Myself. No one is looking out for me.

That's because they are mostly Russian assets who want the US to lose influence and become weaker.

Your levels are already too high for monotherapy. 250-300 is more than enough. Higher levels don't produce better or faster results.

Seems a lot harder to get across the ocean than into Canada, but I will take any viable option at this point.

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!

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 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!

My cat is a tabby and does this exact thing with his paw. Feels like love.

No, like my initial comment said, number and types of partners are important, as are your partners' partners.

If you actually read my comment, you can see I'm trying to get people to look past the stigma and actually determine what kinds of risks they have and make safer sex decisions accordingly.

PrEP can have some uncomfortable side effects, and not everyone is able to tolerate it. There are very, very few things in healthcare that we can say "everyone" in a certain cohort should do, and PrEP is no exception.

Your response, which characterizes my post as misinformation, is inaccurate, as I have shown, but I do appreciate the chance to talk about sex and try to normalize it as part of the healthcare discussion 😊

It's actually a very good strategy to come out to people a little outside your main circle before coming out to the people closest to you. It's like a dry run, and if they aren't accepting, it's not quite as hard as it can be with close friends and family.

It sounds like your mum might have an idea you are somewhere in the lgbtq umbrella, and it sounds like your sisters either won't care or will be supportive.

Coming out to ANYONE is a big deal, and you should be proud of yourself for that. It's a process, it takes time for some of us.

When you think you're ready, figure out one family member you feel is the most likely to be accepting, and go from there.

The only caveat is if you might get kicked out or otherwise cut off financially, if you rely on them. Safety is the #1 priority at all times.

Good luck! You got this 🏳️‍⚧️

Slay the Spire. It's so challenging that it's always engaging when I play it.

I miss beat saber so much. Really got great Euphoria playing that with a skirt right before I started transitioning.