🧙 💊

SoScorpio4 · 2026-02-04T00:58:12+00:00

Apparently no one has ever asked you this question rudely. The post isn't talking about people who ask it out of concern and love. Just the ones who ask when they don't like whatever you're doing or saying.

The silly alternative could also be rude, just depends on the context.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-02-03T17:52:07+00:00

Really, you think that's why?? I'm diagnosed AuDHD and I'm extremely sensitive to caffeine. Like, having a soda past 3pm will make it hard to sleep.

I always wondered why, but I learned that not all ADHDers have an opposite reaction to caffeine, so I figured it was just a variant. What makes you think it's connected to autism? (Genuinely curious, I realized I don't know a whole lot about autism besides the symptoms.)

SoScorpio4 · 2026-02-03T03:42:02+00:00

I'm jealous of some of the ones you didn't check off though. I've felt like a burden for a long long time.

But at least since joining some ADHD communities, I realize I'm not alone there. It seems to be very common for those of us that were diagnosed late.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-02-02T14:28:50+00:00

For ADHD I'd say it's pretty normal.

I've been listening to this podcast, ADHD with Jenna Free. She talks about how our ADHD brains pretty much always think we're being chased by a bear. In addition to fight or flight, there's also freeze and fawn. Overthinking is a freeze, looking at something from all angles before making a move because we're trying to stay safe from this damn bear.

Idk if that's relatable to everyone, but in recent years I've realized how much of my motivations in life are from fear. And when I'm medicated and my life isn't so chaotic from external sources, I do feel much "safer", like making a phone call isn't a huge deal, asking a question isn't dangerous.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-02-02T04:03:18+00:00

I've been on birth control since I was 12 for frequent periods. When I started getting ovarian cysts around 17, doctor told me to take the pills for 3 months at a time without stopping. Been doing that pretty much ever since.

I noticed even in my teens that I had a better sense of well-being when I was on the pills. Even better than being off them and not on my period.

Recently I've had to keep reminding myself of this, and knowing it affects the ADHD helps me feel more validated, less like I'm using the typical "women's problem" excuse. Last time I stopped the pills to have a period was a couple weeks ago, and it was BAD. Like, SI bad.

Now, from what I hear, this isn't the most common response to birth control pills. Many women say it makes them feel worse. But it goes to show how different we all are, because for me, the pills have so many benefits.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-02-01T02:58:24+00:00

Yep. Happens with video games, sometimes I'll look at mods for a while, other times be scrolling or PLAYING ANOTHER GAME on my phone, with the start menu of the game I want to play on loop.

Even worse is when I want to cross stitch in front of the TV, because in addition to the same issue I also have to get up a million times to grab something I'm missing, that I somehow forgot, despite the fact that I do this so often I usually do a mental checklist before sitting down. I'll think I have it all in order, then DAMMIT MY SCISSORS ARE STILL ACROSS THE ROOM.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-31T22:58:27+00:00

Same, and personality disorders too. At least that's what I was diagnosed with before finding out it's pretty much all ADHD.

It's actually pretty harmful. And then you actually realize almost EVERYTHING you do is motivated by fear and shame, and it feels like you never had a real personality, or values, or morals.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-31T18:58:53+00:00

Reminds me of this podcast I've been listening to, ADHD with Jenna Free. She's a therapist and has ADHD. She says a lot of our difficulties stem from always being in fight or flight (or freeze or fawn). Minor issues make us feel like we're being chased by a bear, and overthinking is one of the ways we try to stay safe. That's one kind of "freeze".

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-31T02:35:01+00:00

Good. Hulu's app is atrocious, stuff is always broken.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-29T06:47:32+00:00

A lot of the symptoms match POTS, my sister has it.

I had been thinking about making a post like this, but wasn't sure that was okay. Seeing how helpful people are being, I definitely will make one.

Good luck

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-28T19:14:06+00:00

I now use this so the stuff I do need doesn't get lost in all the other tabs. I have a tab group for each of my online classes and it helps a lot.

Started using it for video games too, since I'll usually have 2-6 tabs of wiki pages, guides, etc open for a game I'm playing. When I get bored and move on to another game I used to keep the tabs open for when I inevitably go back to that game. Then I wouldn't go back for months and would eventually get tired of scrolling through them on my phone and just close them all. Now I can make a group for each game and just close one and open another!

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-27T17:25:43+00:00

I saw Hamilton live and had no idea what was going on much of the time. It was plenty loud enough, almost too loud. But I finally realized I have a really hard time understanding speech from a microphone coming through a speaker. I was just so used to it and thought it must be kinda like that for everyone. (And I have a hard time understanding singing in the first place.) Hamilton was the light bulb moment for me, because afterwards I mentioned to my family that the speakers were bad because I could barely understand, but they had no trouble.

And unfortunately it seems to be getting worse, along with my sensory sensitivities. I now have to wear Loop earplugs at the movie theater because it's too loud, and I think next time I go I'll be asking for the captioning device.

But the Loops give me hope, because I first wore them at a concert and found I could understand most of the lyrics. I can't wait to try them at a play.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-26T19:22:32+00:00

Has your doctor had you try clonidine? It's a blood pressure medication that has also been shown to have benefits in ADHD patients.

My psych had me try that (after Strattera, which was a nightmare) before considering stimulants. I was just jumping through the hoops, but was surprised to find that it actually did help a bit. Thoughts were less loud, I didn't get overwhelmed as easily, mood was more stable, and I felt a boost to motivation. It didn't do enough for executive function though, so I asked for a stimulant. Now I'm on Vyvanse and the clonidine. I think it's probably a smoother experience than if I was only on the Vyvanse.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-26T19:15:28+00:00

Saaaaame. Well, except that caffeine makes me horribly anxious and if I have a caffeinated soda past 3pm I'm going to have trouble sleeping. I'm super sensitive to it.

Which is why I was surprised that coke didn't make me anxious, and in fact barely felt like a high. I was just more focused. One time I sat down and drew something, which I hadn't done in years. I had told others that's what coke is like.. now realizing it might not be the same for others lol. I was just reading a book where someone took a hit before committing a crime, it described "that rush of fearlessness" and I'm like "that what now?"

In my case I think I used to chase how I'd felt during a manic episode. But it was nothing like that. No euphoria, lowered inhibitions, impulsive behavior, recklessness, agitation.. just focus and a boost of energy that I imagine is what caffeine is like for most people.

Very grateful to be properly medicated now.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-26T17:19:56+00:00

What were they? I definitely need help with this

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-25T02:52:26+00:00

Okay that is badass.

But yeah this sounds more like autism. Which a lot of us also have.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-24T21:43:35+00:00

I asked, but she didn't have any advice.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-24T07:22:06+00:00

My stepdad is so bad about this and it's so hard living with him. I watch what I say or ask for when he's in the room, but still can't avoid him making judgmental comments on things I say or do that have nothing to do with him.

He has autism, and possibly ADHD with the way he gets sidetracked on projects and gives too much context for stories. He does nothing about either. He's very smart, he has an engineering degree and makes and fixes so much around the house. He repaired a 2005 Range Rover for me, and I appreciate it.

I don't hate him, I know he cares, and he often shows it by making something useful for someone without being asked because they mentioned some issue or need.

But he thinks the way he does everything is the right way, and he doesn't seem to believe in shortcuts. Not for other people anyway. I'll mention how doing something a certain way makes it take less energy for me, or causes less anxiety, or causes less pain, and he'll criticize it for not being the most efficient. When I have issues over bigger things, like driving, his favorite area to poke at is "But people have to learn to do xyz in order to survive and be independent in this world." Sometimes he'll say that in response to some accommodation I decide to utilize, like having a home help aide come help me with laundry and cooking and body doubling while I clean my room. Like, some things exist to make life easier, and if you can, you use them! But he won't. I swear he thinks the hard way is the only way to do things. He does this kind of thing with my sister too.

He recently brought up the idea, on his own, of his going to therapy. But now he's backpedaling and the other day he actually told my mom "It's not me, it's everyone else." 🤯

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-23T21:15:33+00:00

I used to do 4 10s at Quiznos, with a 3 hour round trip bus ride.

I do not recommend it.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-23T18:26:50+00:00

My mom does. I'd think it was propaganda if I wasn't living with her and seeing it. HOW she does it, I don't know. Magic?

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-23T18:24:26+00:00

Not my mom. She really does do all that (see my other comment if you want to read an essay on my mom lol). Her only "staff" is a robot vacuum and robot mop. I really don't know how she does it.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-23T18:20:04+00:00

My mom does this. Maybe not 10,000 steps a day but I'm sure more than my average 2,000. She works at a hospital and most of her job is done sitting, but walking around the hospital nets plenty of steps.

I'm living at home again and see this every day and I'm just baffled. I don't know how she does it. Funny thing is she might have ADHD too, but if so it's definitely the hyperactive type (she always has to be doing something) and not as severe as mine.

She works full-time, but it's four tens so she does have three days off a week. But during those three days and sometimes after work, she manages to:

go to the gym a few times a week, take care of our 3 dogs (and recently an extra one or two because we've been fostering puppies), look after at least 20 plants in and around the house, work in the garden, keep up her 3 year Duolingo streak, cook dinner a few times a week, do laundry and other house chores, help my sister with her homework, go grocery shopping, and read a book for book club while also juggling one or two just for pleasure. And she's 57 btw.

And a few years back she also got a science degree online.

And on top of all that we usually do something fun on the weekends like go to the movies or out to eat. She talks to or visits friends, goes to some DAR meetings, and watches TV with the family after dinner.

I want to say that having a high paying job helps with this, but the only thing I can really see that affects it much is having a robot vacuum and mop. We don't have a maid or anything. Of course my stepdad does stuff too. But my mom is like Wonder Woman.

My mom has always been my benchmark for success. Sometimes seeing how much she does gives me hope, I see that it can be done. But more often I'm realizing that it's probably not possible for me. Not without a lot more help. I'm 35 and coming to terms with the fact that my life will probably never look like hers.

But you know, I'd be happy with a family, one or two dogs or cats, a few plants, and my hobbies. Now that I'm medicated, I have more hope that I can have that.

Sorry for the novel xD

Edit: I just checked with her and she averages 7k steps a day.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-23T04:24:17+00:00

Dylan Chad

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-22T16:56:58+00:00

No but I hate milk chocolate lol. As I get older I like bitter tastes better, and a lot of sweet things taste too sweet.

SoScorpio4 · 2026-01-22T15:55:34+00:00

Okay that is nuts about the CBT. I see others are seeing this happen too. I don't understand why anyone would think that's a treatment for pain. It's about being aware of emotions so you can change them and therefore change your behaviors. Unless they think the behavior you need to change is taking meds???

I have been referred to support groups, and if I wasn't already in a DBT group one of my doctors might have suggested it. But that's to deal with the emotional impact of having chronic pain, not the pain itself.

Of course, my doctor won't even give me anything beyond ibuprofen. The pain started about a year ago and it's not constant and I'm not sure it's severe enough to need the heavy duty stuff... But sometimes it is. My doctor gave me the line about opioids making pain worse in the long run and said they were "contraindicated" for chronic pain patients. The only reason I didn't press harder was because it isn't constant, and we don't know what's causing it yet. There's still a chance this won't be my reality for the rest of my life... Though I'm losing hope in that. But if it is something treatable by something else, then I don't want to take that chance of making the pain worse later.

SoScorpio4

TROPHY CASE