It can certainly go a long way towards building up a shield to keep other people's beliefs from constantly poking at you.

Is there anything else we can help you with around this?

If you want to try that, you can try mentally adding "you think" after she says something that you know or feel us not true. That can help you remember that it is her misconception rather than a failure on your part. Does your school have an academic counselor or someone similar who you co...

If changing her mind seems daunting, do you feel like there's merit in trying to let some of her misconceptions bounce off of you? That can be difficult, but there are a few things you could try. If you're finding a specific class is hurting your optimism about getting through school, have you had a...

Hi Capablehippie,

Relaxing as much as you can would likely help, since tensing up would make insertion more difficult. You could also, if you haven't already, experiment with different positions or stances to insert the tampon from, as some positions will make it easier to get the tampon in.

Do you have a sense of how you want to phrase this topic when you talk with him?

Also, you mention that if you're direct he gets cold. Is that only if the topic you want to discuss has to do with sex, or does it happen regardless of the subject?

We can certainly offer you some words of encouragement. One way to think about the situation is that, with school at least, giving up there will ultimately only bite you. It won't change her mind, and it will put you in a stressful position. It can also help to think of school as something you get t...

Hi Moonlight, It's awesome that your aunt and uncle are being so supportive! You mention you sent them some information. Do you feel like that's something you've be able to do with your parents when you're ready to come out to them? In other words, do you think you'd be okay setting a boundary where...

From what you're describing, it's possible that he tends to over correct his behavior in an attempt not to make you uncomfortable. Or, there's also the possibility that he is trying to get you to act a certain way by becoming cold when you tell him things he doesn't like. When you've had these conve...

Hi ac, You're right that if fingering is uncomfortable or painful, it's best to avoid it and focus on things she does find enjoyable. It's fairly common for people to find that clitoral stimulation is what makes them most likely to orgasm (and you can learn more about the corona, aka the hymen, here...

Can I ask what the discomfort you felt was? In other words, was it tied to being triggered by remembering certain incidents, or was it more tied to what you were telling us about not wanting to hurt his feelings? A way to think about this that might help you is: there are clearly some parts of this ...

Yep you've got it! I think this article might help you understand why that is: How do birth control pills really work, even during the placebo period?

You 100% made the right decision by staying at a friends house so that you could have a safe place. Is that friend willing to let you stay more often? As for his message, that is an example of him trying to manipulate you. He doesn't want you to break away from him, even for a night, because that gi...

Hi A_mi_03, We can't say for certain what the source of the bleeding is. If you've recently started the pill, it's possible this is your body adjusting to being on it or a side effect of starting it. However we, and many other sources, recommend waiting one full pill cycle before engaging in unprote...

A new article all about endometriosis: http://www.scarleteen.com/article/bodie ... riod_pains

Hi Iwanthelp, You're right that it sucks to be in such a stressful place right now. Can I ask who told you about the wait time for the counselor? If you've got your social worker's contact, my suggestion would be to get in touch with them and explain the situation the way you've explained it to us (...

Right on! That's a huge step in taking care of yourself. This article covers a lot of the questions you have about what therapy or counseling generally looks like: Process This: Getting the Most Out of Therapy . It's not uncommon for survivors to worry that a counselor might dismiss them, but any de...

Hi Laujo, There are a few ways you could approach this with him. You could start with talking about your identity and how that plays into your feelings about sex, and what that means in terms of your expectations for the relationship. Or, you could start by focusing more on how form here on out ther...

You can read about the whys and hows of pregnancy testing in this article: Peeing on a Stick: All About Pregnancy Tests

You're right that it's a bummer that someone you were hoping you could talk to about something sensitive turns out to not be supportive. As for whether to continue debating him, that's really up to you and how much time and energy you want to invest in possibly altering his perspective. I would say ...

Hi Laujo, It sounds like you're in a really difficult situation. The first thing I recommend is that you and your boyfriend stop doing anything sexual that makes you feel uncomfortable. Is that a boundary you feel like you know how to set and enforce? I also wonder, when you two have sex, is there a...

We will not answer ANY questions about pregnancy fear or anxiety in our direct services from users who are not pregnant or who are not or have not otherwise been directly involved with an actual pregnancy. Please do not post this kind of question. If you are seeing this text, and your thread is loc...

Hi Radicallyunique, I'm sorry that your friend turned out to be less accepting than you were hoping he'd be. Feeling him out a bit more is definitely an option. I think, if you're weighing telling him, you'd have to consider the possibility that he won't be supportive in the way you need right now, ...

You're welcome! And yep, I'd suggest making a new appointment to check in with them about your options.

Hi Yoda, Have you updated the healthcare provider you spoke to about the fact that the cramps are still really severe? If you're really not liking this pill, you could talk to your healthcare provider about switching pill brands to see if another one works better. You could also take a look at this ...

Given everything you've told us, your best bet would be to make a report to DHS about what's going on in your house. You may also, if you feel comfortable doing so the next time this comes up in conversation, remind your mom that an adult asking a minor such as one of your friends to strip would res...