Girly Stuff

[zeldagirl1234]

what's a good way to treat saddness with out meds? ( not quite depression)

[Young Val]

I am in no way a doctor of any kind.

For myself, when I'm feeling a little sad or lethargic or overwhelmed I make sure to do the following:

Sunlight, sunlight, sunlight. Go outside if you can, if you can't--sit by windows. Soak up as much daylight as you can. Instant mood lifter, for me.

Eat healthy. My immediate response when I'm sad is always to eat comfort and junk food and it ALWAYS makes me feel sluggish and irritable afterward. Eating healthy, rounded meals gives me energy and boosts my mood.

Stay busy. Work on a hobby. Spend time with friends or family. DO something. I tend to try to isolate myself and become listless when I'm sad. By staying busy with my hands, I often relax and free my mind. Even if I'm just going through the motions at first, eventually I begin to engage in whatever I'm doing.

Actually, I'm feeling pretty sad myself lately. I ought to take my own advice.

[Eaquae Legit]

Eat healthy. My immediate response when I'm sad is always to eat comfort and junk food and it ALWAYS makes me feel sluggish and irritable afterward. Eating healthy, rounded meals gives me energy and boosts my mood.

I second all of what Kelly said. My only modification to it is that after I've gotten myself a nice healthy meal, I do often allow myself a small, measured amount of junk/comfort food. A kid-sized bag of chips, for example. That way I get the emotional boost but don't feel all gross about it.

[Young Val]

Absolutely. I'm all about indulgence! When I mentioned eating comfort/junk food upthread, I meant to say that that's ALL I'm likely to eat when I'm sad. Moderation is key!

I also think it's ok to be sad for a little while. But I also recognize that there comes a time when you need to get on with things. Hence, the sunlight, busyness, and eating well tricks I use.

[Eaquae Legit]

Or sometimes I indulge, but I have to cook to get it. Cinnamon buns are great for that - sticky, gooey comfort food, but a delayed gratification that gives me lots of time to get out of the funk.

[Gravity Defier]

I don't know if the "DO something" was including exercise but I feel that needs emphasis. EXERCISE. I've found that after a good hour of getting my blood pumping, I can ward off a case of the Sads for a small bit; if you're really not suffering from depression -which isn't the same as being depressed, which isn't the same as being sad- it would have a more lasting affect for you than it does for me.

Also, if your sadness spans over the course of a few days, getting enough sleep helps snap you out of that much faster than not getting enough. You're a teen, so your "enough" is actually about 10 hours if I'm remembering correctly and most of you don't get that or anywhere remotely close. However, even 8 would be better than I assume you're getting on a regular basis.


Otherwise, as Ali said, Kelly is wise and gave great advice.

[Syphon the Sun]

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome, instead. True story.

[zeldagirl1234]

thanks guys. I'll try it out! oh and I actually get 9-10 hours of sleep nightly

[Nehali Sophia]

So when I get sad/cranky, I try to do a really quick review:

1. When was the last time I ate?

2. Am I about to get my period (I know it's not true for some women, but for myself I do get extra sensitive a couple of days before & will cry/get upset about things that don't bother me at other times of my cycle. I always felt silly a few days later, when I realized why I was cranky & that I don't actually care about green beans vs carrots for dinner)

3. What happened today? (What was good? What bothered me? Sometimes I find that a comment made in passing by a family member or friend really rankled, but I pretended that I didn't care, & yet at the back of my mind it's still nagging at me)

And after that I "treat" it with all the great suggestions made up-thread (exercise, sleep, good food, hobbies) as well as other things like a bath, planning my dream house, reading, etc.

[Wil]

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome, instead. True story.

You are Legn... Wait for it!

[zeldagirl1234]

also, this doesn't apply directly to 'girly' things, but I can't find where else to put it. Is it a bad thing when my whole midsection/sides feel as if they are one large bruise, when I dont actually have a bruise?

[Luet]

I'm going to a wedding in a few weeks and I'm finally going to wear a dress that I bought about 5 years ago for a wedding that never happened (and thus I never wore). This is the dress except the pattern is different. Mine is cream with big black flowers; and I got it for $50. I'm really excited to wear it!

I also think that I'm going to splurge on an expensive haircut. I looked up reviews on yelp and found a highly rated salon in Albany. Although, my hair isn't very long, so there isn't a ton to work with. I mostly want them to shape it so it looks better while it grows out.

[zeroguy]

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome, instead. True story.

I take a similar yet slightly different approach. Probably not too helpful in this thread, though.

[Gravity Defier]

I'm really excited to wear it!

I also think that I'm going to splurge on an expensive haircut.

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!



Pretty please, if you care to share.

[fawkes]

I got a new haircut, and dyed my hair black for the first time. It's so short! And I have bangs!!

[Gravity Defier]

And I repeat:



Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!



Pretty please, if you care to share.




:)

[Gravity Defier]

From my new favorite blog:

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY VAGINAL

There is an ad for something called “Vagisil Feminine Wash” that I keep seeing on TiVo fast-forward, and I always have to stop and watch because it is so amazing. There is a young woman standing apart from her three friends, who are talking in a soft-focus group in the background, while the voiceover talks about “embarrassing odor.” Then the voiceover talks about the product, which, as stated, is special soap for washing your horrifyingly unclean genitals. For SHAME! Then the same woman is shown talking and laughing with her friends. Her vagina has been forgiven. Go forth and sin no more!

1. Do her friends have special Hannibal-Lecter olfactory powers?

2. Is her hoo-ha really that smelly, that the odor can be discerned at a normal talking distance and through her clothes? Might want to go to the doctor or something, lady. Damn.

3. Are the friends really more than friends, and routinely have four-way lesbian sex orgies, and they are also kind of gossipy and backstabby and emotionally dominating, and the protagonist has been lax with her hygiene lately, and the other three are thus totally ostracizing her and withholding the hot lesbian four-way sex? And being the submissive type, and also in thrall to the hot lesbian four-way sex, she becomes desperate and is willing to do anything, anything, even rubbing toxic chemicals (jesus christ, TRICLOSAN???) on her vulva, just to get back into their pants and good graces? This is my favorite backstory for the ad, but also, sadly, the least plausible.

The blog isn't really centered on girly things or any one thing in particular but this made me laugh and I had to narrow down what I wanted to quote on the board and that would determine where I posted it, so in here it is.


To head into possibly TMI territory and make it personal, whenever I'm on my period, I always feel like #2 up there might be an issue because I can smell me. No one has ever said anything and I guess that could be because they're polite but I also think I'm just paranoid in general and having talked about this with other women, they think the same thing about themselves and yet, none of us can ever smell another woman's menstruation.



ETA: And another funny, from a different entry.

My current toothpaste is supposedly studded with bits of “breath strips,” and the slogan on the side said it is “Packed To The Max With Freshness!” LT has informed me that would also be an appropriate slogan for his penis. It would be a very specific and targeted (one customer) ad campaign, however, and I’m not sure it’s worth the capital outlay.

[Eaquae Legit]

Heh. Marketers never fail to create horrific new problems we never knew we had, and then kindly offer to fix them for us, for a price.

[Luet]

and yet, none of us can ever smell another woman's menstruation.

I have, on rare occasion, smelled a friend's menstruation. It was in the summer and she used pads and I do have a highly sensitive nose. But I did not know ahead of time that she had her period, I really did smell it. This is why I could never use pads. And yet another reason why I loooove my cup.

On a related funny note, we were watching a yogurt commercial about how the yogurt is now available in little four pack cups. My husband said "Man, now whenever I hear the word 'cup' all I think of is your LadyCup because you talk about it all the time." I couldn't let it go at that, so I said "You know, some women DO put yogurt in their cups when they have a yeast infection." And he said "AGGGHHH, why do I talk?!?".

[Gravity Defier]

and yet, none of us can ever smell another woman's menstruation.

I have, on rare occasion, smelled a friend's menstruation.

Oh, good. I am paranoid with reason.


Also, that conversation with your husband made me laugh.

[fawkes]

And I repeat:



Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!

Well, only cuz you asked so nice

[Gravity Defier]

That is such a good look for you, Erica. :)

[steph]

Love it!!

[powerfulcheese04]

I took bridal portraits yesterday!

[Eaquae Legit]

Pretty! I love the sunflowers and the window.

[Young Val]

You look beautiful! I, too, love the sunflowers.

You haven't gotten married yet, have you? These are just portraits you sat for ahead of time? I've never heard of that!

[powerfulcheese04]

Sunflowers are my favorite flower! And I've loved the Armstrong Browning library at baylor forever.

And, you're right, Kelly. I'm not married yet (6 months left!) but "bridal portraits" at a time and place separate from the wedding were included in the photography package I picked based on the album stuff. Apparently they're a big thing in the south.

[steph]

Love it! Beautiful!

[Jebus]

What's wrong with all you people? We're still young! Stop getting married! Stop having kids!

[Jayelle]

Dude, I'm like, 30. How long am I supposed to wait?

[mr_thebrain]

if you're smart.... as long as flipping possible.

wait... girls love it... guys on the other hand, listen up:

IT'S A TRAP!

[Admiral Ackbar]

IT'S A TRAP!

Quoted for truth.

[mr_thebrain]

exactly what i had in mind. Thanks, admiral!

[Petra456]

Kimmie you look beautiful, and I LOVE your dress!

[zeldagirl1234]

omg okay this doesn't have much to do with the whole conversation I'm sorry but I've been looking non stop for two hours don't ask why but has any one seen the post where I say my favorite smell is my violin??? by the way you look beautiful but yeah