Wtf is wrong with me

[coolbeans]

I feel god awful. I'm 15 and I'm trying to do really well in high school but I can't help feeling like a complete idiot all the time. What's worse is that I'm not trying to do well because I enjoy what I'm learning, but because I want to be able to get a job. I constantly worry that I'll be homeless, and I haven't spent anything in about a year on things other than food because I'm trying to conserve as much money as possible. I've been changing my lifestyle in countless ways in an attempt to make myself smarter. I've done things such as giving up on everything sugary as well as putting a full stop on masturbation and watching pornography because I've heard that indulging in those things causes stupidity. To add on to my internal stress, I have serious, and I mean serious, acne. I'd say that probably more than 1/2 of the skin on my face is covered with it. It's getting out of hand now because I can't shave without causing a bloody mess, it's fucking disgusting. Due to my acne, all of my past friends basically shun me and I've never had a girlfriend and probably never will. My acne is bad, but I'm more worried about my intelligence, which is what any sort of future of mine depends on. I have a strong work ethic, but I feel like I'm dying in the areas of being able to remember things and solving things. All that I'm really good at is working, but I doubt it will do me much good based on my intelligence. I work because I have no interests in anything else, so I feel like I'm doing at least something productive when I work. I swear that I'm about a week away from killing myself. No one likes me and I've become a complete hermit and all I focus on is some snake oil miracle that can save my intelligence. I know that many of you are dealing with issues much worse than mine, and that's what leads me to believe that I have a problem. What can I do to stop thinking that I'm a moron, and what can I do to assure myself that I'll somehow not be homeless?

[whitneyhawkins]

Coolbeans, your post really struck me. It is so brave of you to be able to reach out to strangers on the internet and share your feelings.
I am always so impressed when people can do that.

It sounds like deep-down you do have some confidence in yourself, which is great. You have a very strong work ethic and you seem determined to not become homeless. This is half the battle. I hope that you recognize how passionate you are about making it and how amazing that is.

What kinds of jobs do you work? Do people look to you for guidance at any of these jobs (ask you to help them, teach them, etc)?

Acne is often a result of stress. If you can get your confidence up and worry down, the acne will likely decrease. I hope that this forum is helpful to you and I wish you all the best.

donttellmetochill .com

[Nowuccas]

Hey coolbeans,

You have been misinformed about masturbation and pornography resulting in stupidity, although I concede that excessive indulgence may negatively impact academic achievement. As is often the case, moderation is paramount.

Some info follows that I hope may help:

ACNE:

Home remedy: Mix 1 capful of tea tree oil well with 4 capfuls of methyl alcohol (methanol - methylated spirits- SHAKE WELL) and add 15 capfuls of water, to make a 5% mixture. Shake well again immediately before use. Try dabbing a little under your chin, to test for adverse skin reactions, over 24 hrs. Apply on affected areas, daily. Results should be apparent in 2 weeks, if effective in your case. Try oil of oregano; check out https://www.google.com.au/search?client=opera&q=oregano+oil+acne+dosage&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 Also see http://www.self-healing-herbs.com/home-remedies-for-acne.html and enter "acne" in the searchbar at http://www.mercola.com View: & http://www.online-herbal-remedies.com/herbal-remedies-for-acne.html & http://www.naturalnews.com/030641_acne_natural_remedies.html
Avoid roaccutane! Report of increased suicides in patients taking Accutane to reduce acne (128 of 5,700). "Try a mud mask twice a week to help clear skin. It costs about $4 at the drug store. Go to an organic supermarket like Henry's, Mother's, or Trader Joe's and buy Tea Tree oil. It's a key ingredient in the Proactive system and it really helps to improve skin. A bottle is only about $8. You just put a little bit on a cotton ball and put it on your problem areas before you go to bed". Homemade Acne Treatment with orange peel has been found very effective. Pound the orange peel with water on a piece stone and apply on acne affected areas. Orange peels are mildly acidic in nature and help to cleanse the skin of excess sebum. You can make a face scrub out of gram flour and orange peels. This is often used as one of the most effective home remedies for pimples and acne. Dry a few pieces of orange peel and grind them lightly so that you get a coarse powder. Mix this powder with an equal amount of gram flour and then add enough water to this powder to make it a thin paste. You can use fresh carrot juice and tomato juice to the powder instead of water as carrot juice is rich in Vitamin A while tomato juice is mildly acidic in nature. Massage your face with this paste and then leave it on for five minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm or cold water. A simple remedy at home for acne: Apply lemon juice regularly to reduce pimples and acne. This has proven beneficial results. Lemon juice is acidic in nature and also contains Vitamin C which is beneficial to overall skin health. If you have very sensitive skin, you can dilute the lemon juice with an equal amount of fresh mint leaf juice as this will help to reduce inflammation. This is also one of the popular home remedies for blackheads.

Garlic has been used successfully to cure acne. Rub with raw garlic several times a day. Garlic is known to cure the toughest of acne problems. The external use of garlic helps to clear the skin of spots, pimples and boils. To cure acne further, eat three seeds of raw garlic once daily for a month. This purifies the blood stream and ensures basic cleansing of blood & keeps acne away. Garlic contains Allicin which is a natural antibiotic agent and this helps to prevent the spread of acne. If you have sensitive skin, you could add garlic juice to a spoon of yogurt and apply this mixture to your face. Yogurt contains several vitamins and healthy fatty acids and helps to moisturize your skin without making it oily. A teaspoon of coriander juice, mixed with a pinch of turmeric powder, is another effective home remedy for pimples and blackheads. Apply mixture on the face after thoroughly washing it every night before retiring. Use mint juice in a similar manner as coriander juice. Fenugreek is another useful remedy for acne. Make a paste of fenugreek leaves and apply over the face every night before going to bed. Wash off with warm water in the morning. This prevents pimples and blackheads. Grated cucumber applied over the face, eyes, and neck for fifteen to twenty minutes has been found effective. It is the best tonic for your complexion. Its regular use prevents pimples and blackheads. Mix a spoonful of fuller’s earth with a little apple cider vinegar and apply this paste to your face. Apple cider vinegar is acidic and helps to break down oils on the surface of your skin while fuller’s earth tends to absorb them. This reduces skin sebum levels and helps to treat acne. You should use an acne treatment face pack at least once a week to deep cleanse your skin and prevent the formation of acne pustules. To increase the effectiveness of this acne treatment you could steam your face before you apply the face pack. If you are pressed for time, you can have a hot shower instead of steaming your face as this too would help to temporarily open up your skin pores".

Vitamin D was voted best acne treatment Feb 2011 http://www.acne.org Check out http://www.vitamindwiki.com/Acne
View my previous answer about vitamin D and natural health at https://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20150808193526AAuFRMk (on page 2).

Note that most doctors would regard as acceptable lower levels of vitamin D than those recommended by Dr. John Cannell of the vitamin D council, or Professor Michael Holick, a former member, and an expert in vitamin D.

Read: "Why are doctors reluctant to accept vitamin D", at:
http://www.vitamindwiki.com/Why+are+doctors+reluctant+to+accept+vitamin+D and in particular:
"Would you be opposed to my getting more vitamin D", at:
http://www.vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_id=3162


MEMORY IMPROVEMENT:
Ensure adequate sleep, and exercise moderately. View: http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/11/06/brain-coach-answers-how-can-i-improve-my-short-term-memory-is-there-an-daily-exercise-i-can-do-to-improve-it & http://helpguide.org/life/improving_memory.htm & www.neurobics.com/exercise.html & ww.wikihow.com/Memorize & Playing certain games, regularly, can improve memory. PUZZLES, ETC. www.brainbashers.com/index.php & http://www.everydayhealth.com/longevity/mental-fitness/brain-games.aspx & www.onlinebraingamesblog.com I am informed that the recent Nintendo games console has some for improving memory, so you may wish to ask your retailer about Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo DS. Also see http://www.bestfreetraining.net/?p=252 and www.luminosity.com have a free 3 week trial. Practice a mindfulness meditation method, daily, such as http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/mindbody/a/Meditation.htm or www.wikihow.com/Meditate

Google: "nootropics" & "citicoline" http://www.raysahelian.com/citicoline.html 500mg citicoline, daily. "When choline and piracetam are taken together there is a synergistic effect that causes a greater improvement in memory than the sum of each when taken alone (Bartus, 1981)." These supplements are IQ and CNS stimulant with very few side effects. However, keep in mind that even natural supplements and herbs can interact with various medications. Before adding these to you daily regimen, check with a pharmacist to be sure there will be no interactions with anything you may already be taking. http://www.ceri.com/noot.htm Author: Ward Dean, MD. The supplements, DHEA & Phosphatidyl Serine are worth trying. See http://www.naturalnews.com/016646_Phosphatidylserine_Alzheimers.html A study has shown ginkgo biloba to be ineffective. See http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/supplement-guide-ginseng ~~~ Hypnosis is merely a heightened state of suggestibility, in which you are better able to communicate with your subconscious mind. 85% of people are suggestible to some degree; 15% - 20% highly so, and 15% - 20% aren't much at all, so you could either preferably seek professional hypnotherapy, or, if not an option, more along such lines is at http://your-mental-health.weebly.com/g.html where this came from. Enter "krill oil" and "memory" in the searchbar at www.mercola.com **. Lecithin* (phosphatidyl choline). A phospholipid found mostly in high-fat foods. It is said to have the ability to improve memory and brain processes. Lecithin is necessary for normal brain development. Capsules are available, but many people prefer the soft lecithin granules. These are a nice addition to fruit juice smoothies, adding a thicker texture. Lecithin is oil-based, and it gets rancid easily. It should be refrigerated (from health food stores).

Also, some options: eat a daily ounce/30gm of almonds, or walnuts** (preferably not American, unless certified not irradiated! **) whole grain cereal, cauliflower, broccoli, sprouts, spinach, plums, berries, (particularly blueberries, red apples [Australia: avoid waxed ones, or peel them. USA: Conventional Apples: The expert: Mark Kastel, codirector of the Cornucopia Institute: If winter fruits held a "most doused in pesticides contest," apples would win. And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides with Parkinson's disease. - http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/12/29/The-7-Foods-Experts-Wont-Eat.aspx ] ) dark-coloured grapes, salmon, (wild caught only!) tuna, or mackeral (alternate often; eat 3 times weekly, if not taking Omega 3 supplements).

There was too much to fit in the space allowed, so I have continued it below, including more info on vitamin D for acne:

[Nowuccas]

STUDY TIPS:
Rewrite notes soon afterwards in different words. Revise the next day, week, month, and before exams, to ensure they stick in your mind. Join, or start study groups. Having a good, or at least, a well ordered memory makes study much easier, and less frustrating, so if yours needs improving, use the methods shown on page G at Weebly, below. View: http://www.how-to-study.com/ & http://www.studytips.org/ & http://www.studygs.net/ Start homework, study, or revision on getting home, and do 20 mns, then have a 5 mn break, then do another 20, and so on. It's a good idea to know your learning style, and adapt accordingly; see http://www.learning-styles-online.com/ & http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire Exams: Don't cram at the expense of sleep! Read the question quickly, THEN RE-READ IT, carefully; ensure you know EXACTLY what the examiner is asking for. Arrive early. Bring spare pens, pencils, batteries (or ensure fully charged). Note the number of marks for any question, and apportion your allocated time accordingly. I used to "race through", doing what I really knew first, then focus on the "iffy" stuff, leaving the "without much of a clue" stuff until last. Ensure your bladder is empty, immediately beforehand. Take at least 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, or the recommended dose of a high quality fish oil daily, like Carlsons or Melrose (certified free of mercury) it is best if consumed with an antioxidant, such as an orange, or its FRESHLY SQUEEZED juice. If vitamin E is added, it should be certified as being 100% from natural sources, or it may be synthetic: avoid it!

Females may benefit by balancing the DHA, & EPA versions of Omega 3 in fish, or krill oil* with ALA flaxseed oil Omega 3, or at least one heaped tablespoonful of ground flaxseed, daily. Dr. Mercola rates "krill oil" much higher than fish oil, because it is far less easily oxidised, so you may want to check this out for yourself through the searchbar at mercola.com Vegetarians & vegans: Google: "Omega 3; algae; supplies" and use it with flaxseed.
Alternatively, you could go to the searchbar at http://www.mercola.com and enter: "krill oil". While you are there, enter "nutritional type", (for their book) or http://www.naturalhealthcoach.com/tools/ (free online quiz) and eat more in accordance with yours. Exercise moderately, for 30 - 60 mns, daily. The supplements, DHEA & Phosphatidyl Serine are some that I have been informed are worth trying. Ginkgo biloba is often recommended, but has mixed reviews, so check the comparative strength, and buy from a health food, or vitamin store; ask what feedback they have been getting, and what else they suggest (write down, and check them out, later, through Google, WebFerret, or your search engine, before buying). Hypnosis is merely a heightened state of suggestibility, in which you are better able to communicate with your subconscious mind. 85% of people are suggestible to some degree; 15% - 20% highly so, and 15% - 20% aren't much at all, so you could either preferably seek professional hypnotherapy, or, if not an option, more along such lines is at http://your-mental-health.weebly.com/p.html where this came from.

Lecithin* (phosphatidyl choline). A phospholipid found mostly in high-fat foods. It is said to have the ability to improve memory and brain processes. Lecithin is necessary for normal brain development. Lecithin capsules are available, but many people prefer the soft lecithin granules. These are a nice addition to fruit juice smoothies, adding a thicker texture. Lecithin is oil-based, and it gets rancid easily. It should be refrigerated (from health food stores). *Note: Dr. Mercola at www.mercola.com asserts that krill oil is superior to standard Omega 3 fish oil, or that, at least the brands he recommends are, and I am persuaded that he is probably correct. See: FISH OR KRILL OIL? IS KRILL OIL 48x BETTER THAN FISH OIL? via the Mercola.com searchbar.

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You seem to me to be suffering from anxiety to some degree.

Give the Meridian Tapping Technique / EFT a good tryout, to see if it helps you. It is free via the searchbar at www.mercola.com "EFT" & "EFT therapists" or www.tapping.com (13 free videos), or www.eftuniverse.com or www.emofree.com or one of the many YouTube videos. Google: "YouTube; EFT videos".
Professionally instructed is generally preferable. - There is a version for use in public places at http://eft.mercola.com (if you like, you can claim to have a headache, as you employ the acupressure massage / tapping on your temples, but you would then be restricted to subvocalising: saying it to yourself in your mind: "Even though I , I deeply and completely accept myself)."

Also give the Progressive Muscle Relaxation at http://www.drcoxconsulting.com/managing-stress.html a good tryout, and use whichever works better for you. Much more about anxiety treatments may be found at http://your-mental-health.weebly.com/i.html and on page 1.

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VITAMIN D

The govt. RDI of 400 IU daily is long outdated, and based on misinformation, according to Dr. John Cannell, at the VitaminDcouncil. Dr. Weil, Dr. Ben Kim, Dr. Axe, Dr. Gominak, a neurologist, and Dr. Mercola* all agree that an RDI of 5000 IU daily is not excessive, although higher levels may be required as people age, and / or put on weight. My doctor, on the basis of several peer reviewed studies, also agrees that an RDI of 5000 IU daily is not excessive, and it is virtually impossible to get the required amount from dietary sources, without the risk of toxicity.

* VITAMIN D DOSE RECOMMENDATIONS
AGE DOSAGE
"Below 5: 35 units per pound per day
Age 5 - 10: 2500 units
Adults: 5000 units
Pregnant Women: 5000 units
WARNING:
There is no way to know if the above recommendations are correct. The ONLY way to know is to test your blood. You might need 4-5 times the amount recommended above. Ideally your blood level of 25 OH D should be 60ng/ml".

The NOAEL (No observed adverse effect level) specified by the Institute of Medicine is 10,000 IU/day. Around 1 person in 300 is allergic to it, so start out with only 1,000 IU on the first day, if supplementing.

Dr. Gominak now recommends optimising vitamin D levels in the range 60 ng/ml to 80 ng/ml, and Dr. Mercola recommended 60 ng/ml or 150 nmol/litre, which is now my target level.

Vitamin D is not a true vitamin, but a hormonal substrate that is vitally important for the activation of almost 3,000 genes in the body. Its main cofactors are: zinc, magnesium, vitamin K2, and boron.

Google: "How To Make Sure That You Are Getting Enough Vitamin D; Dr. Ben Kim", then: "My 1 hr free lecture on vitamin D; Dr. Mercola".

Note that most doctors would regard as acceptable lower levels of vitamin D than those recommended by Dr. John Cannell of the vitamin D council, or Professor Michael Holick, a former member, and an expert in vitamin D.

Read: "Why are doctors reluctant to accept vitamin D", at:
http://www.vitamindwiki.com/Why+are+doctors+reluctant+to+accept+vitamin+D and in particular:
"Would you be opposed to my getting more vitamin D", at:
http://www.vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_id=3162

Also view http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/how-do-i-get-the-vitamin-d-my-body-needs/ & www.sawyer.com/understanding-uva-uvb/ & http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/10/19/cholesterol-sulfate.aspx Consider the UV meter shown in vitaminDcouncil.org at Sunfriend.com

[Anne1221]

Well, you won't be homeless unless you just aren't willing to work. There are always jobs out there, it's just that people want to jump to the top and not work their way up. The good news is that you will get out of high school, your acne will clear up eventually (go see a doctor if you can) and you will meet new friends. Please don't feel so down on yourself. You're at an age where everything seems so awful but it gets better.

[NixonRulz]

This ^^^^^^^^^