Back in college, was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder and depression. I struggled with it for years, and still do, but I became accustomed to keeping quiet about it when I was having a bad time. My experience was that most people didn’t care to know, and the ones that did I didn’t want to bother with it.
Several years after my diagnosis, I move in with my previously long-distance boyfriend. It’s a big move (in excess of 1000 miles from my hometown) and for many reasons, before long I’m having a tough time of it. As usual though, I just sort of slog on.
Then one day, my boyfriend stops me as I’m walking past him to the bedroom and asks me one simple question.
“Are you feeling okay?”
I hadn’t realized it until just then, but no one had ever actually noticed before when I was having a bad time – or at least, no one had ever been concerned enough about it to ask.
I don’t think he quite figured out why I hugged him so hard – but now, six years later, he still notices when things are getting tough for me, though he’s graduated from just asking about it to acting like a goof until I can at least smile. Definitely worth the 1000+ miles it took to get to him.

A student at my school has been bothering me about Yu-Gi-Oh. Even going as far as making me not one, but two decks complete with ‘Exodia’. The best cards in the game. He won’t leave me alone and cusses out everyone who talks to me while he is there. Even my own brother. I almost hit him. He’s even making me a personal ‘duel disk’. I have tried ignoring him and avoiding him. Neither have worked. Around 2 weeks ago I complained to my mother about him.

Me: He just won’t leave me alone. He keeps giving me cards and won’t stay away. No matter where I hide.

Mother: Sounds like he likes you.

Me: (in a disgusted voice) God, I hope not.

Mother: Seems like it to me. If he’s giving you good cards, he’s trying to impress you.

Me: It’s Yu-Gi-Oh cards.

Mother: Hey, I never said he was succeeding.

A week ago he gave me more cards. Skip till a few hours later, after lunch my brother runs up to me.

Brother: You Know, (student) is going to try to ask you out after school.

Me: Really? So mom was right.

Brother: yep, sorry.

Skip till after school. I stayed in the school until he left. Skip to home.

Me to mother: Mom. You jinxed me. He was going to ask me out. I avoided him. I blame you.

When we were kids, I often read to my littlest sister. On this day, we’re reading “Prince Caspian.” We’re at the part where Caspian, while talking with his tutor, points out that the tutor is “a man” just like him. As soon as the tutor replies, “Am I?” but before I can get to the sentence where he reveals he’s part-dwarf, my sister gasps, “He’s a WOMAN?!”

I work for one of the largest supermarkets in the UK delivering groceries to customers at home. In the last month our department has gotten into REAL trouble.

On the Grocery picking side of the department we are short staffed and the Store manager has cancled all overtime.

On the Driving side we were already short staffed and have lost around 8 drivers in the last two weeks. and This week the store manager has cancled our over time too.

This week 3 more drivers handed in their notice.

My Department head keeps asking me to lead shifts but refuses to offer me any pay increase to make it worth my while. I did perform the role for around 4 months while trying to get a promotion, out of two candidates (myself and another guy) he picked the other guy, despite the fact I had around 100 hours more experience in the role, and a better working relationship with the drivers.

Im going on Holiday for 3 weeks soon, when I get back im handing in my notice. I cant wait to see how the department head reacts.

The supermarket I work at has a fairly strict policy on staff abscence. If you are absent from work at least 3 times within 26 weeks or if the ammount of absent time adds up to more than 3% of your contracted hours, you are imediately put onto a “next steps” program, this starts off with a meeting where a manager talks about your absence and offers “support” to ensure you stay healthy and working.

I have worked here for 3 years and in that time have had at most 3 days off total. I recently took a day off sick and when I returned to work was invited to an absence review meeting. I was confused but had to go.

Manager: So we have you as having been absent from work 4 times in the last 26 weeks, this adds up to 3.9% of your contracted hours as such we are having this meeting. Can you explain your absence on (date 25 weeks ago)

Me: No I don’t recall exactly why I was ill that day

Manager: Can you explain (Date near to Christmas)

Me: [This one didnt sit right with me but I couldnt recall working that day so again said no]

Manager: Can you explain (Date in March)

Me: That was not a sick leave that was a domestic absence because my Grandmothers Stair lift broke down and she spent that day trapped upstairs and I had to wait in all day for the repair guy to come.

Manager: Oh ok well we can remove that one from your record but you still have 3.4% of your contracted hours absent.

Me: How is that calculated because that doesnt sound right to me?

Manager: Well you work 35 hours a week minus 5 hours for lunch.

Me: No I work 38 hours a week and only get 3 lunch hours total.

[This goes back and fourth a little eventually the manager recalculates and decides that im only at 2.9% absence.]

Me: Ok so lets just be clear before we continue please. of the four instances of absence it was only 3, then it wasnt 3.9% it was 2.9% how can I be sure that the other instances are acurate?

The manager ignores me writes down a report that I should drink more water and adds it to my record. Frustrated I go home and review my holiday slips from Christmas and sure enough I was signed off on Holiday for one of those days. I went back to work the next day and demanded that the report be removed from my file but I doubt they will, I have kept copies of the notes from the meeting and my holiday slips incase they want me to have another meeting.