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Q: me and my best friend have been friends since kindergarden (im 13) and his sister is 14 i think she awesome and i didnt no id like her like this but i do so i asked her out and she said yes but idk if i should stay with her or brake up cause me and her r doing this behind his back plase help me
That is a difficult situation to be in. I don't see why you two shouldn't go out- since there is a mutual attraction, and she already wants to go out with you, you should at least see how things go with her. You even mentioned that you think she's awesome, which is a very good sign. I am sure that you know what kind of a person she is already. Just because she is your best friend's sister, doesn't mean that she is off limits. You aren't doing anything wrong in this situation. I think that you should talk to her about it and let her know that you feel a bit uncomfortable going out with her behind her brother's back, and see how if she is okay with maybe having the two of you explain to her brother that you really like each other and get along well, and that you are interested in seeing each other. You don't have to tell him that you have already been going out, but that you are going to-- but you should definitely talk to her first, and then come to an agreement on how best to let her brother know. It might be awkward for all three of you- but the important thing to remember is that you two like each other in more ways than one, and that nothing should get in the way of your relationship. Your friend will have to accept it... and considering how long you two have known each other, it might be a lot easier for him to do so. Doing anything behind anyone's back is never really the way to go.

Q: Hi! I'm from Miami.... and I am planning to move to California. I am almost done with college and since I'm a Mass Communications/Broadcast Journalism major, I think there's a lot of opportunities there. I also had an internship that has opened a lot of doors, but what better place than California? I am in love with the idea of living in California, but I'm terrified of earthquakes. I have a lot of anxiety and I have dreams that I'll be at the gym, and there will be an earthquake. Or that I'll be at work, and it will hit... or that my boyfriend and I will be driving, and then an earthquake will happen. I'm terrified! I did a little research on it, but it's not the same as getting an opinion of someone who lives there. If you live in California, can you tell me a little bit about it? And if there are any earthquakes... and what their like? I would appreciate it greatly! Thank you!
I grew up in the LA area, and hey, I made it out alive. All jokes aside, you don't have to worry. Sometimes there are no earthquakes for years, as the answer below mentions, and other times, you might get one or two small earthquakes. The small ones hardly feel like the big earthquakes that you might be thinking of. It's hard to explain what an earthquake feels like...it's basically a big shaking. In LA, there hasn't been a really huge earthquake since January 1994, the Northridge quake, which was scary- it felt like our house (within 20-30 minutes to Northridge) was swaying. I was 9 years old, and it was in the middle of the night. Our whole family went downstairs and sat under the dinner table for a while. So, while it is unpredictable when an earthquake will hit, it is unlikely that something big will happen in the immediate future. And buildings are earthquake safe. If you are concerned, you can read up on earthquake safety tips as a precaution, but don't worry. I wasn't ever scared of encountering an earthquake, and if it does happen, it is usually quick and pretty small....and rare. There are some earthquake fault lines, which is of course why California is known for its earthquakes. But that shouldn't make you feel worried about moving there. Think of it this way- some states in the midwest and south are known for tornadoes and/or thunderstorms, but I don't think that deters people from living there. Nature can be unpredictable, of course, but the chances of encountering something like a major earthquake or tornado aren't THAT big... it might happen, but it's not something you should be totally worried about.

Q: I'm not the prettiest thing this earth has ever seen but I know i'm not the ugliest.
i just feel so down about myself.
I don't feel pretty anymore.
It makes me so depressed, and i really don't know where to go with any of it anymore,
please help.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." We've all heard it before, and it may seem cliche, but there is a lot of truth in that simple saying. One cannot define beauty. The reason you are feeling down about yourself, is that you are putting beauty into a very narrow category. I understand why you feel this way. You might walk by magazines at the supermarket or newspaper stand, and see models and celebrities all glammed out on on the front cover. You might see girls at school (I know exactly how they can be) dolled up on the runway that is high school. What do these two groups have in common? Well, for starters, "perfect" hair, "perfect" clothes, "perfect" makeup; you get the picture. But why should they be the only ones considered pretty? What about you?

By the sounds of it, you are down-to-earth. A lot of popular girls who constantly get praised for being so pretty, practically fall in love with their reflection in the mirror- they don't necessarily have their doubts about being pretty. And then you get the rest of us, who sometimes question if we are pretty or not, because we don't necessarily fall into the narrow category of "beauty," that society has set up (and high school or middle school being a product of this, of course). You know what? Over the years I have realized that confidence is the most important factor, just like the first columnist said. Once you feel good about yourself, you will stop constantly having doubts about your beauty. And really, it absolutely is what is on the inside that counts. If you are confident in who you are, you can feel pretty anytime. You will realize that it's more than what's on the surface that matters.

I am sure that you are a pretty girl; you might be at an awkward age, in which case it is normal to feel that way. I felt that way too in middle school and part of high school. When I was 12, our English teacher was passing out our class photos, and she said something about how I looked nice in my picture, and this girl squinted, and said, "no," as in --no, she doesn't. Trust me, I know how cruel girls can be. And i know where they are getting their ideas. That might be part of the reason you don't feel pretty. But you know what- by feeling that way, you are giving into their distorted perception of beauty. Just understand that you are beautiful. No body can or should make you feel otherwise. Remember, as the first columnist mentioned, confidence is beautiful. And as you grow, you will come to feel at one with your true self, and care far less about what other people think, your looks included. I am sure that you have a lot to offer, on the outside and inside. Do not ever change yourself for other people, whether it is to act a certain way, or look a certain way. In the end, you are only comfortable with being YOU. I agree with the first answer- if you want to do something for yourself looks-wise, then make sure to only do it for yourself, and not just to impress everyone. But remember- if you look the world in the face, and feel comfortable with yourself, then you will feel beautiful, inside and out.

Q: I'm a girl and I hate chick flicks. I just think there dumb and pointless, and everyone has the same story line; boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back again. I would rather watch a mob movie anyday. Is that weird? My bf says it is.
I completely agree with the answer below- many, if not most guys would find that to be an awesome quality in a girl. For one thing, it would mean not having to be dragged to chick flicks at the movies, and more importantly, it means having a girl who might actually have taste in film. I love mob flicks, dark comedies, dramas, independent/foreign films, etc., but I dread chick flicks-- and I'm a girl too. So nothing wrong with that. One of my friends ( a guy) is really into film, and we could go on and on talking about it...one common denominator: Hollywood blockbuster flicks bend the concept of love and relationships way out of proportion (you could say that about other things too), mainly to attract viewers, which means more profit. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, the same plot plays out time and again in a "no thinking required" fashion. I think most of us have enjoyed a chick flick or two here and there (mainly the funny ones, or the ones from the 80s, for example), but overall, they are dull and predictable.

If your boyfriend brings it up again, you can let him know that you happen to like mob flicks, and lots of other things, but find chick flicks to be dull and predictable. Just because lots of other girls like chick flicks doesn't mean it's weird for you not to- quite the opposite.

Q: ok so i said it..... i am addicted to masterbating! how do i break this addiction? I do it all the time and i look forward to it so much that it seems like it it taking over my life.

please help! Help me find a way to stop masterbating so much or stop completely! Please?

if anyone can help me I thank you then!
For starters, and as the person below mentioned, stop worrying so much. It is unlikely that you are so addicted to masturbating that it is taking over your life. However, if you feel like ALL you want to do is masturbate ALL the time, and that it is getting in the way of your daily life, then there are things you can do to reduce how often you masturbate. Note that completely stopping masturbating is not only negative, but harmful. It is a normal, human urge to want to have sexual release (e.g., being horny), and masturbation in a perfectly healthy way to go about it. So, definitely don't stop-- i mean, if you do, you're sexually starving yourself. If you masturbate everyday, that's fine. If you do it several times a day, and it's all you want to do, and is getting in the way of life....then you can try doing other things to get your mind off it. Go out, do some homework/studying, take part in some sort of hobby, etc., whatever you want to do to take your mind off things.

If, however, you feel like you might just have some sort of a legitimate addiction to masturbating (in the same way as, say, compulsive gambling, drinking, drugs, etc.), then there is help.. a quick google search helped me find this site:

http://www.teengrowth.com/index.cfm?action=info_advice&ID_Advice=1706

I am sure that there are good links/contacts listed on that site.

But unless you feel like you are to masturbating, what a chain smoker is to cigarrettes, you might not have a serious problem. It is held that masturbating every day is okay, and that it only becomes an addiction when it interferes with daily life and activities, and it's almost all you think about. Think of it this way: if you like to socially have a few drinks with friends once in a while, you are not an alcoholic...but if you constantly drink to dull the pain/run away from life, are extremely drunk a lot of the time-- in other words, alcohol runs your life, then you are an alcoholic. So how this ties in- people masturbate, it's part of life. If you masturbate every day/every couple days or so, simply for sexual release, you're fine. But when masturbating become a compulsion, or addiction (for different reasons), and is something you do several times a day, whenever you can--and at the expense of other activities, then you might need to seek help.

Q: I know this is super gross so please don't just say it is gross, ok? I have been pooping blood.

what happens when you poop out blood?

Do i have to go to the doctor? do i have to tell my mom and dad?

Thanks!
There is nothing gross about your question, so don't worry about that. Anything that appears abnormal should be checked out- having blood in your poop, is certainly abnormal. There are too many possible complications for me to list- but that could be a sign of a potentially serious condition. The only person that can diagnose your symptoms is the doctor. So, don't be shy, and don't hold back. Go tell your parents- it might seem embarrassing, but it really isn't; they are only there to help you. Definitely see the doctor right away- they might have to do a couple tests, and probably even take a sample of your stool. This could be nothing at all, or a sign of some sort of infection, for example. No body on any internet site can diagnose anything. You will have to first let your parents know, and then go with them to the doctor's office to get everything checked out. Best of luck.

* To add, some of the major signs of an infection or illness presents itself in your urine or feces (pee or poop, just to not sound so much like a doctor, haha), which is why doctor's sometimes ask patients if they have noticed anything while going to the bathroom. So, please get this checked out right away- the doctor, if needed, can prescribe medication or antibiotics, or let you know what, if anything, needs to be done.

(a few years ago, i had to stay in the hospital for a week, after having my appedix removed (it burst, and there was a big infection)...the doctors and nurses tested my pee and poop literally every day, and monitored any changes. Just to let you know how important it is for your pee and poop to appear normal).

Q: My dad watches porn.... I know, like how creepy right? he is like old. what do old people want porn for? he is like 35!!

I found his porn and i have been looking at my dads porn. i think it is so gross that he watches porn when he is soooo old why is that? why is it ok for me but not for him?

17/f
I know how strange it is for you to have come across your dad's porn, but it is his right to watch it, and as long as he isn't absolutely addicted to it, there's nothing wrong with it. And I know he's your dad, but he really isn't old at all- actually quite young, especially since there isn't a big age difference between the two of you. Regardless, he has a right to watch porn in his free time, and as difficult as it might seem, you're going to have to let it be. Forget about it- and don't look through it- it's really a privacy issue as well. It certainly is not alright for you to watch his porn. Think of how upset you would be if your dad found your porn and watched it behind your back (and as the columnist below mentioned, you do have to be 18+ to legally access porn). And to add, it is perfectly fine for him to watch porn- he is an adult, and he is fully capable of making his own decisions, including watching porn. So, bottom line, leave it to him- don't question it, and accept the fact that he is a grown man, and grown men sometimes enjoy "grown up" things.

Q: i have pigmentation under my arms.people say it maybe be caused because of shaving..just wondering how to get rid of it.i hate it soo much!are there any remedies or creams etc that YOU know work??
thank you loads
Yes, shaving does cause pigmentation in the underarm area, particularly if you have darker hair. It can get worse if you shave frequently. The best way to get rid of pigmentation is to start waxing instead. Not only will the skin appear much lighter, but your hair will grow in thinner overtime, and your skin will feel much smoother. I generally alternate between shaving and waxing. If I absolutely have to wear a nice top while going out, for example, I just go ahead and shave. But i try to wax as much as possible, since it makes my underarms look much smoother and I don't have to worry about the hair growing in too quickly (or having stubble, for that matter). So, I would recommend waxing- you can get waxing strips, or go to a salon, if you don't want to do it yourself. You will notice a big difference.

Q: If I have a Bank of America account and I have money in my keep the change savings, is there any way I can transfer some of that money into my checking account? If so, how?
Thanks.
Most likely, you will be able to transfer money online. Once you sign on to your online banking account, there is tab at the top of the site, "transfers." Once you click on it, there is a drop down menu for "from" (account), and "to"...so you just choose which account you want to transfer from and to. Right below that, you enter in the exact amount, and that you want a one-time transfer (the first option). The good thing is that once you have entered the information, you can confirm everything before you actually go ahead with the transfer.

If you don't have an online account, I highly recommend you get one- it's easy. You can check your balance and pay bills online as well. If you would rather not transfer money online, you can always go to the bank and have them do it for you. You can also transfer money between accounts at the ATM, by choosing- transfer money, or something along those lines.

Q: I'm a 22 year old female, my boyfriend is 24. We've been dating for about 10 months now. We are exclusive. I recently moved back home with my mother in Los Angeles. I was in San Francisco. My boyfriends still in San Francisco, but his family lives in Irvine. I'm not really sure if he thinks we're going to be together for long. He told me his mom said I can't go to Utah with his family for Thanksgiving. That really hurt me a lot. He also isn't coming down for my birthday because he says he has to study for school. The thing is my birthday is on a Saturday and he has the Friday and Monday off. He didn't come to my graduation and my mother's birthday. He didn't invite me to his White Coat ceremony. The day after, I went with him and his family wine tasting. His cousin asked me why I didn't go to the White Coat ceremony and he answered that I was working. I was working, but only because he didn't invite me to the White Coat ceremony. Valentines day was terrible because he said he was going to do something special, but we ended up spending it sitting around and going to sizzler with his roommates. I doubt I will be invited to his parents home for Christmas. There was always an excuse of his mother said he can't go or he has to study. He says he loves me and cares about me, but I'm starting to see that he doesn't include me in his life. Am I overreacting? Is this normally how people treat their girlfriends? I was in a serious relationship in the past and it was different.
No, that is definitely not how people should treat their girlfriends in any serious relationship. Something has to be wrong, since he is no longer including you in some important events and is constantly making excuses for why he can't go out with you. A number of things could be going on, and unless you confront him about the issues you just mentioned, there is no way of knowing. He might have lost interest in you due to the long distance (but LA to SF is not REALLY long distance, come to think of it). He might have met someone else, and is hiding it from you.. but you should not assume anything. You need to talk to him, preferably in person, and sort things out. He is not taking you, or the relationship, seriously. That is unacceptable.

If the relationship were going well, he would be excited to see you, and to include you in as many events as possible. He would make much more of an effort to make you feel loved and wanted. By the sound of it, he is doing neither. You will need to let him know--calmly, but firmly-- that you feel that things have not been going so well- that he does not include you in events (white coat ceremony), or make an effort to try to visit you when he can...and that basically, it seems that he is not interested and is not making an effort. But in the end, you need to let him know exactly how you feel, and what's bothering you, whichever way you want to put it. Do not let this turn into a fight, but don't be a pushover either. Try to see what's going on- if he is not interested in continuing with the relationship, if he met someone else, etc.. In the end, you will have to do what is right for yourself. If you feel like he continues to make you feel this way without putting an effort into improving the relationship, you might just have to step away and move on.

Q: 15/f
so i met these 2 guys at the gym and they asked me to hang out and i said okay so i hung out with them last night. my friend supposedly has met them before at a party though and one of them tried to rape her and stuff but she got away, but i went anyway because im not sure if thats completly true. so they are both 18 in college and we went to a pool and we did hookah and we were drinking vodka and they kept trying to get me to drink more (sketchy?) and two of us were really drunk and so we started making out and i barely remember anything all i know is that now im really really sore 'down there', but i vagualy remember him saying we werent going to do it because he didnt have a condom? but i dont think i would have been okay with doing that, i am/was a virgin and now i just feel really gross and i don't know what to do. they have a history of raping or trying to rape girls, so could he have done that to me and i just dont remember cause i was so drunk or was it just fingering? please help i don't know what to think or anything!!!
Unfortunately, those two scumbags are the only ones who know exactly what happened, since you were supposedly too drunk to remember anything. How drunk were you, really? They could have slipped something in your drink. Do not keep this to yourself- tell a trusted adult, or at least a nurse who can guide you in the right direction. If they did, in fact, even TRY to rape you, they can be arrested.

Now, down to the details. Do you honestly think that someone who has a history of raping/trying to rape girls is going to be honest with you? Saying that they would not try anything, since they didn't have a condom, is total bullshit. Nothing would get in their way- they don't give half a shit about you. Also, a HUGE warning sign is that these two tried to rape your friend before at a party- "supposedly??" NO. Shit like that does not "supposedly" happen.

LISTEN. You HAVE to do the following- don't think that you can put all this behind you, and that it won't bother you years down the line. It can, and it will. What you have to do now, is look after yourself. You cannot allow them to get away with their bullshit- it can happen to other girls too, you know.

so,:

1) File a police report immediately. Any and all details you have can help (i.e., their age, names, what they look like, what gym you saw them at, and what do you remember from that night). Think long and hard about ALL the details you can possibly think of, and do NOT keep anything to yourself.

2) Please, if you haven't already, DO NOT wash yourself down there just yet. Whatever you have with you can possibly help- clothes, etc., Go to a gyno/doctor/nurse or whatever, get thoroughly examined. They can find traces of semen as supporting evidence, cause honey, these two might have raped you.

3) Tell someone- a counselor, trusted parent/adult, friend. You need support. You might be in denial or shock now, but this might come back to hurt you down the line.

4) Go get plan B (morning after pill at a clinic or planned parenthood- better safe than sorry)- it is effective up to 3 days after unprotected sex. Then, assuming this is a recent incident, wait about 2 weeks, and go get a pregnancy test at the doctor's office, gyno., or planned parenthood or other free clinic.

5) Get screened for STD's- no matter how worried/scared you are. If you got something, it might not even have symptoms, and can cause irreversible damage to your reproductive organs if left untreated. Get tested for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Herpes, etc...all you have to do is go to planned parenthood or your gyno, and ask for STD screening- they'll ask some questions, and do a swab and urine test.

6) After 6 months, GO get tested for HIV- with guys like them, you never know. Many clinics offer free testing.

You do not know anything about these guys aside from the fact that they're 18 and in college. All the warning signs indicate that you may very well have been raped: they tried to rape your friend (people don't just make that shit up), you feel sore down there---- and honey, guys like them, why would they care about only fingering you?? they were with you PURELY for their OWN benefit---getting laid. , you felt SORE. Please wake up, you were probably raped. This is a good commentary on an online newspaper (Guardian, UK), by a woman who was raped, and too drunk/traumatized:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/may/16/experience-rape

I know how hard this is on you, but you have to do something (well, lots of things). Seriously, if it helps, make a checklist, or even print out this advice. Literally do everything that I suggested, one by one. Think of it this way: if you keep this to yourself, you are only allowing them, and guys like them, to get away with their shit...which means more girls to screw over. For future reference- avoid sketchy guys like them AT ALL COSTS. They're only bad news.

Q: hey , i was wondering if you can help me write an essay on shoplifiting.

--on why shoplifting is not good at all
and second how to make better decisions .
can you please tell me an idea on how to start .thanks
That is an interesting topic for an essay. I cannot outline everything for you, but I can give you some suggestions that might help you. Try to brainstorm reasons why shoplifting is a bad idea- jot down reasons on a piece of paper, and then go through your list any narrow it down to a few really important things you can write about. For each of those reasons, write down maybe a couple of points/examples that help to strengthen your argument. For example, if you were to write that shoplifting is bad because it is against the law, you could give a couple of consequences, such as prison time, lawyer fees, bail, etc. Think of some important reasons- legal, moral, etc.., and ellaborate on those.

As for how you can make better decisions, that is a hard one.. try to think of some things yourself, ie.: what could you do instead of shoplifting, how you'd be a better person/citizen by not shoplifting, etc.. I think a good way to organize your essay would be to start of with an introduction that briefly introduces why shoplifting is a bad idea (without going into too much detail) and just briefly mention that avoiding shoplifting is the better and more moral option (or something like that). You could divide your essay by writing maybe a couple paragraphs (the body) on the negative aspects of shoplifting, and the last body paragraph should discuss how to make better decisions. Your conclusion should very briefly tie together whatever you mention in your essay- rather than introducing new ideas, it should only restate and reinforce what has already been said.

Before starting, it would be a really good idea to make a brief outline of your essay- it helps organize your thoughts so you can write a coherent essay. You can organize according to paragraph (ie., intro, paragraph 1, 2., etc., conclusion), and for each section, make bullet points (main ideas) and sub-points, or examples you will use to strengthen each bullet point (main point). While writing, keep in mind to have good flow (ideas should follow each other logically and sort of blend into each other), and to have enough supporting information to strengthen your essay.

Good luck, and let me know if you have any questions.

Q: 17/f. My one friend has been kind of mean to me lately and it's pissing me off she always puts me down and she does this to other people to. I'm not sure if she is joking or what
I also had a friend like that a while back- she would say rude, sarcastic remarks all the time, indirectly put me down, etc., I thought that was "just how she is," but I learned that she was getting away with being that way because I let her. My mom and sister mentioned they didn't like the way she talked to me- she even talked sarcastically, in a "yeah, no shit" kind of way to my sister, who told me she doesn't like the way she talked to her. I hardly saw her at the time since i was away for college, but when I did see her (that is, when she didn't flake on me), it was always the same. Long story short, I finally came to the realization that I was better off without her- she was just not a good friend (always flaking, making excuses, being rude and sarcastic, etc.).

All of these behaviors, including those of your friend (or rather, "friend"), stem from a deeply rooted insecurity. It's a call for attention; a way of bringing herself up by putting others down. You know it's a problem when you can sense a pattern; you aren't the only one she puts down. Bottom line, there are no excuses for a friend to mistreat another friend. My best friend is a therapist, and she mentioned something that one of her old professors told the class: (something along the lines of: bad friends can be extremely draining, and put a lot of stress on you.- and that ultimately, you're better off cutting out the bad people in your life, if they are totally unwilling to change).

You mentioned that you aren't sure if she's joking or not- putting people down is not a joke, whether she claims to be joking or not. You should have a good talk with her, and tell her upfront that you feel she is putting you down a lot, and that it really bothers and hurts you. See if she is totally stressed out or is going through something very painful that could be causing her to be on edge lately. Maybe she needs someone to talk to. But even then, she should not be treating you this way. You need to make it clear to her that it hurts your feelings, and is not something you are willing to put up with. She might deny it, because sometimes people don't fully realize how hurtful they can be. You still need to firmly (without yelling) address this- otherwise, she will continue with her ways. If she doesn't take it to heart, and continuously puts you down, then you really should re-evaluate the friendship. It isn't worth it for you to feel miserable and put down due to someone else's insecurities. Trust me, I have had a few negative, insecure friends in the past, and have learned that A) they are insecure, and B) i would have to be strong and not put up with their crap. You are young enough where it's understandable for you to be going through these things, but old enough to really take a stand for yourself.

Q: so me and my girlfriend have been dating 4 months. I like to have sex a lot and she doesnt really I think I have touched her maybe 4 times. She gets horny too but is there something I can take so im not so horny? She got really upset because I said I would just watch porn and masturbate more what do i do?
You just have to be patient with her. If she isn't really responding to sex, she is not ready yet. You two have only been dating a few months- she seems like she needs to really get to know you and feel totally comfortable before she takes things further. Of course she felt upset when you told her you would just watch porn and masturbate, since she isn't having sex with you. There is nothing wrong with doing that, but she was right to be bothered when you told her - basically, the message she got from it was that you are not being patient with her.

It is okay to bring these things up with her- it is important. But there is a certain way to go about it. You have to be patient and supportive of her choice- and if you cannot possibly wait, then be honest with yourself, and see if she is really the one you want. If she is, you will have to wait. If not, then maybe you need to move on. Only you know the answer.

Do you guys do other things? Make out? If you guys aren't doing ANYTHING, she might have intimacy issues. You should be honest with her (and also very nice), and ask her if there is any reason why she does not physically take things further- communication is the key to any healthy relationship. You are sexually frustrated, and she may or may not have her own personal issues....the only way to clear things up with her is to talk to her.

Q: I have had this problem on and off in the past year. I switched from herbal essances to a Pantene clarifying for shampoo build up, it worked for awhile but then stopped after awhile. So i began using VO5 Tea therapy shampoo and switching that on and off with Herbal essances and it doesn't seem to help much because the top of my head gets greasy and my hair never looks or feels clean. I don't know what else to do but I'm not confident in my hair and it always looks flat. :( Any ideas what to do?
You might be over-cleaning your hair. What you described can happen to your hair if you wash it every day- every other day is enough. Also, If your hair looks dull and lifeless, it is probably damaged due to over cleansing, product buildup, hard water buildup, etc., The shampoos you are using are not very good for your hair in the long run, so it might be doing more harm than good. It's very common for damage to the hair to become apparent after months. This might also be due to lack of nutrients..that I can't say for sure. You should take a multivitamin and maybe even a fish oil capsule daily- these, along with a healthy diet and exercise, can help in maintaining the health of your hair. You might also be due for a haircut or trim- you should get a trim every 2-3 months to keep hair healthy.

Overall though, I would recommend sticking to a good shampoo- not HE or Pantene. Try using a natural shampoo, which is free of some damaging chemicals. Or maybe use Neutrogena Clean Shampoo (either moisturizing one, or volumizing- there are two kinds). Those are very good, as are Paul Mitchell products. Just remember, do not over-cleanse your hair, eat right and exercise, use good hair products. If after a while you feel like none of these things help, then maybe talk to a dermatologist, who can recommend some good products for your hair/scalp. Even an internet search can help.

Q: My boyfriend and I have been dating for almost a year now. He's one of my best friends and we love each other. His dad died when he was in middle school, but he never really talks about it. I only know his dad died because he uses phrases like "he was" and stuff, I think he might have said "my dad died" once or twice. I really want to know how his dad died, and we usually tell each other everything. I know some of it is just me being nosy, but I also don't want to say anything awkward on accident, like saying something about cancer or car accidents or something. Does anyone have any advice on how I can broach the subject with him?
If he starts talking about his dad, how he misses him, etc., it would be a good idea to tell him that you are always there to listen and support him- and that you are very sorry for what happened. You never really get over the death of a parent, especially if it happens when you are young. Because of that, it is difficult for your boyfriend to bring it up; it simply hurts too much to talk about it. Still, it would help him to open up to you about it- it would really help him to have someone to lean on.

At the same time, it isn't really a good idea to bring it up if he isn't really ready to talk about it. He has to be willing to open up- my guess is that it's just a matter of time before he does. Again, what you can do is wait till he brings up his father, and then let him know you are always there to listen to and support him. At that point, asking something like, "would you mind if i asked what happened to him?", would not be rude, especially if you bring it up gently and politely.





Q: 18/f
My boyfriend and I just had unprotected sex for time (for both of us) last friday. I wasn't on birth control either. My boyfriend bought me this PlanB pill that you're supposed to take within three days after intercourse. I just took it and today is the third day. For the past two-three months, my periods started around the 9th. We had sex on the 16th and I haven't had my period yet.What am I supposed to think of this? Is it just a change in my "time of the month"? Am I late because I had sex? Can you get pregnant within three days? Help?
Just like the columnist below mentioned, Plan B can seriously mess with your cycle- it's like taking a super high dose of birth control. Chances are, your period is off, and might be for a little while. It wouldn't hurt to wait another week and get a pregnancy test, just to be sure, as plan B is not 100% effective, more like 95% or so...you can never be too sure though. Don't only take a home pregnancy test- go see a gyno., or go to a planned parenthood clinic for a urine test. It's very stressful to think that there is even a slight chance of being pregnant- chances are you aren't, but if even just to ease your mind, go get tested.

Q: My Friend Ricky is going through a lot in his life right now. I want to help him out...

1.) He lost his full scholarship to a college
2.) He started smoking weed a lot
3.) He broke up with his girlfriend of 3 years
4.) He lost his grandmother

I tried telling him I was here for him but he's not taking any help from anyone. He's not working and he's unhappy...he needs to be pushed...I WANT to help him I can't let him fall through the cracks he doesn't deserve that!

What should I do? Please help!
I know how much you want to help- it only makes you a good friend to him. But as concerned as you are about his well-being, you cannot push him to do anything; he is the one who needs to make a conscious decision to change, and then do something about it. What you can do, however, is express your concern and worry. Adults, no matter how wrong and troubled they may be, do not want to hear other people tell them what to do or not to do. What he needs is your support. I recommend setting up a time to meet with him, whenever/wherever he wants, so you can let him know how you feel. Just tell him that you understand how hard things must be for him, having to deal with so much at one time...but that it concerns you that he is smoking a lot of weed to deal with his pain. Although weed temporarily dulls emotional pain, it cannot erase what is already done. He needs to understand that he needs to confront what is hurting him in life, instead of ignoring it. You can be a great source of comfort and support for him, if he is willing to talk to you and open up. He will be a lot more likely to turn his life around if he confronts what is bothering him- he can start off by talking to you. If he is completely unwilling to talk to you, however, you can always just make plans with him, without telling him upfront that you need to talk to him (going out for fun, etc.)- -then when the time is right, you can let him know how you feel. Hope it all works for the best.

Q: Ok so i'm 15 and i like love ........sex...........lol but only had it when i wasl ike 9...when would be a good age for me to have it?
If I understand correctly, you were only nine years old when you first had sex. Nine. And knowing that nine year-old boys do not have erections, how old was the guy?? Not only is that morally wrong on so many levels- you were still a kid, it's illegal, you (and every other nine-year old) could NOT have possibly been ready for it AT ALL. I am still shocked that I read about a nine year-old having sex.

You are 15 now, and even THAT is too young for many, if not most, teenagers. Sure, teens now are having sex like it's shaking hands, but that does not mean that they're ready. Nope, not even a bit- at least not for the majority. You need to focus on growing up and experiencing life rather than dwelling on when you should be having sex. You can when you are emotionally ready for it. And sorry to break it to you, your question basically implies to me that you are not emotionally mature enough to deal with the risks and responsibilities of having sex.

Please, if you must, talk to a school counselor or trusted adult about this. Don't be pressured into doing things (including sex) that "everyone else" is doing. Just because other kids are doing it does not mean it's okay at that age. And to add, if the experience of having sex at NINE had a negative impact on you emotionally (I will assume it has), talk to a counselor about it. Be safe, and just be a 15 year-old. You are not an adult, so do not try making adult decisions just yet.

Q: Why are guys such jerks especially the good looking ones? Mainly the jocks, pretty boys, etc.? Why do all of them have too much confidence and an ego so huge it's hard to believe it was even possible a human to hold? Oh and WHY can you NEVER tell if they just wanna get in your pants or if they really like you for you because they're all good at wooing every girl possibly why is that?
I agree with the answer below- popular guys (jocks, pretty boys, etc.) are definitely as (if not more) self-conscious than the rest, but are better at hiding it. They exude this arrogance that makes them appear confident. I cannot say this of all the jocks/pretty boys/popular guys, but I can say that many of them embody these traits.

The reason why so many of these guys APPEAR to have too much confidence, and have such an inflated ego, is that people around them (friends, popular girls/guys, etc.) feed their ego. By making a big deal out of who they are (popular), how they look, what they do, who they date/have dated, etc., people inadvertently make guys like that more and more arrogant overtime. Certain guys are just predisposed to being arrogant, and when people go ga-ga over them for one reason or another, it only fuels the arrogance.

As for why they are so good at wooing every girl...well, I don't know if I can give you a definitive answer (there are probably many). I can say though, that a lot of arrogant guys think they know what girls want and/or want to hear, and they just become better and better at fooling certain girls into thinking that they are in love with them, when all they really want is one thing. Afterall, trying to fool people is an arrogant thing to do. But, as the previous columnist mentioned, guys at that age are pretty much predisposed to wanting sex ALL the time, so I would say that to a certain extent, you might find this wooing thing to be common among a lot of teenage guys. Decent guys do not constantly woo girls to get inside their pants- but arrogant guys tend to do so. Think of it this way: wooing is fooling, and fooling someone is an arrogant act. Arrogant boys do arrogant things.

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ciao77
HELLO (or ciao!), I'm Roya, 25 Female

I am here for no other reason than to give honest, straightforward advice. What I say may not be what you want to hear, but that is not of my concern. My only purpose is to give logical, sound advice, and only when I feel I have something to contribute.

I am probably one of the more random and eclectic people out there, so my interests (and thus, what I like to give advice on) range from music to politics to sex to life to....almost anything, as long as it's deep, meaningful, fun, a little crazy...and a lot like life. So, in short, with my eclectic personality, there's not a whole lot I'm unwilling to answer.

**Bottom line: If I can help out, I am willing to give honest advice.

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