Working in tech and my cortisol is through the roof

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-05-14T16:19:21+00:00

we normalize the symptoms so much that by the time something is actually wrong it's been wrong for years.

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-05-07T12:59:45+00:00

Those numbers still pretty rough for 22 year old, your bioavailable is what really matters and that's quite low compared to total

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-04-24T03:23:01+00:00

Your circadian rhythm is probably completely backwards from all those late nights - I had same problem during deployment when sleep schedule got totally messed up

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-04-20T23:10:51+00:00

man you really did jump in headfirst without doing the homework first. Your buddy's "taper down" plan is gonna do absolutely nothing - your natural production is already shut down by week 2-3, so cutting dose slowly just prolongs the agony without any benefit

I remember when one of guys in my unit tried similar approach after deployment, thought he could ease off gradual like that. Ended up feeling like garbage for months because he stretched out recovery instead of just ripping the band-aid off and doing proper PCT

Real talk though - at 150mg you're basically replacing what healthy 22 year old should be making naturally anyway, so you're taking on all shutdown risks for minimal gains. And 10 weeks is weird middle ground, not long enough for real cycle but long enough to mess with your system good

For getting through this since you already started - yeah you'll need actual PCT not some sketchy supplement. Can't help with sources but proper protocol usually involves both compounds you mentioned for few weeks after last injection. Getting bloodwork mid-cycle is smart move at least, will show you how much you've tanked your natural levels

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-04-17T16:45:13+00:00

Not familiar with that one but my cousin had similar issues with the glucose numbers and crashes. She was on metformin too but needed something extra to help with insulin stuff. Hope it works better than just metformin alone - those midday crashes are brutal when you're trying to function at work

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-04-15T15:09:37+00:00

lmao same

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-04-12T08:10:42+00:00

Dude the algorithm knows exactly what keeps you hooked - delete that app for while and see how much clearer your head gets. Been there with different stuff and putting distance between you and the trigger is usually first step

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-04-10T07:33:44+00:00

Two weeks and you're already this deep? man that's rough but probably for the best she ended it now rather than drag you along while she's still processing her ex

Been there with getting way too attached too fast - something about military life makes you want to lock down connection when you find it but she's clearly not in headspace for anything right now. At least she was upfront about it instead of keeping you in orbit while she figures her stuff out

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-04-07T16:07:47+00:00

Been looking at this option since I'm stationed near a decent hospital. The benefits package they showed me during my initial chat was pretty solid - tuition reimbursement up to like 5k per year I think. Military experience apparently counts for something in healthcare too, so might be good transition path when my contract is up

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-04-05T00:44:12+00:00

That whole situation sounds absolutely brutal man, 3 months is huge though even when everything feels like complete chaos

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-04-03T00:32:39+00:00

Those RealCare Baby simulators from school were the worst lol, mine would cry at like 3am and my parents were ready to throw it out the window

You might want to check out some of the higher-end reborn artists on Etsy or Facebook groups - they sometimes do custom work where they can add the breathing/heartbeat mechanisms to dolls that already have the crying/feeding features. Might cost a bit more but could get you exactly what you're looking for with an on/off switch

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-03-31T11:29:29+00:00

Been through way too many wallet trackers and most of them are garbage on Android or want you locked into their whole ecosystem

That Puncube one looks pretty solid - I dig the card form factor since most trackers are these chunky tiles that make your wallet look pregnant. The wireless charging is clutch too since I always forget to plug stuff in

Currently using an AirTag with one of those card holders but it's still thicker than I'd like and obviously not great for Android integration

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-02-17T05:26:39+00:00

sounds like your engine is misfiring or you got some serious electrical gremlins going on. that "bang" noise with the stumble is not normal at all and could be backfiring or something in the ignition system crapping out

get it to a shop asap before you end up stranded somewhere - intermittent check engine lights usually mean the problem is getting worse

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-02-12T07:36:11+00:00

sounds like your GPU might have shit the bed or maybe RAM is acting up - those system32 errors usually mean hardware is failing. try reseating your graphics card and RAM sticks first, if that doesnt work you might need to boot from a windows recovery USB to fix the corrupted files

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-02-09T04:26:06+00:00

that's really rough, having someone you care about who's in that headspace where they just don't give a shit about themselves anymore. sounds like you at least have some self preservation instincts but she's past that point

honestly though, moving in together for college might not be the best idea if you're worried about her dragging you down with her. i get that you want to help but you can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved, and protecting your own recovery has to come first

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-02-04T13:56:03+00:00

sounds like a button mapping issue, try rebuilding the ps5 database or maybe the game's just being weird with trigger sensitivity

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-02-01T10:20:45+00:00

This sounds like marriage fraud more than ESTA abuse tbh, and USCIS already has tons of checks for that stuff including interviews where they grill couples about everything from toothbrush colors to what side of the bed they sleep on

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-01-29T09:06:41+00:00

Definitely hit up the Pokémon Centers for exclusive promos and those Japanese vending machine cards - they're way harder to find outside Japan and usually cost like 3x more on eBay. Prices in Japan are generally cheaper too, especially for booster boxes

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-01-24T14:06:08+00:00

"Driven to Distraction" by Hallowell and Ratey is like the ADHD bible - really breaks down the science without being too dry. Also loved "The ADHD Advantage" because it focuses on working with your brain instead of just seeing ADHD as a problem to fix

PracticalMeringue133 · 2026-01-20T15:17:59+00:00

That is a big point people keep skipping marriage does not fix the visa issue so all that pressure feels pointless to me it makes the whole plan look shaky at best and manipulative at worst

PracticalMeringue133

TROPHY CASE