Growing up, many people had an impression of invincibility. My hearing will never deteriorate, it’s fine to get by on five hours of sleep a night and a sedentary lifestyle will never get to me! Well, if it all works out for you, congratulations, but it’s generally better to learn from others' mistakes than your own regrets.
People online detail the things they now regret putting their bodies through at some point in life. So get comfortable as you scroll through, remember to stand at for around fifteen minutes once an hour, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below.
#1
Not what I did but what I didn't do. Take care of my teeth. I should have gotten orthodontic as soon as I started working. I am 65+ have crooked teeth and cavities and cannot afford dental because medicare does not cover it. Fixed income and old age sucks. TAKE CARE OF YOUR TEETH!
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52points
#2
Didn't protect my hearing starting at dances in junior high. Now I live with the scream of tinnitus on a daily basis that I would do anything to get rid of.
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52points
#3
Pushed through the pain. I thought intense pain was just part of intense exercise. Turns out, I had an undiagnosed connective tissue disease, and am now a wheelchair user at 50. Pain is your body telling you something, and that message should never be ignored.
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52points
Bored Panda got in touch with the netizen who posted the question and they were kind enough to share why. “I had an orthodontic procedure done that resulted in detriment to my overall health. In the process of having braces put on, the orthodontist suggested that I extract 4 premolars, and this is what caused a lot of my health problems now.”
“It is unfortunate because even if I am willing to pay a lot of money just to have my mouth returned to the way it was before, there is just no concrete process to reverse the damages that have been done and bring my body back to how it was before the procedure. Therefore, I posted the question to gauge whether or not there are others who have health problems or bad body procedures that not even giving one's entire lifesavings or a lot of money will be able to bring back their bodies to the optimum health of before.”
#4
Not loving it and enjoying it.
All I could think was “I’m too fat” “I’m too ugly”. “I’m not good enough”. Now I’m much much bigger, I was hit by a drunk driver so I’m also disabled and when I look back I can’t believe I thought that about my body at that time.
All I could think was “I’m too fat” “I’m too ugly”. “I’m not good enough”. Now I’m much much bigger, I was hit by a drunk driver so I’m also disabled and when I look back I can’t believe I thought that about my body at that time.
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51points
#5
Having breast implants for 23 years caused the scar tissue that interfered with muscle function. Implants removed in 2019 and now 5 plus years later and thousands of dollars on physical therapy not covered by insurance I can actually put my own hair into a ponytail!! Anything you put in your body will create scar tissue! Don’t do it. Learn to love your body as is and find someone that loves the natural you. Today’s society has no idea the amount of long term pain and physical damage they are doing to themselves in the name of vanity!!
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48points
#6
In 2010 after years of fighting against depression , i tried to commit s*****e by self immolating myself.
Results?: While i didnt die (thankfully) i got burn injuries on 50% of my body and spent 4 months in hospital and underwent 14 skin transplants surgeries. Despite the painkillers the pain was so intense that i prayed god countless time, to let me die because i coundn't take it anymore. When i got released from hospital, i started my rehabilitation journey that just like my time in hospital was extremely painful and my depression got even worse after i saw what i had done to my body. 15 went by and while depression is something i will always have to live with, i regained confidence and i'm working hard to achieve my goals.
To all the people who are suffering and think to end it all: Please talk to someone. As long as you're still alive there is always hope.
Results?: While i didnt die (thankfully) i got burn injuries on 50% of my body and spent 4 months in hospital and underwent 14 skin transplants surgeries. Despite the painkillers the pain was so intense that i prayed god countless time, to let me die because i coundn't take it anymore. When i got released from hospital, i started my rehabilitation journey that just like my time in hospital was extremely painful and my depression got even worse after i saw what i had done to my body. 15 went by and while depression is something i will always have to live with, i regained confidence and i'm working hard to achieve my goals.
To all the people who are suffering and think to end it all: Please talk to someone. As long as you're still alive there is always hope.
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46points
We were also curious to hear their thoughts on why the post was so popular. “I have not considered this. However, many people took their precious time to post their incidents for sharing. Therefore, readers can learn from others' experiences or converse with someone who has a similar predicament as them. Great team effort to share knowledge, joy, encouragement, and very real life situations with effects lasting an entire lifetime.”
#8
When i was 21 I fell asleep while driving and flipped my jeep, I broke 3 vertebrae in my back and 2 in my neck. It's amazing I wasn't paralyzed. Dr said I would have significant back problems when I got to around 40. I'm 44 now, still working without any restrictions, but I have spent a lot of time in my life now stretching and exercising my back to prolong my working ability and quality of life. I put everything i can afford in my 401k, I would definitely give up my 401k to not be crippled later in life be it sooner or later.
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44points
#9
Wearing high heels (4+ inches) everyday for work in my 20s. Did a number on my knees in my 30s - they would hurt when I do activities I enjoyed like hiking.
Now in my 40s, the knee pain got better after switching to zero drop, minimal footwear, but would still hurt at times. I’m hoping it doesn’t get too bad when I get older….
Now in my 40s, the knee pain got better after switching to zero drop, minimal footwear, but would still hurt at times. I’m hoping it doesn’t get too bad when I get older….
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43points
Lastly, we wanted to know if they had any favorites from the responses. “I actually saw a comment from someone who had the exact same situation as me, and that person shared that they spent an obscene amount of money to try and reverse it, but it has not been achievable in returning the mouth to the way it was before.”
#10
I had a wart on my hand that was there for years and I could never get off the shelf medications to work.
So I got some strong vinegar and repeatedly applied it with a damp piece of cotton ball. Over time the skin in the area started to get really damaged but I kept going even though there were open sores/wounds on my hand because I wanted to nuke the wart too.
Turns out that all I did was create permanent scarring on my hand *surrounding the wart* but the wart was still there. Ended up going to a doctor to freeze it off which is what I should have done in the first place. I was raised in a household with parents that were deathly afraid of doctors and thought they should be avoided as much as possible.
So I got some strong vinegar and repeatedly applied it with a damp piece of cotton ball. Over time the skin in the area started to get really damaged but I kept going even though there were open sores/wounds on my hand because I wanted to nuke the wart too.
Turns out that all I did was create permanent scarring on my hand *surrounding the wart* but the wart was still there. Ended up going to a doctor to freeze it off which is what I should have done in the first place. I was raised in a household with parents that were deathly afraid of doctors and thought they should be avoided as much as possible.
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42points
#11
When I was 9, I got water stuck in my ear from a beach trip. None of the usual tricks to get it out were working, so I plugged my nose and blew as hard as I could. I completely decimated my eardrum which has resulted in countless infections and hearing loss. Don’t do it!!
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41points
#12
Weight gain. So easy to put on so hard to get off.
41points
“Another example is when a health professional prescribed the wrong dosage of medicine to someone and after taking the medication there were horrible lifelong side effects. Each life situation shared is a gem, and I recommend each and every one when time allows for reading,” they shared.
#13
Get a procedure to fix my TMJ dysfunction. It's very rare, and now I'm an example in a medical journal. The botox they injected into my TMJ travelled in a nerve and paralysed/damaged my soft palate. I sounded like a speaking deaf person for 4 months, and I feel my speech regress when I'm sick. It's never gotten better. That was 5 years ago.
I still struggle with eating and drinking because my soft palate is damaged.
I still struggle with eating and drinking because my soft palate is damaged.
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40points
#14
Having had a double mastectomy/top surgery right after I turned 20. It’s almost 11 years later and I wish I hadn’t surgically altered my body. I regret it and I’m forever stuck this way now, I wish I had listened to my therapist about doing treatment for my multiple years worth of sexual abuse based PTSD, I was already a self harmer for years at this point and thought I knew what was best for myself with transitioning but I ran so hard with it must be gender dysphoria. … It didn’t fix my issues, I masked it with something new, my body dysphoria is still persistent as it’s been my whole life, I still take testosterone to this day but.. I just wish I could go back and help younger me that just wanted to feel safe and okay. I miss my old body and who I was.
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40points
#15
Drinking every day.
I started drinking every day because I could not deal with the stress from the pandemic. I tell myself that I really had no other outlet - cant smoke w**d due to asthma making me hack my lungs out whenever I breathe in anything other than air; did not want to try anything harder because they are illegal. I just wanted the pain of every day to go away.
4 years later I'm drinking at least a third of a handle of vodka every single night and barely feeling a buzz from it. I want to stop, I truly do. Its so hard. Alcohol is so much more addictive than people think. And going cold turkey can legitimately k**l you, which makes me want to try tapering off. Every day I think to myself "I'm only going to pour one shot an hour. That's all I'm allowed to drink." And every night I end up pouring myself more somehow.
If you want to drink alcohol, that's fine. Do it socially. Do it with friends. Don't do it alone, don't do it every day.
I don't even want to think of what my liver looks like right now.
I started drinking every day because I could not deal with the stress from the pandemic. I tell myself that I really had no other outlet - cant smoke w**d due to asthma making me hack my lungs out whenever I breathe in anything other than air; did not want to try anything harder because they are illegal. I just wanted the pain of every day to go away.
4 years later I'm drinking at least a third of a handle of vodka every single night and barely feeling a buzz from it. I want to stop, I truly do. Its so hard. Alcohol is so much more addictive than people think. And going cold turkey can legitimately k**l you, which makes me want to try tapering off. Every day I think to myself "I'm only going to pour one shot an hour. That's all I'm allowed to drink." And every night I end up pouring myself more somehow.
If you want to drink alcohol, that's fine. Do it socially. Do it with friends. Don't do it alone, don't do it every day.
I don't even want to think of what my liver looks like right now.
39points
“Each person has hardship; no one is spared. Therefore, it is imperative for each person to be grateful for each day and each natural aspect of life and to not take anything for granted-- it sure makes living a whole lot easier and joyful with this mindset.”
#16
I insisted on a vaginal birth instead of a c-section when I was struggling to deliver my son. They ended up doing an episiotomy and using forceps after I pushed for 8 hours. Ended up with a 4th degree tear, muscle atrophy, and lifelong damage that will get worse when I hit menopause.
I was so stubborn. I wish every day that I either didn't have an epidural or that I had a c-section.
I was so stubborn. I wish every day that I either didn't have an epidural or that I had a c-section.
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36points
#17
Tanning beds. WTF was I thinking? I just liked the warmth and solitude. It was my me time. I was so dumb and oblivious. I had never been in a sauna. That could’ve done the same for me without the melanoma and skin aging.
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35points
#18
Had Botox injections in Bangkok, in a clinic that was located in a shopping mall (MBK Center).
I have no idea what they injected me with. It gave me horrible allergy and constant 24/7 itching. At first, it was located only in the injection region. I literally had to press my fingernails there and slightly scratch, otherwise it drove me insane, as it never stopped.
And after a few weeks, these itching particles started to travel to other places in my body like 24/7 itchy stardust. So now it wasn't just my wrinkles above my nose that I felt the need to press my fingernails into, it was my full body.
Being completely allergy free for the first 35 years of my life turned into MCAS in less than a week and taking 3-4 antihistamins daily. I take them ever since, otherwise the itching in my body becomes unbearable.
All it took was one injection session. Aaanndd... everything completely wrecked. And it wasn't even doing anything to my muscle nerves, so it's a mystery what they actually injected. I have a photo with "the doctor" but cannot add it here.
I have no idea what they injected me with. It gave me horrible allergy and constant 24/7 itching. At first, it was located only in the injection region. I literally had to press my fingernails there and slightly scratch, otherwise it drove me insane, as it never stopped.
And after a few weeks, these itching particles started to travel to other places in my body like 24/7 itchy stardust. So now it wasn't just my wrinkles above my nose that I felt the need to press my fingernails into, it was my full body.
Being completely allergy free for the first 35 years of my life turned into MCAS in less than a week and taking 3-4 antihistamins daily. I take them ever since, otherwise the itching in my body becomes unbearable.
All it took was one injection session. Aaanndd... everything completely wrecked. And it wasn't even doing anything to my muscle nerves, so it's a mystery what they actually injected. I have a photo with "the doctor" but cannot add it here.
35points
#19
Let a man with zero emotional intelligence have access to it.
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32points
