The speaker discusses their psychiatrist's observations on self-criticism and advice on reducing time spent in front of the mirror.

• The psychiatrist pointed out the speaker's tendency to be their own worst critic.
• Advice was given to take things easy and to avoid spending too much time scrutinizing oneself in the mirror.
• The speaker shares a past hobby of sitting in front of the mirror doing makeup, sometimes for excessive durations.

The speaker discusses their struggle with self-worth, avoiding mirrors, and their psychiatrist's warnings about worsening self-perception over time.

• The psychiatrist cautions that self-perception issues could worsen, potentially causing hallucinations.
• The speaker has stopped using mirrors to avoid seeing distortions like imaginary wrinkles or likening themselves to Shrek.
• They haven't looked in the mirror for over a year and prefer it to avoid becoming obsessed with their appearance.

The speaker shares their use of antidepressants and insights from a professional who links their video project's issues to problems with self-worth.

• The speaker is on antidepressants, specifically Prozac, and avoids looking in the mirror.
• A professional shares the belief that most problems presented in the video project stem from self-worth and self-esteem issues.
• The need for esteem building actions rather than reliance on drugs is emphasized.

The speaker recounts their transition from ballet to stripping and the family's response to their lifestyle change.

• The speaker's childhood involved ballet, and the transition to stripping came after a plan to become a prima ballerina in New York was abandoned due to the cold climate.
• Family influence, including wealth and values, played a role in the speaker's life decisions.
• The speaker reflects on the importance of earning their own money and the challenge of adhering to a strict budget.

The speaker describes how they became comfortable with their stripping career and the financial independence it provided.

• Despite coming from a wealthy family, the speaker prefers to earn their own money and maintain financial independence.
• A brief departure from stripping led to personal growth and a better understanding of money management.
• The speaker acknowledges the potential for becoming financially dependent on the quick earnings from stripping.

The speaker touches on family dynamics, including issues of racism, and shares regrets about their two past marriages.

• The speaker's first marriage was annulled due to family's racial preferences, and the second marriage ended due to the spouse's negative behavior.
• They express regret over these marriages, linking them to their own self-worth and the impact of negative treatment by partners.

The speaker reflects on their sheltered childhood, educational achievements, and the challenge of finding employment due to being overqualified.

• Raised in a sheltered, wealthy environment, the speaker was never denied anything and had a privileged upbringing.
• They achieved high academic success, including a doctorate in physics, but struggled to find work due to being overqualified.
• The difficulty in transitioning from academia to the workforce contributed to the choice of becoming a stripper.

The speaker discusses their mental health, coping mechanisms, and the fear of death following a life-threatening experience.

• The speaker suffers from depression and has made lifestyle adjustments, including medication and budgeting, to cope with it.
• A near-death experience led to a fear of death and a newfound perspective on life's fragility.
• The experience of dying and having an out-of-body experience profoundly affected the speaker's outlook on life and death.