Some backstory: I live in Northern Europe. A while back I messed up my knee badly by falling off my bicycle. No bones were broken, but there was varying degrees of soft tissue damage and bone contusions. The ACL was completely torn off, and there was a significant tear in the medial retinaculum which caused my kneecap to dislocate whenever I fully extended my leg. The lateral meniscus also had a deep tear in it.
Previous to the surgery, the doctor told me that no orthosis or any support is needed and that it's important that I walk as normally as I can without aids so that the knee is as rehabilitated as it could be before the big day (as much as the pain allowed, of course). The doctor said the knee required two big surgeries at once, and during it two grafts from my leg were taken for the ACL and MPFL repairment. All in addition to the rest of the damage that did not require surgical treatment and were left to heal on their own.
The physical therapy started well but then we got stuck when I couldn't bent my knee over 90-100 degrees no matter what we did and my PT suspected the MPFL graft might be too tight. I went to search videos of how other people were recovering and whether they had experienced same difficulties. I only found mostly people from the United States showing/telling how they've worn an orthosis to 4-6 or 6-8 weeks and were only then allowed to put weight on their leg/knee. Whereas in my country it is stressed how important it is to regain mobility and muscle function as quickly as possible after the surgery, which basically means abandoning all walking aids (but within the limits of pain and one's ability) as soon as you can. Meaning start walking normally and bearing weight as soon as you can and as much as you can during the recovery.
Is there any particular (evidence based) reason for this?

To preface this we are both college students at one of the largest universities in our area. We met about a month or so ago (a little longer actually) when she asked if someone could do a favor for her in a forum. We met up and hit off and the frequency of these “favors” increased. Eventually I took a chance and asked her out and she said yes. We went out and hung out several times over the course of the month and we decided to become exclusive about a week ago.
Here is where the issues lie. First, she had a brief fling with one of my close guy friends. When her and I first began talking i had no idea of this for the several weeks. He just happened to see a notification on my phone one day and asked me about. He told me about their time together (they lasted less than a week) and he did not spare a single detail (which kinda messes with my head a little). At first he didn’t want me to date her but said hooking up is fine. Two weeks go by we talk about it again and he seems to have a change of heart. He gives me the “blessing” to proceed with her as i wish (but i think he secretly hopes that i just use and discard her (i’m not that type of guy).
Back to the college thing. So we became exclusive about 3 days for classes let out and she went home for summer. She lives on the other side of the state so i won’t be able to see her much, however we do have on day planned out to meet up in a few weeks. We text everyday but i still miss her physical company.
The problem is this. It seems like every time she takes a while to respond i automatically think the worst and imagine some other guy winning her over. I have absolutely no reason to believe this as she has given me no indication of being the cheating type. I type i’m just really messed up from a past relationship and seeing my friends get their hearts ripped out. I don’t want this to affect the relationship as i really like her and so don’t want my insecurities to be the reason we split. i want to explore therapy for this (once i figure that out). Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
TLDR: Starting dating a girl (that hooked up with a buddy in a one night stand) right before college let out for summer. she lives in other side of state and i wrongfully assume she is with another guy or losing interest when she takes a while to respond.

Foundations of Humanity 28 (Upturned Stones) - an NoP fanfic
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Thank you u/SpacePaladin15 for establishing the Nature of Predators Universe, and for allowing Fanfics to flourish! Thank you again, u/Braquen, u/Acceptable_Egg5560, u/BiasMushroom721, and last but not least u/Liberty-Prime76 for proofreading! This is my side of the Nature of a Giant crossover!
First -- Previous -- Next
Memory transcription subject: Valek, Venlil tourist
Date [standardized human time]: Sept 11th, 2136. Middle of 3rd Claw
“Well then, what would that make me?”
I jolted, swinging around at the sound. I had felt the voice come from behind me and resonate in my own chest. My fur stood on end as I locked onto his baleful eye glaring down at me. Alvi was frozen to her seat and Maeve had a hand to her chest, her chair now sat nearly half a tail from the table from her jump, her veil fallen from the jolt.
“Jesus Fucking Christ, Tarlim!” She swung her head to meet his eye over her shoulder, “How are you so quiet? Please don't sneak up on me like that.”
Tarlim continued to stare me down, and I could feel myself crumbling under the weight of his attention, though Jacob broke his concentration with a kind greeting, which Maeve returned likewise before asking, “Would you like to join us? These two were just teaching me about Predator Disease. I hope that isn’t a problem?”
Just like that?! Just mentioning his diagnosis set him wild earlier, and we’re just going to keep talking?!
“Not at all!” Jacob replied while he wandered over to the opposite side of our table and sat himself down. So I guess we are going to just keep talking! Even though the Giant was so obviously glaring down at me! But despite that, they just sat across from us, squeezing onto adjacent seats.
I found my tail wrapping itself around Alvi. I didn’t want her to get hurt. I didn’t want anything to happen now that they found us. How… How did they find us? “How did you know where we were?”
The Beast swung its arms wi-
NO! No! Night be damned, you WILL get this through your thick skull Valek. Tarlim. He! Is Tarlim!
Tarlim swung his arms wide, emphasizing the otherwise barren balcony. "You have a human with you. It wasn't hard to guess. It’s a rather familiar feeling. I always seem to end up in a place that the rest of the herd isn’t, and the same seems true for humans." His weighty focus came back to me, "I believe one of you was saying that was a symptom of predator disease?”
“That’s right,” Maeve answered immediately, clueless to or pointedly ignoring Tarlim's eyes on me. “Though it confuses me how the behavior of observers can be part of a diagnosis. That seems… less than scientific.”
“Yes, I would also like to know the logic behind that,” his ears and eyes locked onto mine while pointedly eating a dough ball, “I am very curious.”
Maeve gave me a nod of encouragement, urging me to continue, “Well… I-If the herd is avoiding someone, they must not be communicating ‘safety’ well enough. O-Or even being aggressive! So they would need to be taught how to not be a danger to others.”
“Really?” His ears were perked to signal his interest. ”And since everyone runs, screams, freezes, and cowers at the sight of me simply…” His voice wavered into silence. I could see his expression barely holding back rage and despair as he forced himself to hold a neutral serious expression.
It was Maeve who finished the thought. “Simply for being what you are. Valek…” She faced me directly. Her voice was a tone I heard when we talked about difficult things; devoid of accusation and yet carried by a desperate need to know, “do you believe that a living creature, any thing, sapient or not, should be abandoned because of how they are born?”
My ears fell flat. I could feel the attention of the world on my psyche, and I felt my tail pull from Alvi to protect myself instead. “I… No… But… But what if they’re a danger to the herd? Even humans wouldn’t keep a dangerous human free, would they?”
Jacob spoke through one of his dough balls. “Depends on what you mean by ‘dangerous.’” He swallowed and picked up another, “most ‘dangerous’ humans are like those Venlil who stabbed their partner, or that other Venlil who smashed their partner’s head on some stairs.” What?! The three of us were all startled at that news. “One was a fear response, the other just a simple accident. Worth a punishment, sure, but not always imprisonment.”
Maeve gulped and added, “Jesus, what happened on Prime Station…? Anyway, something else I noticed is: your process seemed very… proactive. Humans are reactive to injustice, or at least we try to be. Even if we know someone is at high risk of being a danger to those around them, we believe it is wrong to punish them for something they haven’t done. Innocent until proven guilty is a key tenet of our entire justice system.”
“Hey, it’s like they said,” Tarlim swallowed another ball, “it’s about teaching, not justice.” And levied his next challenge against me. “So what is it that I need to be taught? After all, you guys freaked out at seeing me, so you must know exactly what made me so aggressive and dangerous! Right?”
Of course I know why I freaked out! It was because he was big and… he was big and… No, no, that wasn’t the only reason! It couldn’t be the only reason. He was… he was big and he… His teeth! That’s it! They were… big and… And… Was that really it? Was that as deep as this fear went? I can’t even say I was afraid for my life, or for Maeve or Alvi’s life. Not next to how I felt running across the farm. There had to be something more to this than just how he looked!
My mind was spinning trying to justify itself, when Maeve cut through the fog, “Valek… What do exterminators… do?”
I thought for a long moment, “They… They protect us from predators. When there is a predator sighting, they investigate, locate, then exterminate the creature.”
Maeve took a moment to think on my words, then continued, “So what would an exterminator do… if a sapient was a Predator? Would they exterminate them too?”
“Ah, that’s simple!” A gruff voice leapt over a mouthful of dough, “They shoot ‘em with a flare with shotgun-level powder, douse ‘em with gas, and watch ‘em burn alive! That’s what they do!”
The sudden shock derailed our lesson, before Maeve asked incredulously, “Excuse me?? Did you just say exterminators… exterminate… with fire?!” Fear was evident behind her voice.
That couldn’t be true! The exterminators weren’t like that! They were- they were…
The Gi- Tarlim propped up his data pad toward us. There was a human wearing a blue spacesuit standing opposite what looked like more than a dozen exterminators in full flamer gear. The human held up one hand. “Hail people of Venlil Prime! I come in Peace! Take me to your leader!” Instantly, the exterminator closest to him pulled out a flare gun and shot the human. He fell to the ground, the flare bouncing off.
“Ah must say,” Jacob picked up another ball of dough, “Ah thank God Ah wore that suit. That flare still gave me a good bruise, but at least Ah didn’t need any skin grafts.”
I wanted to say it was just that one Venlil. But when the human defended himself, he was doused with fuel. Then there was… there was Tarlim. He was scrambling. Trying to save the human. Trying- trying to protect a friend! But he couldn’t! Jacob was set ablaze! He- he was!
The video ended with Jacob burning on the ground.
They had to have their reasons! Their duty is to protect the herd! They were trained to do only that! They take an oath to do only that! They can’t be… Evil! There’s proof they aren’t!
Like there’s proof they helped people during Herd Protection?
My heart stopped still.
“I-I need to go.”
---
I could only hear my claws clacking against the tile as I bolted down the stairs, through the arcade and out the front door, filling my lungs with fresh air. In the noise of the city surrounding my isolation, I felt my heart steady its pulse, and I walked aimlessly to clear my head.
I looked around at the city, constantly moving and beating with life and activity. This was the prosperity that the Federation promised us, that Exterminators put themselves in harm's way to protect. Was all of it just a facade? Some cheap veneer to cover bloodstained rot? We weren’t a utopia, I had never believed that; the Federation and Exterminators can’t be perfect. But Emerald Marble, Krakotl researchers, Tarlim’s imprisonment… These kinds of things are not accidents, and are not the work of a single person.
My mind drifted as I tried to understand why, while my paws carried me back to the hotel. I didn’t take stock of my surroundings until I heard the familiar buzz of the Forum, and stopped a moment to listen.
“My cousin Mavek got into the JEOTC, you know! That kid’s going places!”
“Did you hear? Farzer’s son was diagnosed with predator disease.” --- “I always knew something was off about that boy.”
“I saw one of those freaks on the street.” --- “Another? Are you sure it was one of them?” --- “I saw the scars on their neck! There’s no doubt that they were from there!” --- “I still can’t believe that they would just throw all those monsters out on our streets.”
“No, really! I saw it!” --- “That’s a puddle of Speh! Nobody could live in those drain tunnels for so long!” --- “On my mother’s Star I saw it! I think they’re hiding in there, working together; planning something!” --- “But they’re diseased! They don’t have the brains to work together!”
“And now the landlords are trying to more than double our rent!” --- “Double?? But- but we’re barely making ends meet as it is!” --- “Look, there’s still time to negotiate the contract. In the meantime, I can get more double shifts in the lumber yard.”
“So I called the exterminators, but instead of setting out gas or poison, they bring out the flamers! An entire half of that reserve burnt to ash! Those things only had a couple years until they were ready to cut!” --- “What?! But that reserve was part of our finance plan! How are we going to pay the equipment loans when that forest’s harvest comes around?” --- “We’ll think of something. Brahk. It was a Groben root chewer! They shouldn’t burn the forest just ‘cause it bit a worker’s hand!”
Of course: it's here too. How deep do I have to dig to see these things? Are they even buried at all?
I looked for and found a place to sit, then dug out my pad. Tarlim seemed surprised we didn’t know about him, but Alvi had, and she lived in the Capitol, so his lawsuit must have been televised. And he was right, all I had to search was ‘Dawn Creek correctional facility’ and I immediately found page after page of reports.
“A shame upon Corrections!”
“The secret drug trade of Dawn Creek”
“The failure of Dawn Creek’s Correctional Facility: Doing more harm than good.”
“Against the Herd: The predators deserved it!”
“Venlil weakness on full display”
“The illegal modifications of proven therapy devices!”
I clicked on that last one, figuring it would be the most likely to describe even a little of what physically went on inside. And it did. My stomach turned over and my heart sank to meet it: pictures of empty cells, empty of inhabitants and beds and tables and light. An open bathroom that once was sterile now a splashed palate of grime and filth. A kitchen that no one should ever eat from, with food that defies definition.
And the therapy devices! The Herd Therapy room had a photo of the safe spot, one of the investigators standing inside for scale. The article said that the room would commonly take twelve but that circle looked like it was rated for half that! And the electronics for the floor… They were a nightmare! The voltage was shown to be half-again over the mandated amount!
Then I saw The Chair… it was too big. A massive crown of connectors for the head. Metal clamps for the limbs instead of cloth straps. Electric probes set apart that a normal Venlil would be too small to connect. There… there was only one person that could have been used on.
“My stars… Why had it taken so long for the Light to find this?”
Maybe because it was never in shade?
‘Facility patient testimonials’. It took skipping three pages to get past all of Tarlim’s lawsuit, before I found another one. “This is the third week that I’ve been on latrine duty. Doctor Volm said it would teach me to value the herd. B-But I have to do it alone! I don’t understand…” Spoken from a patient of Clegel Falls Correctional Facility, followed immediately by the same Dr. Volm talking about how the diseased needed to learn their lesson with hard work. That the neglect was simply from a lack of staff. And the author sung the Doctor’s praises in their prose.
Fine. If hard work is how you fix predator disease, then what is their success rate?
The patient name went nowhere, she testified while incarcerated and never left. But the author was prolific, and I found one story that followed a success case. Checking their name, four others were released with them, in addition to a pawful from around the planet. Perfect! I would be able to cross reference their names and find out what happened! Doing just that, I found other release records, but it was just the same names again.
Ok… well if it is so successful, they must want everyone to know it! So finding lists of released persons shouldn’t be too hard. ‘Correctional facility release stories’... hmm, nope. ‘Correctional Facility successes’ - OH that is not what I meant. Brahk. Fine, how about ‘Dangerous predators released on the city’. There we go.
There’s Dawn Creek again. Guess Tarlim wasn’t lying about setting everyone loose. Alright here we go. Let's check these names. There’s my twelve. And there they are again. And again. Why is this story eve- Wait. [Standardized Human Times: 2129? 2126? 2132]...? They’re just releasing the same list over and over!
Were these people even patients?!
I checked each article detailing their release, and they couldn’t even get their diagnoses straight. Same issues: predator sympathizer was on every list, herdless behavior on most, excessive aggression on one or two, but they kept switching who had what. Ok, fine, just pick one!
Kaulna. The first article with her name mentioned predator sympathy, so start there. Treated at the Capitol… and Sweetwater? And Glacierview?? They’re on opposite sides of the Band!! Sun blast it, fine, what about early life? Nothing about education. This ‘Kaulna’ is alive and well in Clegal… and four years old. Oh, one with a medal for honorable service?? No, He died before my Kaulna’s first treatment.
Alright let's try Chelm the… Gojid Harchen? Ok what about Tarsi… who has three single biological mothers in separate cities. Brahking spawn of speh! Stranek?! Anyone?!
Please! Just one person! Just one person who got out who’s not- who’s not…
There was one.
“My son was cured after we took him to the Facility. Only took a few paws to find the right sedative!”
Wait, paws?
I altered my search. ‘Correctional sedatives’. Tons of stories now appeared. New stories. A parent would bring a child in and they would get a sedative to correct the ‘disease’ the child had and be sent on their way. There were several results about such things happening on the Yotul homeworld. But… none of these people were actually interred in the facilities. I found a public list of inmates who were incarcerated in the Capitol in the last month and compared names with the parents talking about their kids.
The kids who returned weren’t on the list. The kids who didn’t… they were.
None of the kids who were on the list had any records of leaving. No record of someone leaving after checking in. Only… only…
… Tarlim. I’m so sorry Tarlim.
I felt the wind around me as my legs sprinted back to the arcade. I shouldered through the door and kept running back to the food court, then bounded up the steps to our table, spurned again by the sound of Alvi crying.
“If what… They do is a choice… what even is a predator?” I crested the top of the stairs, “What… what even is predator disease?”
I knew the answer.
First -- Previous -- Next

To preface this we are both college students at one of the largest universities in our area. We met about a month or so ago (a little longer actually) when she asked if someone could do a favor for her in a forum. We met up and hit off and the frequency of these “favors” increased. Eventually I took a chance and asked her out and she said yes. We went out and hung out several times over the course of the month and we decided to become exclusive about a week ago.
Here is where the issues lie. First, she had a brief fling with one of my close guy friends. When her and I first began talking i had no idea of this for the several weeks. He just happened to see a notification on my phone one day and asked me about. He told me about their time together (they lasted less than a week) and he did not spare a single detail (which kinda messes with my head a little). At first he didn’t want me to date her but said hooking up is fine. Two weeks go by we talk about it again and he seems to have a change of heart. He gives me the “blessing” to proceed with her as i wish (but i think he secretly hopes that i just use and discard her (i’m not that type of guy).
Back to the college thing. So we became exclusive about 3 days for classes let out and she went home for summer. She lives on the other side of the state so i won’t be able to see her much, however we do have on day planned out to meet up in a few weeks. We text everyday but i still miss her physical company.
The problem is this. It seems like every time she takes a while to respond i automatically think the worst and imagine some other guy winning her over. I have absolutely no reason to believe this as she has given me no indication of being the cheating type. I type i’m just really messed up from a past relationship and seeing my friends get their hearts ripped out. I don’t want this to affect the relationship as i really like her and so don’t want my insecurities to be the reason we split. i want to explore therapy for this (once i figure that out). Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
TLDR: Starting dating a girl (that hooked up with a buddy in a one night stand) right before college let out for summer. she lives in other side of state and i wrongfully assume she is with another guy or losing interest when she takes a while to respond.

To preface this we are both college students at one of the largest universities in our area. We met about a month or so ago (a little longer actually) when she asked if someone could do a favor for her in a forum. We met up and hit off and the frequency of these “favors” increased. Eventually I took a chance and asked her out and she said yes. We went out and hung out several times over the course of the month and we decided to become exclusive about a week ago.
Here is where the issues lie. First, she had a brief fling with one of my close guy friends. When her and I first began talking i had no idea of this for the several weeks. He just happened to see a notification on my phone one day and asked me about. He told me about their time together (they lasted less than a week) and he did not spare a single detail (which kinda messes with my head a little). At first he didn’t want me to date her but said hooking up is fine. Two weeks go by we talk about it again and he seems to have a change of heart. He gives me the “blessing” to proceed with her as i wish (but i think he secretly hopes that i just use and discard her (i’m not that type of guy).
Back to the college thing. So we became exclusive about 3 days for classes let out and she went home for summer. She lives on the other side of the state so i won’t be able to see her much, however we do have on day planned out to meet up in a few weeks. We text everyday but i still miss her physical company.
The problem is this. It seems like every time she takes a while to respond i automatically think the worst and imagine some other guy winning her over. I have absolutely no reason to believe this as she has given me no indication of being the cheating type. I type i’m just really messed up from a past relationship and seeing my friends get their hearts ripped out. I don’t want this to affect the relationship as i really like her and so don’t want my insecurities to be the reason we split. i want to explore therapy for this (once i figure that out). Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
TLDR: Starting dating a girl (that hooked up with a buddy in a one night stand) right before college let out for summer. she lives in other side of state and i wrongfully assume she is with another guy or losing interest when she takes a while to respond.

I am applying for another round of fmla to provide care for my wife with parkinson's, going on 6 years. It became apparent she started needing assistance 2 years ago. The first time my employer approved my fmla as intermittent time, the 2nd time my employer would only allow for standard fmla time, which I took in a solid 12 week increment and returned to work and accumulated 1,250 of working hours in the year since. My plan this time is to again take the fmla time in a solid 12 week increment, come back to work, train my replacement and hand off the reins and retire 2 months later.
I'd like to know what how folk answer the:\
Certification of Health Care Provider for Family Member’s Serious Health Condition, Part A: Medical Information of Form WH-380-F?
The form doesn't exactly lend itself to parkinson's.
Specifically, how did you answer the following?
(3) Briefly describe the care you will provide to your family member: (Check all that apply)
 Assistance with basic medical, hygienic, nutritional, or safety needs  Transportation
 Physical Care  Psychological Comfort  Other: _______________________________________
(4) Give your best estimate of the amount of leave needed to provide the care described: _____
(5) If a reduced work schedule is necessary to provide the care described, give your best estimate of the reduced schedule
you are able to work. From __________________ (mm/dd/yyyy) to ____________________ (mm/dd/yyyy), I am able to work
__________________ (hours per day) __________________ (days per week).
and what the doctor wrote for:
(3) Provide your best estimate of how long the condition lasted or will last: _________
(4) For FMLA to apply, care of the patient must be medically necessary. Briefly describe the type of care needed by the patient (e.g., assistance with basic medical, hygienic, nutritional, safety, transportation needs, physical care, or psychological comfort)._______________
(5) Check the box(es) for the questions below, as applicable. For all box(es) checked, the amount of leave needed must be provided in Part B.
 Inpatient Care: The patient ( has been /  is expected to be) admitted for an overnight stay in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility on the following date(s): __________________________
 Incapacity plus Treatment: (e.g. outpatient surgery, strep throat)
Due to the condition, the patient ( has been /  is expected to be) incapacitated for more than three
consecutive, full calendar days from ______________ (mm/dd/yyyy) to _____________ (mm/dd/yyyy).
The patient ( was /  will be) seen on the following date(s): _____________________________________
The condition ( has /  has not) also resulted in a course of continuing treatment under the supervision of a health care provider (e.g. prescription medication (other than over-the-counter) or therapy requiring special equipment)
 Pregnancy: The condition is pregnancy. List the expected delivery date: _______________ (mm/dd/yyyy).
 Chronic Conditions: (e.g. asthma, migraine headaches) Due to the condition, it is medically necessary for the patient to have treatment visits at least twice per year.
 Permanent or Long Term Conditions: (e.g. Alzheimer’s, terminal stages of cancer) Due to the condition, incapacity is permanent or long term and requires the continuing supervision of a health care provider (even if active treatment is not being provided).
 Conditions requiring Multiple Treatments: (e.g. chemotherapy treatments, restorative surgery) Due to the condition, it is medically necessary for the patient to receive multiple treatments.
 None of the above: If none of the above condition(s) were checked, (i.e., inpatient care, pregnancy)
no additional information is needed. Go to page 4 to sign and date the form.
(6) If needed, briefly describe other appropriate medical facts related to the condition(s) for which the employee seeks FMLA leave. (e.g., use of nebulizer, dialysis) ______________________________________
PART B: Amount of Leave Needed
For the medical condition(s) checked in Part A, complete all that apply. Several questions seek a response as to the frequency or duration of a condition, treatment, etc. Your answer should be your best estimate based upon your medical knowledge, experience, and examination of the patient. Be as specific as you can; terms such as “lifetime,” “unknown,” or “indeterminate” may not be sufficient to
determine if the benefits and protections of the FMLA apply.
(7) Due to the condition, the patient ( had /  will have) planned medical treatment(s) (scheduled medical visits) (e.g. psychotherapy, prenatal appointments) on the following date(s): ________________
(8) Due to the condition, the patient ( was /  will be) referred to other health care provider(s) for evaluation or treatment(s).
State the nature of such treatments: (e.g. cardiologist, physical therapy) ________________________________
Provide your best estimate of the beginning date _____________________ (mm/dd/yyyy) and end date ____________________ (mm/dd/yyyy) for the treatment(s).
Provide your best estimate of the duration of the treatment(s), including any period(s) of recovery
____________________________________________________________________________________ (e.g. 3 days/week)
(9) Due to the condition, the patient ( was /  will be) incapacitated for a continuous period of time, including any time for treatment(s) and/or recovery.
Provide your best estimate of the beginning date: ___________________ (mm/dd/yyyy) and end date _______________ (mm/dd/yyyy) for the period of incapacity.
(10) Due to the condition it, ( was /  is /  will be) medically necessary for the employee to be absent from work to provide care for the patient on an intermittent basis (periodically), including for any episodes of incapacity i.e., episodic flare-ups. Provide your best estimate of how often (frequency) and how long (duration) the episodes of incapacity will likely last.
Over the next 6 months, episodes of incapacity are estimated to occur _______________________________ times per ( day /  week /  month) and are likely to last approximately ___________________ ( hours /  days) per episode.

First time poster, kinda reaching out with a bit of desperation. For background, for like maybe 20 years (I’m 33M now) I’ve had episodes where I break down and hurt myself. I usually hit myself in the head. I’ve gone over the top with it in the past, basically beating myself up like Tyler in Fight Club. I did a decent job of halting all physical blows to the head due to fears of CTE but for about the last 6 months (since my father passed) I’ve been hitting myself again (although much rarer than in the past).
Last night, after an argument with my girlfriend, I got so frustrated, I wanted to do anything to change my way of thinking and as I was getting out of the car I deliberately put my hand on the frame of the car and slammed my own door onto my hand. I immediately started bleeding a lot out of my pinky. The wound looks like it was 25% of the way to being cut off completely. I wrapped it up real tight and decided to wait til the morning when urgent care opened up. Sitting in urgent care right now actually.
I get so scared in these moments when I completely lose control and want to hurt myself. Last night I made the decision to slam my hand in the door in the blink of an eye. What scares me the most is that I might do something that really hurts or even kills me while I’m in these upset states. About 13 years ago I laid down in traffic until I got hit by a car while in one of these state of minds. By the time I changed my mind and came to my senses it was too late, I tried to get up but got hit by a car first. I haven’t had any other suicide attempts or even thoughts since then, but when I get really upset and get into this uncontrollable state of mind my actions become unpredictable.
Does anyone have any tips that can help gain control of myself. I want to be able to put logic ahead of emotion, I’m getting therapy but I need more help.

19F, 5‘9, currently taking no medication nor in physical therapy
i am no stranger to ankle injuries and pain, i’ve been in and out of physical therapy for 8ish years and had ligament surgery about 2 years ago. prior to my surgery it was suspected i had everything, plantar fasciitis, tendinitis, chronic high ankle sprains. however after the surgery a majority of that pain resolved, until about a month or two ago.
whenever i wake up in the morning or even from naps midday, i have extreme pains that runs vertically on my achilles‘ tendon, radially around my ankle, horizontally along my plantar fascia, and along my toes on both feet. i know it is probably some combination of plantar fasciitis and tendinitis, but i don’t see my podiatrist until mid july and this pain is making it unbearably hard to get up most mornings. any suggestions on at home or over the counter things i can do or use to get some relief?

Take care of your pelvic floor!!! No one ever told me how important my pelvic floor muscles are. I gave birth two times. I was told about tearing, diastasis, haemorrhoids, hair falling out, boobs getting saggy, stretch marks, hyperpigmentation, low libido PP, hormones shift, lack of sleep… I was never ever told about the possibility of the pelvic organ prolapse!
This isn’t meant to scare you! But it’s estimated that 30-50% of women develop some form of prolapse postpartum and the number could be even higher. Most OBs won’t tell you if you have a mild or moderate pelvic organ prolapse (POP). They’ll simply state that you have a normal postpartum vagina. And while POP is common it is not normal.
Exercise and strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles, before and during pregnancy, together with learning how to push can help prevent POP from happening. It’s also really important to absolutely not lift anything other than the baby in the PP period and to absolutely avoid constipation and straining on the toilet.
Symptoms of POP include stress incontinence, urge incontinence, fecal incontinence, heavy feeling in the vagina, feeling like there is a tampon stuck, feeling like your organs are about to fall out, a visible bulge in the vagina and more.
Most women with POP don’t have any symptoms but it’s important to be aware of having mild or moderate POP so you can take steps to prevent worsening of the POP degree that can happen at any time but especially once you hit menopause.
Postpartum POP can improve or even resolve with proper exercise and pelvic floor physical therapy. PT can help you learn how to properly breathe, lift and exercise so that you don’t put any undue pressure on your pelvic floor. Just doing Kegels is not enough…
I was totally blindsided. My POP happened a few days after my second birth. I lifted my baby together with his car seat and I felt something drop in my pelvis. I thought I’ve popped my stitches and went to have a look and there was a golf ball sized bulge at the entrance of my vagina. My bladder prolapsed. Then a few weeks later I got constipated and strained on the toilet and I developed a mild rectocele on top of my cystocele. It sucks! But I’m starting PT today and I’m feeling hopeful.
Again this isn’t meant to scare you but to raise awareness. I’m still angry no one ever told me about this and I’ve discovered both my mom and my sister had some form of POP after giving birth.
(English is not my first so I apologise for any grammar mistakes)

Lesson: Importance Of Physical Fitness And Preparation

I. Introduction

Universal Adventures is a renowned adventure travel company that specializes in organizing trekking expeditions. With their expertise and experience, they provide thrilling and unforgettable experiences for adventure enthusiasts.
Sharing lessons and fails from these expeditions is crucial as it allows others to learn and be better prepared for their own explore travel trekking adventures.

II. Lessons Learned During Explore Travel: Trekking with Universal Adventures

1. Proper preparation and fitness training for trekking: Trekking requires physical endurance and stamina for this types of adventure activities. Adequate preparation and training before the expedition can significantly enhance the overall experience.
2. Importance of packing light and essential items only: Carrying a heavy backpack can hinder mobility and cause discomfort during the trek. For outdoor adventure travel Packing only essential items and minimizing unnecessary weight is vital.
3. Researching and understanding the trekking route beforehand: Acquiring knowledge about the route, terrain, weather conditions, and potential challenges helps in planning and preparing effectively.
4. Adapting to altitude and acclimatization techniques: Trekking in high-altitude regions which considered under adventure sports activities like Ladakh requires acclimatization to prevent altitude sickness. Taking gradual steps, staying hydrated, and following proper acclimatization techniques are crucial.
5. Staying hydrated and maintaining a healthy diet during the trek: Drinking plenty of water and consuming nutritious meals are essential for maintaining energy levels and combating altitude-related challenges.
6. Following the guidance of experienced trek leaders and guides: The expertise of trek leaders and guides is invaluable. Listening to their instructions and following their guidance ensures a safe and enjoyable trekking experience.
7. Respecting the environment and practicing responsible trekking: It is vital to leave no trace and minimize the environmental impact of trekking activities. Respecting the local flora, fauna, and ecosystems contributes to preserving the natural beauty of the region.
8. Being flexible and open to unexpected changes or challenges: Trekking often involves unforeseen circumstances such as weather changes or route modifications. Being flexible and adapting to these situations with a positive mindset enhances the overall experience.

III. Fails Experienced During Explore Travel: Trekking with Universal Adventures

1. Underestimating the physical demands of the trek: Failing to adequately prepare physically can result in fatigue and difficulty during the trek.
2. Overpacking and carrying unnecessary items: Carrying excessive baggage can slow down the trek and cause unnecessary strain on the body.
3. Ignoring signs of altitude sickness and not taking appropriate measures: Neglecting symptoms of altitude sickness can lead to serious health risks. Recognizing and addressing these signs promptly is essential.
4. Neglecting to bring proper trekking gear and equipment: Inadequate gear can compromise safety and comfort during the trek. Having the right equipment is crucial for a successful expedition.
5. Overestimating personal capabilities and pushing beyond limits: Trekking within one's physical limits is important to avoid exhaustion and injuries.
6. Disregarding safety precautions and risking injury: Ignoring safety guidelines and taking unnecessary risks can lead to accidents and injuries.
7. Failing to communicate effectively with fellow trekkers and guides: Clear and open communication is crucial for coordination and safety during the trek.
8. Not respecting local customs and cultural sensitivities: Understanding and respecting the local culture and customs is important to ensure a positive interaction with the local communities.

IV. Lessons and Fails Summarized

Learning from both successes and failures is essential for personal growth and improvement. Incorporating the lessons learned from the trekking experiences with Universal Adventures can enhance future trekking endeavors. Sharing experiences and insights fosters a community of knowledge and safety, ultimately creating more enjoyable and memorable trekking adventures for everyone involved. Adventure activities and outdoor exploration provide opportunities for personal growth and an appreciation for the beauty of nature. Explore travel and adventure sports can open doors to unique experiences and create lifelong memories.
To Know More Click Here

23F 5’3 I’ve been trying to lose weight for a bit now. I was always a high weight number wise, but looked skinny. After a really bad relationship and a LOT of WEEKLY medication changes from a very bad nurse practitioner, I put on tons of weight. These are some pics of me at 250 pounds vs when I finally hit 190. I got put on a new medication days after hitting this milestone and in month gained 30 pounds from it, putting me back at 220. Back down to 205 and I’ve been sitting here for a month and a half with no lowering of weight. I have physical disabilities that make it hard to exercise and have a low caloric intake already. My weight is high enough atm that w my chronic pain and flare ups its just too hard sometimes to motivate myself to do it, and consistency is my worst developed skill other than maybe patience lol Anyways, getting extra outside help w my weight loss would make it easier for me to exercise. I was thinking of starting a medication to help me lose the more troublesome weight, in hopes that it’ll be easier to start and maintain a more active lifestyle AFTER I lose the weight. I have a family history of diabetes, and got genetic testing that shows I have a 50% chance of developing it in my lifetime so I want to be proactive about my weight. I might be able to drop a good portion from a breast reduction, but I’m still on the fence about getting one after the risks described to me by my plastic surgeon and I’m not at the correct bmi or health to get it done rn, plus I’d wanna lose more weight first anyways. Im sitting at a 40J US which also makes it very hard to exercise. Even after losing that 60 lbs my bra size went up so idk what to do about that. Thats been consistent every time I lose weight I go up bra sizes, might just be the years passing. I was going to physical therapy, but I’m moving soon and my schedule is hectic so it’ll be a while before I can start it again in addition to my weight loss. You don’t have to give me “medical advice” but I’m curious about y’alls opinions of weight loss medications, especially in my situation. I would post pics so you can kinda see my body type bc I don’t think I look too heavy for my weight and height? I mean, def plus size obviously but my doctors have always thought I looked healthy for my weight and height despite bmi, plethora of other health conditions aside. My final goal is 165 w milestones in between. At each milestone I reevaluate what I want my final goal to be. Its a soft final goal. If I get to 170 and think I’m healthy there, I’d stop there. If I hit 165 and still think I should go lower, maybe my goal switches to 155, y’know? Lmk if I need to mention anything else. Sorry this is so long 😵‍💫

Most days are good. R is going well, I think? But I can’t just stop questioning myself and if this is the right decision. Apologizing if this doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Backstory: we have 3 children (2 from my previous relationship, 1 from us).
He had an EA which led to physical shortly after I delivered our daughter. Right before I found everything out he slept with a coworker. Between all that there’s so much more.
I just can’t wrap my head around the why? He’s said to me so many times I was emotionally closed off, didn’t want to talk and “only cared about food” 🤣 I WAS EFFING PREGNANT. and yah, I will be the first to admit my hormones were ragey, but that doesn’t give him an excuse to seek attention from all the other woman - a year long affair. He proposed to me in December of 2021. The affair started in February. Literally wtf right? The ring will never go back on my finger.
Our daughters first birthday is Friday and it kills me thinking back on this first year of her life. Those memories are beyond tainted.
I guess I’m just wondering if it’s normal to doubt yourself? Like I said, most days are so good but when I get in that headspace… the messages/pictures/everything he’s told me replays like a nightmare in my head.
I KNOW I would be ok alone. I would. It would take a long time for me to move on from this, but really I have 3 beautiful children I have to be strong for so it’s like?? At the end of the day I do love him and want this to work, so IM putting in the work too… but I can’t shake that feeling like it’s going to happen again.
On paper he’s doing everything right. He’s taken accountability from the beginning, answered my questions and has told me every single time we have those hard talks it was NOTHING I did… ok but then why does it seem like he’s justifying it by me being “closed off” pregnant?
He told his family. Told his best friend. Told HR and his old boss (left that job since the Whore worked with him — diff girl not EA one) and I KNOW he is sorry… but I just am like ????
I feel stuck. Questioning myself. Doubting if his intentions are pure. Questioning if this will ever happen again?
We aren’t in therapy. I was in IC but with school/kids/life there was literally no time.
Idk I just don’t want to feel like I’m alone in this. I’m living with this painful secret and it sucks. I can’t help but feel like I’ll never be able to be the same woman I was before I found out.

Hey guys I just want to preface this message by saying to please examine yourselves to see if you yourselves are in the faith & Spirit-led, because I cannot afford carnal, hyper-grace, sin-befriending “we all fall short” advice right now. I need Truth. Thanks in advance.
The life of Judas describes me so well. I don’t think I ever truly believed with SAVING FAITH. I morally improved, departed from sin for a couple of years while dedicating myself to spiritual disciplines, but never REALLY got to know the Lord via the Holy Spirit. I’ve since fallen back into my old sins & hardened my heart to all things of God. I find myself ensnared by Satan’s will, which is to live my life according to my own lusts, desires, and pride DESPITE KNOWING THE TRUTH. I now know I wanted Jesus to save me from hell, not from sin.
I find close to no appeal in living the life of the cross or submission and I fear my heart won’t ever anymore. I’ve ignored so many warnings and suppressed so much truth i don’t even know/remember what they once were. I find little to no desire for righteousness at all times. I’ve deceived myself and others who believe/claim to believe. My heart is wicked. Even the things I do do & have done are not in faith but in hopes I will be saved. Idk how to change, or even where to find the desire to TRULY change.
The honest truth is that as of right now I want to be in control of my own life. I want to play video games all day, I enjoy the physical pleasures of sexual immorality, I’d rather listen to sports debate shows than than the Word of God because I don’t want to change, fear changing, and even feel like changing is impossible at times. Even though I KNOW in my mind that’s living a lie & the way of death. But in my heart I still want to live that way and have. It’s corrupt man.
I know God’s Word says in the last days men will be lovers of themselves and haters of God, and there own bellies/appetites will be there god. And that He will send a strong delusion to those who refused to love the truth that could save them. All of that applies to me. It used to really bother me and I’d lose sleep over it and try (in the flesh) to change. But it hasn’t worked and my heart is in even worse condition. Idk how I can go from just identifying the lie; to instead refusing to believe in, submit to, and live out the lies that feel so good to flesh and ego.
Nothing pierces my heart anymore and I’m so calloused, but fearful of eternity at the same time. Jesus literally said whoever clings to his life will lose it and whoever gives his life will find it. Idk how to see the beauty in giving my life up. What if I’m the one he says like about Ephraim, “he is joined to his idols, leave him alone” and it’s already too late. My heart feels joined to sin and the love of self😓.
I’m sorry that was a lot y’all.

Hey guys I just want to preface this message by saying to please examine yourselves to see if you yourselves are in the faith & Spirit-led, because I cannot afford carnal, hyper-grace, sin-befriending “we all fall short” advice right now. I need Truth. Thanks in advance.
The life of Judas describes me so well. I don’t think I ever truly believed with SAVING FAITH. I morally improved, departed from sin for a couple of years while dedicating myself to spiritual disciplines, but never REALLY got to know the Lord via the Holy Spirit. I’ve since fallen back into my old sins & hardened my heart to all things of God. I find myself ensnared by Satan’s will, which is to live my life according to my own lusts, desires, and pride DESPITE KNOWING THE TRUTH. I now know I wanted Jesus to save me from hell, not from sin. I find close to no appeal in living the life of the cross or submission and I fear my heart won’t ever anymore. I’ve ignored so many warnings and suppressed so much truth i don’t even know/remember what they once were. I find little to no desire for righteousness at all times. I’ve deceived myself and others who believe/claim to believe. My heart is wicked. Even the things I do do & have done are not in faith but in hopes I will be saved. Idk how to change, or even where to find the desire to TRULY change. The honest truth is that as of right now I want to be in control of my own life. I want to play video games all day, I enjoy the physical pleasures of sexual immorality, I’d rather listen to sports debate shows than than the Word of God even though I KNOW in my mind that’s living a lie & the way of death. But in my heart I still want to live that way and have. It’s corrupt man. I know God’s Word says in the last days men will be lovers of themselves and haters of God, and there own bellies/appetites will be there god. And that He will send a strong delusion to those who refused to love the truth that could save them. All of that applies to me. It used to really bother me and I’d lose sleep over it and try (in the flesh) to change. But it hasn’t worked and my heart is in even worse condition. Idk how I can go from just identifying the lie; to instead refusing to believe in, submit to, and live out the lies that feel so good to flesh and ego. Nothing pierces my heart anymore and I’m so calloused, but fearful at the same time. Jesus literally said whoever clings to his life will lose it and whoever gives his life will find it. Idk how to see the beauty in giving my life up. What if I’m the one he says like about Ephraim, “he is joined to his idols, leave him alone” and it’s already too late. My heart feels joined to sin and the love of self😓. I’m sorry that was a lot y’all.

Hello all, I hope you are all well. I'm not sure why I am writing this, I guess I am just hoping someone can offer encouraging words. I posted this in another thread, but posting here too.
(TW: CHILD SA & SUICIDE IDEATION)
Last week I had an emotional breakdown/crisis that is still ongoing. When I was a child (elementary school), my older brother (3 years older) and I would kiss and touch each other. We were both in elementary school and there was never any penetration and I don't remember even physically seeing or touching anything without pants. However, I held this secret in my whole life (I am 30 now) and lived with such shame and disgust. My brain is completely split, because although he was also a child, he was my older brother and I was supposed to be able to trust him. I'm also torn because I am sure I went along with it, and maybe even initiated it at times, but I can't image it would have started without him crossing that line. I confronted him in 2019 and he was extremely remorseful and it kind of faded away until now when it bubbled up again.
I am currently moving in with my boyfriend of 2 years and I have no idea if it triggered it or what, but last week I really lost myself and couldn't function and had suicide ideation. The pain I was feeling was just so unbearable and I still can't imagine a life without feeling this way. I have barely eaten or showered, I can barely focus on work. I ended up asking him to come over Friday night because I was scared to be by myself. I called crisis hotlines (which I have never done) and was so nervous to tell and him and have him be disgusted and leave me, but he cried with me and told me he was sorry it happened and that I had to live with it for so long. He also told me that he would be with me throughout this whole journey and that I am strong and can get through it. However, I currently do not feel strong at all. I feel powerless.
I also finally told my younger sister and she said it happened to her too. That conversation... although it did not heal me, it was just something that I don't think I could have lived without. I don't think I would've lived throughout the weekend if I hadn't told them.
Anyway, I am here because originally I posted on reddit asking if i should tell my boyfriend and everyone basically commented "no he doesnt need to know its silly to be upset over that you were just kids." and that kind of confirmed the shame and secrecy about it that I was feeling which i think led to the breakdown. I am glad I told him because I needed him to know.
After looking up a few things over the weekend, I have come to terms that I suffer from cPTSD. It's heartbreaking but also relieving to have some sort of answer I guess? I have been trying to fill myself with success stories, but I am just at a loss. I start therapy today, but am not sure it'll be the right answer. I ordered a weighted blanket & Paul Walker's "CPTSD: From Surviving to Thriving" and "The Body Keeps the Score" along with another journal.
I also told my brother a few days ago that I do not think I should talk to him 1:1 anymore and to just stick to groupchats. My parents do not know, and I really don't wish to tell them. It would just make everything worse. For now, I think I'm ok with my sister, boyfriend & best friend knowing, specifically my sister. That has been 22 years of wanting to talk to her about it.
Is there any hope that I can live a happy life? I just want to be able to marry my partner, go on trips with him, laugh and be happy. Truly when i think of my "happy place," it's me and & him as the cool aunt & uncle with my sister, her future husband & her future kids in Disney World and I'm spoiling them with goodies. I am so willing to do whatever it takes to feel better and build myself up. I just am currently at such a loss. It's a rollercoaster where for a split second I am okay and calm, but the panic just builds up and I have no way of getting it down. Yesterday, I was at my bf's sister's bday bbq & i just ran into bathroom and threw up. I can't stop sobbing and I just am stuck in a dark forest and sometimes i can see the light at the end of the trees but by the time i get close the trees have come back together and I am stuck in the dark again. I don't want to kill myself, I don't want to die and stop living this life. I feel in my heart that I deserve to be happy, I deserve to be in love and experience everything the world has to offer me .. but I just can't get there.
Any advice, recommendation, or encouragement is really really strongly appreciated. Thank you all and I hope you're all okay.

What do you think about my resume as a physical therapist assistant

Hello all, I hope you are all well. I'm not sure why I am writing this, I guess I am just hoping someone can offer encouraging words.
(TW: CHILD SA & SUICIDE IDEATION)
Last week I had an emotional breakdown/crisis that is still ongoing. When I was a child, my older brother (3 years older) and I would kiss and touch each other. We were both in elementary school and there was never any penetration and I don't remember even physically seeing or touching anything without pants. However, I held this secret in my whole life (I am 30 now) and lived with such shame and disgust. My brain is completely split, because although he was also a child, he was my older brother and I was supposed to be able to trust him. I'm also torn because I am sure I went along with it, and maybe even initiated it at times, but I can't image it would have started without him crossing that line. I confronted him in 2019 and he was extremely remorseful and it kind of faded away until now when it bubbled up again.
I am currently moving in with my boyfriend of 2 years and I have no idea if it triggered it or what, but last week I really lost myself and couldn't function and had suicide ideation. The pain I was feeling was just so unbearable and I still can't imagine a life without feeling this way. I have barely eaten or showered, I can barely focus on work. I ended up asking him to come over Friday night because I was scared to be by myself. I called crisis hotlines (which I have never done) and was so nervous to tell and him and have him be disgusted and leave me, but he cried with me and told me he was sorry it happened and that I had to live with it for so long. He also told me that he would be with me throughout this whole journey and that I am strong and can get through it. However, I currently do not feel strong at all. I feel powerless.
I also finally told my younger sister and she said it happened to her too. That conversation... although it did not heal me, it was just something that I don't think I could have lived without. I don't think I would've lived throughout the weekend if I hadn't told them.
Anyway, I am here because originally I posted on reddit asking if i should tell my boyfriend and everyone basically commented "no he doesnt need to know its silly to be upset over that you were just kids." and that kind of confirmed the shame and secrecy about it that I was feeling which i think led to the breakdown. I am glad I told him because I needed him to know.
After looking up a few things over the weekend, I have come to terms that I suffer from cPTSD. It's heartbreaking but also relieving to have some sort of answer I guess? I have been trying to fill myself with success stories, but I am just at a loss. I start therapy today, but am not sure it'll be the right answer. I ordered a weighted blanket & Paul Walker's "CPTSD: From Surviving to Thriving" and "The Body Keeps the Score" along with another journal.
I also told my brother a few days ago that I do not think I should talk to him 1:1 anymore and to just stick to groupchats. My parents do not know, and I really don't wish to tell them. It would just make everything worse. For now, I think I'm ok with my sister, boyfriend & best friend knowing, specifically my sister. That has been 22 years of wanting to talk to her about it.
Is there any hope that I can live a happy life? I just want to be able to marry my partner, go on trips with him, laugh and be happy. Truly when i think of my "happy place," it's me and & him as the cool aunt & uncle with my sister, her future husband & her future kids in Disney World and I'm spoiling them with goodies. I am so willing to do whatever it takes to feel better and build myself up. I just am currently at such a loss. It's a rollercoaster where for a split second I am okay and calm, but the panic just builds up and I have no way of getting it down. Yesterday, I was at my bf's sister's bday bbq & i just ran into bathroom and threw up. I can't stop sobbing and I just am stuck in a dark forest and sometimes i can see the light at the end of the trees but by the time i get close the trees have come back together and I am stuck in the dark again. I don't want to kill myself, I don't want to die and stop living this life. I feel in my heart that I deserve to be happy, I deserve to be in love and experience everything the world has to offer me .. but I just can't get there.
Any advice, recommendation, or encouragement is really really strongly appreciated. Thank you all and I hope you're all okay.

I find it so frustrating when people try to dismiss people's lack of romantic experience by bringing up the "make friends" card. They say that if you're whining about never being romantically loved, whilst also having platonic friends then you're just whining about not being able to have sex which just means you need to grow up and control your horniness or just get a sex doll. They think that romance is meaningless (whilst also being married and having kids and blah blah blah) - hypocrisy - why don't they divorce their wives and put their kids up for adoption if all means so little to them? I mean, wouldn't they be able to spend more money on the all-saving therapy that they love to prescribe us so much?)
But it doesn't make sense (if you didn't think so already). People invest much less into platonic friendships than romantic relationships. No one commits to platonic friendships in the same way as romantic relationships. No one buys a house with their friends. No one sleeps with their friends , or shares bedrooms with their friends. There is no platonic equivalent to marriage. No one adopts kids with their friends. No one shares bank accounts with their friends.
Friendship also isn't exclusive. If a friend is nice to you, they're nice to others too - even people who aren't their friends, people are nice and friendly to strangers all the time, it doesn't mean anything.
And especially as an adult, no one has time for friends. After spending several grueling months going to meetup.com events and going to hobby groups after work and going to nightclubs, I've finally found a group of friends. But these friends are people who I at the very most meet up with once a week, but usually once every other week, sometimes once a month.
And when we hang out, they'll drop me in an instant as soon as another woman gives them an inch of attention. If we go to a nightclub and a girl hits on them, poof, he's gone for the entire night dancing with her, making out with her, and taking her to his place. My existence is comepletely forgotten.
Why in the world would I value my friendships when others see as such low value? The value of it clearly pales in comparison to the value of a romantic relationship.
And maybe some would find it egotistical to care about such things but if you don't have the self awareness to realize it yet, but *shocker* humans are egotistical. Humans want to be happy. Humans want attention. Humans want to be loved. Humans want to be admired. Humans want to be special and unique, we don't want to just be hollow NPCs wandering around the world aimlessly.
That's what I am and that's what a lot of people here feel like, but if there was one person in the world who behaved towards us in a way that was special and unique to us, behaved towards us in a way that wasn't reserved for anyone else - exclusive to us, then we'd feels like MCs. We'd be main characters in the eyes of the one who loved us. And I can't imagine that feeling anything less than amazing.
But no, at the moment I'm barely an NPC in everyone else's mind. People are friendly to me, but then they turn around and are just as friendly to strangers, sometimes even friendlier. People may hang out with me, but they'll hang out with others at the same time. They'll never hang out with me alone. They'll never speak to me alone, unless they're waiting for something else and just using me to pass the time. I'm just a side quest - no - I'm an NPC they interact with whilst they wait for the next level of the side quest to load. I'm always the one who has to make plans to hang out. Which usually get rejected with a "too busy" most of the time.
Even when I manage to go on dates, I'm the one giving out all the affection, and compliments, and planning the date, and escalating things physically, whilst she just mindlessly recieves it. And then ghosts me at the end of the date for reasons I'm not privy to. But usually the date never happens because they're apparently always "busy". They're not busy. They're too busy for me. I have no value in their eyes.
How the fuck is something like that supposed to make me happy?
But like with most normie takes on loneliness, it's just a simple way of belittling us. It's gaslighting. It's schadenfreude, nothing more. They don't mean well, they're not ignorant, they're purposefully lying to hurt us, because that's what the superior do to the inferior.
If you see a wall street banker kicking a homeless man and telling them to "get a job", it isn't because they mean well, it's because they're bored and are searching for a high. In the same way, if you see a normie with a girlfriend calling a lonely man an inc** and telling them to "stop whining like a little bitch", it isn't because they mean well, it's because they're bored and are searching for a high.

Greetings, Future PT friends!
The Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) for US DPT Program admissions for 2023-2024 are opening soon, so AMA about US DPT admissions and applications! I am a long-time DPT program faculty member and have many years of experience on DPT Program Admissions Committees. This will be my eighth consecutive year doing this AMA.
As always, I'll do my best to provide honest and useful answers to your questions. You can check out the previous/archived AMAs from 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 where I've answered questions from applicants who are just like you!

Race Information

• Name: Race the Lake Marathon
• Date: June 3, 2023
• Distance: 26.2 miles
• Location: Cooperstown, NY
• Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/9196070733
• Time: 5:20

Goals

Goal	Description	Completed?
A	Sub 5	No

Splits

Mile	Time
1	10:55
2	10:52
3	10:43
4	10:45
5	10:58
6	10:46
7	10:50
8	11:14
9	10:50
10	10:39
11	11:22
12	11:04
13	10:58
14	11:30
15	12:05
16	10:42
17	12:06
18	12:23
19	4:30
20	11:46
21	11:12
22	11:40
23	12:51
24	12:38
25	11:04
26	12:34

Training

I am not a runner, I started running in barefoot shoes 8 months prior to this race while sprinkling in a few barefoot runs as well. This was something I didn’t ever in my life think I could do.
Training was difficult for this, I have 3 young children who are very active with sports so finding the time to train was tricky. I was either running at 4am before the kids woke up, or running at night after the kids went to sleep. With all of my regular training, I refuse to allow my training to take time away from my children, so I treated this with no difference.
The course had a lot of elevation, 1500 feet to be exact so I knew I had to train hills. Luckily, I live in the countryside, so everywhere was hills. I incorporated them into every aspect of my runs which helped a lot. Training went well overall, I was building mileage appropriately, recovering nicely, everything was on point until I broke my little toe at Taekwondo practice. I couldn’t put shoes on for 5 days it was so badly swollen. The toe broke 5 weeks before race day. Terrible timing as that was when I was really ramping up my mileage. I decided to cut out the long runs and focus on hammering the hills. Every run hurt, but it was manageable. Sadly, I knew this left me as being under trained for the race, I knew it was going to hurt. But I had made a commitment to myself, my kids and I was raising money for the Taekwondo school, so I couldn’t let them down. The good thing was I was prepared for the hills. The bad thing, my longest ever run was a HM, and the longest run on this training block was 12 miles.

Pre-race

I was nervous, I knew I had under trained, my toe hurt but the show had to go on. 2 days prior to the race I started loading up on carbs, and eating as healthy as I could. I was stretching, doing breathing exercises and really trying to mentally prepare for what was to come. I am new to running, but not new to doing fairly extreme fitness stuff. I’ve done 1300 burpees in 2 hours, I train in Kettlebell Sport, so the mental side of this wasn’t going to be an issue. Ive smashed through pain barriers and walls hundreds of times. It was the physical side I was worried about because I knew I wasn’t prepared as well as I could have been.
I slept like a baby the night before, woke up early, ate some oatmeal, drank an electrolyte drink and drove to the race. I did a little stretching, chatted to the folks running, made some jokes and tried to keep calm and relaxed, even though inside I was very nervous!

Race

Miles 1 through 13.1 went off beautifully, I kept a great pace, not too fast, nice and smooth all while watching the beautiful views of the lake. I was focused in on myself and not those around me. I actually made my 2nd fastest HM time! Everything was going great, but doubts started to creep into my mind. At this point I was in unchartered territory as far as distance goes. Id never been past this point, my mind was telling me things I didn’t want to hear, but ultimately I felt OK.
Miles 13.1 through 18 continued to go quite smoothly, I was maintaining a good pace, hitting the hills hard and recovering on the downhills as I did in my training. I was stopping for 30 seconds at every aid station, stretching, hydrating etc and then continuing on nicely. The difficulty was ramping up though, the sun was right into my face and the wind followed. It felt like I was pushing against a wall in some places, especially on the uphills. At this point I decided to start taking the race by chinks. 0.25 mile chunks at a time, get through that, then move onto the next 0.25 miles. This helped me immensely.
Miles 18 through 23 I did not hit the famous wall! It got hard, but mentally I was absolutely fine, continuing to break the race into 0.25 mile chunks. Physically was becoming more of a struggle, my toe was hurting really bad. One difficult thing about this race was we ran with traffic (the right hand side of the road) so every step was essentially on my little toe. It was between this mileage where the pain was excruciating.
Miles 23 through 25 I was in the middle of the countryside, I hadn’t seen anyone for some time. I knew there was quite a few people behind me, but I didn’t see them. I hit a breaking point in my mind and I wanted to quit. The next 3 miles seemed impossible. I tried to focus myself, so I started to think about my grandmother and grandfather. They were the only people in my life who believed in me. They always told me when I was growing up that I can do anything I put my mind too. These thoughts caused me to cry a little bit, so I decided that I would crawl across that line if I had to. Mile 24 the cramps started, full body cramps, uncontrollable (Was this a wall?) so I decided to just yell at the cramps and push through, every step hurt but my mind was strong. That’s all I needed to continue.
The last mile. The cramps did not let up, but I was close to the finish line I knew I had done it, I knew I had finished something I didn’t ever believe I could do, with a broken toe as well! I was 0.4 miles from the finish line and I was struggling bad. A very kind man with a bike who was sweeping up and down the race to make sure people were OK rode alongside me and said im so close to finishing, finish strong! He then offered to run the last part with me. He got off his bike, told me to set the pace and we finished together. I will be forever grateful to him for that support, because I really needed it.

Post-race

I got my medal, got my photograph, sat down for a minute and drank some water, got up and drove an hour to pick my kids up from their grandparents’ house. Drove another hour home, took my dogs for a walk, and collapsed on the sofa exhausted haha. My boys got my massage gun out and started using it on my feet, they wanted to do everything for me (They are only 5 and 7) so that was super sweet! For dinner I ate a triple burger with extra bacon from the local restaurant, best tasting burger EVER!!. It took a long time for my heart rate to normalize but once it did I went to sleep and slept well. The next morning the left side of my body hurt like hell, im guessing I overcompensated my left side while running to subconsciously protect my broken toe? Either way I was very stiff and sore, but nothing serious. Just aches and pains from putting my body through. Toe hurts a lot and I will now let it heal completely before resuming anymore running. But I feel good!
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Demographics: Asian, male, international student, rising senior, low-income family GPA: School doesn’t have a GPA system but I have scored 90%+ in all classes SAT: 1530 (750ERW, 780M) Grades: O Levels: 10A*s A Levels: Bio, Phy, Chem, and Math Intended Major: Any STEM-related field (undecided) Achievements and ECs: • Fully sponsored summer camp in Germany (organized by DAAD) • Gold Medal in the Hippo International English Language Olympiad • Semifinalist in the Asian Regional Space Settlement Design Contest (ARSSDC) • Young Physicists Tournament (semi-finalist) • Particle Physics Competition hosted by CERN (result pending) • National Science Bowl (semi-finalist) • Organizing team at my school’s first national STEM event • Stanford Math Tournament • Public speaking (since middle school) • Sports (badminton, table tennis) • Co-founder of a student-led NGO • 60hrs volunteering (teaching at schools) • Chess (planning to form a chess club at my school) • Student council • Critical Thinking course by the University of Missouri • National Biology Olympiad (participant)
LOR: 1) Physics teacher 2) Academic coordinator who was my science teacher and has known me since middle school I’m still unsure which colleges to apply to. Was considering any of the Ivies or John Hopkins, but I don’t think my ECs are good enough. Need to know if I have any realistic chances of getting admitted to these colleges or any other good ones. Also, please suggest if there is anything I could do this summer to strengthen my application.
Some other Unis I will apply to:

• Vanderbilt
• Washington Uni
• UChicago
• One or two safety schools