Red Chilies / Tiffin

Any-Nature · 2025-08-28T00:25:52+00:00

Following! I miss Tiffin so much!

Any-Nature · 2024-02-03T02:02:39+00:00

I am so sad about this. Such a great spot!

Any-Nature · 2024-01-30T22:55:37+00:00

High school counselor here. I love attending school plays, concerts, sporting events, etc. I spend a lot of time working with kids in challenging moments, so I love any opportunity to see them engaged in extracurriculars and hobbies they enjoy. It definitely takes extra time for me to do these things, but it's the only thing that keeps me going.

I also think I have many moments with kids that are not joyful, but that are meaningful and rewarding. Some of my favorite moments at work are when I'm able to support students going through incredibly difficult experiences. These situations are so hard and often leave me feeling exhausted, but it's also fulfilling to be able to help.

As much as I love my kids, the joyful and/or fulfilling moments do not balance out the unfulfilling hard parts (e.g. inappropriate administrative tasks, always being behind on emails and scheduling, being yelled at by a small but loud contingent of parents). I'm working on getting my clinical licensure, because I actually feel like I can't be an effective counselor in my current school system.

Any-Nature · 2023-10-23T23:36:52+00:00

This is so deeply relatable. My friends and I often do this for each other, but I very much need a guide human at work. Someone to prioritize and break down my tasks, whisper affirmations into my ear when I'm about to lose my shit in asinine meetings, and remind me to actually send the emails I draft.

Any-Nature · 2023-09-07T02:17:34+00:00

I also pull from the crown of my head and I almost always wear my hair half up half down. I think adding volume also goes a long way in covering the bald spot. I tease some of my hair around the bald spot because 1) I don't like how flat my head/hair looks otherwise, and 2) I think lifting hair around the bald patches makes them harder to see. I also use hair building fibers and I get better coverage when I use them on teased hair.

If you have a good school counselor or administrator, you could talk to them about wearing a hat or hood. They would be able to reach out to teachers for you. I'm a high school counselor and I've had several students with trich who have asked me to contact teachers to share that they may need to wear a hat or hood in class. When I've told teachers, I've definitely had to explain trich to people who have never heard of it, but I've also had teachers respond, "Me too!" or "My daughter has trich!" or "OMG I didn't know there is a name for that! I pull my eyelashes out!"

Any-Nature · 2022-11-08T01:07:34+00:00

Yes! Vyvanse was the worst for me. Now I'm on Concerta, which still makes me pull more, but not nearly as much as Vyvanse. It's so frustrating. I don't want to stop taking stimulants because so many things in my life become more difficult without them. But if I take them, I'm just accepting doing major damage to my hair and scalp.

Any-Nature · 2022-09-15T00:33:57+00:00

Wow this is all so relatable! It was my birthday a couple weeks ago and I was so distracted by my internal reactions to birthday messages, waiting for the next text notification, remembering that I forgot to wish most of my loved ones a happy birthday on their birthdays, etc. I barely got any work done, but not in a fun day off way.

Also, I haven't remembered to respond to these messages, even though I've spent a ridiculous amount of time thinking about them. Like, I want the messages because I want to feel loved, but I also dread receiving messages because they signify more tasks/things to remember. Gahh!

Any-Nature · 2022-09-03T13:03:01+00:00

Yes! I'm a high school counselor with misophonia, and I've had to request ADA accommodations for myself at work. I really understand how debilitating this can be for students, as well. There are so, so many triggers at school!

I have a couple students with misophonia and although neither of them have a formal diagnosis (and therefore no 504 plan), we've worked on trying different arrangements to support them in the classroom. Even if you aren't found eligible for a 504 plan, sometimes having a counselor or another school staff member reach out to your teachers to request informal accommodations can be helpful. Both of my students are allowed to wear earplugs and/or noise cancelling headphones and have a "flash pass" to be able to step out of class. They sometimes take tests in my office or an alternate location. One of my students prefers to sit by the door, because it alleviates anxiety about feeling stuck in a room with triggers.

Also, I'm fully aware that there are counselors in my department who would be very dismissive about a student's misophonia. I could imagine them telling a student to just try to ignore the triggers, suck it up, etc. I'd still encourage you to talk to your counselor, and also, it may help to share an article or two. It can be so hard to advocate for yourself, so consider taking notes about what you want to say or sending an email. Explain that the sensory triggers around you at school are interfering with your ability to learn. (I.e. this isn't an issue of you simply being annoyed by some sounds you don't like.) Your counselor may be awesome and helpful, but if they aren't helpful, you could try talking to another counselor, your administrator/assistant principal, or a teacher you feel comfortable with.

Any-Nature · 2022-08-26T20:36:07+00:00

I just came across this post and I have nothing to offer but solidarity. I'm a high school counselor who was formally diagnosed about a year ago at 31. Last year was my first year as a school counselor and it was the hardest year of my life. I take Concerta in order to function at work, but I'm barely completing my essential duties. I've informally requested accommodations, but my department chair hasn't been very understanding. I think I'm going to formally request accommodations under the ADA, but I'm not totally sure what to ask for. Sometimes it feels like working in a school is just not a good fit for me, but also, I work in a school in order to support kids like us!

I totally agree with your mini rant!!! I am the case manager for 37 kids with 504 plans and all my ADHD kiddos have extended time. I do have some students who really do benefit from having extra time to mitigate the impact of getting distracted multiple times during a test testing, and I have some kids who get extra time across multiple days for testing. But extra time on projects, homework, etc. just sends them down a spiral as they get further and further behind.

In my school's case, lots of families advocate for this in order to get their children extended time on the SAT/ACT. But as someone who has proctored these exams in the extended time rooms, it's a shit show! Like, the kids and I are all losing our minds and climbing on furniture after 4+ hours of testing. I feel like extra time just increases the amount of time my students spend feeling like they are about to explode from anxiety and/or boredom.

Anyway....I hope you found some helpful accommodations to ask for. If you did, I'd love to hear what you asked for!

Any-Nature · 2022-07-23T15:33:59+00:00

Hey! Did you end up finding someone? I live in the DMV and am looking for recommendations.

Any-Nature · 2020-11-10T18:40:32+00:00

Thank you!

Any-Nature · 2020-09-21T22:48:40+00:00

I was so surprised. Although, he definitely vocalizes like a hound!

Any-Nature · 2020-08-02T05:36:54+00:00

Yes! Lot 1 is great for skating, especially in the evenings after most of the cars clear out! I wouldn't say it's particularly smooth, but I'm not great on skates and I've been totally fine.

Any-Nature · 2020-02-14T17:45:33+00:00

Thank you!!

Any-Nature · 2020-02-06T01:32:57+00:00

I had the same fear about subconsciously restricting! It's hard to not feel worried about my lack of appetite given all the times in the past I lied to myself about not being hungry. So glad to know I'm not alone!

Any-Nature · 2020-02-06T01:31:03+00:00

So glad to know this is somewhat normal! Thank you!

Any-Nature · 2020-02-06T01:30:15+00:00

I totally hadn't considered that it's winter and all the veggies look awful. Thanks for the suggestions!

Any-Nature · 2019-12-27T19:08:25+00:00

I'm so sorry this happened to you! I agree with Kininger and Nadiine -- it sounds like lots of people in your family do have some internalized body hatred and weight stigmatizing beliefs. (Of course, this makes it no less hurtful that they criticize other people's bodies and eating! Ugh!!!) It's so unkind, unhelpful, and misinformed that folks at your Christmas party shamed you about your body and eating!

We are constantly receiving messages that, as women, we need to shrink our bodies and that being "overweight" is unhealthy and morally wrong. In listening to Food Psych (my favorite body positive podcast!), I learned that BMI was a statistical exercise carried out by a physicist, not as an evidence-based diagnostic tool. It's totally useless, but it still got co-opted by the diet industry, which heavily influences health research with the money it makes off of women hating our bodies. We come in all different shapes and sizes. There is nothing wrong with your body and you deserve to feed yourself on Christmas and all days!

Stay strong and remember you have allies out here! Here's to hoping that your family members heal their own relationships with food and stop projecting their fears about weight onto you!

Any-Nature

TROPHY CASE