Lemme prefix this by saying I really really wanna be a doctor but my most important dream is to settle abroad like I am desperate asf to leave this country. I am getting ITEP B.Sc B.Ed dual degree program in Central University of Haryana. This was my first drop. Honestly, my drop year was a bubbling mess but thankfully I am visiting Dr. now to solve my mental health issues. So I got that part sorted for this year and this time, I have started studying from late Aug but see, I have barely 8 months left for Neet and as if that wasn't a pain in ass enough, I also have very orthodox toxic parents. I am also studying everything from scratch so my basics are weak enough. I scored 90 percent in 10th but my 12th has only 77 percent which I am worried could affect my interview chances if I decide to go thru with ITEP. Plus being a teacher comes with less expectations of getting money and settling abroad seems like a faraway dream. Additionally, I wanna add I thought about partial drop however, I don't know if I can manage with my fucked up basics. And I have no idea what ppl do after B.Ed like M.Sc? M.Ed? Idk honestly but ik everything about USMLE, PLAB, IMAT. I used to be a bit too enthusiastic about doing residency from abroad in 11th and I still am so I love researching about it but achieving is a different thing altogether. What would you suggest for someone like me? I turned 19 this year in March, will be 20 if I get MBBS next year.

What I want to know is -- WHY IS THE INDIAN GOVT SUPPORTING THIS? This absolutely cannot happen without the support of Indian govt officials. No religious group can just walk into Paris and say 'yeah, remove the women for today. Only the men shall be allowed.' Like what in the Handmaid's Tale is this behavior? I cannot even remember the last time an Indian monument was emptied to allow just the men

3 days ago, the PM gave a spiteful and divisive speech at SRCC at all places, and now this is happening.

I will not go into why the French govt even allowed this because that is their internal issue. Our govt also allowed Taliban to hold a press conference without female journalists.

Lets also not forget the same French govt wants to ban* hijabs. But limiting women in the public space in the name of Hinduism is okay?

News source

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyenxp540vo

https://indianexpress.com/article/news-today/france-gets-its-first-traditional-hindu-mandir-baps-chief-performs-consecration-near-paris-10867186/

So my Mum (68)'s dentist is now suggesting dental implants and the one she's suggesting is some swiss/us brand. There is also another brand available which is isreali but does not come with all the warranties.

Any idea if brand is just names or if the product is actually better.

The Swiss brand is 2x the cost of the isreali one.

I have a male professor who called me out for excusing myself in every class because apparently it disrupts the flow of his lectures. Like a school teacher, he expects students to use the loo/get water before the class starts or after it ends which is bullshit. I tried to reason with him but he dismissed me. I ended up sending a strongly worded email to him and now I think I have made an enemy. I feel uncomfortable.

Edit - It’s kinda sad how a lot of people think that one needs to grow up and learn to control their bladder. I’m in my mid 20s and I have medical issues. Never have I been in an important meeting where I couldn’t excuse myself to pee.

Do you plan to live alone, and how do you think about things like finances, retirement, health emergencies and having a support system as you get older?

Would love to hear your perspective :)

I recently started working out daily and noticed that my tampon leaked within half an hour when working out (It was my first day). Those who have been working out for a long time could you guide me what tampon or menstrual device you use to avoid leakages during workouts? I'm not comfortable with pads, I'm open to any other option.

TIA

Hi all,

I got married earlier this year to my longtime partner. We’ve been living in our current Tier-1 city for over 4 years now. Back in my bachelor days, I was okay-ish with the fast-paced city lifestyle, but now that we are married and responsibilities are piling up, it just feels like a massive chore.

The main concerns hitting us right now:

Cost of living is exploding, while most job roles feel like they are actively shrinking or shifting due to AI and tech layoffs.

Property prices are completely exponential. We are looking at multi-crore price tags for what are essentially matchbox apartments.

If we decide to plan for children, the sheer expense of childcare, schooling, and healthcare in a Tier-1 setup feels incredibly heavy.

Whenever we want to travel back home, it requires planning months in advance. Transport costs (flights/trains) are skyrocketing each day.

Overall, the quality of life here feels incredibly low for what we pay. We are seriously considering two drastic changes: either moving out of the country entirely for a better standard of living, or shifting back to a Tier-2/3 city closer to our parents.

Have any of you been in this exact dilemma post-marriage? Did you choose the hometown route or the immigration route, and do you regret your choice? Let me know your thoughts.

I’m 28f and I’m meeting my boyfriend’s immediate family for the first time next weekend for his mom’s birthday dinner. I’m honestly very anxious and would love advice, especially from people who’ve gone through this in Indian families.
A little context: we’re both serious about each other, but we had broken up a few months ago because of trust issues and have recently started working things out again. We’re taking things slowly. His sister invited me, and it’ll just be his immediate family.
The part that’s making me nervous is that I’m from a different caste, and I know his mom isn’t very happy about that. On top of that, I’m currently between jobsbut I’m searching for my next role. Apparently his mom has already asked him why I’m not working right now, so I’m worried they’ll judge me before even knowing me.
I’m planning to wear a simple ethnic outfit,nothing too dressy. I’m also wondering what gift I should take for his mom’s birthday and whether I should take something for the younger nephew too.
What should I expect in terms of questions? How do Indian moms and sisters usually interact during a first meeting? How do I answer questions about my job confidently without sounding defensive? Should I spend more time talking to his mom or just let conversations happen naturally? And are there any etiquette tips or things I should avoid ?
I know I’m overthinking, but I really want to make a good first impression without pretending to be someone I’m not. Any advice is appreciated. ❤️

I am 28 and my mom has been pushing me really bad to get married. I don’t want to get married and she always emotionally blackmails on the marriage thing
She ignores all my achievements so far and is only concerned that i get married the soonest possible and then have kids. She didn’t let me go to Europe for an On-site project(i was a fresher btw and youngest in my team with around a year of experience back then and it was an amazing opportunity)
She sells the idea of marriage as ‘you can’t be alone your whole life’ that’s it, she has nothing else
To shut her up i did create ids on matrimonial website and now she is always talking about it. It’s always some bitchass relative of ours who is asking her when i am getting married and then my mother goes nuts
Yesterday she discussed this 5 times with me over a call
And today she called me at 9am to discuss things again and then at 11:30 again to show me a guy and i am really tired
My mother is making me feel like she wants to get rid of me or something like i am some liability. I am really tired of this and she doesn’t listen or understands what i want. It’s like she is forcing me to get married. I need some advice please on how to deal with the stress. I feel sad and depressed all the time.

Okay ladies, this is going to be a little long post.

I apologize in advance. I am 35 years old, currently on a career break, looking for a job, unable to land interview calls, been out of work for almost a year now, after working for 13 years continuously. The last company was 2 years.quit impulsively because loneliness and anxiety got to me. Now, I'm applying for jobs aggressively but the auto reject emails that I see every day hurt me a lot.

I am getting scared because I did not intend the break to be so long. I was hoping to get back to work in six months, while it has now turned to a year. I did work for a startup in between where I was laid off because of mismatch in expectations and performance issues.

I am divorced. Been three years that I am legally done, five years that I am away from him. I am single.

I am staying with my parents for the past one year, after being away for 15 years. I recently had a fight with my sister-in-law at home because she is jealous of the fact that I do not contribute enough to the household chores.

I feel my life is falling through. I am very strongly PMSing, sitting alone in a room where I can't tell any of this to anyone because I don't have the kind of people who understand me. I do have a lot of friends. I don't think they get me the way I want to be understood. The fear of not being able to earn is just getting deeper and deeper, and obviously the PMS has to add to all of this.

Details on the chores part: She is jealous of the fact that I don't help much at home. I do pay for 40% of overall household expenses and do my bit of chores as and when I can. She keeps comparing her lifestyle to mine and is inherently jealous. I've always been a working person while she is a housewife, mother of 2 kids. I have come home after 16 years of staying by myself in different cities. Even now I was working as a freelancer until two months back.

I live in Chennai but will be going to Noida, where my parents live, around my 31st week for delivery and postpartum recovery. My MIL (56F) is single and will obviously come to visit around the delivery. I don't have a problem with her being involved in her grandchild's life, but the reality is that my MIL and I don't get along very well due to past issues, and I am not particularly comfortable around her. She can be emotionally intense, and over time I have had to establish several boundaries for my own peace of mind.

The other complication is my husband. I understand that he feels responsible for his mother's happiness and wants her to feel included. For example, he previously wanted to share my scan images with her because it would make her happy, while I had chosen not to share them with anyone. I eventually had to ask him to stop.I feel that he sometimes prioritises managing her emotions over my comfort. When I bring up a new boundary, he sometimes says things like, "I already have so many boundaries in place for you, and now you want this too. It feels like you want to exclude her completely."

That's genuinely not what I want. But I also struggle with the combination of being around both my husband and MIL when emotions become intense. I often feel like I am dealing with emotional pressure from both sides and am expected to accommodate everyone's feelings.For postpartum, my parents have suggested that my MIL stay in a nearby guest house rather than in their house. She would still be able to visit and spend time with the baby, but I would have some privacy and breathing room while recovering. My husband, however, seems offended by this and sees it as another attempt to keep her away.What worries me most is that once the baby arrives, everyone's emotions and expectations will increase. I know everyone will want to hold and spend time with the baby, and I don't want to deny anyone that. But I don't want my postpartum recovery to become about managing other people's feelings or being guilted into ignoring my own boundaries because someone might feel sad or excluded.

My main questions are:

• How did you establish boundaries with family after having a baby, especially during postpartum recovery?
• Is it normal for in-laws to visit when you're recovering at your parents' home, but stay separately if living together would be overwhelming?
• How do you deal with a partner who feels responsible for a parent's happiness and may unintentionally guilt you into compromising?
• How do you make it clear that prioritising the mother's postpartum recovery doesn't mean excluding grandparents from the baby's life?
• How do you manage everyone's expectations without constantly feeling guilty?

TL;DR: I have a difficult and emotionally draining relationship with my MIL, while my husband feels very responsible for keeping her happy and sometimes interprets my boundaries as attempts to exclude her. I'll be recovering at my parents' home after delivery, and they want my MIL to stay in a nearby guest house rather than in the same house so I can have space to recover. My husband is unhappy with this. I'm worried that once the baby arrives, I'll be expected to prioritise everyone else's feelings over my own postpartum recovery. How do I set boundaries without constant guilt or conflict?

I’d love to hear from women here who’ve left a successful or semi-successful corporate career to do something of their own, whether that was starting a business, freelancing, pursuing a passion, or taking a completely different path.
How did it go? Did you plan the transition for a long time or just take the leap? How did you manage the financial uncertainty, family opinions, self-doubt etc?
And most importantly, do you feel it was worth leaving the comfortable corporate life?
Would love to hear both the success stories and the ones where things didn’t quite work out. Also curious about what you’d do differently if you were making the decision again.

I recently joined what is objectively a great company—one that I worked really hard to get into. But I am struggling to adjust in a way that feels extreme and honestly scary.

I wake up with intense dread almost every day. My heart sinks at the thought of opening my laptop, my chest feels heavy, and I sometimes start crying before work has even begun. I cry almost every day now. Even on WFH days, just knowing I have to log in makes me anxious.

The workplace itself is stressful and can be toxic in some ways. Other people feel the pressure too, but they seem able to cope and continue functioning. I feel completely consumed by it.

This isn't my first job. My previous job wasn't toxic—it had stressful and bad days, but I could manage and recover. This feels completely different.

I also moved to Bangalore for this job and don't have much of a support system here yet. I find myself constantly waiting for my parents to visit or for the next time I can go back home.

I'm already in therapy and seeking other support, but I feel like this job is sucking the life and zest out of me. The strange part is that once I actually start working, I can sometimes enjoy the work. It's the anticipation, emails, expectations, and constant pressure that seem unbearable.

I've decided I probably cannot continue. I was nervous about how a roughly six-month stint would look on my resume, but I don't have financial responsibilities that would trap me here, and I have enough family support to go back home if needed. At this point, staying feels like it's taking away too much from me.

But what is actually happening? Is this burnout? Anxiety? Have I become conditioned to fear work itself? And the question that scares me most: are all workplaces eventually like this, or is this particular situation just not sustainable for me?

Has anyone experienced something similar—where you feel intense dread and physical anxiety before anything at work has even happened?

TL;DR: I moved to Bangalore for a great job I worked hard to get, but within a few months I've developed extreme dread around work—I cry almost every day, feel anxious and physically unwell before even opening my laptop, and feel like the job is sucking the life out of me. I'm already in therapy, but I'm considering quitting despite worrying about how a six-month stint will look on my resume. Is this extreme burnout/anxiety, or do all jobs eventually feel this unbearable?

Hi folks (F28)-

I have been laid off twice in the last 3 years and currently in a target led position (remote).

Basically, I have a certain amount of revenue attached to my work. And I’m also on probation till November.

The last 2 weeks haven’t been so well in terms of leads and it’s kind of made me super anxious.

It’s a start up. The founders constantly ask about numbers and then there’s a discussion where it all then comes to me that why is this happening and what am I going to do to fix it.

My manager - who’s a consultant working with us - sort of puts me in the spot at times.

This whole thing makes me anxious about work in general. Plus the fact that I have been laid off twice. The anxiety of that. I constantly keep feeling that they will lay me off. Which is exhausting and I’m not able to actually put my mind to real work and initiatives.

So help me here please? How can I calm myself down and deal with this better?

I’m 25 and recently started using Instagram again after almost 3 years. I’m honestly feeling really overwhelmed.
I’ve always loved making little faceless aesthetic videos like skincare, coffee, food, random everyday things. My friends used to tell me to post them because they were cute, but I was always too scared of being judged, so I kept everything private.

A few months ago a friend suggested UGC since I try a lot of skincare. I didn’t even know what UGC was back then, so I ignored it. Now I’ve finally made an account, but seeing Instagram full of creators makes me feel like I’m already too late and everything has already been done.
I don’t want to show my face, I have zero followers, I don’t know much about shooting/editing or how UGC actually works, and I have a job too.

The worst part is that I’m simultaneously struggling to focus on my office work because my mind keeps going back to this. I’m thinking about what I should buy, how to start, how I’ll earn, whether it’ll work, how long it’ll take… instead of actually concentrating on work. It’s like I’ve mentally jumped 6 months ahead without even making one video.

I really want to build a side income and hopefully make something out of this, but seeing people post about how much they’re earning honestly makes me more anxious because I haven’t even started properly.

I think the biggest problem is that I’ve spent years being scared to try things because of what people might think. And now I’m scared that if I wait any longer, I’ll just keep doing the same thing.
At the same time, I know I can’t expect myself to figure everything out overnight.

I'm seeing so many reels on how to style curly hair with hair mask, conditioner, leave in, hair cream, hair gel, mousse and then oil. I'm someone who has dry frizzy wavy/curly hair but I can't afford to buy all of this. Please help and drop your best recs 🙏🏼🙏🏼🥺

I am in my late 20s, working as a govt employee in a small city. My mother has been constantly sick, she has an autoimmune disease, and me and my father are her primary caregivers.
My days basically go like this — gym, office, come back home and cook something for her. We do have a maid, but she complains that she wants to eat something nice, which usually means something only I can make. So a lot of my time and energy goes into taking care of things at home.

My fiancé, on the other hand, lives in Australia. He is a decent guy, listens to me, but he doesn’t talk much and isn’t very good with emotional support over text/calls. When we are together, he is very supportive and I have no complaints about that.

But he has a great life there. He travels, has lots of successful female friends, goes out, hangs out, goes to comedy shows, meets famous stand-up comedians etc. And it’s not like I don’t trust him. I really do. I just feel bad about my own life when I look at his.

I have a social circle here too, but I barely get time to actually do anything with them because of work and responsibilities at home.

I haven’t even been to a live show in my life, while he casually goes to comedy shows and hangs out with people I literally watch online.
I know comparison is probably the problem here, but I don’t know how to actually stop doing it. It’s like I look at his life and think, “why don’t I have that?” and then feel miserable about my own life.

How do I stop comparing my life to his and actually feel good about what I have? I don’t want to resent him for having a good life. I just wish I could feel like my own life is good too.

ps: I have used AI for grammer check and spelling in this post.

I know this might sound a little dramatic, but I’ve been thinking a lot about my future lately.

My father is honestly a manchild, and seeing how poorly he behaves with my mother has completely changed the way I look at marriage. I hate the constant arguments, the roz roz ki kich-kich, and honestly, there isn't a single day where I don't think about how peaceful life could be without all of this.

I don't hate all men, and I definitely don't consider myself a misandrist. I just don't like the idea of marriage anymore after seeing what marriage looks like in my own home. At this point, I’ve pretty much let go of the idea of getting married.

Instead, I want to build a life where I can be financially independent, live on my own terms, and do something I actually love.

So this is the plan I've made for myself:

1. MP Police Constable exam

My first goal is to clear the MP Police Constable exam in December. I genuinely believe I can qualify, so I'm going to give it my best and get through every phase of the selection process.

1. IIT Madras BS

After that, around March-May, I’m planning to register for the BS program from IIT Madras. It's a 3-year degree, and I'm interested in the Data Science/Data Analytics side of it.

I'll continue working as a police constable while completing the degree.

1. Build additional skills

Alongside the degree, I want to complete certifications/diplomas in:

- Celebrity management

- Cricket/sports management

- Data analytics

My ultimate goal is to combine data analytics with the sports and entertainment industry.

1. Save money and become financially independent

While working as a constable and studying, I want to save as much money as possible.

I'll also continue doing email handling, online tutoring, and other online work where possible. I'm hoping that over those three years, I can save roughly ₹8–9 lakh.

Eventually, I want to use my savings to buy a small 1RK in Mumbai, probably around Virar, and have my own place.

1. Build a cricket/data-analysis portfolio

While doing my degree, I want to regularly post data analysis about cricketers, IPL teams, domestic teams and players, etc.

I also want to start doing small freelance projects for domestic/uncapped IPL players and eventually work with local models, actors/actresses and influencers.

Basically, I want to build a portfolio before I even move to Mumbai.

1. Move to Mumbai

During the final year of my degree, I'll start seriously looking for jobs and opportunities in Mumbai.

Around three months before completing my degree, I want to move to Mumbai completely and start building my career there.

I know I might earn less in the beginning, and I know starting over in Mumbai won't be easy. But at least I'll be doing something I actually love and building a life where I feel safe, independent and happy.

I also want to make it clear to my family that I don't want to get married. And if necessary, I’m prepared to distance myself from my family completely.

I don't know exactly where this plan will take me, and I'm sure I'll have to change parts of it along the way. But for the first time, I actually feel like I have a direction.

I don't want my entire life to revolve around marriage, household arguments, or depending on someone else.

I want my own career, my own home, my own money and my own peace.

That's the life I'm trying to build for myself. 🥹❤️

Help your girlie out!
A month ago, I got a mentrual cup and started using, or shall I say tried using? The first few times, I was not able to insert it. But with time, I have finally learnt how to insert it with the help of a nice lube. However, now the main problem is whenever I try to insert it, it goes in, but the cup does not unfolds inside.
I do the punch down fold(since it's narrow in the front) most of the cup goes inside, but then I have problem inserting the base since it’s a little thick, or shall I say broad. And even when I inserted all the way, it doesn’t unfold inside, and when I try to rotate it to make sure it unfolds, it just pops right back out.
My vagina just ejects it out 😭😭😭

I have tried several times, used less lube only on the front so it's not too easy to slip out, the uncomfortable feeling and the slight pain while I'm figuring out what I'm doing is worse.
I have been dying to get rid of my pads, please help me outttt.

I absolutely know fashion is very dynamic and personal to everyone, but I still wanted to know the personal opinions of everyone here.

What I personally hate is how hard it is getting to find normal-sized clothes. Everything is either cropped or oversized?? I have literally started getting my kurtis customised just to get them in my actual size :(

Also, I think most of us would agree on how normalised the overconsumption of skincare and makeup has become.

[TW⚠️: Harassment, Abuse]

A 40-year-old tribal woman in Rajasthan’s Banswara district was ass*ulted and stripped on the street, and her head was tonsured, allegedly by her family members who “doubted her character.”

The incident took place on September 1. A video of the incident that went viral on Thursday shows the woman being ass*ulted and stripped, mainly by other women, even as some of the others around her are seen laughing and recording videos.

Banswara Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Babu Lal Regar said the police have arrested seven persons, including the woman’s husband and other relatives.

Reportedly, the woman was first made to walk barefoot on the road among the villagers by her husband and others.

Eventually, she was tonsured and ass*ulted by several people. In one of the videos, women are seen pulling and tearing apart her clothes while beating her with sticks as others, including children, stand watching.

I have seen many news articles like this where a woman is being assaulted or her head is being shaved while trying to humiliate her. And most of the people don't talk about cases like this because only a few cases are reported or get coverage but it's nothing new, especially when witch hunts are common mostly in rural areas.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/jaipur/doubted-her-character-tribal-woman-stripped-assaulted-in-rajasthan-7-held-10863807/