It’s a procedure in search of indications. Unethical and surprisingly still common and covered by insurance. No doctor would perform aesthetic surgery on a child for any other reason save ear piercings, i don’t think it’s as common as it used to be, but an infant couldn’t consent to that either.

For some reason, I’ve encountered lots of moms (occasionally would get a “hell no” from dad though) whose biggest concern after their son was born is when the circ was going to be performed. I wish the medical organizations would put some more focus on the ethics and aspect of consent/assent. There’s a lot of talk about research in public health about how it may or may not affect STI rates, and then the argument gets stuck on risks/benefits rather than ethics.

It ultimately is a procedure rooted in cultural and religious practice, and the American medical establishment is pretty slow, especially in that aspect.

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Exercise, weightlifting namely has done a lot for my mood and physical appearance(sadly nothing for motivation, I still gotta drag myself to the gym).

I made a concerted effort to pick up a hobby so I’m not just sitting around watching YouTube or playing video games. Painting is pretty fun.

Sleeping is a big one that lots of people mentioned, I’m not afraid to take a nap in the afternoon.

Lastly, cognitive behavioral therapy. It gives me the insight to see my emotions and how they interact with my thoughts and actions. It’s done a lot for helping manage anxiety, which is a lot better than it used to be, where now I don’t feel ruled by my frets and fears. It sucks trying to find a good therapist, but it’s worth the struggle. I’m so much happier than I was before I started.