u/JayneAustin

It’s still summer here but I’m trying to get more ahead of things this year. I have been talking to a psychiatrist and she recommended starting Wellbutrin in the fall. she also said she would write me a letter if I want to apply for a Reasonable Accommodation to work from home. I work from home 2 days a week but sometimes even that is difficult in the winter.

I hate being the squeaky wheel and am not sure the chances of getting an RA approved for mental health at my job, but it may be easier if it’s temporary. none of my work really requires me to be in office. Has anyone done something like that?

Really just a vent. My office recently added a bunch of new employees to our floor and they sit in a big open workspace just outside my cubicle. today, they were all complaining about being sick, and even sharing cold medicine together! I guess it’s back to wearing a mask all day. I admit I had become less cautious because my cubicle was distanced from others , but not anymore.

I was going to book a private office all day but it turns out I can only book it for 2 hours max.

my workplace fights me every time I request an accommodation but I wish I could ask for more work from home time for this.
I don’t mind wearing the mask but I am already seen as the odd one out for being disabled and having accommodations. it can get uncomfortable wearing it for 8 hours a day, obviously I will still do it, but it was nice to have a bit of a break.

Hi, I’ve been taking ubrelvy as a rescue med and it works great other than some GI side effects if I take more than 200mg in a week. I want to try Nurtec or qulipta as a daily preventative, but my dr insists on me trialing propranolol XR first. I am already on 20mg daily propranalol for POTS and have some side effects, and it has not done much for headaches, so I don’t know if this will help me? Just wondering if you had to trial other preventatives before qulipta? I am also already on nortriptyline.

I haven’t been looking forward to my therapy sessions at all lately. I know you’re not really supposed to, haha. but it was really helpful when I first transitioned to outpatient. Now, I am not seeing much progress. I only see my dietician once a month now but my therapist weekly. My therapist is very formal with zero disclosure and I sometimes wish I had more rapport with the person I’ve been talking to for a year. I had bad experiences with therapy inpatient so I don’t know if I want to switch, though. Could it be I’m dealing with treatment burnout? Does this sound like normal resistance or should I look for someone new?

I can’t stand anything tight on my abdomen so I size up by 2 or 3 sizes. My lower stomach is always bloated and my waist measurement is much bigger than my hips, and I’m short as well. so if I buy pants that fit my waist, they’re always too long and baggy around my hips.

In the summer, I wear dresses but I can’t find any leggings or tights that fit, so I don’t wear them when it’s cold.

I think I might try some maternity clothing since my build is basically that of a few months pregnant woman (have been asked enough when I’m due), but I find it demoralizing.

I just feel like I am always uncomfortable and look schlumpy no matter what I’m wearing.

my building doesn’t have any outdoor space. I usually love going to Meridian Hill/Malcolm X park. but since they started doing work and turned the fountains on it’s always crowded and loud, especially on weekends. there are fitness classes, concerts etc. I get that it’s a community space, but I feel like I don’t have anywhere I can go to enjoy nature quietly, and not plan a whole day out of it. where can I go sit and read a book in relative peace, preferably in walking distance from Columbia Heights?

i know Rock Creek is there but I do have some mobility issues so I’m a bit intimidated, if anyone knows of an easy to access area there that would be great too.

I am starting to get depressed about having to work a 9-5 job. my job was remote when I was hired and I could work when I wanted, except a few days I had morning meetings. that was awesome. last year, we returned to office. it’s freaking killing me. everyone else seems fine but the mornings are so hard. I get there later than everyone, at 10, and leave when the building closes at 6:30. mornings still suck. I even had a sleep study done because I was not functioning. it was normal. the doctor told me to go to bed earlier :)

I am looking for a new work from home job. but the job market sucks. and the pay is good in my current job and I don’t mind the work. just can’t stand the new schedule. if anyone one else works a 9-5 how do you survive?

Doc suggested two options. I'm on zoloft, and had some improvement but found it hard to get above 50mg because of side effects. Main side effects are fatigue and digestive issues. I've tried lexapro before, and was great for my mood but had worse digestive issues. My psych suggested adding abilify to the low dose zoloft to see if that combo works. Or I could try prozac to see if that works better than zoloft or escitalapram.

We also talked about an SNRI but I'm not ready to try that yet because I'm worried about how difficult they are to get off.

I like the idea of doing a fiber craft but I have very bad dexterity in my hands. I tried crochet and learned a little but didn’t really enjoy it because I was so slow. I took an intro cross stitch class and struggled a lot, I was still trying to thread the needle while everyone else was halfway done. I do diamond painting sometimes but it’s not very portable, and I want to try a craft circle at my local bookstore. any ideas?

is it normal to feel really out of place with your extended family when your parents have passed? I was close with my parents and while we argued sometimes generally felt we were very similar. i feel like a black sheep when I attempt to spend time with the rest of the family. part of it is I’m queer and autistic and still pretty much closeted and masking in front of my family, which is exhausting. I feel like I’m back to being a weird teenager whenever I visit them. my uncle drove me around to some places today which was nice but he didn’t want to go in and waited in the car (at the bookstore, at a cool cafe…) while I know my parents would have really enjoy it. They also rag on me about not being able to drive and being single (neither of which is an issue to me) Sometimes I just wish I could vent to my parents about them leaving me alone with the rest of this family!

I love my aunt, but not her dog. I am visiting her this weekend for the first time in 2 years and the dog is low key ruining things. her dog is a pug, old, has breathing issues, can’t see, can’t walk without help, and has to be hand fed. it goes insane if left alone for more than a few minutes.

my aunt has mobility issues and can’t do much outside. I offered to pay for an uber to my nice, clean hotel to hang out and she said she can’t leave the dog alone. can’t leave it alone to go out to lunch for me to treat her. so I’ll be stuck hanging out in her dirty, smelly home around the dog all day. She doesn’t understand why I won’t spend all day with her now. my aunt says “don’t worry he can’t move so he won’t jump on you. there’s just a lot of dog hair.” she wanted me to sleep over at her place too but I said no way with the dog. she acts like I’m in the wrong for not loving her weird little creature. I feel guilty because my aunt is elderly and doesn’t get much company but until the dog is gone I probably won’t visit again . shes already talking about getting another pet when he’s gone which is insane given her age and disability.

I had an initial course of Moderna, and then the updated nova vaccine in September. I neglected to get a booster before it expired. I have a big event in 2 weeks, and I’m wondering if I should get a Moderna booster now, or just wait for the fall again? I wouldn’t want to delay getting the new one, but I have asthma and am worried about waning effectiveness. I do wear a mask in crowded areas still.

I used to think I didn't have a problem because I was very good at the "one in one out" rule, but I'm currently looking at the 3 garbage bags full of clothes for donations sitting outside my closet...and I feel sickened at myself.

I get rid of 3-4 bags of clothes every season. I use Trashie mail in recycling and supposedly it goes to a good cause, but tbh I don't really believe that and might as well be throwing it out. Also, it's a huge hassle because I don't have a car and have to pay for a courier to take the bags for me, which is even more money spent! then I immediately have to go replace whatever I got rid of. I've already started buying all new summer clothes. I'm so frustrated. I've tried everything, but my closet is still packed, and I can't save any money, I have 10k in credit card debt (mostly medical debt but I should be paying that off instead of shopping). I talked with my therapist about it and we came up with a plan to get up and go for a walk or stretch when I find myself on shopping sites but it's not actually getting through to my brain.

I do the same thing with books. I take a bag of books to my little free library every week and yet my shelves are still packed because I immediately go buy more. I don't even read them because I usually do audiobooks for my reading, but I love shopping for them.

I don't know what to do to stop this constant need to replace things.