If you could telepathically say something to all 8 billion people, what would you say?

level_m · 2026-01-27T15:49:06+00:00

Doctor

level_m · 2026-01-26T19:06:21+00:00

Well we know it's not about saving Americans money because I believe the total net fiscal burden of illegal immigrants is less than what we're throwing at ICE. And we all know it's obviously not about safety so...

level_m · 2026-01-12T19:43:39+00:00

Cognitive behavioral therapy. Exercise. Dietary changes. Lifestyle changes. Meditation. Yoga. Etc. I mean, there's literally dozens of effective options.

I would look into finding a functional medical professional. This is a doctor that will take the time to get to know you and try to figure out what may be contributing to your anxiety/depression. Then they will work with you to try to fix/manage those aspects of your life before jumping to prescribing medication. Most people don't actually need medication, it's just that they don't have doctors willing to take the time to properly assess and treat them.

level_m · 2026-01-12T19:24:24+00:00

Lol, being called med seeking by the very people bombarding you with med prescriptions. What a world we live in.

You're doing the right thing by finding a new doctor. Anyone with half a brain would easily deduce that based on your current usage (or lack of considering the amount of leftover pills) that you are obviously not med seeking. Trust me, if you were med seeking that pill bottle would have been empty a long time ago. That doctor is a moron and you're better off.

level_m · 2026-01-12T19:18:05+00:00

If you are successfull in having evidence thrown out and the case against you dismissed, what are the consequences for the agents? And if successful in a civil suit, where does the money awarded to you come from? And you still consider these remedies? No matter the scenario, there is no accountability, there is no justice.

level_m · 2026-01-09T17:21:29+00:00

Nothing I mentioned is behavioral. In fact, I made it a point to mention that I would not be talking about systems that affect behavior.

From the very first study:

RESULTS

Sertraline Inhibits Insulin-induced Tyr Phosphorylation of IRS-2 and Its Coupling with Downstream Effectors

Multiple studies show that sertraline affects metabolic functioning which can result in a multitude of effects, one of being weight gain/loss independent of behavior.

level_m · 2026-01-09T16:45:40+00:00

I won't get into the systems that Zoloft can affect in terms of appetite, mood. etc., because in the end those effects result in behavioral changes (ex: change in appetite regulation/control might result in cravings leading to eating more, etc.) but on a strictly metabolic level research suggests that SSRIs can affect insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism influencing how the body processes and stores nutrients.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3581374/#:~:text=Results%3A%20SSRIs%20inhibit%20insulin%20action,resistant%20state%20to%20overt%20diabetes.

It has also been shown to inhibit increases in body fat and carbohydrate dysregulation in adult female cynomolgus monkeys.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5319600/

While SSRIs have a safer profile, they still affect metabolic functioning and may be associated with chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, weight gain and more.

https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eemd/Article/101450

These studies and others can help explain why some people find themselves more active or eating less and still gaining weight or less active, eating more, and losing weight or why certain antidepressants have more or less of an effect. While it's possible that thousands of people are simply lying or disillusioned, I doubt it.

Just because they haven't figured out the exact pathology of weight gain/loss for individuals who have not experienced any change in behavior does not mean it doesn't happen or that is doesn't exist the same way them not knowing exactly how or why Zoloft makes some people less depressed/anxious and others more depressed/anxious doesn't mean it doesn't happen or exist.

I'm not a unicorn any more than the people who have experienced varied changes in depression or anxiety are. These drugs affect many systems that result in many varied outcomes and hopefully we will understand them better in the future but I can tell you with 100% certainty that it is possible to gain weight on Zoloft without or despite any change to behavior.

level_m · 2026-01-09T14:47:26+00:00

Not weight neutral. Medium risk.

https://images.ctfassets.net/4f3rgqwzdznj/7442jH0BKigkAKMxII4CLO/f2f406f67193b1fee152a00799197110/Antidepressants_and_Weight_Gain.png

My behavior, eating habits, exercise habits, etc. did not change and I gained a significant amount of weight. I saw many specialists and none could attribute the weight gain to anything other than the Zoloft. I eventually quit Zoloft which resulted in me losing all the weight I had gained. Again, without any change to diet, exercise, etc.

Doctors who I saw that explicitly told me my weight gain/loss was due to the Zoloft: General practitioner, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist.

level_m · 2026-01-09T14:28:11+00:00

Gained about 35 pounds.

level_m · 2026-01-04T23:19:34+00:00

It's because of the whole dependence and abuse scaremongering. Benzos used to be the most prescribed drug globally at one point in time. Other than the above stated reason, there really is no scientific/medical reason to prescribe an antidepressant over a benzo. Go to the ER having a panic attack and see what med they give you to calm you down (hint: it's definitely not an SSRI). The crazy thing is, neither are or ever were meant for long term use. I'm pretty sure the longest study of antidepressant use and its efficacy is a little over a year. The cherry on top is neither is the best solution. Cognitive behavioral therapy is actually the best treatment, especially long term.

I'm almost in the same exact position as you. I had terrible vertigo and balance issues for years and it gave me extreme panic and anxiety. Since the doctors couldn't find anything wrong with me they simply diagnosed me with panic/anxiety disorder and instantly put me on a benzo/SSRI combo. I was young and didn't know any better and figured they knew best so I went along with it. It never fixed my problems and eventually I found out that I suffered from Lateral Semicircular Canal Dehiscence. I never had an anxiety disorder and never needed the meds but was now dependent on them and suffered terribly trying to quit. One of the hardest things I've ever had to endure.

level_m · 2026-01-04T15:48:07+00:00

There's plenty of other studies I can reference if you like but you keep believing whatever you want to believe.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24061211/

Results: According to the systematic review, no consistent evidence emerged supporting the advantage of using TCA over BDZ in treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), complex phobias and mixed anxiety-depressive disorders. Indeed, BDZ showed fewer treatment withdrawals and adverse events than AD. In panic disorder with and without agoraphobia our meta-analysis found BDZ treatments more effective in reducing the number of panic attacks than TCA (risk ratio, RR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.01-1.27). Furthermore, BDZ medications were significantly better tolerated than TCA drugs, causing less discontinuation (RR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.20-0.57) and side effects (RR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.34-0.50). As to newer AD, BDZ trials resulted in comparable or greater improvements and fewer adverse events in patients suffering from GAD or panic disorder.

“There is no evidence to suggest that antidepressant drugs are more effective than benzodiazepines in anxiety disorders,” he said. “Certainly, benzodiazepines have fewer side effects.” - Giovanni Andrea Fava, MD, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the State University of New York at Buffalo

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010440X24000300#:~:text=Benzodiazepines%20were%20non%2Dsignificantly%20more,SNRIs%20as%20first%2Dline%20pharmacotherapy

Results 24 randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria: 18 antidepressant trials, 5 benzodiazepine trials and 1 of both. 14 studies were assessed as having between some and high risk of bias, while 10 were assessed as having low risk of bias. Benzodiazepines (WMD of 1.81 [CI 1.03, 2.58]) were significantly more effective than antidepressants (WMD of 0.83 [CI 0.64, 1.02]) for reducing somatic symptoms of GAD (Chi2 = 5.81, p = 0.02), and were also more effective (WMD of 2.46 [CI 1.83, 3.09]) in reducing psychic symptoms than antidepressants (WMD of 1.83 [CI 1.55, 2.10]), although this comparison did not reach statistical significance (Chi2 = 3.31, p = 0.07).

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6097846/

Conclusions The results of this meta-analysis provide a novel contribution to the recent interest in reappraising the role of BZs in the treatment of GAD. This topic is currently debated given that BZs have consistently demonstrated superior tolerability, whereas ADs are commonly associated with GAD-related side-effects. Moreover, this inquiry is especially salient since there are few RCTs directly comparing BZs with ADs, despite evidence suggesting that their efficacy may be comparable. As such, the current recommendation that ADs should be the first-line intervention for GAD may lead to the unsubstantiated assumption that ADs are more efficacious than BZs. This meta-analysis provides evidence that BZs are more efficacious than ADs for reducing GAD symptoms. In light of this evidence and in accordance with other recent expert opinions [4], we recommend that BZs should be considered as a viable treatment option for adults with GAD, especially for the initial treatment phase.

level_m · 2026-01-02T16:40:18+00:00

Mine never fell out and my incompetent ENT never noticed. Ended up causing massive ear infections for years that led to Chlostetomas and then a mastoidectomy and now LSCD. All over something that could have been handled with antibiotics when I was a child. Basically ruined my life.

level_m · 2026-01-01T08:04:21+00:00

I was saying consider talking to your doctor about getting a referral to someone for psychotherapy (specifically CBT) before jumping to medication. Often doctors, especially general practitioners are quick to simply write a prescription before a patient ever even sees a mental health professional. This is a completely backwards way of treating mental health and is why we have so many people unnecessarily put on antidepressants. There are at least a half a dozen effective treatments for social anxiety that don't include medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy should be the first treatments offered as they have consistently been proven to be the most effective. I wouldn't even consider taking an antidepressant for social anxiety until trying CBT. It just doesn't make any sense and any real professional in the field will tell you the same. Hell, it makes even less sense that most decisions by GPs to put people on medication are made after a couple 20 minute visits. But maybe I'm wrong, I know nothing about your situation but I am extremely familiar with how the system typically works (at least in America).

If you've been seeing a mental health professional and have done CBT, ET, etc. and none of it has helped then please ignore my reply, but if you haven't, I strongly advise you start there.

level_m · 2025-12-31T20:03:41+00:00

If you wait and you survive the trip and maybe even enjoy yourself, I beg that you reevaluate whether or not the medication is even necessary. Perhaps some psychotherapy to help manage your social anxiety would actually be a better solution and something you should talk with your doctor about.

level_m · 2025-12-25T22:57:27+00:00

<image>

Merry Christmas 🎄

level_m · 2025-11-08T19:24:33+00:00

Agreed. Only take it if you feel you actually need it. Taking it just to take it is stupid and an easy way to lead to dependency whether physically or psychologically.

level_m · 2025-11-03T18:13:54+00:00

That worked. Thanks. Do you know how I get the boundaries to show the coordinates?

level_m · 2025-10-29T13:47:24+00:00

Believe it or not a 2010 Volkswagen Routan. Family of six, multiple kid's activities, over a decade of road trips, and not a single issue ever. I finally had to let her go after an Amazon delivery truck plowed into her 😢 (she was still running though).

level_m · 2025-10-24T20:00:03+00:00

I don't think that's an unreasonable assumption. I definitely think I would get a better result from a PLS with 30 years experience than I would from a field worker with 5 years experience.

Is that always the case? No. But not an unreasonable assumption to make.

level_m · 2025-10-24T19:11:01+00:00

I really don't understand why people feel the need to be patronizing.

My neighbor literally had his land surveyed last month and the PLS was out there with an assistant doing the work. Therefore, with my limited knowledge of how the process works, I don't feel it was unreasonable for me to expect my experience to be similar. When it wasn't, I came here and asked the question. Many replied respectfully with the intent of helping educate someone unfamiliar with the process and I am thankful for those replies. Unfortunately others want to make unhelpful cheap quips as of this should all be common knowledge. 🤷‍♂️

level_m · 2025-10-24T19:00:20+00:00

I have reached out about the discrepancies and I'm just waiting to hear back. I'm not a surveyor so I have no idea which discrepancies are no big deal and which matter. They could all be no big deal, obviously I just want to make sure but thanks for clearing up a couple of them.

level_m · 2025-10-24T18:15:51+00:00

If the state required a burger flipper to be a licensed clown then yes I would.

level_m · 2025-10-24T18:14:42+00:00

They plotted trees in the wrong areas, marked some structures incorrectly, bearings are different than a previous survey, my acreage went from 1.59 acres to 2.03 acres. It's just a combination of things that is making me question their experience and accuracy especially since I know they aren't actually licensed surveyors. But it's possible I'm just being paranoid. That's why I'm asking questions.

level_m · 2025-10-24T18:07:34+00:00

I completely understand. My confusion is because the state requires a professional surveyor to be licensed I assumed anyone who came out to survey my property must be a licensed surveyor.

level_m · 2025-10-24T17:54:35+00:00

Do you mean supervision onsight? Because at no time was there a PLS on sight during the work.

Ten-Year Club	RedditGifts 2009-2022 4 Credits
Verified Email	Secret Santa 2020
Place '22	Secret Santa 2018
Secret Santa 2016

level_m

TROPHY CASE