Minnie Said:

I'm just getting worse and worse.......help.......?

We Answered:

I'm not a pro or a counsellor but I understand what you're going through, for two years I've been in a similar way and in the last 3 months I've decided to seek help and try and change it around. For me the smallest thing can trigger a complete mood swing and its often upsetting for everyone around me. Thanks to my parents support I've acknowledged its a problem and I'm now consciously trying to stop being upset. It sounds stupid but at the minute, its working, every time I feel bad or low I do something to take my mind off it or to let it out. Drawing and exercise help me a lot through the worst of times, I highly recommend you get into the habit of doing something similar to that which you enjoy every time you feel bad. At the end of the day, no one can click their fingers and change the way you think, they can help and talk you through it but I think the best way is to try yourself. Its slow progress and its pretty tough but your health comes before everything. It's took far too loo long for me to realise that and boy have I paid a heavy price for it. The sooner you try to acknowledge and remedy the problem, the less it takes over your life, good luck and try not to dwell on the negative all the time, it really doesn't help "/ x

Samantha Said:

comments/critiques on my UC personal statement?

We Answered:

I agree with the first poster. It starts out strong enough, with an intriguing concept, but slides downhill from there. Every sentence, every paragraph needs to be related to the concept of what is important to you, and that isn't the case in your essay yet.

Speaking of paragraphs, please keep the paragraphs to a few sentences, and one of them should address the specific point of the paragraph itself. This makes it easier to read and follow along.

Finally, when applying to a college or university, or even a job, it might not be a good idea to state you are not interested in success - they will have plenty of people to choose from who are.

You do sound smart and motivated, and I am sure you will be a success. So please read this as a critique, not criticism. Tighten it up, and you will be fine!

Toni Said:

Does it sound like I'm doing too much freshman year?

We Answered:

well not to disappoint you, but most likely all of your fine arts and health classes will probably be blow off classes. luckily, you can probably do your homework in there (:
but if they weren't, it would be okay for freshman year, but not for the other years. freshman year is way easy compared to the others, especially if you're in advanced placement/honors classes. Stick to one athletics class and one arts class that you love! health won't be necessary after your first year and spanish won't be after sophomore year (:
good luck!

Shannon Said:

I'm just getting worse and worse. help.........?

We Answered:

I'm going to be completley honest with you. Stop watching TV and don't listen to music for a week. See what good happens. I know it's not what you wanted to hear and it may be really hard for you to do that, but I honestly believe you will see a good change if you turn off the TV and the music, just for one week.

Nina Said:

Who's point of view is right? His parents' or my parents'?

We Answered:

Two different backgrounds, chalk and cheese. You both have a project assigned and need to work together that's fine as long it is school work related. I would suggest this: don't mix school work with home life, don't impose yourself and your school mate at your parents house nor do you go to his house. Meet on common ground, like a Library, or somewhere public where you both contribute to the project. You are boasting how clever you are - why are you doing all the work! either your school mate gets serious about his contribution or just drop it both of you see your teacher to review. Obviously his parents know how he dresses the way he is, it is a parental responsibility to influence kids and also discipline them when required. If your school mate wants to change and become like you he can. Choose who you hung out with carefully, project work or not.

Don Said:

What autoimmune disorder(s) do you think I am most likely suffering from?

We Answered:

With a list like that, I would expect them to come back and tell you Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, if not also including the possibility of Lupus. I would say I don't want to scare you, but I doubt very much having lived with this much that anything I say would do that. A lot of your list can readily be attributed to Fibromyalgia (which I have, as well as connective tissue disease & suspicion of SLE), including the digestive & female problems. IBS and various issues such as PCOS commonly run with autoimmune inflammatory diseases. So does neuropathy, which you've also aptly described.

The sensitivity to cold you're describing screams of Raynaud's Syndrome (which I also likely have). Along with all that, if your light sensitivity includes being photosensitive w/ or w/out a malar rash... and you've got an elevated ANA, then your Dr should be considering Lupus. You should be seen by a rheumatologist if you haven't already. You *might* need a neurologist at some point.

There are treatment options, whatever the case. You clearly look like a classic case of SOME kind of autoimmune disease. No matter what anyone says about it, Fibromyalgia is in that category as well. There is scientific proof of that. It's just that some "professionals" want to turn a blind eye to the genetic markers that have been identified. Hashimotos is already accepted as being autoimmune anyway. Plaquenil is the usual first offering, and it's very effective for a lot of people. If it's tolerated well, it can be a literal lifesaver. Just discuss low-dose options to reduce the risks of toxicity. (Over 400mg is the danger zone for potential retina damage, even though it's not common... why risk it?)

Be aware that a firm diagnosis can be drawn out and frustrating to obtain. Just take a deep breath and know that it may take some commitment on your own part to get answers. If a Dr doesn't work well with you, move on to another. You may need to repeat labs to catch it in the act as well, as the results can vary wildly... Try to go when you feel your worst or close to it, if they come back negative the first time. Inflammation can be elusive in some people's profiles when it comes to that paper confirmation.

I hope you get sound medical answers, and I wish you well.