u/InsideMuch4907

I have been on Vyvanse/Dex for around 12 months so far. I made a decision about a month ago to come off all stimulants for various reasons. I struggled a lot throughout the month so ended up taking them again at various points. I've now been stimulant free for a week and after the fog/fatigue lifted, I'm starting to feel so much more like myself.

I was just joking around with my wife today and she told me she was so happy to see me laugh for the first time in a long time. I didn't tell her I had stopped taking the stimulants. I never realised how much of a zombie I had become. I was very productive, life changing in that regard, but I realised there's more to life than being a good worker bee. I feel like the stimulants made life very black and white, and I've started to see the colours again, able to stop and enjoy the butterflies in the garden.

I know stimulants are really good for a lot of people, but I wanted to share an experience from the other side, where they perhaps weren't the best fit.

So we are about to have our first child, I am uncultured and only speak English, but my partner speaks both Cantonese and Mandarin. I have been doing some reading and apparently one parent one language is ideal. Have people historically had much success with a parent using two languages? If so, how did you approach it?

I had a prolonged manic episode that lasted several months. I am not quite how it sustained for so long. I finally crashed after starting Seroquel and Lithium and the depression I felt was the worst I've ever experienced in my life.

The reason this disease sucks so much is that it's just so hard to describe to others what these two ends of the pole feel like.

Is it possible to be stable and never have another manic or depressive episode ever again?

I would like to get a bit of a sense on what people's monthly bills are, because everytime I see another DINK HENRY on similar income but only somehow spending 4k a month (excluding mortgage or rent) I feel so bad about our monthly expenditure. I have combed through it and there's no way for us to get down to these levels. For example, income/tpd insurance, health insurance, professional indemnity insurance alone these three things together cost $3,500 pm.

So I am interested to find out what do others spend out there, per month?

For context, we are DINK, our monthly excluding mortgage is around $9,000 per month. Is this ridiculous, because I frankly don't feel like we live it up, for example I wear K-Mart. HHI $900,000.

If we really tightened the budget I feel we could maybe get it down to $7,000 per month, at the lowest.

I have been trying to model our investments and nest egg to determine when would be an appropriate time to take the foot off the gas. When I run the numbers, if we keep working it gets to obscene levels of money that we would never need.

I am however finding it difficult to set a target that will give enough margin for us to not run out of $$ in retirement.

How do you all do it? Are you just using the 4% rule?

Current labs

Hey all,

So I've been on TRT now for 8 months, I came close to quitting so many times. I started at 200mg, felt great, but because my total test was high, lowered the dose. I spent most of the time between 100 - 150mg and wasn't feeling it. I added HCG, had trouble controlling my E2, it was all just a mess.

Most recently I've just gone back to 200mg Test-E, split in to two doses and taken Sunday and Thursday. I also take 200IU HCG on Tuesday and Wednesday.

My E2 is sitting at 75, and frankly I have come to realise I actually do better on a higher E2. My erections are the strongest they've ever been, my penis looks better than it normally does and this is even while flaccid. I am also taking 5mg Tadalafil daily. Sex drive is good. I feel very empathetic and understanding for people, and I have a lot more patience and not quick to snap.

The ONLY issue I have currently is that my sleep is a tiny bit lighter than it normally is, however the day before my next shot I will tend to sleep a full 8 hours. I suspect either my T levels or E2 levels are a tiny bit too high, but at my trough, they are just perfect. The remainder of the week I will tend to sleep 6 hours, but I'll generally not feel tired, but I don't like the idea of only sleeping 6 hours a night long term.

I have decided to lower my dosage again, so that run a litle closer to what my trough levels are, for the majority of the week. What levels would you suggest with and is 3-4 weeks enough before asessing if another drop is required? I am thinking of 180mg to start with.

So, seroquel is really good for my mental health, but, I can't cum when I take it. If I skip a day (and not be able to sleep) I can cum again. Does it ever come back or am I doomed to never cumming?

I already know the answer so not even sure why I'm asking. Been seeing this gal for around 3 months. It's been a pretty frustrating relationship, which I know I shouldn't even entertain, due to multiple breaches of trust. Anyways, I don't use snapchat much, but logged in today and since she's a phone contact, I added them.

Here's the thing, she's one of those people who "doesn't text much", she will go MIA for days at a time sometimes. I initially thought she wasn't interested or keen, ok cool, so I told her maybe lets end it as she doesn't seem engaged at all. She however then tells me she really wants it to work, so I give it another chance. Then again, back to the same.

When I added her today, I notice her score is 1 million. I used to use Snapchat a lot back in the day and I'm sitting at 30k which I thought was a lot.

The issues with trust include her engaging with exes after we had discussions about it. But now, seeing this gave me the "ick" so to speak. Anyways, is 1 million points a lot, for someone who "doesn't text much"?

Hi all.

Have been HENRY status for a couple of years now. First gen migrant coming from a country with limited opportunities. My parents always prioritised education, which I never understood as a child but is part of the reason I am where I am today.

I was initially thinking about waiting until I was fully retired or completed my investment goals, but I've decided I want to start building/doing something meaningful now.

Essentially, I am in the position to donate around $5,000 AUD a month now. I think I'll be able to retire in 6-8 years time at age ~40, wherein any income I make could all go directly to the charitable fund.

What I was thinking about was creating a charitable trust/company that will soley collect my donations and invest them until the fund is in a large enough position to actually help. The goal would be education, I want to be able to fund education costs, board, equipment to promote and improve access to education for people in my home country.

I have no idea where to start and I don't see this discussed much online.

I am taking 300mg, I have mainly depression but had hypomania due to medications (Lexapro and Vyvanse) wondering how long it will take 300mg to help. I do feel a little more myself already but I am mindful it may just be placebo.

I took Lexapro for about a year but stopped earlier this year because I became hypomanic. When I took Lexapro it took longer for me to orgasm, but when I did, my legs would literally start shaking which is how intense they were (male here).

Did anyone else get mind numbingly good orgasms on Lexapro? The benefit honestly never went away, was present the entire time I was on the medication.

I've recently started Seroquel monotherapy and am curious as to the dose most people are on. I'm still working out where I'll sit at, but at this stage it looks like somewhere between 150-300mg. 300mg has me very calm, but is where some sides are starting to show, so trialing slightly lower doses.

I know everyone is different, but just curious as to what the ranges are.

My doc said the standard dose is 300-600mg, but it varies quite a bit.

I am taking the IR dose.

I had drug induced hypomania and no psychosis hence my dosage may be a little lower. (Was on Lexapro, Wellbutrin and Vyvanse, now only taking Vyvanse 2-3 days a week and no Lexapro or Wellbutrin)

So I stopped my stimulants around a week ago, feeling so much better mentally. Decided to take them 2 times a week for now.

The problem I have is, I am eating like a starved animal. I didn't realise how much stims were reducing my appetite. Now I am having an insatiable hunger, also drinking coca-cola, and I've never even been a fan of soft drink!

Is this just what my new baseline is like or does it normalise after time?

I had a prolonged hypomanic episode triggered by starting three medications:

- Wellbutrin

- Vyvanse

- Lexapro

I slowly came off everything about 6 months ago, finally coming off the Vyvanse around 1 week ago. I've also started Seroquel 150mg at night.

I feel a sense of calm I haven't had, ever. My mood is also good, but not hyper like it was before. The first days of the Seroquel I did nothing but sleep, but not that I'm used to it I'm looking forward to this medication.

Please tell me others have had a positive long term experience.

I take Tirzepatide so I am hoping my weight stays stable.

Those of you on Seroquel monotherapy, what dosage are you on?

I started Seroquel recently and am on 150mg which has helped with my sleep and mood, however I've noticed my libido is lower. I am not sure if it's the medication as my libido flucuates a bit.

I wanted to find out if it was normal for most people to have some libido side effects.

Hi all, I am considering trialing Mirtazapine, but curious as to how long it took you all to get over the sedation in the morning?

I have tried Quetiapine which is 150mg and found once the sedation goes away works very well as an antidepressant, the receptor profile is quite similar to Mirtazapine so wanting to try that as a safer long term option.