Shoot the Wall (A.K.A. The Rant Thread)

[SherlockedCAMPer]

I went dairy free & my eczema cleared up. Didn't even bother going back to see what would happen.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I seem to be able to use goat milk just fine.

 

[T.o.b.y]

I hope I'm not being too much of a smart-ass, but I think it's important to differentiate between allergies and conditions such as coeliac's disease, diabetes or phenylketonuria, where adherence to a specific diet can indeed be of vital (in the truest sense of the word) importance, and intolerances.

 

An allergy, for example, is a specific immune reaction to an antigen that is harmless for the majority of people. Thus a milk allergy is an immune reaction to milk protein. Lactose intolerance, on the other hand, is the inability to digest milk sugar, which I have heard described as actually the natural state of being beyond a certain age in mammals (the professor who said this also called humans who are able to digest lactose as adults "freaks" :lol: ).

 

Why do I think this is important? If a person who has a (type 1) allergy against milk protein drinks milk, they can die from anaphylactic shock. If a person who is lactose intolerant drinks a glass, they might get indigestion. That makes a huge difference in advising consumers. In the case of an intolerance, if the afflicted say they enjoy milk and dairy products too much to give them up and they'll deal with the consequences, fine, be my guest. It's a personal decision based on what kind of inconvenience you'd rather put up with. If a kid with a real allergy takes it into its head to eat stuff that could trigger a life-threating immune reaction, a parent / guardian needs to be strict on a whole other level...

 

 

Sorry for being a bit AR about all this. If you've found a diet that works for you personally and makes you feel better and healthier, hurray for you! Self-help is great, much better than running from doctor to doctor whining, demanding pills and getting angry that you have not been magically healed yet. It's just that I have been a bit annoyed lately by the missionary zeal of some self-proclaimed nutrition experts, and need to blow off a bit of steam...

 

(Btw, I've of course got my own ideas about what agrees with me and what doesn't. I just try to respect the fact that my body is different from the next person's and that my personal habits won't necessarily help someone else.)

[Arcadia]

Call me a freak! But in my own defence, it's inherited ... no one in my family is lactose intolerant. In fact, we're a rather disgustingly healthy lot compared to most people I know. Hooray for genes! (Believe me, it's not lifestyle!)

[SherlockedCAMPer]

Call me a freak! But in my own defence, it's inherited ... no one in my family is lactose intolerant. In fact, we're a rather disgustingly healthy lot compared to most people I know. Hooray for genes! (Believe me, it's not lifestyle!)

Sounds like my hubby's family unlike mine. My husband had mononucleosis for 3 days (yes days not weeks or months). On the rare occasion he gets sick it's usually measured in hours not days unless it's a cold.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I hope I'm not being too much of a smart-ass, but I think it's important to differentiate between allergies and conditions such as coeliac's disease, diabetes or phenylketonuria, where adherence to a specific diet can indeed be of vital (in the truest sense of the word) importance, and intolerances.

 

An allergy, for example, is a specific immune reaction to an antigen that is harmless for the majority of people. Thus a milk allergy is an immune reaction to milk protein. Lactose intolerance, on the other hand, is the inability to digest milk sugar, which I have heard described as actually the natural state of being beyond a certain age in mammals (the professor who said this also called humans who are able to digest lactose as adults "freaks" :lol: ).

 

Why do I think this is important? If a person who has a (type 1) allergy against milk protein drinks milk, they can die from anaphylactic shock. If a person who is lactose intolerant drinks a glass, they might get indigestion. That makes a huge difference in advising consumers.

Quite true. I don't know how many well-meaning people have offered to serve me lactose-free milk, so then I have to explain that that wouldn't help because I'm allergic to the protein, not unable to digest the sugar. At least, that's my assumption, since I do just fine with goat milk (which I understand has different curd proteins), and my symptom is not indigestion, it's dizziness.

 

However I feel obligated to point out that some people have such extreme lactose intolerance that it could conceivably be life threatening, especially if they don't realize what's causing it and keep on using milk products.  That could theoretically kill them the same way many tropical diseases do, by dehydration due to diarrhea.

 

As for lactose-tolerant adults being "freaks," a severely lactose-intolerant friend of mine refers to us as "milk mutants."

 

In the case of an intolerance, if the afflicted say they enjoy milk and dairy products too much to give them up and they'll deal with the consequences, fine, be my guest.

That sounds like someone with a milk allergy. When I first went to the dietary counselor, her first question was, "What food could you simply not do without?" I told her, "Milk!" She said, "Then you're probably allergic to it." She was right. Apparently a lot of people develop sort of an addiction to their allergens, possibly because maintaining a constant level in their system allows their body to adapt.

 

[SherlockedCAMPer]

 

I hope I'm not being too much of a smart-ass, but I think it's important to differentiate between allergies and conditions such as coeliac's disease, diabetes or phenylketonuria, where adherence to a specific diet can indeed be of vital (in the truest sense of the word) importance, and intolerances.

 

An allergy, for example, is a specific immune reaction to an antigen that is harmless for the majority of people. Thus a milk allergy is an immune reaction to milk protein. Lactose intolerance, on the other hand, is the inability to digest milk sugar, which I have heard described as actually the natural state of being beyond a certain age in mammals (the professor who said this also called humans who are able to digest lactose as adults "freaks" :lol: ).

 

Why do I think this is important? If a person who has a (type 1) allergy against milk protein drinks milk, they can die from anaphylactic shock. If a person who is lactose intolerant drinks a glass, they might get indigestion. That makes a huge difference in advising consumers.

Quite true. I don't know how many well-meaning people have offered to serve me lactose-free milk, so then I have to explain that that wouldn't help because I'm allergic to the protein, not unable to digest the sugar. At least, that's my assumption, since I do just fine with goat milk (which I understand has different curd proteins), and my symptom is not indigestion, it's dizziness.

 

However I feel obligated to point out that some people have such extreme lactose intolerance that it could conceivably be life threatening, especially if they don't realize what's causing it and keep on using milk products. That could theoretically kill them the same way many tropical diseases do, by dehydration due to diarrhea.

 

As for lactose-tolerant adults being "freaks," a severely lactose-intolerant friend of mine refers to us as "milk mutants."

In the case of an intolerance, if the afflicted say they enjoy milk and dairy products too much to give them up and they'll deal with the consequences, fine, be my guest.

That sounds like someone with a milk allergy. When I first went to the dietary counselor, her first question was, "What food could you simply not do without?" I told her, "Milk!" She said, "Then you're probably allergic to it." She was right. Apparently a lot of people develop sort of an addiction to their allergens, possibly because maintaining a constant level in their system allows their body to adapt.

Agreed. I love cheese and my reaction was eczema. I forced myself to give it up. I'm sure my dad is allergic as well divine he lives his cheese. I'm just not sure the type of reaction he has because it's not anything that most people associate with an allergic reaction & he doesn't have eczema.

 

Also with the lactose intolerance, that can get worse as well where by it's usually better to avoid dairy than try lactose free dairy products (from a former co-worker who is lactose intolerant).

 

I like the title of milk mutant even though I'm no longer one of them exactly.

[Shadow Dweller]

Some people seems to think that because I am female I would be easy to be moved by sad story. I despise sob stories, especially those that were designed to pull the target's heartstring by lots of crying. Waste of precious time and nothing will come out of it. [insert disdainful, dirty look here]

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

God, I feel awful. Actually for most of this month I've been feeling awful. Not necessarily angry or depressed, just awful. The kind of awful where you're bored and feel like doing things but every time you start doing something it feels meaningless and insignificant, so you stop. And then you just go back to being incredibly bored.
 
I mean, it does feel nice. It's almost paradise compared to the fact that I've been slowly becoming more and more neurotic as time goes by. I don't know. It's a nice break from stomach-upsetting anxiety. 

 

So yeah, there's my excuse for avoiding the forum for a while.  :/

[Shadow Dweller]

:hugs:

[sittything]

I'm sorry, Bendy.  Are you sure you're not depressed?  I get that way sometimes about thing, but I've always attributed that "meh" feeling to depression, even if I'm not in the pit of despair or whatever.

[sittything]

My rant (mostly for my own edification)... despite my new position, I'm still not really happy here.   It's just not really a healthy work environment and this place makes me incredibly unhappy.   So self, if you come back and read this...  get out!  Goal:  To find something else by year's end.

[Arcadia]

God, I feel awful. Actually for most of this month I've been feeling awful. Not necessarily angry or depressed, just awful. The kind of awful where you're bored and feel like doing things but every time you start doing something it feels meaningless and insignificant, so you stop. And then you just go back to being incredibly bored.

 

I mean, it does feel nice. It's almost paradise compared to the fact that I've been slowly becoming more and more neurotic as time goes by. I don't know. It's a nice break from stomach-upsetting anxiety. 

 

So yeah, there's my excuse for avoiding the forum for a while.  :/

I'm sorry. Here's a hug and a flower Hope you find your groove again real soon.

[Arcadia]

My rant (mostly for my own edification)... despite my new position, I'm still not really happy here.   It's just not really a healthy work environment and this place makes me incredibly unhappy.   So self, if you come back and read this...  get out!  Goal:  To find something else by year's end.

Oh, I so empathize. Had a great job, good promotion ... and the workplace was so toxic I almost didn't survive it. Glad you realize you can make a change, hope you find something else soon.

 

 

Here, you get a hug and a flower too.

[T.o.b.y]

God, I feel awful. Actually for most of this month I've been feeling awful. Not necessarily angry or depressed, just awful. The kind of awful where you're bored and feel like doing things but every time you start doing something it feels meaningless and insignificant, so you stop. And then you just go back to being incredibly bored.

 

I mean, it does feel nice. It's almost paradise compared to the fact that I've been slowly becoming more and more neurotic as time goes by. I don't know. It's a nice break from stomach-upsetting anxiety.

 

Oh dear. I feel for you, I really do.

 

May I ask how old you are? Part of what you describe can be symptoms of adolescence - brain and hormonal system doing an awful lot of adjusting and going all weird and whacko on the road to finding a new balance - but it could also be that you are getting warning signs of depression or some other disorder beyond the "normal" troubles of growing up. 

 

You should talk to someone near you. Friend, relative, counselor, teacher... whoever is available and trustworthy.

 

I felt similar between thirteen and twenty. By this time, I've given up on the concept of being "normal". I'm very neurotic, but I get by, I have a good life, and that's what counts. Took me a while, though...

 

Don't despair. But also don't take your problems too lightly and do get help sooner than later, okay?

 

Sorry for lecturing...

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Bendy -- I think T.o.b.y may well have guessed what's going on (since, as I recall, you are indeed a teenager), and I agree about trying to find someone to talk this over with.

 

I personally would be hesitant, though, to go beyond talking at this point.  As you say, you've been through a few other phases recently, so this one may also pass in its own good time.  A lot of professionals nowadays are (in my opinion) far too ready to prescribe drugs for kids who would have been considered perfectly normal in the days before those drugs were invented.  Call me skeptical, but I suspect the drug companies are encouraging doctors to see pathology in many cases where a person is temporarily feeling uncertain or discouraged (or whatever) for perfectly good reasons.  So talk with someone you trust, and give it some time.

 

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

I'm sorry, Bendy.  Are you sure you're not depressed?  I get that way sometimes about thing, but I've always attributed that "meh" feeling to depression, even if I'm not in the pit of despair or whatever.

 

I don't really think I'm depressed. People always say that it's probably just the usual changes and weird shifts that happen during puberty.

 

 

 

Oh dear. I feel for you, I really do.

 

May I ask how old you are? Part of what you describe can be symptoms of adolescence - brain and hormonal system doing an awful lot of adjusting and going all weird and whacko on the road to finding a new balance - but it could also be that you are getting warning signs of depression or some other disorder beyond the "normal" troubles of growing up. 

 

You should talk to someone near you. Friend, relative, counselor, teacher... whoever is available and trustworthy.

 

I felt similar between thirteen and twenty. By this time, I've given up on the concept of being "normal". I'm very neurotic, but I get by, I have a good life, and that's what counts. Took me a while, though...

 

Don't despair. But also don't take your problems too lightly and do get help sooner than later, okay?

 

Sorry for lecturing...

 

It's alright that you guys care, but I don't really know what to do. It's not that bad, as far as I can tell, other than the whole anxiety thing. I would tell somebody, but there's all those hang-ups people have about depression -- which I have seen lots of truly unhappy people suffer by -- and I don't think I could handle being shunned by any of my close friends. I think I'll be alright, though.

 

 

 

 

I personally would be hesitant, though, to go beyond talking at this point.  As you say, you've been through a few other phases recently, so this one may also pass in its own good time.  A lot of professionals nowadays are (in my opinion) far too ready to prescribe drugs for kids who would have been considered perfectly normal in the days before those drugs were invented.  Call me skeptical, but I suspect the drug companies are encouraging doctors to see pathology in many cases where a person is temporarily feeling uncertain or discouraged (or whatever) for perfectly good reasons.  So talk with someone you trust, and give it some time.

 

^That whole thing is another reason I'm not going to say anything. I just really hate taking drugs if they're not going to work or if it's unnecessary. Honestly, the most recent things I've taken is one aspirin and a sleeping pill (I read the box, it's safe for me so long as I don't take too many).

[Carol the Dabbler]

Well then, hang in there.  And if you want to talk to someone who's not gonna shun you or force drugs on you, we're always here.  We may not be much help, but at least we know how to be sympathetic!

 

[SherlockedCAMPer]

I second Carol. You can even PM me if you a more private convo.

[T.o.b.y]

 

    It's alright that you guys care, but I don't really know what to do. It's not that bad, as far as I can tell, other than the whole anxiety thing. I would tell somebody, but there's all those hang-ups people have about depression -- which I have seen lots of truly unhappy people suffer by -- and I don't think I could handle being shunned by any of my close friends. I think I'll be alright, though.

 

That whole thing is another reason I'm not going to say anything. I just really hate taking drugs if they're not going to work or if it's unnecessary. Honestly, the most recent things I've taken is one aspirin and a sleeping pill (I read the box, it's safe for me so long as I don't take too many).

 

 

Sorry, but if your close friends would shun you on the basis of a health problem, then they don't really deserve to be called friends.

 

Also, I should hope that a good doctor would not prescribe anything unnecessary or ineffective. 

 

You're welcome to talk to us all you like in writing, and you can definitely p.m. me as well if you want, but none of us can be a substitute for a person near you who knows you and can help you assess whether the trouble you're having is a normal side-effect of growing up or a more serious problem.

 

By the way, what really works for me is exercise. Whether I'm feeling down, am on a worrying loop, suffering from anxiety attacks or whatever other minor craziness my odd little brain comes up with, exercise usually calms me down and makes me feel more sane and in control, especially running in the fresh air to a good song. I started the habit late, not until university, when it became very urgent for me to do something or else I would have cracked and broken down under the pressure there.

 

With some luck, you'll find something that helps you as well.

 

[Arcadia]

Bendy, I have no idea if my experience has any bearing on what you're going through ... we're all different. But for what it's worth, I had a bout of severe anxiety/depression a few years ago. I resisted telling anyone, etc., but mine got so bad I finally had to see a medical professional. It was the best thing I ever did, I only wish I'd done it sooner. Some things I learned; keeping it to myself just made it worse; most of the people I know had experienced something similar and therefore didn't judge me; and you can always say no if you don't like the proposed treatment or whatever. (And if the medical professional isn't willing to work with you, s/he is not the right one for you.) Like I said, maybe none of this applies in your situation, but I thought I'd put it out there in case it helps. Oh, and I've been fine ever since. Hormones, evidently.

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

Update: I have a damn problem.

 

I keep feeling like things are unreal, or at least surreal. And for some reason the smallest things can make everything slip away. Like looking at myself too long in the mirror, or hearing my ears ringing. Sometimes I feel like the world is an illusion; other times I feel like I'm the one who doesn't exist. I feel like I'm swimming in deep water, but instead of being cold I just feel nothing. Absolutely nothing. Everything feels muted. Like it's coming through a wall and I'm listening by putting my ear to a cup and the cup to the wall. I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm too scared to ask.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I get that "unreal" feeling sometimes, and it does sometimes happen when my ears are ringing (though I'm not sure which causes which, or maybe the "unreal" feeling just makes me notice that my ears are ringing).  I wouldn't say that I feel that way a lot, just sometimes.  It's weird, but then it goes away sooner or later.

 

How long have you had this feeling, and has it been constant or off and on?

 

[SherlockedCAMPer]

Don't be afraid to ask for help Bendy.  I'm not the type to ask for help much either.  Part of it is my extreme introversion.  When I was almost 18, I ended up at the ER checking my appendix because of some severe cramps I had in that area.  The pain had been there for a couple of days before I mentioned anything to my mother.  My appendix turned out to be fine for another 10 years till it gave me grief and ruptured.  I'm not sure what caused the pain the first time,but I was going through a lot of personal stress at that point between being a senior in high school and my parents in a temporary separation.  It is better to rule out what the cause is not than to leave it untreated at all.

[Shadow Dweller]

Symptoms of natural reaction when dealing with severe anxiety? You are under stress right now from the preparation of exhibition, isn't it?