The new normal sucks!

TheCarlwood wrote:
Not because we're smarter

I can argue that we're ALL smarter than dylansdad.

Would doing so violate the new forum rules?

I would suggest that when he derisively describes my actions and then calls them "Pathetic," he has drawn into the debate the comparison between my intelligence and his. Therefor, I should be allowed to present counter-evidence to his claim.

Please advise....

smaddy wrote:
I feel trapped, overwhelmingly trapped. Boris has extended the restrictions until July 19th, from June 21 but furlough support has been extended to autumn

One of my outlets used to be dub raves and I could cry for the fact I can't go.
I was planning to go to Spain in July for my birthday but with these increased restrictions and the fact I need to have a negative covid test to come back, its too risky and too much money

I try to pick myself up and pretend that I'm happy with how things are but I'm sad. Through some sad twists of fate I lost all my close relationships prior to this virus and the ganja I got the other day is not hitting the right spot

It sucks to hear you're feeling trapped. I felt the exact same way here in the Empire state, especially when shit first went down. I was losing it. When the lockdown started there were like zero cars on the roads, everyone was acting shady as fuck, and it was so freaky. One night I just had to jump on my bicycle and ride a few miles over to my buddies to smoke a rubbing-alcohol soaked bowl. It was freezing that night and there was a "curfew" but I just had to get out.

To hear from your dim-witted PM that restrictions are being extended, during the summer of all times, has to be maddening. You'll make it thru this smaddy.

I do advise changing things up a bit from your normal ganj routine. For me the higher THC stuff, especially sativa, started making me paranoid as hell shortly after it all went down. My fear was taking control and the high was making it worse. Rarely had that problem before. I find smoking at night is waaayy better for me than in the day now. Not sure why.

Also get yourself a good CBD product and consume them together. We've got plenty of access to hemp buds here so I end up mixing the two together and the high is way more mellow and happy vs panic inducing. CBD tinctures work for me too if i take it a few mins before hitting a J.

It's funny because growing up that "commercial" bud was really a balanced blend of the both but now everything is one-sided in terms of CBCvTHC.

Anyways, here's hoping you find a way to cope. Shit'll get better just keep the faith.

jh1517 wrote:
Jesus, this frustrates me to no end. Listen, I've taught pre-meds and doctors, and worked with doctors in the research setting for 5 years--they are extremely ambitious but not particularly bright people, in fact I would go so far to say that they are generally of lower intellectual capability than most other professionals (lawyers, architects, engineers, etc.).

Considering the amount of sway they have over peoples' opinions and out institutions, the fact that they are as unremarkable and unintelligent and often careless as they are is damn near a crisis. I've had to double check everything my fathers' doctors say and a good 25% of the time what they say is just flatly wrong or even nonsensical. I don't know what people who don't have the confidence or ability to double-check them do.

Yeah, it was sure frustrating. Thankfully the visit was just an annual check-up and nothing of any importance. My "real" doctor retired over a year ago and I was given very few options at the practice I go to. Rather than shop around I chose a DO from the list, figuring maybe a DO would be more embracing of natural remedies than a traditional MD. I was wrong, in this instance at least. Thankfully all of my issues are currently in check and the meds I do need are monitored by specialists. In your experience do you have any tips on how to seek out a good PCP?

tacosalad wrote:
jakeyd! Thank you for sharing all this. Sorry it took so long to respond, I like to have a clear mind and some time to sit down and not be harried, and sometimes that only happens on the weekend.

That really surprises me that your doctor suggested that you get it. I would think that documented allergic reactions and autoimmune diseases would two of the most clear cut reasons to hold off. It only makes me think that many medical providers are telling their staff to always encourage it, no matter what. They have their orders and they cannot deviate. Scary.

I completely agree that the profileration of autoimmune diseases must be related to the general toxicity we are bathed in as humans in the last century. No doubt plastic and petroleum based everything is not how nature intended our bodies to thrive. And since these industries own the world, who can go against it?

Yeah, I've mostly come to terms with not going to concerts or baseball games or things like that again. I can live without those things. I have no stake in it, even if it is fun. There are other ways to have fun. But yeah, being able to provide for myself is kind of a big deal! I already have issues with a lot of workplaces because of fragrance and mold and have been wary of job hunting for a long time because of that, but now the prospect that they may bar me from a job because of this?

I hear you on prayer and meditation and quiet. I'm glad it's leading you somewhere, and hopefully you come to a definite understanding of what you need to do. I hope this for myself, too :/ It's not easy. I don't necessarily know what the right way to pray or meditate even is, I have been trying out what feels right from listening to what a variety of other people do. What resonates with my soul.

I wish that I could get a definite diagnosis of my medical issue, and then perhaps going on disability would be possible, perhaps, but it's not even recognized by the American medical system. It is in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, but not here, LOL. A massive mold exposure at work due to a flooded roof, and literally overnight I became severely reactive to fragrance, perfume, mold, scented fabric softener, paint, air freshener, smoke, etc. It was wild. I had no idea what was happening until I started finding other people online who experienced the same thing. It's been a wild couple of years, and I only survive by avoiding those things. So social distancing and wearing a mask in certain places like Walmart (fuck that place, it is a toxic hell hole!) were already things I was familiar with before this pandemic.

Anyway, thank you again for sharing. I do find some comfort in knowing other people are struggling, even if I wish none of us were, if that makes any sense.

Thanks for the well wishes and sharing as well taco. I don't think there is a right way to pray. I try to hit up the things I'm grateful for in the morning and ask for wisdom and protection. In terms of meditation I have tried too many times to completely clear my mind, but something always pops in. So now I meditate on a word or verse that I choose ahead of time.

Interestingly I just filled out a job application yesterday and under the optional question about disabilities (which I've always skipped in the past) it listed autoimmune as a choice. Under the autoimmune description there were quite a few examples listed, including "others". This is the first time I've seen autoimmune described as a disability on its own so maybe things are at least moving in the right direction.

Definitely fuck Walmart, hahaha! I'm a bit sensitive to smells and that reminds me of stepping into a 7-11. That place reeks of toxic teflon/non-stick so bad and I feel for those people stuck in there all day. I think it's those food rollers. Nobody else smells it but me. I can't even go inside. I hope you get a concrete diagnosis. I think I'll pray for that 🙂

jakeyd wrote:
It sucks to hear you're feeling trapped. I felt the exact same way here in the Empire state, especially when shit first went down. I was losing it. When the lockdown started there were like zero cars on the roads, everyone was acting shady as fuck, and it was so freaky. One night I just had to jump on my bicycle and ride a few miles over to my buddies to smoke a rubbing-alcohol soaked bowl. It was freezing that night and there was a "curfew" but I just had to get out.

To hear from your dim-witted PM that restrictions are being extended, during the summer of all times, has to be maddening. You'll make it thru this smaddy.

I do advise changing things up a bit from your normal ganj routine. For me the higher THC stuff, especially sativa, started making me paranoid as hell shortly after it all went down. My fear was taking control and the high was making it worse. Rarely had that problem before. I find smoking at night is waaayy better for me than in the day now. Not sure why.

Also get yourself a good CBD product and consume them together. We've got plenty of access to hemp buds here so I end up mixing the two together and the high is way more mellow and happy vs panic inducing. CBD tinctures work for me too if i take it a few mins before hitting a J.

It's funny because growing up that "commercial" bud was really a balanced blend of the both but now everything is one-sided in terms of CBCvTHC.

Anyways, here's hoping you find a way to cope. Shit'll get better just keep the faith.

Thanks man I never really considered CBD products as something that would help me
I'm still pretty old school with it, i take whatever my guy has to offer and I definitely think theres not enough thc in this one - I hear you about the paranoia tho,
Mostly I smoke at night because I don't like being high at work but if I have a day like I did yesterday I will take a few tokes at lunch to calm tf down - and in all my years of working I've never had to do that until this stupid pandemic

Thanks for the uplift, appreciate it.

jakeyd wrote:
Yeah, it was sure frustrating. Thankfully the visit was just an annual check-up and nothing of any importance. My "real" doctor retired over a year ago and I was given very few options at the practice I go to. Rather than shop around I chose a DO from the list, figuring maybe a DO would be more embracing of natural remedies than a traditional MD. I was wrong, in this instance at least. Thankfully all of my issues are currently in check and the meds I do need are monitored by specialists. In your experience do you have any tips on how to seek out a good PCP?

I'm lucky enough to be young and not have any chronic medical issues and to have a medical background that lets me feel pretty confident in managing my health day-to-day, so I haven't been driven to seek out a PCP. My parents are struggling with it though, and I get looped in for that, basically double checking their Drs. work all the time.

The only advice I can offer is to do something you obviously already do, take whatever they say with a grain of salt, and keep in mind that they are not wholly operating in your interest--it isn't just the pure cynical motivation of finances (though that is there) you need to be wary of, but they often make decisions and recommendations out of their own convenience or what helps their self-esteem more than what is medically appropriate. Double check their work and ASK QUESTIONS--they will hate you and may become visibly angry when you ask simple questions and they don't know the answers--or the answer is something they don't want to share--it is an affront to their self-esteem, but everyone needs to do it and get used to the backlash.

I like the old books "The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life" ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Presentation_of_Self_in_Everyday_Life)and "Asylums" ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asylums_(book) )by Erving Goffman--they give a lot of general insight into people, but into those in the medical profession in particular, in my opinion.

jh1517 wrote:
I'm lucky enough to be young and not have any chronic medical issues and to have a medical background that lets me feel pretty confident in managing my health day-to-day, so I haven't been driven to seek out a PCP. My parents are struggling with it though, and I get looped in for that, basically double checking their Drs. work all the time.

The only advice I can offer is to do something you obviously already do, take whatever they say with a grain of salt, and keep in mind that they are not wholly operating in your interest--it isn't just the pure cynical motivation of finances (though that is there) you need to be wary of, but they often make decisions and recommendations out of their own convenience or what helps their self-esteem more than what is medically appropriate. Double check their work and ASK QUESTIONS--they will hate you and may become visibly angry when you ask simple questions and they don't know the answers--or the answer is something they don't want to share--it is an affront to their self-esteem, but everyone needs to do it and get used to the backlash.

I like the old books "The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life" ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Presentation_of_Self_in_Everyday_Life)and "Asylums" ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asylums_(book) )by Erving Goffman--they give a lot of general insight into people, but into those in the medical profession in particular, in my opinion.

thanks for the reinforcement and I'll check those books out

tacosalad wrote:
Hey, everyone,

I’m going to go out on a limb here and be a bit vulnerable, because like the “living under occupation” post below, this year has been really stressful. At first I was fine. My work never closed (“essential”), I didn’t lose my job, etc. But I’m really feeling it hard now. First, because I’ve come to see that at least 90% of the people I call friends, would turn on me on a dime about the needlecraft (that’s what I call the jab, credit to Thomas Sheridan on youtube for coming up with that one.) They are almost all mainstream centrist CNN types, who think themselves progressive, loving, and open-minded, but will disown you if you dare to question the accepted narrative. It’s scary. I’m really feeling the isolation. My parents fall into the same category. I have very few people in my life to talk about any of this with. And now my boss just asked me last week if I’d had the needlecraft. I said no. I should have just said yes and ended it there. But I’m apparently incapable of lying. Especially to the guy who signs my checks. Anyway, I feel like I’m running on borrowed time there, and I doubt finding another job that doesn’t require it will be easy. Major anxiety, to say the least!

My reason for writing is, does anyone else feel this way? Do you wake up some days with a pit in your stomach because you really don’t know how you’re going to navigate this new upside down world we live in? And specifically, do you want to talk about it? Do you want mutual support and a kind ear? If so, please reach out to me. Comment here, send a message. I’d be happy to exchange e-mail addresses. I really want to broaden my social network because it is becoming harder and harder to find reasonable people in the meatspace. - Cheers!

I really feel this, and resonate with everything you've said. Luckily for me I am self employed, I got burnt early on with my grandmother when I didn't lie to her about getting the shot but so far I've been able to avoid it or I just tell people I got it.
I am in Canada, and they're talking about vaccine passports to let people into events/public places. Things are so socialist here and our government, even though they're a minority, just do whatever they want...the cost of living is so high (especially compared to the US, where I've worked for months at a time), I honestly don't know if I want to continue living in this country if the rules and regulations continue to get worse.

Anyway, thank you for being here and posting this. In the words of Red Green, "I'm pulling for you, we're all in this together."

1heirophant wrote:
I really feel this, and resonate with everything you've said. Luckily for me I am self employed, I got burnt early on with my grandmother when I didn't lie to her about getting the shot but so far I've been able to avoid it or I just tell people I got it.
I am in Canada, and they're talking about vaccine passports to let people into events/public places. Things are so socialist here and our government, even though they're a minority, just do whatever they want...the cost of living is so high (especially compared to the US, where I've worked for months at a time), I honestly don't know if I want to continue living in this country if the rules and regulations continue to get worse.

Anyway, thank you for being here and posting this. In the words of Red Green, "I'm pulling for you, we're all in this together."

Hey, thanks for replying. Yeah, Canada has been going hard on this for a long time. I used to be optimistic that maybe it wouldn't get so bad in the States, but now I don't put anything past them, whether it's legal or constitutional or not. When has that ever stopped anyone in power?

It does feel so weird to have this little community here all spread out and sometimes I feel like we're the only reasonable people questioning any of this. I can't lump myself in with people who are just against things from a knee-jerk political stance, or the tired old left vs. right paradigm. I don't feel any comfort or kinship with them either, even if we do happen to agree from time to time.

I still feel sick to my stomach about this most days, and do my best to keep on working toward something. Anything. I'm not sure what. I would love to figure out a way to make money outside of a regular job, but I've never been particularly ambitious or clever in that way. I'm just tired. But this board is a good resource for inspiration, so I hope to figure something out.