u/Melly1265

I feel like I’m losing my mind (and a lot of money) trying to find a deodorant that doesn't give me a massive rash. I usually stick to men’s brands because I find I sweat more than average and they tend to stay on longer, but my skin is fighting me lately.

I typically use the white Old Spice sticks because any time I try the blue gel version, I end up with a huge breakout. I even made the mistake of trying Axe Apollo once and it made me so itchy I seriously thought I was going to lose it.

I really thought aluminum was the problem, but even after switching to Dr. Teal’s magnesium (aluminum-free), the itch came right back. Right now I’m using an Arm & Hammer one, but I’m still struggling and I can’t keep buying new sticks just to throw them away. It's getting so expensive and I'm tired of the irritation.

Has anyone else dealt with this? If your skin hates everything but you still need something heavy-duty that actually lasts, what are you using that doesn't break you out?

I love my dad. He was a single parent who sacrificed everything to make sure my sisters and I had what we needed. Growing up, I watched him work two jobs, six days a week, for years. He never called in sick and rarely took a vacation. I always admired his work ethic, but I didn't truly understand the weight of it until I entered the workforce myself.

I recently moved into a new apartment. My dad came up to help me move, buy some essentials, and grab lunch. It was a great day until the conversation inevitably turned to work. He has this underlying anxiety that I won’t make enough or that I’ll fail—he doesn't say it directly, but it’s there in every question he asks.

I told him the good news: my boss values me, I’m moving up, and I’m finally getting a raise. Most importantly, I told him I’m moving to a 5-day work week. I’ve been working 6 days a week for nearly 7 months now. Between learning a new job, dealing with a move, and managing my depression, I am completely burnt out. I even told him, "I can’t keep doing this long-term, and I shouldn't be expected to."

The look on his face made it seem like I told him I had 24 hours to live. He immediately snapped back with, "Well, you can’t not work."

I felt so defeated. I only took two days off to move my entire life before going right back to the grind. My employer actually agreed with me—they admitted 6 days isn't sustainable and are moving me to a 40-hour, 5-day schedule because it’s better for everyone. It’s a logical, healthy boundary.

But in his eyes, wanting one extra day to breathe is equivalent to laziness or "not working." It’s incredibly frustrating to have your exhaustion dismissed because the previous generation was conditioned to set themselves on fire to keep the engine running. I can appreciate what he did for us while still refusing to repeat the cycle of burnout for myself.