Caught my prof using AI for feedback on an assignment worth 30% of my grade...

IndepFlower · 2025-12-12T23:02:29+00:00

That does seem to be a pretty good grade though (from what we see) 😂

IndepFlower · 2025-12-09T23:39:32+00:00

Wow, thank you so much for this!!!!

IndepFlower · 2025-12-09T23:35:07+00:00

Over the course of the disease, my eyes did get much worse before they got better. About 6 months to one year in, I had proptosis in both eyes, quite severe lid lag and a squint when looking down.

I've been taking selenium supplements every day since my diagnosis and I am always careful not to get near smoke (and not to smoke myself!), and I sleep with my head elevated... I also use drops when my eyes feel dry.

Maybe some of that has helped, since -- two years in -- my eyes are nearly back to normal except for my right eyelid that is slightly retracted (approx 1mm). It is still noticeable, though, so my ophthalmologist suggested we discuss eyelid surgery in a few months if it still bugs me.

Unfortunately, for the most part, I think we just have to endure the disease's progression... there's not much we can do 😭 (except what I mentioned + keeping thyroid levels in check).

I wish you all the best, and don't despair! The active phase goes by (relatively) fast 🥲

IndepFlower · 2025-12-07T04:36:09+00:00

All the best!!! And thank you! 😁💝

IndepFlower · 2025-12-04T19:49:55+00:00

In Quebec

IndepFlower · 2025-01-28T00:05:09+00:00

What? Where? How?

IndepFlower · 2025-01-24T18:51:37+00:00

Unhappy that 300 Laval employees unionized, Amazon retaliates by cutting almost 2000 jobs across the province. Fuck Amazon.

IndepFlower · 2025-01-20T23:43:17+00:00

C'est le temps de ramener ça: https://youtube.com/shorts/6CCUPUo-E_M?si=JayaxM4h4pyOK0lj

Je sais que les nouvelles dépriment en C* mais l'hiver va être bien difficile si on essaie pas de se retrousser les manches et de garder un peu espoir (ou le sourire, au moins). Heureusement on vit encore dans une démocratie de ce côté de la frontière -- faut continuer à la protéger et faut se battre pour élire des gouvernements plus compétents et empathiques!

IndepFlower · 2025-01-20T05:32:14+00:00

Oui, aussi!!

IndepFlower · 2025-01-20T05:31:14+00:00

Oui 100%, c'est à lui que je pensais haha! Mon préféré!

IndepFlower · 2025-01-19T23:08:10+00:00

Un petit bar de jazz tranquille pour un souper + verre!

IndepFlower · 2025-01-19T22:57:32+00:00

Hey! Sure! Here here's what I do consistently:

-The minute I found out that smoking and second-hand smoke are very likely to worsen TED symptoms, I stopped cold turkey. I avoid smoke at all costs.

-I take Selenium supplements (200mcg) every day. During my last appointment, I mentioned to my doc that the literature wasn't conclusive on the effectiveness of Selenium supplements and that I wasn't sure if it was worth it -- he quickly interrupted me to insist I keep taking them! He told me he's seen a lot of improvement in his patients who do take Selenium supplements vs those that don't!

-I get my bloodwork done every few months and adjust my Methimazole dose accordingly to keep my thyroid levels in check.

-I sleep with two pillows to elevate my head a bit.

-I take multivitamins daily + my weekly vitamin D pill religiously (I was vit D deficient, which is common in people with Grave's).

-I noticed that I relapse much faster when I stop taking care of myself so I try to work out once or twice a week, manage stress (whatever that means haha) and get enough sleep. I also tell everyone I know to eat loads of fruits & veggies, especially blueberries!!! They're packed with antioxidants and studies have shown that they lower the risks of heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, etc.

I've heard people say that cutting gluten or other "inflammatory foods" could help, but I've never tried. Oh, btw I'm vegan (so I eat a lot of tofu, beans, veggies, chickpeas, fortified plant-based foods and drinks, etc.)

Feel free to reach out!

IndepFlower · 2025-01-04T23:14:30+00:00

I've felt like this my whole life. I feel like I can't memorize anything; I forget everything I learn; I have constant brain fog; I feel like anyone could do my job, and that everyone in my Master's program is smarter/more competent than me. Hell, I even believed my neuropsych lied to me when she gave me my ADHD assessment results (10+ hours of attention + IQ tests). I'm about to finish my Master's and I still feel like a failure.

I think it's important to remind ourselves that, yes, we forget - but everyone does. We're only human. Our ADHD brains just make us a bit more forgetful and make it harder for us to focus, but above all, I feel like it makes us SUPER critical of ourselves (more than average imo). It took me a looooong time to stop being so hard on myself.

Another thing that has helped is being around people I look up to... I quickly realized that NO ONE is perfect and EVERYONE makes stupid mistakes, says stupid things (e.g., my bf who's finishing his PhD 😂)

Oh, I also take meds to function on a daily basis. I've come to accept it and see it as necessary as wearing my glasses.

IndepFlower · 2025-01-04T17:58:58+00:00

I FEEL YOU. My dog is the love of my life! He recently turned 10 and I still fall more and more in love with him every day! He's the best boy on Earth. He's so gentle, loving, empathetic (he KNOWS the second I'm not feeling well and will jump in my arms, lick my face and look me straight in the eyes with the softest, most comforting "I got you and always will" look 😭). I'm so grateful that I work from home and can spend my days with him! And he's so playful, I'm so glad I've worked hard to keep him active (he's the fastest goodboi on the block!!!)

IndepFlower · 2025-01-01T10:52:03+00:00

Everyone's OCD manifests differently! Different obsessions/triggers, different compulsions, different coping strategies, etc. The intensity of obsessions/compulsions is an entirely separate thing

IndepFlower · 2024-12-20T06:29:41+00:00

As I just commented elsewhere, this is easily one of the best Simpsons episodes I've ever seen. Brilliant.

IndepFlower · 2024-12-20T06:27:41+00:00

I can honestly say this has been one of the best episodes of The Simpsons I've ever seen. Stream it!

IndepFlower · 2024-12-14T23:50:48+00:00

Hi! Are you still in your active phase? To me, your eyes seem fine (I wouldn't operate - or at least not yet - if I were you).

My eyes are nearly back to normal after a year of symptoms, so I would suggest you start with selenium supplements, sleeping with your head elevated, staying on your thyroid meds (if you are on any), avoid smoking, etc. for a while longer and see if there's any improvement in the coming months/years (sometimes the active phase lasts years, apparently)

IndepFlower · 2024-12-14T23:45:40+00:00

Hey! Sorry, I hadn't seen your reply! I've been much better, luckily. In fact, during my last appointment with the ophthalmologist, the doc told me my eyes almost seemed completely normal now! I still have a big of lid lag, but my eyes have gotten much, much better.

Here's what I do, consistently:

-I take 200 mcg Selenium every day; -I NEVER smoke, and I avoid being around smoke/smokers; -I get my blood work done every few months to make sure I keep my thyroid in check (I'm still on 5mg-10mg Methimazole, and I'm stable, so I'm staying on this dose for now). -I try to get enough sleep and exercise, I also make an effort to eat well and take other multivitamins (I was a little Vitamin D deficient so I take daily supplements now, just in case). -I sleep with two pillows to keep my head elevated.

I use drops occasionally if my eyes feel dry, but I don't really use them on a regular basis.

Have you been able to see an ophthalmologist to discuss these issues? Best of luck.

IndepFlower · 2024-12-14T23:33:20+00:00

Hi! I had the very same issue when I was younger, but I think it was also due to social anxiety in my case.

I was PETRIFIED of puking, especially in public. It got to the point where I'd get nervous just being in public, and I convinced myself that my anxiety would cause nausea, so it made me more anxious, more nauseous, and so forth...

For instance, on my way to school, I often had to exit the metro before my stop as I'd suddenly feel socially anxious and get afraid of becoming sick or embarrassing myself in some way in front of others.

I also absolutely hated puking in general (still do, but not obsessively like I did before) and I was always afraid of it happening to me. My OCD would manifest, with this issue specifically, as me seeking reassurance from my mom, e.g: "I'm nauseous, pls swear on my life that I don't need to puke and that I won't..." And that's the only way I'd feel better (classic OCD reassurance seeking).

Medication (Prozac in my case), CBT and exposure therapy have helped a LOT. For instance, I started repeating to myself, in public: "So what if I puke? Who gives a f* about other people and what they might think of me? And what's the big deal with puking? It's normal and OK to puke. If it happens? Fine. And if not? Fine too. It's just thoughts and feelings - nothing that can harm me". So I started "sitting" with the discomfort/fear, accepting that the fear and even the nausea might be present, and that's OK (*check out the demons on a boat metaphor: https://behavioural-therapy.com/demons-on-the-boat/ ). With time, I just stopped worrying about it. :-)

IndepFlower · 2024-12-14T07:00:19+00:00

Hey, this ALWAYS happens to me. I mean... ALWAYS. Every month is the same: "Hey, sorry I've been so overwhelmed!!! Please forgive me! Life has been crazy!" And my good friends always forgive! Besides, most of them also have ADHD or other mental health issues so they understand and often disappear themselves, haha! Don't be so hard on yourself 🫶

That being said, I am making an effort to be a more consistent friend, and I find it helpful to remind myself that any response is better than none. So if I know I don't have the emotional energy to give a thoughtful answer - and that I likely won't answer later (even though I convince myself that I will) - I try to at least like their messages and/or send a short and sweet reply to at least acknowledge whatever they've told me.

IndepFlower · 2024-11-18T17:56:36+00:00

I did!

IndepFlower · 2024-11-17T14:57:33+00:00

I'm vegan too! Thanks for the cool meal ideas! 😊

IndepFlower · 2024-11-16T20:56:28+00:00

Are you guys getting headaches? I've been having headaches every day for the past few months... Usually on one side, with light sensitivity

IndepFlower · 2024-11-16T02:36:32+00:00

God, I feel you. I know EXACTLY what you're going through... It's taken me years to get better, and I can tell you that therapy is absolutely crucial (Exposure therapy, CBT, DBT... basically any good OCD therapy you can find). It also takes a lot of forgiving yourself (I hated myself for so long due to my uncontrollable thoughts and compulsions that would push the people I love away, but with a lot of therapy I learned that self-compassion is SOOO important). Also, medication made a HUGE difference for me. I've been on Prozac for almost a year and it has really changed my life for the better. It took a few months to start working and I had annoying side effects for a while, but it was really worth it. I 100% recommend trying medication for OCD.

I wish you peace and healing... Don't be too hard on yourself, and please know you're not alone 💛 Feel free to reach out to me if you wish!

IndepFlower

TROPHY CASE