I've dated a version of this guy. I spent two years of my life, off and on, justifying things about him. For every bad thing I'd find out about him, I'd find an explanation and brush it off. Everyone told me he was a loser. Everyone told me he was treating me badly. And yet, my low self-esteem led me back to the guy. I thought I loved the guy, but I was just grateful to have a guy, you know? I put up with behavior from him that I swore I'd never tolerate from any man.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 10:25 PM on March 9, 2008

Jeff Dunham - Arguing With Myself
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 7:03 PM on February 8, 2008

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers legal support for situations such as yours.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 8:29 PM on January 24, 2008

Take a look at CrazyMeds. It's one of the best websites for giving you non-doctorspeak information about all kinds of "head meds".

I've been on Prozac for about six months now. I never had the fuzzy brain problem, although it did do some weird stuff to my hair. It did take quite a while to achieve the correct dosage but that may be due to the fact I have a conservative psychiatrist.

Oh, and one added bonus - Generic Prozac is one... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 8:52 PM on December 23, 2007

OP here. ROU_Xenophobe nailed it - he wasn't the least bit surprised.

Thanks to all of you for your answers. They really helped me stop overthinking the entire situation. :-)
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 8:05 PM on December 11, 2007

I was on numerous chat BBSs back in the day and that's where I first saw asterisks being used in that manner.

*suddenly feels very old*
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 8:01 PM on December 11, 2007

Read The Introvert Advantage. I'm a major introvert (INFJ) and that book really helped me understand how to cope with an extroverted world.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 9:27 PM on November 22, 2007

My family always eats at noon, no later.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 9:23 PM on November 22, 2007

A former coworker and his bride did what looked like a formal, engraved wedding invitation. Once you looked at the wording a bit more closely you saw:

Blah blah blah
[groom's name] and [bride's name]
Blah blah blah
[date of wedding]
Blah blah blah
[Location of wedding]

It really *did* say blahblahblah everywhere. Of course, they did do a few traditional wedding invitations for grandparents and the like but I thought the blah ones were hysterical.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 8:37 PM on October 17, 2007

I lost a good 15 pounds on Wellbutrin. It killed my appetite so I rarely ate. The weight loss leveled out after a bit.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 7:26 PM on July 21, 2007

Yep, that's SSRI poop-out. Try the increased dose for a while. It won't take effect right away, so it might take a bit of time. If you still don't feel like it's working, it may be time to ask the doctor for a med change.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 6:45 PM on June 8, 2007

For those who are interested in learning more about antidepressant side effects I cannot recommend CrazyMeds highly enough. It will give you an understanding of side effects in English, not medical terms.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 11:42 AM on May 25, 2007

You might find this story interesting. The reporter was curious just like you and did some investigating.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 8:56 PM on May 9, 2007 marked best answer

Ann Landers said it best:

Love or Infatuation?

Infatuation is instant desire. It is one set of glands calling to another. Love is friendship that has caught fire. It takes root and grows — one day at a time.

Infatuation is marked by a feeling of insecurity. You are excited and eager but not genuinely happy. There are nagging doubts, unanswered questions, little bits and pieces about your beloved that you would just as... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 3:36 PM on August 7, 2006

I know what you mean about wanting to call your ex. When that urge hit me, I would tell myself that I could do it, if I waited 15 minutes. When I hit the 15 minute mark, I did another 15 minutes. It was really, REALLY hard to do, but it stopped me from making contact which would have just hurt both of us.

Try to remember that calling her will be like ripping open the hole in your heart after you've managed to stop the bleeding.

Good luck.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 8:03 PM on July 25, 2006

Have you considered the possibility that you might be an introvert? I always thought I had social anxiety, but after reading The Introvert Advantage I discovered I was an introvert. The book explains why social situations exhaust an introvert and offers ways to deal with it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 6:56 AM on May 29, 2006

This may be way out there, but rage like that can be an indicator of mania. It might be worth having a chat with a psychiatrist just to check it out.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 9:57 PM on May 21, 2006

Are you an introvert? The things you mention sound very much like characteristics of an introvert. Before you assume the worst, pick up a copy of The Introvert Advantage and see if you identify with it. If you do, you'll learn how to deal with extraverts in social situations.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 11:00 PM on April 16, 2006 marked best answer

This will sound odd, but it's worked for me.

When paying for something in a store, if you're signing a credit card slip, use your OWN pen. The pen that the clerk offers you has been handled by all kinds of folks with all kinds of icky illnesses.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 8:59 PM on December 5, 2005

If you're planning to use the DVR a lot, Dish is not the way to go. Their DVR software/interface is stupid, unlike the one for DirecTV. For example, if you tell the Dish DVR to record "Veronica Mars" every Wednesday at 8pm, it will record that time slot, no matter WHAT is on that channel.

From what I've seen of DirecTV, it uses the TiVo interface, which is much better.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 1:12 PM on December 4, 2005

I think my mother visited her house after her death.

At the time of my mom's death, my niece was six years old. Nearly three years later, after cleaning out every dresser and closet in the house of her clothes, my sister found a brand new child's Barbie nightshirt in a drawer we'd previously emptied. My mom was known for buying all kinds of gifts and stashing them away, but the nightshirt was the size for a nine year old, not a six year old. And, there's no way we... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 9:24 PM on December 1, 2005

I have sensitive skin and I've had great luck with Clinique and Neutrogena products. If you visit the Clinique counter, they usually have testers of all products so that you can try them. Neutrogena is sold in small containers, so you won't waste too much money if you buy something that doesn't work.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 8:54 PM on November 29, 2005

There are some great websites with information about depression and how to help a friend that is suffering from it. Check out NAMI and NIMH, for starters.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 7:42 PM on November 29, 2005

I suggest you find another doctor, preferably one that's female. Any doctor who won't listen to you and your concerns is pretty much useless. It's your body and your health - find someone who will listen to you.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 7:39 PM on November 29, 2005

I hope you'll check this thread again - I found a fireplace screensaver that has sound.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 7:34 PM on November 29, 2005

You can't get her out of it - she has to want to do that herself. All you can do is be a good friend to her. Be there for her, give her advice if she asks for it and help her when it all falls apart.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 7:17 PM on November 29, 2005

Lost In Translation
The Mask of Zorro
American President
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 12:26 PM on November 26, 2005

Have you tried Thunderbird? While it is an email client, I just use it for RSS feeds. It's pretty simple to use and has the features you want.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 9:34 AM on November 25, 2005

If you want to read about some real life experiences with various anti-depressants, check out CrazyMeds.

I've been on Lexapro, (which eventually stopped working) and Zoloft, which really works well for me. Finding the right anti-depressant can take some trial and error, so find a good doctor who is willing to make med changes.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 9:20 AM on November 21, 2005

I second the no on Providian. They do hand out cards pretty easily, but they will try to screw you over.

Check out Capital One. When rebuilding my credit after a bankruptcy, they were the first folks to give me a secured credit card.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 1:59 PM on November 20, 2005

If you can remove it, take out the rubber thingy that keeps stuff out of your garbage disposal. You'd be surprised at the gunk that can collect on the bottom of it. If it's not removable, stick several handfuls of ice into the disposal and then turn it on. That will clean the blades and the rubber thingy.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 10:41 PM on November 19, 2005

I like Tylenol Simply Sleep. It's the part of Benadryl that makes you sleepy without all of the crap you don't need. The best part is that I don't feel groggy when I wake up after taking it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 10:38 PM on November 19, 2005

You might want to do some reading about bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. IANAD, but extreme anger is a symptom of both. Good luck with your decision - I can't imagine how hard it must be for you.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 10:32 PM on November 19, 2005

I regret very few things in my past because even the really, REALLY bad stuff taught me something. If the thing in my past was a bad decision, I try to remind myself that, given the information I had at the time, it was the best decision I could make. We all realize that hindsight is 20/20, so it's easy to look back and wonder what in the world we were thinking/doing. I still struggle with it occasionally on really big issues, and I found that it helped to forgive myself.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 10:27 PM on November 19, 2005

The best website I've found that is incredibly honest about side effects and withdrawl information is CrazyMeds. Take a look around the site and you'll find all kinds of great information.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 8:49 PM on November 17, 2005

I've had good luck using Spam Poison - and it's free.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 3:57 AM on November 14, 2005

Damn, that auction for a $500 Walmart/Sams Club gift card could mean that the winning bidder paid $290.02 for a $5 gift card! That's just awful.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 8:54 PM on November 13, 2005

Adult FriendFinder

While you won't have as many features, they do offer free accounts.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 8:40 AM on November 4, 2005

You might try calling a local Temple and talking to the Rabbi. He or she might be able to send you in the right direction. Or, if you have a local TV reporter who does "investigative reporting", you might give him/her a call and see if they have any interest in the story.

Kudos to you for standing up to a bigot. Most folks would have let the comments go.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 8:45 PM on November 2, 2005

Tools>Options>Content>AutoComplete>Uncheck all items, then Clear Forms
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 8:03 AM on October 28, 2005

I'm female, and if I guy I worked with (but wasn't dating) proposed to me, I'd freak right out. Tell her about your feelings, see about dating, but please don't propose or you'll risk losing contact with her forever.

Also, check out this essay by Ann Landers, which might give you a clearer view of your feelings.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck. If you need to talk further, my email address is in my profile.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 10:16 PM on October 27, 2005

If your local Wal-Mart has a pharmacy, they also carry Sudafed. You are limited on the quantity you can purchase at one time, but it's a simple process - they enter your drivers license info into their computer once and any time after that, you just have to show your ID (at any Wal-Mart location).
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 1:36 PM on October 19, 2005

A great site with lots of real world anecdotes about Paxil and other antidepressants is CrazyMeds. The author sorts through the drug company spin and tells you what's real and what's BS.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 9:06 AM on October 19, 2005

If you decide to do this, please don't post on craigslist. I regularly read the ads and find any ad offering travel as very suspicious.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 9:54 PM on October 18, 2005

Never store potatoes and onions together.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 10:27 AM on October 5, 2005

Open Trillian, connect to Yahoo, delete the folks you want to remove. Go into your settings for Yahoo and click the button that says Export Settings to all Yahoo accounts. Disconnect Trillian, wait a few minutes and then open Yahoo Messenger. Your contacts should still be gone. Disconnect Yahoo Messenger, and go back to Trillian and reconnect. At that point, everything should be the way you want it.

Well, that's the only way I was able to do it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 6:32 PM on October 1, 2005

Try using Google to search for the names of each doctor. You may find comments about the doctor or even their website. That information may help you in finding a doctor who fits your needs.

I would also suggest finding two different professionals - a therapist you can talk to (when you do finally feel like talking) and a psychiatrist who can prescribe meds (if needed). Meds are good, but in combination with talk therapy they can be a miracle.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 9:39 AM on September 30, 2005

If you really want to see if this relationship will work, both of you need therapy - separately and as a couple. It sounds like she has some underlying issues that need to be addressed. If the two of you also do some couples therapy you'll probably learn how to better communicate with each other which should fix many of the issues you're experiencing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 9:32 AM on September 30, 2005

I would change doctors. Several years ago I went through something similar - I knew something was wrong (I know my own body), but I couldn't figure out what was going on. I went through several doctors before finally finding one who believed me and was willing to do some tests.

By the way, several of the crappy doctors were women and the one who finally helped me was a man. In my book, it's all about finding a doctor who makes you feel comfortable.

Good luck!
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 9:25 AM on September 30, 2005

SteveInMaine, your speeds should be much higher than that. Have Time Warner switch out your old modem with a new one and you'll probably see a nice speed increase like I did.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Serena at 10:10 PM on September 29, 2005