u/squirrelyoakley

Context: I'm 18, and live in the US. I have POTS and my doctor suspects I have a connective tissue disorder/EDS. I don't have many friends, so I can't really make plans with them. I also can't drive

I'm really struggling with my health at the moment. I can barely walk a few blocks due to pain caused by hypermobility (my knees hyperextend when I walk, my feet feel like they're collapsing if I stand for too long, and my ankles constantly feel like they're on the verge of twisting [bc they are] -- not walking related, but my entire body is super weak, and my elbows are very, very hypermobile). Even though walking is tough, bussing is an option for me

My parents (mostly my mom) have been micromanaging the LIVING SANITY AND HAPPINESS out of my life. Everything I do isn't good enough, and I just can't stand being in my home anymore; it doesn't feel emotionally safe isn't emotionally safe, and it's making my autistic burnout worse. I'm just at my wits end and need to find activities that are away from my family

I'm currently on summer break before I go to college in September. Before September, I desperately need things to do that are outside of the house (and ideally with my dog). Currently, I've been really enjoying walking to a nearby park with my dog and doing my hobbies while sitting on a bench/in the grass. This entertains me for hours, and tuckers out my dog, but I'd like more suggestions so I don't get bored.

I'm also considering going kayaking with my dog on a nearby lake. I also might go swimming in the local sound/ocean inlet

I'm down for literally any suggestions, but here are a few things that I need solutions for (not an exhaustive list):
- low energy days
- exercise that is very low impact
- things I can do with my dog (who is dog aggressive)
- things that are free (I'm broke asf)
- places to make queer / neurodivergent friends

Some other ideas I have, but am not sure they'll work:
- Biking (My city's bike lanes are unfortunately beyond sketchy)

Context: I'm 18, and live in the US. I have POTS and a suspected connective tissue disorder/EDS. I don't have many friends, so I can't really make plans with them. I also can't drive

I'm really struggling with my health at the moment. I can barely walk a few blocks due to pain caused by hypermobility (my knees hyperextend when I walk, and my ankles constantly feel like they're on the verge of twisting -- not walking related, but my entire body is super weak, and my elbows are very, very hypermobile). Even though walking is tough, bussing is an option for me

My parents (mostly my mom) have been micromanaging the LIVING SANITY AND HAPPINESS out of my life. Everything I do isn't good enough, and I just can't stand being in my home anymore; it doesn't feel emotionally safe isn't emotionally safe, and it's making my autistic burnout worse. I'm just at my wits end and need to find activities that are away from my family

I'm currently on summer break before I go to college in September. Before September, I desperately need things to do that are outside of the house (and ideally with my dog). Currently, I've been really enjoying walking to a nearby park with my dog and doing my hobbies while sitting on a bench/in the grass. This entertains me for hours, and tuckers out my dog, but I'd like more suggestions so I don't get bored.

I'm also considering going kayaking with my dog on a nearby lake.

I'm down for literally any suggestions, but here are a few things that I need solutions for (not an exhaustive list):
- low energy days
- exercise that is very low impact
- things I can do with my dog (who is dog aggressive)
- things that are free (I'm broke asf)
- places to make queer / neurodivergent friends

Some other ideas I have, but am not sure they'll work:
- Biking (My city's bike lanes are beyond sketchy)
- Swimming (I'm trans and don't feel entirely comfortable being in a bathing suit + my OCD and allergies really struggles with public pools and city lakes)

Context: I'm 18, and live in the US. I have POTS and a suspected connective tissue disorder/EDS. I don't have many friends, so I can't really make plans with them (I'm autistic, so people make me anxious and drain my energy anyways; I prefer spending time with animals). I also don't drive

I'm really struggling with my health at the moment. I can barely walk a few blocks due to pain caused by hypermobility (my knees hyperextend when I walk, and my ankles constantly feel like they're on the verge of twisting -- not walking related, but my entire body is super weak, and my elbows are very, very hypermobile).

My parents (mostly my mom) have been micromanaging the LIVING SANITY AND HAPPINESS out of my life. Everything I do isn't good enough, and I just can't stand being in my home anymore; it doesn't feel emotionally safe isn't emotionally safe, and it's making my autistic burnout worse. I'm just at my wits end and need to find activities that are away from my family

I'm currently on summer break before I go to college in September. Before September, I desperately need things to do that are outside of the house (and ideally with my dog). Currently, I've been really enjoying walking to a nearby park with my dog and doing my hobbies while sitting on a bench/in the grass. This entertains me for hours, and tuckers out my dog, but I'd like more suggestions so I don't get bored.

I'm also considering going kayaking with my dog on a nearby lake.

I'm down for literally any suggestions, but here are a few things that I need solutions for (not an exhaustive list):
- low energy days
- exercise that is very low impact
- things I can do with my dog (who is dog aggressive)
- things that are free (I'm broke asf)
- places to make queer / neurodivergent friends

Some other ideas I have, but am not sure they'll work:
- Biking (My city's bike lanes are beyond sketchy)
- Swimming (I'm trans and don't feel entirely comfortable being in a bathing suit + my OCD and allergies really struggles with public pools and city lakes)

I just graduated high school, and many of my peers were anti-fur (and anti-therian by proxy). I currently live in the same city, so I might run into them, but I'm moving in September. In September, I plan on moving to the new city full time, and don't really want to ever live in my current city again. Basically, what I'm saying is that I'll never see these haters again.

Should I wear my lemur ears? I'm a bit nervous about it, but I also want to do it. Idrk. I'll never see my peers again, but I'm still worried. Thoughts?

I'm a white American of British decent, and really want to make / s3ll woven bracelets like this: https://pin.it/5esjInhOt . I want to make designs that are or based off of pride flags. I wouldn't make any designs that aren't from my culture though.

Is this ok?

Edit: I somehow forgot to say that I'm worried about accidentally participating in cultural appropriation

Edit2: The fact that so many of you are downvoting my post and comments is really not a good look. I'm asking this question because I want to be as respectful as possible; I've found mixed answers online, which is why I'm asking here

This is a question / support only / rant post.

For context, I'm 18 and I have autism, ADHD, OCD, POTS, depression, and my doctor suspects that I have a connective tissue disorder. I was diagnosed with ADHD in late elementary / early middle school, but wasn't diagnosed with the rest until I was 18.

My mom has had this mindset that if a diagnosis won't get me medication, it isn't necessary because I can just get support through counseling / school accommodations. She believes that diagnosing people "puts them in a box" and isn't necessary unless under "specific circumstances". When I pushed for an autism diagnosis on and off for years, she asked "why do you want to label yourself?". This is what prevented me from getting diagnosed with all that shit until I was 18.

When I was pressing her, she said that it was too expensive. But, at that time, we were spending 10s of thousands of dollars on remodeling our basement and/or spending 10s upon 10s of thousands on sending my mom to grad school (I was probably 14/15-17 at this time). Our basement and my mom's schooling come BEFORE my medical bills?? Are. You. Fucking. Kidding. Me?? Yes, I am, because I later learned that it was somehow never about the money. Apparently we always had enough money. I don't remember what the exact motive was, but I'm sure it was just because my mom didn't believe the diagnosis was necessary for my wellbeing.

Did I mention that my mom was going to school to become a therapist?? For a lot of the time that I was trying to convince her to pay for a diagnosis, she was actively studying the DSM, learning how to diagnose people, how to spot disorders, and treatment plans. Why in the world did she think I didn't need a diagnosis!?

In the last few years, my parents have been labeling me as a hypochondriac (my dad tells it to me directly, my mom tells me indirectly). I was told over and over again that I'm just imagining things, and that I need to go to the doctor less (both for "money", and fear that the doctors with begin to think I'm delusional). Guess. Fucking. What. All the things I went to the doctor for were symptoms of chronic illness!!! Also, if I was a hypochondriac, why wouldn't they try and get me help? They basically just told me that I'm crazy and need to get a grip. Okaaay, then get me the help, goddamnit!

Also, my mom has outright told me that I'm very expensive because of all my medical bills...

I feel like this isn't all that bad, but it's affecting me so much. My mom has told me that I show a lot of symptoms of trauma, but she can't figure out why. She says it's probably just epigenetics from her trauma, but um.... maybe take some accountability of your own actions? I also experience relatively bad dissociation problems. I sometimes feel like another personality takes over while I'm being drugged asleep. I've had out of body experiences. I often times don't recognize myself in the mirror, or feel like my body isn't mine. The world around me often times feels foggy. I stare at the wall for hours on end, either making up stories, or with a blank mind. I could go on for pages, but I'll spare y'all.

I hope they feel awful about what they've put me through. I really do.

I think my mom might feel a bit bad, but she hasn't shown any remorse, so it means jack-shit to me. I know my dad doesn't feel any remorse.

I spent years struggling. I wasn't given help, even though I asked for it. I'm just so beyond ready to move out and stop being gaslit about my very real medical trauma.

(also, would this be counted as neglect?)

Edit: I forgot to say that it wasn't just my parents saying this sort of stuff. My doctors and therapists would also shoot down any concerns that I brought to them (for example [picked from an endless list], I once went to the doctor because I was having severe breathing problems, and they told me that I just need to sleep more and stress less...)

I'm currently on my side hustle (aka, my only hustle), which is overnight dog sitting. I'm dog sitting the sweetest fucking rescue dog ever, but he has ptsd and depression and he's just sitting in the corner 😭. He's been like this for hours and no matter what I do he just sits there super sad. Whenever fireworks go off, I can see him reliving traumatic events

Even after all the shit he's been through, he is one of the sweetest (and cutest!) dogs I've met. He's so sweet, so kind, so well behaved, and is just an absolute fucking gem of a dog.

I'm going to murder whoever traumatized this precious baby (for legal reasons, this is a joke)

I have an event in 2 days and really want to wear special earrings for it. I got my lobes pierced 4 months ago; there is zero pain, zero swelling, zero redness, etc, etc. Could I change them for just a few hours one day, then switch back until 6 months pass? The earrings I want to wear are hypoallergenic and have a butterfly backing.

If the butterfly backing doesn't work, are there other backing types that might work instead?

I'm just starting to feed the crows, and I'm struggling to tell them apart. Do y'all tell them apart by appearance / physical features? Body language? Behavior? Something else?

Edit: I'm also curious about how to tell one sex from another

I've been collecting plastic bags for a while, but I don't really know what to do with them.

I was thinking about making them into plarn, but most of the bags are different thicknesses, so it'd be really hard to get the plarn even (suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated)

I could iron them into fabric maybe (plabric??)? What could I make with that?

Maybe I could somehow turn them into beads?

Not really sure with them, but I'm itching to create something

Just a few days after his death, he was at 7.25 million subscribers, now, he's at 8.84.

I know it's a long shot, but I really hope he gets to 10 million. I'm sure it would mean a lot to his family; knowing how loved he was by the world.

Rest easy Oliver, you'll be forever missed

I'm 18 and recently went on a 10-15 block walk. Halfway there I began to feel a bit light headed, so I checked my heart rate and it was 140. That just seems so high for such a short walk, especially since I wasn't even walking all that fast

Is that normal? Will exercising more lower it over time?

I need a little bit of joy in my life right now, and want need to see some photos of your favorite beetle species!

I have a suspected connective tissue disorder, and it recently got super super bad to the point where it hurts too much to walk. The backs of my heels are in so much fucking pain, and I can't go anywhere.

I want to make some money, so I decided to set up a Rover account so I could dog-sit at my own home. I ran it by my mom, but she immediately shut it down. She said that I could barely take care of myself, and that she doesn't want fur everywhere. All I do is struggle to do stuff like clean up after myself sometimes, but I'm good at taking care of my dog. We also have cleaners come every other week, and I proposed that I only dog sit a day or two before the cleaners. I also said that I could just dog-sit in the backyard, but she said that we don't have enough of a backyard (I genuinely have no clue what she's talking about; we live in a city so we don't have much room, and most of what we have in concrete, but it's fine if I were to put out mats for them to lay on, and/or am playing with them the whole time. My dog is completely fine and spends hours outside by himself)

I'm just so fucking done with life (edit: that sounds like I'm suicidal, I promise I'm not). I need to make money for college, but now I fucking can't. I don't know what to do. My parents want me to make money, but also won't let me work. What's even the point?

Also, due to dissociation problems (and cost of owning a car), I can't drive anywhere for work. I'm fucking stuck and don't know what to do. Yeah, I could take the bus, but the busses in Seattle are shit

I just don't know what to do. I want to move out right now, but since I don't have a way to get money, I fucking can't

I am experiencing so many symptoms of trauma, but I haven't really been that traumatized.

I spend hours everyday just staring at the wall / into space zoned out. I have out of body experiences. In the middle of a social interaction, sometimes it feels like I'm falling asleep, but I suddenly feel my personality change, and I struggle to maintain control over my actions; it feels like someone else takes over. Sometimes I feel like no one, so I have to puppeteer my own body to act like myself. I flinch when things quickly get close to me. I constantly think that others hate me and are just pretending to like me. >!I've self harmed on and off since kindergarten or preschool!<. I don't always recognize myself in the mirror. I struggle to remember what was a dream vs my thoughts vs my actions. I'm very jumpy and have severe anxiety. I have very severe depression

I've never been hit, and I've never been abused. I don't really know what's going on. My parents have been pretty good too

When I was 9, my grandmother did abandon me because I was scared of her husband. I also grew up being called a hypochondriac by my parents, but it ended up being that I'm just very chronically ill. When I was in my mid to late teens, my mom did tell me that we couldn't afford my medical bills, but then spent tens of thousands of dollars remodeling our basement.

A little bit of neglect plus a dash of abandonment and medical trauma for all of that??

Hunter is my 6y/o, 16lb cavapoo, but I'm posting here because he has the intelligence and energy of a poodle.

Within the last few months I've become very physically ill, and I'm struggling to figure out how to enrich and exercise my baby. Some days I'm unable to walk more than a few city blocks, and I end up laying in my bed for hours at a time. I sometimes don't even have the energy to throw a toy for him. Most days aren't this bad, but I need ideas for when they are.

I feel really, really awful about being unable to consistently exercise him, and really need some advice

I had this idea, but don't know if it's possible. This concept also only applies to connective tissue disorders (I'm abbreviating it to CTD) that have known genetic markers

If we used gene editing to alter how CTD bodies made collagen, would this potentially help? Our old collagen structures wouldn't be fixed, but over time would our bodies heal because the old collagen would be replaced by new, better collagen? Is this even how this would work?

Sorry if this made no sense, I'm really tired

MODS, can we have a discussion and/or scientific advancements post flair please?

Edit: I'm talking about if this as a concept could work on a biological level, not about the likelihood of it happening or the cost