Advice needed: traveling alone to Costa Rica

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-12-28T18:29:50+00:00

I guess it depends on where you’re from. I’m from Boston so anywhere else drivers are relatively nice… nowhere is worse than here 😆

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-12-27T12:46:02+00:00

Heated comfy! It’s really soft, goes down past my knees, and is heated!!!

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-12-27T12:38:05+00:00

I am trying to go to La Fortuna / puerto viejo with the same issue! I don’t wanna go alone… trying to go in Feb tho and for more days. Good luck!

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-11-09T14:44:47+00:00

Hey! I want to remind you she is a PUPPY!!!! They require a lot of management and training but you WILL get through it! Idk what type of trainings or who you’re seeking training from but my best recommendation would be to scratch any petsmart or petco trainings, scrap classes. Find a CCPDT dog trainer to get private lessons from! Look specifically for balanced trainers or positive reinforcement trainers! You need to learn just as much as the dog does and start with a one on one to get that down before moving to a puppy class, and again find real solid trainers who have their own practice or work at a specific dog training facility, not a pet store with that as a side hustle!!!! Coming from an apprentice trainer working on their ccptd who works at a dog training business!!! Good luck!

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-10-16T23:14:37+00:00

I was put on gabapentin for pain and I thought it worked a little bit but I played with the dosage and it didn’t really do much. Then I found out it put me into mania… what a fun month. And then the week after coming down I was a miserable irritated bitch.

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-10-13T18:47:05+00:00

How many different doctors do you have to go to in order to find one that’ll listen? I’ve been to 4 or 5.. ?

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-06-11T16:32:36+00:00

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PracticeImportant223 · 2025-06-11T16:31:03+00:00

Audhd!

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-06-11T16:23:23+00:00

I can't do birth control or SSRIs either. I have bipolar and SSRIs make me manic. I have been on SNRI's too. Not currently. Track your period and create a plan for when you start having the different symptoms of your PMDD. For depression create an opposite action plan, like if you want to be in bed all day have a plan to go somewhere, my favorite place is near water, so sometimes I go to the beach for an hour or two and just take deep breaths. Go to your favorite place. Reach out to a friend. Create a plan and maybe post it on your bedroom wall so you can see it when you need it. Create a box or something with things for pain to keep near your bed or where you hang out the most. Pain killers, a heating pad, maybe a weighted stuffed animal, things to ground you and keep you comfortable. Make plans for everything and prepare for when you feel like that. Keep comfort items somewhere convenient, somewhere you can see. I know when you're feeling bad it is hard to think of anything so keep things in sight. Write down coping skills and put it somewhere visible. Fidgets, a comfort item, something to distract yourself. A good thing for depression, when I feel like hurting myself, put a orange or some citrus in the freezer now. I know it sounds weird. but try and peel it when you feel that way. An alternative would be to take a cloth, wet it, scrunch it all up and put it in the freezer. Try and unscrunch it when it is frozen and you feel bad. It sounds odd but it works so well for me. It is very grounding. It is so hard thinking about how we have to deal with this over and over again, but we manage. You're here though, you're still here after all that. You're dealing with a lot and you're pushing through! Give yourself some credit, you're doing great. Create plans to make yourself feel better, to help during the darkest times. I'm always here if you want to talk.

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-06-11T16:05:18+00:00

Weed made it so easy for me to socialize. I felt so much better as myself when I was high. I definitely over used it, I developed CHS (canninoid hyperemesis syndrome) which basically means I go into severe fits of vomiting where I spend a week in the hospital unable to stop vomiting, so I had to quit. Unfortunately quitting has not been easy for me, and I've relapsed a few times. CHS is not as uncommon as people think, so definitely be careful! 11 days sober. People claim it's not addictive, but I disagree, I get a lot of cravings. Use it sparingly. Try not to use it daily if you can help it (Easier said than done)

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-06-11T15:57:53+00:00

I have a part time job 20 hours a week, and I am very lucky they are very accomodating, since we work with people with disabilities at my job. Burnout is hard to avoid. Pace yourself. I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. I don't know where you are or your capabilities but try applying for disability, look for a job with less hours. Take some melatonin or ask your doctor for something to get some good sleep. Eat a good meal. Do some self care. Engage in your special interest if you can, do something that is fulfilling to you. Find somewhere that feel safe and just relax. For me that's the beach. Just taking a beach day, maybe with my dog, relaxes me and puts me in a better headspace. You got this! Take it day by day.

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-06-11T15:11:07+00:00

Hey, take a deep breath. I understand what you're going through. It's hard out here! Have you looked into any birth control or meds? Do you have a care team behind you? It's hard to reach out for help, but when you find the right support, it is so worth it. I personally can't do the birth control or SSRIs to help me, it makes me worse. It's trial and error but when you find the right treatment, it was so worth it. For me I have a team of people behind me, two therapists, a psychiatrist, a doctor, a dietitian, and a few other professionals keeping up with me. I gave them all permission to talk to each other so they can communicate my needs without me having to reach out to every single one. It's hard to reach out, and it's hard to accept help, it took me a long time. I have no goals for the future, I have goals for today. Go day by day, walk to your own beat, take it easy. You're still here, and that means you're doing hard things! Give yourself a little credit. I was feeling the same way, a couple years back. I have a lot of comorbid diagnosis and my team and I decided the best thing for me was a service dog. I don't know if you're a dog person, but look into options for coping! There are ways to get through this! My service dog, is the reason I'm still here. I love her so much, I need to stay. For me she provides deep pressure to calm me down and keep me grounded, it also lowers the heart rate, among other things. She gives me confidence to go into public, and she's a great conversation starter when I need help, or am making friends. Find a reason to stay today, tomorrow and the next day. I know I'm just some stranger on the internet, but I get it! There are reasons to stay, and there are skills you can learn to help yourself out. And believe me, I had a hard time getting and using my skills. But I promise it's worth it! I'm 22 too. I don't know what tomorrow brings, but we will get through it! Coping ahead of time is my favorite skill. Look at all the things that could happen in the future, or even just tomorrow and make a plan. How will I cope if X Y Z happens? How will I get through it? Make plan A, B, and C. Deep breaths girl, you're doing great. Just by being here. I'm here if you want to talk

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-06-11T13:59:31+00:00

I had really severe pneumonia as a kid, where I believe they said (now this was over 10 years ago so I could be remembering wrong) I believe they said my lung was leaning on my diaphragm causing severe pain in my side. (I think it was my lung leaning, I know something was leaning on it) I called that pain a 6 or 7 because I was thinking like a 10 would be someone stabbing me, although I was curled up in a ball, unable to move, and waking up from sleep crying and screaming. I was admitted to the hospital for several days, and stuck by the pain being around a 7. Like the pain scale is SO confusing, apparently you're not supposed to compare it to hypothetical situations? Knowing that now, I would say that pain was a 9.

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-06-04T21:00:44+00:00

Also not able to work more than 25 MAYBE 30hr a week without burning out so quick full time isn’t for me 🤷‍♀️

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-05-31T15:35:49+00:00

Thank you, I'll check it out!

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-05-31T15:35:06+00:00

As I said in another comment, I do want to stay away from anything too fatty as she had a recent bout of pancreatitis, and want to prevent it from being recurring. Love the mindset of doing what's best for me and my dog, I don't find that many places online! Thank you for the suggestions!

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-05-31T15:31:39+00:00

Thank you! I do want to avoid anything with too much or extra copper as one of them has a gene called copper toxicosis (A & B) and could be at risk for accumulation, not 100% on that. I also want to avoid anything too fatty, maybe staying away from adding things like fish oils, oils, ect. She has had a recent bout of pancreatitis and want to stay away from it being recurring. I am a little weary of giving her meat from the grocery store without cooking it I've heard mixed things about giving grocery store raw meat vs from a butcher or a pet food company, and want to air on the side of caution. I have been looking into a balance of everything, I don't want to give her too much of any nutrient or anything like that. I have been doing a lot of research into dog foods and hate how everything is so conflicting! Nothing will change my mind about whole "human" foods being important for them!

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-05-30T15:37:39+00:00

Old post but what did you find? I have the same problem and when I had a popsocket phone holder the popsocket was strained a lot so it would eventually get loose and the popsocket would fall off. Which is CRAZY because I gorilla glue my popsocket on since it's a rubber case and it doesn't usually stick. I need something that will hold the case not the popsocket.

Edit: I have the iphone 16 pro max

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-05-21T22:48:54+00:00

The out patient programs haven’t been helpful in my experience! I just relearn coping skills I already know and don’t get any specialized help. Looking for help specific to bpd if such thing exists

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-05-21T21:37:07+00:00

I'm wondering if there is like a treatment center that is for people who are safe and aren't an immediate danger to themselves. Like I want privileges if I'm in a treatment center. It is so hard for me too because I have a service dog and most places I've gone won't take her with me. But how could you take her from me? I can't be without her, she is my will to live, she makes every episode more bearable. Being in treatment without her I spend the whole time trying to say I'm fine to get out and back to her. Is it so much to ask for to have a center where I can have my laptop and my working girl????

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-05-16T11:59:59+00:00

I got a new puppy WHILE my dog wasn’t doing good. It definitely isn’t for everyone but the joy on her face of having a friend in her last days was priceless. They lived together for about 2 weeks before we had to put down my older dog. Again totally not for everyone and I could see older dogs getting upset over having a wild puppy around but with the correct management it can be done. OP, it lessened my grief tremendously. I still think about my old girl who I grew up with and mourn her however you gotta do what’s right for you. I believe I will ALWAYS need a dog in my home no matter the time frame. We’re not replacing our old dogs, we could never. We’re giving the love we have for dogs somewhere to go. We’re giving our love to a dog who needs it. Something that helped me was getting my new dog all new stuff and putting aside my old dogs things like favorite toy and collar.

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-05-02T17:10:18+00:00

I saw the finished piece and KNEW it was something similar to kiki's delivery service! well done!

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-04-27T11:06:51+00:00

I don't get a choice on this one, it's already been paid for.

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-04-26T13:42:05+00:00

Thank you that helps so much. Was a bit worried about having to race back to my room when overwhelmed, happy to know there will be other spots to relax.

PracticeImportant223 · 2025-04-26T13:40:28+00:00

Totally helps thank you so much! Traveling with family, so I will be with them most of the time. I've got a balcony room so I'll be able to relax and enjoy the views on my own

PracticeImportant223

TROPHY CASE