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Hi everyone! My pen name is Hannah and I am a 17-year-old girl. I like languages, friends, cats, and many other things. I really love giving advice, and I am studying psychology now. My favorite questions have to do with mental health. As I said above, I am taking psychology classes now, but I also do a lot of outside research, so chances are that if you say something to me about a disorder or anything like that, I will know what you are talking about. Although I am not a licensed psychologist, I hope to someday be one and I would love to get some practice here. Also, if you ever have a problem and you like my advice and would like to talk with me, I have many messenger services so I would be more than happy to set up a time to talk with you about whatever you need.
I hope to here from you soon!
advice
Alright, well this might seem a little strange but i think i MIGHT be deppressed, like when I'm with my friends I'm uswally very loud and happy. When I get home .. its just like wow. I get really sad and i want to cry but can't its really strange and i just dont know if i am or not !
please help thanks .
lalalindsay
I will try to answer your question, but keep in mind that I am not a mental health professional. However, I have studied a lot of psychology, so I hope I will be able to help you.
The word "depressed" is used too freely. True depression is more than just sadness. People who are really depressed are not able to be happy and loud with their friends. Many of them are too depressed to go out with their friends at all. People who suffer from depression have other symptoms as well. They often withdraw from families and friends and do not enjoy the activities they used to love. They find it very difficult, if not impossible, to cheer themselves up. Physical symptoms include changes in appetite and sleep habits, and/or unexplained fatigue or pains.
During the teenage years, it is perfectly normal to be sad sometimes. And when something is bothering you, it makes a lot of sense to feel upset a lot too. It seems like things hit you when you aren't busy with friends or other activities. If this is the case, try to keep busy as much as you can. Relax, but try not to just sit and allow yourself to dwell on the negatives. Although you need to think things through, there is a difference between that and dwelling on them.
You can go to this website to take a self-test for depression:
http://www.firelily.com/support/depression/depression.selfcheck.html
You can also go to this website to find more information on depression, as well as other depression-related mood disorders:
http://www.depression.com/depression_basics.html
Good luck, and if you ever want to talk leave me a message in my inbox. =]
Best wishes,
Hannah
Hey,
Just out of curiosity, why are elephants afraid of mice? Or is this just an old wives tale?
Thanks.
Random Person
Hey!
Thanks for writing. =] And your question was very interesting. Here is what I found out for you:
Elephants are not afraid of mice. It is a very common myth. Actually, elephants don't fear much of anything.
Here is some more information in case you are curious:
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/12/27/111936.php
-Hannah =]
what should i wear?!
i'm so nervous, and just don't know
any advice would we mucho appreciated!
thanks :D
It really depends on how your boyfriend celebrates it. I don't think that most people dress up, so if I were you I would just wear normal everyday clothes if his family is like that too. But if you really aren't sure and don't have an opportunity to ask him, wear nice black pants and a nice shirt. This way, no matter how other people dress you will be ready for the occasion. You really can't go wrong.
-Hannah
I love to sing, i reallty do!!! But i sound terrible in front of crowds, and really good by myself!
Tips?
I have a very similar problem, only instead of singing, it is with speaking French. I sound a lot more fluent when I am by myself, but once I have to recite something or speak in front of the class, I sound awful.
I think the reason that you don't sound as good as you'd like to in front of crowds is because you are nervous. Here are some tips:
1.) Practice. The more well-prepared you are, the more confident you will be, and the better you will perform.
2.) After you have practiced, perform or enter a contest! Just knowing that you were able to sing in front of people at all is comforting. Plus, it helps you get used to it so you will be less nervous in the future.
3.) Is it possible to videotape yourself while singing? There are many benefits to this. One is that it will help get over your fear of singing in front of people, because you will be singing in front of a camera. People's reaction to being videotaped is very similar to that of stage fright. Even though it isn't the same thing, it will probably benefit you in some way. It's worth a try! Also, if you are brave enough to listen to and/or watch the videos that you made, you can see what you can do to improve. This should also boost your confidence when you perform in front of people.
Here is a website that may help you overcome stage fright:
http://www.antion.com/articles/stagefright.htm
Good luck, and if you have anymore questions or need clarification on anything I said, feel free to send a message to my inbox. =]
Best wishes,
Hannah
i have a problem with pulling out my eyelashes.
i go through fazes where i don't do it for a while ; & i have these think , curly, beautiful Itlaian eyelashes. normally, that's during the summer. or for a week or two during the school year. mostly, i just pick at them at random times. currently, that's where i am. when i am bored, don't want to do homework, anything. my mom says i usually do it throghout the school year because i'm stressed. i always ask this question, & everyone gives me such great answers. for some reason, i jsut can't stop.currently i have practically no eyelashes on both of my bottom lids. on the top, i have sparse clumps of 5 or 6. i look disgusting. it's tearing me apart. please help me
Trichotillomania: An overpowering and/or uncontrollable urge pull out hairs from various parts of the body, often while feeling bored or stressed
Does this sound like you? Trichotillomania is quite common, and it affects a wide range of people. Surprisingly, there isn't a whole lot of self-tests and other resources for people with it, unlike those with other psychological disorders. If you would like to ask questions of Trichotillomania sufferers, go to this page:
http://dailystrength.org/support/Anxiety_Disorders/Trichotillomania_Hair_Pulling/
The website is called DailyStrength, and it is a great website to talk to other users with a wide variety of difficulties in their lives. Even if you don't have Trichotillomania, there are many other communities to join, and it is worth checking out.
As for your eyelashes, they will probably start to grow back in three months, starting from the time that you stop pulling them. However, if there is serious trauma to the follicles, some of them won't grow back as well, and they won't be as full as they were before.
I also struggle with hair pulling. If you have anymore questions, feel free to contact me. =]
Good luck,
Hannah
--------------
EDIT:
I just wanted to thank you so much for your feedback. And yes, it will be a long fight. But so many others like you have been through it, and I am sure that you will be able to find support from a variety of sources. I do highly recommend the site I gave you. I use it all the time. Good luck, and write me anytime. =]
okay so it's kinda hard to find a bathing suit in the winter..
does anyone know where i can find one in stores? or even from a website that you know of. i tried googling it but it gives me these weird sites with ugly suits. i'm looking for one with a regular bikini top and boy shorts. i'm going to an indoor water park in january and i want to get it soon if i might be ordering it offline
any help is mucho appreciated!
thanks :D
I have a website that shows a basic white bikini white boy shorts. However, it is nice because you can order them in 13 colors, so if you don't like white, you have other options.
http://www.bodybody.com/hobuhatopboy.html
A few more designs are located here:
http://www.smarter.com/---se--qq-Boy+Shorts+Swimsuit--pt-0--tt-.html
The following is actually a skirt bottom, but it's cute:
http://www.bodybody.com/hobuhatopboy.html
I hope you find what you are looking for, and have fun at the waterpark!
~Hannah
i know this is kinda weird... but it always feels like i have to go the bathroom, and when i do it burns and hurts my lower stomach. i have had sex before but i know 100% that they dont have an STD. is it possible that i have one or is it something else?
I don't think it's an STD, but as the person above me stated, you probably have a urinary tract infection (UTI). You said you have had sex before. Sex transmits bacteria, so that could be where you got your infection from. If this is the case, you should try to prevent it in the future. One way to do this is by going to the bathroom both before and after you have sex.
If you think you have a UTI, you shouldn't wait very long to see a doctor because the infection can go to your kidneys and complicate matters if you wait a really long time. When you go to the doctors, you will tell them your symptoms and they will ask you to go to the bathroom in a cup. They will take your urine sample to search for bacteria. If it is confirmed that you have a UTI, you will be put on an antibiotic. Sometimes, the first one doesn't work. If this is the case, simply go to the doctor and they will try another.
Before and during treatment, there are some things you can do to make the infection clear up more quickly. These never hurt, so even if you aren't sure you have a UTI, feel free to use them.
1.) Drink LOTS of water. Water helps to flush out the bacteria. Although you need an antibiotic to kill all of it, flushing some of it out definitely helps.
2.) Eat cranberries or drink cranberry juice. They are know for helping UTI infections.
Besides a UTI, you could also have an irritation down there. Is it possible that you scratched yourself there? Do you drink a lot of coffee and/or tea? Excessive amounts of caffeine are also known to cause irritations. Drinking water will help sooth the area, but you should also go to the doctor in case he can give you something to make the irritation go away faster.
I have had UTIs before, so if you have any questions about anything I have said, feel free to ask me. =]
Best wishes,
Hannah
Ok so this is kinda awkward... But I was picking my nose and I felt this bump on the skin. I'm afraid its a tumor! Is that possible? (No, I'm positive its not a boogerrr)
And, this was like a week ago its still there so I'm getting kinda worried that I've got a tumor inside my nose
First, make sure that this bump isn't on the same place of the other side of your nose. Chances are, if it is on the other side, it is nothing unusual at all.
If you really don't feel anything, is there any way to see it? I'm not sure how far back it is, but if possible use a mirror and check for the following signs of tumors:
!.) Asymmetry: The bump does not look the same throughout. It has uneven edging.
2.) Different colors: There are different colors throughout the bump, ranging from purple to blue, or brown to black.
3.) Size: usually is 6mm or more in diameter (1/4 inch).
Also, notice any new or unusual symptoms. I knew someone who had cancer in his nose and he had a cold that lasted for more than six months, for example. But be aware of any symptoms.
Hannah
i dont need glasses but i want a pair to dress up my outfits. idk how to explain the kind i want. like .. " cute school girl" lol does anyone know where can i get some?! thank you in advance!
I think it is the same thing as contacts. Many people get colored contacts without a prescription because they don't have any seeing problems. The best place to go for these is an eye doctor because cheap glasses in other places often are reading glasses or have a low prescription. They also probably don't have the styles you are looking for.
When you go to the eye doctor, just tell them that you want glasses for cosmetic reasons. There is a wide variety of styles, and someone can help you pick which glasses works best for your face shape and the colors of your face, eyes, and hair. But in the end, of course, it is your decision which glasses you buy.
They should also be cheaper than other glasses bought at a doctor's office because they won't have a prescription.
Good luck! =]
Hannah
So what would the penalty be for actually spending a night in the school. Like if you got caught. There wouldn't be any break and entry, theres no trespassing charges, so i can't think of anything that they could do if they caught you?? Please don't ask whyyy im thinking of this, just random because im taking a crime and justice course and it would be pretty sketchy to ask the teacher. Soo any ideas?? this is the state of NJ by the way.
It really depends on the school you go to, not just the state. If your school has rules about staying in school after a certain time, then those would be the rules that you follow. But even if it isn't written somewhere, you probably would get in trouble. It would be suspicious because you really have no business being there at night. If you honestly didn't do anything wrong in the school, then maybe you would just have suspension.
Another question: where would you be in the school? If it is in a classroom, teachers probably have rules about students being there when they are not.
Very interesting question! =]
Hannah
heyy! okay so i have this assignment thingy in civics. well i've been looking all over the internet and i can't find much (doesn't help either that im not good with researching stuff..) so anyway...here's the assignment:
Have to find the advantages and disadvantages of a Theocracy government (the combination of strong national pride and strong religious beliefs has lead to the control of the governement by religious leaders) Also name countries that have that type of government.
Same thing for a Monarchy government (power is inherited and passed down the royal family line [hereditary]) AND dictatorship (power is in the hands of ONE individual, who usually has teh support of the army)
omgosh..anyone who helps..i am extremely grateful! thanks so much in advance for those who help!
Hi! I hope I can help you with your assignment. :)
Here is a site that shows what countries have a theocracy. It is only Wikipedia, but it is a good place to start.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theocracy
I'm not sure if this will help you or not, but here is a website that talks about the governmental role of Islam in some countries:
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:PqKn-F8VEvkJ:www.eliamep.gr/eliamep/files/PN05.07.Simoglou9612.pdf+theocracy+advantages&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us
This is probably the best site I have given you. It is a good website for quick facts about the advantages and disadvantages of a theocracy. I'm not sure how much you have to write, but you can always expand upon this information:
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:Lps32rBk9JYJ:www.apocnation.com/docs/governments.phtml+theocracy+advantages+disadvantages&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us
It was hard to find good information, so I hope that what I was able to give you was helpful. Good luck with your assignment!
Hannah
i need a bathing suit. a one piece halter top swim suit i looked everywhere. i need some major help. can someone please help me.
thhankss in advance.
You're right--they are hard to find! I did find a few things for you to look at thought. It depends on how much money you are willing to spend, but here are a few websites I found for you:
http://www.nextag.com/halter-one-piece-swimsuit/search-html
This one is great because it has a wide range of styles along with a wide range of prices. If you are willing to spend a high price for a nice one, those are here. If you want an average price, you can find those too.
Another one is here. It only has one bathing suit:
http://www.amiclubwear.com/nsf721pink.html
I hope you find what you are looking for! :)
Hannah
Well i am having my period right now, but it is near the end- but recently there has been something wrong. When I use the bathroom, it kind of takes me a while before I can pee which is strange because that never happened before. It kind of started like yesterday. I don't know if it is because of my period or if it is something more serious. Do you think I could have a UTI? Because like yesterday, I kind of had a mild fever. 99.5 degrees but it is gone now. I'm really worried- because I am not sure if there is anything wrong with me.
Sometimes this happens to me when I have my period. It doesn't last more than two or three days, and that is the only symptom. If this describes you, then I would say that is normal for your body.
However, if you really have to strain to go, if it worsens, if you have a burning sensation when you go, or if you feel like you have to go even after you just went, then you could have a UTI. But since most of us here aren't doctors, we can't really diagnose you.
If you suspect that you have a UTI, don't be nervous. When you go to the doctor, you will ahve to pee in a cup and they will check the sample for bacteria. If it is confirmed that you have a UTI, you will be given antibiotics and perhaps other things. When I had one, I had to take a bath in baking soda.
The main thing is, don't be too worried until more symptoms show up or if your present symptoms don't go away. Good luck!
Best wishes,
Hannah
I'm in our 8th grade Honor Society, and I want to organize a Holiday Gift Tree this year. What kind of things do I need to do to prepare for this? Like where do we send the gifts when we're done, and where do we get the tree, etc? Thanks in advance.
Some places will donate trees if you are getting the gifts for charity. You would need to go to a tree farm or call a store in your area to see if they would do this. Of course, it depends on the size of the tree. Many places would be more willing to donate a smaller tree than a larger tree. Keep that in mind.
Also, you could use a fake tree. I don't know how big your Honors Society is, but maybe someone is getting a new one and doesn't want their old one. Or, if possible you could borrow it, depending on how long you will need it.
As for who to give the gifts to, there are many organizations out there. One of them is Operation Christmas Child, which prepares shoeboxes of toys and other items to go to poor children during the holidays. But if you choose this, I think you will have to hurry because they will be delivering them soon.
Toys for Tots is another great organization that delivers toys to children. You can find their website here:
http://www.toysfortots.org/
I think this is a great thing that you are doing, and good luck with everything! =]
Best wishes,
Hannah
My best friend and I are thinking of starting a babysitting business, since we're both certified in CPR and First Aid, and have taken a bunch of babysitting courses, too.
We were wondering how we could go about this.
Like what should we charge, should we baby-sit together, or on our own, how should we advertise, .etc.
Thank You :)
-Mariah-
Answer ratings will be given
Hi Mariah!
All of your questions really depend on where you live and who you are sitting for, but I will answer them in the best way I can.
Advertising:
-Make flyers and put them in the mailboxes of people in your neighborhood (if that is allowed in your state)
-Make an add in the newspaper. Some newspapers allow you to do it for free, and it doesn't have to be anything fancy. Just write basic information and contact numbers.
-For flyers, put all the info that you have in your first paragraph, just write it in a professional way. Also, include contact information, and ages you're willing to sit for.
Rates
-This really depends on where you live and who you are sitting for. It also depends on whether or not you will be expected to do things like cooking or feeding pets. But if all you are doing is watching children, it could be anywhere from $5.00-$10.00 per child. Many sitters add on a dollar for each additional child.
-To avoid charging to much or too little, don't have a set rate. Have the parents just pay you whatever you deserve. If you have a problem with it later, you can either discuss it or stop sitting with the family.
Alone vs. Together
-It's really up to you. You would probably earn more money doing it yourself, but for some families, it could be easier to do it together. One family I know doesn't let one babysitter watch her kids because they are very wild and energenic. This would be the perfect job for a business like yours. That said, many parents would rather have just one sitter to make sure that all attention is on the kids and not the friend that is helping.
I hope this helps, and if you have anymore questions, feel free to write back. :)
Hannah
ok i babysit this little girl shes 3 and when its close for her to go to bed she starts crying because she misses her mom what do i do.
I would explain this to the parents before they leave. They will want to know if something is bothering their child and they may even have some advice for you. This won't make them think that the child doesn't like you, trust me.
One of the things you could do is ask the parents to call home when it's near bedtime and allow them to talk to the child and say good-night. It is also a good idea in general for parents to call home once just to check on things.
Does the child follow a specific routine when she goes to bed? If so, following this routine may alleviate some of her anxiousness.
Good luck, and don't worry. This is a perfectly normal and understandable problem. :)
-Hannah
There`s this girl that I was best friends with all last year, but to make a long story short, she didn`t alot of things and started alot of rumors about me. So, I tried to gradually break away from her, but I learned something about her today. Her brother is one of my best friends and he`s not the type to break down crying over nothing. In school today, he started crying and put his head on his desk, so I asked him what was wrong. According to him, his parents have been beating them since around September. I remember the girl calling me in September when her brother had start crying (this was the first time it had happened) and I had asked her about it. She told me it was because her father had hit him, but then the next day she called and said that she was joking. The orphanage place came to the school today after her brother went to the counselor and called her to the counselor as well. Even though I strongly dislike this girl, I honestly want to help even though I`m not sure why. If that makes any sense...any ideas of something I can do for them or to at least cheer them up to let them know that someone cares?
Wow, I am so sorry for your friend and his sister. That must be a horrible thing to go through. It is great of you to want to help even though you don't like the girl very much.
First realize you can't be expected to take away your friend's pain. There are things you can do to help, but don't feel bad if what you do doesn't seem to be working. In other words, don't expect to be perfect. That being said, you can make a difference in their lives during this time.
Imagine being in your friend's place. No one (I'm assuming) knew about this problem until recently. He has a lot of pain built up inside him and he's losing his family. What would you want if this were you? It is a very difficult thing to imagine if you haven't been through it, but it helps to think about it.
I'm not too sure where your friend was taken, but is it possible to visit him and his sister? They will need people to be close to now more than ever, and just knowing you're there will make a huge difference, even if you can't change the world for them. You will take away some of their loneliness and replace it with trust. Here are some tips for talking with your friend:
1.) Don't try to empathize by saying things like, "I know how you feel" because chances are, you don't. This is in no way your fault, but it is just that no one can understand what a person is going through unless they have been through the same situation. And sometimes even then it is hard.
2.) Don't push your friend to talk. Although he may have pent-up emotions, he may want to try to deal with them in other ways before talking. If this is the approach he takes, don't be offended because it is nothing personal. Eventually he may want to talk about it, and you will be the caring person who listens.
3.) If he chooses to talk to you, there may not be a lot that you know how to say. That's fine because he will probably just want you to listen. Compare this to when a close family member dies. If you are talking to a close friend about a recent death, you probably just want to let it out and have someone there to listen. Although some opinions and memories from your friend may be helpful, you probably don't want to hear all the stories about when her grandmother died. You are grieving, so you need to let it out. This could be how your friend would feel.
Here are some websites that might help you out:
http://panicdisorder.about.com/cs/forfriendsfamily/a/timegift.htm (This is actually about panic disorder, but there is some useful information)
http://incestabuse.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.geocities.com%2FHotSprings%2F2656%2Findex.html
http://incestabuse.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.geocities.com%2FWellesley%2F5592%2Fdoanddont.html (some do's and don't's about talking to your friend)
http://incestabuse.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Frivervision.com%2Fsafe%2Ffriendhelp.html (helping a friend who has been assaulted)
I hope that these help you. I'm sure that you will do a great job helping your friend because you seem to really care about him. If you have another question or need clarification on anything I said, feel free to send me a message. Good luck! =]
Best wishes,
Hannah
theres' this song that i love.
but the only part i remember is
"act sexy talk dirty"
it sounds like missy elliot?
or ciara? i can't tell.
any help would be wonderful [[:
thanks
I am not sure if this is right, so I'm sorry if I'm wrong. This song looks similar to what you described. It is "So Excited" by Janet Jackson.
Here is a Youtube video if you want to listen to it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGB4tbYoeaQ
I hope it's the right song! =]
~Hannah
what does it mean when a ipod shuffle the light keeps blinking green and orange?
That happened to me once. It was realy odd because it was long after I uploaded my songs. I plugged it into my computer to charge it, and then when I took it out and tried to play it, it blinked. If you have already uploaded songs, maybe this is what is going on. All you have to do is put the iPod into the computer, connect to iTunes, and make sure your songs are on your iPod, not just your music library. If not, just move them to your iPod.
Good luck!
-Hannah
I feel like my life is falling apart...it seems like every good step i take i fall behind another step...i come from a broken home and my step mom is the best thing that has happened since then but my parents fight and my real mom and i don't even speak.......and i just feel like the new family we have created is going to fall down the same path as my father's first marrige??????
Hi,
I'm sorry about your relationship with your mother. It is really hard when your family doesn't get along. But I think it is wonderful that you and your step-mom get along well. That's great!
If there is no reason to believe that your "new" family will fall down the same path, then don't worry about it. Maybe a mistake was made in the past, and people have learned from it (I don't know the situation). But no matter what happened in the past, your family gets a chance to start over. It is probably still painful, but it is something new. And getting a fresh start shouldn't include worrying that past events might repeat themselves, especially if there are no signs of that happening.
So above all, relax and cherish your family. Get close with your step-mom, and if possible try to repair things with your mom.
I really hope things go well for you. If you have a question or want to talk, leave me a message in my inbox. Good luck. :)
~Hannah
-------
Thanks for your feedback, but I didn't really understand what you meant by "thanks but I am just really emotional." Did I not answer your question? What exactly were you looking for?