DRenS

Open Acne

I've had acne since I was old enough and wasn't really bothered by it growing up. But now it seems like the problems have gotten worse the older I get. I have been trying a lot of different products for the past couple years, and I think I'm on the road to getting it straightened out.

Treatments

Benzoyl Peroxide Somewhat Helpful

People don't understand this, but this is what's in ProActiv. See my response on that.

Proactiv Somewhat Helpful

It started out irritating my skin and causing more acne, then started working. It never got rid of most of my skin problems (uneven skin tone, scarring), but it did work on acne. However, I feel like other products work as well or better.

Washing Working / Worked

I use Neutrogena's Deep Clean Invigorating Dual Action Toner, Ambi's Even & Clear Foam with Vitamins C & E, and Avon's Purifying Gel Cleanser with 2% Salicylic Acid. Occasionally, I also use Neutrogena's Deep Pore Cleaning Mask. These four products seem to help a lot.

Open Coming Out

I'm not out and can't say that I ever will come out. I find it very difficult to find support in the GLBT community, mainly because I have identified as bisexual on occasion and because I'm a mixed black female whereas most GLBT communities are filled with white gays and lesbians mainly. I have heterosexual friends whom I know wouldn't care about my sexual orientation, but there are still questions they can't answer, issues they can't help with, etc.

Open Lesbian Relationship Challenges

My lesbian relationship challenge? Finding a lesbian relationship, HAHA.

Open Interracial Relationships

I'm not currently in a relationship, but I'm the product of an interracial relationship. My mother is black, white (English) and American Indian. My father is white (French). I have dated interracially in the past and am open to it.

Open Obesity

My main problem is getting motivated again. I have had success in the past losing weight, so a plus is that I know I can do it since I lost 20-25lbs before in about 3-4 months. I got off track when I moved back to Michigan. In Tennessee, I was living in a house with tons of exercise equipment and easy access to healthy foods, and that wasn't true in Michigan in my case. Now I need to lose about 50-60lbs. Unfortunately for me, I know I have another move in my future...

Treatments

Avoid Certain Foods / Chemicals Working / Worked

Physical Exercise Working / Worked

I ate better and did something like circuit training where you do one machine for a while, then go to the next thing, then the next thing. I mainly followed this book called "Escape Your Shape." I worked with the stationary bike, somewhat the treadmill, speedrope. I did cardio kickboxing, this game called Dance Dance Revolution and situps. I never worked out for more than an hour unless I did my normal routine plus DDR. I'd say I worked out about 5 days a week.

Open Depression
Type: Clinical (Major) Depression

I am no longer suffering from depression, but I was diagnosed with clinical depression during law school. I have a psych degree and one of my friends and I had already talked about my being depressed, so I knew I had a problem but still didn't do anything about it. I would have waited for it to go away and never gotten help if I had not made a friend who happened to be a psychotherapist. I felt like I could talk to him and trust him, and this is the only reason I ever got treated.

Treatments

Psychotherapy Somewhat Helpful

Support from Friends & Family Working / Worked

Although I got therapy, the one thing that really helped most was one of my friends (aside from my therapist friend). She doesn't even know it, and she never knew I was depressed. Almost no one knew. It's a long story, but knowing her took me from being the most unhappy I've ever been to being the happiest I've ever been in approximately two months.

Writing Somewhat Helpful

Open College Stress

Open Family Issues

Open Diets & Weight Maintenance

Open Shyness

I'm not necessarily shy, per se, but I don't approach people or start conversations with others and never would. I am definitely an introvert.