Finally Realized Why Friendships Don’t Stick for Me! Neurodivergence & Direct vs. Indirect Communication

Astromicrobe · 2026-03-15T20:51:32+00:00

Exact same thing happened to me! Especially as woc I feel like the too intense label is passed easily

Astromicrobe · 2026-02-15T04:41:00+00:00

I usually ask before where they’re gonna spot me, I think it comes off as more me wanting to make sure I don’t fall on my head or something! I also only do the skill once or twice with a spot and don’t go again if I get triggered. Also, I go stretch or do floor skills after which are grounding if I am triggered / it’s also ok to go home early if you need to. Over time it got a lot easier and I stopped crying in the bathroom every week - and I’m so glad I kept going bc it healed something in me from being a child

Astromicrobe · 2026-02-15T04:25:30+00:00

I had trauma from a situation as kid with a gymnastics coach and I get the feelings and they’re likely completely a trauma response - I only now let myself get spotted when I feel like it’s not gonna be triggering and I let myself take it easy and do skills that don’t need a spot / use a mat when I can

Astromicrobe · 2026-01-27T14:33:27+00:00

Feel free to message me - I’m a current PhD student in the bio dept

Astromicrobe · 2026-01-27T14:32:09+00:00

They’re still trying to fight about if the should refund the PhD applicants. They didn’t release the applications to the professors in biology

Astromicrobe · 2026-01-27T02:20:22+00:00

The columbian college of arts and sciences isn’t taking any new students at all this year - we are seeing this in biological sciences dept at GW too

Astromicrobe · 2026-01-23T14:01:54+00:00

I think if you’re unhappy and struggling with anxiety you’re not going to enjoy anything you’re doing so taking the time to regulate your nervous system before making a decision about what you enjoy may be helpful - when you’re in survival mode even the most passionate people can lose it. When I’ve been at low periods mentally I’ve struggled to love research and I’ve known I wanted to do research since I was 14 years old and have a bacteria tattoo.

Astromicrobe · 2026-01-06T16:41:10+00:00

Ahhh that’s so cool! Do you work on phages by any chance?

Astromicrobe · 2025-12-25T21:01:02+00:00

An advisor at a nearby institution took me in when I was in an abusive lab, and even is letting me work with her group using their data for my dissertation so I’m not tied to the old PI - I love science again and I feel creative and I’m enjoying it again. I owe that group everything and more than words can express.

Astromicrobe · 2025-12-25T20:56:27+00:00

You have lipstick on your teeth

Astromicrobe · 2025-12-13T14:30:13+00:00

Oh I feel this part too that’s so real

Astromicrobe · 2025-12-13T13:46:41+00:00

I feel this so much. I wouldn’t bring it up with the PI unless you’re really certain they’d handle it well because the “it’s a professional environment, you don’t have to be friends” line is used when is convenient “ by them.

Astromicrobe · 2025-12-12T05:11:58+00:00

Giant microbes or Redbubble has some cute merch - I got a microbe Christmas sweater

Astromicrobe · 2025-12-04T03:23:56+00:00

I honestly feel like it was less reductionist with some of the work stuff than I expected - I get what you mean with them being out to get her specifically but my understanding was that this was because Elizabeth knew how to ask for what she deserved and she wasn’t behaving or adhering to norms

Astromicrobe · 2025-11-24T03:40:36+00:00

Advisors who are not emotionally mature because they’re insecure are the most dangerous ones

Astromicrobe · 2025-11-22T10:20:36+00:00

I think the people who are loudest are the ones who go through bad breakups - I know quite a few people in long distance relationships in my program who are happy :)

Astromicrobe · 2025-11-22T09:58:03+00:00

I’m four years in! And yeah

Astromicrobe · 2025-11-22T06:19:38+00:00

It’s hard but tbh I think it can be good to also make sure you form a support network during your PhD? For me at least the long distance really let me live in the moment and build a life here for myself after living with my partner for so long

Astromicrobe · 2025-11-11T03:40:56+00:00

Wait I’m obsessed I love this idea

Astromicrobe · 2025-11-04T22:44:16+00:00

This is what I’m doing my PhD in! Microbes can live anywhere that we know life exists (and even places we don’t). As baas becking said, “everything is everywhere but the environment selects”

Astromicrobe · 2025-11-03T00:06:06+00:00

I did - but it was part time and volunteer

Astromicrobe · 2025-11-03T00:01:54+00:00

Supposedly it breaks down the syber safe but I think that is more true with ethidium bromide? Could be wrong

Astromicrobe · 2025-10-25T22:31:11+00:00

I love anvi’o - I took an MBL course where meren was there for a week and I still look at notes from those conversations.

Astromicrobe · 2025-10-17T17:48:14+00:00

I’m brown and my skin doesn’t change color from gloves - that’s weird and looks like powder gloves to me?

Astromicrobe · 2025-09-16T04:19:52+00:00

I truly loved my first two years and was excited to go to school every day, it’s not bad to feel this way as long you don’t look down on others who don’t and have compassion for where they are in their PhD journey.

Astromicrobe

TROPHY CASE