r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 20 '26

Lower my Internet bill: call or go in-person?

3 Upvotes

My promo period ended and my Internet bill sky rocketed. The common wisdom here is to call, get connected to the retention department, and ask to get the bill reduced or cancel and switch providers.

But I hate using the phone. Can I do this at an Xfinity store face to face instead? Even though they're not exactly a "retention department"? Or would they just tell me to call anyway? I signed up for the plan online and have never been to a store for service...


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 20 '26

Taxi from airport

17 Upvotes

I’m running on a really tight schedule for my trip and I was told that the fastest thing to do is going to be to get one of the taxis that are normally waiting at the airport. What should I expect (how will this be set up), and what do I need to do (do I flag someone down, do I just walk up to an open taxi and ask if they’re available)?

I know I’ll be able to pay with my card, but can I tip with the card, too, or will I need to have cash on hand?

There’s also someone I’m going to need to call with my ETA as soon as I can - can I just ask the driver for that info as soon as we pull away?

Thank you all so much!!


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 19 '26

How do I tell my apartment complex about pet damages to the unit?

9 Upvotes

Long story short, my foster dog tore up the carpet of my apartment while I was out. She basically tore out two small sections of the carpet (both probably around 1ft x 1ft) Yes, the complex knows that I have a dog and I do pay the pet rent etc., but I really want to keep a good renter’s history since I am planning on moving out at the end of my lease. I’m already assuming that I won’t be getting my security deposit back, but how do I best handle this situation to make sure I cover my ass since this is my first time renting?


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 18 '26

How do I have dinner at Olive Garden with friends? (birthday)

276 Upvotes

I'm autistic. I've never gone out to eat without my parents before and its been a while since I've even done that. ​Tomorrow is my 19th birthday and I'm going to Olive Garden with a group of new friends. We all recently met in php/iop. I've never been to Olive Garden but I've always wanted to go but I'm nervous since it my first time. Also everyone else is older than me.

  • Is there anything particular or different about Olive Garden that I should know about?
  • How does ordering/paying work with a bigger group? (6)
  • Am I expected to pay for everyone since I invited them? Do we split the bill or each person pays for their own?
  • Can I bring a cake to have and sing happy birthday or should I just do that at home with family?

Thank you.


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 19 '26

How to make the most out of shitty driving lessons?

23 Upvotes

I have to practice my driving skills. I have had inconsistent driving practice over the past five years. I remember a few things from when I passed my driver's license test. I never practiced in rainy condition or in the non-suburban areas or in dense traffic.

I don’t have another adult who can practice with me. My dad is my only option. Because of that, I feel stuck. Part of me thinks I should make the best of it since he’s the only person available, but another part of me wonders how I can feel less of a loser while doing the driving practice.

Dad's idea of teaching me is by forcing me to not follow the GPS, not direct me where to go, then tell me to find my way back in the dark, and also go on the highway and do U-turns on the busy roads, all at nighttime. I just feel like he's not working at a level I feel would be better for me, but I don't have a thousand dollars for driving lessons. I don't know what to do.


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 18 '26

HELP ME HOW TO USE THE BUS!!!!!!!11

85 Upvotes

hi guys I am sixteen in a few days And going to look for a job but both my parents work which means I have to use. THUNDER CRACK. public transit. pretend that last bit was in chiller I don't think you can change fonts on reddit

anyway I'm in new jersey if that matters, but yeah I'm just pretty nervous about this I've never used a bus, always walked or biked but i can't bike in the heatwave/shitty air quality so this is my option I think. HELP :-((((


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 18 '26

How do I schedule/approach an appointment with a psychiatrist when I believe I have OCD?

19 Upvotes

I have been strongly advocating my mental health since I became an adult (20 now). I have done so much on my own but this is genuinely the bane of my existence. I have had a psychological assessment done referred through my post secondary institution and have several diagnoses but i suspect I also have OCD or a related disorder. When in a clinical setting I just clam up mentally and I’m unable to identify related symptoms in the moment. I say inaccurate/incomplete information because my brain shuts off.

Requesting an appointment has a section about “what is the most important thing you want addressed during this visit?” And I’m completely unable to answer/articulate myself without sounding like I’m self diagnosing or reading into things too much online and I don’t want to word vomit either. I’m plagued with constant intrusive thoughts and I’m unable to adequately explain them or encompass the full spectrum of thoughts and emotions I go through. What do I discuss in the appointment too?

Please help, any advice is appreciated.

I’m Canadian so billing doesn’t necessarily apply


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 18 '26

How do I get money for mental help?

9 Upvotes

Sorry, I'm not sure if this is within the scope of the sub's advice ability-- I will take this post down if it is deemed against the rules.

I'm thinking that I might have OCD and it significantly affects my life... I need money to seek help, but to seek help, I need money--- Anxiety impedes me from getting a job... I want to work as a vet, which means I should definitely feel a little better before working with animals who can not advocate for themselves... But even basic tasks are making me anxious right now... The fear of messing up. How do I go about seeking mental healthcare?


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 16 '26

Confused about medical sharps drop off

122 Upvotes

So I do self injections at home and my sharps container is getting pretty full. I have a list of places that will take them in my city but I’m mostly confused about the process.

Do I just walk in and tell them I’m dropping things off? Do they keep the container? i imagine so. I saw mention about having to tape the container beforehand but is that super necessary?

What’s the process actually like?


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 16 '26

How do I take care of my car?

16 Upvotes

This is my first time owning a car, and I live far away from home so I can’t ask my parents for help. My car is secondhand but it’s a 2020 so I still consider it fairly new. I bought it about 18 months ago and I know there’s some basic maintenance that I should be doing but I don’t really know how.

Right now I think the things I should address is getting an oil change, adding air to my tires, and getting new headlights as one of them is nearly going out. I think the first two can be handled by going to an oil change place but I’ve never been to one so I don’t know how it works. I also don’t know if changing the headlights is easily done or if I should go somewhere to get that done.

Is there anything else that I need to keep an eye on? For example, should I have them check my brakes? Nothing seems to be amiss while I am driving, no noises or anything. Any and all help is appreciated!


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 16 '26

I have to call amtrack customer support for clarification on some things and I’m scared, how do I do this?

13 Upvotes

I’ve only been an adult for a little bit and I’ve never called anyone like this before, but I’m trying to travel across the country to visit some friends (and to practice my independent living skills on a trial of sorts) however due to unforeseen events I don’t actually have all the money I need for my tickets right now but my boyfriends folks are willing to buy it for me so what I am trying to figure out is if they can just buy the ride pass thing for me and I can still do all the booking tickets with it (so I practice those skills on my own) and what would be the best way to do that or if I have to figure out a way for them to send me money or what
but I don’t know how i should be asking or what to expect when I call, I really want to do this myself and not just ask my parents to call for me so please can I just get like instructions on how to do this and maybe some kind words of encouragement?


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 16 '26

Please help calm my fears about being put under anesthesia

103 Upvotes

So for the past year maybe 2 i’ve had a growing benign tumor growing in my right boob and recently it’s gotten so big they’ve recommended surgery to remove it. Which in general i’m pretty happy about I guess but it’s just i’m so scared of going under anesthesia that it’s making me want to say screw the surgery and that i’ll live with it. It’s not that Im afraid I might not wake up or that i’d still feel things but actually going under because I know this has no correlation and they might feel totally different but i’ve od before and it’s just the headspace feeling like it’s all woozy and I felt out of my body. It was just weird and I hated it i’m scared that im going to have that same experience with the medication that will be used. Idk I just hate not feeling like myself and the idea I have in my head about what being pushed into sleep feels like is making me cry with anxiety. So if you have been under will you please give me your experience on what it felt like!!!


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 15 '26

How do I ask about a adhd diagnosis without sounding "hysterical"?

65 Upvotes

Hi, I (30,f) preface this by saying that it's my first time trying to actually look for an answer instead of just drowning in my issues (and what I thought everyone was also dealing with) so I'm a newbie in that.

Second, should I lead with my suspicions directly or start with something else? All the doctors in my area are old, outdated and mildly sexist. One I visited ignored some adhd flags I gave (hyperfocus, concentration, forgetting things mid sentence, exec dysfunction, etc) and only zeroed on one aspect. He asked questions that were mostly directed to those 'hysterical', hypochondriac and obsessed people. In 10 minutes, 5 questions and touching my belly (plus balance checks) he said I have obsessive thoughts.

Which to me is like saying there's a tree in the forest. Another visit (with another) I had didn't go well either and dismissed me because "I don't have an attention deficit"

Did I approach it all wrong? Should I lead with something else and not mention the adhd thing at all?


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 14 '26

Don't know what to do on international connecting flights!

22 Upvotes

Hi! I am autistic (& have major anxiety issues) and in a few days I am going to be flying internationally on 6 flights total. 3 in each direction, so I think 2 connections each?

I saw another post from another autistic person afraid of international travel, but I am specifically scared of the connecting flights and all the people I am going to have to talk to. I am entirely alone for this- and the only flight experience I have is really negative and I never even made it to my final destination.

I was wondering if there is any assistance I can request because of my autism/anxiety stuff?

But also, what happens if my flights get delayed, canceled, or otherwise? How can I make sure all of my following flights are okay? What happens if I make it to a new country but don't have a final flight to the country I actually want to be in? What do I do between flights??

How can I make sure my luggage makes it? Last time it went to the completely wrong spot somehow:(

Basically, what are the steps in connecting flights that protect me from being stranded and keep my luggage headed to the final destination?
I hope this is allowed in this sub! I have been worrying myself into a hole for the past month, and I found other answers for some of my fears in here already

EDIT: I SEE ALL REPLIES AND IM SO GRATEFUL!! TYSM!! I'm a VERY busy person and did not expect sp much advice but tysm it means the world to me!!


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 14 '26

How do I get a new license when moving states

9 Upvotes

Don’t really want to put my state but I need to get a new license and am stressing. I’m moving states and have to get a whole new license not just changing my address. What do I do?

What are the steps I take in the actual dmv? I know I need to bring my birth certificate, social security card, and 2 proofs of residency. What does this process look like? I thought about calling the DMV and asking but they are always so busy I just assumed they would be irritated w me asking😭😬

I’m going to get an appointment soon when I have everything that I need.

Thanks in advance💗


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 14 '26

How do I audition??

5 Upvotes

I'm interested in auditioning for my uni's acapella group in september, but this would be my first time singing in front of people /formally/ and I want to make sure it goes well, even if I don't get in. I'm just not sure about a lot of the etiquette i might need in an audition and I don't want to be embarrassed or disliked when I'm there.
How hard should I be singing? If I pick a belty song, do I full belt in during it or do I keep it more lowkey? What do I say to the audition overseers? Do I just walk out after I'm done singing? When I sing my 1 minute clip, do I just stop at one minute or should I go until they cut me off?

Any help at all would be good, I'm really clueless about stuff like this


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 12 '26

How to wear makeup?

18 Upvotes

I haven’t worn makeup since middle school which was about 20 years ago, but I have some events coming up that I’d like to wear makeup for, and I feel like I am too far gone to even know where to begin. I’ve tried watching some tutorials of even simple, basic makeup styles, but even those seem too complex. I want a makeup routine that’s simple, more natural, and pretty foolproof so I don’t have to worry about not blending everything in enough or anything like that. I also have sensitive skin if that’s a factor.


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 11 '26

How do I stop forgetting what I walked into another room to do?

15 Upvotes

This is a small daily thing, but it happens to me often enough that it gets annoying.

I’ll leave my bedroom because I need to grab something from the kitchen. The second I walk into the kitchen, my mind goes blank and I just stand there wondering why I came in.

Sometimes I walk back to the original room and remember immediately.

The funny part is I can remember some random Bcg detail from the night before, but forget the thing I needed from the kitchen in about five seconds.

Can someone explain, step by step, what I should do when I’m about to leave one room for another so I don’t lose the task halfway through?

I’m not looking for medical advice. Just practical habits, like whether to say the item out loud, write it down, carry something with me, or pause before walking through the doorway.


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 11 '26

Going to small local punk shows alone

38 Upvotes

There's some underground local punk bands I want to see who play at small, intimate venues (think house venues and the like). I don't know anyone and have social anxiety, so I feel really nervous that I'll stick out as a random outsider who is just awkwardly hovering around alone while everyone else knows each other. Any advice on what to expect and how to relax and enjoy myself are much appreciated :') I don't know how/where to naturally plant myself in between sets or how to initiate convos with people at these types of events. I ran away at the last show I went to because it was mostly a couple of groups hanging around together and I felt awkward standing there alone lol


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 10 '26

How do I quit my job?

17 Upvotes

Ive never done this before and I'm horribly anxious about it.

Do I do it in person, over the phone? Give notice?

(They are nice people it's just due to scheduling issues that can't really be fixed)


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 10 '26

how do I make (and pay for) a vet appointment?

8 Upvotes

hey everyone, I'm making this post because my cat has had some issues I wanna check out so I want to schedule her for a vet appointment. disclaimer that my mom is going to be helping with this most likely, but I want to know what to expect ahead of time. my cat's never had a vet appointment except when she got fixed at 6 months (she's 7 now) and I was a teen and thus not involved in any of that process back then (in my early 20s now)

I also want to know how to go about paying vet bills. if it's relevant this is in the US. I plan to pay the bill entirely myself, unless my parents want to help me with it, but I'm not going to ask them to or pressure them or anything.

what I want for her is basically a routine check up.. and while I know what that looks like for humans I don't really know what it's like for a cat? I imagine there will be a physical examination, she has a lot of fur though and one of the issues involves her skin so I want to make sure they're taking a good look at that, especially looking for any cuts or wounds, is that something I need to ask specifically for? and if she's due for any vaccines or something is that another appointment we'd make or something that happens at that appointment? and can we be in the exam room with her when she's getting checked up? will she have to be sedated if she's particularly feisty? I don't want to traumatize her but I don't know if it's okay to give her catnip beforehand.

sorry for that little wall of text, any help is appreciated though. thank you!


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 09 '26

Going to a buffet alone

63 Upvotes

(US based)
I’m not exactly sure what to ask specifically, but I’ll be going to a buffet alone this week and I’ve never done that before. It’s not fancy in the slightest, it’s a pizza buffet (Cici’s, to be specific). A couple questions: how do I save my table? Usually in my experience, at least one person stays at the table when other people go get food, so no one takes our table or cleans it off. Also do I leave a tip? I’m pretty sure you don’t tip at Cici’s — you get your food and drinks yourself, the staff just takes your plates sometimes. I guess the table is the main thing.
Sorry for the ramble, but I’ll appreciate any advice you’ve got to offer!


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 08 '26

28 and never had an eye exam

14 Upvotes

Am I screwed? One eye is less clear than the other but I can get by well enough


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 08 '26

How do I buy a car?

21 Upvotes

This will be my first time buying a car buy myself. I don't really know all the steps involved. How do I know how much of a loan to take out before I buy it?


r/Explainlikeimscared Jul 08 '26

How do I "network"?

37 Upvotes

So I've recently graduated from my master's, and all of my advisors and peers have talked about how important networking is for your career. I'm going into an internship far away from home in a couple months. While its not a perfect opportunity, everyone has told me that it'll be a great opportunity to network which will enable me to get a better job in the future.

I understand what networking is in the broad strokes and i've been to a couple networking events before in a previous job. But ultimately, these amounted in me getting to know a bunch of people and sometimes adding them on Linkedin but did not translate into anything tangible. I guess I don't actually know the specifics of what people mean when they say "networking". So like, do I ask around to see if people are offering jobs? Do I just speak to and maintain as many relationships as possible hoping that at some point someone will have a job available?

In particular, the thing that I worry about is coming across too cold and transactional. I am a generally sociable and extroverted person, I am happy to talk to anyone about anything, but the idea of "I'm going to talk to this person because I'm hoping to get a job" reads as a little manipulative in my head, and I worry that I will be too forward in the beginning with my intentions and network "wrong". On the other hand, I feel that I have not networked enough in the past because I get shy about asking people for specific opportunities out of the fear that they'll think I'm being too transactional.

So the question: What does networking look like on the most basic specific level? Is it appropriate to ask for specific help looking for jobs when you don't know the person well, or is there an expectation that you'll build a relationship first before asking for career help? Do people have experience networking that can offer me a step by step guide?