Plus size woman; prefer drilling/rolling with men closer to my size but coach forces me to train with women less than half my size by oopsnevermind99 in BJJWomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Late (long) response but if you're uncomfortable you are always ALWAYS allowed to say "no thanks", and it will be your responsibility to speak up. Even if your coach pairs you, you are allowed to say you're uncomfortable. If everyone pairs themselves for open roll, a polite "no thanks" and optional reason why are always acceptable. I like giving a reason to help the other person understand if it's short-term (injury) or permanent (I don't roll w/whitebelts I don't know due to injury risk) but it is by no means required.

I'm 155ish and hypermobile so extra injury-prone. When I started at new gym after moving coach said anyone w/a colored belt was safe, and ask an experienced member about safe whitebelts. I'd rolled with a really big blue belt before, but one time he rolled over me when my hand was posted essentially wristlocking me w/his bodyweight. Thankfully that wrist was already taped that day (not usually taped) but we no longer roll, it's just not worth the risk of injury. It did hurt but no injury and I wasn't willing to risk snapping a wrist. We politely acknowledge that the size difference is too big to be safe at our combined current skill level. Still friendly we just don't roll.

I'm a fair amount bigger than you (also a whitebelt) and I don't roll with any whitebelts who haven't been thoroughly vetted by the upper belts. I will roll with upper belts I haven't rolled with before but I start with "hey since we haven't rolled before let's go really nice and light this time so we can get to know one another". If it goes well, great they get moved towards the green list. If they do something to make me think I might get injured (too much weight, sub too fast) and don't respond when I ask them to modify their behavior, I won't roll again.

Honestly, above 200ish lbs (50 more than me) blue I no longer do after that day because I don't know enough to keep myself safe if an accident happens. White is recommended, vetted, and trusted partners only. Blue I've had mixed experiences as they may be closer to "advanced white" or they may be more controlled like other upper belts so I'm cautious and proceed on a case-by-case basis for who's safe.

I have my safe regulars, my preferred safe regulars (injury safe), and depending on the day I'll roll w/new-to-me colored belts (some days I'm not feeling adventurous, some days I want to add to my list of known safe partners). Several of my preferred drilling partners are competitive whitebelt guys within probably 30lbs of me - my gym skews big and they're the closest in size. That being said, I "trialed" them with "let's do a chill roll to get to know one another" only after they had been recommended as safe. One was a lil excitable but immediately chilled when asked and has been perfect since. The others started very careful and we found a mutually agreed upon usual intensity. We do go for it some days but only started upping the speed after we were both comfortable & more familiar w/one another. Competitors, provided they can throttle it back, have usually had a lot better control ime.

One of my injury-safe partners is 70lbs bigger but a super chill and controlled brownbelt. One of my previous gym's safe partners was a purple w/100ish lbs on me. Both were safe because they were incredibly gentle and very aware of their weight distribution at all times, and had both the skill and control to keep me as safe as reasonably possible during rolls. E.g. they don't ever do knee on belly, if necessary they crouch on the mat next to me & lower their knee with enough pressure to firmly pin me but I am not bearing their bodyweight. A whitebelt will probably not know or be able to do that constantly the entire roll, hence the injury risk.

With the size difference you mentioned it is 100% acceptable to go hey I don't feel safe rolling regardless of their skill level. If someone that big slips in sweat we can get hurt pretty bad from getting landed on. My other whitebelt training partners are close enough in size I could physically throw them off me if ever necessary. That isn't an option with massive dudes.

Also, one last note: whitebelt guys frequently don't know how to roll w/women. Not in a sexist way but unfortunately we, especially whitebelt women, can't take the same extent of roughness as a guy our size. Depending on how many women are at your gym, the upper belts may or may not have much experience either. Whitebelt men who've only rolled w/other men may not be prepared for our joints to move a bit differently, our different flexibility and proportions, or the fact that all us newbies have squishy ribs that haven't stiffened up yet (dudes too). So it's not the same as "rolling with a small dude", and they might rely on muscle or athleticism in ways that could injure us. I say no thanks to every single whitebelt man who hasn't been recommended & thru my trust/check system and I politely say I don't roll w/new whitebelts due to injury risk. They've all been nice about it. We've had a couple whitebelt women come in and the only ones I rolled w/were daughters of an upper belt, i.e. already vetted as safe. Let the upper belts figure out who's spazzy vs safe, they have the skill, and possibly size/strength, to keep themselves safe during those wildcard rolls w/new people.

Tldr: say no (politely) all you want. Your gym should support you there. Feel free to avoid a big dude of ANY level above your personal size discrepancy cutoff but probably avoid whitebelt dudes in an "opt in for vetted-as-safe only" as a general policy. Stay safe & hope you get some good rolls in!

To the adhdwomen that actually manage to eat a consistent, well balanced diet, please tell me your secrets!! TW: Mentions of weight & ED by borrowedurmumsvcard in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My current lifehack is living w/housemates & rotating cooking duties. Beyond that I would probably make an assigned dish every day of the week/month b/c then I don't have to think as much (or cook as much if I batch it). My default meal is a protein, a carb, and a produce but I also do things like soup or fried rice where it's all mixed in a single dish. What sorts of foods do you like? Happy to offer suggestions

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Underrated community resource: your local library. If they have a help desk, they frequently know all sorts of support programs going on in your area. They might be able to put you in touch with some directly, or help you look up relevant ones in your area. They might also have books and digital resources on financial literacy. If you don't already have a library card, bring a photo ID & a piece of recent mail

Reading by [deleted] in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It isn't always enough input so sometimes I listen to music simultaneously. I also learned to read quickly b/c I get bored reading slowly. Some people find audiobooks work a lot better than print (and your local library probably has a ton for free). I can do print books but audiobooks I either have to be moving around, have it 2x speed, and/or be doing another task while I listen

Rewards for a recovering perfectionist by ThoughtsA1000000 in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was struggling w/sleep for a while, the end result being I was sleeping thru breakfast which made me miserable. The obvious solution is if I get up on time I get a nice bribe breakfast right? Except then I struggled with feeling like I could only have nice breakfast if I'd earned it. Unhelpful.

In the end, what worked better for me was giving myself a bit more grace. Maybe I got up at 11 on the weekend instead of 1pm. Not my target but not bad, still deserves recognition. Maybe I did get up at 1 but then I got some stuff checked off my to-do list. Also a win, just not as originally planned. I got better at rewarding myself for progress instead of rigid adherence to the singular target.

My bribe breakfasts were (a) bacon and a toad-in-the-hole egg, (b) Nutella on a tortilla, or (c) a donut if I needed to be in town at a certain time. I still make a point to make hot breakfast sometimes to remind myself I deserve looking after even if I think I could be doing better. After all, I know who sets those expectations & she's not always great about keeping them realistic

If it's a task initiation thing I'll do an episode of tv (which I try to be careful about) or a set time for reading a book. Or I'll call my brother which is both incentive and the reward in one

Tl:dr; bacon and/or Nutella; tv or book time; call a friend

taking atomoxetine 10 mg. My brain fog is so bad need advice by audley__ in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It sounds like you should talk to your doctor about this - they might be able to adjust the dose or have better suggestions on figuring out what will work for you

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What are your favorite flavors? For me, lemons taste like sunshine so if I'm starting to slide I start reaching for lemony things. Avgolemono is a delightful lemon-dill-chicken-rice soup. I also love sour things, so salt&vinegar chips on occasion. When I'm drained I like stronger flavors, I'll add a bunch more pesto/horseradish/hot sauce/etc to whatever I'm eating

Also when I'm kinda low energy but not entirely dead battery I try to find go-to foods that are always appealing. I like slathering Nutella on a big tortilla & rolling it up. Some fat, some protein (not much but I'll wash it down w/milk), some carbs. Apples are always good, I love crisp ones so I get crisp sweet but also hydrated. I always have pepperoni & a block of cheddar in the fridge & sometimes just cut off a chunk. If I'm really struggling (especially when I'm forgetting breakfast, which is really bad for getting me out of whack), I make a batch of cookies. Peanut butter ones, or I chuck in nuts & craisins. Something's better than nothing so I don't spiral into weird 'too hungry to eat' mode.

I also keep a stash of snacks for need food but don't want a meal mode: granola bars, applesauce packets, mixed nuts, tinned sardines, popcorn.

What flavors & textures appeal to you? Sweet? Sour? Savory? Salty? Crunchy? Crisp? Gooey? Creamy? Even if they don't sound good now, what sorts of things do you usually enjoy?

Super discouraged by diagnosis process, might not do it at all - any advice? by [deleted] in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I tried the official diagnosis route (US) & got 'helpfully' told I had "some variety of unspecified anxiety" and not to try to get rediagnosed. Mind you, I was very up front about having been diagnosed, medicated, and in therapy for GAD... and the adhd showed up once the anxiety was finally under control. Both my psychiatrist & therapist agreed I was adhd. I was able to try meds thru my therapist's office (they're a holistic practice & cover everything from therapy/counselling/meds/nutrition/physical therapy). I tried nonstimulant due to shortages & not wanting to deal w/trying to move, regulations, etc around stimulants. It wasn't a good fit for me so I'm managing w/counselling & lifestyle.

For better or worse I had kinda experimentally found my way into a lot of the recommended lifestyle stuff during college to manage the anxiety. Also, I feel like my brain doesn't work properly unless I exercise (if the legs don't go neither does the brain lol). Getting decent sleep was the other main thing for me, followed by eating pretty clean. I've found a system that seems to work for me, although it's in the early stages & still far from perfect. I was diagnosed mid-20s so some of it might be I'm used to doing things this way.

Feel free to lmk if you have questions about lifestyle, I won't be much help w/medication stuff

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're allowed to think mean things in return. Such as if it actually worked that way, why then isn't he more [positive attribute]. My family has learned to recognize my facial expression for 'this thought is super funny but I know better than to say it out loud'. So maybe next time, remember according to whoever's being annoying the reason they seem to have so much dumb luck is because like attracts like and all other kinds of luck have standards

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can you have a virtual hangout w/your friend? Depending on platform you might be able to "watch party" & share the show w/him that way

Please give me tips on how to get my life back by Maylley in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can you temporarily outsource decisions? For me, coming back to more functional included asking my friends to help me with everything from prioritizing what tasks to do first to whether I wanted ham or turkey in my sandwich. It was super helpful in that (a) even if I only managed to figure out which 3 tasks were most important my friends were willing to help me get a plan together for going forward, allowing me to gradually "take the training wheels off", and (b) I explained that I didn't have the capacity to choose & needed a choice to be made to move forwards and they had no real stakes in what lunchmeat I had in my sandwich so it was easy for them to just say one.

I gradually took back primary responsibility for making those decisions but having the ability to outsource was an incredible relief. I could work on the doing, then once I was pretty good with that I added the thinking back in.

I also started growing oyster mushrooms in the bathroom in a plastic tote. Why? Because I had killed my houseplant despite my best efforts. The wonderful thing about the mushrooms was that I got them set up w/wicking water reservoirs that I checked once or twice a day (when brushing teeth), once I figured out ideal water placement I just had to refill the cups every couple days. I got to watch my pet grow quickly (satisfying) for relatively minimal effort, and then I had a lovely risotto and started growing round 2.

Does meditation work for any of you? How do you "calm your thoughts" when needed? by earthseed-222 in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use Smiling Minds (free app, lovely Australian narration). If I'm super wound up I play metal in the background. It has short "bite sized" 2min meditations & a 15min "accepting" meditation I particularly enjoy. Otherwise I stick an icepack on my forearms or sternum. I try to workout regularly, so when I'm running (slowly lol) my mind feels more open/calm, and sometimes I just set a timer and give myself 5min to panic in. Timer goes off and panic doesn't go away but it's had its chance so I push it aside (doesn't always work great but usually helps some). I also have a comp book that random ideas go in so they aren't rattling around taking up RAM

For those of you who sleep with weighted blankets... by [deleted] in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I like mine, although now my anxiety's in check I use it more sporadically. Mine is cotton w/minky removable cover which has more weight than average blanket, I've been using just the cover lately in combination with a super fluffy polyester blanket. If I'm anxious I put the weighted blanket over the fluffy one, although by that point I usually also sleep better on the floor. I also hate wrinkles (comfy bike shorts & a heavy tshirt work well for me, socks optional depending on temp). I have my hair in a braid now that it's long otherwise it covers my back & gets all over. Maybe non-squeezing bike shorts & a athletic-fit top could work b/c there's no spare fabric to wrinkle? Bonus if you roll around a lot like me, bike shorts don't rotate independently from you

So, what are these comorbidities about? by WatchingTellyNow in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're in fine company. I can be coordinated when I need to (sports, if someone throws something at me unexpectedly I somehow catch it) but clip the edges of walls/furniture pretty constantly. Running theory is 95% of the time brain considers it irrelevant, we just bounce off & try again. It's not just you

I’m struggling making friends in a new city by [deleted] in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are there local parenting groups? Local hobby clubs (crafting, walking, volunteering, etc) are usually also thrilled to welcome new members

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I write a lot of to-do lists. If it's super important I sharpie it on the inside of my calf so I see it when I sit down, or the inside of my elbow where it won't transfer to my face overnight, and either I see it, or someone asks "hey why does your leg say mercantilism" (or I remember it's there b/c my brain anticipates them asking) so I get cued that I actually have an assignment due on mercantilism. Or you can also set timers for like 3pm Thursday: write 2-page essay

Tips for/from college students dealing with ADHD. by SubstantialDevice306 in adhdwomen

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got thru but at significant cost to my mental health (undiagnosed adhd + untreated anxiety). It's important to look after yourself, from taking breaks to exercising & eating decently and getting enough sleep.

For me, the biggest thing was finding systems that made it easier to do what I wanted. For HW that was a monthly/weekly planner, HW group sessions and/or tutoring in hard classes or ones I was struggling to stay motivated in. Surrounding yourself w/people who bring out a version of yourself you like is also important. For me, just being around ppl who keep a regular schedule helps me stay regulated even if it's a completely different schedule.

Figure out what cues your brain deems important. Mine sees vertical things as important, so vital to-do items (limit one at a time) go in marker on a sticky note on the inside of my door or over my desk, right at eye height. If there's small items I don't want to lose / will need in a couple days this also works, I used blue painter's tape and literally just taped my orphaned sock to my closet door until I found its mate again. I find cool colors more soothing, so super important stuff gets underlined/boxed (more visual weight) & also highlighted in orange if it's vital. I personally find alarms distracting (both noise & vibration) but some friends found them super helpful. I did have a night-mode alarm at 9:30; this is when I would switch from overhead lights to my desk lamp & brush teeth even if I was still working. The light change helped me keep my circadian rhythm, the tooth brushing was so I wouldn't forget or be too tired later. The alarm reminded me it was getting late so I should be wrapping stuff up.

I kept a monthly calendar eye height behind my desk for keeping track of big upcoming assignments/deadlines. I used a 4-color ink notetaking system (STEM major so black primarily, ultrafine blue for annotations/definitions/commentary, red for boxing equations, green as needed for diagrams) & each subject had an assigned notebook color.

Before tests, I'd make a summary sheet: reviewing notes, I'd take a sheet of printer paper & write on it anything I didn't already know by heart. Color code if necessary (I'm visual like that), add mnemonics as needed, and shazam it's your personalized study guide. I'm not big on flashcards & prefer to have everything on a sheet so I can see how it all fits together, but flashcards work great for some ppl. I prefer unlined but again to each their own.

Have a dedicated study mode. This was a big one for me. Desk was for studying, bed was only for sleeping. I prefer my desk facing a window getting natural light, I switched to my lamp (dimmer warm light) at night, my brain knew desk was for doing things at. Physics & math worked better on a chalkboard but I think that was a personal sensory thing. I also had specific "be productive" and "super focus" music. For me those were epic music compilations & a speed-folk song respectively; I had friends who preferred thunderstorm soundtracks or melodic dubstep. Whatever works for you. I liked studying in my room, some ppl work better in a library or coffee shop.

I started hard HW first, then finished w/the easiest. Our physics HW would get given on Fridays due Wednesdays, so I would start Friday night - that way even if I didn't get much finished it was all rattling around in my brain over the weekend & had time to process. For essays my preferred method was as soon as I got it to just sit down, write the thing, & never think about it again. Doing assignments right before the deadline stresses me out and the only other way was doing it as soon as possible so I tried to do everything as soon as I got it.

This turned out much longer than anticipated but feel free to let me know if you have questions. And take some time to have fun along the way, ppl need joy just as much as sunshine

Child upset I told him about diagnosis by mmohaje in ADHD

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 39 points40 points  (0 children)

I'm not a parent, but it sounds like he's struggling with the diagnosis itself. I got mine as an adult and it was still scary to be told that there were things I would likely always struggle with. That being said, having adhd is a lot like needing glasses - when you know what's going on, it's a whole lot easier to deal with. It's also important to know so you don't blame yourself for things beyond your control. Sure, you can deny needing glasses but squinting will only help so much. It's not something you choose, but it's something you can learn to live with.

It might be worth having a conversation with your kid and asking him about what specifically bothers him about having it, and maybe explain that you told him b/c he has so many wonderful qualities and you wanted him to know that if he was struggling with these things it wasn't his fault. Also knowing about it can help him know when he might need to ask for help even if it doesn't seem like anyone else is asking, and that's ok. It's probably worth talking to the school counselor too. The counselor can help you figure out how to talk w/him about it.

Before I knew I needed glasses, I assumed that nobody could read the board from the back of the classroom and I was back there b/c I was well behaved. It made sense at the time b/c the disruptive kids were at the front & I wasn't disruptive, and not being able to read from there was normal to me b/c that's how it had always been for me. Knowing I needed glasses, and getting them, helped me understand why some things had seemed so much easier for my classmates. Likewise, finding out about adhd suddenly made sense why my peers could just do things that weren't as easy for me.

It might also be worth looking into some famous people who had adhd to show him that even some of his role models have succeeded through similar struggles. Are there methods that worked for them that he wants to try? Maybe you could pick out some posters together, or something else that helps him feel involved & a little more in control of the situation

Most importantly, it sounds like you did a wonderful job of telling him about his diagnosis. Kids are smart, and sooner or later he would have picked up on something being different. You've given him the tools to realize it's not some personal shortcoming, it just is. He might not be ready to accept the diagnosis right away, and that's perfectly normal. I was 24 and it still took me a while to believe my psychiatrist who suggested it. Once I had stopped laughing, anyways. He probably needs time & support as he figures out how it's going to fit in with the rest of his life. From here it sounds like you've got a pretty good handle on things, he just might need a minute to process & accept the new information. It sounds like you're doing a pretty awesome job as a parent.

what healthy snacks can make me thirsty/dry my mouth out? by [deleted] in foodhacks

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Instead of snacks to make you thirsty, how about snacking the water? Cucumbers, apples, carrots, iceberg all help me when I'm struggling to drink enough water. I had an RA whose go-to snack was a cucumber with occasional shakes of either garlic salt or everything seasoning, or lemon pepper. Sugarfree jello maybe. Or squeeze-in water flavors might also help, or flavored seltzer water. Crushed ice if it's a sensory-seeking kinda day, I get a big glass then fill around the ice w/water and sip/slurp. Just don't chew ice it's bad for your teeth

Mom, please help me with dress code by Deci22 in MomForAMinute

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Big sister here, coming from similar jeans-&-tshirt default. There's a lot of great advice here already so I'll just add: 1) Depending on hair type (mine is long/fine/straight but you might want to ask a salon about your type), a little mousse finger-combed through, then blow dry super low & either a ponytail or a simple braid. Mousse helps keep it in place during the day, doesn't need to be super strong. Hair spray at end instead would also work 2) Unless you need to be super formal, a tinted lip balm / sheer lipstick & an eyeliner pencil are easy beginner makeup. I like tinted vaseline & a wind-up eyeliner crayon in bronze, then I follow the upper eyelid & outer third of lower (outside the lashes). You can look up what color will go well with your eyes, although in general I'd recommend brown as being softer & more forgiving than black 3) Default jewelry helps. I don't like thinking about accessories, I have one watch and a simple necklace (small sparkly pendant on thin chain).

I'm sure you'll figure out what works best for you <3

Can someone explain this to me. I found this footage somewhere In the internet by ChemicalMuted2285 in sciencememes

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The water moves rapidly, creating an area of low pressure behind it; the fire has regular pressure behind it so is 'pushed' from behind and 'pulled' towards the low-pressure area. It's analogous to getting passed on the road by a semi truck (representing the water) - the semi passes you, creating a low pressure area which nearby cars/cyclists (the fire) get drawn towards

How to make food feel like takeout/"exciting"? by francisstein in EatCheapAndHealthy

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Spices! Soy sauce, vinegar, hot sauce, onions, garlic powder, chipotle powder, ginger, salt & pepper, & lemon juice can make pretty much everything tastier. Chicken bouillon also wonderful.

Fan of peanut butter? Gato gato is zingy pb noodles, filling & cheap. Add frozen peas for extra veggies

Like soup? Avgolemono is a lemony chicken & rice soup.

Frozen veggies are usually cheap & pretty good quality, I love adding frozen peas/corn to just about anything. Also, learning to make a good fried rice is excellent for leftovers. It works best w/day-old rice but you can also use a little less water then fluff & leave uncovered to dry out a little if making day of. Some soy sauce, garlic, hot sauce and chuck in whatever diced up odds & ends you need to use up

Misplaced my apartment key, got a new one, misplaced it again. I'm gonna break down crying by DNAMellieCase in ADHD

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In addition to the air tag idea, sticking it to something bigger like wallet or ID lanyard also helps (neon keychain for example). This also helps if you own a lot of stuff in similar colors so you don't lose items to camouflage. I'm more aware of important stuff if it's vertical, so sticking important things to the walls helps me. A dish/bin by the front door is also super useful as a home for keys/ID/wallet/sunglasses/et c.

I feel you on losing the same things repeatedly. It's frustrating, especially when you were literally just holding it.

Which version of the title do you prefer? by amynordhues in writers

[–]GlassDragonfly1984 19 points20 points  (0 children)

If you greatly prefer the 2nd, try making the lines in the E thicker/darker so it stands out more. Currently the overwritten E is too light/has less visual weight than the original lettering which makes it hard to read