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Q: I have friends, but I'd like to have a lot more. I'd like to have as many as possible and to feel like I've made a difference in as many lives as I can. I just want to make an impact in people's lives and I want to be liked by a lot of people. I don't mean to sound desperate or needy or anything, I've just been inspired by one of my role models, a guy named Phil, to try to commit as many acts of kindness as I can, rather than stopping at being nice enough.

My question is about how to go about it. I want to do nice things for people without looking like I'm trying too hard, but how? Do I look for nice things to do? Should I do things like bring my classmates and coworkers cookies or coffee or something like that? Should I only do nice things when the opportunities to do so present themselves? How can I be more like Phil and be the best person I can be?
First of all, I highly commend you on wanting to be the best version of yourself possible. That is a really admirable quality. The issue for you may lie in the fact that your will to help others and desire to be liked by many may not always coincide.

For example, while a lot of people hold people like Jesus, Abraham Lincoln and, Martin Luther King Jr. in high esteem, these men where, and continue to be, hated by many. So much so in fact that that hatred lead to violent deaths for all of them.

I think you seem like a genuine person. So, the first thing is you have to figure out your priority here. I would hope that your priority is to be helpful to others as you say. If it indeed is, then being liked should be secondary.

Basically, if you approach it from a place of kindness and caring in your heart and not really worry about what you get back out of it in the form of whether or not people like you, you will not only come across as more genuine but also be more genuine. The specific things you do are not what matters so much as doing them genuinely. And in doing so, you'll be liked by people that will matter in your life. Don't worry about the rest.






Q: How to prevent diabetes and which therapy should i use to get rid of diabetes?
There are lots of things you can do to try to prevent diabetes. However, if you do end up a diabetic, you need to realize that this is a chronic condition. That means that you can't get rid of it, you will always have it, but you can treat it. the only real exception to that rule is what they call "gestational diabetes" which is temporary and only occurs in pregnant women.

As far as ways to try to prevent it go, one big one is to keep your weight under control. Another is to try to eat a healthy diet and avoid excess sugar. You should be extra diligent about these things if you have a family history of the disease.

Basically, trying to live a healthy lifestyle is a good practice o try to avoid getting diabetes. Nothing is full proof but in doing so you drastically increase your chances of achieving this goal.






Q: I'm planing to get a tablet and the one I plan to get says wifi enabled? What does that mean? Does that mean I can use wifi anywhere for free or would I have to sign a plan? And if so, how much would unlimited wireless wifi cost?
If your device is wifi enabled, that basically means it is set up to access wifi networks. It should recognize the existence of networks that are in range but you will only be able to access the ones that are public or non-secured.

For example, many coffee shops and restaurants and some retail stores have publicly accessible wifi. Some residential networks are unsecured and thus technically accessible but it's an issue of ethics because you are feeding off of someone else's network that they are paying for. For that reason, you are probably best to avoid them.

So while wifi, and especially the free kind, doesn't exist everywhere, it is available in many places. If you want to have Internet access readily available anywhere that it possibly can be, you will need to sign up for a plan, mostly likely through a cell phone company and possibly a cable provider.

Prices vary a lot depending upon where you live and what providers are in that area of the world.

Q: What do u think of older men that do this? Are they sstrange or is it normal?
One thing we as a collective society across the world really need to think about is how we use the word "normal." After all, what is normal?

For example, while it is normally considered rude to belch in American culture, it is normally considered a compliment to the chef in others.

The same goes for the term strange. One person's strange can be another person's normal. As another example here, many people might think it is strange is someone does not drink alcohol. However, some cultures and societies think partaking in a beer is out of the norm.

From a psychological perspective, this would probably be something that is considered to be along the spectrum of many things that are considered normal.

All in all, the important thing is that we understand that we not all the same like cookies form a cookie cutter or candies from a mold. Our differences are what make us unique and so long as they are not hurting anyone, we should respect, and if so inclined, celebrate them.


Q: I am 20 years old n have sex on 22 feb With my bf after 1 year. He always used two condoms but this time he used same n i bleed even i was not no more virgin .now m depreesed thAt my period is late like 15 days. So wat is reason for my late period? M opregnant ?
First thing is first, using two condoms is a very bad idea. While many people might think it can add extra protection, in fact it puts you more at risk. This is because they rub against one another and cause friction that can damage them. For that reason, please know that two is not always better than one.

I would certainly see your doctor and have him or her look into possible pregnancy or if the bleeding could have been the result of something else. Without checking into it, nobody can tell you for sure whether you are pregnant or not or what the cause of bleeding might be.

Hang in there.




Q: 20/f

Chase accidentally deposited $1000 in my account. The day I saw it, which was about a month ago, I called them just in case someone else had access to my account. They said it was an error on their side and they'll take care of it. They never took it out and I called a few more times.

I mean I'd love to keep $1000 but it's not mine and I don't want them coming after me.

Should I just go to the bank myself and talk to them? Or just wait it out?
It's just the bank is a far drive and that's why I haven't gone in myself. I kinda live in the middle of no where.

Anyways, what should I do? I called and each time they said they'll take care of it but they haven't taken it out.
Wow, a bank error in your favor. Usually that works the other way around lol. But in all seriousness, I commend you for your attempt to be honest about their error in this case. Some people would have surely tried to get away with taking the cash that is clearly not theirs.

I would call, one more time and explain that you've been told it would be taken care of repeatedly and that nobody has followed through. Maybe even ask to speak to a supervisor about the issue.

If you find out that it still seems like nothing is happening, just basically do what you are doing. Ignore that money as if it isn't in your account so that you make sure not to use it. At some point or another, someone in the company will notice the mistake and take action to correct it. If you never use it, there really shouldn't be any problems when they do.

I suppose the only thing they could say is that you didn't inform them and possibly now owe a penalty. But, if you keep records of when you call and who you talk too, and even the fact that the company themselves record the calls, you can refer them to the evidence that you did indeed inform them and they cannot hold anything against you.


Q: what does 'jet leg' or 'jet lag' mean?
Jet Lag is basically something that occurs in a person after he or she has been on a flight for an extensive amount of time. For the most part, as I understand it, the main issue that people have is tiredness or fatigue. And sometimes it takes a little time for your body and mind to bounce back and get back on track to how you usually feel.

This would give you a more complete idea:
http://www.nojetlag.com/jetlag1.html

There are lots of things you can do to help avoid or minimize jet lag. Here are a few suggestions:
http://www.vacation-advice.com/top-5-tips-to-avoid-jet-jag/?gclid=CjwKEAiAg_CnBRDc1N_wuoCiwyESJABpBuMXN9hK49QOrk2yWMRQ6j-SBwTsnmzG4fN5Pb5NJ_dOCxoCXnzw_wcB

I hope that answers your question.

Q: Hi, so I am 19 and I am a virgin and I have never kissed anyone, I am what you would call a good girl and I like to take things slow.
Most people say I am too mature for my age, so guys my age don't really fancy me.
The other night I met this guy who I have a lot in common, and he said he likes me and he wants to take me on a date... now the catch is that he is frikkin 32!!!
He is really hot, but I am scared to go out with him, because as an older guy he will probably want to take things fast and he probably is really experienced... and the whole thing scares me as I don't feel ready... and older guys usually wait 2 or 3 days to have sex with a girl!! I don't know if I should date him, but I really like him.

HELP!!
I think your hesitation in and of itself says a lot. We all have instincts and far more often than not, it turn out that our first instincts are the correct one if you will.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with people who have age differences being friends. However, when it comes to romantic relationships, an age gap only becomes less important as you both grow into an older age. Basically, the older you are, the less important it is.

Considering you are still young, and given your apprehension, I personally would suggest that you avoid seeking a romantic connection. As you say, people tell you that you are mature for your age. Well, recognizing that this is the case is a mature decision.

Be friends but don't worry about the rest. I know you want to have someone in your life and you feel like boys your age aren't into you. But, I'm sure that there has to be somebody out there on a similar level of maturity in your age group. And if you have to go with a guy a bit older, you'd probably be better off with one 2-3 years older instead of 12-13.


Q: 23/f

I'm not really sure how to express myself right now I just want to vent to someone to listen. I come from a loving family and could get whatever I possibly wanted. But I sometimes feel so sad that I am going no where in life I always feel everything is my fault. I care about people before i care about myself. I would kill myself to save another person. Growing up I can remember this would happen and I think it is getting worse. Whenever I do something wrong and I make someone angry I start hurting myself when I get in a fight with my boyfriend I start punching myself and pinching my arm I slap myself across the face and I tell myself how useless I am and how my mother should have never had me. Is this normal? I don't know if I want to express my feelings to my family about this. I don't want to be put into a physc place and I feel like if I say something people are going to think I'm dramatic. I just needed someone to vent to about this. No one knows about these. I often think about cutting myself but I don't think I have the courage to take something and cut myself with it. What's wrong with me?
First off all, I want to start of by saying that just making the effort to write this and put it out there shows that you have courage and are seeking healthy and productive ways to deal with your feelings.

I think many of us feel like we are going nowhere or are stuck in a rut from time to time. The key is to realize that this is probably not the case. One good way to do so is to take a self inventory of all the things you have to be grateful for, which obviously includes your family.

The fact that you care about others so much and say you would kill yourself to save another person, which in my opinion means you'd sacrifice and be selfless, is an amazing quality. If anything, that is an indication that you deserve to live a long and happy life.

Most all of us experience anger and frustration toward ourselves at times. I think you just need to understand that's it's OK not to be perfect and you need a healthy way to express your frustration. My suggestion work be to engage in exercise activities or do take up something creative as a new hobby.

I know how hard it can be to share some things with your family. And while it is a decision only you can make, based on how much you say they love you, I would really let them know about what is going on with you. A lot of people have these sort of feelings and don't spend time in institutions. You can certainly look into therapy at an office like you would go to visit any other doctor and possibly some medication to help.

You are caring and courageous and can beat this.


Q: Sometimes it seems like I'm not needed. Why should I stick around if I'm not needed? Apparently I'm annoying, why should I speak if I'm annoying? I don't see a reason to go on, maybe I don't need a reason. Maybe I just just go, a lot of people think I should go and maybe I should listen to them. I mean like, if someone loves me, they wouldn't tell me anything to hurt me. They told me to go and I think I should listen to them.
I'm sorry your are going through this experience. But there is hope. Let's think about it this way. It's all about a perception rather than a reality. You say that it "seems" like you are not needed. Well, it can seem like a lot of things but that doesn't make them true. And you also say "sometimes" which indicates to me that at other times you either feel like you are needed or you at the very least don't feel like you aren't.

Be who you are, if people think you are annoying, then that's either their problem and not yours or it just means you can stand to work on inter-personal skills a bit. We can all use that from time to time.

Sometimes people who love us do make mistakes and say or do things that might hurt us. Or perhaps they say things as a means of constructive criticism. For example, if I was doing something in a way that could be handled better and a parent or sibling called me out on it, I would understand that it is out of love that they are doing so, to help me be the best I can at whatever it may be.

We all have a role to play in this life and as such I am 100% sure you are needed.

Hang in there and you will be ok.


Q: Personally, I have been very miserable all of my life. I have suffered from OCD as long as I can remember. I moved from New York to Florida when I was five years old. It was very traumatic for me. I have tried to commit suicide, but I just ended up in a mental institution. I do see a psychiatrist, but she does not help me. In fact, I only see her for the medication. I am absolutely miserable right now, especially with my job. I decided that I will no longer give any types of hints about suicide because I don't want to end up in a mental institution again. That did nothing to help me. I am going through preparations (getting my house ready, cleaning, trying to pay off bills).
First off, I too have OCD. In fact, the last few days have been particularly tough for me. So while no person can ever say they know exactly what you are going through, please know that I can at least relate in some way.

You have probably heard this before and may even be tired of hearing it but suicide is not the answer. Whether you feel like it or not, I am quite certain that taking that route would devastate a lot of people like friends and family. And based on the fact that you are hear sharing this information, I strongly believe that you are searching for another option.

My first recommendation would be to look into getting another doctor. I had the same issue with one that was basically just a pill dispensary. A good one can really make a difference. You might also want to look into joining either a local or online support group. I belong to one called "David's Drop-In & Participant Led OCD Support" through Google+. It has been great for me and I think it could benefit you as well.

Learn to meditate and try to find a way to channel your struggles in a productive and healthy way. One good option is to do something creative or artistic. It doesn't matter if you are good at it, just that you use it as a tool to work through the rough times.

I try to do it with poetry and photography.

You've made it this far in life, don't let OCD take you down how. Don't give up, you can beat this.

Here are a few more resources that you may find helpful:

The Book "Feeling Good" by Dr. David Burns

http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/





Q: Me and my twin are very different.
We both go to different Uni's in different cities in Britain.

While I am getting on fine and have friends and a life outside work etc I am very concerned about my sister.

She lives in a flat with just three other boys. Two are Chinese and happily go about there business and are NEVER seen in the flat. And the other male flat mate is also never around as he has moved out to live with his girlfriend.

I stayed at her flat and it was very quiet. She is very shy and quite awkward in terms of making friends. She has very few and also she is on a course where most people are adult learners. She's 19.

I want to help her because I feel she's missing out on the best years supposedly of her life. But I don't want to outwardly point out she's lonely thus upsetting her even more and causing stress.

She does attend one society a week but only for an hour.

Any advice is appreciated!
It is wonderful that you care so deeply about how your sister is doing. It would be am amazing would if everyone felt that same way about their siblings.

The thing you have to understand is that everyone is different and we can't just put each person into the same box. While you may feel bad for her and think she is lonely, have you considered that maybe she doesn't feel that way? If she doesn't then there is no need to feel bad for her.

However, if you know and do not just think she feels lonely in her life, you can surely try to help her. Since she's the shy type, perhaps trying to get her involved with either a local or online group for social anxiety support could be helpful. If she lacks self confidence, you could gift her a good book called Ten Days to Self-Esteem by cognitive behavioral David Burns.

All in all, the important thing is that you are there to support her as her sister.


Q: My ex-boyfriend (Sammy) broke up with me on December 26th. He was older than me and after he broke up with me, I met Edward but we broke up today. Anyways, Sammy used to call me cutie and I loved it. Now, I don't let anyone else call me that. Today, I found out that he died because someone hit him with a car. I remember that the last thing I said to him was "look at the stars because we're both under the same sky and I'm sure we're looking at the same bright stars." Now that he's gone, I'm going crazy. I still love him and I have no idea of what I should do. I'm just too young to be going through this and I can't take it anymore. My life is too hard and sometimes I don't want it.
Let me start off by saying that I am truly sorry for your loss.

Based on your last words to him, it seems that you guys where still on good terms, so at the very least, you aren't having remorse about your last conversation being a fight or saying something terrible that you didn't mean. You should try to take comfort in that.

Life can be a wonderful thing but it can also be sad and difficult at times. And we have to come to realize that this is OK. In fact, without the times that challenge us, we would never be able to understand and appreciate the value in the good times we had.

It has become a cliche over the years but the phrase "time heals all wounds" didn't become so famous for nothing.

Just know that what you are feeling is a natural part of the grieving process and all processes take time. Sooner or later, you will be OK.

Remember the good times and your own words, you're looking at the same bright stars, just now it's from a different angles.


Q: I had a dream where I was in my house alone and when I looked in the backyard, I saw a woman holding her baby boy. She had dark hair and was wearing a long white dress. I couldn't see her face, but I would just see her walk around the backyard then the front yard, then back to the backyard. Does this mean anything?
Dreams are a tricky thing. Opinions about them are kind of like bums, everyone has one.

Some will say dreams have profound meanings or are a way for your subconscious to try to communication something to you. Others will say they are simply an extension, in some way, of thoughts you had during your walking hours. And others will say they are just random synapses firing off in your brain and really nothing more.

Personally, I think you should be cautious about seeking a specific meaning for your dreams. For example, if you look at a few different dream dictionaries, chances are you're going to get conflicting interpretations of symbols. In the end, you might just find yourself more confused than ever.

Please also note that studies show that some dreams can actually be caused by the foods you eat at night before bed. And I'm pretty sure you've probably seen the commercials for different medications saying that unusual dreams can be a side effect of their usage.

Try not to worry yourself over it.


Q: I believe I am highly under the influence of greed. I have been using my parents credit card for a game that I often play and I need to know if I should tell them or lie to keep myself out of trouble. What should I do and how should I do it?
The thing about credit cards is that each month, the card owner gets a statement of purchases and other activity. So, the truth is going to come out sooner or later, whether you like it or not.

Even if they don't routinely check their statement, when they realize the balance is going up more that expected, they will.

Honesty is the way to go here. It just about always is with some rare and unusual exceptions. Come clean to your folks and be mature enough to take whatever punishment they dish out. I'm betting that at the very least, they will be happy that you decided to tell the truth rather than wait for them to uncover it.


Q: I'm a 22 year old guy and I was with a girl who claimed she has herpes. Although she didn't specify which kind, I'm sure she meant genital herpes, not oral, as she stated she had sores around her vagina area. Anyway, we kissed. She didn't have any sores or anything on her mouth, and I'd just like to know if I can somehow get herpes from kissing her? She claimed that she doesn't have oral herpes, which I know can be spread through kissing. I didn't do anything else with her, and I'm still a virgin. Any advice will help. Thank you.
As something of a hypochondriac at times, I've done my fair share of research on herpes (more technically called the Herpes Simplex Virus) over the years.

First off, as you probably already knew, genital and oral herpes are two different stands of the virus. But since you are only really concerned at this point with oral herpes, I can assure you that it is an extremely common condition. So much so that it is not even recognized exclusively as a sexually transmitted disease.

For example, babies sometimes acquire it from adult relatives who give them kisses while they are in a particular contagious state.

Generally speaking, I would expect that it would have been very unlikely for you to be infected unless she either had visible soars or possibly an open wound near her mouth.

After all, what most people refer to as cold sores only happen to due herpes.

But, with that being said, you should always be cautious and it is never a bad idea to have routine tests done. You can even get them for free at your local health department clinic in some cases.


Q: How do I love myself?
Depression is a very difficult thing to face. In general, there are a few things you should look into as soon as you can.

Don't be afraid or embarrassed to seek out the help of a professional counselor or psychiatrist. Along those same lines, consider joining a support group. If you don't have any in your area, there are lots of forums online that can help.

Try meditation and physical activity, these things can have a profound impact of both body and mind.

I frequently recommend the book "Feeling Good" by Dr. David Burns. I suggest you check it out.

Last but not least, keep this mantra in mind:

If you do not judge other people for being who they are, why should you not extend that same courtesy to yourself?

You can make it through this and be happy.

Q: I'm a lesbian and I'm not sure how to tell my family. They are very Christian and homophobic. I asked my best friend but she wasn't sure. She said I definitely need to do it though. I'm scared and I don't know what to do. Please help me
While society is coming along in this area, even in many religious communities, some people still hold very strong and often negative opinions regarding homosexuality. I'm sure I don't have to tell you as that you are clearly facing your own struggles about coming out.

First and foremost, I think your friend is 100% right here. It's not healthy or good not to be true to yourself.

While I can't tell you specifically how you should do it, perhaps hearing the stories of how others did could help you.

One a similar note, there are some great resources out there from groups like http://www.itgetsbetter.org/.

As far as the religious perspective goes, there are a lot of things you can use to help. For example, Lady Gaga's Song "Born This Way" by a very Christian person, tells us that God makes no mistakes. So, you being who you are is not a mistake or wrong.

On a more scriptural basis, I would suggest the writings on author and minister (who actually preaches in very fundamentalist churches) Philo Thelos - perhaps his work "God In Not A Homophobe" may open their eyes to a different view. Another good source of info if http://www.religioustolerance.org/.

When you do come out, it may be hard for your parents to deal with but if they love you, as they are indeed commanded to by Christian doctrine, they will hopefully come around eventually.

Good luck.

Q: I enjoy going to massage parlors. Sometimes I get a 'happy ending' and sometimes I don't. Would this be considered cheating?
Life isn't black and white. And as such, there are a lot of things that come into play here.

In my opinion, as a general situation, yes it would be cheating. However, it would be hard for me to say that this would always be the case.

The reason for this is that it really depends on the relationship you have with your significant other. If you have a traditional, monogamous relationship, this would indeed be cheating. However, if you have more of an open relationship, I suppose it would not.




Q: My best friend of 14yrs attends the same college as me. Neither of us like it here and we wanted to transfer but decided not to. However, we visited another state with another college that we fell in love with and we both sent in applications and decided that we wanted to go there instead. A very hasty decision but something we really wanted. However, her parents have now decided against her going and mine have not. If I get into this college and leave her behind I fear that It will ruin our friendship , but I really love the new school I applied to and I want to go there very badly. What should I do.
While I completely disagree with the fact that your friend's parents really have almost any say at all in where she chooses to attend school, that is indeed the case.

Now, in regard to the situation itself. I've always believed, and in doing so am in agreement with most of the authorities on the subject, that choosing a school based one where a friend or significant other goes is not a very good idea.

If you happen to go to the same school, that's great. But, it should not be one of the biggest factors in your choice.

That being the case, if you really like the school, I would go for it.

As far as your friend goes, if she is a true friend, while she may be disappointed in her situation, she will be happy for you. If she makes it an issue, then she probably wasn't as good of a friend as you thought.

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