Hi y’all,
Long time lurker, first time poster here and I could really use some advice.
I, 33, met my girlfriend, 35 on a dating website about 11 months ago. It was very different to anyone else I’d been with. It wasn’t that intense passionate sexual kinda chemistry, but it was something. We just clicked like I haven't had.
Unfortunately we knew she’d have to move interstate temporarily for a work contract for 10 months about 2 months after us meeting. We spent a lot of time together over that 2 months. During that time I learnt a lot about her and she intrigued me. She was avoidant in some ways. Non-committal, which was fine as we had discussed openness and although we agreed to it and went over rules/guidelines, neither of us have done anything about it. With her leaving we figured it would just be something casual.
However, after she left, I visited her, she visited me, we'd go on trips together, and this pattern has continued up until now. She’ll be back next month. So obviously, it became a lot more than casual - I'd never done long distance either so that was all new.
Since we met, she's had a lot going on in her personal and family life, and her emotions are very fiery and up and down. I have always been there to support her through it all. At about 5 months in, she stayed with me for a long period at one point and we didn’t do too well with it. She had a lot of trouble expressing emotions properly… and I think the hardest one for me was that she could not handle any thing to do with us being serious, whether it be a conversation about ‘us’. I think this was our downfall. We lost the honeymoon period too quickly. We weren’t ready to be in the same house.
Despite that, we continued our relationship, with small problems here and there but nothing drastic. We maintained our visiting, and they were a mix of everything. Not as romantic, but still fun. Not as sexual, but still sometimes. I think the distance hasn't helped because when we see each other, its not our normal lives. Its just us, 24/7.
Fast forward to now, 2 months until she returns. She has been extra distant and avoidant. I know she’s busy but she hardly wants to talk to me, she doesn’t seem to care about what’s going on in my life, and things don’t feel good. I want to make it work because I love her.
She told me that although she loves me and I’m her best friend, she just doesn't know what she wants. She needs time to think about it. She can’t give me an answer. She doesn’t want to end it, but doesn’t know what she wants. She doesn’t like the idea of being with only one person… and apparently this is a normal behaviour from her at this point in a relationship - she gets itchy and irritated and everything the partner does annoys her. I’m meant to go see her next week, I told her I could cancel and she said not to.
When I put it like that, it makes her sound horrible and she is not. She just struggles with feelings and emotions. She’s got a huge heart and I love her so much. I'm happy to give her space and step back a bit if it will help. But I guess what I'm trying to know is, what the hell do I do???
I don’t want to be something someone is unsure about, but I also know how much love there is there and I'd hate to give up on that without trying.
Please help me - be as brutually honest as you need to be!
Thanks!

Hello everyone, first of all English isn't my first language, I'm on mobile, and I tend to ramble, so I'm sorry about that. I (34F) am in a short relationship (4 months) with L (28M), he's very kind and sweet, and I'm still adapting to this whole new relationship thing, for this last sentence I'll give you some background. My last serious relationship lasted for 3,5 years between me (24F at the time) and F (21M at the time). It started after we matched on a dating app and we went on our first date. Our first date was crazy perfect, he picked me up on a garden and we went to a tattoo/piercing shop where we got pierced. We talked for hours until evening, and he invited me to eat pizza at his place with his dad lol. It was super late by then, and I lived far far away, so we slept together just cuddling, nothing else. Since then we would meet each other every day. One time (6 months into the relationship) he rear ended another vehicle while going back home. So I decided to move closer to him, because the commute was getting to us. So I did. One week into the new lease, I had an accident and broke my ankle. So he decided that it was better for me to stay at his place to recover (bigger house, access to vehicles, and accessible in general). Three months and two surgeries after I decided it was time for me to go home, but he would convince me to "postpone just one more week" every time, and I would always oblige (I know the little doormat I sometimes am). And things would go like that until I hit the one year mark into that lease. And I said to him "or I move back home or I move definitely here, there's no middle therm", so I moved into his place. I offered to pay rent but he refused. Until this moment the relationship was perfect, his father also lived at that place, and we would always cook together, sing together, go for short trips, etc. But after a while I started to have symptoms of anxiety and depression. Until one day I had a panic attack by just sitting in front of my computer at work. I started to treat that and the doctors said I would have to stop work for a bit, because it was super serious (I don't want to go into too much details for that). At the beginning he was super supportive, but now I know that to have a relationship with someone w/ depression and anxiety it's super hard, 0/10 not recommend. So he and his friends started to be petty to me, and I noticed. One day me, him and his friend went for dinner and I got catchup for me. His friends started to berate me on how catchup is bad for my health and that I should stop using it. I simple replied that every time I see him he is smoking his cigarettes and I never said nothing. Or one time that his friend started to talk bad about gold digger women and insinuate that I was one, because I wasn't working. Before stopping to work I had a career in IT, while my bf had an assistant warehouse job, and I used to earn way more than him (that was never important to me before, honestly). So I said "I know I'm not working, but as soon as I get better I'll earn 4 times more than my bf, so your argument doesn't apply". Just wanted to point out that I had my savings, and I was living off it, paying for food, and other bills. My bf then was very mean and cold to me too, and at one point I asked "Do you want me to move out?" and he said "yes". "After that will you break up with me?" And he said "yes". So I activated my survival mode, and started to work my way into leaving. Between that, and getting a job, I started to pack my things quietly, and applying for jobs. All that while mourning the relationship. For him, I was doing nothing, but I was actually already in the way of signing a new lease, going to interviews and packing my things (and hiding in the house), I wanted to just disappear, I felt humiliated to not be able to leave in the next day after that talk. One day he went after me for sex, and I said "don't be like that, I feel like a piece of meat", he answered "so I'm going downstairs to get some salt then", and from that moment on, all the good feelings I had were replaced by disgust and disdain. A couple days after he asked me what I was going to do on next weekend, because he would go on a trip and wouldn't be home, and I said "nothing". I actually went to help the landlord to clean and paint the new place, since I wanted it to be ready ASAP. And I could move in next Wednesday. When I broke the news to him, he looked surprised and said "already??". So I kinda moved all out in less than a day. After that he would always go after me. I was 27 by then, and from that moment on the idea of a relationship would always make me sick. So I had the crazy teenager phase (since I always had long relationships before) and decided that I would be alone. I started to draw a plan to move to New Zealand, as far away from my ex possible and the plans didn't go through. But 3 years later I moved to Europe, my ex would always send messages saying he missed me, even when he was on a relationship, and in one of my birthdays he sent me a picture from his wallet with my picture in it. I replied politely, but I felt disdain honestly. We haven't talked in years now, honestly, and I'm alright with that. I was single for 7 years icking the idea of going through all that again. Ok, so now, what's happening? I'm 34 now, and I have my cute sweet new boyfriend, and every time he comes here to sleep with me I dream that I sneak out the bed to sleep with my ex. Even though I would never do that, even if he was in other bed next to us. I always feel guilty and dirty, like I'm cheating. I spend the days thinking that I should tell my bf, but I don't want to hurt him. All I feel for my ex is disdain and ick. But I feel like I'm hiding something. What do I do?
TL;DR!: Every time my bf sleeps over, I dream that I sneak out of the bed to go to sleep with my ex, and my brain thinks I'm cheating.

Hello there, fellow roleplayers! I’m a 24 year old female from Europe and I’ve been interested in working on a fun and interesting story with a creative partner for a while, to be more specific, I’m looking for a zombie apocalypse setting, a story which might could involve multiple themes.
I am also really into using references and face claims for characters, so let me know if that’s your thing because it’s a big plus!
All that being said, I am 100% open to discussing this with you before starting anything. I would love to hear your thoughts, ideas and preferences! Roleplays are done on Discord only. Thank you for reading, feel free to reach out to let me know if you are interested.

This is my story: My girlfriend (F/24) broke with me (M/24) last week. We had our on and offs but 2 months ago we discussed and had a deep talk about our future and we decided to continue, where I told her that I will try to change all the things that she didn't like to me and give her much more attention (these past 2 years I have been extremely busy with my work and studies and we have been in long distance, so I have tried to stay near of her as much as I could but maybe not at my best. I wanted to continue my studies abroad so I could have a better future for both of us)... Short story long, last week she said that she likes the progress and the position where our relationship is now is what she really wanted from us. The day before break up we were facetiming and discussing and very happy, I wanted to ask the next days about the idea of getting engaged since I am in the end of my studies and thinking to go back to my country. Suddenly the next day she told me that she want to break up, she continues by saying these "classic words" that she loves me, and that the next girl would be lucky to have me, but she just doesn't think that we are a good fit, after +4 years of relationship?! ... I tried a lot to convince her that she is making a mistake and that she has to think more about that, since honestly she is the only girl I want and everything I did was to have a better future for us, I never thought of anyone else or even talked to any other girl. She said that it's done.
I want to win her back. I started no contact the next day, not to heal myself but to win her. The other day she put my favorite picture of her as a profile picture in social media, why? I don't want a future without her. Can anybody share any success story since our relationship was done in good terms. and I truly believe that she doesn't have anyone else in here life and that she loves me, and she has also fought a lot for our relationship. I just don't understand why when we agreed to continue stronger, and we were actually going stronger. Can anybody give me something?

Hello everyone :)
I (24 F) and my bf (25 M) have been together for almost a year and a half, and we have a really happy and fulfilling relationship overall. We were incredibly happy being together before long distance began a year into our relationship, and long distance has been going smoothly for the past almost 6 months. The one thing that’s been an issue has been talking about a future together. I really want a future with him, I have had multiple relationships and I know how special he is and he’s truly the most amazing person, and I’m constantly researching and finding information about closing the gap and moving where he is in less than two years. Although my boyfriend says he can’t definitively say that we’ll get married one day, he doesn’t want to make a future with me a goal either (so he doesn’t get disappointed if it doesn’t work out). He says he wants a future with me, but that he doesn’t know if we’ll realistically be able to ever close the gap, and sometimes he worries we’re just being crazy by continuing long distance (even though he says he’s super happy). He also says having me move there puts so much pressure on him and that he feels I’ll never be able to integrate fully and that moving for love isn’t the smartest idea if I would’ve never moved to that country if it wasn’t for him…..It’s hard on him because we met while he was an international student in my hometown and he said he always saw himself moving to my country and never me going to his, but he doesn’t seem to want to try and move to mine anymore, so the only way the relationship can work is me trying to go there but us talking about that puts too much stress on us both. I get stressed because he always seems like he has no faith in it working and seems to be questioning the relationship long term, and he gets stressed because he can’t handle the idea of me moving there really. He also wonders if I would be the same amount of happy and in love with someone I found in my home country, but l simply just want to be with him. It’s my boyfriend’s first relationship so maybe he needs to figure that out for himself, before creating a future long distance with his first love? Idk every time I offer a breakup during these conversations, he ALWAYS denies it and says he’s happy and in love now and wants to stay. He also worries if we try this for a couple of years and it doesn’t work out that I’ll regret it, and that it’ll be hard for me to find someone else since I’ll be 27 by then….. is this all healthy and normal in a relationship? Have any of you guys had these experiences?

Hi everyone! This is my first post on Reddit, trying to be specific so I hope it’s not too long...
I have inherited the following gear from a deceased relative: Nikon D3300, Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 VC, Sigma DG 70-300mm f/4-5.6, and Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 (which I don’t use). I’ve been using it for a few months now, quite regularly and in many different situations, along with quite a bit of reading. While I have to improve at composition and post-processing, I’m reaching some of the limits of my gear, namely low-light performance.
I regularly shoot family/friends events like birthdays, and some religious events, mostly in buildings with bad-mediocre lighting I can’t do much about. This is all handheld, plus I often can’t use the (inbuilt) flash for several reasons. I use the Tamron in those cases: max aperture, shutter at 1/60 (or 1/30 in extreme cases) and auto ISO regularly hitting the defined limit (3200, higher gets really noisy)... PP does help (I sometimes do it), but photography is just a hobby or a help/service, so I would like to start with better low-light performance at the capture level.
Therefore, I am looking at faster lens(es) in the short/medium range, like up to 100mm. I’m aiming for 1.8 or even 1.4 aperture, but I’m a bit confused about which lenses would be most relevant to invest in, since I would like to keep it below let’s say 600 € (I’m in France, and yes I will buy used).

1. I’ve gotten used to the comfort of the Tamron’s range. I know fast zooms are heavy and expensive, but I don’t think I will be satisfied with only primes. On the other hand, looks like no zoom (at a reasonable price) can beat the 1.8/1.4 aperture of primes.
2. If I take an APS-C lens (which makes sense right now), I’m struggling to get rid of the fear that IF I EVER get a full-frame it will become rather useless.
3. If I get a (crop?) mirrorless one day, would a DSLR crop lens work on it? Guess it depends on the brand and other details...

I believe the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG HSM would be a great zoom, more affordable, lightweight and versatile than e.g. the Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 DC HSM Art. However, on APS-C the range of the former would start at 36mm (did I get this number right?), and I know I would miss out on the wide angle. I could add the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Art, but given its price (and weight) I wonder if it wouldn’t be smarter (and cheaper) to get one or two f/1.4 or 1.8 primes in that range. There’s also the cheaper Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM, but it would overlap with the 24-70 range and the aperture is the same. Maybe f/2.8 will already be a great improvement from the Tamron (esp. after some zooming) and I don’t need to aim higher...
What do you guys think? What approach would you suggest? And, more importantly, what specific lenses (primes or zooms) can you point at? Brands, models and their versions, etc. I prefer to spend a bit more if it’s worth it btw. Macro (small flowers) is also a + but not decisive.
TL;DR: What combination of fast lenses (primes or zooms up to ~ 100mm) would you suggest for good low-light performance on a Nikon D3300, in a budget of ~ 600€? First time purchasing gear.

TradingView.com.com is a popular online platform that provides a comprehensive suite of tools and resources for traders, investors, and analysts to analyze and trade financial markets. In this chapter, we will provide an overview of TradingView.com, its features, and its benefits, setting the stage for a deeper dive into the platform's capabilities in subsequent chapters.

What is TradingView.com?

TradingView.com is a cloud-based platform that enables users to analyze and trade financial markets, including stocks, forex, futures, and cryptocurrencies. Founded in 2011, TradingView.com has grown to become one of the largest and most popular trading communities in the world, with over 10 million registered users.

Key Features of TradingView.com

TradingView.com offers a wide range of features that make it an attractive platform for traders and analysts. Some of the key features include:
1. Charting and Technical Analysis: TradingView.com provides a powerful charting platform that allows users to create custom charts with various indicators, drawing tools, and annotations. Users can also access a vast library of pre-built indicators and templates.
2. Backtesting and Paper Trading: TradingView.com allows users to backtest and paper trade their strategies using historical data, enabling them to refine their trading ideas and test their performance.
3. Community and Social Trading: TradingView.com has a large and active community of users who share their ideas, strategies, and insights. Users can follow other traders, participate in discussions, and share their own ideas and insights.
4. Alerts and Notifications: TradingView.com provides a robust alert system that allows users to set custom alerts based on market conditions, technical indicators, and other criteria.
5. Data Feeds: TradingView.com offers a range of data feeds, including real-time and historical data, for various markets and instruments.
6. Scripting and Automation: TradingView.com's PineScript language allows users to create custom indicators, strategies, and automated trading systems.
7. Mobile Apps: TradingView.com offers mobile apps for iOS and Android devices, enabling users to access the platform on-the-go.

Benefits of Using TradingView.com

TradingView.com offers several benefits to its users, including:
1. Improved Trading Decisions: TradingView.com's charting and analysis tools enable users to make more informed trading decisions.
2. Access to a Large Community: TradingView.com's community provides users with access to a vast network of traders, analysts, and experts.
3. Customization and Automation: TradingView.com's scripting and automation capabilities allow users to create custom strategies and automate their trading.
4. Real-time Data and Alerts: TradingView.com's real-time data and alert system enable users to stay up-to-date with market movements and react quickly to market changes.
5. Cost-Effective: TradingView.com offers a range of pricing plans, including a free version, making it an accessible platform for traders and analysts.

Conclusion

In this chapter, we have provided an overview of TradingView.com, its features, and its benefits. TradingView.com is a powerful platform that offers a range of tools and resources for traders, analysts, and investors. Whether you are a seasoned trader or just starting out, TradingView.com provides a comprehensive suite of tools to help you analyze and trade financial markets. In the next chapter, we will delve deeper into the charting and technical analysis capabilities of TradingView.com.

Chapter 2: Creating an Account and Setting Up Your Profile

As a new user, creating an account and setting up your profile is the first step in exploring the world of [Platform/Service]. In this chapter, we will guide you through a step-by-step process to create an account and set up your profile, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience.

Section 1: Creating an Account

To create an account, follow these steps:
1. Visit the Sign-up Page: Go to the [Platform/Service] website and click on the "Sign Up" or "Create an Account" button. This will take you to the sign-up page.
2. Enter Your Email Address: Enter a valid email address to serve as your login credentials. Make sure to use a unique and memorable email address, as it will be used to reset your password if needed.
3. Choose a Username: Choose a unique and memorable username that will be used to identify you on the platform. This can be your real name, a nickname, or a combination of letters and numbers.
4. Create a Password: Create a strong and unique password for your account. A strong password should be at least 8 characters long and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
5. Confirm Your Password: Re-enter your password to confirm it. This ensures that you have entered the correct password.
6. Verify Your Account: Click on the "Create Account" button to create your account. You will receive an email verification link to verify your email address.

Section 2: Setting Up Your Profile

Once you have created your account, it's time to set up your profile. Follow these steps:
1. Fill Out Your Profile Information: Fill out your profile information, including your name, birthday, and location. This information will be used to personalize your experience and connect with other users.
2. Add a Profile Picture: Upload a profile picture that represents you. This can be a photo of yourself, a logo, or an avatar.
3. Add a Bio: Write a brief bio that describes yourself, your interests, or your expertise. This will help others get to know you better and find common ground.
4. Customize Your Profile Settings: Customize your profile settings to control what information is visible to others and what notifications you receive.
5. Connect with Others: Start connecting with other users by sending friend requests or joining groups related to your interests.

Tips and Best Practices

· Use a strong and unique password for your account.
· Keep your profile information up-to-date and accurate.
· Be cautious when sharing personal information or connecting with strangers.
· Use the platform's built-in features to block or report suspicious or inappropriate behavior.
· Respect other users' privacy and boundaries.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully created an account and set up your profile. You are now ready to explore the world of [Platform/Service] and start connecting with others. Remember to keep your account information secure, be respectful of others, and have fun exploring the platform. In the next chapter, we will dive deeper into the features and functionality of [Platform/Service].

Chapter 3: Navigating the TradingView.com

Interface

As a trader or investor, it's essential to understand the TradingView.com interface to get the most out of this powerful platform. In this chapter, we'll take a comprehensive tour of the TradingView.com interface and its various components. By the end of this chapter, you'll be well-versed in navigating the platform and ready to start exploring its features.

Section 1: The TradingView.com

Dashboard

The TradingView.com dashboard is the main hub of the platform, providing an overview of your account, market data, and other essential features. Let's break down the key components of the dashboard:
1. Header Bar: The header bar at the top of the screen displays your username, account balance, and other account information.
2. Navigation Menu: The navigation menu allows you to access various sections of the platform, including your watchlists, charts, and settings.
3. Market Data: The market data section provides real-time quotes for various assets, including stocks, forex, and cryptocurrencies.
4. Alerts: The alerts section allows you to set custom alerts for specific market conditions, such as price movements or news events.
5. Watchlists: The watchlists section enables you to create and manage custom lists of symbols, making it easy to track your favorite assets.

Section 2: Charting and Analysis

TradingView.com is renowned for its powerful charting capabilities, allowing you to create custom charts with various indicators, studies, and drawing tools. Let's explore the key features of the charting interface:
1. Chart Types: TradingView.com offers a range of chart types, including line charts, candlestick charts, and Renko charts.
2. Indicators: The platform comes with a vast library of built-in indicators, including moving averages, RSI, and Bollinger Bands.
3. Drawing Tools: The drawing tools allow you to annotate your charts with lines, shapes, and text.
4. Studies: Studies are custom indicators created by the TradingView.com community, offering a wide range of trading strategies and techniques.
5. PineScript: PineScript is a programming language used to create custom indicators and strategies.

Section 3: Community and Social Trading

TradingView.com is more than just a trading platform – it's a community-driven platform where traders and investors share ideas, strategies, and insights. Let's explore the community features:
1. PineCoders: PineCoders is a community of developers who create custom indicators and strategies using PineScript.
2. TradingView.com Blog: The TradingView.com blog features articles, analysis, and insights from experienced traders and investors.
3. TradingView.com Forum: The forum is a hub for discussion, debate, and learning, where traders and investors share their experiences and ask questions.
4. Watchlists: Watchlists allow you to share your favorite symbols with others, making it easy to collaborate and learn from each other.
5. PineScript Challenges: PineScript challenges are community-driven initiatives where developers create custom indicators and strategies, and the community votes on the best submissions.

Section 4: Customization and Settings

As you become more comfortable with the TradingView.com interface, you'll want to customize your experience to suit your needs. Let's explore the customization options:
1. Theme: TradingView.com offers a range of themes, allowing you to personalize the look and feel of the platform.
2. Layout: The layout options enable you to customize the arrangement of the platform's components, such as the chart, indicators, and alerts.
3. Notifications: The notification settings allow you to customize the types of notifications you receive, including market data updates and alert notifications.
4. Security: The security settings enable you to set up two-factor authentication, password recovery, and other security measures to protect your account.

Conclusion

Navigating the TradingView.com interface is an essential step in unlocking the full potential of this powerful platform. By understanding the various components of the dashboard, charting and analysis tools, community features, and customization options, you'll be well-equipped to start exploring the platform and developing your trading skills. In the next chapter, we'll dive deeper into the world of PineScript, exploring the programming language and its applications in trading and investing.

Chapter 4: Understanding Charts and Time Frames

In this chapter, we will delve into the world of charts and time frames, a fundamental concept in technical analysis. We will explore the different types of charts, time frames, and how to use them effectively on TradingView.com. By the end of this chapter, you will have a solid understanding of how to use charts and time frames to analyze and trade the markets.

What are Charts and Time Frames?

Charts and time frames are the foundation of technical analysis. A chart is a graphical representation of a security's price action over a specific period. Time frames, on the other hand, refer to the duration of the data displayed on the chart. In other words, time frames determine how much data is displayed on the chart and how often the data is updated.

Types of Charts

There are several types of charts, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The most common types of charts are:
1. Line Chart: A line chart connects the closing prices of a security over a specific period, creating a continuous line. This chart is useful for identifying trends and patterns.
2. Candlestick Chart: A candlestick chart displays the high, low, open, and close prices of a security over a specific period. Each candle represents a specific time period, and the color of the candle indicates whether the price closed higher or lower than the previous day's close.
3. Bar Chart: A bar chart is similar to a candlestick chart but does not display the open and close prices. Instead, it shows the high and low prices, as well as the open and close prices.
4. Renko Chart: A Renko chart is a type of chart that uses a unique algorithm to create a chart that is not based on time. Instead, it uses price movements to create a chart that is more focused on the price action.

Time Frames

Time frames determine the duration of the data displayed on the chart. Common time frames include:
1. 1-minute: A 1-minute chart displays the price action over a 1-minute period.
2. 5-minute: A 5-minute chart displays the price action over a 5-minute period.
3. 15-minute A 15-minute chart displays the price action over a 15-minute period.
4. 30-minute: A 30-minute chart displays the price action over a 30-minute period.
5. 1-hour: A 1-hour chart displays the price action over a 1-hour period.
6. 4-hour: A 4-hour chart displays the price action over a 4-hour period.
7. Daily: A daily chart displays the price action over a 1-day period.
8. Weekly: A weekly chart displays the price action over a 1-week period.
9. Monthly: A monthly chart displays the price action over a 1-month period.

Using Charts and Time Frames on TradingView.com

TradingView.com is a popular platform for charting and analyzing financial markets. Here's how to use charts and time frames on TradingView.com:
1. Creating a Chart: To create a chart on TradingView.com, go to the "Charts" tab and select the security you want to chart. Choose the chart type and time frame you want to use.
2. Customizing the Chart: Once you have created a chart, you can customize it by adding indicators, drawing tools, and other features.
3. Switching Time Frames: To switch time frames on TradingView.com, click on the "Time Frame" dropdown menu and select the desired time frame.
4. Zooming In and Out: To zoom in and out of a chart on TradingView.com, use the mouse wheel or the "Zoom" button.

Conclusion

In this chapter, we have covered the basics of charts and time frames, including the different types of charts and time frames. We have also explored how to use charts and time frames on TradingView.com. By mastering charts and time frames, you will be able to analyze and trade the markets more effectively. In the next chapter, we will explore the importance of indicators and how to use them to make informed trading decisions.

Chapter 5: Technical Indicators and Studies

In this chapter, we will delve into the world of technical indicators and studies available on TradingView.com. As a trader, it is essential to understand the various indicators and studies that can be used to analyze and predict market movements. This chapter will provide an overview of the different types of technical indicators and studies available on TradingView.com, their uses, and how to apply them in your trading strategy.

What are Technical Indicators and Studies?

Technical indicators and studies are mathematical calculations based on historical price data that help traders identify trends, patterns, and potential trading opportunities. These indicators and studies can be used to analyze and predict market movements, making it easier to make informed trading decisions.

Types of Technical Indicators and Studies

There are numerous types of technical indicators and studies available on TradingView.com, including:
1. Trend Indicators: These indicators help identify trends and potential trading opportunities. Examples include the Moving Average, Relative Strength Index (RSI), and Bollinger Bands.
2. Momentum Indicators: These indicators measure the rate of change of an asset's price over a given period. Examples include the RSI, Stochastic Oscillator, and Momentum Indicator.
3. Volatility Indicators: These indicators measure the degree of price movement or volatility. Examples include the Average True Range (ATR) and Bollinger Bands.
4. Pattern Recognition Indicators: These indicators help identify specific chart patterns, such as head and shoulders or triangles. Examples include the Ichimoku Cloud and the Keltner Channel.
5. Statistical Indicators: These indicators use statistical methods to analyze market data. Examples include the Exponential Moving Average (EMA) and the Simple Moving Average (SMA).

Popular Technical Indicators and Studies on TradingView.com

Some of the most popular technical indicators and studies available on TradingView.com include:
1. Moving Average: A simple moving average calculates the average price of an asset over a given period.
2. Relative Strength Index (RSI): The RSI measures the magnitude of recent price changes to determine overbought or oversold conditions.
3. Bollinger Bands: Bollinger Bands consist of a moving average and two standard deviations plotted above and below the average.
4. Stochastic Oscillator: The stochastic oscillator compares the closing price of an asset to its price range over a given period.
5. Ichimoku Cloud: The Ichimoku Cloud is a comprehensive technical analysis system that inclues multiple indicators, including the Tenkan-sen, Kijun-sen, and Senkou Span.
6. Keltner Channel: The Keltner Channel is a volatility-based indicator that plots two lines above and below a moving average.
7. Average True Range (ATR): The ATR measures the average true range of an asset over a given period.
8. Exponential Moving Average (EMA): The EMA is a type of moving average that gives more weight to recent price data.
9. Simple Moving Average (SMA): The SMA is a type of moving average that calculates the average price of an asset over a given period.
10. Stochastic Momentum Index (SMI): The SMI is a momentum indicator that measures the rate of change of an aset's price over a given period.

How to Use Technical Indicators and Studies

To get the most out of technical indicators and studies, it is essential to understand how to use them effectively. Here are some tips:
1. Combine Indicators: Combining multiple indicators can help confirm trading signals and reduce false positives.
2. Use Multiple Time Frames: Analyzing multiple time frames can help identify trends and patterns that may not be visible on a single time frame.
3. Adjust Parameters: Adjusting the parameters of an indicator can help tailor it to your specific trading strategy.
4. Use Indicators in Conjunction with Fundamental Analysis: Combining technical indicators with fundamental analysis can help provide a more comprehensive view of the market.
5. Backtest Indicators: Backtesting indicators can help evaluate their performance and identify potential biases.

Conclusion

Technical indicators and studies are powerful tools that can help traders analyze and predict market movements. By understanding the different types of indicators and studies available on TradingView.com, traders can develop a comprehensive trading strategy that incorporates multiple indicators and studies. Remember to combine indicators, use multiple time frames, adjust parameters, and backtest indicators to get the most out of technical indicators and studies.

Chapter 6: Creating and Customizing Charts

As a trader, having the right tools and information is crucial for making informed decisions. Charts are an essential component of any trading strategy, providing valuable insights into market trends and patterns. In this chapter, we will explore the process of creating and customizing charts on TradingView.com, a popular platform for traders and analysts.

Creating a Chart on TradingView.com

Creating a chart on TradingView.com is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few steps.
1. Log in to Your TradingView.com Account: Start by logging in to your TradingView.com account. If you don't have an account, you can create one by signing up on the TradingView.com website.
2. Select the Symbol: Once logged in, navigate to the "Symbols" tab and select the symbol you want to chart. You can search for symbols by typing in the symbol name or by using the "Search" function.
3. Create a New Chart: Click on the "Create a New Chart" button to create a new chart. You can also create a new chart by clicking on the "New Chart" button in the top-right corner of the TradingView.com window.
4. Select the Chart Type: Choose the type of chart you want to create. TradingView.com offers a variety of chart types, including line charts, candlestick charts, and more.
5. Customize the Chart Settings: Customize the chart settings to suit your needs. You can adjust the chart size, grid lines, and other settings to create a chart that meets your requirements.

Customizing Charts on TradingView.com

Customizing charts on TradingView.com is an essential step in creating a chart that meets your specific needs. Here are some tips for customizing your charts:
1. Add Indicators: Add indicators to your chart to gain insights into market trends and patterns. TradingView.com offers a wide range of indicators, including moving averages, RSI, and more.
2. Add Drawings: Add drawings to your chart to highlight specific patterns or trends. You can add lines, shapes, and other drawings to your chart to create a visual representation of your analysis.
3. Add Alerts: Set up alerts on your chart to notify you of specific market events or price movements. You can set up alerts based on price movements, volume, and other market indicators.
4. Customize the Chart Grid: Customize the chart grid to suit your needs. You can adjust the grid lines, grid spacing, and other settings to create a chart that meets your requirements.
5. Save and Share Your Chart: Save and share your chart with others. You can save your chart as a template or share it with other traders and analysts.

Advanced Chart Customization

In addition to the basic customization options, TradingView.com offers advanced customization options that allow you to create complex charts and indicators. Here are some tips for advanced chart customization:
1. Create Custom Indicators: Create custom indicators using the TradingView.com PineScript programming language. You can create custom indicators that meet your specific needs.
2. Use Custom Drawings: Use custom drawings to create complex patterns and shapes on your chart. You can create custom drawings using the TradingView.com drawing tools.
3. Customize the Chart Layout: Customize the chart layout to suit your needs. You can adjust the chart size, grid lines, and other settings to create a chart that meets your requirements.
4. Use Advanced Chart Settings: Use advanced chart settings to customize your chart further. You can adjust the chart settings to suit your specific needs.

Conclusion

Creating and customizing charts on TradingView.com is a powerful way to gain insights into market trends and patterns. By following the steps outlined in this chapter, you can create complex charts and indicators that meet your specific needs. Whether you're a seasoned trader or a beginner, TradingView.com offers a range of tools and features that can help you create charts that meet your specific needs.
Chapter 7:

Introduction to Trading Strategies

As a trader, having a solid understanding of various trading strategies is crucial for making informed decisions and maximizing profits. In this chapter, we will explore popular trading strategies, their underlying principles, and how to implement them on TradingView.com. By the end of this chapter, you will have a comprehensive understanding of various trading strategies and how to apply them using TradingView.com's powerful platform.

Introduction to Trading Strategies

Trading strategies are pre-defined rules or methods used to make trading decisions. These strategies are designed to help traders navigate the markets, identify profitable opportunities, and minimize losses. Trading strategies can be categorized into several types, including:
· Trend following strategies: These strategies aim to identify and ride the trend, whether it's an uptrend or a downtrend.
· Range trading strategies: These strategies focus on identifying and trading within a specific price range.
· Mean reversion strategies: These strategies rely on the idea that prices will revert to their historical means.
· Statistical arbitrage strategies: These strategies involve identifying mispricings in the market and exploiting them.

Popular Trading Strategies

2.1 Trend Following Strategies
Trend following strategies are designed to identify and ride the trend. These strategies involve identifying the direction of the market and trading in that direction. Some popular trend following strategies include:
· Moving Average Crossover (MAC): This strategy involves identifying the crossover of two moving averages to determine the direction of the trend.
· Relative Strength Index (RSI): This strategy involves identifying overbought or oversold conditions using the RSI indicator.
· Bollinger Bands: This strategy involves identifying breakouts above or below the bands to determine the direction of the trend.
2.2 Range Trading Strategies
Range trading strategies focus on identifying and trading within a specific price range. These strategies involve identifying support and resistance levels and trading within the range. Some popular range trading strategies include:
· Support and Resistance Trading: This strategy involves identifying key support and resistance levels and trading within the range.
· Channel Trading: This strategy involves identifying and trading within a specific price channel.
2.3 Mean Reversion Strategies
Mean reversion strategies rely on the idea that prices will revert to their historical means. These strategies involve identifying overbought or oversold conditions and trading in the opposite direction. Some popular mean reversion strategies include:
· Mean Reversion Trading: This strategy involves identifying overbought or oversold conditions and trading in the opposite direction.
· Statistical Arbitrage: This strategy involves identifying mispricings in the market and exploiting them.
2.4 Statistical Arbitrage Strategies
Statistical arbitrage strategies involve identifying mispricings in the market and exploiting them. These strategies involve analyzing historical data and identifying statistical anomalies. Some popular statistical arbitrage strategies include:
· Statistical Arbitrage: This strategy involves identifying mispricings in the market and exploiting them.
· Event-Driven Trading: This strategy involves identifying and trading on specific events, such as earnings announcements or mergers and acquisitions.

3.

Implementing Trading Strategies on TradingView.com

TradingView.com is a powerful platform that allows traders to implement and backtest various trading strategies. Here are some steps to follow when implementing trading strategies on TradingView.com:
1. Create a new chart: Open a new chart on TradingView.com and select the asset you want to trade.
2. Add indicators: Add the indicators you want to use for your trading strategy. For example, you may want to add a moving average crossover indicator.
3. Set parameters: Set the parameters for your indicators. For example, you may want to set the period for your moving average crossover indicator.
4. Backtest the strategy: Backtest your strategy by running a backtest on TradingView.com. This will allow you to evaluate the performance of your strategy.
5. Refine the strategy: Refine your strategy by adjusting the parameters and testing different scenarios.

Conclusion

In this chapter, we have explored popular trading strategies and how to implement them on TradingView.com. By understanding various trading strategies and how to apply them using TradingView.com, you can make informed trading decisions and maximize your profits. Remember to always backtest and refine your strategies to ensure optimal performance. In the next chapter, we will explore advanced trading strategies and how to use them to improve your trading performance.

Chapter 8:

Backtesting and Evaluating Trading Ideas

As a trader, it's essential to test and refine your trading ideas before implementing them in live markets. Backtesting and evaluating your trading ideas can help you identify potential flaws, optimize your strategy, and increase your chances of success. In this chapter, we'll explore the process of backtesting and evaluating trading ideas using TradingView.com, a popular platform for charting and backtesting trading strategies.

What is Backtesting?

Backtesting is the process of applying a trading strategy to historical market data to evaluate its performance. It allows you to test your trading idea on past data to see how it would have performed in real-time. By backtesting your strategy, you can:
1. Identify potential flaws in your strategy
2. Optimize your strategy for better performance
3. Refine your strategy to improve its accuracy
4. Evaluate the strategy's risk-reward ratio

Why Backtest?

Backtesting is crucial for several reasons:
1. Risk management: Backtesting helps you identify potential risks associated with your trading strategy.
2. Strategy optimization: Backtesting allows you to refine your strategy to improve its performance.
3. Performance evaluation: Backtesting enables you to evaluate the performance of your strategy and make data-driven decisions.
4. Confidence booster: Backtesting gives you confidence in your strategy, reducing the risk of emotional trading decisions.

How to Backtest on TradingView.com

TradingView.com offers a range of tools and features for backtesting trading ideas. Here's a step-by-step guide to get you started:
1. Create a new chart: Open TradingView.com and create a new chart for the asset you want to backtest.
2. Select the data range: Choose the time period for which you want to backtest your strategy. You can select a specific date range or use the default settings.
3. Add the strategy: Click on the "Indicators" tab and add the strategy you want to backtest. You can use built-in indicators or create your own custom indicators.
4. Set the parameters: Configure the strategy's parameters, such as the number of bars to look back, the number of trades to take, and the stop-loss levels.
5. Run the backtest: Click the "Run" button to start the backtest. TradingView.com will apply your strategy to the selected data range and provide performance metrics.
6. Analyze the results: Review the backtest results, including the strategy's profit/loss, drawdown, and other performance metrics.

Evaluating Trading Ideas

Evaluating your trading idea is a crucial step in the backtesting process. Here are some key metrics to consider:
1. Profit/Loss: Calculate the total profit or loss generated by your strategy.
2. Drawdown: Measure the maximum loss experienced by your strategy.
3. Sharpe Ratio: Calculate the Sharpe Ratio to evaluate the strategy's risk-adjusted performance.
4. Sortino Ratio: Use the Sortino Ratio to evaluate the strategy's risk-adjusted performance, focusing on the maximum drawdown.
5. Information Coefficient: Calculate the Information Coefficient to evaluate the strategy's ability to generate profits.

Best Practices for Backtesting

To get the most out of backtesting, follow these best practices:
1. Use a robust data set: Ensure your data is accurate and free from errors.
2. Test multiple scenarios: Test your strategy on different time frames, assets, and market conditions.
3. Monitor performance metrics: Keep track of your strategy's performance metrics and adjust as needed.
4. Refine your strategy: Continuously refine your strategy to improve its performance.
5. Avoid overfitting: Be cautious of overfitting, where your strategy performs well on the training data but poorly on new data.

Conclusion

Backtesting and evaluating trading ideas is a crucial step in the trading process. By using TradingView.com and following best practices, you can refine your trading strategy, optimize its performance, and increase your chances of success. Remember to evaluate your strategy's performance using relevant metrics and refine it continuously to improve its performance. With practice and patience, you'll develop a robust trading strategy that can withstand the challenges of the markets.

I'm really torn and could use some outside perspective. My daughter (15F) is in ninth grade and her best friend, who is a classmate of hers, is turning 16 soon. His parents are throwing him a birthday party next Saturday at their holiday house in the mountains, which is about a 3-hour drive from where we live. A few of their other classmates are also invited, and it's planned to be a sleepover party from Saturday to Sunday.
Here's the situation: the best friend's parents have generously offered to pick up my daughter on Friday (a day before the other guests arrive) and bring her back with them on Sunday night. Initially, this seemed like a kind offer, but I'm extremely uncomfortable with the idea of my daughter being around her best friend's dad for an extended period.
The reason is that her best friend's dad has a criminal record. He served a 4-year suspended prison sentence for procuring and loansharking in the past. While I understand that everyone deserves a second chance, and he has presumably paid his debt to society, I just don't feel comfortable with my daughter spending the night at their house, especially under these circumstances.
My husband disagrees with me. He thinks I'm overreacting and that our daughter's friend shouldn't have to suffer because of his father's past mistakes. He also points out that there will be other kids there, which should make it safer.
I can see his point, but I can't shake off my unease. I want to protect my daughter and make sure she's safe, but I also don't want to be unfair to her friend or overly restrictive. Am I being unreasonable here? AITA for not allowing my daughter to attend her best friend's birthday party due to his dad's criminal record?

Hello there! I used to be a member of this subreddit and was very into atheism. I’ve always championed science and facts till this day. I was raised in a traditional Jewish household and believed in God up until I was a teenager.
Around then I started looking through different atheist youtube channels, off the top of my head I remember CosmicSkeptic and TheAmazingAthiest as well as the late Christopher Hitchens. I became very atheist t in the process and remained so until before my 18th birthday.
After I turned my life around and started treating people better, I noticed things were going very well for me and I had gotten over my depression that I was stuck with all my teen years. I started becoming more spiritual, tried psychedelics and eventually decided that I believed in a higher power.
Ill try to explain the best I can how I rationalize the existence of a higher power.
Just like how out bodies are made up of billions of different cells, each alive and with a purpose, all working together to ensure the human body works as intended. I see us humans and other beings our observable reality as part of a system which ensures that something bigger than us functions, wether that be a local ecosystem or the world itself, I think the collective consciousness of an entire system would allow it to be conscious, and to feel, but not necessarily be aware of the “cells” that they are made of, like we weren’t up until microscopes were invented.
I would love to hear from this community what your thoughts are on my idea, and what your thoughts are about alternative beliefs that aren’t part of any religion, rather based on personal observations.

There is this girl in my class that just joined this year. At first I didn't feel any bad feeling about her like ok it's (name) she's there but then out of no where I just started disliking her idk why and this caused problems between me and my friends cause at the beginning of the year they were all in the same class and just kinda forgot the rest of the people in the group exists that made me sad but now it's worse with my hatred towards the girl everytime I go walk around school with them she comes with us and I don't like that. And when I am walking with my friend with us just the two of us she comes with us like followed us she is just behind us. He always being with us makes me not want to walk with my friends anymore, and with my birthday coming up I want to invite the whole group but her but I also feel bad about leaveing her out, and my friend told me to just invit her and she might not show up but I don't want to take the risk. I have searched about this everywhere some said it was jeoulosy and others said that it's something you just can't point your finger on It. And I have given her a chance before and tried to be friends with her but idk still nothing. This made me really distant with my friends and I don't know what to do. I wanted to go to a therapist but I didn't want to ask my parents so I decided to vent here maybe I would get some advice. Any idea what I should do?.

She broke up with me 5 days ago. We had a wonderful relationship and deeply loved each other, but ultimately she doesn't see a future with me anymore. I asked her to not contact me again, so I can heal and give it a place. She has respected that and only reached out for practical stuff. We lived together for 2 years.
During our relationship I grew a deep bond with her dog. He was our everything and I really love him. Today is his 5th birthday.
In a few hours I will collect all my stuff from the house. She and the dog will not be home. I want to leave him some snacks and a plushie, maybe with a small note. I am unsure if that is a good idea.
I feel like I'm starting to accept what happened, but somewhere I still hope she changes her mind. I did not want to give up our future.
I'm afraid if I don't acknowledge his birthday or leave him something that she will think I am indifferent.
What would you do?

Hey furries, u/The-Woop hasn't made one of these in a little bit. I've always liked these posts so I thought that I'd help him out again by taking over until he gets back.
Happy pride month everyone!
Users have sometimes stated that it is difficult to express their sorrows or misfortunes on this sub because they do not want to feel burdensome or unwelcome in what is normally a very happy-go-lucky environment. And so, this thread is to encourage furs to open up with their issues, not only on here but on the sub as a whole. If grief has been on your mind or something has been bothering you as of late, big or small, please leave a comment for myself and others to see if we can be of any help, or at least lend a sympathetic ear.
Alternatively, if you feel pretty nice about yourself today, don't be afraid to browse any existing comments and see if you can make somebody's day a little better. Maybe you have experience with what that person might be dealing with. Or perhaps you just want to let them know that they have a person to talk to. However, there are the principles that should be considered:
1:If you are responding to a comment do your best to be as thorough and insightful as possible. Do not just comment and forget about the other person afterward. While little pick-me-ups can help, do your best to be there for the other person. Encourage discussion and do not be afraid to have more in depth conversations. The comment section is always fine, but if either of you feel that you must talk in a more private setting, do not be afraid to use something such as PM, or a different instant messaging service.
2: I am aware that unfortunately, misfortune does not have a curfew. This thread is not in any way meant to contain negative emotion on the sub, but is meant to be a convenient place for others to open up and find somebody to talk to. If you experience strife at any other time during the week, do not feel like you must wait until Saturday to state it. Please feel free to make your own post.
3:This thread is not meant to replace professional help. If you feel that you could have depression or any other similar psychological condition, you are still invited to post, but it is highly recommended that you seek a form of professional help as well as look into the resources below.
4: Suffering is not a competition. Do not feel like your issues are too slight, or insignificant to post. You are invited to express your problems no matter their scale. Your sadness is just as valid as any others.
5:If you are not looking for advice and would just like to receive emotional support or simply get something off of your chest, you are more than welcome to state so. After all, a shoulder to lean can be a great remedy.
Last but certainly not least, here are a list of resources that anyone can contact. Please do not hesitate to use them if you feel the need. It is better to call and it not be worth it, than to not call and forgo the help you deserve.
International Suicide Prevention Hotlines
National Suicide Prevention Hotline (USA): 1800 273 8255
Distress Centre (Canada): 416 408 4357
UK The Samaritans or 08457 90 90 90
Samaritans (Ireland): 1850 60 90 90
Lifeline (Australia): 13 11 14
Lifeline (New Zealand): 0800 543 354
Greece KLIMAKA Center for Suicide Prevention or 101
Japan TELL Tokyo Lifeline in English/Japanese or 03-5774-099
Spain Teléfono de la Esperanza or 902500002 2
Chile Teléfono de la Esperanza or (00 56 42) 22 12 00
Germany Telefonseelsorge or 0800 111 0 111 (or 222)
Brazil CVV or 141 France S.O.S Amitié International Association for Suicide Prevention
More numbers - http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide- hotlines.html
Trans Lifeline
Trans Lifeline - translifeline.org
UK Support - http://www.allabouttrans.org.uk/support-organisations/
LGBT Resources
The Trevor Project 24 hour hotline - 866-488-7386
Website - http://www.thetrevorproject.org
Twitter - u/thetrevorproject.org
Addiction Resources
Alcoholic Anonymous - http://www.aa.org
Narcotics Anonymous - http://na.org National
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders Association's toll-free hotline (Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST) - 1-800-931-2237
Crisis Chat
In the United States Chat anonymously with an Active Listener: http://www.7cups.com
Self Harm
Alternatives for Stopping Self Abuse or 1–800-DONT-CUT (366–8288)
Rape and Sexual Abuse
Rape Abuse & Incest National Network or 800-656-HOPE (4673)
Finding a Professional
https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov
https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/mental-health-and-stigma/help-and-support
Feel free to comment with a link to where others can donate something to help you out. Also, unfortunatly, there seems to be no globe wide way to find food banks, but from what I can tell, Google Maps should give a good starting point to find your local ones.
And as always, if anyone has any ideas on how this thread could be improved upon or if the concept is in any way flawed, please do not hesitate to send u/The-Woop a PM.

One of my front wheel spokes broke and I need to replace it. Boy, it is a jungle to figure out what to buy.
I have a Surly Rabbit Hole 29" rim, and a Sun Ringle Dirty Flea hub - It looks like this one, but I am not sure it is the exact same model. https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Ringle-Dirty-Flea-Front/dp/B07WJK4YF8?th=1&psc=1
The spoke has broken off at the nipple, and when I measure its current length, I come just short of 280mm.
I've tried to use a calculator, but I have no idea what data to feed it.
Do I buy the 280mm, 282mm or 284mm? How big of an issue could it be to have a slightly incorrect spoke in one position?

I was in a relationship with my ex bf for 7 months, and I thought everything was going perfect, at the beginning of May we made plans to move in together, his idea, and we were so excited to spend the future together. Anyways a week before my birthday, May 19th, he said he needed time alone and that he didn't want to burden and drag me down. I told him that he wasn't a burden and that I needed him, but he said he couldn't drag me down still. On my birthday he texts me happy birthday, at 12 AM, and I asked if he was ready to see me again and that it wasn't healthy to be ignoring me. He then broke up with me, saying it was not my fault at all, and that he just couldn't be with me but still wanted to be friends. I was too hurt to say anything but thanks for telling me. He then said 30 minutes later he didn't want to talk anymore, and blocked me on Instagram where we normally talk. Two days later I texted him because I needed to know why, and he started blaming me and said I was using him and did some stuff that hasn't sat right with him. I didn't want to argue with him because I didn't get anything from him in the relationship besides what I thought was love and now looking back was just tiny spurts of attention. He's with this other guy now that he always hung out with and I just feel so hurt. Whenever I think about him I feel like my anxiety is stabbing me and I get nauseous, and all I want is him to comfort me. I wish I could've done things differently and I wanna move on but I can't stop thinking about every little interaction we had and what I could've done better

Hi makkale! My female best friend’s birthday this month. She is like my sister from another mother. This is probably her last bachelorette birthday. I want to gift her something really memorable and imperishable. Dress and other mementos lam after a point poidum, i want to gift something very memorable. Pls gimme some ideas nanbargale. I had one in my mind…She hasn’t been on an airplane, would it be nice if i planned on a one day back to back flight to a nearby city. I hope it would remain in her head throughout, and first time experience eh maraka mudiyadha maari iruku!

Going into childbirth, I (thought) I was prepared for everything, but I realized I had not prepared myself for a possible unplanned c section. I had looked up all the tips and tricks for vaginal birth but I wish I had prepared myself more for the possibility of a c section.
My due date was 5/9, and during my 40w appt, my cervix was still quite hard and barely dilated even 1cm. I was scheduled an oral induction on 5/11. I went into L&D, got the induction. pill, was monitored for an hour then sent home to see if anything happened. I went about my day as normal, got some very small contractions but nothing close enough to go back to the hospital. The next day, I went back to get checked again and got yet another pill, another hour of monitoring and then sent home again. I was so impatient at this point 😪. I really thought I’d have my baby by then - it was 5/12 and Mother’s Day and thought my baby was just waiting for that day, lol.
Again, nothing happened. We went back the next morning and this time was just fully admitted into my delivery room. I had only dilated 2cm at this point and my cervix was barely softening. So they gave my the inserted induction pill this time and I sat in bed waiting. About 4-6 hours later, I was progressing a little bit but still not enough, so they chose to do a Cook’s catheter plus a foley ballon. Wowee those were uncomfortable to feel being put in. After this, I started dilating to about 5cm but my water hadn’t broken yet. A couple hours later, they chose to break my water for me and had me on the peanut ball to keep my progress going. By around 8-9pm, they gave me pitocin through IV, then the contractions really started kicking in. Those contractions were so hard to breathe through but I managed a few hours until I asked for some morphine so I could get some sleep. I got about 3-4 hours of sleep until it wore off and I awoke with such pain from the contractions again. The nurse gave me more morphine but it wasn’t doing anything at this point so I asked for the epidural. It was 5am at 5/14 at this point (also my birthday🥳).
Epidural was much easier than I anticipated. The hardest part was staying still and hunched over while I was still actively getting contractions about a minute apart. I finally got numb and got more sleep. I woke up and in the late morning/earlt afternoon I had progressed to about 6cm. I got up to 7cm with that dang peanut ball still between my legs until the later afternoon then I started getting a fever, so they gave me some Tylenol. By 8pm, I started getting the labor shakes, uncontrollably shaking and could barely speak. At this point, my midwife looked at me in the eyes and said that this was going on for too long and that it would be best to try and get a c section since I had stopped dilating at 7cm, and baby’s head was looking up, making it harder for her to drop and would be harder for me to push out. My husband and I talked it over and with a lot of tears, I finally said yes and they prepped me for surgery.
I get into the surgery room and they start prepping me and draping me, etc. Right before my husband comes in, i start to feel super hot and flush; I managed to flag down a nurse and told her i was feeling really hot and itchy in my face. Turns out I was having an allergic reaction. My husband walks in and i can immediately see in his face that I looked unwell. He talked to the anesthesiologist and he ensured him if be better as soon as I got Benadryl, but it would make me drowsy. I was in and out of consciousness after this and everything felt so hazy. I remember my baby being born and crying after hearing her cry and seeing her face. I remember my husband sitting next to me holding her and holding her face to my face. But it was all a blur. After they closed me up, I was wheeled to the recovery wing and finally got to hold my baby girl and breastfeed her before going to my PP room.
We ended up staying for 4 days in the hospital after getting PP preeclampsia and my BP getting elevated. Fast forward to today, I’m almost 3 weeks PP and baby is healthy and so am I, but damn I really never expected my birth to be so traumatic and so long. I am so grateful to be alive along with my baby being so healthy. I couldn’t have done it without my loving husband. And now I share a birthday with my baby girl!!! 5/14/24
To all my c section mamas, we are such warriors and it is unbelievable what we go through to finally be able to hold our babies. If you made it to the end of this post, thank you so much for reading🤍