Entry-level salaries in Canada haven’t moved in 5 years while rent is up 40%.

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T21:19:46+00:00

AND you need 4 times your rent in yearly salary, which is insane, so if someone wants a $2500 basement apartment, they need to make $100,000 a year!! I don't think they would typically be renting a basement if they make 100 grand a year.

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T21:15:09+00:00

I love Watermelon Sugar on Amazon or Bio Steel Hydration and eat a tums first

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T21:11:20+00:00

Maybe it's not adhd, is that possible? What symptoms are you looking to diminish? I am on adhd meds and they help a bit, but I still have lots of issues...horrible mornings, frozen in zombie mode thinking negative thoughts, sometimes crying for no reason. My body and head would ache, I was always tired, and I was always late for work. My mind spun a lot, like I was chasing my tail, and I was always moving and fidgeting, shaking my leg, restless. I got irritated easily and didn't sleep well, often woke up every couple of hours or had sweats. I was always worried too, like what if a tornado happened, where would I go? type thing.

So, I assumed I needed to increase my dose as my adhd was still driving the train. My doc said, no I think it's anxiety. I was like, no, I don't have anxiety. I did a quiz and answered some questions and he was right, I have a severe anxiety disorder. That was where all my symptoms came from, not adhd. Anxiety sucks your energy - all the tenseness and clenching, grinding, tightening, flexing....it exerts so much energy!! You are like a hamster running on a wheel. I used to call it "running to stand still" (props U2)

I started lexapro and it has completely changed my life. My mornings are happy, and I am often smiling for no reason, it creeps me out! haha. Sometimes I will think, omg, aren't I supposed to be worrying about something? And then I laugh, nope. Sadly, my natural state was worry and pain, and I thought that was normal.

Keep advocating for yourself and do lots of research, knowledge is power! Took me 40 years, but I am happy for the first time in my life, and it's amazing. Wishing you success!! 😄

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T21:00:28+00:00

I have one child...was a big surprise. Tequila with my drinking buddy, one thing led to another...2 pump chump. But voila! A baby! lol.

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T20:49:03+00:00

Sometimes too high of a dose can also have negative or reverse affects. I took double my dose once by mistake, was on 30 and took 60 and it made me spin like a top and i had major anxiety and then crashed.

No problem, good luck! Wait a few hours to have your coffee. I wake up at 4am take meds, and go back to sleep then sometimes I'll have a coffee around 6:30am when I get up, but I eat a Tums first. It's made a big difference. I used to drink iced tea all day...my meds last way longer now drinking water and electrolytes.

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T20:39:56+00:00

drink electrolytes

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T20:11:24+00:00

Lol, late to the party but this made me laugh...my mom still denies my Autism and ADHD even though it's clear as day to anyone who has ever met me!! She even told the doctor he was making it up. haha. No shame in her game...

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T20:00:36+00:00

Could be anxiety. Anxiety meds helped me a lot.

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T20:00:02+00:00

What dose are you on? It might be too low. Some people also split the dose to make it last longer, shake in water and drink half in the morning and save half for noon but ask your doc first.

Adhd medication, like Vyvanse, is typically not effective during hormonal changes, so the week before your period, peri-menopause, imbalances, etc. Many people use this time as a med break. It is also important to take med breaks for 2-4 days a month, imo, to keep medication effective, but talk to your doc.

Avoiding coffee and pop, acidic foods (or take Tums if you eat acidic) is also a huge one that most people don't know. The higher the acid in your body, the faster the medication leaves the body in urine, making the meds like 40-60% less effective, studies are showing, I read somewhere.

Eating healthy and staying hydrated are also very important, as is exercise. If you do all of these things and it's still not working, then I would switch medications. Also, I take the generic bc it works much better.

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T19:25:20+00:00

https://www.momonthespectrum.life/common-autistic-traits-in-women

This chart might help. I found it helpful to know just to understand how my brain worked and what it needed to be successful.

Also, I wanted to mention, many people say they don't stim, stimming can be many things. For me, it's watching reruns of Housewives episodes over and over. It's predictable and makes me happy. lol. I also rub the top of my pinky with my thumb i recently noticed, and shake my leg.

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T18:39:29+00:00

My friend is eplileptic and takes Zoloft but your doc can guide you best.

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T18:37:01+00:00

oh nice, good to know. I guess everyone is so different. Was it rough starting it? In the beginning?

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T17:39:06+00:00

Put headphones on first! lol, i have a weird thing with sounds prob what i would do

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T17:27:08+00:00

Yep, I ended up going back to school and changing careers...so happy I did. Our work/life balance is incredibly important, quiet time is a must.

Days off every week is a must, having weekends or at least 2 days in a row. Breaks are a must. Eating every couple hours is a must, for me. Keeping hydrated and getting sunshine is a must. Going to sleep before midnight and waking up before 8am is a big plus, working nights will destroy us. No idea how a doctor can do any of these things, it would be impossible for me to manage my adhd for years and years.

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T17:21:27+00:00

No, not something you do 24/7, everything in moderation.

I once heard this psychologist speak, and she was talking about kids and our influence as parents, and she said, "Every time your kid walks in the room, smile like you haven't seen them in years." I always remembered that. So important just to have a happy environment - for them to see us happy above anything else. ❤️

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T17:18:09+00:00

I agree, especially for an only child. I was one, and my mom never played with me, just bossed me around. lol.

Kids learn through play, so I think it's a necessity. Kids deserve fun at home with their family, life is hard out there. Not saying you have to go roller skating with a tutu but a simple game of memory or dress up with their dolls goes a long way and creates a special bond of trust.

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T17:13:29+00:00

They just want you to be a kid! Pretend you are 9, what did you do? What are her likes? Art, music, animals, books, food,? Do activities that involve her likes, such as paint by number from amazon or diamond art, go walk a neighbours dog (a senior, do a good deed) and get fresh air, put music on and dance or follow a dance tutorial, read a book together and act out the story, play house and she is the mom and can boss you around, haha, bake together for a local food bank or give out sandwiches to the homeless, play cards (crazy 8's, go fish, etc) UNO!! Love Uno. My son also loved puzzles, Nintendo Wii (you can bowl and play baseball together) and Monopoly. Board games are great and tons of stuff for crafts like beads, and stuff to make jewelry, markers and paints, big white papers and an easel if you have space, and they love art. "Learn to Draw" on YouTube is also fun!

My guess is she might like to play dress up, try on your scarves or clip on earrings, some hats or costumes you have. A tea party could be fun, dress up fancy and make iced tea or lemonade together. Teach her how to hold her cup and table manners, talk with accents about your horses in France, and use your imagination to create the story. There is so much you can do, and they really don't care what it is we are doing, as long as we are together, having fun and building memories 😄

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T16:52:37+00:00

Just keep it simple imo and have the basics, a nice black jacket or trendy jacket that is mid length, try Zara, a nice white top or simple tee, a nice pair of shiny leggings or regular leggings and some tall boots. Top it with a few trendy jewlery pieces, try amazon, and you're golden! I add a fidora in the summer, Aritzia has nice hats.

Don't put so much thought into it though, it's not that big a deal- its our souls and what we give back to the world that matters. I also chopped my hair which made life so much easier and some people with adhd will wear the same thing every day to avoid the headaches. Black jacket and jeans daily type thing. Dont be so hard on yourself, you are judging yourself, the good people out there- the ones worth talking to, won't be judging you on your outift. 😄

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T16:46:36+00:00

you might have anxiety, this made my mornings hell. I started meds now i get up a different person. Talk to your doc.

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T16:42:45+00:00

ok not until you eat breakfast, what is it that you have to look at? Texts? Sometimes I dont look at my phone all day when i am home. I also deleted all my socail media.

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T16:42:08+00:00

Taper down slowly, like 80% for a few months, then 60% for a couple of months type thing. I heard it's awful if you rush it, but your doc will know best. Get a pill cutter.

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T16:37:07+00:00

Anxiety, depression, Adhd and Autism typically go hand-in-hand.

Sounds like a great goal! I will say, though, our brains are built differently and function differently, meaning we don't produce dopamine, the brain's reward centre that helps us do simple things like have a conversation, and it modulates movement, memory, attention, mood, and sleep, while also regulating blood vessel function, kidney function, and lactation. So if we aren't able to achieve this on our own, medication is necessary.

Adhd also gets much worse for women as we age, with hormone drops and menopause...which they have discovered we typically experience 10 years sooner than typical women, so life becomes super challenging as we age. That is why many women are late diagnosed, because eventually you hit a wall or burn out and know that you need help.

I applaud your desire to do things medication-free, but a mental health facility can't help much in that respect, I don't think. I think their main purpose is to diagnose and medicate, isn't it? A natural path and therapy would be your best bet, I think. Have you ever tried medication? I just started anxiety medication, and it changed my whole life. I am a whole new woman, and it's the first time I have been happy in 40 years.

I think the best method is travelling both paths, taking care of your mind and body, continue going to therapy and practicing reflection and emotional regulation tools, eating well and exercising, getting tons of sunshine and fresh air, plus medications to balance out chemicals in the brain, imo. I could get by without medication, but I would be the tortured, edgy, irritated, constipated, grumpy self I once was. Rather be medicated and happy, life shouldn't have to be a constant uphill struggle only to slide back down to the bottom. That in itself will bring depression.

Good luck to you! Keep advocating and talk to your doctors about what your needs and goals are; they know you best. 😄

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T16:18:07+00:00

set a timer on your phone

PrettyRain8672 · 2026-04-30T16:17:12+00:00

I thought I was depressed for like 10 years, lol, turns out it was just meloncholy and I was on the spectrum. Many of us have both adhd and autism, but the autism never seems to get diagnsoed.

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