u/Moist_crocs

This might sound like a "steak too juicy, lobster too buttery" (literally sort of) situation, but I want somewhere to vent.

We're on vacation in Italy right now in a small town in a house that has barely any ammenities, which means there's very little of my preferred foods available to eat (which is usually a variety of complex carbs and dairy-based proteins, legumes.)

At first it was fine. Fun, even, to eat lots of stuff that I'm not used to eating daily like pizza, foccacia, lots of delicious cheeses and treats.

But guys it's been almost a week and I feel like I'm dying. I miss fiber and protein so bad. I feel so low energy and moody and hungry but with 0 appetite.

The worst part is when we're out and it's been too long between meals and the only options for food is something not very filling and oily like pizza. And I have to somehow turn off all of my newly-minted hunger cues, craving cues and preferences to stuff myself with something just so I don't starve.

It's interesting to be surrounded by stuff I used to not allow myself to have, then daydreamed about, only to want nothing to do with it now.

I'm talking hours like when out at a bar or on a roadtrip. Doesn't seem to be affected by food or drink or smoking for me. Something about the motility slowing down due to being compressed?

Like, not religious extremist types. Or families who just want lots of kids and aren't weird about in that way. I've never heard of one family like that. Do you know any?

I understand this will vary by genre a lot, but I'm wondering where you draw the line of expected knowledge from the reader. I have a hard time understanding what is "common" knowledge and what should be explained and when.

Of course, some will write with no regard to the reader and then you're left to basically take notes or research the topics while reading.

I'm a big believer in adapting your nervous system to be able to handle more, as I've been doing a lot of that in anxiety recovery. However, I don't know when I should be listening to my body and resting vs pushing myself.

I'm very scared of burning out, but I don't know what to look for in terms of signs as it feels the same, I think? Like, discomfort of many kinds will stress me out, but I want to get better at handling it. But I'm afraid that will lead me to burnout instead of adaptation. Are autistic brains as neuroplastic as non-autistic brains?

I don't understand how anyone is supposed to floss with regular floss. My fingers hurt and turn blue from trying to hold the tension, everything gets covered in saliva, the floss keeps slipping around even with my fingers being blue from holding on so tight. It's hard to force the floss in between my teeth. The corners of my mouth get scratched up by the string.

I'm autistic and it's so overstimulating and distressing from start to finish that I want to cry even thinking about it. Please help me. Dentist said that using those flosser picks is bad as it spreads germs and damages gums so I'm trying to learn to use regular floss:(

title . PLEASE

I feel like the replies on posts here devolve to one type of comment 90% of the time which is "just read the book". What's the point of having a subreddit at all if all anyone replies is that?

It really lowers the chances of spreading the message of IE if the book becomes required reading instead of a source of information. Not everyone is going to read the book, period.

Maybe a stupid question - let me clarify.

I have a character with a visible difference that realistically would absolutely affect his job opportunities, how most people interact with him, how he understands his place in society etc. BUT I feel like mentioning it every single time it would materially affect him becomes almost redundant or at least repetitive yet I don't know when to cut it out.

This is probably more of a problem since I'm writing in first person present tense, hence it's more introspective with some inner monologue, he's observant and self-conscious. I'm afraid to make him too irritating about it, though.

I think there's a middle ground for how much caffeine I can have without bad side effects. If I have a little I'm awake, energized, motivated. A little too much - lethargic, jittery, depressed.

What's up with that?

Anyone relate?

Or even like: is this a sign I'm going in the right direction?

I have lots of trauma regarding losing someone I love romantically. And I'm with my partner of 2 years now, realizing how I feel like I'm playing a single player game, I'm not entwined with them the way I wish I was, though on some level I truly believe I love them so much. (btw what is that? how can I be so sure even when my whole body is recoiling in fear?)

And sometimes it really hits me, like a fog lifts and I see them in a new light and so much love fills me that I feel almost physically ill. Only way I can describe it is I just have the sense that I'm dying. Like my body is full of snakes and terror. I just keep having the abstract thought of "I'm dying right now".

I'm guessing I'm supposed to dive into that feeling? I ease myself into their hug or touch even while feeling like the world will explode?

I say this mostly because I see a lot of posts that say something along the lines of "X family member put my art through ai and says it's better", and then post the comparison. And then you'll get a full comment section saying "your's is wayyy better obviously!"

Guys. Sometimes, the ai stuff can look better.

That literally has no merit on whether it's worth pursuing or good for us or the planet etc etc.

I'm just saying. We should reduce the focus on aesthetic value.

So, I'm an underling in the department where I work and this woman is old-fashioned in most ways (though not old), and has the exact opposite music taste from mine. No joke, if a song comes on on that damn radio and I have the thought "jesus christ this one again", it's a 99% chance she'll turn it up.

I'm autistic and having to hear the same repetitive radio slop on what I assume is full volume for 4-8 hours per day is seriously impacting my mental state at work. And I like the job. I'm not kidding about the radio being 90% of what's causing me distress there and sometimes considering quitting.

Is there a normal way to say it? I've been working with her for 1/2 a year and enduring this, is there a way to bring it up so that she doesn't feel attacked, embarrassed or like I'm telling her what to do? Because she's very sensitive and reads into everything you say. And she's 12 years my senior. I can't think of a solution.

I already wear both earbuds whenever I can, but it's so loud. I put on noise cancellation sometimes, but then I can't hear them if they need something from me so it's sort of a hassle/can be dangerous.

Maybe there's some mindfulness approach I can try? I can handle pain, anxiety, boredom easily compared to the overstimulation of horrible, loud music.

everybody must get stoned

Like bro, I have to put on a new one every 2-3 days and it's only me and my partner living here. We can't be shitting THAT much?! Shrinkflation?

I've had my 3mm septum for 2 years and ordered a 4mm pincher and man, it won't go in. I'm not forcing it obviously. But I'm really disappointed, am I screwed? Will I never be able to stretch it further?:(