Uncertain if some laws have been broken in my case. They say its too "high profile." The story is I publicly urinated in Whitefish Montana at 2:30am on a Friday night in 2021 downtown. It was in some tall grass next to a parking garage a block away from a noodle stand I patroned. There were no restrooms.
A city cop pulled into the parking garage afterwards and interrogated me at the elevator in the parking garage. My Passport was in my car on the third floor, so when he demanded my ID for a second time, I verbally pivoted and asked if he had been watching me and if he had his lights on insinuating entrapment. At this point he escalated to use of force and threw me to the ground and turned his body cam off as my body hit the ground. The parking garage video picks up him backing me up and throwing me to the ground. I gain control until some guys get involved where I give up and he tazes me from underneath me simultanious with the person rolling me off. He gets up, I lay flat, and then he neals down and starts tazing me.
I went to the trial in December 2022 with a public defender and the officer lied about tazing me on the ground and was convicted of assault on a peace officer, while I was out on bond before my trial, the prosecutor recommended I immediately go back to jail. My sentencing was delayed two extra months. My probation summary investigation had many inaccuracies about my criminal past including saying I was a multiple violent criminal, and multiple drug and alcohol offender. I spent a year in the former regional prison that was converted to a private prison that usually sends people too pre-release, but under few circumstances assessed for parole.
I got out two months ago and worried that any officer can arrest me for questionable infractions and quickly escalate to use of force, where my life is in danger, and/or lead to another quick trip back to prison. How can I find a lawyer that will work with me? This is a very emotional hard topic for me. It sucks rehashing it over and over and getting denied service over and over.
My first time posting here. Apologise if my format is incorrect.

A couple of years ago I tried writing my own version of Stones Abbigale. I never got past the first couple scenes, but I'm considering returning to it. I wanted to basically rewrite and change up a lot of things, mainly focusing on Abbi and Davis and changing some elements. Let me know what you think!

1
It's almost four in the morning and Seth is threatening suicide again. Good. Fuck him. I hope he does it. I don't text him that because I read about this girl who told her boyfriend to kill himself. The irony was that when he actually did it she got charged with second degree murder. My life is fucked as it is I don't need to make it worse. I’m shivering under my comforter because we’re halfway through November. I think about the turkey that won't get made this year and the family I won't see. I think that's swell. Seth is still texting.
Its like u dont even care after everything that happened and after everything we did together i saved ur life and i stayed with u when u cried and i hugged u and i did everything for u but that wasn't enough was it? i try so hard and all u ever are is a bitch to me that's not fair u want me to die and u hate me and u dont even care and im sick of it abbi why is is so hard for u to care about me?
I don't respond. I don't like how I feel about this. This should be easy. He won't actually do it. He won't. He’s too self involved to kill himself. I put my phone face down on my bed. The sheets shake around it as he sends message after message. I was sleeping on a ticking bomb so I got off of it. My feet stick to the floor, I struggle to step. I might as well have been standing barefoot on ice. I trudge to my window so I can see my street at night. Winter is really coming. You can't hear as many birds as you used to. They've all gone. They've all flown away. I can see three streetlights from where I’m standing. If you can from right to left you can see the concrete fracture into the sand. I open my window and brace for the chill. I stick my head outside. The ocean is not far away. I hear it hitting the shore over and over. Waves of water splashing incessantly, almost beating out my text notifications. The street lights flicker. I think of last summer. When Seth and I got really high after the news broke that my Mom was cheating on my Dad. I was making out with that bong. Emptying bowl after bowl, clanking the glass on the road to empty it out. Just thinking about it makes me feel the street pole against my back again. I was laughing and crying. Seth leaned in and hugged me. “I’m a sure thing,” he said. “I love you and I always will.” I caught my reflection in his sunglasses. I looked awful. I shiver at the memory. My phone is still buzzing. I try to catch my breath. I shut my window and start to walk back to my bed. A room always looks different in the dark. Maybe you think you know where you are, but there is always something that can jump out at you on the floor. Like a ghostly paper bag or a vengeful shoe. Objects that seem to move on their own with the sole drive of tripping you. I crawl back into bed. There's the phantom of Dad’s snoring . I know he's not sleeping in his room, he fell asleep on the couch after finishing his seventh fifth. Sometimes my brain fills in the gaps so I can hear it everywhere. Funnily, I haven't actually heard him snore since Mom left. That's the one thing I ever heard them fight about. Before she turned out to be a whore, I guess. BZZT.BZZT.BZZT. I can't bring myself to read any of his messages. They're coming so fast all the paragraphs are lost to motion blur. Seth’s arms wrap around me and I think about the beating of his heart and the warmth of his lips against my skin. I open up the texts, ready to respond.
I love you
I text this over and over until I fall asleep.
Davis was the only senior on the bus. Somehow, everyone else had a car or a ride. It’s all right, though. James would probably give him one if he had a car, but he skated to school every morning. That's why he barely ever rode the bus with him. The bus thumped along the under paved roads. Davis forgot his earbuds at home, so the only music that accompanied him was his racing thoughts. Two sophomore girls popped their heads over. “Ohmigod, Davis!” One of them shrieked.. “As I live and breathe,” he smiled. “Nice,” she said. “I’m so excited to see your finished painting.” Davis took the lower level art class for a requirement. Like most things, he's not taking it very seriously. For their pop art unit, he's painting a portrait of the art teacher with a warthog face. It's one of his funny disruptions. He knows Mrs. Stanley is going to have a real field day with it, but it doesn't matter. Artistic liberties, he’d profess. “She's such a bitch, isn't she?” The sophomore girl turns to her compatriot, who only nods in response. “She's just jealous,” Davis says. “It must be depressing to teach art and see the youth soar above her.” “For sure,” the girl doesn't get it. Class clown is a semi-heavy burden. Davis doesn't really feel like talking to these girls, but his position demands it. Comedy informs everything about him. To the giant thrift store jeans, to the loud Hawaiian shirt. He and James are the ultimate combination, at least he likes to think so. Quiet brooding begs for bright distraction. The girl is still trying to talk to him and Davis is saying his preprogrammed lines. The bus stops in front of James’s street. Surprisingly, James is standing there. “Like I’m this close to just filling my hydroflask with vodka, yaknow?” says the chick. Maybe she's just trying to get a rise out of him. “Better be prepared to give me more than a sip,” Davis is watching James grumble towards the bus. The sun is beating down on the forming ice puddles. James stomps through them with small shattering steps. James turns up the bus aisle and plops in the seat next to Davis. Davis’s smile is genuine now, but he fights it from getting too wide. “Crash your vehicle?” Davis asks. “Something like it,” there's something off with him. Davis doesn't want to push it. “Well damn, hope insurance covers it,” Davis wants James to break and laugh. Is it just another mood or did something actually happen this time? “It won't, I got bad credit,” James grins and it's like heaven. “What's the move for you today?” “Surviving art and physics for me,” says Davis. “Those bastards love to keep me down.” “Who doesn't,” James eyes the girls who have since returned to whatever they were doing before. It's the judgement stare, as Davis calls it. James likes to observe his peers like a zoo-goer. Breaking them down to taxonomic types. Davis likes to think that James doesn't do this to him, but he knows he probably does. “It sucks you decided to be bad at school and take baby art,” James is still dissecting the sophomore girls down to their tropes. “We could have done Art II together.” “I wouldn't want to get between you and Alex. I know how you love it when people piss in jars next to you.” “That's disgusting,” James breaks his glare at the girls. “It's performance art, it's beautiful,” Davis gets up out of his seat to yell. “Everyone witness the wonderful work of Alex Madov! Disengage yourself from the shackles of capitalism by shouting with me: Poopy, pee pee, poop!” Davis gets a few chuckles from the other kids on the bus. “Sit down, fatso,” mumbles the bus driver. “I will not be silenced! I’m a messenger of the good word, sir!” “More of this shit and I’m skipping your stop!” “Fine, but I will make Alex remember on the day of judgement,” Davis sits back down. James is full belly laughing. “You're so retarded,” James wheezes. Davis can't even come back with a response. He's high off of it.
The bus pulls into the school lot with a short stop. The mobs get up and begin to race out. Davis follows James down the line. “You know Abbi?” James asks. Davis feels a little pit form in his stomach, but he doesn't change his expression. “Vaguely, what about her?” “She's in my art class,” James begins. “And I think … well you know, I’m going to talk to her.” He walks down the steps and out the door. “Doesn't she have a boyfr-” before Davis can descend the driver's arm blocks him. “I’ve had enough of your shit, kid,” he says. “If you keep being obnoxious, I’m gonna find a way to make you pay for it.” James looks back, but he can't stay. Davis knows that he's gotta get to class. James does a little wave goodbye and Davis salutes him. “Are you even listening to me?” the bus driver seethes. “Yes, sir. Divine retribution, got it.” Davis ducks underneath his arm and exits the bus. James has already disappeared into the crowd.
I pass the bong to Ashley. She starts another bowl. She’s the transport and I provide the material. The little things that keep our friendship afloat. I look at the clock in her car. “It's 8:45,” I pick a piece of bagel out of my teeth. “So that's it, we officially missed first period,” Ashley tops it off. “They won't mark us, you know. It's a study.” “Yeah, but when's the last time we signed in? I heard they're changing the policy again. Do you still have the lighter?” I toss it to her. I don't get it. It's always her idea to pick me up so we can smoke before school, why now is she suddenly caring about attendance? “We're pretty girls, we can get out of it. I’m next,” I tap on the clock. “Are you sure it's not fast?” She shakes her head as she takes a snap. We're parked in the pond area a block or two from the school. It's our designated smoking spot. I like it, even at the end of fall it's pretty. I’m so engrossed that I don't realize her tip out the bowl and put it back in the cup holder. “I don't know if it's wise to keep up the activity, we should probably get going soon,” she starts up her car again. “Okay,” I say. She reverses and swings out of the lot. We lean into the silence and it's super weird. “Seth texted me last night,” I wait for her reaction. “Oh,” she grimaces. “What did you say?” “That I loved him.” Silence again. Ashley's trying to put together something well-meaning while understanding that I’ll probably ignore whatever she has to say. “Abbi, I’m not trying to tell you how to run your life, but …” Her expression is now quizzical. She's said what she is about to say a number of different ways all ready. She thinks and thinks and decides to say nothing. Good call, I would have screamed at her. Not because what she thinks about my situation isn't true, I’m just in a ‘screaming at people mood’ because of it. “I’m going to dye my hair again,” she changes the subject to avoid conflict. Classic Ash. “Oh yeah? What color this time?” “I don't know,” she checks her reflection in the rear view. “The red has faded out, maybe blue or pink this time.” “You should go with a softer pink,” I say. “Since you're a soft spring.” “Yeah, maybe.” We enter the school lot. “Listen, do you want to get together when I do it? Maybe you can dye your hair too.” “I don't know, I might be busy,” I say. “Seth might want to do something,” I pause for her to protest. “Okay,” she says. She parks and we get out.
I barrel into art class. I don't care if I reek, out of all the teachers I can tell Mrs. Stanley smokes the most. It would be hypocritical of her to care. It looks like I’m the first one. Weird. I check my phone. It's 8:45. Well, fuck. Looks like Ashley needs to fix her clock. Mrs. Stanley is at her desk. She looks at me knowingly. “Eager to create today, Abbi?” I just nod and sit at my desk. I’m really feeling it. I open up my precalc notebook and just start sketching. Birds, eyes, trees, whatever. Kids start coming in. Their chatter echoes around me, I try to focus on what I’m doing. Someone bumps into my table. I look up. It's this lanky blonde kid, I think his name is James. He presses his hands underneath the desk as he leans up to talk to me. “Eww!” He shouts. Some kids turn and laugh. I don't. I just stare at him. James goes red and sits next to the kid who pissed in a jar. Once an adequate amount of students are in the room, Mrs. Stanley starts her lesson slideshow. On the screen is a dirty urinal. “How many of you are familiar with this work by Marcel DuChamp?” she asks. At this point, Jason, the designated meathead jock, enters the room. “Sorry I’m late, Mrs. S,” he booms. He looks at the slide. “We building bathrooms today?” Mrs. Stanley glares at him. “Wouldn't you like that? Considering you spend all of your time in there.” “Whatever,” Jason brushes his mullet behind his ears. “No, not whatever. Would you like me to move you into the sophomore class with Davis? Believe it or not he's getting much better marks than you are getting in here.” Jason rolls his eyes and takes his place in the chair next to me. “Up to a little extra curricular activities before art, Abbi?” he motions a joint in his fingers. I scoff and go on my phone. There's another text from Seth.
sorry about last night
and
im reading it all right now that was fucked im sorry
I start to respond, but before I can Mrs. Stanley outstretches her hand. “Give me your phone, Miss Hagerty. I’m sick of giving you warnings.” I don't have the energy to fight, I just give it to her. “You can pick it up at the end of the day.” My jaw actually drops. Jason must have really set her off, she's not usually such a cunt to me. “Anyways, found art. What is it? Well, found art is the use of everyday objects to convey an altered meaning. It can be something you find on the street or something that once held value to you. For example, My Bed by Tracey Elim.” She pulls up a picture of a messy bed that looks suspiciously like my own. “So for your final unit of the semester, you will be making your own found art. I really want you to take this project a little more seriously than most of you have been taking this class. I’m giving you the privilege of picking your own partners, but I’d like to remind you to be thoughtful with your choice. This will be worth more for your grade.” I look around. I don't have any friends here. I toy around with the idea of asking Jason for convenience and he looks like he's about to pull that move. Behind me there's that James guy. He’s sheepishly looking at me. He seems kind of nice. Okay. I don't feel like getting up so I just turn around in my chair. “Hey James, wanna be partners?” He balks a bit and then smiles at me. “Yeah, totally,” He's beaming and it's somewhat endearing. Alex and I switch seats and now I’m next to him. “I’m gonna be real with you …” I begin. He stops and shifts a little. “I have no idea what we're supposed to be doing for this.” He regards me oddly. Like he's trying to piece me together. It doesn't bother me. “She said we have to bring in an object that's special to us and present it artistically basically,” he rubs his chin. Damn, I must be baked to hell. I didn't hear her saying that at all. “So got any stuffed animals we can cut up and make Lovecraftian monstrosities out of?” “I got a hamster cage, hold the hamster,” I say. It comes out kind of weird and I probably sound stupid, but he doesn't seem to care. “Let's make a fucking zoo.” “Perfect!” He’s kind of cute actually. In a way. Something about this feels fun. I realize the bell will ring soon. “So um,” I rip out a page of my precalc notebook, still fresh with my drawings. I scrawl out my number and push it to him. “Call me so we can figure out the project some more.” I pack up all my stuff and start to head out. I can feel him watching me and it's not that bad. “I sure will,” he says. Everything feels really groovy. There's a lightness now. I’m halfway out the door when I remember my phone. I can't believe that I just forgot about Seth. I think about begging for my phone, but I feel too above that. Still, something shakes the good feeling as the bell rings.

I…Without a source in void…Blank nothingness, no substance, material solidified, primordial concepts birthed from a dreaming consciousness left alone for immeasurable time… It was fear of the fragility to make existence…The first semblance of identity, already assumed the highest of dreamer, and miraculous freewill, a potential probability of "OM" unraveling. To vocally create after the amassed power to do so, could be a mistake of hellish surrealism, a failure of truth if it was to last eternity-should the beginning entities choose evil by choice, as made to believe, they're finite beings…inconceivable forever is a God… The perfection becomes the most vast elaboration conceivable, and, with a noise so loudly ultimate, the voice splices through the nothingness with a bang so violent, a literal universe awakens into momentary coalescence, attracting itself together into form at ultimate light speed, and yet slows down into a divisional amount of substances eventually labeled…linear, motion and time arrived…All of them asked if it was a perversion…no straight lines, folding on itself…ya, I smoke weed in my basement… The smartest said a vibratory process in an elastic inert medium, filling up universal space…a visible manifestation of a whole spectrum of electromagnetic waves, it's condensed hard, mixed within itself, from the inside out even made to expand…Gravitational warps, mass balls of weight create autobons, super highways ships can travel…sun's are harnessed, free energy exists, the utopian reality becomes actuality…some can only survive so long without destroying themselves before thousands of years fighting to survive…entire star systems or planets are capable to mobilize themselves into safety zones, remaining self sustaining and untouched by anything harmful for millions of years…in a bright future we'll never be "in"… "Swat!Smack!!!"...fly guts on my acrylic painting…cat urine soaked spotted drywall underneath the drop ceiling of a basement cellar attempt of a rental... space heater warmth resting on a concrete block of stone cold landlord profiteering, profit on an unbreathable musk heap. Mold permeates, damp dirt on a fresh spring rain, draining wetness into it... downloads of WiFi network binge watching the phone for t.v...Bi-law Officer's want to see me drooling on a pillow scratching my nut's in a torn up empty room, to drop an investigative neighbor's complaint of dwelling in decrepitude, that lowers the value of their home...at least my landlord isn't knocking with a human skin costume-because he's really a giant cockroach looking for "Orion's Belt", no, he's looking for regular handjobs from my ex's, and I know this from an eight minute recording of his request, obligingly sent to me from one of them...there are no bug's in the basement, just centipedes and daddy long legs, plus flies, attracted to the poop stained carpet above the bowing drywall, above me... there's no vent cover as the metal pops out through support beam's fitted with the heat tubes terribly hollow, this space is industrial...my particle board door has a dent two inches deep from a rock an ex took to it...it's about four inches thicker on the bottom, water has warped the wood to not close properly…I'm underground enough to survive like a roach in nukes,.though..Joe's apartment had company… People die of respiratory illness due to bedbugs or roach's...Overweight people run health stores, or give "qualified advice" for dietary athleticism…The most easiest of jobs make the most money, as nepotist's live as kings and queens upon the slavery of the less. The division is social and darwinian, brutality, and dominance…and it's a fluke for an individual to charm or be born into the luxurious…the unshared fullness may even morally be the great undoing… It is fear to lose such comfort or control. The very thought of equal entity implies shared power, and that is power to destroy. Why trust the loving power of another??? An epic story of hypocrisy and chosen specials… Dialectical psychosis to believe the purity is real. In cloud's to finally catch up to the surface of this original "bang", the noise gets louder…and I pop through the thought subjugated…big inhale… The entrance door, swelling out from the makeshift framing, jarring a gap that no seal's could fix. It's letting in breezes uncomfortable and chilling, and to get to that entrance, is a steep wooden step set that looks rather haunting... I was frightened I might have ended up in a freezer bag when I viewed the place before renting...took it because it was cheap, and I'd be alone with the grace of freedom, since a God's given none...the doorway is jarring to every female that's attempted a visit in this "abode", and bid farewell... I hear Shakespeare's dogs bark, the cat's patter as Ken's bus bird's chirp, flying over the nest, ambulance sirens, neighbor's arguing, and we have raccoons and squirrels inside, scratching and defecating along with the mice in almost every wall…it's Noah's Ark again…

Desire is no problem. Craving -- i.e., when desire becomes grasping -- is a problem.
And according to the guiding precepts, there is no proscription against sexual activity in itself (except for monastics). It's misuse of sex that is seen as unwholesome.

You need to understand that the entire Path of Buddhism is predicated on waking up from dream-like delusion of self, and selves, and subject (I, my, me) versus object (the presumed external world which the self is presumably 'missing' and needing, or at the mercy of). The point of mental discipline is to stop making an illusory world out of illusory concepts -- our relation to which causes all suffering -- and instead to rest in reality.
This is the basis of all Buddhist ethics. There is no ethical decree given from above by an authority figure; it is all functional, all in service of waking up and dispelling suffering.

So the tainted mental activity that produces the illusion of a 'me' and an external world inevitably leads to craving, grasping, and suffering, like a wheel that turns around and around endlessly.
Craving that persists with regard to a particular object or theme is known as lust. There are many remedies for lust.
First off all, just following the Path in a good course of training will settle the mind and even the energy. Much of our personal suffering and many of our dysfunctional tendencies arise because our energy (in ancient terms named 'inner winds') is inflamed and irregular. A balanced lifestyle and good training in meditation, ethical behavior, and wisdom smooth out the practitioner's energy and establish calmness and stability. The upshot is that one doesn't crave the things one craved before, and turns instead toward noble aims and aspirations, the causes of happiness.
Śamatha (acquiescence/calmness/concentration) meditation is especially regarded as a cure for all kinds of sensual attachment. This is because it diminishes the mental activity that creates the illusion of subject-object separation and its accompanying habitual patterns of attachment. When the mind settles, there is less 'going out' toward supposed external objects.
There are also specific remedies for sexual attachment, including contemplating the constituent parts of a body and/or the many unpleasant aspects of a body -- blood, pus, oil, urine, feces, odor, shedding skin, and so on. Related contemplations consider aging and decay.
These practices are effective because typically the lustful person is fixating on a very limited and idealized version of the supposedly desirable person: they see only momentary physical beauty or preferentially selected qualities, not the whole reality. The contemplations establish what a body really is (which is far from gloriously pleasant). And one can imagine that seeing the entire life span of the object of desire -- seeing hehim as germ cells, a fetus, an infant, a toddler, a child, and adolescent, an adult, an elderly person, a withered aged dying person, a heap of dust and bones -- can dispel the illusion of perfect desirability that characterizes lust.
[Additional note: there's a text in which the Buddha helps Ananda overcome fixation on a woman by bestowing such a vision upon him, of the woman in time-lapse, quickly moving through all stages of her life. Perhaps our scriptural experts will provide a citation here.]
Some of the most important and influential means of bringing the mind under control (not rigid control, but stability and functionality) have to do with lifestyle. There are many teachings that don't appear in books, and which you get through human contact and actually living the lifestyle along with others.
Regulating diet, sleep, physical movement and rest account for possibly half or more of the spiritual accomplishments and personal transformations sought by practitioners. If you just eat right, your efforts are already tremendously supported.
Avoiding overly dulling or stimulating foods (like too much meat & dairy, and certainly sugars, oily foods, processed foods, overly spicy foods), avoiding overeating, and avoiding alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and recreational drugs go a long way to settling the fiery, eruptive energy that easily becomes sexual craving.
Certain specific foods are discouraged or, within specific practices, prohibited because they directly block the practice. Some of these are strongly aphrodisiac foods, others are known to block the energy flow being cultivated.
Sleeping the right amount at the right time evens, calms, and uplifts the energy. Best is to be asleep at least an hour before midnight (by the sun, not by the clock which can change with daylight savings time), and to wake and rise before the first light of dawn. No surprise: this follows the schedule of temples and practice centers. And having too little sleep, though not ideal, is better for the subtle energy than too much sleep. Having too little sleep harms the body, but having too much sleep harms the energy and spirit.
Physical movement is also extremely important for health at all levels, and for spiritual practice. Physical practice is another aspect of authentic Buddhism that is not (and perhaps cannot be) conveyed in books, blogs, and videos; but it's incredibly effective in bringing forth a natural, rooted stability of mind. Prostrations practice, vigorous physical work, and whole-body-and-breath physical activities and exercise are effective upon sexual craving on a number of fronts (grounding, energy flow, outlet, contentment), but they also greatly support meditation and mental training.
And finally (but far from the last benefit available), the influence of a teacher and practice community can't be overstated. Being in the presence of those who maintain the true view helps your own wavering, wandering, attaching mind come under control and move toward the true view itself. Being with people who are clear about their values, and whose discipline arises naturally from wisdom (rather than being imposed tyrannical by an ideology), helps one learn how to become clear and disciplined.
To a great extent, cravings and addictions are cured by replacing them with wholesome and more satisfying and fulfilling aspirations and behaviors, and by replacing the triggering environment with a more healthy one.
Addiction is not always best addressed by wrestling with it directly, as that can become another trigger, causing recurrent cycles of repression and acting out. Objectification is a root problem; so be careful of making a personal issue into an object of fixation. A good course of training will help teach you where to place your attention and effort. It's like the story of the two wolves: the one that grows is the one you feed (with your attention). "You become that which you place before you."
We don't learn how to live by amassing concepts; we learn how to live by being in the presence of true humans.
And if we establish the karmic causes for being in the presence of an enlightened teacher, the influence on our life is unimaginably beneficial.

My SIL (42f) hasn't had a job the entire time I've known my husband (~5 years). At first when we got together, she claimed her boss had sexually harassed her, and that she was fired because of it. The next story was that she was suing the company and was going to be getting 25 000€. During the time where she was waiting for her payout, she was "borrowing" money from everyone in the family "to pay bills", but never got another job.
She has now "borrowed" 20 000€ from my FIL, 5 000€ from my MIL (who overdrew her account as a result), a couple thousand from their grandmother (90f), and has systematically been hitting up everyone in the family and extended family with various lies about why she can't get a job, how her bank info was stolen and she couldn't buy her daughter food, and their father, the villain, absolutely refuses to help her with anything. When anyone asks her about a repayment schedule, she flips out and cuts them off/blocks them.
We have pieced together that she (probably) has a cocaine problem, but obviously she won't admit to it, and her partner doesn't seem to notice or care, as long as she pays her half of the rent.
What do we do? Her health and well-being is our biggest concern, if only in the best interests of our niece (8f). We don't know how to address the issue and behavior and the drug abuse suspicions without her shutting down or cutting us off from communication.
Should we just find a local drug rehabilitation group or practitioner and hire them to help with the issue? The angry part of me just wants to show up and demand a urine test, but I know in situations like this, that aggressive confrontation isn't always the best option.
What's the best way to get my SIL the help she needs?

Sharing my story here in the hopes it helps others better care for their feline friends with urinary issues. TLDR at the bottom.
Just got back from picking up my cat from the Animal ER, where he has been for the past 3 days. General Tsao is a very large, extremely food-motivated cat, and a few days ago he puked up his breakfast. This isn't uncommon for him, as he gets hairballs that cause vomiting from time to time. As per his vet's recommendation, I gave him a bit of Vaseline to help the hairball pass, and he gobbled it up. However, I never saw him pass the hairball. He puked twice more, stopped eating and drinking, stopped using the litterbox, and started hiding instead of playing. All huge warning signs.
I took him to the ER and their primary concern was that I hadn't specifically witnessed him urinate in the past 24 hours. Regardless of whatever else may be going on with him, a blocked urethra is majorly life-threatening and can be excruciatingly painful, leading to death within a few days. He had to be held overnight and catheterized until they could be sure he wouldn't immediately reblock after removal of the catheter. They planned on this taking 24-36 hours, but it took 48. Thankfully we had insurance on him, otherwise this would have cost us >$6000 out of pocket.
FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease) can have so many causes, including idiopathic, which basically means "unknown cause." It's also incredibly common, particularly in male cats. Once a cat blocks, they are very likely to block again in the future unless preventative measures are taken. Cats with recurring urinary blockages are recommended to get a surgery called PU (Perineal Urethrostomy), which was described to me as "cutting off the tip of the cat's penis to make it more like female genitalia, which are significantly less likely to block." So... we REALLY want to avoid this recurring.
The primary preventative measure recommended is switching to a specific Urinary Health cat food (Hill's brand), for which I was given a prescription, but one isn't needed. A doctor told me today that before this cat food became widely available, every cat with a urinary blockage had to have this PU surgery, or be euthanized. Every vet was required to know how to perform the PU surgery because urinary blockages are so incredibly common. Nowadays, only veterinary surgeons need to know how to perform these, and they are only performing maybe a few each week.
However, it is *super* important that these cats are held strictly to this diet. Even one slip-up can lead to a recurrence, which could cost my boy a very unfortunate surgery and a very uncomfortable recovery period.
I am very grateful to have such patient and informative veterinary doctors in this case. In my previous experiences, the veterinary doctors were always very kind and passionate about their work, but this experience really stands out for how much time they took to explain every line on every lab result, without my even asking. It seems only right to pass this information on to others who might be interested.
TLDR: Make sure your male cats are peeing every day! Males with urinary issues are at risk for a condition where the urethra becomes plugged shut. This very quickly becomes life-threatening and even after urine flow is restored, recurrent blocking is very common. The treatment for one blockage is a strict Urinary Health diet, but the treatment for recurring blockage is surgical removal of the tip of the penis. If your vet recommends this food, treat it like a medicinal prescription for a very serious issue. Before this type of food was available, all males with a urinary blockage had to have this unpleasant surgery, or be euthanized. Yay cat food!

Breston Boobilay
Breston Boobilay meandered his way along the sprawling New York sidewalk, stifling a stagger as he lurched forward. He was on a drunken mission like so many others he’d set out on before, and this mission, like all others, entailed the timely acquisition of cheap, night-time cooze. Air to the vast Boobilay Meat Pie fortune, Breston rarely had trouble sniffing out hole. But, out there, gripped in the chill of the brisk winter wind, he found himself with his balls as blue as his icy fingertips.
Breston rubbed his palms together and shuddered, watching the breath escape him in thick, swirling plumes. That’s when he noticed the flickering red neon through the gloom ahead, and he couldn’t help but smile as he felt himself instantly become warmer. He lit a cigarette in an effort to restore his sobriety, however briefly, as he thought about what potentially awaited him beyond the door he now found himself in front of. Pussy, and more booze, and maybe even a plug that wouldn’t turn out to be just another irritating, time wasting dipshit. Breston took one last satisfying drag from his smoke before tossing it in the slush on the curb as it sizzled and died. Then, he opened the door and went inside.
Breston Boobilay 2: Electric Boobilay
Breston came inside and a thick fog of lingering smoke whipped by his head out into the icy chill of the New York City winter he’d just left behind. The door slammed through the force of an incoming gust and Breston shivered as a conglomerate of weary eyes turned to meet his reddened, eager face. The patrons of the bar were hardly the fresh meat he’d been hoping to encounter in a shithole like that. The collective weathered faces, likely habitual fixtures of the place, turned back to their drinks and their dull, mumbled conversations as Breston made himself at home on a stool at the far end of the bar, ordering a J&B on the rocks. Breston reached into his coat pocket and retrieved a new cigarette, lighting it and inhaling deeply. The smoke escaped him, and as it dispersed across the room he noticed the only remotely fuckable woman there as she eyed him with intrigue from the other side of the bar. Breston clutched up his drink, drained it, and moved in for the kill.
“Got a light?” She asked, seductively, after he had closed the distance having brushed his way through the decaying bodies of the scant Tuesday night crowd.
“No,” Breston replied smoothly, “But I have an eight-point-five inch long penis.”
Her bleach-blond bangs ruffled in excitement, the way a cat’s fuzzy face might if you were to hold a fishy treat up to it. There was only one kind of pussy that Breston was interested in, and only one type of fishy treat.
“Is that right?” The pussy purred, her blue green-flecked eyes brightening. “You wouldn’t lie to a lady now, would you?”
Breston felt his four-point-eight inch long member stiffen in his jeans and he readjusted his posture to conceal it.
“How about that light?” Breston murmured sensually, offering up his burning tip for the lady’s smoke.
“My, my,” She said, the words passing her lips in slow rolls of erotic delight. Pouting them around the slender filter, she moved in closer to Breston, taking her sweet time before finally allowing the cigarette to burn. “what a gentleman…”
“How old are you, by the way?” Breston interjected flirtily, “Like thirty, or something?”
“I’m twenty-eight…”
“Good enough,” Breston didn’t usually bang out grandmas, but in a drought like the one plaguing him, he knew it best to seek out any port possible to wait out the storm of pussilessness until the opportunity for a half-decent fuck with a youthful lay presented itself like that sword in the stone, or whatever the fuck it was. The thought occurred to Breston as if a crotch lightbulb had lit up around his midsection: ‘Perhaps she has a younger, hotter roommate…’ “Your place or mine? I have to warn you, though, my shitter is all backed up.”
“I… guess… we could go back to my-” The pussy stammered.
“Great, Let’s go.” Breston interrupted, sexily.
“Aren’t you at least going to buy me a drink first?” The pussy pleaded, motioning towards the disinterested bartender presumably getting ready to close up.
“Sure, we can stop at a liquor store on the way and grab some forties. If we move fast, we can make it before they stop selling booze. Come on, hurry!” Said Breston, throwing up an arm in the direction of the door like some mad conductor in the throes of a beautiful symphonic din.
And so Breston and the cheap night-time cooze bounded out into the darkness from whence they’d came, moving swiftly, lest the hour evade them and Breston be forced to grunt atop the relatively sub-5 geriatric female in the midst of returning accursed sobriety. An outcome which, he knew, simply wasn’t an option.
Breston Boobilay 3: Curse of the Cooze
“We have you now, Mr. Boobilay!” Malphus Mephistopheles cackled menacingly, relishing in his imminent, long-awaited triumph over renegade superspy Breston Boobilay, who lay helpless, strapped to the long metallic table as the laser beam drew ever closer to his bulging crotch. “Tell me, how does it feel to know that you will never get pussy again? Bwahahahaha!”
Breston could feel the billion-degree heat running along his exposed thighs, threatening his tighty-whitey clad dick and balls with extinction. That’s when he remembered; the tabs of flunitrazepam contained in the secret toe compartments of his shiny black loafers, of which Malphus’s underlings had neglected to remove along with his tuxedo pants. Breston began to chuckle a cackled laugh of his own, drawing the ire of his bedraggled captor.
“You know what your problem is, Malphus?” Malphus moved in closer, slamming a pale, thin palm down on the table by Breston’s head. Breston didn’t even blink. “You never got pussy. That’s why you hate me so much.”
“That isn’t true!” Malphus shrieked, the remainders of his long scraggly hair standing on end. “I’ve got pussy, lots of times!”
“Oh, yeah?” Breston replied coolly, “Who from?”
“You wouldn’t know her. She goes to a different school…”
The laser beam was just a few inches away from destroying Breston entirely, the distinctive burning stench of singed pubes beginning to fill the small subterranean chamber. He knew that he had to act fast.
“You wanna know a secret, Malphus?” Breston half-whispered.
“What?” Malphus replied, leaning in.
“SURPRISE ROOFIE!” With a flick of his loafer, Breston discharged a fleet of small pills into Malphus’s’s shocked, wide open mouth. He began to gag as they became lodged in his throat. ‘Bullseye’, Breston thought to himself smugly as he smirked, reaching out his hand and snatching the insane scientist's keys from his belt beneath his stained lab coat. In a flash, Breston was free and on his feet. By the time he was straightening his tie, Malphus Mephistopheles was passed out on the cold, metal floor; drooling.
Breston laughed, dropping his underwear and proceeding to teabag the unconscious man. Breston’s laugh erupted into a cackle surpassing that of any villain he had previously encountered, loud enough to alert Malphus’es’s throng of penguin-like minions. They gasped in horror as they witnessed the violation of their master.
“Who’s next!” Breston roared, the weird little penguin freaks fucking off in abject defeat, screaming as they went.
“I’m unstoppable! Do you understand that! I’m a god! I’m Breston Boobilay! Look at my work, and tremble!”
All of a sudden, Breston felt that familiar dreaded feeling begin to rear up from inside him. It stabbed at him with doubts and the incessant pain and the anxiety that made his body tremor. In an instant, he felt the power drain from him, replaced by something else. Something terrible. He looked down at his quaking hands, and saw that they were dripping with blood.
Breston awoke with a scream, as did the cooze he’d shacked up with. She hissed at him, still very cat-like in her manner.
“What the fuck, dude! Are you okay?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Breston sighed, rubbing at the beading rows of sweat dangling from his manly brow. “Just another night terror…”
“Why is my bed all wet?..” The girl questioned hesitantly, “Is that… is that piss!”
“No!” Breston felt himself beneath the sheets, soaked to the bone. “No, it’s just sweat! See?”
Breston removed his hand from his soiled groin, lifting it up to her face so that she might smell that it was in fact only sweat. She screamed, penguinishly, as she fled from the room in hysterics. Breston stood and began to put his clothes back on, eyes never moving from the large dark stain covering the pink bedspread. It was a stain as dark as his soul, and Breston knew that he couldn’t hide from it deep in a pussy hole for very much longer…
Breston Boobilay 4: The Quest For Peace
Breston glared into the steam rising from his coffee cup, the sinuous curves of its alluring dance making his dick twitch minutely in subtle arousal. The hangover was debilitating, but he told himself that it would pass with the caffeine and the shower he longed for back at home. However, to his despair, Breston knew better. How many times had he been there before, like that? Not in that exact diner, in that exact situation, mouth dry as an old nun’s cooze and smelling faintly like urine, but simply infirm, haggard, and desperate for some kind of meaningful relief? Breston knew, in that uniquely lonely moment, that he’d never find it.
The waitress breasted boobily across the diner floor, carrying Breston’s pie aloft in the air towards him. He couldn’t help but take notice of the way that her uniform hugged her body as her bosom heaved heftily as she walked, and, yet, Breston’s manhood remained as limp and placid as a premature baby’s pinkie. She reminded him of her, when they first met. She set the plate down, wrinkling her nose in disgust as she smelled Breston’s undying shame.
“Will that be all, sir?” She said, already preparing to turn and leave him there, all alone. Just like she did.
Breston wanted to scream ‘No!’. He wanted to yell at her and spew out all the things that he should have said, before it was too late. Breston wanted to spring up from the booth and grab the woman by the knockers and say ‘Were they worth it! Does he love them better than I did!’, but, he didn’t. Instead, he said nothing. The waitress was already gone, along with Breston’s will to live. The coffee’s steam had diminished down to small, dwindling whisps. He scooped up the mug and finished its contents, focusing on the lukewarm liquid as it spilled down his throat as if it might quell the shaking in his hands. Breston knew that only one thing could do that. He glanced at the clock behind the counter. It was eleven-thirty AM. Time to hit the sauce, he thought, grimacing.
Breston Boobilay 5: A Long Way Down
The chilly afternoon stung at Breston as he brought the bottle back up to his lips for another sickening hit of brandy. The shakes had left him, but his despair had only grown. It had calcified, made clear in his mind in a way that was truly unignorable and utterly undeniable. Everything good that Breston had ever had; his wife, his upper management job at the Brooklyn meat plant, his youth. It had all gone away so quickly. Breston thought of his parents, and the beginnings of a tear began to form before being swept away across his temple by the incoming wind. He thought about the last thing his father had said to him before he had stormed out to go drinking the previous weekend: ‘Breston, you're forty-two-years old. It’s time you moved out of the house.’, and he remembered how angry he’d been; yelling and cussing him out as a ‘frigid dinosaur’ who refused to take the time to understand Breston’s ‘alternative lifestyle’, and he couldn’t help but laugh. Father could never understand.
Breston tipped the bottle over his mouth and gulped down the remains of the liquor as he savored every last, overpriced trickle before shambling over to the guardrail at the rooftop’s edge. He eyed the distance between the two buildings, then he took the drop into account. After a moment, he took a step back, raised the bottle over his head, and launched it. It arched high over the street below before clattering against a tall windowpane of the office block opposite the building he was on.
“Bullseye…” Breston said aloud, to no one.
Suddenly, he got a flash of the dream he’d had the night before when he blacked out in that cooze kitten’s piss pad, and the urge to run and jump doubled in intensity. Breston didn’t like to remember. He didn’t want to. But, even in his nightmares, Matty was still there. Matty was always there. He was their favorite. Always was. It was always, ‘Breston, why can’t you be more like your younger brother?’, ‘Why can’t you be more like Matty?’. Always so perfect, with his good grades and mommy’s constant approval. Breston hated him. Oh, how he hated Matty with every fiber of his being, and he made that clear when Matty reached highschool. Breston was supposed to look out for Matty, protect him. But Breston did anything but. Matty was shy, and insecure about himself, but, most of all, Matty was ashamed of the fact that he’d never had a girlfriend before. Breston would make a big show of bringing whatever hoe-bag he’d seduced with daddy’s money back home so that he could flaunt her around like some prize that Matty could never earn, which crushed him, but not nearly as much as when Breston began spreading the rumors around school about how his dick didn’t work. By the end of the week, Matty was little more than a laughing stock and an emotional, broken wreck, and by the end of the month, Matty was dead.
“It wasn’t my fault, you stupid fuck!” Breston screamed into the dispassionate, gray New York sky within which no God could ever dwell, flashes of his mother screeching, ‘You did this! You!’ tearing at him like sharpened, savage claws ripping their way ravenously through a model’s skimpy lingerie. “I could have helped you! I could have made it all okay again!”
Breston fell to his knees and began to sob like the sad little boy he’d always known he was, feeling more alone than he ever had been before in his entire life. He had made so many mistakes. So many people hurt, and for what? His passing, childish amusement? His bottomless desire for gratification? A cover to hide from the hurt of it all? Breston didn’t know anymore, and he didn’t want to. He couldn’t think about it anymore. He couldn’t take it.
Standing on trembling legs, Breston tentatively put both hands on the railing before gripping it firmly, whimpering as if it produced some sort of electric shock with his touch. He tried to remember when the last time he had felt scared like that was, but he realized that there was nothing even remotely comparable to hold onto. Before another thought could pass through Breston’s head, he took a quick, deep breath, closed his eyes, thrust one foot over the waist-high metal railing and allowed himself to fall. The wind whipped him with the force of a jet engine as he soared towards the ground, half-screaming, half-choking as it knocked the air out of him. Despite the unimaginable terror, and all the regret and the shame and the misery and the abject disappointment that was his nothing of a life, Breston couldn’t help but feel at peace now that it was finally all over. For a fraction of a second, Breston opened his eyes, and he never closed them again…

A lot of people from this subreddit have been asking this question and i got this article together to answer that question. I hope it helps. Cheers.

I honestly have found great help when i started taking Omega 3 in a daily basis, Vitamin B1 B6 B12, enough zinc, magnesium and Vitamin D.
PS : for those who also want to increase their testosterone, improving your mood and lowering Cortisol greatly helps.

Stress Reduction

Our bodies release cortisol when stressed. Cortisol decreases serotonin levels in the body, by increasing serotonin reuptake. Too much cortisol can increase your risk of developing mental health disorders. That is why reducing mental stress can help balance cortisol levels and increase serotonin
Many of the lifestyle changes below can be used to decrease stress.

Mood Improvement

Serotonin impacts our mood, but mood also affects serotonin production. Studies using brain imaging (PET), showed that brains of people who are happy produce more serotonin than brains of people who are sad
Therefore, engaging in activities and doing things that make you happier can help boost serotonin production.
In addition, studies show that social interactions also influence serotonin levels. Spend more time with people who make you feel good in general

Exercise

Fatigue, as a result of exercise, increases the amount of tryptophan that can cross the blood-brain barrier (by decreasing BCAA levels) and thereby boosts serotonin production. Psychological benefits of physical exercise can be more readily achieved with consistent aerobic exercise training
Mice that ran on treadmills had higher levels of serotonin compared to mice that remained inactive. Brain tryptophan remained high even after exercise

Getting More Sun

It has been long known that bright light helps treat seasonal depression. But several studies suggest that light is also an effective treatment for other forms of depression
People have higher serotonin levels in the summer compared to winter
In fact, our modern way of life, in which we spend a lot of time indoors, may be depleting our serotonin levels, thereby making us more vulnerable to mood disorders
Pioneer studies suggest that our skin may produce serotonin when exposed to sunlight
In addition, you need vitamin D to produce serotonin, and sun to produce vitamin D
Therefore, going outside and spending more time in the sun on a regular basis is a great way to boost your serotonin levels.

Yoga and Meditation

A review of over 200 peer-reviewed RCTs, clinical trials, and meta-analyses studying complementary and alternative medicine suggest that yoga and meditation may help uplift mood and improve symptoms of mild, moderate, and treatment-resistant depression
In fact, meditation activates many parts of the brain important for understanding the self, emotions, problem-solving, adaptability, and increasing awareness. Serotonin plays a role in wakefulness, along with other neurotransmitters, which are all raised in meditators
Thirty minutes of yoga and breathing exercises improved mood in a study of 71 healthy adults

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy or counseling may change brain chemistry and even increase serotonin activity (by increasing serotonin receptors). In a (DB-RCT) study of 23 patients with depression who participated in psychotherapy for 4 months, therapy significantly increased serotonin activity and improved symptoms of depression

Eat to Increase Serotonin

Tryptophan is the amino acid building block for serotonin. Tryptophan is not produced by the body, so it must be taken in through diet.
Current research shows that unlike purified tryptophan, consuming tryptophan-rich foods does not necessarily increase brain serotonin. That’s because tryptophan-rich foods, such as meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables, also contain many other amino acids. Tryptophan has to compete with these other amino acids for transport across the blood-brain barrier
On the other hand, lack of dietary tryptophan (compared to other amino acids) may lead to lower blood and brain tryptophan levels, decreasing serotonin production. Increased BCAAs also lower tryptophan and serotonin, as well as dopamine in the brain. This may be especially problematic for people who take protein powders to enhance exercise performance

Carbs

Consuming carbs increases serotonin levels by increasing the transport of tryptophan into the brain
However, you should use other methods to boost your serotonin, as increasing carbs in your diet can have a plethora of negative effects.

which Supplements can Increase Serotonin?

L-Tryptophan and 5-HTP

In the body, L-tryptophan is used to make 5-HTP from which serotonin is made. Taking L-tryptophan may raise plasma serotonin, improving cognitive, motor, or gut issues in those who are deficient
A protein called alpha-Lactalbumin from milk contains more tryptophan than many other proteins. In a (DB-RCT) study of 18 inpiduals, 12 grams of alpha-Lactalbumin increased the amount of tryptophan in blood plasma by 16% after 90 minutes
In another (DB-RCT) study, 12.32 grams of tryptophan increased blood tryptophan by 43% after 1.5 hours and improved memory in 23 subjects vulnerable to high stress
In a pilot study of 13 female patients experiencing premenstrual syndrome (PMS), 6 grams of L-tryptophan taken daily for 14 days improved mood, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and carbohydrate craving
Tryptophan can be purchased in the form of L-tryptophan supplements. 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) supplements are also available. It is important to note that 5-HTP is not the same as 5-HT, which is the chemical name for serotonin. 5-HTP freely crosses the blood-brain barrier (serotonin itself does not) to be converted into serotonin

Probiotics

In the digestive tract, probiotics restore the gut microbiome and influence the gut-brain axis. Gut bacteria are important because they can produce tryptophan, from which serotonin is made. Many mental health disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, are linked to less perse or fewer gut bacteria
In a study (DB-RTC), an 8-week probiotic regimen (2.0 x 109 CFU/g of Lactobacillus helveticus and 2.0 x 109 CFU/g of Bifidobacterium longum) increased tryptophan levels in 110 inpiduals with depression. Increased tryptophan can increase serotonin production
A probiotic (Bifidobacteria infantis) given to rats for 14 days raised levels of blood tryptophan

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps the body make, release, and use serotonin in the brain. Vitamin D activates an enzyme that converts tryptophan into serotonin. If vitamin D levels are low, our brains make less serotonin. Thus, increasing vitamin D intake increases serotonin levels, reducing the risk of mental health disorders
A cohort study of over 9K subjects demonstrated that taking vitamin D supplements during the first year of life was correlated with a 77% reduced risk of schizophrenia. In other words, preventing low vitamin D levels early in life may reduce the chance of having schizophrenia later in life

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

While vitamin D helps neurons make serotonin, the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), help neurons release serotonin and improve its activity (increasing serotonin receptor sensitivity). Fish, such as salmon or trout, are high in omega-3 fatty acids. The omega 3 fatty acid supplements are also sold as fish oil capsules
Inadequate omega-3 fatty acids intake may increase susceptibility to psychiatric illnesses, including depression
In a (DB-RCT) study of 49 patients that repeatedly self-harm themselves, 1.2 grams of EPA and 0.9 grams of DHA capsules daily for 12 weeks reduced suicidal thinking by 45% and depression by 30%
An observational study of 256,118 Japanese participants, discovered that people who ate fish daily had lower rates of suicidal thoughts compared to people who did not eat fish daily. In another observational study of 1,767 Finnish subjects, consuming fish less than twice a week was associated with a higher risk of depression and suicidal thinking
In rats, low levels of omega-3 fatty acids (specifically alpha linoleic acid) are associated with lower serotonin activity, while DHA deficiency reduces brain serotonin in piglets
Reduced intake of both EPA and DHA by pregnant rats resulted in less production, storage, release, and activity (receptor function) of serotonin in the brains of their offspring. Serotonin was not only reduced in the mothers’ brains but also its availability and production were reduced by (65% and 29%, respectively) in the brains of newborn rats

St. John’s Wort

St. John’s Wort is a popular medicinal plant (Hypericum perforatum) used as an antidepressant for mild depression.
The plant increases serotonin in animals, similar to typical antidepressants, but with fewer side effects
In a review (of 35 studies) of 6,993 patients with depression, St. John’s Wort standalone therapy improved mild to moderate symptoms as well as antidepressants and better than placebo. The typical dose is 300 mg of the extract 3 times per day for at least 4 weeks

S-Adenosyl Methionine (SAMe)

SAMe is needed to produce serotonin
It is a naturally occurring compound that plays a role in methylation, energy breakdown and may help patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who are not responding to conventional, synthetic antidepressants
In a (DB-RCT) study involving 73 MDD inpiduals unresponsive to drug therapy, 800 mg twice a day improved symptoms of depression compared to the placebo
In a (DB-RCT) study of 144 inpiduals with MDD, 1,600 – 3,200 mg of SAMe daily for 12 weeks significantly improved mood
A review of 132 studies (115 CT and 17 preclinical) concluded that SAMe can be useful not just for depression, but for an array of mental health disorders, such as substance abuse and psychosis

Vitamin B

Lack of vitamin B may be associated with the onset of mental health disorders. The body needs Vitamin B6 to make neurotransmitters like serotonin from 5-HTP (Vitamin B acts as enzyme cofactor)
Vitamin B12 and folate (vitamin B9) are necessary for the folate cycle, which helps convert tryptophan into serotonin (by producing and recycling essential co-factors)
In a cohort study of 549 community-dwelling seniors, those with low vitamin B12 and B9 blood levels were more likely to have irreversible problems with cognition (memory, attention, and thought)
In Rhesus monkeys, a single dose of vitamin B6 increased serotonin production in the brain
In addition, treatment of healthy adult rats with a vitamin B mixture raised serotonin levels in the brain

Vitamin C

Vitamin C supplements over a period of 6 weeks increased brain serotonin levels in rats with drug-induced dementia

Vitamin E

Vitamin E supplementation for 8 weeks increased serotonin in rats suffering from spinal cord injury

Zinc

Zinc can target and activate serotonin receptors
In a meta-analysis of 17 observational studies, blood zinc levels were lower in depressed inpiduals compared to non-depressed inpiduals
In a study (DB-RCT), 25 mg of elemental zinc supplements daily for 12 weeks reduced depressive symptoms in a study of 37 patients with major depressive disorder
Zinc can be increased through diet in foods such as red meat, oysters, and whole grains

Magnesium

Magnesium supplements increase serotonin levels by increasing its availability (reducing reuptake) in the brain. In a (DB-RCT) study, 500 mg of magnesium per day for 8 weeks significantly improved symptoms in 60 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate depression
Magnesium is found in green leafy vegetables, nuts, and legumes

Inositol

Inositol increases the sensitivity of serotonin receptors
In one study of 30 women with a PMS mood disorder, myo-inositol reduced symptoms and improved mood given over 6 menstrual cycles
Inositol decreases depression in rats by binding serotonin receptors

Turmeric

Curcumin is the active component of turmeric. In stressed rats, curcumin extended the length of time serotonin stays active in the brain (by blocking the reuptake of serotonin). It also improved cognition and reduced serum corticosterone, a cortisol equivalent, in rats
In mice, a single dose of curcumin (10 – 80 mg/kg) increased serotonin levels

Velvet Bean

Mucuna pruriens, known as the velvet bean, combats Parkinson’s disease better than the standard treatment (levodopa) in rats. In addition to being a source of dopamine, the long-term use of the powder form of Mucuna pruriens also restored serotonin levels in rat brains

L-Theanine

L-theanine, an amino acid found in tea leaves (e.g. green, black, or oolong tea) and Bay Bolete mushrooms, has relaxing effects on the mind. Green tea has the highest concentration of L-theanine
In a cohort study of over 42K Japanese inpiduals, those who consumed at least 5 cups of green tea a day experiences less psychological distress that is often associated with reduced serotonin
In rat studies, L-theanine raised serotonin levels in the brain

Rhodiola

Rhodiola rosea is a flowering plant that may help improve anxiety and depression. In a (DB-RCT) clinical trial of 89 patients with mild to moderate depression and low serotonin, Rhodiola rosea extracts (340 mg/day and 680 mg/day) for 42 days improved overall depression, including insomnia and emotional instability
In 70 depressive rats suffering from chronic mild stress and serotonin deficiency, Rhodiola extract (1.5, 3, or 6g/kg) for 3 weeks restored normal levels of serotonin

Saffron

Safranal, one of the main active components of saffron (Crocus sativus), increases serotonin availability in the brain (by blocking reuptake)
A meta-analysis (5 RCTs) of 177 participants concluded that 30 mg per day of saffron capsules can improve symptoms of depression in adults with major depressive disorder within 6 to 8 weeks

Psychedelics

Psychedelics are hallucinogenic drugs such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin mushrooms. Psychedelics can stimulate serotonin activity (by directly binding to serotonergic receptors and also increasing their number), raise serotonin levels, and reduce its breakdown
In a recent pilot study (DB-RCT) of 12 patients with anxiety, 200 μg of LSD significantly reduced self-reported anxiety. LSD was given in a safe psychotherapeutic environment with medical supervision to avoid side effects
In a (DB-RCT) study of 17 healthy inpiduals, psilocybin (215 micrograms/kg) enhanced mood, increased goal-directed behavior and decreased recognition of negative facial expressions
Though psychedelics can activate serotonin signaling, unsupervised use may lead to serious psychological consequences. Certain plant hallucinogens, as well as synthetic hallucinogens, can be especially toxic. Using this substance should be under professional supervision.

Magnolia Tree

The bark and seed cones of the Magnolia tree (Magnolia officinalis) appear to have anti-stress, anti-anxiety, and antidepressant effects
20 and 40 mg/kg of honokiol and magnolol, the main components of Magnolia officinalis, restored low levels of serotonin in rats with chronic mild stress
Magnolia bark and ginger rhizome are commonly used to treat mental disorders in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). 30 mg/kg of a magnolia bark and ginger rhizome mixture increased serotonin in the brains of depressed mice

Essential Oils

Essential oils are commonly used to reduce anxiety, stress, low mood, and other mental health disorders. Smelling the essential oils (inhalation) can activate pathways in the brain to boost serotonin and dopamine production
In a study of aromatherapy in 60 elderly patients with depression (RCT), 5 ml of essential oil mixture (containing lavender, sweet orange, bergamot, and almond oil) increased serotonin levels after application two times a week for 8 weeks
Ylang-ylang essential oils increased serotonin levels in mice brains (hippocampus)
Bitter orange is an essential oil that reduced anxiety and improved mood by boosting serotonin activity in mice after 14 days of use
Lavender oil blocked the breakdown/reuptake of serotonin in cell studies

Valerian

The root of the Valerian plant increases serotonin levels and activity (by decreasing its turnover)
Valerian may help with irritable bowel syndrome. In a rat study, components of the Valeriani root balanced overactive serotonin in the gut (colon) and serum
Valeriana officinalis root extract prevented the breakdown of serotonin in mice exposed to stress

Apigenin

Apigenin is a nutrient in citrus fruits that may improve cognition and behavior as well as symptoms of depression and stress
In mouse models, 20-day treatment with apigenin (10 and 20 mg/kg) increased serotonin levels, and decreased anxious behavior
Apigenin was able to reduce the impact of chronic mild stress in rats by increasing serotonin availability and reducing its breakdown

Berberine

Berberine is a salt derived from plants in the Berberis family (the roots, rhizomes, stems, and barks), including barberry, tree turmeric, Oregon-grape, and others. It blocks the enzyme MAO-A, which breaks down serotonin, thereby raising serotonin levels
A single berberine dose increased levels of serotonin by 47% in the brains of depressed mice. Long-term treatment with berberine (5 mg/kg for 15 days) increased serotonin by 19%
Mice given berberine in a different study had increased serotonin levels in regions of the brain (hippocampus and frontal cortex) important for memory and mood

Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Carnitine may increase serotonin in the cerebral cortex, a region of the brain involved in cognition and memory
Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) is a modified form of carnitine, a common dietary supplement sold in health food stores. ALCAR protects the brain and may help with depression. In mice, it increased levels of serotonin in the brain when given daily for 25 days

Lithium

Lithium has long been used in the treatment of mental disorders such as bipolar disorder. It works by increasing serotonin activity in the brain

Physical Treatments that Increase Serotonin

Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback allows inpiduals to consciously change their brain activity (EEG waves) and therefore modify their behavior and cognition. Some of its clinical uses are for migraines, ADHD, and PTSD
In a study (RCT), neurofeedback (30 minutes, 5 sessions weekly, 4 weeks) was applied to 40 patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). FMS patients have lower serotonin and widespread pain in their muscles and bones. After 2 weeks, patients experienced less pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression

Massage

Massage therapy decreased cortisol and raised serotonin and dopamine in a broad population with stress-related health problems in 3 studies
In one (RCT) study, 24 adults with low back pain were either given two 30 minute massages per week or subjected to standard relaxation procedures over the span of 5 weeks. Urine serotonin levels were higher in inpiduals who received massage therapy

Acupuncture

In a randomized clinical trial, 75 women with fibromyalgia, acupuncture increased levels of serotonin in the serum, compared to placebo
In rats, acupuncture-like stimulation increased serotonin activity in certain regions of the brain

Light Therapy

When sun exposure is not possible, bright light therapy can help increase serotonin levels
Bright light therapy (photobiomodulation) shows promising results for depression based on clinical trials
In a study of 10 women with chronic headaches (observational), 34 seconds daily use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) significantly increased serotonin levels after just 3 days
In a study of 25 drug-free hospitalized veterans with depression or bipolar disorder, bright white light improved depressive symptoms. However, further testing needs to be done on the negative consequences of long-term light treatment

Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Long-term vagus nerve stimulation (14 days) increased serotonin levels in rat brains
In rats, sustained vagus nerve stimulation for 14 days also increased the action of serotonin

Testing Serotonin

Serotonin that gets released into the blood gets rapidly broken down in the liver and lungs, to inactive metabolites (such as 5-HIAA) that are excreted in urine . That is why normally, blood and urine contain very small amounts of serotonin. Larger quantities of serotonin in the blood/urine can be found in people with serotonin-producing tumors (carcinoid tumors).
Beware of the use of urine serotonin levels to check for “neurotransmitter imbalances”. While the companies providing these tests state that the levels in urine correspond to brain neurotransmitter levels, science has repeatedly shown that this is not the case
Serotonin doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier. Even if it did, it is released intermittently and influenced by many different stimuli. Furthermore, levels differ within different parts of the brain. And finally, values differ for the same person from one day to another
In addition, companies have been known to intentionally use extremely narrow ranges, without any scientific support whatsoever, in order to sell supplements to their clients
If you do have neurotransmitter imbalances in the brain, more reliable tests of serotonin levels are cerebrospinal fluid tests or measurements of serotonin in blood platelets
A PET scan is the only direct way to detect changes of serotonin production in specific areas of the brain
Serotonin Risks and Safety
Excess serotonin may result in serotonin syndrome, which can be fatal. Usually, though, serotonin syndrome is a result of drug interactions. No cases have been observed just from safe, natural approaches
MDMA, LSD, and other synthetic drugs may cause serotonin syndrome, and should not be taken without medical supervision or outside a psychotherapeutic environment
Most of the studies mentioned above were performed on adults. More research involving children is needed in order to determine safety.
Abnormally heightened levels of serotonin (hyperserotonemia) is a consistent finding in inpiduals with autism. Pregnant women with hyperserotonemia are more likely to give birth to children with autism

Drug Interactions

The use of St. John’s Wort, SAMe, or lithium simultaneously with serotonergic drugs like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO-I), and triptans, can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, a life-threatening and potentially fatal condition

Limitations and Caveats

Some of these studies have fairly small sample sizes. Additionally, many of these natural methods of increasing serotonin in the body have only been tested in animals and need further research in humans through clinical trials.
In addition to the concentration of serotonin, both the number of serotonin receptors and their sensitivity may also play an integral role in determining serotonin activity.
Though serotonin is mostly made, stored, and released in the gut, serotonin acts as an important neurotransmitter in the brain. Some of these natural remedies and supplements need further testing to determine if they are able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Long-term application of these remedies should also be further studied.

What is Ikaria Lean Belly Juice?

Ikaria Juice is an amazing breakthrough for burning fat. It's a powerful super juice that has been used for centuries by one of the healthiest and longest-living communities on the planet, and it's completely unknown until now.
This powerful Ikaria Lean Belly Juice isn't about exercise, diet pills, or gadgets. It challenges everything you believed about weight loss.
Ikaria Juice boosts your metabolism and triggers a strong fat-burning process that everyone has in their body.
Drinking this Ikaria Lean Belly Juice initiates an internal fat-burning process, melting away up to a pound of stubborn fat. A surge of energy revitalizes the body and brain, creating a sensation of being a decade younger. Muscles and joints gain flexibility and youthfulness, and the skin tightens, restoring a youthful and attractive glow.
Additionally, the libido experiences an instant boost. Farewell to concerns about heart attacks or strokes, discomfort in joints, mental fog, and feelings of embarrassment about one's body.

How Does Ikaria Juice Work?

Ikaria Juice is a strong concoction of rare nutrients designed to help your body get rid of harmful ceramide compounds, which are the recently identified primary cause of persistent fat accumulation. The Ikaria Juice revitalizes your body from the inside out by eliminating ceramides. enabling you to effortlessly dissolve obstinate, clogged fat and infuse your body with renewed vitality and energy.

Ikaria Juice also works well to reduce the sensation and drag in the stomach associated with Ceramide paresthesia. It is impossible to overstate these advantages. Thus, this is the ideal product for you if you're searching for a way to effectively reduce the buildup of massive amounts of fat.
The Ikaria Juice has the ability to reduce ceramide levels and also includes a special combination of other premium nutrients that are good for your overall health. Known as "the other30%," these nutrients are especially designed to enhance your general appearance and energy levels.
Antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients are also abundant in the Ikaria Juice. This product, which is marked as "free from processed foods," is also very nutrient-dense, giving you all the nutrients you require to keep up your physical well-being.
The Ikaria Juice is an excellent option if you're searching for a way to effectively reduce the accumulation of massive amounts of fat. This unique juice is not only created by a highly reputable company that has been creating it for years, but it also includes these other premium nutrients that will help to enhance your general health.

Ikaria Juice Active Ingredients

Ikaria Juice features four unique blends: metabolic, probiotic, digestive, and polyphenol blends, composed of natural ingredients. This formula provides a comprehensive metabolic transformation with carefully selected components.

1. Bioperine: Blocks fat cell formation. Bioperine, a piperine extract, increases the absorption of essential nutrients and plant compounds. It promotes weight loss by preventing the formation of fat cells in the body, while also enhancing cognitive health.
2. Fucoxanthin: Ikaria Juice includes fucoxanthin, which activates a protein that transforms fat cells into energy and heat. Fucoxanthin, derived from seaweed, is rich in phytonutrients with antioxidant properties, as per studies. An increasing number of weight loss aids and anti-inflammatory supplements utilize fucoxanthin.
3. EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate): Promotes fat burning. ECGC, a strong antioxidant, promotes fat burning, supports a healthy heart and brain, and improves cognitive function. Studies have indicated that ECGC can boost metabolism and decrease body fat.
4. Citrus Pectin: When high-quality natural ingredients are used in a dietary supplement, the outcomes tend to be positive. One crucial ingredient in Ikaria Juice is citrus pectin. To support healthy weight loss, this component addresses cravings. It suppresses hunger more effectively than a protein diet and also helps to eliminate toxic metals from the body.
5. Resveratrol: Ikaria Juice features Resveratrol, a super nutrient that supports a healthy cardiovascular system and arteries. Resveratrol, a natural component found in wine and grapes, boasts antioxidant properties that benefit the entire body.
6. Panax Ginseng: The panax ginseng plant is a dried, fresh, and extractible form of the vitamin ginseng. It is also known as Ikaria Juice, Ikaria Extract, or Ikaria Nuts. The name Ikaria is a corruption of the Greek word ikaria, meaning "toborn".
7. Milk Thistle: The Ikaria Juice is a powerful and effective tool for regulating blood sugar levels in the body. The initial ingredient on the list of its components is milk thistle. Milk thistle helps to regulate blood sugar levels in the body, and has a powerful fat-burning effect on the body.

Benefits of Using Ikaria Juice

The Ikaria Juice is a dietary supplement that has helped several people lose belly fat and improve their cardiovascular health. Ikaria Lean Belly Juice targets fat accumulation in the body and helps to reduce body weight.

• Other Benefits: Ikaria Juice can also support cognition and mental energy, block the formation of new fat cells, and support overall health and longevity, among other benefits - similar to the benefits that Greek residents of Ikaria enjoy from their regular diet and lifestyle.
• Help Flush Fat Away: Some weight loss supplements increase fat burning, only for the fat to circulate throughout your body. Ikaria Lean Belly Juice claims to aid in the melting and flushing of fat. The supplement, for example, improves digestion and cleansing and promotes liver and kidney health. Ikaria Lean Belly Juice can help flush fat away from your body and support weight loss.
• Support a Normal Appetite: Ikaria Juice is designed for people who want to lose weight without following a strict diet or exercising. Ikaria Lean Belly Juice contains ingredients that suppress appetite, allowing you to eat less naturally. You can eat your favorite foods until you're satisfied. However, the ingredients in Ikaria Lean Belly Juice can help you feel fuller faster. Fiber, for example, absorbs water in your gut, making you feel full.
• Support Heart Health: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in most countries worldwide. Ikaria Lean Belly Juice claims to support cardiovascular health by containing ingredients such as beetroot extract, which has been linked to higher levels of nitric oxide (NO). NO is essential for maintaining blood vessel flexibility and heart health.
• Support Inflammation: If your body is inflamed, losing weight won't be easy. Inflammation is a stress symptom that causes your body to store fat. Drinking Ikaria Lean Belly Juice daily can help your body fight inflammation and oxidation by consuming natural antioxidants like resveratrol, fucoxanthin, and EGCG.
• Support Normal Uric Acid Levels: In a healthy body, uric acid is excreted through the urine. On the other hand, some diets can raise uric levels to the point where your body struggles to eliminate uric. This is known as gout. Weight and uric acid have been linked in some studies. In this study, for example, researchers compared people's uric acid levels before and after losing weight, discovering that people's uric acid levels dropped by 3 points after losing 16 lbs.

What is Foot Odor?

What is Foot Odor? – Normally, the feet have more sweat glands than any other part of the body. Shoes and socks can prevent sweat from evaporating or being absorbed, and the accumulated sweat can attract bacteria. The bacteria cause the sweat to smell bad, leading to foot odor, medically known as bromodosis. Foot odor is a common medical condition.
Sweating and body odor are common when a person exercises or is in a very hot environment. It is also common when the individual feels tense, anxious or stressed. Unusual changes in sweating, such as excessive sweating – hyperhidrosis – or little or no sweating – anhidrosis – can be a health concern. Changes in body odor can also be part of the signs or symptoms that indicate a health problem.
In many cases, lifestyle and home treatments can often help to return to normal sweating and avoid body odor.

What Causes Foot Odor?

Airtight shoes and thick socks can prevent the evaporation or absorption of sweat, which normally attracts bacteria. Shoes and socks made of synthetic materials often increase the amount of natural sweat produced by the individual and do not allow it to evaporate or absorb, so the foot remains wet. When sweat causes the body to remain moist for long periods of time, it can encourage the growth of bacteria and fungi in sweaty areas. The bacteria that accumulate in this way cause the sweat to smell bad, leading to foot odor, or bromodosis. In some cases, this can also cause a condition called athlete’s foot.
In some cases, poor hygiene habits such as rarely washing the feet or not changing socks at least once a day can play a role in the development of foot odor. Stress, various diseases such as diabetes or thyroid disorders, or certain medications can also increase the amount of sweat produced by the body, resulting in excessive sweating of the feet. Bromodosis can also be caused by hyperhidrosis, a condition in which the skin sweats excessively. Hyperhidrosis is commonly seen in adolescents and pregnant women whose hormones are constantly changing.
Sweating is caused by sweat glands in the individual’s body. The two main types of sweat glands are eccrine glands and apocrine glands. Eccrine glands are found in most of the body and open directly onto the skin surface. These glands secrete fluids that cool the body as they evaporate when the body temperature rises. Apocrine glands are usually found in hairy areas, such as the armpits and groin. These glands secrete a fluid when the individual is stressed. This fluid is odorless until it combines with bacteria on the skin.
To diagnose a problem with foot odor or sweating, the doctor will probably ask about the individual’s medical history and do a physical examination. In some cases, the doctor may order a blood or urine test. The tests may show whether the individual’s problem is caused by a medical condition, such as infection, diabetes or an overactive thyroid, hyperthyroidism, or hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating.

What are the Symptoms of Foot Odor?

Foot odor itself is a symptom. It is the odor of the feet, or of the socks or shoes worn, that causes discomfort to the individual and those around them. Some people naturally sweat more or less than others.
Body and foot odor can also vary from person to person. However, some changes in sweating can be a sign of another medical problem. For this reason, individuals who suddenly start sweating more or less than usual, whose daily routine is disrupted due to sweating, who experience night sweats for no apparent reason, and who notice an unexpected change in body and foot odor should consult a doctor.

How to Prevent and Treat Foot Odor?

Foot odor can often be controlled and treated by taking the right steps to reduce sweaty feet and bacteria. This requires attention to the cleanliness of both the feet and the clothing items associated with the feet, such as socks and shoes.
Good foot hygiene is very important in foot odor treatment. Individuals should wash their feet daily with mild soap or antifungal soap using a scrub brush. After washing, the feet should be thoroughly dried, especially between the toes. Toenails should be kept short and clean. Check the soles of the feet for hard, dead skin and remove it with a foot file. Hard skin provides an ideal home for bacteria when it is moist.
There are a number of medical treatments that can be administered to individuals with hyperhidrosis who cannot control their sweating, such as iontophoresis and injections. During iontophoresis, the individual’s feet are immersed in a bowl of water through which a very weak electric current is passed. This temporarily blocks the sweat glands.

Lifestyle Changes and Home Care Against Foot Odor

Bathing every day, especially regular bathing with an antibacterial soap, reduces bacterial growth on the skin.
Individuals should choose shoes and socks appropriate for their activities and the season. For daily use, thick, soft fabric socks made of natural fibers or socks that will absorb sweat, such as sports socks specially designed to absorb moisture during periods of increased sweating such as sports, should be preferred. These allow the skin to breathe. Similarly, non-synthetic leather or canvas shoes should be preferred. During the summer, open-toed sandals and spending time barefoot at home in the evenings can be beneficial.
Using the wrong shoes and socks or wearing the same pair too often can lead to smelly feet. To avoid this, people should change socks at least once a day. If they sweat a lot or get wet, shoes should be changed every 24 hours to allow them to dry more easily. The soles of shoes can be removed to help the drying process.
A number of products can help to deodorize or reduce foot odor, such as antifungal foot spray or medicated foot powder, or medicated insoles that act as deodorants inside shoes, or antibacterial soaps.
Changing diet can control sweat odor or the amount of sweat. Caffeinated drinks and spicy or strong-smelling foods can make an individual sweat more than usual or cause stronger body odor. Avoiding these foods can help the individual.

How to Eliminate Foot Odor?

In many cases, good cleaning and hygiene habits are sufficient to relieve foot odor. In some cases, however, it is necessary to treat the underlying medical condition that causes foot odor.

Boston Globe
A burned convent in Charlestown. The execution of two Italian anarchists. Harassment of businesses in Chinatown. Antisemitic beatings in Dorchester and Roxbury. Vandalism targeting Cambodian refugees in Fields Corner.
Currently buffeted by waves of immigrants, and the scattered patches of concern and resistance that have followed, Massachusetts has a painful history of newcomers being met with violent resistance that lives alongside the region’s legacy as a beacon of liberty and a sanctuary for the oppressed.
Xenophobia. Racism. Riots. Murder. In Boston’s immigration story, it’s all there. Also courage, resilience, privation and pluck — and the gradual acceptance of some newcomers and their rise to to social and political influence.
It is, in short, not a new story but one we should know.
“Even the Puritans were very distrustful of outsiders,” said William C. Leonard, a professor of Boston history at Emmanuel College.
The ongoing migrant crisis has resulted in families sleeping on the floor of Logan Airport as state and local authorities scramble to find accommodations in an already overtaxed shelter system. It has also provoked pushback in some quarters.
Massachusetts-based resettlement agencies logged more than 11,000 migrants from October 2022 through September 2023, the federal fiscal year, but state officials don’t know for sure how many migrants are actually arriving.
It’s unclear what the long-term impact of this influx will be. But what is undeniable, according to Jonathan Sarna, a history professor at Brandeis University, is that immigration changes the social, cultural, and demographic fabric of communities.
“When I hear broad criticisms of today’s immigrants, one has déja vu,” said Sarna during a recent phone interview.
Marilynn S. Johnson, a Boston College research professor made a similar observation., “Boston was a real center of immigration and continues to be,” she said, “and that often brings about negative responses.”
“And it’s also been a place that’s had economic ups and downs; when that collides with immigration, it can produce a lot of resentments,” said Johnson, co-director of Global Boston, a digital project at Boston College that chronicles the history of immigration in the region.
Today, Johnson said, the region’s housing crisis may be contributing to unease. Where will all the new arrivals live? And who will foot the bill? Governor Maura Healey’s administration has projected it will cost $915 million to run the state’s emergency shelter system at current levels during the fiscal year that begins July 1.
“I don’t want to say everyone who is opposed to migrants coming in is necessarily racist or nativist,” Johnson said, “because there are real problems here in terms of the housing situation.”
“Often people feel like their communities are overrun, and there’s no support forthcoming from the federal government because of all the gridlock in Washington,” she said. “So it is a source of frustration, but it’s one that we’ve seen before in the past.”
Indeed, one of the earliest and most-cited instances of violent xenophobia locally is the burning down of a Catholic convent in a section of then-Charlestown, now Somerville, by an angry Protestant mob in 1834, in the middle of a decade when the number of Irish Catholics in the city doubled. That brought about religious and ethnic tensions and stoked stories of papist plots on street corners and in taverns.
The burning of the Ursuline Convent was a precursor to fierce anti-Catholicism in the years to come, as the Irish continued to pour into Boston. Three years later, a huge Irish funeral procession and a group of Yankee firefighters engaged in a brawl so large and violent that it took 800 armed troops to restore order in what would become known as the Broad Street riot. In the 1840s, in the midst of the Great Famine in Ireland, a stream of new arrivals were met with a fierce local backlash. (J. Anthony Lukas’s Pulitzer Prize-winning nonfiction book “Common Ground” has 130,000 Irish disembarking at the port of Boston between 1846 and 1856.)
“Our country is literally being overrun with the miserable, vicious, and unclean paupers of the old country,” The Bunker Hill Aurora newspaper in Charlestown proclaimed in 1847.
In the 1890s, as newcomers from Italy and southeastern Europe arrived at a time of sweeping industrialization and urbanization, a trio of Boston Brahmin intellectuals founded the Immigration Restriction League, which laid the intellectual groundwork for many contemporary hardline anti-immigration beliefs.
The league’s great ally in Washington, Henry Cabot Lodge, a well-known US senator from Massachusetts and a Boston Brahmin, was known as a staunch, anti-immigrant nationalist during his political career. In 1891, Lodge wrote that immigration was increasing at that time, adding that “it is making its relative increase from races most alien to the body of the American people and from the lowest and most illiterate classes among those races.”
“In other words, it is apparent that, while our immigration is increasing, it is showing at the same time a marked tendency to deteriorate in character,” he wrote.
Lodge also hailed the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which prohibited new immigration from China and blocked those already here from becoming naturalized citizens. The wisdom of the act, Lodge wrote, “everybody now admits.”
In the decades after that act, police routinely raided businesses in Boston’s Chinatown, searching for people who may have entered the US illegally. In one such raid, in 1903, police cordoned off the neighborhood as authorities burst into houses and businesses alike without warrants, according to Boston College researchers. Of the 234 people arrested by police during that raid, 50 were deported.
The trial and execution of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, both Italian immigrants and anarchists, in Massachusetts in the 1920s is still debated today.
Despite their pleas of innocence, they were convicted and sentenced to die in the electric chair for fatally shooting two people during an armed robbery in Braintree. Political dissidents, unionists, Italian immigrants, and other supporters — including poet Edna St. Vincent Millay — demonstrated across the US and Europe, arguing the two were targeted for their political beliefs and immigrant status. Decades later, Governor Michael Dukakis said their trial “was permeated by prejudice against foreigners and hostility toward unorthodox political views.”
Additionally, the Ku Klux Klan established a foothold locally in the early decades of the 20th century. By 1925, the KKK had more than 130,000 members in Massachusetts, according to research from historian Mark Paul Richard, with the group taking aim at Catholic and Jewish immigrants as well as Black people.
Indeed, antisemitism found a home in Greater Boston, and it festered as the region’s Jewish population grew. During World War II, bands of Irish Catholic youths assaulted Jewish people in Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan, according to one historian. The New York-based Yiddish daily newspaper The Day referred to the violence in Dorchester as “a series of small pogroms,” according to American Jewish History.
Driven from their homelands by war and genocide, Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees began arriving in larger numbers in the late 1970s and 1980s, carving out enclaves in Dorchester’s Fields Corner and Lowell. During the 1980s in Massachusetts, at least three Asian refugees were killed by white assailants, according to media coverage of the time.
Unrest in Latin America has dramatically altered Greater Boston’s demographics in recent decades. In the 1980s, Chelsea’s Latino population surged as thousands of refugees fleeing violence and civil wars in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala settled in.
Lorna Rivera, director for the Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development & Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Boston, said Latinos locally have faced discrimination in housing, employment, health care, and education.
“Immigrants have always been the scapegoat,” she said. “Always.”
In 1984, a race riot erupted in Lawrence, when a blue-collar neighborhood erupted into multiple nights of violent turmoil. The spark was believed to be an argument between different groups about a broken car windshield that spiraled out of control. In a front-page dispatch, The New York Times reported, “Dozens of young Hispanic residents and some of their parents spoke bitterly of the prejudices they said they faced from whites. They spoke of trouble finding jobs and of harassment by the Lawrence police.” Lawrence’s population is currently more than 80 percent Hispanic, according to the US Census.
In more recent years, xenophobia has surfaced again amid rising anti-immigrant rhetoric in national politics. In 2015, a pair of South Boston brothers were charged with beating and urinating on a homeless Mexican immigrant. Police alleged one of the brothers said, “Donald Trump was right; all these illegals need to be deported.” The brothers pleaded guilty to several charges in the case.
In 2020, a white woman attacked a mother and daughter in East Boston while they were speaking Spanish, with the assailant allegedly saying, “This is America” and “Go back to your [expletive] country.”
Dina Haynes, a professor at New England Law and an immigration expert, applauds the state’s response to the latest surge of migrants. Here, she said, officials have resisted anti-immigrant narratives that are grounded in national security concerns or “limited resource arguments.” Massachusetts has thus far avoided legislation such as an immigration proposal recently signed by the Iowa governor that criminalized “illegal entry” into that state.
“Massachusetts has done a remarkable job in resisting pitting vulnerable groups against one another for scarce resources,” she said, “and I’m really proud of us for that.”

14yo FS DSH - had been vomiting once a day for 4-5 days, but coincided with a food change as I ran out of her RX food (purina diabetic management - was no longer diabetic and had been in remission for 1.5 years), she's always been fine and tolerated eating something else if I have to feed her some backup food if there is a lapse in a shipment of her RX food, so I thought maybe this time it just messed up her stomach. Also wasn't uncommon for her to vomit foam/bile close to meal times when her stomach is empty, this had been going on for probably at least a year and her primary vet was aware of it/not concerned, my previous chonky cat had the same issue. In retrospect I should've known more that something was off when her vomit consisted of food despite eating hours prior and having should've digested it by then. Over the last few weeks she wasn't inhaling her food as much as she previously had been, had become a little more finicky about her food being straight from the fridge, was getting harder to get her to take her pills (Prozac + Antinol) in a wet food meatball when she used to just suck it down. A bunch of little things that I didn't see as a major issue now have me kicking myself so hard for not bringing her in sooner, though with her eventual diagnosis unfortunately I don't think it would've made a difference.
Tuesday evening she vomited once again around 11pm - I wanted to gauge if she was full blown nauseous/sick/inappetant or if she just couldn't keep food down, and offered her a tiny bit of food (not even 1/4 can). She came bolting out all excited as usual, took a few bites, then went to the litter box. Luckily I followed her, and noticed she was straining. That's when the alarm bells started going off for me, because when cleaning up the vomit it almost looked like there was some cat litter in it (we used worlds best so the little tiny corn pellets). Although it would be out of character for her to eat things she's not supposed to, I started to worry that she had a GI obstruction from eating cat litter and brought her right to the ER.
She was painful on palpation so they did rads and bloodwork, intestines looked fine but her bladder was huge. On FAST scan, her heart looked slightly enlarged. They heard a heart murmur and her proBNP was also abnormal. fPL was high-normal, not significant enough to be pancreatitis. They admitted her to pass a catheter (not an indwelling, just to sedate and empty her bladder). When the specialists came in on Wednesday she got a full cardiac workup/echocardiogram and was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Initially the criticalist had told me it was mild and didn't require medication yet, but I later found out the cardiologist hadn't finished the report yet and was in fact going to recommend starting blood thinners. She had an abdominal ultrasound which found pancreatic inflammation and nodules on her liver. They monitored her overnight while we waited for test results, and Thursday we found out the liver aspiration confirmed carcinoma, likely had metastasized from pancreatic origin. Oncologist said 30% of cats respond to Palladia which would *maybe* give 6-8 months, no treatment/ineffective treatment would be days to weeks.
I was willing to try the treatment (with no expectations of course) as long as she was still comfortable - however, the imminently life threatening issue was that as of Thursday, she still hadn't peed on her own. Through rads and ultrasound they confirmed no masses, no stones, no blockages of any type. Urinalysis showed no infection, a few struvite crystals but the doctor said there would have to be way more than that to block a female cat, to the point they would've seen it on the rads. They tried all sorts of litter etc. at the hospital to no avail. I live right next door, so they didn't discharge her but let her take a little field trip home to see if maybe she was stressed and just wanted to pee in her own litter box. I sat with her in their litter box room, and she would go in and out of the boxes as if to show me she was doing what I wanted, but I saw no effort to pee nor any straining. I had no idea I would lose her a few hours later.
They started to suspect maybe it was neurological in nature as they could not for the life of them find any sort of blockage. She was a little ataxic and unsteady at home but they had told me she had gabapentin so may be a little off. I had her at home for about 6-7 hours, no pee. At this point it was about 7:00pm, her last gabapentin dose had been at 3:00am, and they said she shouldn't still be having effects from it/they should be wearing off, which made us further concerned for neuro issues. Honestly when I got her cancer diagnosis around 4:00pm that day, I still didn't expect to lose her that day. I thought we were going to figure out why she wasn't peeing, but the criticalist sounded so defeated on the other end of the phone that they still couldn't figure out why she couldn't pee. Our only thought was maybe the cancer had metastasized to part of her spine. It seemed as if there were no feasible diagnostic options left. We couldn't do an MRI to confirm neuro involvement because of her newly diagnosed HCM, it would be too risky with the anesthesia and potentially push her in to heart failure and make her suffer more. Even if we took the gamble with the MRI, all it would do would confirm/give us answers, but that's it - there would still be no treatment/solution. The criticalist said if she felt putting an indwelling catheter for a couple of days would solve the issue she would be more than happy to, but she genuinely felt that it wasn't what we were dealing with and was only going to prolong her discomfort.
After she passed, she did express her bladder, which the doctor said confirms it was likely neurological, because if there was a blockage we weren't seeing, obviously the urine wouldn't have been able to come out.
I'm someone who with my own health is such an investigator and I won't stop until I find answers, so it's incredibly hard to pivot to this situation and try to come to terms with in vet med, that just doesn't always happen and it's not always possible. I'm struggling that I had to make such a permanent decision based on her inability to urinate when we didn't have a confirmed cause. I know even with the cancer her prognosis was poor, but it's killing me that we didn't find the source of her inability to urinate and we had to say goodbye because of it. I know the logic behind the decision, but I still have that horrible nagging feeling of not having closure knowing what it was and what if we jumped the gun? What if we could've found it? I know we did everything we could, but I just can't get it to sit right with my heart making a euthanasia decision with no confirmed diagnosis. I know that's life, that's vet med, but my god is it brutal.
I'm trying to piece it together I'm wondering if there was indeed some paralysis going on with her internal organs (does it even work that way? I don't know, I'm grasping here) due to her not digesting her food either. How possible is it that the pancreatic cancecarcinoma that had spread to the liver would also spread to the spine or nerves somewhere and cause these issues? On top of not being able to urinate she was vomiting a stomach full of food hours and hours after eating, when typically she would've digested it by then. Was her stomach possibly experiencing some paralysis/dysfunction as well if there was in fact neuro involvement? I just want to know we truly did everything we could to figure out what was wrong and that I made the right decision. I keep trying to tell myself "better a week too soon than a day too late" - but the grief is still so raw and tearing me apart. So sorry for the novel - and thank you so much if you took the time to read this.

Hi All,
I'm in the middle of a basement renovation and we're installing LVP. I'm almost done, just the laundry room and area under the stairs remaining. We currently use this space for our cat litter. We are planning on adding a door to try and block of the area a bit more and hopefully have less litter tracking. So here's my question, should I install LVP under the stairs or not?
On one hand it would be a nice seamless look, but on the other hand, it's my cat's bathroom and I'm worried about urine/poop accidents on the LVP. What do you think?
Future location of door (with cat door) to prevent litter tracking. Old tiles will be removed.
Under the stairs, as it is now.

My cat just turned 16 and she has CKD stage 3, CHF/HCM and hyperthyroidism. She has a 3rd degree AV block so her heart rate is very low and one of her nodes just doesn’t function so she’s relying on her backup to keep her heart going.
She’s on meds for her heart - furosemide and a couple blood thinner and diuretics. She’s on meds for her hyperthyroidism as well. So twice a day she gets a DIY pill and liquid furosemide.
Been in stage 3 since September 23. She went into heart failure then and spent a couple days in hospital. She had fluid everywhere and they were able to remove and get her stable. Sent home with meds to manage. Basically went from a 2 to 3 kidney stage that summer.
Basically I’m having to sacrifice her kidneys for her heart.
Backing off on the heart meds and higher doses of furosemide proved to help the kidney levels but this is where I’m struggling. If I give her meds perfectly and consistently, then she more or less sleeps all day and is kind of zombie like. But when I miss a few or more doses in a week span, then she’s got the zombies and begging for food and being more present. But the flip side is her symptoms increase - urine leakage while sleeping or even awake, more vomiting, losing bit of weight from nausea and when she decides she’s over a particular food I’ve been feeding her, and then worrying about her heart.
Sun Q is out of the question due to her heart. She’s actually pretty hydrated last time vet check end of February- she drinks a massive amount and I give her wet food.
I do have an appt early next week for another suspected UTI. She’s had 3 since September. I’ll be asking the vet how he would approach meds and quality of life etc.
Looking for advice on what to do - do I keep her zombie like to keep her alive for longer or do I give lower doses vet/cardiologist is ok with and a better quality of life? I also can’t exactly afford $500 every few months for vet check ups and more on top of $250+ a month in meds and food.
She’s never getting better, she’s old. But she’s still alert, lovey, plugging along and needy as ever.
Thanks I’m advance:)

I've been working as a teacher's aide at this elementary special ed mod to severe classroom since December. I was working as a sub teacher off and on the past ten years including sped. So in a way I demoted myself by taking this position. It's not through a school district but a third party agency contracted with the school district.
Anyhow I think that may be factoring in how I feel, especially since the teacher is a young guy only 26 w a one year old daughter and I feel like he has it all ahead and I have it all behind. I'm a 40 yo woman and my daughter and only child is almost 16. The last time I was an aide was in 2013. So I admit I envy him and from the moment I started I began to think maybe the stepping down to be a para was a mistake.
Anyways the moment I started I didn't get a welcoming vibe at all the teacher didn't introduce me to anyone nobody even asked who I was I kind of felt like an invisible ghost there. I ended up introducing myself but people the other staff the Aides were in there weren't that warm or friendly to me one of them was a sub who was there on his first day so that was probably why he wasn't but yet he was friendly to the other two that were their permanently. One woman in particular was not very friendly to me at all she was very tall and kind of intimidating I'm 5 ft 2 if it matters. Anyways somehow her age came up and I said oh you look young for 34 and I told her how I was 40 and couldn't believe it and she said something like there's always botox. Another day they were reminiscing over the lady that I replaced and I have kind of thinning hair and I'm struggling with some hair loss issues and she said about that aid that she had such beautiful hair. Maybe it had nothing to do with me but it sort of felt like a dick at me like she has beautiful hair and I don't? And I sense that they didn't like me because later the teacher told me what they said about me and I'm not sure why he told me that but somehow it came up I think I expressed to him my feelings and not feeling welcome there. And I guess they thought that I wasn't the right fit because a boy passed gas very bad and I guess I had expressed disgust at it I probably shouldn't have but it just sort of came out of me. A lot of these special needs kids have very foul smells.
The other lady who was who was still there was always on her phone ignoring me barely spoke to me when I asked her her name she just said yes I wanted to make sure I was calling her the right name. I found out her brother was on a ventilator due to fentanyl overdose and he subsequently died at only 20 something so I thought okay she's grieving she's morning that's why she doesn't really talk to me she didn't really take any bereavement leave for some reason but she would miss a couple of days or come to work crying. I told her I was sorry for her loss but because I didn't know her very well I didn't think I should keep talking to her about it. Anyways the tall lady ended up leaving to go somewhere else and we had just started to get on good terms. another aide came in and so did another aid. That's another thing about this job is it just feels like there's too many adults in this room there's more adults than kids! And I think that is part of the problem and the majority of us are women and I hate to say but I think that is part of the problem too. I feel that I do better in more gender diverse environments as women can be very catty and mean to each other. I hate to generalize but it's honestly true.
There's been a lot of mean girl energy. The only one that I really feel is on my side is another aid who is an older lady from the Philippines and she's really sweet and I've never had a problem with her. But the lady whose brother died of fentanyl she's never been warm or friendly to me but I noticed with the new staff she's been friendly to them and it's like a totally different person it's like night and day. I thought to myself ,"oh it's because her brother died" but that's not it then I thought "oh maybe it's because I'm older than her she's only 29" but she's warm and friendly to this new aide who is much older than me. It's been like a revolving door there with aideS coming and going from various agencies.
Anyways there's a lady there that was really nice to me at first and nobody actually liked her at first they thought she was too domineering and I actually took her side and defended her and during a meeting where we all got together the co-worker that I do like and her sort of got into it and I had said let's just be calm and she said the new aide pulled me aside and said she felt like I was the only one who was not against her. I ended up giving her a ride to Target one day when she needed it because she doesn't have a car and walks to work she lives nearby.
anyways that day after I gave her the ride maybe she felt we were getting too close and wanted to squash it I don't know? She began acting oddly passive aggressive towards me. For example that following morning she randomly came up to me and grabbed my back and straightened it. In front of everyone! She said I have bad posture I need to fix it and then she said it was the first thing she noticed about me when she first started. Like really? Not my light blue eyes which is what most people notice right away? Or my soft voice or wavy hair like you really just noticed a flaw? She said she tried to back pedal how insulting it was and said you have such a cute figure but you would look so much better if you fix your posture I don't know I just really didn't like that and then later that day she yelled at me about one of the students across the yard when there are other adults near him too
And yesterday she did it again she was sitting on the bench with the coworker whose brother died and the teacher they were all just sitting there talking looking like high schoolers hanging out. This coworker by the way is the same age as me just a few months younger. Anyways the other staff member who's relatively new but is really made a name for self and fits in and she's in her 60s everyone calls her mama Lori and she acts one towards everyone but me I think it's because it's the herd mentality where she realizes I'm not the liked one and I'm the persona non grata and the weakest link so she's not as warm and friendly towards me. She'll buy everyone else beer for the weekend but not me I don't like beer anyway but she doesn't know that.
Anyways one of the students was getting into the mud puddle behind us and I could sense he was there but I had been helping the student the whole time and frankly I was tired of seeing them sitting on their butts just watching everyone do the work including the teacher when he's paid way more than me! So she yelled at me from across the yard and I said kind of rudely "what?" And she told me to go get him and I spoke up and said " I'm not the only adult standing here "which is true... The lady who they call Mama Lori was actually right near me too but was talking to another staff member about small talk. I just don't understand why she always asks me instead of other people who are nearby? And also why don't you get up off your rear end and go get them if you're that concerned? I just feel like people expect me to pull my weight more than they pull theirs and then when I don't do that they act like I'm a slacker or that I don't care about these kids or I'm not doing my job.
She's also constantly making little digs about my parenting that I've nothing to do with the job in my opinion and is really none of her business. She knows I have a teenage daughter and my mistake was I confided in her that sometimes I have trouble getting my daughter to listen or cooperate with me on going to school in the morning and I was just making a comparison between myself and one mother of a girl in the classroom who acts up she had brought it up that the girl is going to have behavioral issues later in life if the mother doesn't get her under control and I was just adding to what she was saying. This was a while back when I thought she was trustworthy and I confide in her. Now I feel like she constantly uses it as ammunition against me. For example I was helping one of the boys clean up the blocks. He's nonverbal and autistic as a lot of them in the classroom are so it's hard to really get him to comply or do stuff so I began just putting the blocks in the box for him because it was circle time in the teacher wanted us to clean up. She goes up to us and says I know that you do this with your daughter and help her clean up but you can't do that here you need to have him clean it up I wanted to tell her off right then and there but I bit my tongue and just smiled and walked off I really don't appreciate her making comments about my parenting style or about my daughter and she doesn't really know anything about us or the context of our lives or anything she only knows a snippet based on what I've told her and now she uses it against me and makes it all comments about it. Which I feel is very inappropriate and uncalled for. I want to keep my personal life separate from my work life.
And yesterday was finally the straw that broke the camel's back. I was on my lunch break and clocked out. Normally I eat in my car or in the staff lounge. But it was too hot to eat in my car in my AC doesn't work so great plus I needed access to a microwave to heat up my food normally I'll bring portable food like a salad or leftover cold pasta. Anyways, I was going to eat in the staff lounge but the microwave for some reason was being all wonky and wouldn't work. So I had to walk all the way back to use the microwave in the pod the lobby of the classrooms that we work in. It's called the special ed pod. So I use that microwave to heat up my food but I didn't feel like walking all the way back down across campus to the staff lounge I only get a half hour lunch. so I was eating my hot noodles and my strawberries and just drinking my soda and reading an article on my phone. Keep in mind this is an UNPAID OFF DUTY lunch. I clocked out on my phone to go to it.
Anyways her and the boy that she normally works with we're running by me. I didn't think much of it it didn't look like anything Dyer was happening and to be honest I wasn't really paying attention as I was on my lunch break and in my own world. And she said to me sort of tongue in cheek" I don't have him" and she was holding a urine-filled diaper in her hand while the boy was jogging slowly ahead of her. I didn't really fully perceive what she meant because like I said I was kind of in my own world on my lunch and not really paying attention to them. I thought that she just meant itsort of figuratively and I'm not sure what she expected me to do and I didn't read her cues correctly. I also have a diagnosed anxiety disorder and I have OCD and I have social anxiety and sometimes I'm not really able to read social cues very well people have to be very specific and direct with me. My daughter was diagnosed with autism spectrum and I'm pretty sure that I might be too just undiagnosed. Anyways I said" oh let me call the teacher " and she muttered something under her breath and I don't know what it was and then he ran off and she threw the diaper on the floor and then I saw the teacher while I was calling him he happened to be walking by and I told him that she needed help with him and then by that point she said ultra sweetly to him "oh I've got it now." then she made a comment to me I didn't know "off-duty meant off duty completely, wow if you see a child running by you're really just off duty huh" and I got kind of angry at that moment and I said "what do you mean by that?" I said "i am on my lunch break and I didn't know you needed my help and I'm not paid on my lunch break," and she said "if I said I don't have him what does that mean to you " and I said "well I didn't understand the danger of the situation he was just walking quickly in front of you" and I said "what did you expect me to do , drop my food and pick up a dirty diaper what did you expect me to do? And then I said this is exactly why I don't normally eat in this pod what would you have done if I were eating in my car or eating in the staff lounge? I'm just a convenient person for you to scapegoat". My blood was boiling and I could feel myself going too far. Then I said "I'm tired of you bossing me around I'm tired of you always telling me what to do and acting like you're in charge of me" because it's true she does this quite often.
I was extremely upset after and she walked away and I called my boss about it and told her the whole thing including my part and she thankfully took my side and said " all I'm hearing is that you were off duty and on an unpaid lunch she should not have asked you anything".
Another co-worker who is an aide in the class next door had observed the whole thing and she said to me quietly " they would never do that to me in my room we respect each other's lunches".
The teacher is nice, and I know it's his first year of teaching and I try to be patient and compassionate with him cuz I know what it's like to be new at teaching but I think that's also what frustrates me so much too like I said I do have some envy for him and I also feel like people go easier on him than they ever did on me when I was a new teacher like I said I was a special ed long-term teacher before well long-term sub but couldn't keep up with the greeting and the IEPs and all that it was a lot of pressure for me. But I feel like people are more merciful towards him than they were towards me honestly if something happens to that kid the liability is on him and not on me because he's the teacher it's ultimately his responsibility and I get frustrated because he's paid at least 2,000 more per month than I am so I feel like if anyone should be heavily Hands-On and heavily involved it should be him but a lot of times I feel like he's very nonchalant and doesn't step in and yet people instead of going to him they go to me for some odd reason when I'm just a para like they are! I got out of sub teaching so I wouldn't be the go-to person all the time I was actually trying to get away from this very thing and it's even worse stepping into this career for even less pay!
I have decided next year I'm just going to return to sub teaching I've already told the job that I do not want to return to that classroom or that school year next year and they didn't really care to ask why but I did let them know just too much drama and it is not been a healthy work environment for me and I think they have an idea but they don't want to address it or face it. A lot of these employers don't really care or want to hear about these problems
there's only three more weeks left of school and then I'll be doing summer school until July 9th and then I'm going to actively look for something else and if I find something before then I'm going to jump and take it but in the meantime this is the only job and income that I have right now I could go back to sub teaching but it may not be the best financial decision now because there will be no summer work at all for me and I cannot go 3 months without any sort of income. So my question is am I being bullied or am I the jerk here? Am I just overreacting in too sensitive or are people actually being settling mean to me?

Just here for to tell my experience and what I’m going through, and as always what I may feel may be different what YOU feel. (Please keep them in mind.) especially those who manic scrolling through some of these posts, if I went by some them I’d be half dead right now, lol.
28/M, NY
So, started to feel discomfort on my right side and def some right testicle swelling, I actually didn’t pay any mind to it until I got my physical done after years, bottom line, always get your yearly physical, guys! Went through all the scans and of course, fat containing hernia sitting on my right testicle. Went through the urologist, surgeons and such set up in an appointment fairly quick, and here’s why.
I am currently in school and working, as we were trying to set a date, May 6th was my procedure, I was telling him I am a groomsmen at a wedding that’s happening May 23rd, and if could be possible to move the date to August. I only asked for August because right after the wedding trip I start my internship rotations, Mon-Fri day time shifts, and any missed days could mess me up for graduation. However, I was going to have the month of August off, so I figured that could work. The surgeon began with, will you be near a hospital during this stay? Obviously, the chances that it could get worse and needed medical attention are 50/50, but he assured that I’d be able to fly and be at at least 80% by the time of the trip. So, after overviewing the situation I decided to go forward with the surgery, knowing I am going to be limited to certain things, but in the long run made the most sense.
Right after surgery: They wait till you urinate, and kinda send you off your way. Honestly took longer than expected but everything checked out and I was on my way. On the wake up they told me that air got into the scrotum and that it would wake days to go back to normal but to ice up and elevate.
Day 1: No crazy pain killers, just regular OTC would recommend getting Gas-X, movement very limited walking hurt, turning hurt, getting off and on a seat hurt, but manageable. The most clutch thing about my situation is that I have a bed that reclines up and down from the headboard so getting out of bed wasn’t the worst. Def walked around a lot, it helps so I would recommend walking, let’s the gas out. Other than that manageable pain
Day 2: More of the same, it’s not a pain, it’s more of soreness to me, I do get some tugging or muscle strain coming from the testicle at times but nothing like major, def sweat quicker walking down a block lol.
Day 3-4: Bowel movements, as it seems to be the usual with everyone is happening, I was able to go and everything was fine. Once I’m up I can move around just fine. I’m very much on a soup diet, and decided to eat a lot of papaya for constipation!
I say that to say this, idk if it a pain tolerance thing, but if you rest, elevate, walk, and just take it easy, you should heal fine. That being said, lol, my flight is May 18, and the wedding is in the carribean so I will very much be healing beach side rather than in bed. I’m just writing my story to document traveling 2 weeks after the fact see how it went for me etc, obviously pain is different for everyone so it’s always up to the individual. In any case, I will be checking in a week from now let people know how the flight went, etc! Thanks for checking in!

Hi everyone,
I was just wanting some advice. For the last month I'd be passed from doctor to doctor around what they thought was a UTI/Kidney infection. Then I attended A&E who discharged me to my GP with codeine despite me crying in pain who said I couldn't possibly have a kidney stone as I wasn't in enough pain. Eventually got a GP who immediate referred me on an emergency basis to Urology. I've gone in for my kidney stone to be removed and was told there was an infection behind the stone but it was also blocking my kidney completely? So they tried to put in a stent but it was so lodged they've had to put in a mini stent
After the stent when I woke up urinating was so extremely painful. This seemed to ease a bit but last night I was literally screaming in pain as it just continued to build. I'm certainly not someone who usually can't with pain. Now that I've been given a cocktail of pain relief including morphine I can at least lie flat without crying.
Is this going to last the 4 weeks I'll have the stent? I'm not sure I can cope? Has anyone else had similar?

Sit back, and I will regale you with a tale so... indescribable - you might think I'm making it up. I have been known to spin a few yarns, but this is a doozy. I have changed the names.
I rented from XYZ Realty from 2014 to 2020, utilizing two different properties. I had excellent interactions with two other previous property managers. When I moved into the 2nd property, I let the Property manager (PM) know about a trash issue; he gave me the option of taking the dumpsters out on trash day for $20 off of my rent (which helped immensely). I even made sure that this was done when I broke my leg (not taking out the trash, I promise - it was a different fight with gravity). I was recuperating at my Mom's house, so she and my sister made sure the dumpsters were put out. They also took care of my two cats. I even did a few extra things to make sure that XYZ was getting their money's worth. There was an issue with my countertop dishwasher, but I promptly reported the problem (and paid for the repairs). When I left both places, I received my deposit back with only minor and reasonable deductions.
In 2020, as the pandemic forced us to work from home, I found myself in need of a larger space. I had also started paying my rent in weekly installments to manage my finances better. I always made sure to pay the last part on the 5th to avoid any issues. It was during this time that I called the office to inquire about a newly listed property with more space.
This is when I first spoke with Connie (the XPM). She flatly said no, citing that I never paid my rent on time. I said a few words back and hung up. At that point, I decided to move to a place with a pool and a gym.
Cut to 2023. My employer of 12 years decided to cut their staff and move the majority of their business overseas. I decided to look for a job at our local state university and move back downtown.
I started working at the university in May of 2023. In June, XYZ listed the pink cottage. I had always admired it from my apartment when I lived in the Victorian. I applied for it and was approved.
Upon seeing the listing for the pink cottage, I was immediately drawn to it. However, I noticed that the listing mentioned gas usage. This prompted me to call the office and speak with Charley (an associate XPM) to clarify whether the property had a gas water heater or if the gas was strictly for heating the place. My Mom had a gas heater at her house but changed it to an electric heater. She's always had an electric water heater. I wanted to confirm if the cottage had a gas water heater or if the gas was strictly for heating the place.
Charley told me that she thought it was just for heating but that there was an electric water heater. I was satisfied with the answer, and I moved in there in August.
Before I moved in, I discussed utilities with Connie. I wanted to use an electric heater, as I did not want to deal with gas heat. Connie said they would be concerned about burst water pipes (especially considering the age of the cottage). I acknowledge those concerns. Before moving in, she told me that all the utilities had to be turned on.
I messed up here (I can admit it) because I should have asked her for clarification regarding all utilities.
Me and the cats move in. I only had a minor issue (They had painted the breaker box door shut.), which was promptly resolved. I used the second bedroom for storage.
My job became extremely tense, and I was let go in October. Honestly, for a month and a half, I was scared that I was going to have to move in with my mother. Luckily, I was still not done packing. I became depressed. Also, one of my cats became ill - so I was dealing with that as well. Housekeeping lagged.
By December, I'm back at the university in a new department. I love my new department, so I decided to wait until January to start unpacking again.
January 4th rolls around—and I have no hot water. I left a ticket with XYZ. After a delay, because my senior cat didn't make it to the litter box, I found out that the cottage uses gas for both heat and water. I'm also treated to a phone call from Connie that involves some heavy gaslighting and her screaming into the phone like I'm a petulant child. I get the gas turned on and resolve never to call them again for anything.
However, I did move my cats' robot litter box and regular box (senior cat and all) to the second bedroom. I also got two generic car trunk mats to protect the floor, and I cleaned up the bathroom. Also, both of my cats are female and have been fixed.
Then (as if the gods decided to have more fun), the dishwasher stops draining. I do some quick troubleshooting and release it's the control board. I hesitantly let them know. It was resolved that the unit needed to be replaced, and I started using it as a giant dish rack. Two weeks later, the unit is replaced.
However, this is when Connie decides that my lease will not be renewed. Why do you ask?
Because my senior cat popped on the mat that I provided, the smell is HORRENDOUS (she used capital letters in her text), and the owner says it will cost THOUSANDS to remove the smell. Seriously, this woman should do Shakespeare.
I promptly emailed Connie, advising her that I had accepted this determination and resolved to have the place cleaned once I had left. I also dropped my former employer, the Judge who handled evictions in our county. This is where my second landlord found me. I have always had a good relationship with my landlords. I wanted her to know that I knew my rights and would not be intimidated. I also removed the 5-star review I had left back in 2018. This reduced their rating to 3.4. On Facebook, they have a 2.4. Yelp is also sitting at a 2.4. The BBB has them at a 1.4.
For context, there is an apartment complex in our town where one of the reviews states I feared for my life, and they have a 3.5.
Once I got home from work, I cleaned everything up. I also removed the smell with some air freshener and a couple of Fabreeze plug-ins.
Connie then informed me that they are going to start doing weekly inspections for a month, then bi-weekly until the end of my lease. I invested in a cheap nanny cam, but I also cleaned the box every morning - emailing her a picture with a time stamp.
Now, because of my malicious compliance, they held off on doing the weekly inspection for about three weeks. Then, with proper notification, she and Charley came by. They declare that the litter box has not been cleared in a week, and I allow my animals to sh*t anywhere. Translation: I'm a liar and a bad pet parent. I start making arrangements to move immediately. I also advised that despite what she thought - both cats used the regular litter box. She thought that one cat used the regular box while the other used the automatic box, which totally made no sense.
I ended up finding an ideal situation and resolved to pay out the rest of my lease (utilities and insurance). I had three months left.
April 3rd: Connie announced another inspection. I advised her that we had relocated. However, I would be paying the rest of my lease (utilities, etc.), which ironically was cheaper than breaking the lease outright.
So, now they are highly cooperative in showing the place. The inspection has then been reorganized into a showing for 4/8. On 4/8, I was advised that they had rescheduled for 4/10.
On 4/9, I get a message from Charley regarding the showing for the next day.
That afternoon, I got an angry text message from Connie regarding a different showing that she had for that day. This particular argument came because I used 3m strips to hang my pictures. I was advised to use them in the other two places. However, the problem with these strips is that once removed, they can take off the paint. I tried to be careful with this. Since my relationship with Connie was already one that would give me heart palpitations if I got a text message from her, I got some plaster to repair the damage. I even offered to paint if they could tell me the color. I asked her about the color, but she stated that it was a violation of my lease to paint. Fine, you guys can paint. I saved the email from this previous conversation.
So, I reminded her that we had discussed this in a previous email and provided the date. It is silly for me to assume that as a property manager, she would know the proper steps to repair wall damage.
Oh, and she hated the scent of the cleaner I used. Being that it was lavender, I understood that it could be overwhelming. I obtained two citrus-scented plug-ins in addition to the two I already had in there. My mother went back there to use some floor cleaner.
A few more text messages are exchanged regarding the smell and wishing to delay showing the place again. If the smell doesn't get any better, we may ask you to have it professionally cleaned. Oh, and the lemon scent is overpowering.
I asked a professional cleaner to access the place for me. She declared the place clean (and cleaner than most places she had been to). She also said that it smelled fine. I relayed this information to XYZ.
I also asked them why there was a window air conditioner in my living room. Seriously, there was a window AC in my living room. Technically, since the rent had been paid until May, it was still my living room. I was advised that they did not know why there was an air conditioner being stored there. The matter would be investigated. In the meantime, please remove the plug-ins. I responded, I would.
Come the following Monday, I forgot to stop by after a long day at work. I made plans to do so today (4/16). I'm then treated to this text message:
Connie: just went in and removed the air freshener, cat urine smell is still definitely there, I am going to put a ozone machine in and see if that helps. I will not show it until we can not smell it. I suggest calling floor cleaners and see if they have a treatment for hardwood floors for cat urine smell. I have used D&D carpet cleaning, and they charged 450.00 to treat last apt we had to do.
Me: I have already had a professional cleaner access the place, and she said there was no cat urine smell. She said the place was clean, and there was nothing that needed to be done. Also, I had the same cat with the other two places - and was not told that I needed to get the floors done. Those floors were steamed and mopped twice, and floor cleaner was applied.
Connie: The cats did not go outside the box back then. like they were at the apt. The owner is going over today to make sure I am not crazy, I will let you know what he says. Charley showed it and also thought it smelt like cat urine. Paul and I are headed over in a bit.
Me: My senior cat pooped on a mat, and it was promptly cleaned up (or it was when I got home). They did not pee outside of the box.
Connie: I am not going to continue to argue with you about the smell. Charley and I smell strong cat urine and the owner is going to go to make sure we are not crazy. The apt is off the Market until the smell is better.
I responded with a simple OK.
2 hours later...
Connie texted me back, stating that all the owner could smell a lemon plug-in. Also, the place is being shown on April 19th.
When I left work that day, I received another message saying that the place was being shown the next day. I went back to the cottage. She had removed two of the plug-ins but missed the one in the bedroom. Honestly, I could have left it there - but I took it with me. I also took some more pictures before I locked the door.
4/17: I received a text from Connie asking for permission to enter as they would like to swap out the vanity and the mirror. She is still putting in an ozone machine for the smell that may or may not be there. At this point, I'm over it.
4/18: Connie texted me regarding another showing. She is being super professional (for once), and I was starting to feel bad for the way I behaved. Then I remembered all the screaming text messages - and I got over it.
4/19: Today is showing day. Fingers crossed. Got my gas bill.
Thirty minutes later: I got a text from Charley: showing did not go well, she held her shirt to her face and said it smelt like cat. please work on it. mopping with a vinegar mixture might help
I relayed the message to Mom, who said that we could do that. I still believe the smell will magically be there no matter what is done, and they will use that as an excuse to keep my deposit. I also found their interactions with possible renters suspicious.
Before one showing, my Mom stopped by to mop the floor with cleaner. The prospective renter came early. My Mom was putting the stuff back in the car and told her to go have a look. The lady came back and said that while the place was cu, - it was a bit small. They chatted like old friends until Charley arrived. I mean, serious—- my Mom could make friends anywhere.
I have ordered two bottles of enzyme spray and had a friend come over (who could moonlight as a bloodhound). She couldn't smell anything except an old house.
4/24: I emailed the property manager (Connie) asking to be released from the lease early, stating that I wanted to help my Mom with some unexpected bills. I haven't received a response. Seriously! I would have appreciated a form letter, at least.
4/30: I paid my May rent. My mother argued that I should hold it off as long as possible. I didn't want to have to deal with it over the weekend.
5/1: I got an email from Connie stating that a showing had been scheduled for 5/13. I was a bit surprised by this as the cottage is not listed on the website. I'm not holding my breath.
5/3: I got a message from Connie that the showing had been canceled—big surprise. I decided to email them again, requesting to be released from the lease 30 days early. I cited the canceled showing and, again, my desire to aid my mother financially. My mentioning the canceled showing would (of course) make her respond.
She did and said it wasn't her fault. OH, and I had an obligation to the lease. She's doing her best to lease it. At this point, I don't believe her. The cottage is still not listed on the website.
Now, here is where I will be the asshole - and I don't care. I brought up the argument to my mother about ghosting the landlord. Before, she was against it. This time, she agreed with me. My sister has given me a few tips on avoiding bill collectors.
They don't have my forwarding address. Before June 1st, I'm going to head over to the cottage and take photos. This is just in case she wants to say I did something - that I didn't.
On June 1st, I will block her email and phone number. Mom stated that she would write a return to the sender on anything that comes to the house - on the off chance they use my old forwarding address. I have disconnect notices for the power company and gas. I canceled my renters' insurance for the place. Honestly, I could have done that a while ago. I also googled myself and reset a few things (my LinkedIn profile and YouTube videos). My name is on my department's webpage, but you really have to scroll down to find it. There is an old AI picture of me without my glasses but with better hair and chin. Since their office is downtown, I don't place on going near there anytime soon. The building does have a coffee shop, but you can get better coffee the next block over.
I feel like a weight has been lifted. Yes, I'm losing my deposit, but I'm coming out ahead.

Sorrybutnotsorry

TLDR: It started with gas, then poop, and ended with a ghosting.

Introduction:
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While many women with fibroids remain asymptomatic, others may experience symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, pressure or fullness in the lower abdomen, frequent urination, and reproductive issues such as infertility or recurrent miscarriages.
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Diagnostic Evaluation:
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Treatment for fibroids depends on various factors, including the severity of symptoms, the size and location of fibroids, reproductive goals, and patient preferences.
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Laparoscopic or robotic-assisted myomectomy: Minimally invasive surgical techniques to remove fibroids while preserving the uterus, ideal for women seeking fertility preservation.
Surgical options: In cases where conservative or minimally invasive treatments are ineffective or not feasible, surgical interventions such as hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) may be recommended, particularly for women who have completed their childbearing.
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Conclusion:
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Blaze0 notes

Hey everyone. Looking to get some advice and if anyone has dealt with this before. Long story short, after a few urinary tract blockages, my cat who's just over a year and half old had to have a perineal urethrostomy done. Prior to this, he had near zero issues using the litterbox. Only time he didn't was when he was quite young and had a UTI. Only other time was when he initially became blocked and he tried urinating in front of us outside of the box and clearly couldn't. We brought him home from surgery and the first few days were okay, but since then, he started urinating outside the litterbox. During the roughly 3 week period where he had to wear a cone and had stitches, we kind of chalked this up to being in pain and also that we had to use different litter than what he was used to. We hoped that once he had his stitches out, and his normal litter returned, that this behavior would not continue. We did get a UTI test done when his stitches were removed, and he does not have one. Well here we are two months post op, stitches taken out over a month ago, and our cat still is peeing outside of the litterbox. He will urinate frequently, small amounts, in several normal places around the house. Both carpeted and hard floors. Thing is, we have three litterboxes for him, and he uses all 3 litterboxes on top of peeing in these other spots as well. My girlfriend and I have tolerated this a long time now, but it is of course, highly frustrating. We have had to cover furniture in plastic, never get to put away the mop, and constantly washing rugs and bedding. On top of that, we don't always agree on how to approach this situation and causes disagreements between us. We have tried yelling and scaring him; which seemed to work for a time but now he just ignores us. If i scoop him up while he's peeing, i flip him upside down and carry him to the litterbox while he just continues to pee and it collects on him until I drop him in. We tried to give him a treat every time he uses the normal box but he still pees elsewhere... At this point we have just put down pee pads in the normal spots and let him do his business. He isn't vocal when he pees. He just squats down and does it like it's completely natural. Doesn't seem like he's in pain at all. My GF and I haven't gotten great answers from any vet or elsewhere online. So i'm finally typing out this post to see if anyone has any advice.