Oops, I'm Back, Sorry About That Ladies!

I've been off of meds for just under 6 years now and am wary of long-term psychiatric medication use due to overprescribing by a my psychiatrist I had before I tapered down. However, here are some pros and cons on the ADHD meds I've been on (inattentive-impulsive combination)

Vyvanse: I'd reccommend against this one if you have a history of restrictive disordered eating, that being said, this was the most effective at the lowest dose for me, and was the amphetamine of choice when we weaned me off of my meds after the aforementioned psychiatrist lost her license for 3 years after killing 2 patients with the same protocol she had me on. It wasn't jittery, or too focused, I was sharp but able to switch between tasks and return to tasks. I will say the withdrawal on this was moderately rough, usually about 4pm and I'd trend towards being angry/aggressive as they wore off.

Desoxyn: Pharmaceutical Grade Methamphetamine: I'll qualify this with the fact I was never on it on its own... but it's also the drug that pushed me into signing myself into a unit after about 2 weeks. Major stomach cramping and anxiety on it, I also lost about 20 lbs on it. I'm not a fan, would not recommend. The focus level was insane but ended up resulting in me being incredibly overstimulated and light sensitive. It did wonders for my test scores, but wasn't worth the physiological and psychological cost.

Adderall Extended Release: I liked it a lot, didn't have a ton of side effects, it was the best focus I had, but it was also significantly more tempting to abuse than Vyvanse since it only lasted me about 4-6 hours and I was already dealing with 12-14 hour days. It did affect my sleep quality a bit if I took it after 6.

Concerta: I can't speak to this one directly. However, I can say it's worked wonders for my boyfriend, and if I needed meds again, I would probably put Concerta as my second choice. He hasn't had major side effects, it's working well for his work, which is fairly active work to begin with, and he's not as anxious anymore. It has made some of his dreams really weird though, but less nightmares and more just... weird.

Also, if something feels off, you're having weird heart sensations, talk to your doctor, and don't be afraid to get 2nd or even 3rd opinions on your medication protocol.

I have adhd (inattentive type) and might be considering medication soon. Would you be willing to talk about your experience with medication just so I could get some first hand experiences? It's totally fine if you don't want to discuss this though :)

omg yes I definitely can!

I'm also inattentive type, and additionally have chronic fatigue. before I took meds, I was perpetually stuck in a guilt loop of thinking that I am awful and lazy because I could never bring myself to do things that I wasn't interested in (busy work for school), but also dedicating hours of focus to things I did like (video games, random books, obscure research), and then feeling awful that I had spent so much time being "unproductive." I was diagnosed about three years ago now, and I have definitely benefited massively from taking ADHD meds.

I was first given generic adderall, which worked well in terms of focus but caused me to shake pretty badly and have heart palpitations. I switched to vyvanse, which was actually even more effective, and did not cause me to shake profusely. unfortunately because of the demand for ADHD meds/stimulants in addition to the fact that vyvanse is still only a name brand drug (no one is allowed to make and sell the drug under a different name), the prices have been jacked to high heaven. even with my health insurance, I just can't afford vyvanse, so I have switched back to adderall. adderall, like I said, works fine for me, but does cause me to shake depending on how much sleep I've had and how much exercise I do (ei, running up a flight of stairs an hour after I've taken my pill causes me heart palpitations).

how the meds work for me:

adderall: causes my baseline energy level to go up a bit, and allows me to focus on something deeply for a long time. my brain still jumps between things, but I am overall able to zone in on one task at a time. I am on a low enough dose that I can still force myself to take breaks (pomodoro my love) and maintain a healthy work pattern. one problem I have is that if I am paying attention to something when the adderall kicks in, that is what I am going to be focused on - and sometimes that will happen to be Pintrest, drawing, or writing, rather than schoolwork or my job.

vyvanse: I prefer this one because it allows me to think in straight lines. It allows me to only think about one thing at a time, and when I need to divert my attention to something more specific, its like a branching straight line goes off the main line of focus, but importantly, it can join back up with that original line of focus. does not make me shake. I occasionally can fall into the same trap as will adderall, where I am focusing on the wrong thing when it kicks in, but overall it is easier to direct my concentration.

generally, I always take the "extended release" (ER/XR) version of either medication, because a regular pill causes me intense and obsessive focus for about two hours, followed by an energy crash. XR means I have a good 8 hours of mild focus improvement. I don't take my pills every day, partially because I don't like the idea of being dependent on anything more than I am, and partially because I don't necessarily need them. I normally take a pill early mid-day (10am - 1pm) before my classes/lectures, or before I start classwork, and that works well. taking one any time after like 4pm-5pm means I can't sleep.

damn that was a lot lol. I hope that helps -- overall, taking medications has allowed me to feel like a functional student, and makes me very aware of the fact that my brain works slightly differently than some of my friends lol

Girl you've never had a shortcake parfait? I feel like the texture would be very similar to a cake parfait

I didn’t know having like banana bread/muffins etc WITH your yogurt and fruit was common?? like in the same bowl and everything:

Thank you for the tag Lovie! 🩵 @girlbloggercher

5 Songs I Listen To: Selected via putting my On Repeat from Spotify on shuffle

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Tagging: @theambitiouswoman @femmesandhoney @logophilestudies

tysm for the tag my sweethearts @naturalbornbambi @bugsinmilk @cigarettesweetheart ♡ 🧁

5 songs u listen to ౨ৎ ₊ ⊹

ʚ put me in a movie demo ɞ - ldr

ʚ strawberry shortcake ɞ - melanie martinez

ʚ off to the races ɞ - ldr

ʚ milk and cookies ɞ - melanie martinez

ʚ lolita demo ɞ - ldr

no pressure tags!!! @gravesiteprincess @daphnesque @dollyswan @jumpropekitt3n @dariasonlinedairy @morbidbambi @angel-cryptid @bambi-eyes444 @girlsinginginthewreckage @swanbiblee @skagheart @tauriansensuality + anyone who wants 2 join

Local Feminist gun owner here: another important thing to consider is the fact that the police may be less likely to believe you acted in self defense, particularly if you are a woman of color or lower socioeconomic status or if your attacker is a white male. This makes it doubly important to have a self-defense lawyer on retainer and self-defense liability insurance on hand. I achieve both and have additional training aids by having membership with USCCA/Delta Defense. I have the top tier for $49 a month. They cover firearms related to self-defense incidents, tasers, pepper spray, and even justified dog bites. Every legally justifiable act of self-defense and justified use of force. They have free events for members, a network of lawyers on retainer, and a post-incident hot-line available 24/7 as well as maps of where you have reciprocity on your license to carry, and detailed breakdowns of each state's laws, which is particularly vital if you travel for work, school, or hobbies. I've linked my referral code as well. It's absolutely something I encourage every gun owner in America to have, but particularly gun owners who may be at a disadvantage with police and the judicial process in the event they have to defend themselves.

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/referral?id=MDAxNWIwMDAwMkRpMGVYQUFS&tID=5bf43111b0cd6

Also, for a primary side arm, I wouldn't go any smaller than 9mm. A compact frame size is also your best bet as a beginner, subcompacts have more felt recoil at the same load weight and caliber, and full sizes have the least but they're also significantly more difficult to on body carry. I also suggest on body carry rather than purse or off body carry for a multitude of reasons. If you have questions about gun ownership, tactics, law, resources, and training my DMs are always open. Stay Strapped Ladies

I'm seeing a ton of Feminists urging eachother to get a gun due to the election results, which is fantastic news imo American women please please please assert your 2nd amendment rights and get a gun if you're able to <3

You can start by looking into the gun laws in your state: https://everytownresearch.org/rankings/compare/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_the_United_States_by_state Gun safety: https://www.agirlandagun.org/how-to-shoot/4-rules-of-gun-safety/ Youtube has thousands of gun related videos, it's a male dominated culture but there are absolutely a ton of resources for female shooters and beginners. Reddit has a handful of firearm related subs, included r/firearms(skews conservative/rightwing) and r/liberalgunowners and r/concealedcarrywomen Facebook has women's gun groups also, many of them skew conservative but can still be a valuable resource for beginners Check out your local area for self defense firearm classes, some will have classes geared specifically to women. Check out your local gun stores, or sporting goods stores, some will have a range in which you can rent a firearm before purchasing but many don't have this feature, so it's important to do product research before buying. https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-handguns-women/ https://tombstonetactical.com/blog/best-guns-for-women (Most guns range from $400 to $700 btw) Gun store employees are overwhelmingly male (and in my experience, old) and might try to steer you towards the tiny pink pistol, or a .22, or something else equally impractical for self defense. It's important to be assertive and clear in what you're looking for!

thinking about that one wordless calvin and hobbes sunday strip thats just calvins dad ditching his work to go play in the snow... its going to make me cry

Praying for Appalachia

Hurricane Helene lost much of her wind speed after making landfall in Florida, then as a post-tropical cyclone got stalled on the mountains in the Tennessee Valley. This caused massive devastation for an area that rarely and almost never is affected by hurricanes as a landlocked state and the typical evacuation area within a hurricane affected state. Lap Lake Dam held overnight, but many are still displaced due to concerns about dam failure after she was overtopped yesterday. Chimney Rock NC was washed away. These are the high ground areas that are supposed to be the safe places to go during these storms for the coastal communities. However, because it's Appalachia, the public that does know about it is mocking them as stupid, poor, white, conservative, southerners, and the national media isn't covering the devastation. I split my childhood between South Eastern Pennsylvania and the mountains of Virginia. Appalachia and The Rust Belt are my home.

quick tip: if you feel unproductive no matter how much you're working and/or studying, what you're lacking is not more responsibilities, it's actually leisure. I know it may seem contradictory, but having hobbies, having a "busy" free time, filling up your schedule not only with obligations but also with things you do simply out of fun, with no goal in sight, are all extremely important to make you feel fulfilled and drive away this anxiety.

if you're only experiencing progress with the aim of improving your career and making money, but not nourishing your soul and spirit, you'll always feel like you're missing out or lacking in something.

find something that relaxes you, that takes your mind off your obligations and that makes you build a better relationship with your inner self, and this feeling will vanish.

i’m determined to keep my heart soft. to not let bitterness take root within me.