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A Bizarre Side Effect

Over the course of my history with mental illness, I've tried a myriad of drugs, and I've experienced a multitude of side effects. Dizziness. Tremors. Dry mouth. Insomnia. Sluggishness. Weight gain. Weight loss. One even gave me tics along the right side of my body! (I discontinued that one right away.) But none has produced a side effect as peculiar as this one — It makes carbonated beverages taste like fart. I'm not joking here. Some users say carbonated drinks now taste flat. Others say metallic. To me, and some others, carbonated drinks now taste like fart. At first, I didn't believe it. I even got a large Diet Coke from McDonald's (didn't you know their Coke tastes better?) to prove them wrong. Gag. It tasted horrible.  :cry:  I was devastated. I love Diet Coke....

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A Decade-Plus-Old Misdiagnosis

I was first diagnosed with major depression in college, at the age of 20. Since then, I have gotten better and I have gotten worse. I have been in and out of therapy. I have been on and off meds. But I have never been with the same therapist for more than a few months. Until now, that is. Currently, at the age of 36 — 16 years(!) after my first diagnosis — I have met someone with whom I truly click with, who actually gives me advice and not just the "So how does that make you feel?" spiel that so many other therapists fall back on, who isn't afraid to call me out on my B.S., gives me things to think...

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The Evolution of Happiness (And an Announcement)

We all know that what made us happy as children may no longer apply. But is it just a matter of our tastes changing?Social psychologist Jennifer Aaker, PhD, theorizes that your happiness is not based on your likes and dislikes, but rather, the motivating forces that drive you. Our definition of happiness tends to shift every 5 or 10 years, evolving through 5 basic "chapters" throughout our lives.The first chapter lasts through your childhood and teen years, where happiness is found through discovery and excitement. You gain happiness by understanding the world around you.Most people go through the second and third chapters through their 20s and 30s, where pursuit and balance become the primary motivators in their lives. For example, success in your career may help fill your bucket in your 20s,...

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On the Upside…

I've been battling some health issues as of late. And with the addition/subtraction of various meds and therapies in an effort to properly treat the problems, I've predictably been in a bit of a funk.I've made no efforts in the past to hide my struggles with depression, and I am not about to now. However, at this present moment, my situation is precisely what I've described above — a funk — and not a relapse into depression. The reason I wanted to bring up depression, however, is to point you to an article penned by one of my favorite beauty bloggers, Fifty Shades of Snail aka The Crazy Snail Lady, titled "How My Elaborate Korean Skincare Routine Helps Me Fight Depression."Research. Controlled...

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