Sealab was such a good show. A Star Trek remake (with Shatner as Kirk) would be so good.

It’s very difficult, and in the end, it comes down to finding things that work for you, but in my experience, doing it “on my own” is virtually impossible. Humans need social interaction and often help, especially when battling with mental illness. That being said, there are some things that help most people.

1. Exercise - you don’t need to run a marathon or lift free weights, but any kind of exercise, including walking, can have a big boost on mental health. If you can, working up a sweat can help release more endorphins (and also helps motivate me to take a shower when I’m struggling with hygiene).

2. Sleep - prioritize getting good sleep. This has a huge effect on your mental health, and lack of sleep makes intrusive thoughts more difficult to ignore. If you suffer from suicidal ideation, this can be very beneficial. It can also help set up a routine for exercise, hygiene, etc. if you have more consistent bed and awake times.

3. Eating healthy- this is hard, because often when depressed we go for unhealthy foods, which make us feel bad, so we eat more of them and it perpetuates the cycle. If you really struggle with this start by making small changes - find a fruit or vegetable you genuinely enjoy and start incorporating more into your diet. Learning some basic cooking skills can also make healthy eating more enjoyable.

4. reduce drug and alcohol use (if any) - these can be excellent short term solutions, but will often make you feel worse in the long run

5. find someone to talk to - online resources help, but there’s no substitute for genuine in person (or over the phone) interaction. This can be harder said than done if you’re older or in an area where it’s hard to meet people. Support groups are also excellent- there’s something very empowering about being surrounded by folks experiencing the same challenges you do every day.

6. practice gratitude- take some time every day to thing of things you are genuinely thankful for. Supposedly, the brain can’t think or negative things while you are thinking of positive ones. Even if that’s not true, taking time to appreciate the good things in your life (even if it’s something small like your morning coffee) can help redirect your thought process.

Lastly, understand you can do all the “right” things to battle depression and still be depressed. No amount of exercise or vegetables will suddenly make you better - you will likely still have bad days. That’s why, for me, it’s important to have people I know I can call and talk to (my brother being a big one right now). We don’t even really talk, I just call him and cry talk for a bit and eventually it doesn’t hit so hard.

Give yourself some credit for all the bad days you’ve been through- if you weren’t strong, you wouldn’t have made it this far. Good luck! I’m rooting for you!

It’s not just the Maga hats. There is a substantial amount of the population that thinks claims like this are just muckracking by “the other side”, and that he is really the better candidate in terms of economy, border security, and traditional values.

My recommendation is either The Grand Budapest Hotel or Moonrise Kingdom. Both by Wes Anderson, and probably his two best films. Excellent director with a very distinct visual style.

I’m thinking about killing myself constantly. I can’t imagine I’ll ever long for this.

Maybe if I’m dead? But then I won’t be longing for anything…

I’m confused. Are you implying I’m a hateful conservative? Or that by virtue of being in this space, I’m attracting hateful conservatives to me?

I use the term Atheistic Christian, which essentially means I believe in a lot of the teachings of Jesus, but I don’t believe he was any kind of divinity.

I’m just south of that area now. I’m considering moving up there, but no plans yet. I haven’t had great experiences with healthcare in the area and it’s making me not want to stay

It’s hard to move out of the states, and my degree isn’t a high enough level to let me get a work visa in my current field.

I’ve gotten a disturbing number of messages on grindr from men that are hard core right wing, yet are on a gay dating app. The level of hate, ignorance, and cognitive dissonance is unprecedented. And it’s all fueled by highly addictive apps, and pumped at unimaginable scales thanks to AI.

I hate to say it, but I think this really is the end.

The episode of Portlandia he cameos in is amazing.

To my knowledge, proteins can start to denature at 104F, depending on the protein and other factors like pH. Around 106F, proteins in the brain will start to denature, regardless of other factors.

Also, at a high enough level (104 F), the proteins in your brain start to denature, which leads to death.

Sadposts go here! This is a safe space to vent and let it out. Your experience is valid.

I can’t speak much to the interpersonal stuff, but if you’re able to find a good lgbtq experienced therapist, it can be really helpful. I also hate doctors and the healthcare system in general (despite being a nurse), but often queer therapists will be able to relate because of shared life experience.

https://www.outcarehealth.org/outlist/
This is a good resource to find lgbt friendly providers in your area. They require a training to be on the list - it’s nothing extensive, but it does help ensure the providers listed understand the basics of problems lgbt patients face.

I hope you are able to talk to someone that can help. Good luck - you got this!

Weird, that’s also the only thing my Politic Science degree has ever gotten me!

It’s incredibly important to stay hydrated while practicing! Thanks for bringing this up!

Something you might benefit from is practicing with an “increased cognitive load” - basically doing something that uses your brain while also speaking. It can be difficult at first, but eventually, it helps with being able to use your voice without thinking about it.

I practiced in the shower and in the car when I did it - I wasn’t out and didn’t have many safe spaces.

Are you focusing on resonance at all? It’s generally more important than pitch. Focus on raising your resonance, and pitch will follow.

Also, if anyone is interested in starting a discord to practice voice training, please invite me!

I started with a doctor, but I’ve basically been DIY for about 2 years now due to a lack of competent providers in my area.

If you can afford it, it’s worth getting your blood checked at a place like Quest Diagnostics or any other non-hospital affiliated lab. Look around and compare prices. it should be a few hundred dollars. It’s not something to do frequently, but you can at least get an idea of what your levels are. The one caveat is that if you’re taking oral medication, it might not even be worth it unless you can time your lab right at the peak dosing time.

You aren’t likely to overdo it to the point of safety unless you’re taking massive doses. WPATH recommends 100-200 for your E range, but I know girls that are under the care of (less informed) doctors, and I’ve seen results closer to 1000s without ill effects. It’s important to stay active and not smoke to prevent blood clots, but that’s about it. It’s good to do some weight training to help with bone strength, in case you lose access to your hormones it can help osteoporosis if you have had any testicular atrophy.

The most important thing - of your seeing results you’re happy with, keep it up! E can be magic, but I’ve found a lot of my passing privilege comes from learning how to frame my face and pick clothes that are flattering for my body type.

Voice training is well worth it if your goal is to pass, but it’s often one of the most difficult things you can do, especially without a teacher. If you’re interested, DM me and I would be happy to help with resources and what not.

Glad to hear some of us are doing well, even without official support. Keep it up!

I don’t really have any advice or anything, but I hope you can find some reason to keep going. It sucks feeling alone, even more so when you’re with other people.

Transitioning fucking sucks. Even if you have good results, it’s a mess to deal with, physically and socially, and those difficulties make it mentally taxing as well. Like a lot of social media, we tend to only see the really exceptional cases, and not the reality a lot of us will live with.

I wish I had something to say that could take your pain away, but I don’t. At some point, we all have to find a reason to keep going for ourselves. For me, it’s my cat. It’s nothing, in the grand scheme of things, but I’m all he has, and that’s enough to keep me going. At least for today.

Keep reaching out. Keep trying. In the end, that’s all we can really do.