u/Ok-Stage9604

I've been on AquaComfort Plus for years (ALCON) and they really work for me. But in a recent optician's appointment she suggested going to a lens that was better for the eye. I thought AquaComfort Plus was a good quality lens? But apparently Total are better. She scared me a bit by saying that in the long term, AquaComfort could produce problems for eyes and stop me wearing them.

Anyway, I tried Totals and hated them. I wanted to rip my eyes out by lunchtime, even with use of drops.

They're going to trial me on other lens with equivalent materials but I'm nervous I'll have the same intolerance - and then will have to go back to my regular AquaComfort Plus knowing they're not great?

Thoughts?

I'm about to start grad school - I've decided to use Zotero for notes/tags. I started over the summer with some reading and have been making notes/tags on each chapter of the books. A key idea, summary and some other notes. Nothing extensive, but still - it's quite laborious and I have to stop and start, as I'm reading hard copies, then try to make the notes on the laptop every couple of chapters.

Is the note taking necessary? Going to help me? I can understand as I approach an assessment that it will be critical, and I'll want to take notes on things that occur to me, that are my inference maybe - but I wonder if I am going too far? Thoughts appreciated, please. It's been 30 years since my last Masters! I've been working, so my brain is still turning over but my memory isn't what it was...I guess that was my starting point for the notes. But I wonder if it will help that much.

My son wants to go to Reading next year as do all his friends. How easy is it to get tickets during the lead up (as in after they go on sale)? Is it easy to buy through resale? And how easy is it to resell tickets if he in the event he doesn't end up going?

Thanks so much

I started on 0.25 on Saturday. Nothing until Tuesday, then constipation. But yesterday, I started very runny diarrhea and full orchestra sounding up in stomach and it hasn't stopped. It's just constant liquid runs. I'm not hungry but I forced myself to eat something - and it's all very clean, healthy food.

Is this normal? It meant I couldn't go to the gym. What's the point if this is going to stop me doing the healthy activities I need and enjoy?

I'm thinking of taking a job one day a week in Worthing. I'll probably have to be there 9am. How bad will the traffic be from Brighton? I hear horror stories. It's the sort of job I absolutely have to be on time for.

I'm going back to do a postgrad, 30 years after I did my Masters. I've been working since, and I'm certainly capable of writing (that's my day job) - but I'm worried about the level of reading and making effective notes that will support me when I look back at them/have to write essays. Effective notes are not my strength.

I'm going to buy a Boox Note ereader, so i can annoate ebooks but I'm still worried.

Any thoughts welcome.

About three years ago, I suffered what I can only call a sort of existential crisis, followed swiftly by the unexpected death of someone I really cared about. I had booked to do an ayahuasca ceremony the week following his death - my first - and it was pretty amazing. I felt great. I was able to let go. It was beautiful and then sad and I wept as though stuff was being pulled out of the dark bits of my soul. Afterwards, I felt a stone lighter. It was in the Netherlands and the brew was ayahuasca but it felt bearable, strength wise.

I then went onto to do:

1. San Pedro - didn't do much for me
2. A fairly big dose of psilocybin which was very challenging, and I could not let go and resisted for hours until it waned and I cried in the same way as I did on ayahuasca.
3. Kambo - several times - intense as hell but fine as it was short. I had a sad reaction to this too.

I then went back to a different place in Spain earlier this year to do ayahuasca. Two years after the first.

The retreat was incredible. I couldn't have asked for a better container. There was a Peruvian onanya, which was the draw, and he was astonishing.

But it was so hard. SOOOO hard. I couldn't let go. The first night was incredibly difficult. I thought my head was going to come off from the audio/visual show and I absolutely hated it. This was also a low dose. The following nights I took less, and it was bearable, but I didn't really let go. Not in the way I had hoped.

I feel like I'm a crazy ass control freak who just can't get to grips with psychedelics, however much I want to. How do I get beyond this? Do I bother or just accept it's not for me?

Thanks for reading this far.

Hi, we are going to Meria in Cap Corse for a week this summer. We have a car. We wanted a chilled holiday but we also want to get out and about. Any suggestions please! A couple and two teens.

Hi all,

I'm going to do a post grad in September. I'd love some input on electronic devices.

First: I'm mid fifties, and whilst I still work full time in a fairly cognitive heavy job, I do fear all the reading and generally switching back into academia. Brain fog for the post meno woman is a real thing (so is a diminished reading attention span, despite being a published novelist!!).

So, I'm looking for things to support me - especially until I get the hang of it.

I have a Mac Book Air - 2022 - which is pretty good and lightweight, for all things writing. I'm already linked to Zotero for work.

But I want something where I can store ebooks, papers, documents - and also elextronically make notes/amends etc. All in one place. I really love the feel of a proper book, but I don't think it's the most pragmatic thing here.

So, is a device like a Remarkable Paper Pro better or worse than an airpad with a pen?

All thoughts welcome, thank you

I'm at a crunch decision point! I've been offered a place on a postgraduate counselling programme (Column C) and also considering a Level 4 CPCAB Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (Column A). I did Levels 2 and 3.

I'm 56, obviously don't have (nor want) a massive career at this point. My goal is part time private practice during my sixties.

However, I'm genuinely trying to understand what my best route is. The cost of the post grad is eye-watering overall, and it will be a lot of study/involvement that will impact on my ability to work throughout - but it will be dynamic and stimulating.

Level 4 - I would go with the same provider, as they were great, but the process will follow the same formula, and the training won't be as robust. I might be bored. But it is more vocational, which is no bad thing.

But importantly, I'm genuinely trying to understand where the profession is heading. With SCoPEd now adopted, I'd love to hear from practitioners at different levels and columns:

Is Column A becoming a ceiling rather than a foundation? Are you seeing it limit (or start to limit) access to EAP panels, referral pathways, or client work in practice? Or is it still a perfectly viable route into private practice?

Honest experiences and opinions welcome. I'd rather know now than find out two years into training.