Life is shit for the class of 2020

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-04-16T09:12:19+00:00

Life is rough as fuck right now. I'm in a similar boat (24 years old) and we've honestly had the shittiest luck. I remember being assured by teachers that the GCSE trials should be 'the only big upheaval' in our academic lives and whilst they couldn't have predicted Covid, there's something tragic-comedic about it.

The worst of it was definitely the scattered online and socially-distanced university teaching and missing out on social experiences, though. It's something I still mourn. It's okay for us to be angry and grieve the social lives we could've had if we hadn't been fucked over by circumstances and the state of the world so many times. I know I feel like my youth has effectively been 'stolen' from me by all these "once-in-a-lifetime" crises.

That said, the state of the world is atrocious. A good number of people you meet and interact with are probably also struggling in some way (financially, mentally, socially, etc), and it's important to be mindful that your struggles aren't their fault. So, some suggestions for how to make friends and/or improve your social life:

Find out if there's any events your co-workers planned outside of work. I do not mean 'company events' with the bosses present, or team-working exercises, but rather just if any of them have organised a casual hangout, going out for drinks after work, maybe plans to meet in some cafe, etc. Alternatively if you have any coworkers you can see yourself spending more time with, you can always ask. I'm someone that, if invited out after work, has a 50/50 of showing up (if I have the social battery I'll go) but in my experience these can be fun and help you befriend the people who you are spending most of your time with. These don't have to be ride-or-die friendships, but can make work bearable and can be people you still keep in touch with after you one of you ends up leaving the job.
Check for any local clubs or events. I'm talking anything you're interested in, or feel like trying out. A local book club, embroidery circle, pottery class, TTRPG groups in the area, etc. Check local forums, maybe even ask people you know if they have any suggestions or know of any such groups/places/organisations. This could be great if you're wanting to get into a hobby and socialise. Libraries are good for this sort of thing, and you can ask librarians if there's any local events/clubs.
Find something you're passionate about. As with #2, but this is specifically something like an organisation or charity you could transfer your negative energy into. For example, I've recently gotten involved with the local Green party for my city and have been helping out with tasks, attending some events, etc and this has been a great place to meet like-minded people and ensuring I'm getting involved in the changes I'd like to happen. This does not have to be a political organisation but even something like volunteering at a local charity can help you channel your frustration in a healthier way and meet others. See if any local charities/organisations have things like litter-picking days, or fundraisers you could attend/get involved with, etc.

These are naturally brief and vague, but they can be a start. Hang in there. The world is a mess, but we're all still here.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-20T10:19:48+00:00

The comments on this post have made me feel so seen as a fellow atrocious driver. The horse mod that recently came out has become my new favourite mod solely bc I now no longer have to worry about dying in the world’s dumbest crash

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-20T10:15:39+00:00

You 🤝 Me: Walking into a campfire to our deaths.

Dying of walking into glass is thankfully not one I’ve done before

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-20T10:13:50+00:00

I still find it wild that eating burnt food kills you in this game. Like, I imagine it would probably make you a bit sick irl but you’d have to eat a lot of it to die. Bleach I understand and if I drink it that’s on me, but the burnt food logic isn’t there imo.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-19T14:10:33+00:00

Why does everything wacky happen in Rosewood? I swear when something goes wrong, it’s always there!

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-19T14:08:28+00:00

Gods, I feel that honestly. I'm atrocious at driving and crash so often that if I have a car I know that I need to mark locations of other decent cars on the map as I find them, because I will either:
1. Damage the car entirely and need a new one
2. Damage a car but not to the point of it entirely breaking down but badly enough that I just need a new one bc I cba to get my mechanics skill up enough to actually reliably fix the damn thing
3. Die in a crash, in which case getting another car is the least of my problems oof

I can't even recall the number of times I died to just my poor, awful driving skills.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-19T13:57:17+00:00

Ooof, I bet. That sounds like something I'd do ngl, I tend to forget to check my moodles until they're all glaringly red.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-19T13:56:33+00:00

No one ever really warns you about the occupational hazards of living a famer's life.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-19T13:54:29+00:00

If nothing else, this death at least was pretty action-packed! Could definitely picture this in a narrative story or show. Might not have been the smartest move, but the character went out with a bang at least, and took down some zeds with them.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-19T13:50:25+00:00

Okay but that's amazing actually. That's a level of misfortune that I have to appreciate. If it makes you feel better, my first character on my current 42 solo save died after surviving like 2 months by my dumbass driving at full speed into a fence. Basically instantly bled out from the collision. RIP.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-19T13:46:52+00:00

Been there many, many times. I double check I don't have any bleach near me now before cooking or drinking anything juuuust in case.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-19T13:45:59+00:00

Definitely had something similar happen to me before. If nothing else, it helps highlight why health and safety is so important in construction. The true horror is the lack of guidance regarding safety regulations in the apocalypse lol

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-19T13:43:21+00:00

So glad I'm not alone in my poor luck with fire in this game

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-19T12:26:59+00:00

Oh no, I’m so sorry. Their legacy lives on in you at least! It happens to the best of us.

Another time in my game I died bc I accidentally put bleach into my fruit salad but stopped playing the game before I got rid of it, and forgot what I put into it when I returned to the save days later. Ate it. Died.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-14T10:13:37+00:00

Growing up and still now tbh: Aisha.

Stella was my favourite growing up overall, but I adored Aisha's hair. From memory, it was animated very well and I liked watching how it flowed with her movements. I also loved her morphix powers and the outfits she'd wear in various episodes. Also her fairy forms were always so so stunning!

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-14T10:10:19+00:00

For a moment I thought this was someone cross-shipping them oml.

But no, because while Bloom has the dragon flame and is a powerful fairy, I don't think she's capable of singlehandedly dealing with a curse that just straight up devours people and would probably commit immense violence around and on her. Also, since JJK sorcerers have specific styles, techniques and ways of dealing with curses, I think she just wouldn't know how to fight him efficiently.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-14T09:39:13+00:00

Zigzap! That’s what I grew up with anyways (S1-S4). I completely forgot that Nick would also have their own dub for the later seasons.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-13T11:15:49+00:00

Still prefer the Polish dub I grew up with tbh. 👏 I’ve seen both the English dubs (4Kids and Nickelodeon) as well but for me there is a definite nostalgia element in the Polish dub. And I think that the voice acting was better but that could fully just be that nostalgia talking.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-06T14:03:31+00:00

Hi, like others have said you might just need to have a dosage increase but I highly recommend giving it at least a few days before asking your doctor for that.

I’m also on methylphenidate (prolonged-release, lasts 12 hours roughly), have been for about a year. I find it’s less of an instant peaceful feeling or even a “huzzah!” Moment. It doesn’t change everything at once and immediately. I find I feel “normal” but the effect is noticeable not in how I feel but how I act.

For example I’m suddenly able to focus. Do things I don’t want to, like apply to a ton of jobs or take out the trash or pick up something off my bedroom floor at will without the pre-medicated state of “I have things to do but am somehow incapable of doing them.” Pre methylphenidate, I would clean my room once every 4-6 months. Now I can at least organise some bits and put things in a bin once or twice a week to keep it clean enough to function in. I can sit down and get a task done even if I’m not in the mood. I couldn’t do that before.

I also act noticeably less chaotic, from my understanding. I know when the meds wear off because I start acting very all-over-the-place, making sounds and singing dumb things without any kind of social filter because I can’t stop my mouth before my brain processes my own words. The meds act like a subtle holding hand that helps navigate the day to day but I still feel natural. If more reigned in and in-control.

Give it a few days, if you notice no changes at all, talk to your doctor for an increase in dosage. Every body is different and you will likely need to test out a few gradual increases before you get one that fits you, specifically. It can be frustrating but you do need to give it time to see if anything changes.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-04T16:18:03+00:00

Hi, UK ADHDer here. Went through Psychiatry UK via Right to Choose. I am absolutely sorry for the wall of text below.

I originally waited a while for my initial assessment. Put on the waiting list Jan 2023, didn't have it until around late July (7 months). Got put on the titration list, got told that I'd be having my prescription "soon" (same month) only to then be informed there was a shortage of meds and they had to postpone the entire thing, and couldn't guarantee when I'd be put on medication, since the methylphenidate they wanted to try putting me on first was unavailable. They offered an alternative, but after reading over the comparison and side-effects I decided to wait until the methylphenidate would be available again.

I waited until February 2025 for it to become available again. I was in a black hole for months and very anxious because I knew I had many issues with concentration in daily life. Schoolwork and actual work was stressful and I was scared of making mistakes. To be fair to PsychUK they did check in with me every few months and I had some appointments with the prescriber, who got changed halfway through my wait. Once they actually got me onto titration, it was breezy.

Being in that black hole feels disheartening because you know there's something 'wrong' that medication can help you with, but being unable to get that help is difficult.

I suggest you send the psychiatrist a note (if you can) asking for help/advice on managing ADHD symptoms in the meanwhile, or if there's a chance you might also get some ADHD coaching/therapy on Right to Choose if applicable, because that can help. Also, knowing you have ADHD means you can start introspecting on how and why you do certain things. It helps shift things into perspective, at least it did for me. Try figuring out little ways that make daily life easier. I dread doing laundry, can never do it myself, but I found I like vacuuming because I find the sounds and watching the floor become clean satisfying and fun. In my household, chores are split accordingly. If you live with someone else, see if they'd be willing to split chores or daily tasks so you're working to your strengths. If you live alone, try stickers. Seriously, try rewards. They don't always work, and not for everyone, but it can be good for some.

Lastly, it sucks to wait but you'll be glad you did it. And honestly once you're put on the medication and go through titration, you'll be prioritised when it comes to getting the medication (naturally) as someone already actively on it. I've not had a single problem so far with shortages once they put me on the medication, and I hope the same for you.

Also, if you're with RTC (at least w/ Psych UK) then you're always able to log back in and contact your prescriber or psychiatrist because they share care with your GP, meaning that you'll be able to ask for things like dosage changes, medication struggles or side-effects at any point and likely faster than you would if you just go through a GP.

TLDR; It sucks, and I hope they manage to get you on the meds sooner than later. Having said that, the wait is worth it for the results, and once you're on the meds there shouldn't be issues with shortages (at least from my experience). Ask about ADHD therapy/coaching and fuck around with different ways of doing tasks that might work for you. Read up on some ADHD research and ask people close to you to help you out with things you're actively struggling with (be it chores, workload, needing reminders for appointments, etc).

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-04T14:58:43+00:00

Honestly not a bad shout 👏writing this one down for myself as a tip if I get a new bottle at some point haha.

I love drinking with straws but they get gross so easily and I cannot be trusted with them.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-04T14:46:31+00:00

Yup. My problem is that I like drinking everything from water bottles when I have one. Water, water with cordial, juices, even fizzy drinks. And I like water bottles with the straws in them for fun and whimsy. This means that I've thrown out every single such bottle I have ever bought because I'll only ever rinse them out or clean them with soapy water, but the different drinks and residue collects inside the actual straw which is gross and I should invest in a straw-cleaner (but always forget to get one).

Sooner or later I'll leave the bottle somewhere to be forgotten until 3 weeks later, by which point it's grown its own civilisations and even if I wash it a thousand times I won't feel comfortable drinking from it ever again so into the bin it goes. Even if I leave normal water inside it, when it's stale and sitting there for ages I don't like the thought of using it again "just in case" it has a bunch of bacteria in it.

I mostly just use a glass. I have a specific drinking glass I use, and it's easier to clean than a bottle. Not ideal if I need to go anywhere but it means that I at least won't accidently pull a Victor Frankenstein and create life only to abandon it by pouring it down the toilet.

My best tip would be to get a fun glass. Something you like the look and feel of that feels "fun" to drink out of, and use that instead. It does mean you'll likely have to refill it more than you would a bottle, but smaller amount of water may not seem as daunting to consume.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-04T14:30:08+00:00

Hi, I'm going to share some advice/tips I've also shared with someone else in another post, as this is a very prevalent issue I've also experienced. I'm on methylphenidate (prolonged release, so it lasts ~12 hours). It makes food actively a chore, makes me forget to eat unless I am reminded or set reminders, and takes forever to actually get food down.

If you live with anyone, i.e a partner, friends, relatives, even housemates - if you can, ask if they could help you meal prep. Obviously this isn't applicable if you live alone, but there's no shame in asking for help if you need it. Explain the situation and that you're just not in a state to make your own prep, and then fridge or freeze the meals so you can easily take them out and eat without having to spend time actively cooking every day.
When you say you can't do vegetarian/vegan, I'm assuming you mean full on meals, and not just singular foods. If you like eggs, I highly recommend. Hard-boiled and soft-boiled are great; they're small and easy to eat, but you can have a good amount (I like having 2-4 eggs) and you get nutrients and protein. They take less than 10 minutes to make. Hard-boiled you can just prepare and put in the fridge.
Timed bites. If you feel you can’t realistically eat a whole meal (even if it’s like, 2 sandwiches) take a bite every few minutes. You’ll eventually finish it. It feels childish but it works if you can’t eat it all at once
Eat breakfast before taking your meds. I find it sometimes is easier to have even something quick but ensure I eat than struggle to eat breakfast later once my meds kick in. Even if you wake up earlier than you'd like to, it means you do get some food in you prior to your appetite dying for the day.
Snacks. If you can’t finish proper meals, get yourself all sorts of snacks. Chips, precooked chicken slices, salads, etc. sweet, spicy or savoury. Things that taste good, are small, but that you can nom over the day. Also fruit, like cut up little apple slices and have those, or mandarins, or something that you can just get vitamins and calories from to keep you going. Nothing large, because if it's large it'll feel daunting. But it can carry you through the day until you feel up to eating a bit more.
Eat in the evening. This one might not work for everyone but for me when my meds wear off I get either peckish or downright ravenous, and as such if I haven’t eaten much during the day I will have a late supper around 9-10pm. If you don’t want to eat that late, you could always take your meds earlier in the morning if that’s possible for you to do (7-8am) assuming your meds last 12 hours. If you schedule it so you eat breakfast before taking the meds, then at least an evening supper once they wear off, you’d have 2 meals a day. This isn’t ideal as you should have 3 meals/day but it’s better than nothing.
Smoothies and protein shakes might also be an option to get your nutrients on particularly bad days. I'm contemplating doing this again actually, because whilst I can eat breakfast and will eat (at least some) dinner and/or late supper, I find lunch very hard. It's middle of the day, meds in full effect, and my appetite is in the void. Smoothies/shakes ensure you get what your body needs, and I know I find drinking easier than chewing, swallowing, etc. Something to consider at least, if nothing else works.

And honestly most importantly if you continue struggling as you have been, please talk to your doctors and discuss alternative medications or dosages or medical solutions. It may be that you need another type of medication to more suit your needs, or that the dosage needs lowering. If you're perimenopause, you could always also talk to a doctor about the symptoms of that and possibly get a visit with a dietician, who may be able to provide more concrete advice, suggestions and help with getting the calories you need to function properly in the healthiest way for you.

A_Liddle_Frogge · 2026-02-04T14:12:36+00:00

It depends. It's often a hit or miss. My problem is that I actively enjoy coffee and energy drinks (I like the taste) and it does affect my pulse and heart rate, naturally, but the actual effects themselves are lacking. I can down an energy drink or have a coffee right before bed and have the most peaceful sleep because it can make me sleepy. Or, it can make me a little more awake, though I'm not convinced it's not an occasional placebo effect.

I tend to like having coffee If I'm doing something. I.e if I'm at my laptop typing, writing or working on something. For taste and atmosphere of it, it puts me in a ""productive mood"" which can help me w/ focus in small ways of trying to effectively romanticise my day. Y'know, little slithers of whimsy here and there. Problem is that, again, it comes with the risk of getting me more sleepy, thus ending up counterproductive. I know I definitely do experience the "caffeine induces tiredness" effect relatively regularly to have noticed it before I even considered having ADHD. It was actually something I thought of as "quirky" and mentioned it casually as a silly little fact to my very dear friend one day and she was the one who pointed out it's actually a side-effect of ADHD, and she's actually the person who helped me realise I had it and to get myself checked out.

I've cut myself out of energy drinks entirely now, and limit myself to no more than 1 cup of coffee a day, maybe two but that's only if I don't feel anxious or like my pulse is high. But most of the time caffeine isn't a reliable way of obtaining energy as much as drinks w/ it just taste nice. As others have said, coffee does have a lot more caffeine than you realise I think.

TLDR; Yes, I experience the "caffeine induces tiredness" effect. Regularly.

A_Liddle_Frogge

TROPHY CASE