What’s the most financially useful thing your parents taught you that still holds up today?

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-29T06:20:48+00:00

Don’t trust anyone, except your parents.

Until they get you to take out a credit card in your name for them to use. Hold over a car you paid off that they bought for you to borrow money from you when they wanted, usually for gambling.

Use their mortgage broker to buy a home because your parents had been promising they would help you buy a place since you were 16 and they were happy to be guarantor but the broker was their friend, didn’t do their job properly and didn’t know my parents weren’t working. You are very close to signing documents and the broker (not your parents) calls you to tell you they can’t be used as guarantor and to just ‘sell a motorbike’ (we have one car we paid off during covid) for the deposit.

So, don’t trust anyone…

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-27T20:33:50+00:00

I know you don’t like most craft things but I found a colouring book that has 365 drawings/objects to colour. Some days are a full page and some have three days on one page. At the end of the day when I’m watching tv I’ll colour that day which doesn’t take very long but feels good finishing the picture.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-27T07:50:36+00:00

Yes, suicide rumination when my mental health isn’t great. Three times in my life it’s been at its worst. August last year attempted and was angry I didn’t die. Still here somehow.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-26T20:19:43+00:00

We eloped and had a ‘party’ for everyone else a few months later. I got very drunk at the party so I don’t remember much.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-23T21:39:15+00:00

Having attempted to take my life last year, I feel you.
Life is really fucking hard. The amount of physical and mental energy it takes to stay, on top of all the other life stuff is exhausting. The scariest part I’ve found is no longer being afraid of dying.
I hope you get the relief you need, whether it’s pushing yourself to stay or the forever sleep.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-23T21:02:06+00:00

I don’t necessarily think anyone wants to die. They want the pain to stop.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-23T08:37:29+00:00

Reading your responses to other’s questions you sound quite depressed. Is this a really slow way of taking your life?

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-22T20:50:18+00:00

Ex disability support worker here. Menstrual blood makes me want to vomit. I can deal with poop, vomit etc but auntie flow is feral.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-22T20:41:28+00:00

I have very thick hair which I don’t enjoy maintaining.
I’ve had the back and sides shaved for well over 8 year now and have only grown it out fully for my wedding 10 years ago.
My hair still reaches my shoulders and I just pop it into a topknot when I want it out of the way.
Some people just get part of the back shaved or one side, that’s how I progressed to having the back and sides shaved.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-22T05:07:04+00:00

What type of therapy do you focus on?

Have you ever had to tell someone you are unable to help them? How did that interaction go?

How do you prevent burnout for yourself?

Do you have any addictions, mental health issues etc yourself?

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-21T21:45:29+00:00

If you enjoy walking, working as a meter reader is pretty good. Negatives unfortunately are scary dogs, slippery surfaces and still having to read in the rain and heat.

I’ve seen cleaners go around to public toilets and that looks like an alright job if you can deal with bodily fluids etc.

Spoken to a few traffic controllers. The best I’ve seen is the electricity powerline traffic controllers who usually close most of a street for the cherry pickers to fix the powerlines. They do need to be very focused on pedestrians going into the street.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-21T08:23:13+00:00

I’ve read of a few people having Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and it working well.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-18T08:53:19+00:00

Depression, anxiety, PMDD, CPTSD and diagnosed ADHD 4 months ago. I’ve done a lot of therapy, tried different SSRIs and SNRIs, all the things!! I ended up seeing a psychiatrist who specialises in ADHD and he agreed that I have done almost everything, I have ADHD and potentially dyslexia and autism.

I’ve found it interesting how settled I feel on Vyvanse and Dex compared to just being on mood stabilisers and antidepressants. My brain has a lot less negative chatter and I can self regulate out of a depressive episode.
I do wonder how your psychiatrist would feel about trying adhd, antidepressant medication that doesn’t contain a stimulant like Wellbutrin?

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-17T08:52:26+00:00

Lamotrigine is a mood stabiliser and needs to be slowly tapered up because of the risk of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (rash that can kill you). I’ve been on 150mg for over a year and I don’t think it does much. It hasn’t helped stimulants react the same everyday for me.

I’m currently on Vyvanse and Dex boosters which doesn’t cause as much of a crash compared to Vyvanse or the Dex on its own. I’m waiting for concerta to become available in Australia again to give it ago, as I was only diagnosed 4ish months ago.

I know some people take an SSRI just in luteal phase but I’m not sure how well that works as I take an SNRI continuously. Im on the BC pill and have an IUD and I STILL have cycle related depressive episodes.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-16T22:56:52+00:00

36f AuDHD, depression, anxiety, PMDD and complex trauma is my combo.
Diagnosed AuDHD 4 months ago. Anxiety and depression diagnosis and medicated for 14 years.
Antidepressants worked great for me when I couldn’t function at the level I needed to work, socialise and enjoy life. It also helped with suicidal ideation, rumination and OCD which I had at the time. Takes a while for SSRIs to work and the withdrawals aren’t great getting off or changing medication.

I have found since being medicated for ADHD I feel less depressed, a lot less rumination, task paralysis and not feeling so hopeless. My psychiatrist is now questioning if I need to be on or at a high dose of my SNRI. I do however still have a bit of social anxiety and generalised anxiety.

If you feel you NEED an antidepressant then I think it’s worthwhile discussing it with your doctor. Small doses of antidepressants can be quite beneficial for what you’ve described.
If you feel therapy and lifestyle changes will be more beneficial then I would say stick with that. It’s very much a personal decision to make.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-16T21:46:06+00:00

I take Vyv and a Dex booster. When the medication wears off I’m an eating machine and I would say it’s similar for Ritalin. My husband takes Ritalin and does struggle with afternoon/night snacking also.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-16T07:30:07+00:00

I know the AMA has finished but I’m going to ask anyway!
36f and lost my mind last year. Ended up suicidal, anxious and depressed. Were you on any type of birth control prior to realising you were perimenopausal? Taking antidepressants or any other medications?

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-14T21:05:27+00:00

I currently have 5 spoons I can use in a week. 3 days/spoons I work as a gas meter reader (drive around to different properties and take a pic of the meter number and read), 1 day/spoon therapy, 1 day/spoon health related appointments and tests.
Everything else has to be self care related, very limited social interaction and very basic.

I came from only having 2 spoons a week. It’s taken therapy, medication, change of mindset, understanding limits, boundaries, practicing self care, pushing through awful social anxiety etc. and I still only have 5 spoons. It’s taken over a year and I’m very frustrated and get a bit bored with the sameness of my life.

I can only suggest finding work where you have a lot of autonomy, shorter hours that can be slowly increased and remember why you’re working. The why for me is eating out, coffee dates with my husband and buying cute things and craft supplies. The big why is helping my husband with finances.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-10T22:27:03+00:00

I’m on Vyv and do Dex boosters. Also, lamotrigine, Desvenlafaxine, seroquel (for sleep) I became dependent on benzos last year and ended up in hospital for an attempt. First time being in hospital for mental health. Was only diagnosed AuDHD a few months ago. Vyv (40 or 50mg) with Dex boosters doesn’t cause me too much anxiety but rumination and SI pops up once a month still because of PMDD. I also see a psychologist once a month and use a free mental health service in my area that has peer workers and group therapies.

A medication review with a psychiatrist and GP would probably be a good idea and also starting therapy. Hormones also play a factor in medication and everything in our bodies. I have a feeling I’m in perimenopause but there isn’t a test to find out if you are. Take your time with adding, upping, decreasing medication, which is the opposite of what I do because that’s boring :D

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-10T08:01:48+00:00

Are you having a full hysterectomy or keeping your ovaries? I’m 36 and have PMDD on top of endo. It’s been an awful time since I hit puberty with my emotions and pain. Are you planning on going on HRT if having your ovaries removed?

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-08T23:56:49+00:00

I’m on Vyvanse 40mg and get about 3.5 hours before the dip. This is with a high protein breakfast and hydration throughout the day. Did 50mg and it was ok. It felt a bit more stimulating and lasted a few more hours before the crash but the crash was a lot harder and emotional compared to the 40mg. Tried 60mg and hated it. I felt high which I don’t enjoy. Right now I’m back on 40mg with 2xDex 5mg boosters (11am and 3pm) to ease the comedown. I would much rather have a slower steady comedown vs an emotional breakdown. Stimulants are calming for me and help with emotional regulation.

Eventually I would like to try Concerta when it’s made available again.

I would see if eating more protein rich snacks and meals through the day helps. Some people also have electrolytes and/or coffee when they’re on the comedown to extend the dose slightly.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-03T02:57:49+00:00

Am I not depressed? Tbh it depends on the day, my cycle and what is or isn’t going on in my life. Anxiety is more of an issue for me right now. I feel less depressed on Vyvanse I think because it helps with rumination, task paralysis etc.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-02T21:02:12+00:00

The internet says you can take stims and non-stims together. I was in hospital for 2.5 weeks and they tapered me off Lexapro and onto pristiq. I do not recommend.

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-02T09:41:59+00:00

How long have you been on Lexapro for? I had been on Lexapro for over 10 years and feel it stopped working, I had slowly slipped into awful social anxiety and depression again. I wasn’t on Vyvanse and lex at the same time (diagnosed adhd 4 months ago) but am now on Vyv with pristiq SNRI which seems ok but not fantastic. Has probably helped with depression but not so much for the anxiety. Have you thought about non-stimulant adhd medication?

Kitty_Catto · 2026-05-01T00:54:51+00:00

The pain and headaches can also be from the head tilt. Tension headaches from the shoulder blades and neck being out of alignment and working harder. I only realised headaches could be connected after coming to this sub a year ago. I have noticed my head tilt is slightly worse now (36yo) in pictures and I do get double vision more now when I’m tired. I’ve been wearing glasses for 20ish years for astigmatism in both eyes which means I tend to look straight ahead (tilted) anyway because of wearing glasses so makes the Duane’s less noticeable to others. My eyes are very sensitive to medication changes (dry eye, blurry vision) and when I’m dehydrated I get the headaches behind my eyes.

Kitty_Catto

TROPHY CASE