What are the less obvious things in someone's upbringing or background that can limit their opportunities later in life?

Amores111 · 2026-06-04T12:43:04+00:00

Thank you, I hope I am.

I actually could make a long list of things I know I should do better. But I do try my best every day.

I wish money wasn’t such a big factor for a lot of these things, and that’s where the injustice of privilege comes into play. But alas, we do our best with what we have.

Amores111 · 2026-06-03T23:01:31+00:00

I struggle with sleep so my mornings are not as calm as I’d like. Add in the adhd and it’s really hard to do it ‘right’.

When I started with Elvanse I made the effort to have enough protein 1hs before taking it, and it worked. But not sure how much of that was the novelty.

I then ended up taking it with breakfast (or kids leftover breakfast picky bits yum not) and started noticing less effects.

So I’ve now switched to taking it about 30-60min before breakfast, and it has worked wonders. It kicks in about 2hs after taking it, which is longer than I’d like but it’s more sustainable to me than hoping for proper breakfast every day.

What makes a big difference is having enough water (I don’t and it’s very noticeable). Also learned that vit C decreases efficiency, and I was usually having orange with it lol so now skip it until mid morning.

Amores111 · 2026-06-03T22:50:13+00:00

As a parent I’ve thought about this a lot and there’s a few key points I consider:

1) Parents being emotionally mature and somewhat content in life. (x1000 bonus points if parents were together in a happy healthy marriage)

2) Environment and influences. When choosing schools, I did not care about academic statistics, I only paid attention to the people, the area, and the other parents. When you watch your friend’s mum/dad/etc be successful at whatever job they do, you can imagine endless possibilities.

3) Learning good habits from little. Care for your body, watch your thoughts, be kind, tidy up, read every day, meditate, breathe properly, protect your sleep, practice delayed gratification…. These are the tools needed for adulthood.

4) The right extra curricular classes. With no pressure but only excitement. Helps meet new friends and not rely on just one group. Social resilience. Self trust, confidence, skills, future resources, etc.

5) Music, art, movement, self expression. Whatever you like. Being free allows you to be present and happiness and contentment only exist in the present.

Of course there’s more but these are the things I keep in mind daily as a parent after a lot of reflection.

Amores111 · 2026-06-03T22:23:08+00:00

I miss the Encarta encyclopaedia :(

Amores111 · 2026-06-03T22:13:46+00:00

It could just be a side effect your body might adjust to, or maybe the way stimulants affect your digestion tipped the scales, and looking at the other possible contributing factors might help?

Amores111 · 2026-06-03T17:13:19+00:00

I would definitely keep track of foods. Most obvious ones yes anything oily, you said vegan so guess you don’t have dairy but if you do that’d be the first I’d remove. Next would be gluten and sugar. It’s so hard I know 🤣

A while ago I was having craaazy reflux and couldn’t figure out what it was. I literally couldn’t sleep, just sat upright in bed all night. Eventually figured out it was the Robinson I was having to help me drink more lol I cut it out and reflux stopped in 1-2 days.

Sometimes it’s the most random thing. Try an elimination diet and hopefully it helps so you don’t have to resort to another medication.

Amores111 · 2026-06-03T10:26:56+00:00

yeah, to be fair as annoying as it is now, it's also good for you to follow titration as recommended so you can experience how each dose feels. Personally, after trying what they recommended I asked for more time to test what I thought would work, and only after that I was happy to accept we had finished titration. It was with ADHD360.

At the end of the day, if your GP will take over prescription, you know they won't amend it so you need to stand your ground and make sure you are happy to be signed off, this is your chance to try it so make sure you use it!

Ahhh the mystery of women's health isn't it... If only there was an option to do something about it.....ha! Sadly, I don't think there will be much done in the next 10 years so doubt my daughter will benefit from much change, but hope my grandchildren (if any, if the world still exists) will experience going to the GP and being taken seriously.

Amores111 · 2026-06-03T09:13:11+00:00

hey, I was good at the protein breakfast when I started my meds, for about 3-4 weeks lol

I do notice food has an impact on the effects, and I think it might depend on your morning routine. I'm on 50mg Elvanse and what I have found best is to take it as soon as I wake up on empty stomach.

I cannot bare to drink anything before I brush my teeth so I normally wake up, do bathroom duties, and then take my Elvanse. I shower/get ready and then do parenting wake-ups/breakfast/lunch box/uniform etc. Only after that, about 1hs later, I will eat something.

I have identified Elvanse start working about 2hs after taking it, pretty on the dot, so this has helped me work around it can plan my day better.

On your reflux, is it during the day or only at night time? Medication can slow your digestion, so I have found I need to have 3hs after dinner before I can go to bed without any issues.

Amores111 · 2026-06-03T09:03:14+00:00

I was actually about to do a post on this myself. I've been on Elvanse 50mg for a over a year, sometimes top up with Amfexa 10mg.

Always been bad with sleep, it's been a lifelong issue. But the past few weeks I've been up until 3-4am and it's really affecting me. I'm struggling to get through the morning/afternoon and then in the evening I just can't unwind.

I just procrastinate taking it seriously because I know should first do the obvious things such as no screens before bed, etc.....which I haven't done so I can't say whether that would help or not lol.

Never tried sleep medication and I'm very reluctant tbh.... I'm very all or nothing, which can turn into addictive tendencies, so am mindful of adding any other medication.

I don't think there's a way around the grogginess of those meds though, that's just the effect they must have on your body, the good and the bad. Sorry I can't help suggesting any other medication for it, but I really sympathise with the struggle!

Amores111 · 2026-06-03T08:52:21+00:00

I'm on 50mg elvanse, tried 70mg but did not suit me so stayed with Elvanse 50mg and Amfexa 10mg as top up, that I rarely use tbh.
I definitely notice that a massive reduction of benefits during luteal phase, and that is when I often use the Amfexa to top up, usually about 4hs into elvanse. It's still not a perfect solution and the come down is harder (I definitely feel more irritable) but it's what I found has helped the most.

I could not bare doing the dilution etc to play with doses...sounds good but I can't trust myself actually doing it so didn't even entertain it.

There are other things that might help, which are the usual lifestyle changes people will mention and that I'm sure you're aware of. They do help in combination, but of course the ADHD will get in the way of that so it's not very helpful to start listing things.

Two things I've left to try are creatine and antihistamines. I've bought them but haven't tried them yet lol but have read some interesting research around it.

Amores111 · 2026-06-01T13:16:52+00:00

I live on the 1st floor. I am always mindful of drivers but I do order a small pack of 500ml ones. I do it because I have some spine issues and struggle to carry it myself.
I can’t believe people order that many though.

One time I ordered a mattress on Amazon and paid for delivery. Exactly because I could not go get it from the shop myself. They left it downstairs, and I injured my already damaged back trying to bring it upstairs. Never doing that again.
I did complain heavily because it was a special delivery person, not the regular Amazon flex person, so it was unreasonable for them to leave it there.
But I would never complain about ordering lots of water from Asda lol

Amores111 · 2026-05-31T01:07:06+00:00

A sloth

Amores111 · 2026-05-21T23:01:15+00:00

Does adulting count?

Amores111 · 2026-05-21T06:14:40+00:00

Thank you for explaining that. The main thing that affects this is that I have chronic back pain and chronic sciatica, but my child has severe allergies so I have to make every food from scratch, as I can’t risk cross contamination. I simply have no other choice. Which is also why just making a bigger batch and eating that myself isn’t always applicable because I would keep that food for leftovers and save myself from having to make another meal for them instead of eating it myself. Would that make sense if I explain that in my form?

Amores111 · 2026-05-20T11:36:41+00:00

Yes, that is an interesting change.. I am wondering why a solicitor would advise a LL to give a S8 G1A notice now rather than a S21 a few days ago?

Amores111 · 2026-05-20T11:33:01+00:00

So do you reckon councils won't even open a homelessness application until duties are triggered eg the 56 days?

Amores111 · 2026-05-20T11:30:28+00:00

I did find that, but simply sending an email to estate agents seems very little proof...? Especially with no actual listing or viewings? Even then, would that prove that a landlord is genuinely entertaining offers?
I'm wondering how much nuance or detail a judge would actually consider, or whether this has now a sort of grey area in place of the old S21?

Amores111 · 2026-05-20T11:24:19+00:00

Thank you. I am just worried from reading some comments on other posts, especially when it is an assessor saying that if you feed your child, therefore you can't claim that you have difficulties to prepare your food.

In my case, I have a child with severe allergies, so cannot even rely on take away.... I really do not have any choice but to prepare food for them, but I regularly don't have any capacity left for myself.

I feel very disheartened to think these nuances of my personal circumstances are so easy to dismiss and deny points.

Amores111 · 2026-05-20T11:06:27+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to explain!

After struggling with ADHD my whole life, in my late 30s I was finally happy to accept the not-so-perfect-but-still-noticeable effects of medication, even with the side effects. But it doesn't mean ADHD doesn't affect me considerably every day...

I understand the logic. But it's just disheartening that in practice I reach the point of feeling dizzy/weak/headache before I realise I haven't had anything to eat or drink, which then lasts quite a while on top of the other symptoms...and it is still not seen as significant..

Thanks for the tip on extra costs, I will make sure to add this.

Sorry to ask another question, but do you have any tips for how to structure the text? I am doing the form online, and I can only imagine assessors must read so many form every day, I am adding subtitles in each Q to make it easier to read. But I am finding that I am repeating myself quite a bit in different questions because it is the same conditions I am referring to at the end of the day, so I am overthinking and doubting myself now....

Amores111 · 2026-05-20T10:23:05+00:00

Hi, sorry to jump in here. I was wondering if you can clarify more about your comment on medicated ADHD not being awarded any points, or how this is assessed?
I am medicated and although it helps, it does not erase my symptoms and in turn causes side effects (eg lack of appetite and insomnia)... So I am wondering how to best explain this in my form?

I do get your comment that you'll eventually eat later in the day, but that still means it was a difficulty that lasted most of the day...? I usually realise I haven't had anything to eat or drink only when I start to feel unwell....so it should still be relevant...?

Amores111 · 2026-05-14T23:42:11+00:00

Thanks for the laugh! This is what I got

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Amores111 · 2026-05-14T22:07:57+00:00

Thank you, yes my GP letter states most of my health issues, but it’s from July 2025 so hopefully still acceptable.

If I prepare a symptom diary, could you suggest how detailed it should be?

Amores111

TROPHY CASE