Hi Estobawk, I think you are keenly aware of one of the hardest things about social interactions which is starting them and keeping them going. That is something that most people struggle with at different times or in different situations throughout their life and it takes a whole heck of a lot of p...

Hi Estobawk, I understand how that can lead to quite a bit of frustration from both sides. Plus, you're right, it can be very difficult to put something like self-care into practice and maintain it, as well. I'm curious if you have thought about or have a therapist who could more actively support yo...

Hi Estobawk, I hear you on the grueling heat during the summer; the hot summer is not my favorite season either. It is totally understandable that you are having more trouble at the moment taking care of yourself and that's great that you can recognize that and are wanting to take steps to improve. ...

Hi iloveeveryone, It is really great and honorable to see you wanting to step up and support someone, especially someone you don’t know very well. Support can look like a lot of different things depending on the person, time, and situation. It's important to understand that even though you may reach...

I am so sorry about everything you and your friend have been going through, amberrobert. It is infuriating and upsetting. It sounds to me like you are making good choices to find another place to stay for a while. Other than some of the female friends you mentioned, is there anyone else trusted that...

Hi mcjupiter, First of all, I think it should put your mind at ease to know that your mother also has a vibrator. To me, that suggests that she understands the value of masturbation and that it is not something that should be punished or seen as unnatural. However, I completely see how having someth...

Sometimes it can be upsetting to hear difficult things that a friend is going through and not seeing a way to help them. You could always check in with them and then also let them know how they can support you. For example, saying something like "I understand that this may be a lot and upsettin...

This sounds like a really difficult situation you are having to navigate (and have been dealing with for a while) and I am sorry that you are in this position. It's good that you can still call some of your friends; I remember you mentioning some really supportive friends. If you want we can brainst...

Hi LegsEverywhere, and welcome to Scarleteen! I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying our site. Yes, on our message boards you can ask questions and get responses from both staff/volunteers and connect with others in the community depending on which board you post under. A more comprehensive breakdow...

I'm glad to hear that you feel a little more comfortable at school. Do you feel up to talking a little bit more about the resources you may have at school? Are there some teachers, friends, or counselors that you can talk to? As for the rules around not leaving the house. Does that include going to ...

Hi Starsnsloths, We created a playlist for Pride a few weeks ago that can be found here on Spotify or Apple Music . By xxx, are you meaning explicit? In that playlist and with other songs there will be an "E" next to them if they contain explicit language, so you can choose to not listen t...

Hi Starsnsloths, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by just your energy. If you could explain that a little more it may help. If you mean just being around someone but there is no touching, communication happening, or other sexual acts then that would not be abuse. The definition of abuse is "...

I've kept up somewhat with your posts on the boards and I'm so sorry that your parents have continued to not treat you how you should be treated: with love and respect. I'm sure you have already heard this from others but I'll say it up front again, there is nothing wrong with you for being trans or...

Hi Oynx,
I'm happy to talk with you. What's been going on?

Hi ogawa.blue, and welcome to Scarleteen! You've come to the right place because we love talking about all things gender. It sounds like you have been doing a lot of introspective work which is great place to be at, although also frustrating at times to not have all the answers. Everything that you ...

Hi JT_B, Emily breaks down the idea really well, but you're right, she doesn't talk directly about arousal non-concordance with things that are not sex-related stimuli. I do not know your experiences or history so I cannot pretend to know exactly why your body reacts as it does. However, I can provi...

Hi Onyx, First I want to address that doctor's visit and then we can come back to the journal. Before you disclose anything to the doctor it would be good to check about their privacy protocols, what they will and won't share, etc. If you feel safe talking to them after hearing about their policies ...

Hi LotusGlow, It definitely sounds like you are placing a lot of pressure on yourself. You are also not "behind" in any way. There are people who are 25, 35, 45, and older still experimenting to find what is pleasurable for them alone and in partnered sex. Firstly, penetrative sex or oral ...

Hi Onyx, I'm so sorry to hear that your parents are saying those things to you. It completely makes sense why this whole interaction in Mexico is feeling off to you with that history of behavior from them. I can see why you did not feel comfortable coming out to your parents. Are the homophobic comm...

Hi Raffles, This sounds pretty distressing and understandably so. Not having our boundaries respected when we make them really clear to others is a pretty awful thing to experience. You are fully justified in having limits on how you do and do not like to have your body touched because it is your bo...

Hi ScarletFlight, and welcome to the boards! I'm so sorry to hear that you had this experience. Anything (fingers, penis, objects, etc.) going into the vaginal canal without warning or wanting it to happen can cause injury and/or pain. I'd recommend checking in with a healthcare provider if the pain...

We will not answer ANY questions about pregnancy fear or anxiety in our direct services with users who are not pregnant or who are not or have not been otherwise directly involved with an actual pregnancy. Please do not post this kind of question here. If you are seeing this text with a post you ma...

Hi Jeffsoup,

I'm glad you found Mo's response helpful! I want to pop this resource into the thread as well for you to look through if you want more information
(How to Approach Sexual Fantasy and Desire on Your Own). Feel free to respond if it brings up any other questions or thoughts.

Hi intjtechno, I'm sorry to hear how much your sexuality is causing you some distress. I want to start off by saying that there is nothing wrong with you. Sexuality is a big, messy thing that is experienced in many different ways and can take some time to figure out. First, I want to answer a couple...

For a whole lot of reasons, our minds can get the better of us and take us away from the present. Sometimes it can even be pretty scary and overwhelming. Grounding techniques are a variety of tools that can help bring us back from worries, intense emotions, or anything else on our mind by connecting...