I'm so glad Amanda's explanation helped. The idea of being in the present moment, how to do that and why, can definitely be tricky for a lot of folks to grasp, I think (I certainly had trouble with it), but it can be super helpful once it makes sense and you start getting some practice with it. I ho...

Hi 0PT1M15T1C, hope it's okay that I'm jumping in here. I really hope that you and your mom, with the help of your therapist, will be able to get you connected with another psychiatrist. Having medical decisions made for you by people who don't even know you, and then not being informed until later,...

Hi sky. I'm sorry you're hurting so much, and I'm sorry your friend blocked you, that's never an easy thing to deal with. What do you think about Heather's suggestion a few posts up about seeking out some additional resources you can turn to, in addition to us here? Sometimes it can be helpful to ha...

Hi, fading_west. I'm glad that reading Mikaylah's story was helpful to you. Is there anything in particular about your experience that you wanted to talk about? (If not, that's okay, sometimes just getting it off your chest can be helpful!)

Vaginas aren't a static size - they can expand and stretch to accommodate things like tampons. So it's not likely that the size of your vagina is an issue. However, if you aren't bleeding much, then tampons can feel pretty uncomfortable; there are smaller tampons made for lighter bleeding but some f...

I'm glad your mum is supportive, and that you have someone to turn to. As others have said it can be super challenging to live with a parent who doesn't support or understand your sexuality, so it's really good to hear that your mum is there for you.

Hi IAmScared. Unfortunately, the situation right now with coronavirus means that a lot of things around healthcare are going to be different for a while in a lot of places. In some spots, there are other ways to get in touch with your doctor other than face to face (in a clinic or hospital). If your...

Sorry your dad said no, and so sorry about your mom's reaction, but if saving up and getting one online is an option then that's great. Personally, I love my diva cup and haven't tried any of the other ones, but there are a couple of things to keep in mind as you're looking. 1) Material - most of th...

Totally with you on all of that: it's your body, so you should be able to do what you're most comfortable with. If that means saving up for a bit and ordering a cup online, that's a good option! There are lots of different choices now, as Sam said, and they're becoming more affordable which is great...

I'm glad you were able to do some things to take care of yourself! It's obvious you're trying really hard to do things that you know are the best for you in the long run even if it's really hard in the short term - if only the best decisions and actions were always the easy ones! - so good on you fo...

It totally does. I am all too familiar with that feeling and yep, it sucks, big time. I'm so sorry you're feeling that way now, and hopefully this new therapist will be able to help you with some strategies to manage those feelings. Is there anything you think would be helpful from us in the meantime?

Understandable. We're always here too if you even just want to get stuff off your chest.

Hey, sky. I'm so sorry to hear that your friend responded that way: it's never a good feeling to hear that kind of thing from someone we care about. :( I am really glad you're connecting with a new therapist though, and I hope they're someone who's a good fit for you. In the meantime, do you have an...

COVID-19 has definitely thrown a wrench into the works for pretty much everybody, but it sounds like you've got a good perspective on things and a plan to keep yourself occupied with some things you enjoy, so kudos to you for that!

Yeah I wouldn't suggest soaking them for 2 weeks...handwashing is another option, but obviously only if you want to look into washable pads! It's your choice, whatever you feel works best for you. It's great you've been able to connect with a new gyn who seems more helpful than your last one. One ap...

It can definitely be scary to have something like that feel totally real; like once it's out of your head and into the world somehow it's definitely true as opposed to possibly true and a thing you can't take back (particularly if you know you won't get any support around it from the folks in your l...

For what it's worth, in my experience, washable pads don't really require scrubbing. If you need to change a pad or liner during the day, you tuck the used one in a plastic bag, and chuck it in a bucket with a bit of detergent when you get home, until the next time you do laundry, when you just thro...

It's definitely worth asking about the possibility of skype or phone sessions: more and more therapists are offering that as an option because they realize that people's schedules can make it difficult to attend in person. Sometimes therapists offer sliding scales for payment as well, particularly f...

Hey, pensiveguy. This whole situation sounds pretty stressful: it's tough to see people you care about in conflict or unhappy (especially when someone's behaviour raises some red flags like K's has) and it's natural to want to do what you can to solve the problem. However, as much as you want to hel...

Hi again, radicallyunique, glad to see you again. :) My first thought with this is that coming out in the way you're describing would be a really intimidating idea for a LOT of people, not just for folks with social anxiety. For sure, there are some people who would be okay with it (even if they wer...

This is something only your doctor will be able to evaluate, based on your complete medical history. Did you tell them that you'd once had a migraine when they prescribed you the pill?

No, you don't need to use a backup method when you switch your pill-taking time (although it sounds like you might feel more comfortable and secure using one).

thewrit3r has given you some great advice, but I want to add that if you are continuing to have suicidal ideation, the first thing to do is contact a mental health hotline (in addition to the one thewrit3r suggested we have a list here: http://www.scarleteen.com/anxiety_and_other_mental_health_resou...

That does indeed sound like a very frustrating situation. So I have a better idea of what your past conversations have been like, can you give me an example of what you would say to him, and how he usually responds to that?

Generally any kind of genital sex (including masturbation) isn't a great idea with a yeast infection when you're having a lot of pain and itching, just because it can irritate already irritated skin. If it doesn't cause you any discomfort, though, then it's fine: just stop if you feel any pain or ir...