u/PM_ME_UR_STRBX

I had an acquaintance recently tell me she experiences her schizoaffective as a blessing, and then did not elaborate and I have not seen her since then (maybe a week ago). I am failing to find a blessing in it no matter how much I think about my experiences. Until I started receiving treatment recently, it was nothing but a torment to me for nearly 20 years.

Anyone have insights or other ways to look at this?

Accepting any advice. I take vyvanse in the morning for my adhd and Caplyta at night. The last maybe 2 weeks I have been struggling to get to sleep, and then when I do sleep, it’s not restful, and I wake up a lot. Many nights I just lay there and lay there and finally get back up and read on the couch. Best case scenario is midnight, but the other night I didn’t fall asleep until 3. This is not usual for me. Normally when it’s time to sleep I get in bed, watch a few reels, and I’m out for 8-10 hours. I took a melatonin the other night and while I was technically asleep, I felt like I just hit pause on consciousness because I was not any more rested in the morning and then I had a melatonin hangover almost the whole day, so I’m not even sure it was worth it.

How close does a friend have to be to be reasonable to invite? I don’t have a lot of family that’s on speaking terms, and those that are have spread out pretty broadly across the east coast and Midwest. So considering relatives only, my guest list is pretty short. I do have a few close friends, but again, they’re spread across my state (Florida) and in a few others. I have what I feel is a significant number if “less-close” friends that I hang out with a bit and get along with really well, between coworkers, employees of the adjacent businesses, and people I know from working in the community. Where is the cutoff for being friendly enough with someone to invite them?

I’m so tired of microwave ramen and minute pasta and frozen burritos. I work full time on my feet all day, and my shifts range from starting at 4:30am and ending midday ti starting in the afternoon and ending close to midnight. I want to cook myself some food ahead of time.

Except when I cook, it uses every spoon I have and it knocks me out for actual days.

(1) find recipe
(2) acquire ingredients
(3) prep ingredients
(4) cook ingredients
(5) assemble
(6) wash dishes

By the time I’m partway through, I don’t even want the food anymore, I’ve eaten an instant ramen anyway, I’m overstimulated, I’m exhausted, and I still have to finish the process because otherwise the food is wasted.

What solutions are there? I’ve found some cookbooks that supposedly are low ingredient, low dishes, low prep, but I’m not ready to commit to a purchase because what if the recipes use foods I can’t eat (I don’t have any common allergies, I am somewhat sensitive to gluten and dairy, but there’s textures and smells for some common foods I just cannot handle).

This is a semi-political post and I am not looking for any political opinions PLEASE.

I’m a SSV in the United States, and I am growing increasingly concerned every day about *gestures broadly*. With the new C-3 amendment in Canada, I can have dual citizenship through inheritance. I don’t want to move. I like my home, my friends, my job, and being geographically close to my parents and my SO’s family. But I’m also concerned about my risk level of getting evaporated due to my proximity to Maralago. Im going to get my Canadian citizenship paperwork just in case I need to make a quick getaway.

My question, sort of, is that if I did move from the U.S to Canada, is that a transfer or do I have to quit and reapply? Anyone done this? I feel like the dual citizenship will make it smoother but this process would be entirely new territory for me, having always lived in the states.

I’m working on being confident and unapologetic as my authentic self. I’m doing a Marie Kondo kind of thing, “does it cause suffering?” and if so, I’m laying it all out and dealing with it with my therapist and partner. I’m tired of suffering inside my own mind in fear of other people’s reactions. So naturally, how I present myself is coming up.

Anyway, I’ve worn binders on and off for the past 5 years or so. I’m now interested in taping. I see Trans Tape advertised prominently, but one of my besties says he prefers Wivov. This is going to be a significant investment for me given my financial situation, so I want to get my best shot at not wasting money.

My best guess at my chest size is a smallish medium.

I work at Starbucks, but luckily not at a drive-thru anymore, so no headsets. That being said, it gets loud. Not insanely loud, but a lot of loud-ish noises all at once. Lots of people hanging out in the cafe, taking orders, calling out orders, milk steaming, shakers, blenders, talking with other baristas, ovens and timers beeping…it’s a lot. I got diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago and then autism last week. I should have the official report sometime this week that lists accommodations I can turn into HR.

I’d like to be able to wear some sort of hearing protection. Flares have done nothing for me in the past, but even the lowest level of Loops are too silencing, and also I can feel them in my ears too much and I can’t wear them more than a few hours at best before they become overstimulating too.

I see Earasers online that look like they could be a middle ground. Has anyone had luck with those before I shell out the $50, or do you have other suggestions for what’s worked?

I am asking as someone who knows nothing about anything, please educate me if I’m doing something wrong or offensive here.

I’ve been into making kandi jewelry and stim toys with charms and pony beads for my mental health lately. I want to make something for my best friend who is involved in the things you all are here. I want it to be meaningful but also a surprise so I can’t ask them about this.

I would like to know what I can/can’t do so I don’t make anything bad or hit on a sensitive topic. I want it to come from a place of love.

Maybe my question is too broad, I’m sorry in advance if so.

I was told by someone close to me after receiving my official autism diagnosis yesterday.

That’s it, that’s the whole story.

I’m curious about other people’s experiences on this medication combo. NOT looking for medical advice.

I have bipolar 1 with schizoaffective tendencies. I swing heavily towards the depressive end of the spectrum. Ive only been manic twice since getting diagnosed 11 years ago. I’ve been on lamictal for the last 5 years, and about six months ago swapped the high dose of abilify I’d been on for about 4 years to Caplyta. Absolute game changer for the schizoaffective symptoms.

From about a year and a half ago to a year ago, I made a couple major life changes for my mental health that have massively helped me stay out of depression.

I’m seeing that Caplyta can be used alone, but is mostly geared towards helping with depressive episodes. I’m curious if I could taper down and off my lamictal. I’m not against being on multiple medications if necessary, but I’d like to be on the least amount possible while maintaining a functional quality of life. Obviously will be discussing with my psychiatrist when we meet in a few weeks.

Has anyone with a similar diagnosis done anything like this?