28 Practical Products From Amazon Our Readers Are Loving In 2025 So Far
A fire extinguishing spray, a portable vibrating heating pad, a therapy lamp, and more things that'll make you go, "Hmmm...why don't I own this?"
1. A large capacity pill organizer with seven compartments and a wide spout that makes it easier to hold and shake out the larger pills. It also comes with sticker labels to help you keep your medication more organized.
Promising review:"I bought this because I have Crohn's disease and my doctor put me on medication. I was worried about everything fitting inside, and I can attest that this thing holds tons of pills. This helps me keep track and remember to take all of the pills every day! It's super helpful. The pills fit perfectly, it's easy to shake them out and to use the device. My only regret is that a blue one would have matched my pills a lot better!" — Michelle
2. A two-pack of "flossing toothbrushes" that'll help you reach the food lodged between your teeth that you know is there but just can't seem to get to with your current toothbrush. These brushes have multi-layer bristles that act like floss and can get into those tiny crevices.
Mouthwatchers is a small business established by Ronald Plotka, DDS, that specializes in antimicrobial toothbrushes designed to get deeper cleans that even patients with "great" dental hygiene might miss with traditional brush and floss routines.
Here's what one of our editors, Emma Lord, has to say:"I love it just after the first few days of use! I use an electric toothbrush usually, but I feel like I'm getting a much more satisfying clean from these?? Especially because I tend to get yellow stains between my teeth no matter *how* much I floss, and these bristles seem to actually target that a lot more effectively."
Promising review: "I'm amazed at how well this toothbrush cleans my teeth — it definitely gets between the teeth and also, more importantly for me, gets in the small, deep crevices in my molars where I always have food stuck, and regular toothbrushes couldn't get stuff out. I brush more often (after meals/snacks) because of how effective it is. As stated, definitely go easy around the gums. The bristles feel soft but will cause your gums to bleed if you use regular pressure. Nice and easy does the trick SO WELL!" — Jason A.
3. A marvelous humidifier tank cleaner because now that you think about it, you can't quite remember the last time you cleaned your humidifier. *Thinks really hard*
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Just drop this in your humidifier, and it keeps the water pretty darn mildew- and mold-free. Super easy to use, no smell, and is safe. I have already repurchased and given a few to other people as well." — Kristine
4. A bag of Bottle Bright tablets made from biodegradable, chlorine-free, and environmentally safe ingredients that'll finally rid your fave bottle of that mysterious stain on the bottom.
Promising review:"Turns out that brown stuff in your cups isn't stained metal, it's a thin layer of caked-on, old, disgusting coffee/tea. But the photos speak for themselves — it's worth the buy. All these years, scrubbing and washing and trying everything to get this gunk in our mugs off, I could've been using these to get our cups clean in minutes. It works fast, deep cleans really well, and doesn't leave a funky bleach smell after use — our cups look brand new! BE WARNED — when using it with hot water, FILL YOUR CUPS ONLY HALFWAY FULL OF WATER! The tablet was WAY more powerful than expected; it was like putting Mentos in Diet Coke. It will eventually calm down, and you can add more hot water later on, but that initial drop is intense, so buyer beware. Regardless, the results are worth the few extra bubbles." — Amazon Customer
5. A fungal nail renewal pen and nail file combo ready to restore your toenails to their former glory. The pen reduces discoloration and thickness, as well as restores moisture to peeling, brittle nails.
Promising review:"I have used Kerasal for three days, and fungal [damage] is 95% gone! Very easy-to-use dispenser that eliminates mess during application. You can apply it yourself effortlessly. Gonna tell other family members with toenail problems about this! I would give it 10 stars if there was room!!!" — Dennis Downing
Price: $20.17
6. A denture cleaner because let's be real, we don't remember the last time we've actually cleaned that retainer. And, it's probably starting to taste like it could use a good cleaning. No judgments, just add this to cart.
amazon.com
Promising review:"I really loved this product. I am currently waiting for a new Invisalign set. My old Invisalign needed to be cleaned. I read the reviews and decided to purchase. OMG, it worked! There was a fresh taste and they were clean. I wish I had found this product sooner. I did let them soak overnight only because I had been wearing them for the last four months. Nothing happened to Invisalign; there was no weakness or anything. Just very clean and fresh. If I could have given the product 10 stars, I would have." — Lisa R.
Price: $15.70 for a box of 120 (also available in a pack of 240).
7. A ceiling fan carbon filter you place on your ceiling fan blades to grab dust, pollen, smoke, dander, and other allergens as it spins. You and your visitors may not see the filter, but you'll definitely notice a difference in the air.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I wasn't sure what to expect when purchasing these, but now they are a staple in every room of our house. Within three days, the air smelled more crisp and was easier to breathe in our home. So simple and effective!" — Haylee Marez
8. An Apple AirTag tracker so you'll never misplace your belongings again. You can attach this tracker to your keys, wallet, backpack, and anything else with a knack for ending up in a place you don't remember putting it.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "We have had our vehicles stolen a couple of times from our apartment building. Woke up one day to go to work, and the truck and trailer were gone. Called the cops, who couldn't do much at the time. We hopped in our family vehicle and followed where the AirTag said it was located. After about an hour, we tracked down and recovered all our stuff. We would have never found anything without these." — Kimberly Bishop
9. A WD-40 pen that's pretty genius and amazingly practical. Imagine you can tackle those tiny squeaks that wake you up at night whenever your roommate heads to the bathroom. And, because it's a pen, it's incredibly precise. Why didn't we think of this sooner?
Promising review: "I love WD-40 products and use them for everything. I spray on shovels to keep dirt or snow from sticking, spray around windows and thresholds to deter bugs, clean Sharpies off wood and walls, and, of course, stop squeaky doors. These small direct-point application pens are great. Keep one in the glove box, my kitchen 'junk' drawer, and the house toolbox." — BBP623
10. A pair of fillable paint touch-up pens because who has the arm strength to take out buckets of paint every time someone accidentally scratches the wall during a rousing game of Twister?
Amazon
Promising review:"I recently had the interior of my house painted. I purchased these pens, thinking that I might need to touch things up from time to time. Well, I did, like when I pushed the garbage can against the wall. Or when I found spots, the painters missed. I love how easy these pens are to fill. I've got a couple stashed in various rooms. When I see a spot, I just grab the pen, shake it to mix the paint, and twist the barrel. Love these!" — Karen Ranney
11. A belted portable cordless vibrating heating pad that's probably the best invention because it provides both the comfort of a heating pad and some vibration in a wearable format. You mean I can be comforted from the pain of cramps and still move about with freedom? *sobs with happy tears*
www.amazon.com
Check out a TikTok of the heating pad in action. Reviewers note you should definitely wear it *over* your clothes!
Promising review: "Oh my god. This might be the best thing I have ever bought. It gets so incredibly warm. You need to wear it over clothes to prevent burns, but I think the lowest setting is exceptionally hot as someone who never finds any heat pack warm enough. As someone who has really bad menstrual cramps and chronic constipation, this little belt does it all. The heat is soothing and adjustable and heats up so fast. The vibration is my favorite part. It helps so much with trapped gas and bloating pains. It breaks up all the little bubbles and can even move things along if you have difficulty using the bathroom. The various patterns and heat combinations allow this to be truly customizable to however you feel at the time, and it's fantastic. Absolutely worth every cent." — Chloe
12. A Go Hang It! picture hanging and leveling kit because you've saved hundreds of wall decor themes, but the thought of trying to hang something feels a little daunting. This little kit has everything you need to take those themes off your phone and onto the wall. It has 85 pieces, including nails, hooks, screws, a leveler, and more.
Go Hang it! is a small business that created this kit to help make hanging saw-tooth and wire picture frames easy with zero measuring. There are two magnetic keys you stick into the hangers on the back of your picture frames and then put up on the wall exactly where you want. It will leave a small indentation so you know exactly where to put your nails. And if you have a frame with a wire hanger, it also works. You can see exactly how it works in this TikTok here. Plus, there's an included level to make sure the pictures are even. The kit also incudes 85 pieces of picture-hanging hardware.
Promising review:"I moved to my apartment a few months ago and haven't hung anything because it is difficult/annoying to do it myself without it being crooked. Walls are plaster, so if I measure incorrectly and make nail holes, it is a pain to fix. I saw this product on TikTok (of all places) and immediately purchased. The day it arrived, I hung a mirror perfectly! I love that it has the attached kit, so when I want to hang something, everything is in one place. Super easy to use and absolutely worth every dollar." — Amazon Customer
13. A pack of invisible Compound W One Step Pads you can apply like a regular bandage, but rest easy knowing that they're working to help unearth those stubborn warts from your body. The best part, they aren't noticeable so people don't have to know you're battling against a wart.
Promising review:"More than six years with a large, sometimes painful plantar wart on the bottom of my foot. The doctor tried freezing. I tried apple cider vinegar, aspirin, freezing at home, over and over again...nothing worked. Never showing the bottom of my feet, refusing to get a pedicure with the girls, and so, so embarrassed. It felt as if I was doomed to have it forever; it was resistant to everything. Literally six years of fighting it, and on a whim, I tried these because of the good reviews. ONE APPLICATION. I wore the bandage overnight. I didn't think it did anything, but a few days later, the wart just came off. I know it's silly to be so emotional over a stupid wart, but I'm telling you, I nearly cried. I've never been so happy with a product in my life. Highly, highly recommend giving these a try if you've got stubborn plantar warts." — Liz Dube
14. An easy-to-use ear washer bottle for anyone who suffers from ear wax buildup, blockages, and impaction and wants to flush it out so they can better hear and finally learn all the lyrics to Doechii's new album.
Doctor Easy started 20 years ago with the invention of the Elephant Ear Washer by a doctor who saw the need for a better method of treating patients' earwax impactions.
Promising review:"My husband has had a lot of earwax impaction problems in his life, and up until this point, we have paid to have a professional take care of it. But recently, he suddenly lost about 80% of his hearing and just couldn't wait for an appointment, so we bought this item. From the reviews I have read, it was a particularly easy solution for my husband. Nasty huge chunks start falling out after just a couple of squirts. Cleared everything out no problem. Highly recommend." — Tea
15. A portable therapy lamp that'll help you year-round regardless of the season. When the sun's out, the fun's out, and since the days are longer, they seem to be a bit easier. But during those April shower days, this lamp can be your personal ray of sunshine here to help you feel energized, focused, and revitalized.
Promising review:"I was initially sold on this by the incredible reviews, a bit skeptical myself at first. I'm Arizon- orn and raised and now live in Michigan. Needless to say, the winters became...confusing. And I didn't even know why. I work from home, so the lack of both interaction with people AND the sun was doing something to me I had never experienced before. I love this lamp!!
I set it off to the side of my desk while I work and turn it on in small increments of 10–30 minutes at a time. I have YET to feel that anxious, sad, doomsday feel of the winter while working from home. I highly recommend if you struggle with the winter blues. 🩵" — Jamieee
Price: $59.99
16. A set of Wad-Free pads to prevent your sheets from tangling in the wash and not actually drying. These'll save you from having to run the dryer several times.
Wad-Free is a small biz that was launched during the pandemic. Cyndi, the founder, learned CAD (computer-aided design) to create the pads.
Promising review:"These completely solve the issue of sheets wadding up in the washer and dryer. They cut drying time by more than half. Easy to use, has great product construction, and solves a problem I've been dealing with forever. Great value. I don't write many reviews — but this one I felt I had to share!" — Jane P.
17. Bounce anti-static spray that also serves as a wrinkle release *and* odor eliminator in a handy dandy travel size, so you can always keep this secret wardrobe weapon with you. It definitely deserves a spot in your carry-on for your next trip.
Promising review:"Bounce anti-static spray is my best friend during the cold winter months. I never have to worry about leaving the house and forgetting to spray because I purchased this small size, and I keep it in my car! It removes the static cling that can be embarrassing if your dress sticks to your bum. I plan to purchase additional bottles to leave in my office and other places." — ShugaMama
18. A suede and leather brush cleaner ready to get rid of all the dust on your favorite boots. No need to hide them in the back of the closet, just give them a quick brush and they'll be ready to strut their stuff.
amazon.com
Promising review:"I am very impressed with this product. I was new to suede shoes and instantly regretted buying gray-colored shoes once I got them dirty. Luckily, I found this lovely thing. Very easy to use, straightforward packet comes with it that tells you which sides to use and when. I would definitely recommend this since you invest so much in those shoes, you might as well keep them nice and clean!" — Celeste
Price: $6.99
19. A tub of heavy-duty cleaning wipes that won't break apart when you're using them to tackle big jobs. The wipes are soaked in an industrial-strength formula which helps them to break down tough stains like grease, ink, marker, wine, and more. Working with that formula is aloe, vitamin E, and lanolin to keep your hands protected.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
These work on almost any surface: leather, fabric, furniture, hardwood, pans, metal, ANYTHING.
Promising reviews: "I wasn't expecting much from these, but I'm pleasantly surprised. I work on cars a lot, and I don't like wearing latex gloves like so many others do. As a result, my hands get DIRTY. I usually use That Orange Stuff, but I got tired of the grit and having to wipe it off with paper towels (I don't have a sink within easy reach), so I thought I would try out these cleaning towels. I have to say, I'm impressed! They don't have any 'grit' on them per se, but they are just rough enough that they easily scrape off whatever grease I have on my hands. I'm sold on these." — thatguy
"Perfect for cleaning artists' hands or quickly removing paint from clothes. I mainly use for cleaning up oil paint that has not yet dried. This was recommended by a master artist friend. It gently and quickly removes all paint from my hands and even my clothes while I"m painting." — Dot the artist
20. A garbage guard because you're not the only one who's opened a garbage lid, only to run back into the house in full panic when you see a ton of bugs fly out.
Promising review:"Got an outdoor can — the kind the mechanical arm on the garbage truck picks up and tips over, with the lid opening by gravity. Placed this on the inside of the lid near the hinge to lessen the chances of it being scraped off during emptying, and no flies/maggots and no apparent odor. It just seems to put a big hurt on the fly party that used to be my trash can (thanks to litter box contents, remnants of meat, etc.)." — Michael E. Bradley
21. A weighted eye mask that's basically like a weighted blanket for your eyes. The contour design is hollowed out in the middle so that the mask isn't resting right on top of your eyes, which provides some added comfort.
Amazon
Promising review: "Love these. These are soft and very comfortable and seriously black out every bit of light. I love them. I would highly recommend it. I'll probably never sleep without them again." — AJ
Price: $16.99 (available in four sets)
22. A bottle of Angry Orange citrus deodorizer for those pet odors that keep visitors at bay. No more being embarrassed by that super strong smell; this deodorizer is made for TOUGH JOBS. Added bonus: your cat or dog might hate the smell so bad that they'll STOP peeing on your stuff.
Use a UV blacklight (as shown above) to find urine spots you didn't even know were there!
Angry Orange is a small biz that was founded in 2014. They provide pet-related household cleaning supplies like stain removers, mops, and more.
Promising reviews:"Has earned its spot as the best solution for tackling strong pet odors. With its citrus deodorizing power, this product effectively neutralizes odors caused by dogs, cats, and other pets, leaving your space smelling fresh and clean. Pet odors can be a persistent challenge, but the Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator takes on the task with remarkable success. Its ability to eliminate odors rather than just masking them is a testament to its effectiveness. For pet owners seeking a reliable and powerful solution to keep their homes odor-free, this product offers a game-changing answer." — bratton423
23. A pair of fleece-lined opaque tights here to save you from freezing legs when you want to wear your favorite skirt and the weather is just too cold. Reviewers rave about the warmth, yes, but they also love that they don't snag.
Promising reviews:"I recently planned a trip to Colorado, and I really wanted to wear a skirt, but I knew it would be freezing! I started searching for some fleece tights and came across these, and I absolutely loved them. They are so warm and comfy, I totally recommend getting some if you're going somewhere where it's really cold but you want to look extra, lol. I like that I didn't have to be pulling them up all the time, and they stayed in place." — Kathy
"I am surprised. I don't write many reviews, but I had to on this one because I'm impressed. I wasn't expecting much because the price was so low. I expected them to fit funny because of the way the back was sewn, but I'm very happy that the cut being like that actually gives the booty some nice lift. These are not see-through even when I bend over; they lift nicely. I always am in between sizes because I have thicker legs and a smaller waist. The fabric is soft, the quality is much better than I thought it would be, and the color matches my skin tone. If you're on the fence, go ahead and add them to the cart." — Sierra beldin
24. An I Dew Care "Tap Secret" mattifying powder shampoo designed to penetrate your scalp and get rid of those greasy roots without the aerosol. Oh, it'll help to restore your volume, too.
Amazon
Promising review: "I was looking for a dry shampoo that would be easy to use on the go for a trip I was taking. I had no issues taking this through TSA and it was so easy to use on the go. You literally just pat the poof on your scalp and then rub the powder in. I do have black hair, so dry shampoo is usually very visible in my hair, but I didn't have any harder time than usual rubbing this powder in. It did a really good job of soaking up all the oil and giving my hair volume. I'm not a fan of the price for the amount that you get, but it is lasting longer than I thought it would. I would definitely recommend and will purchase again." — Teresa
25. A pack of Shout dye-trapping sheets because laundry is already a dreaded task, having to wash separate loads just makes it even longer. Mix whites and colored clothing together, and throw one of these sheets in the mix so your crispy white tee isn't tainted by your floral socks.
By reducing the number of necessary washes, you'll save on laundry, water, and electricity.
Promising review: "I've used color catchers for many years, so I can wash darks and lights together. They save time and money. You can tell they work because you see the color they soak up. If I have a garment that I know runs badly, I still wash it separately so as not to tempt fate. Recently, however, a new purple shirt took me by surprise and ran profusely. I had two color catchers in that load. They both turned deep violet. The only purple stain was on a white dish towel that had ended up next to the shirt, and I sat there with it for a couple of hours after the wash cycle finished. Everything else was fine. These are seriously one of the best home inventions of the modern era." — Go Steelers
Price: $10.95 for a box of 72 (also available in packs of two and four boxes).
26. A silicone freezing tray that'll make meal prep that much easier by helping you separate your soups or pasta sauces in perfect 1-cup compartments.
It comes with a lid to help maintain freshness and keep out odors. It's made of food-safe silicone that's BPA-free and dishwasher-safe. Souper Cubes is a small biz that sells bake-and-freeze kitchen products.
Promising review:"This is the best invention since sliced bread! How many times have you thrown out soup that you forgot about in your fridge??? Well, say goodbye to spoiled soup! Finally, a way to store measured quantities of broth, but I love to use mine for soup and...wait for it...SMOOTHIES! These cubes are the best for freezing measured quantities of smoothies. Simply throw one in the Vitamix, and boom! You have a fresh, already icy-cold smoothie for breakfast or a snack! For anyone with limited freezer space — which, let's face it, is most of us — this is a real gem. I was a bit worried about how easily the cubes would slide out, but no problems at all! The best part is how easy the cubes store in a gallon-size Ziplock bag so you can reuse the cubes. AND they are dishwasher safe??? Souper Cubes, why did you take so long to come into my life!??! I can't wait until the holiday season so I can gift these as stocking stuffers! To anyone I know, you now know your gift." — Texas Sunshine
27. A fire extinguishing spray if you're wanting to be prepared for every situation and have yet to equip your spot with a fire extinguisher. This easy-to-use spray acts the same way and can help you doust small fires. Just put it in a safe space so you don't confuse it with nonstick cooking spray or oven cleaner. 😂
amazon.com
Promising review:"Purchased thinking I would never have to use, but tonight it finally happened. An oven fire. Worked exactly how it said it would, and I still have almost a full can left. So thankful for this product. Not so happy about my chicken." — Amy
Price: $13.99
28. A set of Shoe Slotz that lets you double your storage by stacking one shoe on top of the other so they take up less space, which means...ROOM FOR MORE SHOES!!!
Sally Elshorafa / BuzzFeed, www.amazon.com
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Sally Elshorafa has a lot of good things to say about these: "This product SAVED MY SHOES! I have an awkward set of built-in shelves in my closet, and it was the only place I wanted to put my shoes. As you can see from the before pic (above), it was a big mess; my shoes were piled on top of each other and getting really dirty. Traditional shoe caddies or boxes didn't really work because there's not much horizontal space, so I tried the Shoe Slotz. It fixed the problem perfectly! Because the design smartly stacks one shoe on top of the other, you save 50% of the space you'd normally use to store your shoes."
Promising review:"Confession time. I am a bit of a shoe fiend. These little shoe slots have allowed me to fit way more shoes in my closet shelving (yay!) AND having them organized like this keeps my shoes much nicer — since they aren't all scraping against each other. It also helps me remember which shoes I have — since they are all visible. :) The little heel stoppers pop out every so often when I am getting shoes, which is sort of annoying, but still a 5-star purchase." — MoniqueRamsey
Price: $29.99 for a set of 10 (also available in a pack of 20 and 40).
Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
16 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Doctors, Share Strangest Object Removed From Patient
Traffic cones, Christmas ornaments, house plants, coins, cooking utensils — there's a plethora of weird items that can find themselves inside a human body. But I want to hear about the oddest things. So, I'm asking surgeons, doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals in the BuzzFeed Community to shock us all with their real-life stories. What is the strangest thing you've removed from a patient's body? Maybe you found no less than 73 seashells inside of an older gentleman who said the beach makes them feel the most at home. Maybe it was Christmas time, and someone got a little too comfortable with an ornament that slipped too far inside. Or maybe you discovered a collection of doll heads in the belly of a child who didn't want their sibling touching their toys anymore. Whatever the case may be, we want to hear from you. Medical professionals, tell us about the strangest thing you've removed from a patient's body in the comments. Or, if you'd like to remain anonymous, use the form below. Your response could be featured in an upcoming post.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
27 Eye-Opening Tips Therapists Gave To Their Patients That Might Change The Way You Live Your Life
Reddit user commander_boobs asked the community, "What's one thing a therapist has said to you that you will never forget?" People who've been to therapy didn't hold anything back and shared positive tips they've learned along the way. And because the subject is so popular, members of our BuzzFeed Community contributed their own stories, too. So, here are some of the most eye-opening things therapists have ever said to their patients: Warning: Some submissions include topics of domestic abuse and anti-LGBTQ+ harassment. Please proceed with caution. Note: There isn't one "typical" therapy experience. Everyone's stories are different, and if it hasn't worked for some, that doesn't mean it hasn't worked for others. 1."My therapist taught me the DREAM technique, which stands for 'detect, reward, escape, amend, and magnify.' I know this isn't some click-your-fingers technique that'll magically cure your problem overnight, and anyone who says that they have one is offering a distraction rather than dealing with the underlying issue. Detect is when you pay attention to what's going on in your head — no one thinks linearly. One minute you're thinking about one thing, the next minute you've gone on so many mental tangents you're as far from the original thought as you can be — the moment you notice that slip, stop what you're doing. Say it out loud to yourself if you have to. Reward is the detection itself, and not rewarding the negative thought — it's about positive reinforcement to make future detection easier." "Escape is when you remove yourself from the environment, either physically or mentally. One technique I use is to rumble my ears and hum because it's so loud, I can't hear anything else (but really, anything to break the pattern and take control of the situation). Amend is to rephrase the situation by inverting the language — for example, instead of saying 'bad,' say 'not good' because it doesn't matter if you're saying the word 'not' — you're still using 'good.' And finally, magnify is to, 'Magnify the newly-created positive suggestion/fantasy, and actually imagine the outcome happening. To magnify it, make the colors brighter, the sounds louder, the feelings stronger, and the sensations more specific. The stronger the emotions and feelings attached to the new thought/image, the more powerful it is.' It took me months to get the DREAM technique right, and to basically 'reprogram' my entire way of thinking, but now it's second nature. I would have anxiety attacks near-daily, but my last one was in 2013. As the quote goes, 'It gets easier, but you gotta do it, that's the hard part — but it does get easier.'" —u/neohylanmay 2."My therapist told me, 'Napoleon's greatest weakness was he could never stop trying to return to his former glory.' I had spent almost a decade trying to 'get back' to situations and feelings I had in my early twenties instead of focusing on different life goals and expectations. I never realized how unhappy I was because I was trying to rebuild a life that was gone instead of trying to build a new and more realistic life for myself." —u/PhoenixApok 3."I was in unrequited love with a guy who'd strung me along for years and years, and although I knew it was unhealthy and leading nowhere, I couldn't stop loving him and engaging with him whenever he contacted me. It seems overly simplistic, but my therapist reminded me of the five stages of grief and told me I was in denial. She said I was deciding to stay in denial because if i stayed in that stage, the relationship couldn't end, and I wouldn't have to accept the fact that we weren't going to end up together. Recognizing that I was in denial eventually led to my acceptance that we would never be together. I was able to move through the five stages and finally get over him after YEARS of agony — it seems so simple, but it changed my life." —u/nopenonotatall Related: 4."My therapist said, 'They'll get over it.' We were discussing setting boundaries and how hard it was for me to say no. I told her people would be mad if I said no. She responded with, 'So? They'll be mad.' When I just stared at her, not comprehending, she went on with that pearl of wisdom: 'They'll get over it.' I thought of all the times I'd been upset with people and had to get over it, but I realized she was right. Even the person whose anger I feared the most would get over it in time. The first time I said no was hard — I fretted about it and the other person's reaction for a while. It got easier, though, and now I have no trouble at all doing it." —u/Bookworm1254 5."One thing a therapist once said to me that I'll never forget is, 'You're allowed to feel how you feel, even if you don't have all the answers right now.' It stuck with me because I often felt the need to immediately fix or rationalize my emotions instead of just sitting with them. That statement made me realize it's okay not to have everything figured out and that emotions themselves are valid, even without clear explanations. It was freeing to understand that I didn't need to solve everything at once." —u/nontas1995 6."'Your self-confidence will fluctuate day to day, maybe even minute to minute. That's transient. But what doesn't fluctuate is your knowledge, your training, your intelligence, and your intellect. Those things stay consistent and improve with time. Don't put too much stock in your self-confidence as a measure of how competent you are. Trust in the other things that are consistent and concrete.'" —u/exile_zero 7."My therapist said to think of past me and future me as two completely different people. My decisions today don't affect me. Because the me that makes those decisions will be gone (past me). Future me, a different person, has to live with the consequences. So treat that person with love and respect, and don't put him in bad or awkward situations." —u/BizarroMax 8."My counselor told me you can forgive someone or accept a situation without invalidating the hurt that it caused you. That helped a lot, as throughout my life, I've been estranged or betrayed by most of my family, and went through a period of time where all of my close friends collectively abandoned me. At the time, everyone kept telling me to move on, and the idea of forgiveness was continually being brought up — it was tough because I always felt like what people wanted me to do was just forget everything that happened in the past. My counselor worked with me quite a bit on coming to terms with those things without acting like it never happened, or that it still didn't hurt." —u/kamron94 9."'That child who was never loved or acknowledged isn't waiting on your parents, but on you. You are her parent now. Will you ignore her, not love her, not value her, and not find her worthy as well? You decide if she thrives or survives. Your parents let her down. Will you do the same?'" —u/Dry-Willingness948 Related: 10."I used to see a trauma specialist who was really great at focusing on shame and shame spirals, and he educated me on the physical aspects of strong intrusive feelings. The best example is to focus on what your body is doing when you feel an overwhelming negative thought — shame, for example, tends to make our bodies tense in a way that brings our shoulders to our ears. So, when you realize that you're stuck in a shame spiral, focus instead on what your body is doing and work on relaxing those muscles — your mind eventually gets the picture, and you come out of the spiral." "I'm still using this advice years later, and it has helped me a lot with refocusing my mind away from the intrusive thoughts I get. It was nice to finally have a therapist who taught me useful coping mechanisms that weren't self-damaging." —u/emilybohbemily 11."I often struggle with feelings of guilt due to PTSD and anxiety, so I apologize excessively. My therapist told me to replace 'sorry' with 'thank you.' So instead of telling people, 'Sorry, I'm having a stressed-out day,' I say, 'Thank you for being supportive of me.'" —Femmefoxx 12."A therapist asked me what I wanted to get out of therapy, and I replied, 'I finally want to be happy and stay happy.' She told me, 'Happiness is like putting clean sheets on your bed. The only way to enjoy it is to be in it, but that also means you need to rewash them. Achieving happiness isn't about staying happy — it's understanding how to get there again and again after everything gets dirty.' My mind was blown." —fishola13 13."My therapist and I were discussing how I felt about a pretty deep betrayal from my ex-wife. I was beating myself up for not seeing how bad she really was when there was plenty of evidence. He wrote down something on his yellow notepad and then held it up to my face, practically touching my nose. He said, 'What does that say?' I couldn't read it — it was too close to my face. Stepping back from it a bit, I could read it. It said, 'You're too close to see it.' He was right. I was too close to the problems and the situation to have been able to see it where, in retrospect, it was so obvious. I stopped beating myself up over it and was able to let it go." —u/flutter_quirkzz 14."I had talked recently about my inability to find a partner because I'm looking for X, Y, and Z, and 'not a lot of women fit what I'm looking for.' She paused for a minute and asked me, 'Well…what kind of partner do YOU want to be?' This blew my mind. It completely changed my approach to dating." —u/VikingRodeo9 Related: 15."She asked if there was anything I wanted to do in my life that I no longer thought I could do. I told her that I wanted to go to law school, but that was no longer in the cards for me. She said, 'You know that you can still go to law school, right? No one has to give you permission.' I'll be graduating with my JD degree in May of next year. I don't think she knows the true impact of her simple statement that day." —u/sethscoolwife 16."Hearing negative messages from my family about my sexual orientation and religious views messed me up badly. My therapist said that they won't correct the wrong, but I can change the way it impacts me by learning radical acceptance, unconditional love for myself, and healthy boundaries. She also said, 'You are fucking precious — period. No matter what they say or do to you, you are wonderful, and you have the right to exist.'" —a445b471ee 17."That each of us is our own library — we're all a collection of different books. Some of our stories may be sad, and some of them may be happy — some may be very painful, and some may give us lots of joy. There are some we won't share, and there are some that we will gladly read aloud. As we move forward in our lives, we should give value to each of our stories — this is especially true for the unwritten ones, and if we're struggling to let go of an old story." —u/starrylv 18."I'm someone who always puts what makes me happy on the back burner. My therapist looked at me and literally said, 'Fuck shit up.' She told me to do whatever I wanted because no matter what the reactions would be, it'd be MY mess I created with my own free will." —8675309eeine 19."I actually had the 'It's not your fault' scene from Good Will Hunting happen to me — for real (I have a different background than Will's, though). I fell into a depression during high school as a result of my parents trying to force me to be more disciplined in school and removing all distractions/leisure at home. It was literally eat, sleep, and study — no entertainment was allowed. No friends, movies, TV shows, books, magazines, or anything else that wasn't related to school. Obviously, I became unhappy and focused less on school, and ultimately, I did worse. My parents doubled dow,n and I deteriorated, and I spiraled downward." "Going to therapy in my mid-twenties, all of this came out during sessions and it was rough — she told me that all of this wasn't my fault. Like Will in the movie, I didn't really accept it, and I kind of brushed it off. She repeated herself, and I said, 'Yeah, I know, but I could have been better.' She said, 'No, you were still a kid, and too young to understand what was happening. Your parents knew. It wasn't your fault.' Then I went all blubbery, pretty much like Will in the movie — a floodgate had opened." —u/RyzenRaider 20."'Depression doesn't have to be sadness or the lack of happiness. It could come in the form of unresolved anger.' This helped me reframe a lot of what I was trying to fix." —u/usbman 21."The one thing a therapist told me, which has stuck with me for years, is that the mind and the body are one thing — they're connected. The physical work we do has a huge impact on our thought process (as much as diet, meditation, and, in my case, taking medication). I am in a fun cohort of people who need to work on our bodies for our minds to be solid, happy, and functioning — if I don't go get my heart rate burning at maximum capacity for at least an hour four to five times a week, I am miserable. My short-term memory gets worse, my inner monologue gets negative, and little stresses turn into huge problems. But, if I work out and do something physical, I'm super happy, everything feels easy, and there are a few situations in my reasonably high-stress programming and management job that are an issue to deal with." —u/williamf03 Related: 22.''If you make an intentional, well thought-out decision, how someone else responds to it is none of your business.' I didn't believe him for years." —u/Alternative-Bad-6403 23."My ex-husband broke his hand throwing his fist through a wall and told me to 'be grateful it wasn't my face.' My therapist, who was an absolute gem and truly saved me in getting out of the marriage, told me, 'You do not owe anyone the story unless you want to share it. But you will *not* lie for him. When people see him in a cast and ask what happened, you look them in the eye and say, 'You can ask him about that.' It helped me keep my dignity without feeling the need to tell anyone about my abuse unless I trusted them. I don't know if I could've forgiven myself as quickly if I'd helped him hide his abuse with outright lies. She was truly incredible." —malloryrosie 24."Using the word 'always' can be dangerous. Telling someone that you'll 'ALWAYS be there for them' can interfere with your well-being and can unintentionally open you up to emotional issues you don't necessarily need or want to deal with. Setting boundaries is key, and true friends will understand when you mentally cannot be there for them all the time." —lilpic 25."We were having a conversation about my depression and anxiety, and in the course of this conversation about changing my meds, she said, 'You have to do the work.' What I took from that conversation was there isn't one pill, one therapy session, or one singular thing that's going to magically fix me instantly — I have to do all of these things, and I have to do them every single day. I have to put in the work. I have to exercise, I have to police my own negative thoughts, and I have to watch what I eat and drink (because I use food to self-soothe)." —u/Maxwyfe 26."Even if someone close to you treated you horribly, the reasons why they acted that way can have absolutely nothing to do with you. I think the general statement from my therapist was how people's actions towards you can often be about something completely out of your control and awareness. It might seem obvious when stated that way (especially if you think about interactions you have with strangers who are having a bad day), but it really changes how you interpret your experiences and cope with them. So, just a reminder to everyone: It's not always about you, what you did or didn't do, and it's not your fault — let go of it all knowing that, and try your best to move on." —u/parad0xchild finally, "After being in therapy from the age of seven years old until about 40 years old, the therapist I had been seeing for 13 years said to me, 'You know, you have accomplished so much so far that I think I'm done with working with you. You have all of the tools to deal with your mood disorder, and you know how to do it now. You will never be cured, but you are amazing the way you are — so be you. Be the best you there is because I respect and like the you that you are, and no matter where you are in the world, you have my number and your psychiatrist's number — we will always pick up if you need us.'" "Then, she started crying and got up and gave me the warmest hug. Nine years later, we still exchange an email every year just to say hello — she was awesome. She essentially told me I have all of the tools in my mental kit to solve my own problems now, and it felt empowering to hear because she was right." —u/kapsalonmet Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity. The National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline is 1-800-950-6264 (NAMI) and provides information and referral services; is an association of mental health professionals from more than 25 countries who support efforts to reduce harm in therapy. Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful: Solve the daily Crossword
Associated Press
a day ago
- Associated Press
Clear Smiles, Clear Recognition: Leaside Orthodontic Centre Honoured with 2025 Consumer Choice Award in Toronto Central
TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / August 18, 2025 / Leaside Orthodontic Centre, a modern orthodontic practice celebrated for combining compassionate, personalized patient care with cutting-edge technology, has earned the 2025 Consumer Choice Award in the Orthodontists category for Toronto Central. This distinction highlights the clinic's dedication to exceptional outcomes, advanced treatments, and patient satisfaction. Leaside Orthodontic Centre is led by Dr. Emel Arat, D.D.S., Ph.D., F.R.C.D.(C), a certified orthodontic specialist renowned for her expertise in clear aligners, custom clear braces, and self-ligating braces. Grounded in a modern, patient-focused philosophy and supported by a team of skilled professionals, the clinic delivers tailored treatment plans designed to create confident and healthy smiles. A Legacy of Expertise and Innovation Since its inception, Leaside Orthodontic Centre has positioned itself at the forefront of orthodontic care. By employing state-of-the-art technologies-such as intraoral scanning, digital treatment planning, and precision-fabricated LightForce clear braces-Dr. Arat and her team consistently deliver efficient, minimally invasive treatments with predictable results. 'Our passion is helping patients achieve both beautiful and healthy smiles in an environment that feels supportive and stress-free,' said the Leaside Orthodontic Centre team. 'Receiving the Consumer Choice Award is a testament to our commitment to customized care and clinical excellence.' Comprehensive Services with Patient Comfort in Mind Leaside Orthodontic Centre offers a full suite of orthodontic solutions, including: Clear aligners, featuring the latest systems for subtle, removable treatment Custom clear (ceramic) braces for patients wanting discreet but fixed options Self-ligating braces, which reduce friction and may shorten treatment time Each treatment is personalized based on detailed assessment and patient preferences, ensuring optimum comfort, functionality, and aesthetics. Technology-Driven, Patient-Centered Care Utilizing digital intraoral scanners, advanced lab-fabricated braces, and virtual planning tools, Leaside Orthodontic Centre enhances precision, comfort, and efficiency. These innovations reduce manual discomfort, minimize in-office adjustment needs, and support sustainable treatment through less material waste. The clinic also integrates paperless forms, and seamless communication tools-enhancing convenience and reducing environmental impact, in line with modern healthcare expectations. Award-Winning Recognition Based on Trust and Quality The Consumer Choice Award reflects independent market research and verified patient feedback, assessing brand reputation, service excellence, and satisfaction. Leaside Orthodontic Centre's win underscores the clinic's strong rapport with patients across Toronto Central, their trusted clinical outcomes, and consistent service delivery. 'This award is especially meaningful because it comes from the community we serve,' added the Leaside Orthodontic Centre team. 'We're honoured to have our efforts acknowledged and look forward to continuing to exceed expectations.' Invested in Toronto's Smiles and Strengthening Community Connections The clinic actively engages in its neighbourhood, participating in dental outreach, educational workshops, supporting local schools and wellness initiatives in Leaside and surrounding areas. Through these efforts, Leaside Orthodontic Centre contributes to broader community health and well-being. Looking forward, the clinic plans to expand its offerings with new digital follow-up tools, enhanced pediatric orthodontic programmes, and even more patient education resources. The commitment to innovation, expertise, and positive patient impact remains stronger than ever. To explore Leaside Orthodontic Centre's treatments and schedule a consultation, CLICK HERE or visit . About Consumer Choice Award: Consumer Choice Award has been recognizing and promoting business excellence in North America since 1987. Its rigorous selection process ensures that only the most outstanding service providers in each category earn this prestigious recognition. Visit to learn more. Contact Information: Sumi Saleh Communications Manager [email protected] SOURCE: Consumer Choice Award press release
