Thanks, everyone. I guess first I have to find a new OB-GYN, since the one I saw last year was terrible.

Chiming in late, but I loved the Mirena. My OBGYN is very sympathetic to pain and gave me a prescription for 6 Valium to get me through the insertion. My second one fell out - but that's rare and was probably due to my particular circumstance - and I haven't gotten another, but I'm thinking about it. It was so nice to not have periods, or cramps, or headaches.

My Mirena was great. Sometimes I miss it.

Valium sounds nice.

Funny, I'm about to get my Mirena yanked after only 2.5 years. Between the persistent weight increase and energy level decrease, I'm unhappy enough to voluntarily choose having periods again.

I had an IUD for a couple years (Mirena) and liked it quite well. Installation was uncomfortable, but, in the long run, a definite win for me. I also had the slim-to-none periods side effect, which was lovely

I know my usual complaint after therapy is to say "Therapy is BULLSHIT," but I am here to say: my parents are complete BULLSHIT. Fuck them.

Therapy was brutal today. It'll help -- it's *been* helping -- but it is so fucking hard.

And now I have to run to the hardware store in 500-degree weather because all the ants on the planet are having a party in our kitchen. All of them. If this is viral marketing for Ant-Man and the Wasp, it is total overkill.

You're my hero, Steph.

I am emotionally wrecked today, you guys. I am getting no work done, damn it. Though I did manage to run errands and throw in a load of laundry. But otherwise, I just keep looking for a distraction/self-soothing. And work is not soothing.

I also didn't get enough sleep, because I stayed up until about 1:30 last night with the kitty, because the illegal fireworks were freaking him out. Also, I'm PMSing. So therapy + not enough sleep + PMS is a trifecta of nonfunctionality. And yet I'm incapable of napping unless I'm ill or drugged (and I feel like taking meds to make myself sleepy enough to nap might be a very poor coping strategy at the moment, so I'm not going to do that).

I'm glad I'm in therapy, but my god, it's so unbelievably hard some days. And my brother and I deserved better parents. God damn it.

t edit And the kitty just jumped up next to me and laid down, and I thought it was to snuggle, and I was really touched...for like 2 seconds, because he immediately started eating the skirt of my dress. He's so poorly socialized. Sheesh.

Yes, you did deserve better parents. Since that isn't one of the options you have to nurture yourself now. And you and your brother can nurture and support each other. Better late than never!