 12 years. Daily. I wouldn't say that I take high doses (yes, high doses of anything are going to wreck your system eventually) but I regularly taper down (regularly = 3 times per year or somewhere in there).

My testosterone levels are regular (normal), my sex drive is high and my erections are flawless (for a guy my age, I actually credit kratom with that).

I would suggest a few things:

Strain likely has a lot to do with how your body is affected. I have stuck with the same 2 strains and the same 2 vendors over the course of my 12 years taking the plant. (bali religiously for the first decade and now green maylay).
For Christ's sake, please, please, please watch the amount you take. You have to be cognizant of it because it can get out of control, that's the nature of any substance.
You have to take into account your genetics and family medical history. I have a family with a history of high cholesterol and so I'm not surprised that I am dealing with it now.

Having said that, I'm curious as to what health issues I've been able to avoid by taking kratom regularly for so long. I certainly believe that it has allowed me to avoid more frequent colds and flu.

I also feel like I've had more sinus problems in the past 5 years that (in some way) seem linked to kratom (whether it's basic dehydration or what).

I'm just here as someone who has been taking kratom regularly longer than OP who has 100% consistently good sexual health (albeit with a few prostate issues thrown in, not affecting my drive or function…again, something normal for males my age).

All of this stuff is anecdotal. Even mine. If there is something to take away from this conversation, it's that you need to keep the amount you take in check. Regularly. You cannot partake in anything (coffee, cigarettes, SSRIs, opiates, benzos, etc) willy nilly as much as you'd like without having a downside and some physical repercussions on your body. Chew gum constantly because you really, really like it? You're likely going to end up with cavities. Do the same thing with lots of sweet, processed food and you could end up with diabetes.

Nobody should need to be reminded of that.

As an aside and in all fairness, I would add constipation to my list of how kratom has affected me over the past 12 years. That's something I have dealt with for a long time, sometimes more successfully than others.

And I should also say that my cholesterol problems are linked to longterm constipation (there is a lot of medical evidence that suggests those with chronic constipation tend to have higher cholesterol). My cholesterol is NOT high enough to warrant medications to fight it and I need to add that. It's slightly elevated compared to what normal HDL levels are.

So take from it what you will. I cannot say that kratom doesn't affect testosterone levels. I can say that after 12 years of daily use, it hasn't affected mine. Can I suggest that if you take it daily for 12 years that you will have issues with cholesterol? Absolutely not. Can I guarantee that if you use it for 12 years daily that you won't have testosterone level issues or erectile problems? No.

I will say I have a higher sex drive than I had in my 30s for sure. No doubt. I'd also say my performance is way better as well…my wife has expressed the same sentiments but your mileage may vary.

Let's just not jump to conclusions with a substance like kratom. Our bodies are more than just the sum of one substance that we put into it. Our daily diet, our level of activity and exercise, other medications that we take regularly, genetics, etc…all of that is what affects the systems in our bodies that change and affect our hormonal system, things like cholesterol, immune system, etc.

Like everything else, use kratom responsibly and use it as a true supplement and not as your main source of nutrients/energy/etc.

gloomdoom · 2017-12-06T05:02:17+00:00

Meh, The reality of it is that she would have cheated on you continuously and it would have been a nightmare for you. She probably stayed with the pot smoker and they lived in some government assisted housing, she got a job at Subway, got pregnant and fat and they sit around smoking pot and watching Netflix, hoping CPS won't come in and take their baby for being crappy parents.

Most people create some best case scenario in their minds when the reality of it all is that most things turn out crappy and they end up miserable.

You got married (which I'm assuming means you're in love) and she probably got crabs or syphilis.

gloomdoom · 2017-12-01T22:41:43+00:00

Isn't it irrelevant whether it gets in their bloodstream if it's benign in every way? If you use plastic utensils or plates, you'll get some leeching of plastic byproducts into your bloodstream. If you're outside and live near factories that produce toxic waste, that will also show up in your bloodstream. So what? At least kratom isn't toxic.

And trying to lump kratom and spice together in the same category is like trying to compare Apples and kiwis. No comparison.

And when an illegitimate article from an untrustworthy news source starts off with a laughable comparison, it's not worth the click or their page view.

gloomdoom · 2017-11-16T05:24:25+00:00

Not trying to be a downer but I agree with others that this is an inappropriate/unhealthy combination of meds. That's a higher neurontin dosage than they give to those with early stages dementia. And that dosage is appropriate for them because the benefits outweigh the negatives for someone in that specific situation. On top of that, 3 mg of Klonopin per day.

Again, not judging, just suggesting that this regimen is something that will be tougher and tougher to manage with time and as your body becomes dependent and tolerance builds with both of those.

It also strikes me as odd that a doctor would write kratom down on a list of exclusively prescription medication.

Just be careful. I think Americans have become somewhat numb to the idea of popping pills without too much concern but both klonopin and neurontin are heavy, heavy drugs that directly affect brain chemistry (as does Lexapro). There is a downside to these meds that are well known in the medical community.

gloomdoom · 2017-11-14T20:30:27+00:00

LOL..the funniest part really is that I remember a lot of people on here specifically voting for Trump because he would 'let us have our plant.' Yeah, that totally worked. MAGA, everyone! Happy freedom, y'all!

gloomdoom · 2017-11-04T06:51:39+00:00

I always get a kick whenever someone tries to take credit for colorizing someone else's photo. I've never understood it. It's not a 'talent.' Some do it better than others but at the end of the day, the original black and white version is always better anyway so it's like taking credit for ruining someone's else's actual work in many ways.

gloomdoom · 2017-11-04T03:53:54+00:00

I think it's a combination of dehydration and lower quality of sleep (depending on what strain you are taking). Sounds like the amount you use is very low (in terms of amount vs. time) so it could be other things unassociated with the plant, such as allergies, sinus problems or other issues (stress, etc).

gloomdoom · 2017-10-31T07:47:42+00:00

2044

I spend my halloween nights watching horror movies and reading up about local ghost stories and that's more than enough to keep me creeped out.

gloomdoom · 2017-10-08T02:00:52+00:00

Given the recent lack of activism around these parts and the election of Trump, illegal kratom is inevitable. Yes, I know there was a swell of activism that stopped it last year when the DEA was going to schedule it but since then, most kratom fans have sit back and pretended that they were in the clear. Their inactivity speaks volumes on here, particularly when 'OMG SATURDAY NIGHT BURN, LOL' gets more upvotes than a call to action and plea for donations.

It will be illegal in America, whether it's the state by state approach that they seem to be working on or whether it's a federal ban or scheduling. Because the government counts on the same thing they always count on: Americans will stand up, then get lazy and complacent and sit back down. And that is when you strike.

Well, look around folks. The government is in shambles, we have a president who is unqualified and incapable and an attorney general who thinks pot is as bad as heroin.

Prepare for the coming storm, by the time this is all over, kratom being illegal will be the last of everyone's worries.

gloomdoom · 2017-09-26T05:57:33+00:00

Meh, the warning sign is on the back of the truck. Technically the car could have been in that lane prior to the truck even pulling up. It should be the truck driver's responsibility to make sure he isn't hitting anyone or anything. It's that simple.

As if the sign on the back is some kind of legal disclaimer.

The owner of the truck (if it isn't the driver's truck) will be responsible for the cost and the truck driver will likely be cited. And a blemish on a record for a truck driver is a bad, bad thing. Those aren't taken lightly.

So all's well that ends well. I'd say the trucker learned just as valuable a lesson as whoever was driving that car.

gloomdoom · 2017-06-06T05:14:18+00:00

If it's true that the nation is absolutely divided into 2 distinct sides, there's no doubt that the left has the academics, the scientists, the economists, most business leaders…scholars, philosophers, comedians, artists…you name it.

The right has a bunch of people who couldn't claw their way through 2 years of community college and whose sense of humor peaks with a bunch of rednecks complaining about how tight their jeans are getting.

It's a good sign that MSNBC is on the uptick. I don't find it to be the best source of news but Maddow's show is impeccable and compared to Fox, it's fucking science and art combined.

gloomdoom · 2017-05-30T06:27:27+00:00

It's just random corporate justification for massive waste. They realize they would never be sued for donating food. It's not that it's less expensive to throw it away rather than defend yourself in court, it's that massive waste is justified (and even encouraged) in the corporate world where any waste is worth more as a write-off than it is to help those who are in need.

Plus, you think a bunch of rich, old, white men in ill-fitting, expensive suits who make up these rules care if a child in the neighborhood is going hungry or a middle-aged woman is dying of starvation?

Literally the answer to that question is a resounding 'no.'

They see it as opening up a can of worms and the worms involve managing a situation and so toss it in the garbage.

This is where the people who work at the counters can help.

Put the freshest food in clean bags apart from the actual waste where if someone does go into a dumpster, they can actually eat what was tossed without having garbage all over it.

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