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If you happen to find yourself on the relatable side of TikTok, there's a common saying in the comments: "I've never had an original experience." Whether it's a bodily function, a strange habit, or an unusual experience, that comment section is where many people find out they're not that special after all.
Recently, one netizen started a similar discussion on Reddit, but focused on women. "What's something you thought 'only happened to you'… until you talked to other women?", they wrote.
Turns out, we gals are really in it together: there are tons of things many of us experience but are either too shy or too uncomfortable to talk about! So, here are some of the most interesting and relatable answers from that thread.
Check them out and let us know your "unique" female experience in the comments! Who knows, maybe it's not so unique after all!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
It's more something I do and was surprised to learn my girlfriends do, as well: when walking in the city, headphones are in, but the sound is off. We also watch shadows to figure out how quickly someone walking behind us is going. No one told us to do any of this. We all just kind of figured it out independently.
RELATED:
#2
Difficulty with word finding now that I’m in perimenopause.
AtMostAFabulist 5 months ago
Oh lord, I thought i was losing it. I do that all the time. I can never remember the word mowing when I need to say it. So I say I have to vacuum my lawn. 🙄
#3
Period diarrhea
Seriously, I received a pretty good education on reproductive health and puberty, but no one told me about period diarrhea and I thought I was the only one who would s**t so much when menstruating until I was like 21 and got a gf.
Family's_disappointment 5 months ago (edited)
I have this. This is worse than diarrhea itself...
#4
I thought it was just me, but my girlfriends all agreed we used to get cat called more when we were 13-17 than we do now in our 20s.
#5
Feeling like I had to shrink myself to make others comfortable, at work, in relationships, even around friends. I used to think it was just a “me” problem, like I was too much or too intense. But once I started talking to other women, I realized so many of us were taught to dim our light to keep the peace. Never again.
Joe Reaves 5 months ago
You're being dramatic/hysterical/emotional. Is it that time of the month? You're a b***h/crazy/a drama queen. Be more ladylike. All things that women and girls get told when they try to stand up for themselves and set reasonable boundaries.
#6
Being unable to make friends with other women.
K Barnes 5 months ago
The women I know who complain of this make choices leading to this problem- gossip, insults, pick me attitude, huge conceit mixes with incredible insecurity. I've never had this problem but I don't gossip, insult others, or put myself above them.
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Michelle C 5 months ago
It’s gotten harder as I’ve gotten older both make friends and maintain friendships in general. It doesn’t help that almost all the women I know are super-busy all the time. I’m often the same boat and feel the guilt of not being able to keep in touch as much as I would like to do that.
K Barnes 5 months ago
I think it's healthy to recognize that older adult friendships often don't look like younger adult friendships. I have great friends that I only see once a year and chat with every few months, but when something important happens we are there as much as needed. I try not to have guild for being bad about keeping in touch, we all do our best.
Load More Replies... Breadcrumb. 5 months ago
Woman with babies and those with out have difficulties maintaining friendships. Non of the activities I like involve bringing your babies along. Hiking, paddle boarding. And for some reason no mother I know trust their baby daddy enough to leave the baby with him. I usaly don't see these women until the kids are a bit older but than I have to watch what I say and the conversation doesn't feel authentic. Just us living totally different kind of lives.
Gigi 5 months ago
So true. I don't have kids and found all of my friends with kids kind of drifting away as they got so busy. I really tried to stay welcoming and involved with the babies and kids, inviting them along, but it's just a different lifestyle. Women just don't relate to non parents, and conversation gets hard
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The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago
I think making friends in general is more difficult as we get older, but honestly I've found it easier to find the "right" people now that I'm more comfortable with who I am. And they're all women. I think as we age it's easier because we're more confident and don't feel like we're "competing" against one another (like society wants).
Monster Munch 5 months ago
I have to be honest, it sounds a little “not like other girls.” 😅 I get it if you’ve had bad experiences, but female friendships can be the absolute best. Maybe it’s not women that are the problem, you know? I get it ,some people are just not worth to be anyone’s friend but focusing on one gender might mean that the issue is elsewhere
#7
I never realised how common emotional abuse was.
Little Bit 5 months ago
I honestly thought it was normal growing up with a narcissist mother and then having a narcissistic husband.
#8
A sore vulva during my period. Not cramps, but my labia feels... extremely tired? like I was using them to lift weights the day before? The first time a friend told me it also happened to her I was so grateful knowing that I wasn't crazy!
#9
Postpartum OCD. It's super common to have intrusive thoughts of your baby dying for the first year or two after birth. NOBODY TALKS ABOUT IT.
Katie White 5 months ago
After my preemie was born, and in NICU for five weeks I would have nightmares about babies dying almost every single night. The most memorable one was when I was doing laundry and found one dead baby in the washer and another in the dryer. It felt so real
#10
Having a miscarriage. I thought they were super rare, and then when I had one and told other women, I was shocked at how many of them told me they’d had one too. I don’t know why women aren’t more open about it and don’t talk about it more. Somehow, learning how common it was made my second miscarriage easier.
Kim Kermes 5 months ago
I understand that 1 in 4 pregnancies are lost, many so early it's not recognized as miscarriage. We need a better word that doesn't seem to lay blame.
#11
Really heavy and sudden bleeding during periods. Not to be gross but just suddenly like a tap turning on. I'd have to a tampon and wear multiple pads because it would come on suddenly and I could soak through a single pad or tampon in a minute or two. It didn't alwasy happen- but often happened - usually on day 2 or 3 of a period.
I met another woman who had this when she was visiting my home. I found out only because she had an episode and she had to ask me for paper towels to clean up the bathroom. It's really not something we talk about much- like periods com up with close friends form time to time - but it's hardly water cooler talk. I wonder how common this is.
#13
Having a difficult relationship with my mom. I see her and feel so annoyed around her presence.
Little Bit 5 months ago
And me. No matter what I do I will never be good enough for her. I am incredibly close to my daughters and I would never dream of treating them the way she has treated me.
#15
My anxiety meds/adhd meds/and anti-depressants not working as well when Im on my period.
I thought that my meds were just not consistent, turns out the inconsistency was my hormone levels affecting how efficiently my body absorbed medication.
Friggin medicine was only tested as men's hormone levels as the default so they're not built with a woman's cycle causing hormone fluctuations in mind. I just take a way higher dose now than I probably need in the hope that it helps keep me level enough during the dips. Doesn't always work though.
Jill Rhodry 5 months ago
Sorta🤷🏻♀️need to speak to doc about adjusting meds during your cycle - hormone levels afeect dopamine so adhd symptoms as well - that's why a lot of women become more aware of their symptoms after menopause
#16
Realizing that “getting randomly scared you’re pregnant even when you haven’t had s*x” is a universal experience 😂
Also: the deep, irrational guilt after saying “no” to plans just because you’re tired and need time alone. I really thought I was just being weird or antisocial until I heard other women say the same thing.
Turns out, a lot of us are walking around with shared experiences we never even talk about. The power of women opening up is wild. We’re all out here thinking we’re the only ones quietly spiraling but we’re actually on the same rollercoaster. 🌀💕.
Rahb in Oz 5 months ago
“the deep, irrational guilt after saying “no” to plans just because you’re tired and need time alone.“ Male here; same problem! I think this affects many people.
#17
Having issues orgasming and hardly having one...
I was convinced for so long my body was broken.
KC T. 5 months ago
I used to have this issue, but discovered being in love, feeling loved and feeling close makes such a huge difference. Before I married my husband, we waited for awhile and I was already in love with him our first time and it was confusing at first because I've never orgasmed the first time with anyone and I consistently have 2 or 3 each time with him. The only times I haven't been able to with him are when I feel distant and not as close.
#18
Thinking I was the only one who’d pretend to text someone while walking alone because I felt unsafe… until I found out so many girls do the same.
Family's_disappointment 5 months ago (edited)
It makes them think that you're to busy to notice them in reality you can understand, see and hear everything and can make a run for it. And also if they try to even get close to you can immediately call someone.
#19
Before my period/on my period or when I'm getting a cold, my skin hurts. All of it. My whole body skin hurts.
My old boss said she experienced the same thing!
#20
Before my period, my legs start to really hurt and have this “pulling” sensation by the thigh area. it’s so uncomfortable.
#21
Not knowing how to take care of yourself as a woman does, because you weren’t taught.
#22
....creeps who approach young girls nearby schools.
Huddo's sister 5 months ago
Ugh, when I was in year 12, I had a rehearsal of my solo performance with my drama teacher after school. He got a phone call from a friend who talked about passing by a different high school and watching all the girls. Majorly creeped me out and since I knew the teacher had had a fiancé he met when he taught her during his preservice teacher rounds it turned my stomach even more. He was only 23, but it would still be statutory r**e...
#24
I told a story on a separate social media platform about a man who asked if he could buy me at my job when I was a teenager. Almost every single comments was “omg me too!!!”.
#25
Wanting to end it all the week before my period (diagnosed PMDD lol).
Little Bit 5 months ago
I had PMDD since day 1 of my periods when I was 13. Back in the 90s it wasn't a recognised condition. In the run up to my period I would sit and sob uncontrollably for days. My mood swings were so extreme that I would have to shut myself in my room away from everybody. My periods were heavy and so painful that i couldn't even stand up.My mother told me it was normal and not to make such a fuss so I suffered in silence for years. I was 18 or 19 when I went to my doctor and begged for a hysterectomy because I couldn't live with it any more. I was given medication which helped. My mother later admitted that she'd never had any problems with her periods and had never seen anyone suffer in the way I had and she didn't know how to handle it.
#27
The way that tampons don't actually properly soak up period blood.
Period blood does not have the right consistency to really be absorbed by a tampon. A little bit is absorbed, but mostly the tampon is just physically blocking the blood from coming out.
I always thought everyone else's tampons came out being soaked through in blood until I saw a reddit post about it.
#28
A*****e cramps on my period. One of THE most uncomfortable feelings but would at least only last a couple of seconds. Luckily I stopped getting these cramps once I got my IUD.
#29
My hair has changed as I've gotten older. I always had thick curly, like natural spiral curls, hair. Had to use thinning shears when I'd get it cut, that kinda "thick". Noticed my hair wasn't as floofy and mentioned it to a stylist during a cut and color and she said I still have thick hair, I just have fine hair. And my curls? *Sigh* Oh how I miss my curls. Once my hair is dry, I barely have a wave anymore. It's almost stick straight. How am I supposed to style this c**p?! Lmao!
#30
Puking and food aversions due to period.
Kristy Marion 5 months ago
Oh yes. Sometimes such intense cramping that it triggers both ends from the sheer intensity. Good times
What do you think ?
Little Bit 5 months ago
Inability to control my emotions since being perimenopausal. One minute I'm absolutely fine and then the next my emotions come bubbling up out of nowhere and before I know it I'm crying uncontrollably and i can't stop. It can last for minutes, hours or days and then it goes away as quickly as it came on. It isn't even caused by anything upsetting. It happened to me a few days ago right out ov the blue when I was playing Candy Crush
Mel in Georgia 5 months ago
Thank goodness all my weird symptoms (high emotions, brain fog, irrational thoughts) subsided after going through menopause. Hope it's the same for you!
Load More Replies...
Ellinor 5 months ago
Did anyone else had that really weird dream when you have a baby, and when you wake up you're irrationally sad even if you never want kids or were really young when you had that dream ?
Spocks's Mom 5 months ago
Not about babies, but I'll dream about people that are not here anymore and it always renews my sense of sadness and loss.
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Tamra 5 months ago
I'd like to find a group of women to talk to about how menopause changed them. It changed everything about me...my hair, skin, the way I feel, the way my body processes medications... everything. I'm no longer the person I was, and I'm having a really hard time dealing with it.
Alex Schneider 5 months ago
I feel this.. brainfog isn't easy for a smarthead like me, out of sudden everything seems to be older,you have to find a new role in this world,fall out of the race for youth and fame.. not in a slow processing way, but in smaller and bigger waves I found out whales have menopause too and the older females keep the peace between the young males... I just thaught wtf..this will be my golden girls/ old h*g time- only one I will teach is young girls to flipfinger and keep a place at my fire for every other witch that want to dance naked cause the heatwave hits or the brainfog left the trousers at home
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JB 5 months ago
Surprised no one mentioned the smell. I hated that I smelled of raw meat throughout my period. Yes, I used the right size tampons changed regularly. Yes, I washed down there (the outside) every time I changed. Didn’t matter. And the stench of a bloody tampon is nauseating. Menstrual cups were so much better when I finally discovered them.
Ejteh 5 months ago
I really missed hemorrhoids. I know a lot of woman get them during pregnancy, but i lately found out a lot of young woman get them without being pregnant too. They are a pain! And it would be so much easier if people just talked! About hemorrhoids, but also other 'embarrassing' discomforts. Who cares if we are not perfect! I just want to be comfy!
ElfVibratorGlitter 5 months ago
I went to my prenatal appointment a couple weeks ago and discovered our baby didn't have a heartbeat. It's been a really painful (emotionally and physically) few weeks. 😥
Justbecause 5 months ago (edited)
That periods are optional, I was complaining to a friend about missing swimming and shes like why dont you just skip the period. Seriously in all the drs appointments about my period not one gave me an option to skip my periods. Even now when I'm clear to my drs about my preferences they will still try to force periods on me. Years later and a friend was saying how much her and her partner fight when she gets her period so I got to pass on my valuable information!
Little Bit 5 months ago
Inability to control my emotions since being perimenopausal. One minute I'm absolutely fine and then the next my emotions come bubbling up out of nowhere and before I know it I'm crying uncontrollably and i can't stop. It can last for minutes, hours or days and then it goes away as quickly as it came on. It isn't even caused by anything upsetting. It happened to me a few days ago right out ov the blue when I was playing Candy Crush
Mel in Georgia 5 months ago
Thank goodness all my weird symptoms (high emotions, brain fog, irrational thoughts) subsided after going through menopause. Hope it's the same for you!
Load More Replies... Ellinor 5 months ago
Did anyone else had that really weird dream when you have a baby, and when you wake up you're irrationally sad even if you never want kids or were really young when you had that dream ?
Spocks's Mom 5 months ago
Not about babies, but I'll dream about people that are not here anymore and it always renews my sense of sadness and loss.
Load More Replies... Tamra 5 months ago
I'd like to find a group of women to talk to about how menopause changed them. It changed everything about me...my hair, skin, the way I feel, the way my body processes medications... everything. I'm no longer the person I was, and I'm having a really hard time dealing with it.
Alex Schneider 5 months ago
I feel this.. brainfog isn't easy for a smarthead like me, out of sudden everything seems to be older,you have to find a new role in this world,fall out of the race for youth and fame.. not in a slow processing way, but in smaller and bigger waves I found out whales have menopause too and the older females keep the peace between the young males... I just thaught wtf..this will be my golden girls/ old h*g time- only one I will teach is young girls to flipfinger and keep a place at my fire for every other witch that want to dance naked cause the heatwave hits or the brainfog left the trousers at home
Load More Replies... JB 5 months ago
Surprised no one mentioned the smell. I hated that I smelled of raw meat throughout my period. Yes, I used the right size tampons changed regularly. Yes, I washed down there (the outside) every time I changed. Didn’t matter. And the stench of a bloody tampon is nauseating. Menstrual cups were so much better when I finally discovered them.
Ejteh 5 months ago
I really missed hemorrhoids. I know a lot of woman get them during pregnancy, but i lately found out a lot of young woman get them without being pregnant too. They are a pain! And it would be so much easier if people just talked! About hemorrhoids, but also other 'embarrassing' discomforts. Who cares if we are not perfect! I just want to be comfy!
ElfVibratorGlitter 5 months ago
I went to my prenatal appointment a couple weeks ago and discovered our baby didn't have a heartbeat. It's been a really painful (emotionally and physically) few weeks. 😥
Justbecause 5 months ago (edited)
That periods are optional, I was complaining to a friend about missing swimming and shes like why dont you just skip the period. Seriously in all the drs appointments about my period not one gave me an option to skip my periods. Even now when I'm clear to my drs about my preferences they will still try to force periods on me. Years later and a friend was saying how much her and her partner fight when she gets her period so I got to pass on my valuable information!
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