Anything Kurt Vonnegut, particularly Slaughter House Five and Cat's Cradle. He is an excellent writer, and I rarely say that about anyone. Slaughter House Five is very graphic, though, but if you're looking for classic books, I imagine you're open to that - writing wasn't nearly as censored in ye olden days.

His son, Mark Vonnegut, also wrote a book entitled Eden Express, I believe, which was written through the eyes of a schizophrenic. I have not read this one yet, but a friend of mine said it was very interesting.

Dante's Inferno is also a great book - you have to have a good translation, though (it was written in Italian). It's also part of a trilogy (The Divine Comedy) that includes Purgatorio and Paradiso. I haven't read those two yet, but I hear Inferno is the best one anyway.

I also recommend Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera. The original story is really cool. Again, though, you'll need a good translation, as the original language was French.

Blindness be Jose Saramago is very good, but kind of a difficult read - the original text, I believe, doesn't actually have quotation marks. It's just ongoing text...I struggled with it in class, but I read it again after at my own pace and really enjoyed it. Again, though, it's graphic.

Good for you for trying to keep up with actual literature. Not many people care anymore. Hope you like these!

Siren

As the poster below me said, everyone has a different pain tolerance. I have a high pain tolerance and a tattoo about the size of my palm on my back, right between my shoulder blades. It took a little over an hour, I think, to get it done.

On a scale of 1-10, mine hurt at about an 8 for the first 20 minutes, and then was more like a 4 because I got used to it and numbed up - then all I felt was the vibration from the machine. I didn't even feel the needle. It felt like cat scratches at first, though, which I was also used to, as I have a cat who likes to play a little rough...

Most of my tattoo is right over my spine and some on my shoulder blades - anywhere over bone hurts more because there's less padding, and the machine vibrates a LOT. On bone, it feels like the needle is going into your bone and shaking your whole body. Once there's a little bit of fat, though, it's a lot less intense.

Honestly, you probably won't wanna hear this, but I wouldn't recommend getting a tattoo on your hand unless you're prepared to be judged, including by every future employer. I might suggest getting one on your foot, or on your hip, on your arm - somewhere that you can cover up if you so desire, or show if you also desire. That element of control might be important in the future.
I was going to get mine on the back of my neck, but at the time I was doing a lot of performing. I wanted to be able to put my hair up and not shock my audience.

Then again, I'm not sure what you're planning to get, and mine is a big butterfly made of music symbols and tribal lines. If it's, like, a little tiny heart or something, you could probably get away with getting it on your hand. If it's something bigger though, I'd reconsider the placement.

Siren

Unfortunately, I have no way of finding your question based on what you've given me - I've been answering questions since 2004, and have grown a rather large column. Can you send me the link to the question you'd like removed?

You should also know that having posted a question as a child isn't embarrassing - you were seeking answers, and that's okay. I posted some stupid questions myself, and I'm just chalking them up to learning experiences for everyone involved. ^_^
On the other hand, I fully understand your position, and I'll gladly get rid of it once I know which question to delete.

Siren

Before I say anything regarding your question, I have to warn you that my response is going to be long, but please read it. If it's too overwhelming in this form, feel free to IM me on AIM (SirenCytherea) anytime and I'll break it down. Continuing...

First and foremost, I absolutely respect your desire to help, love, and take care of her. Period. It's beautiful and commendable. Women in situations like hers need friends like you.

I feel that I need to go into some detail as far as abusive relationships go for you, for her, and for future posters in hopes that they read my response. I can speak from personal experience from her side of the situation. I myself lived with a man who abused me for a number of months before I gathered up my courage and left him. The problem with your situation (and hers) is that there just isn't a simple answer.

To the commenter below me, an abusive relationship is never as easy as "if she was going to leave him she would've done so already." If dealing with abuse were so easy, the number of abused women (and we're going to go with women being abused by men because of the question at hand) still in their relationships would not be nearly as high as it currently is.

Any woman - any race, any class, from any kind of family, of any religion - can find herself in an abusive relationship. What typically happens is that the abuser is wonderful, sweet, romantic, and loving in the beginning of the relationship. If the abuser was abusive from the start, she wouldn't be in the relationship. Typically, once emotions strengthen and she becomes attached to him, and he to her, he begins to show his true colors. He grows more and more controlling and possessive, and those traits are abusive in and of themselves, but they can quickly turn to physical violence, particularly if she resists his controlling behavior. But of course, once he hurts her, he's terribly sorry, and behaves much like he did in the beginning for awhile. Soon, though, he lapses and the abuse occurs again...and so the cycle continues.

In psychological terms, this is called an intermittent reinforcement schedule. If you were to train a cat (I have a cat, so I'll use her as an example) to use a litterbox, every time she uses it, for awhile, you give her a treat. After a few instances of this, she associates using the litterbox with good things (treats). But, if every so often, you stop giving her the treats for a period of time, she'll still expect it and still use the litterbox, still hoping you'll give her a treat this time. Then, at some point, you start giving her treats again. This reinforces her behavior, but when you stop, she doesn't know when she'll get the treats again. If you stop giving them to her for too long and the behavior is no longer reinforced, she may stop using the litterbox, and you'll have to start reinforcing the behavior again.
The "treats" this girl's boyfriend gives her are the happy feelings she gets when he's good to her. Because he gives her those "treats" every so often, she maintains the trained behavior, which is to be and stay with him, hoping that he'll go back to being good to her and maybe this time he'll stay that way.

This happens whether or not she's aware of it. As you can see, I was well aware of what was happening to me while I was being screamed at, threatened, and bruised, but because he'd go back to being good so often, I kept hoping the abuse was just a fluke...but it wasn't. That is the toughest thing that victims of domestic abuse need to learn: He will not stop. This behavior is part of him; you cannot change him.

The best thing you can do for her is help her to learn that, if she isn't aware. If you've had to take her to the hospital for injuries caused by him, she's already in a more severe situation than I was, and I got a personal protection order against my abuser.

The biggest thing in your situation is that she has to get away from him. Whether she does that by moving in with you, moving in with another friend, moving in with family somewhere, getting her own place, or whether it happens by her winding up in intensive care, God forbid, she NEEDS to leave him. She is in a very dangerous situation, and that is the problem here.

As far as you asking her to move in with you, you both need to consider the situation at hand. Does her boyfriend know where you are? If he does, she'll be in danger living with you, too. Do you want her to move in with you because you love her and want to live with her regardless of the situation, or are you thinking about doing this to save her? You also need to consider the idea that she may not be ready to live with or be close to another man so soon after being abused by one, even if you've known each other forever and love one another. The fact is that she's been through a trauma, and she needs to heal. Of course, she can't heal until she gets away from the trauma.

SO. If she is aware of all of this and she would be safe with you; if she is able to leave him and never go back (and this is the hard part, as abusive relationships also tend to be addictive relationships), you can suggest her moving in with you as a way to get her away from him and safe, but if she is wary, you ABSOLUTELY cannot push her. You CAN help her look for apartments nearby, other friends to live with, family, or help her think of other solutions.

The best way you can take care of her is to help her understand her situation and leave him, no matter where she goes once she decides to do that.

I'll end there, as this is getting ridiculously long. Like I said, if you need any of this broken down, or someone to bounce ideas off of, or even if SHE wants a kindred spirit to talk to, either of you can message me. I'd be more than happy to help as much as humanly possible from here.

If I don't hear from either of you, I wish you both good luck. Please be the best friend you can be to her by helping her be strong and encouraging her to get out while she's still able.

Siren

If you respond to this with a link to that question, I'll gladly delete it. I totally understand.

Siren

Well, frankly, you answered your own question. Your comfort was and still is food. But you know what's cool? You don't have to give that up. The key to losing weight is not removing food - just to be smarter about it.

You're young, so I know you can still adjust your metabolism. At your height and weight, actually, you'll have a lot of luck if you just tweak your lifestyle a little. You didn't give us a lot of information about your current eating and exercising habits, so I'll just give you the basics here. This is what I did, and I lost weight quickly, hit my goal, and it's stayed off.

* Eat a small meal every three hours, or a healthy snack. Something to keep your metabolism moving. You've gotta teach your body to use what you put into it quickly and effectively.

*Try to keep your calorie intake at around 2,000 a day. It's a lot more than you might think.

*Do not - I repeat, DO NOT - cut anything out of your diet. Keep all of it, but in real serving sizes, or small portions.

*The poster below me is correct in the sense that protein is important, but protein can also store as fat if you're not exercising. Lean protein like fish, eggs, chicken, turkey, lean beef, etc. helps to build lean muscle, which is what you eventually want.

*Along the lines of exercising, if you're not doing any of it, it's summer right now in most places. Grab your iPod and go for a walk. No speedwalking necessary, you don't need to jog (at least not yet). Just something to get your body moving.

*Grab a friend, if you can, and try something new that'll get you moving. My boyfriend got me into rock climbing (well, wall-climbing), and it's way fun and empowering. Not only that, but it's something for us to do and enjoy together.

*Last general tip - after you eat your small meal or healthy snack, listen to your body. If it's telling you it needs more food, wait 20 minutes and see if you're still hungry. If you are, grab something very small, like an apple. After that, wait your three hours, and then eat again.

Now, on a personal note, I am so, so sorry for what happened to you. The stress of all that could easily cause you to retain more weight than you normally would. But if you change your lifestyle, you'll feel better.

As long as your solution isn't a crash diet that you can't keep up for a significant amount of time, there's no way you'll gain more weight back. But, if you take my advice, don't consider this a diet. Consider it a change, and a step in a healthy direction.

But, as I'm sure you know, your mental health is just as important, if not more so, than your physical health. Have you considered counseling at all? Most insurances cover that quite well, and you've gone through a LOT. I've seen people go into inpatient settings for less than what you've dealt with. Please consider your mind in all of this - not just your body. It's an incredibly powerful tool.

Now.

You've admitted you have a problem. You're asking us for advice, so you've started to seek help. You even acknowledge the fear getting in your way. Ultimately, what needs to happen is a conscious decision to confront your problems head-on, and fix them.

I can imagine it's overwhelming to think about tackling this, but it's clear to me that you want to. So, my best advice to you is to take it one step at a time. There's no need for a drastic change right this second. Take it slow. Next time you have a craving for chips, grab some carrot sticks and dip instead, or a few pretzels. That's all that needs to be done that day. Then, next day, when you want something sweet, instead of chocolate or ice cream, have apple slices with caramel dip. Then at some point, if you like, get rid of the dip and just eat the apple. Make sense?

Anyway, I realize this is getting long and I've given you a lot of babble to go through, so I'll end it here.

If anything I said needs further explanation, feel free to drop a question in my inbox, or message me on AIM (SirenCytherea). Just make sure you IM me more than once so I know you're not spam, and let me know you found me here.

If I don't hear from you again, I wish you the best of luck. Be strong. You CAN do this.

Siren

Just so you know, I speak from experience. I tried a ton of diets in an effort to lose weight, and what finally did it was relaxing. I lost 25 pounds, hit my goal weight, and stayed at it.

You're not gonna want to hear this, but you're not getting enough calories. MINIMUM, you should be getting 1500 a day. At 1200 or lower, your body goes into starvation mode and actually stores what you put into it rather than using it. This can slow your metabolism, thereby making it harder for you to lose weight.

If you're aiming to lose weight, try eating small, balanced meals every 3-4 hours. That'll kick your metabolism into high gear, and your body will learn that it has to use what goes into it quickly. You don't want to leave your body wondering when it'll get food next, which is what happens when you don't eat enough, or often enough.

Why is chicken soup bad? It's soup. Your head was probably pounding because you're not eating enough/right. If the soup helped your head, it could easily be because you needed sodium, or fat, or whatever was in there. You need to reevaluate your "diet," and try reevaluating your lifestyle instead.

Siren

Just to let you know, I do work in the medical field, but the only license I have is to drive. This is mostly based on speculation and observation.

If it's Zoloft you're talking about (just based on the 50mg or 100mg dose you mentioned), sexual side effects are EXTREMELY common. It's actually one of the reasons Zoloft isn't typially used as much as, say, Wellbutrin, or Citalopram. An acquaintance of mine took Zoloft and had both a decreased sex drive and acid reflux from it. He switched to Wellbutrin and had neither problem. Wellbutrin can cause some anxiety, though.
I suggest you ask your doctor about switching to an SNRI, which includes a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, as opposed to an SSRI, which solely inhibits seratonin reuptake.
There are many different types of antidepressants. If you need them, there's no reason to go off of them or to cut them down to the point that they don't even work. If you're depressed, you won't have a sex drive either. :)

Specifically, actually, you need to taper off antidepressants, not just stop taking them. 100mg to 50mg is an okay decrease, but from there you really should have a doctor helping you out with how to taper off them. Some of those meds can have serious withdrawal side effects, or even cause more depression. :\

Anyway, if your doctor won't work with you and find a solution for you, find another doctor.

I'm very familiar with antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs. If you have any other questions or need any more specific information, feel free to drop one in my inbox. I always answer. :)

Siren

My best advice is to relax, and invest in some Carmex. Best. Lip. Balm. EVER. As far as what you do while you kiss, don't pucker up - if you pucker your lips, they'll feel hard and unpleasant. You'll know if you're a good kisser when you have some practice. Don't be nervous; just kiss the way you want to BE kissed.

As weird as this sounds, you can practice using your hand as a hand puppet (you know, the kind where the thumb is the lower jaw and you move that to make it talk). Soft, slightly squishy lips are the most pleasant to kiss. My boyfriend, for example, is the most incredible kisser. He kisses gently and sweetly, and I feel like I could just sink into his lips forever.

I think the best kind of kisses are gentle, loving, and slow, with little to no tongue. Don't get me wrong, it's fun to play around with that a little, but too much tongue is just...slobbery and messy, and all-in-all unpleasant. I once dated a guy who couldn't kiss me without tongue, and it was awful. On the other hand, my current boyfriend likes to use tongue when things get a little more passionate...*ahem*. A good balance is important.

Anyway, those are my two (or three) cents on the subject. If you have any other questions, feel free to drop a question in my inbox. I always answer. :)

Siren

You need to come to terms with the fact that you may never make peace with your ex. Instead, I suggest you try to make peace with yourself. Believe me, I understand how a significant other can wreck confidence and destroy you, but you MUST stop blaming yourself for all of this.

It is not your fault that your relationship with your ex didn't work out. It's not all her fault, either. The fact is that it didn't work, and that's all there is to it. You've gotta move on.

Your current girlfriend is treating you like a yo-yo, and doesn't respect you. Do you really want to be in this relationship? Or is the fear of being alone causing you to stay where you are? You're better off alone than in an emotionally abusive relationship.

The economy sucks. It's incredibly difficult to get a job, and particularly difficult to do so in writing. Put in applications EVERYWHERE you can find. Network. Talk to your friends and acquaintances and make sure they know you're looking for work. Now is not the time for pride.

You're only 27. Unless you take matters into your own hands, so to speak, or are involved in some type of freak accident, you're nowhere near dying. You may have nothing to show right now, but that could change in a year. It could even change in a month, or a week.

Snap out of this downward spiral. You're not out of control of your life; you're letting it control you. Grab the reins and start doing something to change your situation - as long as it isn't smashing your head against a wall, because that defeats the whole purpose of what I'm suggesting. Make the decision to take the necessary steps to get what YOU want.

Your life is in YOUR hands; no one else's. You have the right to change it, and the right to demand better, because you're worth it, and you're a great person. You're intelligent. Never settle for less than what you deserve - and you deserve all the good coming your way.

Siren

Who said girls can't ask boys out?

My boyfriend and I are together because I said, straight up, "I really like you, and I'd really like to give us a shot." I mean, we're in a slightly different situation because we dated last year, and I broke up with him, so if anything was gonna happen, I kinda had to say something, but still.

It's perfectly fine for girls to ask guys out in this day and age. It often doesn't happen because girls are terrified of rejection and, in the past, it WAS taboo for girls to ask guys out. So we girls tend to wait for the guy to make the first move. Besides, that way if we're too chicken and we know the guy likes us, it's all on them to make it happen. It takes the ball out of our court and makes things easier for us.

What we often forget is that guys are just as afraid of rejection as we are. Some girls are comfortable nowadays making the first move, and some just aren't. I made the first move to kiss the guy I'm currently seeing, but I won't pretend that my heart wasn't pounding and I wasn't nervous as hell. Sometimes that rush of adrenaline just makes it better. :)

I personally look for signs that the guy likes me before I make any kind of move. I'll, for example, say or do something that could be considered flirtatious. If he responds in kind, that's a good sign he likes me. If he doesn't respond, or the flirtatious mood flops, that's a good sign he isn't into me. Body language is KEY for this.

Some girls are comfy being a little aggressive, and some aren't. Both are just fine. Sometimes you gotta step out of your comfort zone just a little bit - relationships are all about taking risks.

Siren

If I have to choose between those two, Christina by far. Christina has a huge range and a hugely powerful voice. Britney has a pretty decent pop voice, but she sticks to pretty much one octave, which doesn't impress me in the least. They both use auto-tune, I'm sure, but Britney is more computerized than anything, I think. Christina uses more artistic and difficult techniques in her songs. It's pretty cool.

If I can go with option C, Amy Lee from Evanescence. She was classically trained and has a crazy powerful, soul-filled voice. She doesn't belt, she really SINGS. I love and respect it. She also writes her own songs, and she has one of the most hauntingly beautiful voices I've ever heard, and I'm a singer.

Siren

Here's what I know:

Fish are a lot of work, but very difficult to connect with or really love. I had a goldfish when I was little - it lived 7 days. My roommate and I got a betta fish in college. He lived for about a year, and, for the most part, was just a decoration. Good thing about them is that they're low-maintenance as animals - their tanks, however, take some work.

Dogs are a LOT of maintenance. They're very demanding and needy. They're also loud. You can't leave them alone if you go on a trip, you have to take them for walks whenever they have to use the bathroom, and need a lot of exercise. They also tend to play rough, and really aren't great for apartment living unless they're quiet and well-trained. They are, however, loyal, loving, and trainable.

I have a cat. She's very low-maintenance. She's cuddly, uses her litterbox on her own, stretches her dry food out (she doesn't eat it all when I feed her). I can leave her kibble out in a bowl and she nibbles throughout the day. I work one full time job and one part time, so I'm not home often. For me, it's important to have a pet who loves me, who I can hug, who greets me when I walk through the door at the end of a long day, and most of all, can take care of herself in many ways.
I know a lot of people are allergic to cats, though, so if this isn't an option, I'd aim for a small dog. Pets are very personal and very individual, though. If you don't like cats, don't get one. If you don't like fish, don't get one. If you want a dog, go for it - just be prepared to take on a lot of responsibility.

Personally, I'd go with a cat. If I had to pick between a dog and a fish, I'd go with a dog, simply because you can't hug a fish.

***If you decide against a fish, PLEASE go to www.petfinder.com and search in your area/state. There are so many animals who need good, loving homes, and could be a perfect fit for you. I found my kitty on there, and she's the best thing that ever happened to me.

If you have any other questions, please ask!

Siren

What stands out to me is that you feel that you're being watched, and the sounds become dulled, if I'm interpreting you correctly. Please know that this is not an official or professional diagnosis - I'm years away from having my license to practice - and that I strongly suggest you have a psychological evaluation.

Just based on what you tell me up there, I'd call it General Anxiety Disorder.

A couple of questions, though:
Do you ever feel out of body, or like you're not really present?
Do you ever find yourself missing hours in the day, unable to account for what happened during them?
You mentioned you struggled with depression - are you feeling any of those symptoms?
Does your heart rate ever speed up (or slow down) considerably when you're just standing there?
Do you ever use any drugs? No judgments here - some of them can cause some of the symptoms you're describing.
Do you sleep at least 6 hours a night?

I'm hoping you'll give me a little more info so I can see the situation a little more clearly, but if not, please get yourself evaluated - there's no reason to feel this way. If you're not sure how to go about finding someone to evaluate you, drop a question in my inbox or IM me (SirenCytherea on AIM).

If you don't choose to contact me, good luck, and hang in there.

Siren

Any idea that originated from another person's mind that is not given appropriate credit is considered plagiarized.

That is, if you borrow an idea for a paper to help support your thesis statement, put it in your own words, and misrepresent it as your original idea, you're plagiarizing.

Technically, plagiarism does only apply to copyrighted material unless one author can prove that an idea was his/hers first. That's part of what copyrighting does for people - it gives the original author (or whoever achieved copyright) the right to distribute/copy it and take credit for it.
However, there's kind of a moral issue with even stuff that isn't copyrighted. It's just not cool to take credit for someone else's hard work.

Would you take someone else's grapes and give them to other people as if they were yours? Doubtful.
Should you take someone else's idea and allow others to think you came up with it? Absolutely not.

Hope this helps. :)

Siren

All we can do is give you our opinions, so here are my two cents:

My boyfriend wears Play by Givenchy (the eau de toilette, not the intense; that one's too musky), and a couple spritzes last on him pretty much all day. It has bright, citrusy top notes, woody, slightly floral middle notes, and heavier bottom notes with a distinct patchouli base.
http://www.playgivenchy.com/en/fragrance.php

I absolutely love it. That smell was what made me realize how much I was still head over heels for him after not being together for a year.

Of course, that's just my experience. :)

Siren

I know someone with a bright yellow 2004 Mustang, but cops follow him ALL the time while he's driving. They are eye-catching, but it's risky. A speeding yellow car stands out MUCH more than a speeding gray car.

Siren

I have to disagree with Lola on one aspect: DO NOT CUT CARBS OUT OF YOUR DIET.

Just so you're aware, I speak from experience with this. Granted, I was only 20 pounds overweight when I started doing this stuff,

Carbohydrates are like fuel for your body. Complex carbs (like pasta and bread, etc) AND simple carbs (like fruits) are both key sources of energy, but go for whole grain complex carbs instead of white. You want to make your body work harder to use what you put into it. If you want to get a handle on your diet, keep every part of the food pyramid in it, but eat small meals every three or four hours, even if you're not hungry. After awhile, your body will start learning that it needs to use what you eat quickly. This will speed up your metabolism, which will cause you to lose weight pretty quickly.

Keep in mind that eating less won't help you. It may even slow things down. Don't worry about counting calories - just use good judgment. Don't eat until you're full; eat much less, and if you think about going back for more, wait 20 minutes and then decide if you're still starving. If you can wait three hours to eat more, do it.

As for what to drink, again, use good judgment. If you drink milk, drink skim. Natural sugars are fine, sugar free is good, and water is best.

As busy as you are, I guarantee you've got half an hour somewhere. Speedwalking (if you don't like running) is good exercise. Cardio will be key for you. I started running one mile every day, and my body toned up like crazy, and quickly, too. Running works more quickly, but speedwalking and running work the same muscles. The more of your own body resistance you can use, the better. That is, instead of using a machine at the gym, use your own body. Go for a walk or a jog outside and enjoy the world. Listen to some good music and just let your mind wander. It can be pretty relaxing if you let it. =)

This is a lifestyle change, not just a "diet." If you do this, you'll feel SO much better. As far as how to motivate yourself, make up your mind to do it, and just stick to it. Remind yourself that everything is fine in moderation - you don't have to cut anything out of your diet, just make a couple of changes. You may find that it's not as difficult or overwhelming as you think.

Good luck. Feel free to drop a question in my inbox if you'd like more feedback.

Siren

I'm glad to hear you got help, and that you're doing better. I don't mean to be rude, so I apologize if I come off that way, but I'm 5'4", I'm 120, and I'm pretty skinny. You don't need to weigh that little. Ideal for your height is actually around 135, give or take five pounds or so.

I was anorexic, and believe me, eating less doesn't make you lose weight. If you're 15, and you want to lose weight, you must speed up your metabolism, and you're still young enough to do so. If anything, you should be eating small portions every few hours, and starting a light exercise routine. I know everyone hates it, but running really helps you tone up. Now, keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat, and if you can get yourself running (even just a mile every couple of days at first, which, even if you're not too speedy, shouldn't take longer than about 15 minutes), you'll gain some muscle. Hell, even speed walking - that and jogging work the same muscles. Running is just faster.

I know we're different, but my measurements are pretty slim, and that's with me barely working out right now. I eat constantly (but I nibble, so I'm not eating full meals), and when I have time, I run a mile. I feel good, I feel strong, and because I run, I can eat pretty much anything I want...seriously, my diet consists of candy and bread recently. I haven't gained a pound.

Keep in mind, though, that weight is just a number. More important is size, and how you feel. I remember when I was bigger I was pretty uncomfortable in my own skin. When I started working out and eating a little better, I felt better, too.

If a problem is that you have trouble eating small portions, try using smaller plates and bowls. Chew gum. Replace one habit with another (instead of continuing to eat, when you have the desire to, walk away and go on line for awhile, or something).

Or, conversely, instead of trying to convince yourself to eat less and control the quantity, maybe give yourself permission to eat more often. You won't be hungry, and your body will be forced to burn what it uses faster, which helps you lose weight.

If you need any more tips or information, feel free to IM me on AIM (SirenCytherea). Just IM more than once so I don't think you're spam.

If I don't hear from you, I wish you happiness. =)

Siren

If free stuff is what you're after, check out absurdlycool.com
That site bypasses all the surveys you'd have to take and usually just needs your address and contact info so they can mail you the free things.
Also, it totally works. I've gotten a TON of stuff from them. Take a peek.

Siren

I'm a laid-back 26 year old with a Psychology BA, starting my MA program, and working my way into the field as quickly as I can. It took me an extra Bachelor's degree (in vocal performance and creative writing) to figure it out, but I was put on this Earth to help, to heal, and to love.

I have made the decision to dedicate my life and career to helping others. I am here to do just that.

I've been a member since 2004, and since I signed up, I've gone through quite a lot and learned quite a lot from it. I'm here to give guidance where I had none; no one should have to go through the difficulties I went through alone.

Feel free to visit my website/blog, if you want to read my experience with domestic violence and my thoughts on it.

***While I do tend to answer mental health and other health-related or medicine-related questions, I am by NO MEANS a licensed physician or practitioner of any sort. Any and all advice I give for these questions is from my own experience or studies.***

If you need to get a hold of me quickly, my screen name on AIM is SirenCytherea. Just let me know you found me here.

I'm a strong believer in the idea that there are no stupid questions except the ones left unasked, so, please, keep an open mind, heart, and mouth.

Siren

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