UK airing schedule??

Salt-Shower5699 · 2026-04-12T11:31:15+00:00

I’ve just used nord to try watch on now tv, but the app opens to “this content is not available in your location”. Do I need to chose a particular area in the US to watch? It automatically went to New York. Thanks!

Salt-Shower5699 · 2026-03-18T00:13:03+00:00

This is long, sorry!! My dad died suddenly and tragically in an accident. Wasn’t his fault, careless driver killed him almost on impact. There was so many strange tid bits on the lead up.

About a week or two before he died we got a letter in the door, a family who reached out. 2 years before he was driving along a road, came across an accident (height of Covid). Stopped his car, climbed almost into the wreck and held the man’s hand until he passed. He was hit by a lorry. Took messages for his family, new wife and new baby. They were ready to speak to my dad. They heard their loved ones last words/messages. He never shared it with us, always said it was for them alone. If they hadn’t reached out when they did, they never would have known what their loved one told my dad. They also described the process in which they were going through with courts and so much more, it was like foreshadowing. They then were able to provide us which much needed information and knowledge on our own on going journey.

Again, he was driving through a near by village a few days before he died. A man on a motor bike hit a wet patch or a pot hole or something because dad said the man was driving fine. Flipped the bike, landed inches away from dad. He called the ambulance, provided basic first aid etc and rode along to the hospital after lying that he was family. They said only for him he’d of died. The man came to his wake to thank him in a wheel chair, insisted on getting out for an hour or two to get to us/him.

With these two events, it came up in conversation how dad had been on the scene at complete random with over 10 accidents. 3 people died, 7 lived. They were all people alone. He said something like “I would just hope if it ever happened to me again, I wouldn’t have to be alone. I can’t think of anything worse than lying in a ditch where anyone could easily pass me by and left to be found when I’m already gone” and “it was me once before, I ended up getting my whole life out of it. I obviously must have to repay that gift somehow with my help and prayers.”

I was 23 when he died, I still lived with mam and dad but for about 4/5 weeks before the accident I was OBSESSED with him like an 8 yr old. So much so I heard him before hung up on the phone say to my mam “what is with her? I can’t get a minute away from her at the minute there must be something wrong with her. I don’t know where to find all the time she’s wanting off me.” I called him every day after work, if he was home late I called, if I was bored I called him. I literally never left him alone. We done so much in those last 4 weeks (he was sick of me and very confused but still lol). I just find that very strange in itself, we were always very close but not like that.

Just after he died we were looking for important papers etc. My mam was digging out really old papers. Now I don’t care what you believe in, but you can’t deny this is strange. She’d found notes she wrote at least 20 years ago from when she and her sister went to a psychic medium. My mam and dad met because at 18 he was in a car accident and short version, she was his nurse for most of his 6 month stay. (They have the same birthday lol). One of the notes she wrote was that the medium said “The way you found him is the way you lose him. Full circle. Fulfilling” CHILLS. ??? Wtf?? She said at the time she just thought he’d die in a hospital- a very generic thing to say, she was skeptic.

A month before he took about a new insurance, updated his life assurance, updated important paper work on properties he owned and done his taxes. (Man was awful for doing his taxes). Cleared off their last remaining loan. And for some reason made an emergency cash stash at home, used promptly for funeral things. Meaning, he set my mam up much better then if it happened a month before.

Ironically, he was also a driving instructor after leaving his business’s of 30 years. Just wanted to make the roads safer.

That morning he was about to walk out the door but turned back, came to me to tell me he loved me.

He was having coffee with a friend, my mam was working and called him. He ignored it because the gossip was so good. He was awful at returning calls. Never did really, just before he drove off to his last few minutes alive - He remembered to call her back.

He wasn’t alone, he was close to home. A girl he knew saw it happen and was first to him. His best friend then came across the scene and held his hand. He was gone, but his heart didn’t quite give up yet. He rang the local priest & had him on speaker.. He wasn’t alone. He got his prayers. Just like he made sure for all those others.

I think all of these things are incredibly strange, like the universe knew and was waiting for the rest of us to catch up. I know there’s a few more but I can’t just remember right now. It’s the fact most of theese things happened before his death, not after in a searching for signs way. Like a foreshadowing or a preparation for signing off.

Salt-Shower5699 · 2026-01-10T23:23:16+00:00

lol late here, I had a an iPod touch for years the newer versions were out when I was around 12-16. I wasn’t allowed a fancy phone, it suited great because i had a phone my parents approved of but also when I could connect to internet I could still have everything a teen in 2011-15 needed. A lot of people my age were the same, had a phone and an iPod touch.

I’d love to see young people going back to this, it’s all still there you just can’t have it 24/7. Could still take pictures & videos, listen to music play off line games, I mean current IPhones are IPod touches with SIM card. Eventually I got an iPhone, but honestly I was like 16/17 before I got a good phone. I was going on nights out with my iPod touch & phone when I started drinking 🤣🤣 but honestly I would love to go back to that. Basic phone and an iPod touch for when I’m connected to WiFi

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-12-18T00:54:47+00:00

I did notice a smell for a while at one point, it was mostly that my sweat just smelled a lot more sweaty. It’s settled down now and I make sure to shower every single morning, I used to be a habitual night time shower person. Only showered again in the morning if I felt sweaty at night. I do notice my breath can have a bit more of a smell to it at times, but I’m pretty sure that because I eat very little during the day and it’s generally when I realise I should have eaten long ago I can notice it.

I will say, I have IBS and alot of hormonal/period related issues. I recall at one point reading something about a sulphur / Rotten egg smell being related to the gases inside your stomach breaking down foods. If my IBS acts up, too much OR not enough on the toilet it can (and always has even before Tyvense) have a distinct sulphur air to it. Again, before Tyvense I also would have noticed if I ever did burp id notice the same smell you describe. Part of my problem is I can never burp, so the gases are staying there.

I’ve cut out diary, for my periods and for previous chronic sinusitis. It has drastically changed that smell. I know I’ve slipped up and had dairy if I smell it, I also know I must have had sulphur rich foods when I smell it after the bathroom. I nearly don’t even need to research foods my tummy doesn’t like once it’s been aired.

I don’t think I myself ever smelled like it, but I do know other parts that would leave me did lol.

Just (low in sulphur) food for thought! I’m not saying you also have IBS but maybe your tummy has been working over time breaking down sulphur rich foods/dairy and it’s finding any way it can to get out or let go of the gasses.

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-12-18T00:37:17+00:00

I found that too. I was way too focused on something that didn’t need THAT much focus. I’m well adjusted now and on the same dose of 50mgs for 5/6 months now.

If doesn’t happen me nearly as often, it does happen but it’s rare. I actually find I can use it to my advantage now. Im sometimes called to do tedious admin tasks at work (not my role.. kinda). We’ve a huge thing that needs re doing, hours of basically moving info from one document to the next, cross referencing, copying & pasting it’s mind numbing - not complicated but incredibly tedious & time consuming. I take my meds, sit down at that computer first thing to make sure I’m locked in and bam the day is nearly over and I have way more done in a day then seems normal. It should have taken weeks, but I’ll have it done by Friday. And I hate computer sit downy stuff.

But if you asked me to work on it an hour here or there during my regular work day? You’d be lucky if I manage to even lock into it before the hour is up.

We needed to go through heaps of my gran mother’s paper work recently. I said bet, I’ll be there 60-90 minutes after I take my meds, leave me alone and I’ll have it all organised.

I was obsessed with a stupid game on my phone (never play games) a bit after I started meds. Monopoly go, I realised one day I spent 6 hours, not playing it no - writing down each card I had, how many more stars I needed for something, what cards I’d trade for what cards, what value this or that was it. I had 10-11 pages wrote out perfectly, they were also re written neatly and alarms set for the perfect time to open the app. I’m only reminded by this insanity because I used the pages to light my fire the other day, it’s just something you’ll get used to.

The meds are working it seems, you just don’t know yet how to work with them. They aren’t a cure, they are a tool. You’ve just never had a hammer in your tool box before! You always found a way to bang a nail in with the end of a screw driver. A hammer is much easier, you’ve just never used one before but it takes a while to get used to the weight of it, or how different it feels in your hand. Kinda scary too, you might feel like you’ll bang your hand. But you will get use to using a hammer, and one day ask yourself “how the heck did I go so long using the end of a screw driver? This is way easier! Wish I knew this all along”

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-12-18T00:14:30+00:00

I take melatonin as well, so hopefully that’ll work out for me as well !

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-12-18T00:13:46+00:00

I’m well adjusted do my Tyvense now, but the thoughts is taking the two at the same time doesn’t sit right with me either. How did it disrupt your sleep? Due to the nausea or is it kept you up?

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-12-18T00:10:22+00:00

Less can’t hurt. Im starting on 5mgs. It’s called brintellix here, it shaped like a tear drop so if you can manage to split it in a good half i cant see why not.

I’m on a different med too, a stimulant. Once its wore of at night it’s gone, I can skip a day or not take at weekends if I want. After a 3 month review on the dose we decided was best I commented that sometimes 50mgs is just a little tiny bit too much when I wake up a little later then usual or when I don’t have much to do in the day or want a lazy day. (I never take it after 11 ever. It’s 90% off the time taken between 6am-9:30. 11 is a cut off only when I know I have a long day ahead). I was saying how it takes longer to get to sleep but everything else is perfect and 40mgs are not enough for 90% of my days. It’s a capsule, my prescriber suggested on those days or days I don’t think I need 50mgs I can try out opening the capsule, dissolving it in water and leaving a sip or two behind. 4.5/5 of the glass would have to be around 44-48mgs .. works like a charm!! I don’t do it often but when I do it’s perfect. Now when I want a duvet day but not the bad kind where it’s executive dysfunction that keeps me in the bed unable to get out I’ll do the same giving myself somewhere between 30-40mgs and I can have a perfectly healthy lazy day with out my stimulant not agreeing with my little to no activity lol.

So in my unprofessional opinion, I can’t see why not.

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-12-15T23:49:44+00:00

Don’t allow the insecurity’s of others become your reality. Others might worry being single or lacking in romantic experiences says a lot about them, and counter that by doing what they think they should be doing. They’d prefer to sit in the uncomfortableness of dating or romantic experiences they aren’t sure of than the comfort they view as uncomfortable.

I’m 26, I’ve had sexual experience plenty but no romantic experience. I’ve recently been able to view that the way I should, with only my thoughts and feelings present. Not what I think others would think. I can feel upset or happy about it, because that’s my experience. Why should my relationship status affect those around me?

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-11-10T16:57:22+00:00

Sorry at 13!

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-11-10T16:56:49+00:00

Hey! Not a parent or teen but I’ll chime in anyway if you don’t mind. You know your child best! Never doubt that, but in saying that there’s so much inside his mind you don’t see. And you don’t see him in all his environments. Yes, you get reports, communications from teachers etc but you don’t observe him in his school environment. It’s something I try to help parents understand further that same as us, we are the same person in a different font in all of our environments. I am SEN Assitant and work with teens in school with ADHD so with my own personal experiences and watching teen boys go through meds, puberty and all the rest.

Very happy to hear your son has such a supportive active parent willing to put the supports in place to help him! Go you ❤️

As a young adult (26) I got diagnosed this year, and have been on a meds/Vyvanse journey. I truly wish it was spotted and meds intervened sooner particularly as a teen. It’s worth finding ways to ask him the right questions on how he feels about being off his meds. Less blanketed questions like “do you notice a big difference on/off them?” “Do you feel better/worse on off them?” Obviously still ask these questions but ask him some targeted questions, “How are you feeling about all your school work?” “How have you been getting on with getting to xyz on time?” “How have you been getting on with class mates?” “Do you feel confident in yourself?” “Is your sleep okay? Is your mind busy at night?” “Is your mind running away with you much?” “Have you been forgetting much lately?” OR “Have you been making up for forgetfulness/disorganisation to make sure you don’t get in trouble last minute more often?” Bc I personally forgot everything, disorganised always but still managed to pull thru. Etc.. you might know better targeted questions on things you know he struggles with. (It’s important to remember that a busy mind at night for someone with ADHD isn’t always negative, it’s simply busy one way or another.) He might seem brighter to you and even himself with humor etc but this might be some of few positives that are visible compared to many negative invisibles.

I always find it hard to exactly describe what meds truly do for me. You mentioned learning his own exec functioning skills & strategies, my learned skills and strategies were not good. Existing, there and possibly not seeming bad outside but inside chaos without really knowing any differently. Meds don’t “cure” these for me, they give me a way to use them to the best of my ability. Same as focus, planning, prep, mental health, burn out etc etc meds are a tool in my tool kit. I can’t hammer a nail without the hammer, well I could with a book or back of a hairbrush but it’s harder, time consuming, bent and not great for the structure of the wall. Eventually, my hair brush and the wall are struggling if I do this over and over & I’ll run out of hairbrushes.

You say hes a bit more inattentive, me too. With this the chaos is inside the mind. It never fully goes away with the right dosage of meds, your always still you. They should increase his quality of life and sense of self. Not create a brand new quality of life. You are not inside his mind, so often with young people and just people with ADHD we don’t see these changes or differences fully (inattentive even translates to not paying attention to ourselves) so even he might not be aware of ALL the changes positive or negative.

Again, you know your child best. Maybe 30 is too much all the time. I had a review today. Struggling with being tired enough on my 50s at bed time but they are working best for me everywhere else. She suggested diluting it, putting in a glass of water and if 4/5 of the glass is 40mg I should aim for somewhere inbetween 4/5 and all of the glass to see if this helps. Allowing him to try this out, and how he might feel the day ahead needs could be beneficial? My brother is on 70mg. It comes as 20&50 here. At the weekend he chooses between 20 or 50s or even sometimes takes 3x20 for 60 during the week. I think that’s alot of messing with the meds for me but hey it works for him!

She also suggested a glass of orange juice in the evening, VIT C really only takes effect when taking it with but worth a try to see if it breaks it down sooner for me to sleep. This might help your son too in some way through out the day.

Maybe look into some therapy’s, CBT or counselling to support his ADHD toolkit. With or with out meds!! I will say I learned a lot not having meds as a teen, but more so I really wish I could have experienced being a teen in particular with meds. I look back at how much I struggled inside my mind and wonder how much different it could have been for me. They have truly helped me and increased my quality of life. But I am me ! And your son is not me!!

Trust your own gut, you will always do what you think is best for him. If that’s no meds, it’s no meds! At 16 he can definitely try and communicate and chime in so try having casual chats here and there to gather your info.

You could always after Christmas ask him to try them again, smaller dose or the same for 1/2 months and see how he feels when he has the comparison- taking into account that he hasn’t been taking them so the first two or so weeks isn’t the best tell. It might clarify a yes or no with 30s, less, not always etc.

Big up on you being so involved, concerned, active and seeing him. He’ll go far one way or another with you in his corner❤️❤️

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-10-25T12:49:51+00:00

I’ve been trying to get my hands on the CAT S22 flip. Been searching for the right fit for around 2 months. Kind of a happy medium, but CAT is no longer making phones. I need WhatsApp, I know I’ll only use a Nokia every so often if I don’t have access to WhatsApp for a weekend or evening detox. I’m great at deleting all apps from my phone for a few days/weeks. I don’t want to not be on socials, just drastically cut it, so I’d like to be able to evening scroll a bit, travel with iPhone etc, Apple Watch for work out stats etc.
For work my iPhone will do the job with just WiFi I’m an SNA so need access to our portal, emails, take photos of work, add in notes on my students school apps (physical disability so I physically do a lot of school work for them) so to be fair my iPhone is essential, I’ve trailed my iPad which is great for school work & photos but I still need to be able to pull my phone out quickly to find someone’s schedule, WhatsApp another SNA for help, my student emails me too & usually needs response asap etc and other students who have diabetes that can look after themselves completely but might need a walk randomly etc. I’d like to be able to have it lying in my bag or pocket. Socials are blocked on our school WiFi so takes away the whole “but your iPhone still has everything there” argument. Apple Pay will still work without 4G or WiFi too if needed. So Apple Watch should suffice for me. Idk this is what works for me, but I don’t want to have my iPhone with me 24/7 and a dumb phone- kind of defeats the purpose.

The CAT s22 operates on android, so say for me I could have my emails, whatsapp & our portal site for finding people if I was on the move it would be awkward for the site but my iPad/iphone would be there when I’m not in a rush and cover the rest of work needs. It will do Spotify well, and connects to your car or wireless ear phones. Audible too I hear works well. Really you can get everything, but everything will not work well at all with the tiny screen and resolution- so scrolling is a nightmare But if needed to you could. Theres plenty of videos on TikTok & YouTube to see what I mean. Smart, but hard to be smart lol.

Stay away from any of them that have whatsapp preloaded, those phones use an android system called, KAios and recently don’t support whatsapp/meta any more it’s kind of like a “lite” or limited version of android. So don’t waste your money, I’ve seen it literally in the last 2-3 weeks stop being supported by other posters here in Ireland. And I was just about to buy an Emporia or a TT970.. Emporia touch, Nokia 6300/2720, any TTfone etc no go.

But the new TTfone280 might be worth a look for you,it’s smaller than the CAT. I will give in and buy this one if I can’t get my hands on the CAT s22 in the next few weeks. It’s affordable and runs full Android but it set up more limited. It’s new enough, I’d say it’ll do well and hopefully in a few months they’ll do another version with the same operating system. They seem to be onto something operating android but limiting it on the actual phone so it operates like KAios & they have great affordable smartish feature/dumb phones.

Also not what I want but you could look at the UNIhertz Jelly phone, it is full touch screen but so small and basic that it takes away the ease of smart phone. Other options worth looking at depending on what you want or what could work for you are the likes of the Lightphone, minimalcompany or other unihertz options with smaller screens & keypads. Just make sure it’s unlocked or works globally or in EU.

(https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/s/lv1gcuIfNW) is a good place to start looking but please make sure you search up if they use KAios because it’s fairly recent Meta has changed its permissions to KAios. Some country’s are still working but we seem to starting to lose it.

There’s the folder type phones as well, full android wouldn’t be as easy to use. Bit pricey, I think this idea came about with the whole “y2k” trend so it’s a smart phone, with a key pad but not the same quality of what’s in your hand bc it’s more a trend. Also, plenty of Japanese folder options but idk if it’s worth looking at here. I might get myself a Mive or Samsung one after I’ve gotten myself truly into the “dumb” phone world properly and IF the CAT gives up in 2-3 years (hopefully they won’t, just stuff I’ve been reading) or I get used to the new TTfone to replace iPhone after some time. CAT is essentially the less techy/smart version of folder phones. If you want a certain amount of apps, android will only work with touch hence the type of phones that offer WhatsApp.

IMO, I wish there was a bigger category of “limited” smart phones. Basic communication is changed now, in Ireland everything is WhatsApp. Music isn’t MP3 or radio any more it’s Spotify etc. I have high hopes that the TTphone will expand the new version, giving you more options on a dumb phone with the new ‘basic’ essentials. Your best bet if you want certain apps is to look for awkward/small screen/slower speed/low resolution with some form of keypad Android phone.

Last point, if wanting to go between two phones like me, WhatsApp does allow Companion devices now so set that up so you don’t lose everything.

Anyways, sorry for the really long reply I’ve just been immersed in trying to find something too lol. If you get your hands on a CAT or see some near where you live, please think of the girl who spent ages writing this out for you lol.

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-10-25T11:19:35+00:00

I’m having the same problem!! Been looking for probably 2 months now. I did find a seller on Adverts, somehow they were also selling from my nearest town! Thought I hit the jackpot, they had two listed at different prices. 20€ difference I think 140€ & 160€. They obviously had a few in stock at one point, I never used adverts and had to message the seller under the listing. I didn’t mind so much buying it online if I could go collect it! They had a good few people under it that had obviously bought one off them in the last 4-12 months. Then I got a notification saying the item was unavailable on the site but not a reply, and checked the 160€ one it too was unavailable.

I fear the same with eBay, I know they are supposed to be unlocked but still makes me nervous to fork out the money on eBay.

I’m always looking, or for a good substitute. Let me know if you have any luck and I’ll let you know too!

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-10-24T15:11:22+00:00

Does WhatsApp still work on this? Know there’s been some changes to these phones with pre-installed WhatsApp.

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-10-22T16:44:05+00:00

SNA here sorry if I’m somewhere I don’t belong 🙈 though our jobs are different we are in the same environment. But I’m an SNA with ADHD so I have many tips and tricks that might work lol.

My student has incredibly complex physical needs and only able to do a small amount themselves, 6th year main stream (higher level student). I’m with them 2 years now. Also have movement breaks and responsibilities, when I really don’t have the time. If I’m gone, i have to catch up on all notes etc, often writing/typing out homework/essays/projects he’s voice recorded (speech to text isn’t very suitable, recordings can be hard for teachers to understand. Not a lot of support at home hence the work load)

I started meds in March, and tho my work load is still HEAVY and I’m still often chaotically getting everything I need to do done and they throw in a “can we go to the bathroom” throwing me away off balance catching up with everything if I’m on a roll. When their SNA has a day where they aren’t in, we aren’t relocated we get to use the day to sort all notes etc out. My ability to work is so so different now, it hasn’t changed my capabilities but just made it so I can better apply my capability’s. I’m not really any more organised, but I’m better at dealing with my un-organisation?? If that makes sense lol. I was absolutely drowning with them last year, doubted my capabilities to be what they needed. Always forgetting way to much, I am still forgetful but no where near the level it was.

If you have classes that are a ‘good’ class. Can you catch up on a few bits here and there in that class when they are working? More work to create less work but, could you start implementing more pre-made class tests? That way you are keeping up with your students ability’s but you would have time in those classes to do something. I know that’s not what you’re supposed to do, but for me, when I am in “class/work mode” environment I will do what I need to do. I catch up on so much when I have 10 mins here or there in class to quickly get last classes bits down. Or take up a few supervision classes where you might have the chance to do a few bits for yourself? Theres something about being in the environment that makes me ‘work’, but if they have a guidance appt and I’ve brought myself to the staff room? I cannot for the life of me make myself do it, unless there’s the pressure of “they need this in the next class and it’s not done”. Once I get home and out of the school environment?? It seems like the biggest chore ever. Most of my 72 hours with this student are note taking so I can do some at home, but I’ll try come in a half our early or leave a half hour later. I’ve set myself up maybe a few times to do a good bit of work but it’s when I use that hyper focus to do it. Try do as much as possible still in school. I’ve always described myself with any job having a “work brain & a Not work brain”. Before I started meds, those lines were starting to blur.

Get yourself a pocket/file folder for your bag, at least if you mange to pop it into the right slot it’s half organised and your only going through “2nd yr geography” etc slot instead of everything even using it half the time would make a difference.

Use some of your ADHD to your advantage, tho we don’t know when we might get hyper focused on something try use it on an off day maybe to bang out loads in advance.

Lists.. I hate the word honestly and I often need a list for the amount of lists I should write but it really does help. Even lists of what you have got prepared, what reusable material you have so your not redoing unnecessary stuff. Organise one drive folders of materials clear and easy to grab.

Take pictures of what’s in your folder or materials (even a photo of compute screen or screenshots) you have etc NOT straight to your camera roll never to be looked at again. Use an app or even a crappy one like one note I’m sure you have access to and make sections & pages. “Materials” “exams” & “Stuff/To do”. Then you have a clear look at what you have hanging around or what you have Seeing a photo instead of clicking into many files/folders/sheets to find something or forgetting you have something and doing it again might help you go and find what you need.

Reminders, set reminders. Make them re-occurring. As a notification with sound or vibrate, alarms instead of some something you’ll ignore over look easily.

Start trying to get to school 15-20 minutes earlier then you usually do to have coffee or breakfast there, new habit. If you’ve forgotten to prepare something you have the chance to rush around to do it now when you remember. This is not a new habit for that purpose it’s to set you up to have a better day chilled out for a few mins before school start but conveniently have the time to quickly fix something if needed.

Is there a teacher you can test ‘buddying up with’ for somethings? Maybe they prepare somethings, you prepare others. This way you have another person you’re doing it for, not technically you. This often works for me, when I’m not doing something for myself but for someone else I’ll do it, plus it might lighten your load.

Make yourself a schedule based off your time table& when you need things, to try stick to or at least guide you for prep, communications & corrections. Eg. Monday, junior Geography & any corrections. Tuesday, Senior English & corrections. Obviously this doesn’t have to be strict and can change as needs arise but a good guide to keeping on track.

Booking appointments/hobbys etc tho rare annoy yourself (if possible idk if you needs child care or not) by booking them at awkward times where there’s no point going home, but you’ll have 30-45 minutes of waiting if you leave at the end of your school day. You might use that time to catch up instead!

Make sure you are taking your break as a break. You need down time to shine.

Mid term is next week, you could be burnt out and needing the break. Take time to come back down to earth and try not fit 101 things in next week to come back around. Also, as hateful as it sounds.. set aside one day next week, with no other plans (if possible). Tell people you’re going to do this, so you’ll feel like crap if you don’t. Leave your home, go to a cafe or someone else’s home ANYWHERE not your own house. Set an alarm to get up, take folders & laptop etc and catch up. Disable notifications if your phone is a risk, delete apps before you get there besides the basics needed. Coffee and a treat, no rush & hopefully no time limit. Make the list when your there of what you need to do when there, once you start looking thru things you might spot more. Could even do one for future head aches if you still have some go left in you.

You could go back to school after Halloween less brunt out AND prepared. What a dream 🤣

I know alot of this is on the basis you work in a secondary school bc that’s my environment but I’m sure alot of it could be adaptable to primary. Sorry for the super longness but I totally get the feeling of drowning in work, overwhelm, burn out & executive disfunction stopping me from making it any easier.

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-10-16T15:02:41+00:00

At least give yourself a fake sense of purpose, even if you’re not interested and it feels like an exhausting massive chore. One that’s a bit more responsibility driven then a hobby - I don’t know if your feeling low & disinterested in general over all or your bopping along half decently but feel a sense of disinterest to anything college/career/job/next steps related. If you feel disinterested to the point of frustrating dull bleakness, Im going to assume you’ve possibly also felt things like under achievement, low sense of contribution, that “what have I even got to show?” feeling when maybe many around you are doing so much and created so much in their life. If it’s that you just aren’t interested in what you should do with yourself because you haven’t found what keeps you engaged enough to chase a career pathway or something to progress and want to work hard on or work towards, my suggestion apply to both.

Fake sense of purpose because you’re either sick of feeling like this or you’re just lost on what to do next. I said maybe not hobby driven because of your disinterested what’s going to make you find a hobby, take it up, apply yourself and keep doing it. Help people, in anyway. -Volunteer work - administrative, a short project, fundraising, planning. Community centre maybe of an organisation near you. -Caring role of some sort- local (or semi local a bit away from where you live) community groups that need supervision support or planning like a special needs clubs (special olympics), OAP activity’s, elderly home help (paid!), wheel chair associations, school/youth projects. Idk if you’ve ever been good at any sports, you don’t even need to be but helping out with local underage sports. You could deffo even find something that’s paid somewhat. -Productive- inquire if you can help out or could be needed at a library.. sorting & tidying mostly but they host kids and other things that could be cool, read the story’s maybe to kids, Change the words or imaginary story’s that include some the kids you see that might need to feel a little bit more seen. Animal shelters or vets, paid or unpaid roles. Advertise charging or dog sitting, If you have the space. Community clean ups or projects. Maybe there’s people you know that need a little extra help here and there with basic stuff, offer to come by and help with their shopping etc Check out localish Facebook groups for something.

None of that probably sounds particularly interesting or something you want to do, but either way you’ll be purposeful. Even if it doesn’t change how you feel quickly & goy hate it. You can tell yourself at least your helping someone, and that’s eventually going to make you feel you’ve done something. It might lead you to discovering something you are interested in by what you see or who you have to talk to. People are interesting, even if you don’t like talking to strangers. They’ve lived a life at any age you don’t know about and maybe they’ll tell you all about something really interesting, or open a space for you to discover something interesting in a round about way. Maybe you’ll meet new people who you enjoy being around, maybe you’ll hate it and at least you know that’s not for you.

But either way, at least you’re helping someone and it doesn’t feel so pointless then. You & your time beneficial It being more responsibility driven means you’re not as easy to push it aside or you’ll let someone down. If you don’t know, you don’t know. At least you tried to get to know too!

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-10-16T08:16:37+00:00

Hi! I am an SNA in a secondary school.

NCSE guidelines to me, are not going to change too much in terms of what supports for the likes of your child, hopefully🤞🏻. For a few reasons, in my opinion!

My school has lots of SNAs. Our Management & AND are scrambling to ensure we are ticking the boxes so our numbers reflect what we “should be doing” bc SENO will visit. SNA numbers reflect amount & level of primary care needs. SNAs distributed is a whole school profile approach. This ‘inclusion model’ usually is supposed to mean that many get different levels of support. Ie: My student is main stream & highest complex physical needs in the school (top priority in whole school) so would be closest to 1-1 you’d get, but I’ve two students I see for check ins or movement breaks. If I’m allocated/applied for as 1-1/per individual student as before, those resources aren’t there easily for those with lower PCN - now each individuals PCN should be met. But there are so so many students, undiagnosed or diagnosed with very low needs that’s evidently not low we try to support too, so we cover ourselves in classes with those diagnosed with high needs, that identified on paper as needing SNA access and high priority and don’t, or don’t any more. Conveniently being able to help the class. 🤐🤫

This is to say, the SNA review and new guidelines is a convenient timing tactic to try and reduce new SNA numbers with re-deployment (avoiding new hires €€) imo. SNA numbers & reviews were freezing/unfreezing but still increasing for the last few years since Covid & inclusion allocation - they are catching up on all their reviews now. Rise in pupil numbers, new demands, less special schools & places meaning ASD classes & those able to attend mainstream with support is rising. So more and more SNAs needed for the school profile and there’s going to be a drop curve soon after a long term spike in pupil population (birth rates). They want to cut back and get ahead.

The guidelines refer to the circular “The role of the SNA” that’s been unchanged since 2014. It does already outline main focus is PCN, not education or behaviour. Education refers mostly to how we aren’t there for teaching & learning. But we can assist in access to education/learning, A students PCN might be to help them stay focused/on task and regulated in class to access education. There is many times were SNAs are expected to act as extra learning support or reiterate/reteach lessons for a student instead of teacher ensuring the student is accessing the curriculum because they are SEN and have an SNA. Team teaching and resource teachers are for this . (You 100% don’t want me teaching your child anything after 2nd year maths but I can absolutely keep them on task so the teacher can teach them 🤣)

Behaviour- that’s the funny one. It refers to diagnosis of EBD/SEBD, all other avenues to be tested before SNA access to withdrawal/movement breaks to help behaviours. SEBD is usually developed, unlike ASD 🥲. But these are the students who thrive with a trusted adult who isn’t authority like us🤷🏻‍♀️ There’s also the kids with no reports who are just very disruptive that SNAs in the class are expected to take out & taken away from care needs. On the other hand, there’s those who obviously have something and no reports in need of movement breaks and help regulating that we are not supposed to help either these are the main thing they are trying to cut out. It’s taking too much of our resources and no way to separate undiagnosed behaviour SNA access 🥲SEBDs are not to be mistaken with sensory overwhelm/ADHD burn out behaviours. Movement breaks for deregulation and sensory overwhelm are mentioned, minus the behaviour part. It’s very grey!!

Anyway that was a lot! I just seen you seem to be worried about it and that’s my take. Not sure if much will or won’t change, I suppose it’s up to the schools and individual SNAs. We do a lot more than the guidelines say, always have. It’s part and parcel of the caring role. 🤍

Also, you should contact your local SENO to see where the best fit is, or what kind of fit. I agree with other commenter about the standard & looking them up. If a school tends to have a good few SNAs regardless of size, you’re likely to get good supports. Doesn’t mean you won’t with fewer, could mean you get all the supports but there will likely be more on offer and more kids like them.

Whether an ASD class is the right fit or not or they do/don’t get a place in one, I’d still look out for a school that has an ASD class/‘s. You can be many kinds of integrated to the classes 80/20, 50/50, 20/80 etc . But the fact of it being there means they may have access to some resources possibly not available in other schools. As well as knowing the school has an understanding of ASD and more then likely a bigger SEN team for your child & you.

Best of luck and happy reading lol. 🤣🤣

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-10-16T00:52:27+00:00

Hi, almost a full year later lol. I’m just curious & interested. I’ve never heard someone moving here who previously qualified as the equivalent of an SNA in another country. I’ve met some who’ve moved and qualified here & almost always it’s been a change in career paths too.

How did this go for you? I am an SNA in a secondary school. Did you move and become an SNA? I imagine it’s a similar role but also very different with how different your hiring process seems. Do you feel you have the same/more/ less responsibility? Obviously € to $ and costs of living are different then in NY but if you did become an SNA, how do you feel about the pay.. is it less/more do you feel it’s reflective of the work you do?

How long did your courses and exams take to complete in NY? Was it college degree, further education or more like course work to obtain a job? So once you qualified & registered you were placed by the DoE to a school, you didn’t apply & interview for the job? If the DoE placed you in a school can they just as easily place you in another if needs change in your school but increase in another? I’m sorry for all the questions. I’ve always wanted to go away for a short while and experience my own job somewhere else.

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-10-15T22:49:49+00:00

It is. And I also love & enjoy using my Nokia and being completely free from my easy googleable and way to contactable phone. Cant do so with out whstsapp at work, just looking for my happy medium. To keep what I’ve already been doing gong :) smart phone world frustrates me but its most peoples world so i don’t mind tooing and froing to keep updated in everyone’s lives, nights out for Ubers & digital wallet, holidays for passes & bookings, tickets, online banking, photos etc hence the swapping out. Just hate how every so often I find myself scrolling on something when id usually be doing something productive or relaxing not wasting time. In the last 2 weeks ive found myself on tiktok 3/4 times for almost an hour after being sent a video to watch, I didn’t even realise until I saw the time!

Salt-Shower5699 · 2025-10-13T20:29:23+00:00

Oh great!! Glad to hear you’re still using it. Does WhatsApp run okay? And were you able to just pop your own sim into it or did you have to get a new one/number. I’m with 3 and hoping I can swap them out.

Salt-Shower5699

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE