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Did you ever wake up and wonder when your life became a soap opera? A bizzare mixture between 'Dawson's Creek' and 'Days of our Lives'?



I know I've had that feeling - that it's just all too dramatic and ridiculous, and wouldn't it be nice to go and under a nicely-furnished rock for a while? So, whilst I do not promise or claim to be an expert on how teenage boys minds work or how you can uncode your best friend's baffling behaviour, I'll always attempt to empathise and offer some honest words of advice.



I am 21, with a fairly dysfunctional life as a artsy student type. I've recently graduated with a degree in Philosophy, and am spending time working in the law before returning to university for further study. I still don't know what I want to do with my life, but I like where I am at the moment. I like shoes, bad television, chocolate cheescake and pretty things.



I am very busy at the moment, attempting to fund my life as a postgraduate (that's grad school to the Americans). I do still stop by quite a lot to help out with the admin stuff, but my column is pretty lame and inactive. Boo-hiss. I will however still endeavour to answer any questions that are sent my way, so feel free to send questions to my inbox.





Frequently Asked Questions


Actually, I made them up. But they are questions that I've seen more than once around this site (and, indeed, in the real world), and so have created general responses to them, linked below. It's a little sparse at the moment, but I'll be adding to the list as I think of more questions (and, er, answers to them).



Getting back together with an ex



Difficulty preparing for exams

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hailebop





Gender: Female
Location: England
Occupation: Student
Age: 21
Member Since: December 30, 2003
Answers: 455
Last Update: June 7, 2009
Visitors: 55235


Advicenators.com



I'm searching for a good birth control method to use. I have taken Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and Depro Vera before, and would not be incredubly unwilling to try them again. The problem is that I have a very hard time remembering the pill each day, and I have heard bad things about the shot. Such as: weight gain, increase in discharge... and I find it hard to believe that it is healthy to go through your life without having your period.

I know that this should be a question for my gynocologist, but I could not get an appointment for another month or so. I was wondering if anyone could give me some pointers on a good method of birth control. Perhaps some good and bad experiences you have had?
Of course, older columnists prefered.


I used to take birth control pills because I had horrific PMS symptoms and artificial hormones were the best way to control them, but, like you, I was horrendous at remembering to take them. Do you have a mobile (cell) phone that you take most places with you? Most fairly-modern phones have a feature so you can set yourself a daily reminder / alarm which you can use to remind yourself to take your pills. Once I had something physically beeping at me and reminding me to take them, I was fine and the only real problem I've had with taking them since I set up this system has been when I've popped out without them and ended up staying longer than I thought I would be. I think if you can work out a way like that to remember to take your pills, they might be the best method of contraception for you.

You might have to try more than one brand of Pill before you find one that suits you perfectly. I have a girlfriend who had to try three or four brands before she found one that she was happy with, but it's definitely worth finding the right one for you.

You don't say how old you are or whether you've had any children, so I don't know how appropriate other forms of contraception like the IUD and coil would be for you - but they might be worth discussing with your doctor when you have an appointment.

[View this question]

[5] | [View question]

Yeah, they're worth discussing. I've had bad luck with doctors in the past. If I don't mention every possible option, they will fail to tell me about it. So, if I don't know about a certain birth control, then they fail to ever tell me. I'm 21 with no kids by the way.
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