Abbie

I have a severe phobia of spiders and insects. I can't even stand those little gnats flying around my face, and I totally freak out if there's a larger insect around. Yesterday I got out of the shower and saw some kind of beetle crawling on the edge of the tub and freaked out. When it flew up to the wall I got out of there before I could even finish getting ready, feeling dizzy and shaky.

This is an actual phobia. I don't just dislike bugs, I'm terrified of them. And my family doesn't even try to understand. My dad and brother think I'm just overreacting or being a drama queen. My dad actually told me that I was ridiculous and that I was just encouraging my fears by letting myself be afraid of some ****. He obviously has no phobias, because if he did, he would understand that you don't think rationally. You're totally in the moment, trying to get away from what's scaring you. Insects make me so anxious and they just don't get it.

They're also not understanding of my social anxieties... I'm painfully shy, especially around strangers or people I don't know well. I become extremely anxious when I have to go to a new place alone (even if it's just knocking on the neighbors door or walking to the restroom in a restaurant). I know I CAN do these things, but thinking about having to do them or actually doing them is so hard for me. My dad gets so mad at me when I don't want to talk to people or do things, saying I need to get over myself and just do things. He says he doesn't know what I'm going to do once I move out because I act dependent. I'm actually very independent and love being alone, but my anxiety prevents me from doing things outside my home or with strangers.

I've told my mom about my anxiety and she keeps saying she'll get me in to see someone like my dad's psychologist, but keeps putting it off. This is all making me so angry, because I have to deal with my dad and brother making fun of my fears, and my mom not doing anything about it to help me.

(I am 17, by the way, still living at home and in high school)

What should I do? They just don't get it, and it makes me anxiety worse and irrational fears worse (I have other fears besides insects/spiders, but I don't think they're quite bad enough to be phobias). I also have a very short temper with them because they're always making me so mad by saying and telling me things they know nothing about, so I get in trouble for saying mean things or yelling at them. THAT'S when they say I'm overreacting and stuff, but in reality I've just had enough of them CHOOSING to not understand me (they make no effort at all).

So I went from regular public school to ECOT online school because I have health problems and THOUGHT I would be having surgery soon (I started in January, and the surgery probably won't be till MAY!) I didn't know I'd be waiting so long. If I'd known I would have waited to enroll. Anyway, I'm so far behind. I have ADD and have absolutely no motivation to do anything (even stuff I like, let alone school work). I can't motivate myself to get any work done. I sit down to do it and suddenly can't get myself to do anything. I'm supposed to be a few weeks into quarter 4 and I'm stuck in the middle of quarter 3 (which was when I transferred in). It doesn't seem fair though; my teachers said I had to do the weeks of work that went by in Q3 BEFORE I transferred in, and I've been struggling with all the work.

If my parents find out I'm so far behind, I'm dead. I just can't seem to catch up! I can't fail because I want to go to regular school next year when I'm better again. I need to finish all this work before summer. I'm sometimes used as a person babysitter for my sister's kids during the day since my schedule is flexible, so I lose motivation and time by thinking "oh.. well I'll finish this work when I get home again; until then I won't do anything". Im easily distracted anyway, so with daydreaming and tv and Internet and my pets and such, I can't get mysel to focus and work.

What do I do?? How do I catch up? I'm really stressed right now, and paranoid that my parents will find out how behind I am and be disappointed with me. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

(sorry for any typos, I'm on an iPod.)

I'm thinking about downloading Steam and buying games. I might be getting a new computer soon, though. If I download games on this computer using a Steam account, will I be able to download them again onto a different computer without buying them again?

Sorry, I know nothing about Steam, lol.

Soo... I'm 16 and would really like a lip ring piercing. I just don't know how to ask my parents.

I don't even have my ears pierced, but my mom is perfectly okay with that (as long as I pay for it.) I wanted both ears pierced, with my left ear having two piercings because I like the asymmetrical look. My mom likes that idea. Then I realized... the way I wear my hair, no one will see the piercings. I never cut it short enough or style it so that my ears are showing because I'm weird and don't like my ears. So what would be the point?

I really love the look of plain, simple lip rings. I have a plain face and wear glasses and I think it would look good and give me a confidence boost as well as make me stand out from the rest of my family in a cool way, lol. Obviously I've thought about this a lot, but I don't know how to ask for it or convince my parents if they say no. I know my mom won't like the idea. She doesn't like tattoos, which I plan on getting (just one on my wrist) and have joked about, so she doesn't take me seriously about it anymore. She doesn't like the 'punk' look or the stereotypes that go with teens with piercings, I guess. I know my dad will say no, even if I pay for it.

So.. how do I ask? I'm really nervous. My mom (I'm focusing on her since she'll be the one to drive me there and stuff) is the type that makes up her mind very quickly about things. I'm afraid she will totally dismiss me. I want to pay for it and it will be my one and only piercing. I've never been in any real trouble and I don't go out much. I'm responsible. Yet I still think she'll say no, tell me it will look bad, and not listen to me.

(heh, as you can tell I'm nervous. Any advice is appreciated.)

I took Spanish for about 1 and a half years and did okay. When we took tests, though, there would be listening exercises where we would listen to a native Spanish speaker ask a question or give information and we would write our answers. My teacher always spook slowly to us, enunciating every word so we could understand. When the recording played, the words all seemed to blend together because they spoke quickly and (obviously) fluently. I always failed these parts. I ended up dropping Spanish when I switched schools this year, but I'm thinking about taking it up again and studying independently and teaching myself.

So the question is, how do I teach my ears the language? (LOL.) I can read it and understand it that way, but everything sounds the same when it's spoken. I don't live near any Spanish speakers, so I never hear it being spoken outside of my studies (but I do get a Spanish TV channel, ha ha.)

My sis is on vacation and I'm currently watching her kids and dog.. My mom had to rush home to my sick brother and my dad is working. My mom felt so bad for leaving me alone with them, but I'm 16 and have watched them before. Of course, right after she leaves the dog has a seizure.

She hasn't had a seizure in a year and I have liquid Valium to give her if it lasts five minutes, but it only lasted about three. It stopped and she seems to be acting normal without any medication. My sister didn't write in-depth about what to do because it hasn't happened in so long; only to give her the medicine rectally.

So anyways I have her laying down and she seems very normal, but what if she has another?? I'm freaking out and have never given a dog any medicine before, let alone in their butt... And if I can't control another seizure what do I do, who do I call?

Apparently my moms stuck in traffic(my brother has her phone and told me there is an accident holding up traffic) but when she gets there she has to stay with him because he's very sick. I'm shaking right now. I'm afraid that the kids making noise and scaring her will trigger another seizure... Please give me advice.

I've heard from some people that sometimes it can take as few as 3 hours to complete their ECOT online work.

Do you get in trouble for, say, being logged on for 3 to 4 hours instead of five, even if you finish everything?

(ECOT Ohio online school)

For the second semester of this year (Sophomore in high school) I'm doing ECOT because of health problems and I need surgery on my foot. (I've missed over 30 days so far because my other foot needed surgery and I got pretty sick.)

If I'm home using ECOT I can get all of my work done and not miss anything. But with the medicine I took last time, I found myself up very late and asleep during the day (for most of the first week after the surgery.)

So, can I log onto ECOT to do school work whenever I want? Like at midnight? I know you're supposed to be on five hours a day, so I'm not sure..

My mom and I are thinking about me using ECOT (the online public school) for the rest of the year. It's the beginning of the second quarter and I've missed 33 days of school. First I had foot surgery and missed about three and a half weeks, then I got a bacterial infection and missed a week and a half more. I need ANOTHER foot surgery on the opposite foot and my school is very angry, saying I'm truant and might get the cops involved, so I wanted a change for the rest of the year.

A question my mom wanted answered was does using ECOT have any effect on a college resume? Like, do they look at it different than if a kid transferred schools for half a year? Can a college reject you for it?

Thanks!

I have to write a definitional essay that defines 'loyalty' using example from the books "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey". for some reason I'm having lots of trouble starting it(ala trouble with the intro paragraph.)

The two main things I'll talk about are Odysseus and Penelope and how they are loyal(Odysseus loyal to his family and country and Penelope loyal to her husband and not marrying.) Then I'll do small things like how the army is loyal to their country/homeland, how nationalism ties in, etc etc.

I need help with the first sentence, the introduction. I want a creative sentence explaining what loyalty is(or something of the sort) without mentioning the books yet. I've been pondering this for an hour and can't come up wth anything. Then I need a sentence that will connect the books(or just Greek culture) to loyalty, and then I can write my summary and stuff. Can someone please help and give me some tips or a sentence to get me going?

Thanks!

I'm 16, dad had to take brother to the ER for an injurgery and my mom has to work. I've been sick since last TUESDAY. Missed all that school. At first it was like a bad cold, then felt like the flu. I felt so so sick, then for a few hours I would feel better, then I would feel absolutely horrible again. It's been like this, off and on. Same with the fever; it would be around 100-101 with a burning face then it would go back to normal or close to normal. Then it would go back up, like a cycle.

I'm going to the doctor later today, but I can't see my normal family-doctor person. :( it's a freaking resident nurse or whatever those in training are called. I've seen them many times before and they never know what to do. They listen to the symptoms and give me a medicine that never works, and don't test for anything unless my parents or I suggest what I may have.

- I have a violent, deep cough. I've coughed so much that all the muscles in my stomach are so sore and my throat is raw. When I start I can't seem to stop and cannot catch my breath and start gagging(sometimes I end up vomiting.) there definitely seems to be something up with my chest/lungs.

- When I cough a lot I get headaches and it feels like my brain is hitting my skull(usually feels like this at night.) other times it's just a dull headache with a little eye pain, but not much. There's also ringing or buzzing in my ears.

- I feel exhausted. I took a shower and had my arms up for about three/four minutes washing my thick hair and I had to let my arms hang there while I could barely catch my breath. Afterwards I tend to get very dizzy, so I end he shower and have to sit on the toilet, hyperventilating, until the feeling that I'm going to vomit passes.

- I'm sore all over. It hurts to get up after sitting/napping for a while, it's hard going up the stairs, etc.

- my sneezes are also violent and throw my head forward, as if I'm trying to clear out crap in my sinuses. I only started sneezing two nights ago, but now it's one or two every hour and it actually hurts my neck because of how violent they are. orz

- my urine is either cloudy and yellow-ish or very dark orange (this is embarassing but I felt it was worth mentioning.)

I woke up this morning and felt like i was dying because of this cough. Over the last two hours I feel a bit better but I can already feel something's not right.. Like I know it's gonna get worse soon. What could be wrong? Is it just the flu? I've had the flu many times before(like every year) but it's never been like this. I've never felt bad in the morning, relatively good in the afternoon, and horrible in the evening with a fever that lasts over a week.

I'm 16 and LOVE learning about dogs. :) They're my passion. I'm ordering an encyclopedia of dog breeds for myself on Monday, lol.

I'm interested in all the different breeds, their evolution, behavior(I'd like to be a canine behaviorist, so documentaries on this are preferred), and anything else on dogs and their relationship with humans.

I've already seen the two on Netflix: Dogs Decoded and NatGeo's Science of Dogs. I also watch Dogs 101 and It's Me Or The Dog on animal planet, but hate The Dog Whisperer because his training methods are ridiculous.

Any recommendations are appreciated! Also if you could link the websites of the docu's that would helpful because ones on dogs are hard to find. Thanks!

So I'm on level 16, "one shot at this" in Uncharted 3. I get to the part where they're like "whoa, how many are there?" "we'll have to do this silently." it's where all the guards are Patrolling the one area. I silently take out all the guards I see without being spotted. Then I sneak up the last two in front of the door, and I can't take them out without one yelling for backup. Then all hell breaks loose and so many guys come and kill me. If I try to run and go on top of the building(where you're supposed to go) before killing everyone, there's no ladder so I can't jump down!

And even though I save before those last two guys, it makes me start over where I've been spotted so I have no chance and have to start the ENTIRE chapter over.

Can someone please help me? How do I finish this part without being spotted? I suck at video games and am playing on very easy mode, ha ha. When I get spotted and kill a lot of guys, more come in. It seems impossible.

I have a lot of pain in my joints. For example, my thumb knuckle swells up so much that I can't even move the skin because it's so stretched. My fingers hurt a lot, and I had to ask my mom to hole-punch some school papers because my thumb had swelled and my hands hurt. My right ring-finger is somehow shorter Than my left and pops everytime I close my fist.

When I wake up in the morning, I'm so stiff and can barely limp down the hall. This stiffness wears off later in the day, but doing things like sitting in school desks make my neck and lower back hurt a LOT.

I do crack my knuckles, but sometimes I cant help it. I'll turn my neck and it cracks. I wake up and my knees crack. I've tried to stop cracking my knuckles but it's a hard habit to break, lol.

I've had physical therapy for my left wrist because it's very painful and hurts eveytime I bend it. I have to take breaks while typing on my iPod or playing games because keeping it still makes it hurt so much. Also writing (with my right hand) is painful after a short time.

I have a lot of problems, like being unable to extend my right elbow all the way(not because of pain, bit because it just stops extending,) and having surgery to correct dislocated toes(caused my extremely high arches in both feet) but the doctors have nothing to say. They say my elbow is fine even after an MRI when it's clearly not.

I have a lot of weakness because of not using my hands/arms because of pain, so either I'm not strong enough to open jars, bottles, etc or my fingers are too sore. I feel like an old person because if I'm sitting cross-legged on the floor or on my knees, my knees get stiff and sore and it's hard to get back up. I never really need help getting up, it's jut painful and I limp until the pain goes away.

Oh, btw.. I'm 16. (and female if that matters.) could I have juvenile arthritis or something? At one point he docs thought I had Charcot-Marie-tooth disease, but tests came back negative. So what could I have? I'm trying to get my mom to make an appointment with the family doctor for my hands(AGAIN!) but she never knows what's wrong and gives me pain meds.

Any help / input is greatly appreciated. :)

I'm 16 and in school I'll be talking to teachers about problems I'm having in the class and my throat closes and I feel like crying.

I missed a lot of school recently and my teacher told me she was surprised that I hadn't done any of the online work for her, and I only got a little stressed and felt like crying. So I went to my seat all red faced and teary eyed, hoping no one would notice.

At home I run upstairs to my room to sob when I get the urge at inappropriate times. I hate when people see me cry, so no one knows.

And I get SO angry over little things. I ask my brother to plug in my iPod, he forgets, and I get so mad like he did this just to make me angry. It's like I don't want to interact face to face with people anymore. Like I said, I missed school for 3 weeks because of a surgery(foot, nothing too serious) and I wasn't happy to see my friends. In fact, them constantly chatting and wanting to talk for what seems like forever tired me out and I just nodded occasionally like usual because I don't want to seem too rude. I just wanted them to shut up so I could zone out/ daydream, because those things aren't stressful or annoying.

I think my dad has to be my least fav person in the world. I hear him come down the stairs or home from work and I get angry and irratable. He's always judging me and getting mad at me for no reason(today he got mad that I needed his computer, then yelled at me for five minutes because he thought I lost some outlet adapter.) during something like that, my anger seems out of control, my throat closes and I either run away to cry or scream at everyone.

I also lack motivation. I get so overwhelmed with even small assignments from school if I don't like them. It's hard to finish essays and stories even though I'm really good at them. I can't focus and all I want to do is daydream(at school and home) like I'm majorly ADD.

I do feel happy sometimes, like if I get a new game or play with animals. I'm happy when I catch my favorite shows on tv, when I get to buy the thing I want, and when I'm alone at home during the day, but none of it lasts. I just feel sad later, if I get stressed.

Ive been like this for a while, at least 6 months. It's like me needed to cry at least once a day and feeling angry at everyone and stressed out is controlling my actions. I feel like such a b*tch.

What's wrong with me? I can't really talk to anyone because I feel so uncomfortable.

I'm in high school and want to be an animal behaviorist that specializes in dog training. I've wanted this since I was a little kid, lol.

Are there any specific courses in college that I have to take, or even a college about animal training? Or is a college education not needed? (all i know is that I'm interested in their behavior and very good with them. Were supposed to research colleges at school, but I haven't found many things about animal behavior.)

I'm interested in training sight dogs and other dogs for the disabled, as well as even helping families with their dogs.

Also, no, I do not want to be a vet or have any other job in the medical field. I wouldn't mind taking a course in a school about, but I don't want that as my job/career.

Oh, grooming is something else I'm kind of interested in. But not as much as training.

Any info is greatly appreciated. :) :)

I'm in the 10th grade and have a lot of health problems. I just had surgery on my foot and missed three weeks of school. We told the school I'd only be missing two weeks, but I got really sick with the flu or some after effect from the surgery or something. Today the councilor called and said if I didn't go to school tomorrow(Monday, 3 weeks after my surgery) then the police would become involved.

before this I missed a lot too. I get sick easily and a lot(I have chronic headaches and dizzy spells, and I gt bad stomache aches in the mornings.) also, my feet swell up and get very painful, so if theyre swollen I wont go to school. The doctors can't figure out what's wrong(I was tested for a genetic disease and fit every symptom but it was negative) so I don't have an excuse for the school.

I need another surgery in the spring(the one I had was on my right, but both feet need done) & ANOTHER surgery on my right(they missed something the first time)

I tend to stay home when I feel just a little ill. My parents don't like me missing much, but if I overexagerate they usually let me stay home with a "this is the last time" warning. They understand my feet problems and stuff but don't just let me skip.

To tell the truth, school is one of my least favorite things. I get so stressed, and I'm probably one of the most shy and self conscious people there. I've begged to take online classes or switch to a smaller school with courses I like, but my parents WON'T listen. I've explained why I want that but my older sister graduated from my school, we've lived in this town my whole life, and they aren't willing to change. So when I feel a little sick or very tired I stay home. I also have problems with feeling depressed and anxious(never been diagnosed but still affects me) So if I feel depressed, which makes me feel sick, I'll find a way to stay home.

I get average grades, but what will I do when I have to miss even more? It worries me a lot. Can the school get me in trouble??

I want to write a fictional story about early thylacines(also known as Tasmanian tigers or wolves) but I want to be as accurate as possible. Can anyone answer these questions I have about the species? Even if he answer is vague(not much is known about the animal) anything will help. I know the 'modern' species came about nearly 4 million years ago, so I might write about that time period.

Did they live in groups? If so, how large?

Did the young leave the parents or did they stay in family groups?

Which area / part in the mainland of Australia did they live?

What other animals did they encounter? (rivals and prey.) (this obviously varies with time period)

At what time period would they start to encounter early humans in Australia? Also, did those primitive humans hunt thylacines or leave them alone(or did they not cross paths)?

Please please help me out. :) I wish more was known about this cool animal, I couldn't find mich info. Hopefully theres an expert willing to answer! Thanks.

I joined Clubpsych.usanetwork.com to play that Hashtag killer game, lol. But apparently I joined after my brother, who had used my computer to register and play the game. He connected his account to my facebook account by accident, but I didn't know and I made my own account. So now whenever I connect with facebook I get my brother's account. I've tried deleting his account(he's okay with it) but I can't find that option anywhere. I like my username better than his so I'd rather use mine.

Is there any way to connect my facebook to my USAnetwork account, after it's been connected to?

sorry if this is confusing. it's not the biggest deal, just really annoying and I want it fixed.