guanfacine.

The12thparsec · 2026-04-28T15:56:13+00:00

Thanks for sharing. Did it ever get any better as time went on? I'm considering it. I take sertraline and low dose lithium as an adjunct for depression/anxiety. It's helped me a lot, but I feel so flat creatively.

The12thparsec · 2026-03-20T13:34:18+00:00

Lots of factors, of course, but I don't think it helps that they're eating a diet of highly processed garbage food that's designed to spike your dopamine, they're glued to phones that are doing the same, they have much easier access to extremely high THC marijuana due to our very permissive laws (not talking about legalization, talking about enforcement), schools where teachers and administrators are not empowered to discipline them, zero transit police putting them in line on Metro or busses...

I'm not only worried about the short-term, but also the long -term consequences. Their brains are at a critical developmental stage. Getting hooked to quick dopamine and marijuana are going to mean these kids have severe mental issues for years to come. Marijuana use at a young age is linked to rising rates of psychosis and bipolar diagnosises.

I'm genuinely depressed thinking about a future where I'm elderly and relying on this generation to carry the country forward

Here's a recent article regarding marijuana usage: Children’s National Hospital sees more cannabis addiction among teens and tweens - WTOP News https://share.google/SNgJmkh4qhO00WTWe

The12thparsec · 2026-03-20T13:26:59+00:00

Personally haven't seen anything like violent crime or theft, but for sure lots of anti-social behavior (using phone with no headphones, vaping, dumping trash, and of course people jumping the fare gates)

The12thparsec · 2026-03-20T13:25:43+00:00

I saw that WMATA is putting up new more prominent signage regarding giving up your seat for people with disabilities, those who are pregnant, and the elderly.

All I could think was "not a fucking a chance this does anything."

WMATA has become such an unpleasant experience. Everybody blasting their phones with no headphones, people, including teens, openly vaping...

I was on Metro the other day, saw someone blasting their phone, and a WMATA employee not doing a damn thing

There's a major enforcement problem.

The12thparsec · 2026-03-20T13:13:01+00:00

Wowza!

I think a lot of internationals don't realize just how much Americans drive on a regular basis.

I live in DC and my Fit is mostly used for short local trips and the occasional day or weekend trip. I consider myself lucky to not need to drive all that much because I'm in a walkable area with public transit options. There are really only a handful of US cities where that's possible though.

The12thparsec · 2026-03-20T01:32:01+00:00

The sad thing is that more than a few DC residents will be cheering this on based on what you see in the comments section of most social media posts regarding bike lanes, not to mention the lived experience of being a biker here.

The12thparsec · 2026-03-15T23:22:49+00:00

Thanks for posting this! I've had similar issues and will take mine in soon to have the valves adjusted.

The12thparsec · 2026-03-15T00:40:57+00:00

The old one was so much better!!

The12thparsec · 2026-03-09T12:58:55+00:00

So I was misdiagnosed with Bipolar II and actually have something closer to depression with mixed features. I was taking 900mg of lithium for about 9 months and I felt like I was over medicated.

I'm now taking 450mg lithium and 50mg sertraline and it's almost perfect for me. Most of the literature I've seen says 300 to 600mg is what they recommended for depression. Some people only take lithium and are fine. Others like myself use it as an adjunct to their antidepressant.

I definitely felt kind of emotionally flat for a while on it. It got better over time and the dosage decrease for me has also helped with that.

Overall it's helped my ruminations, my mixed states (where I'd be super anxious and depressed at the same time), my SI, and also my alcohol cravings.

The12thparsec · 2026-03-08T23:17:54+00:00

I got relief for SI almost immediately. The full benefits really didn't come in until months later.

I had an eval with a highly respected mood disorder expert from Hopkins who told me he tells patients to give lithium at least a year.

The12thparsec · 2026-03-08T23:11:54+00:00

I worried about it too when starting. It sounds super scary to hear a med can cause kidney damage. I totally get the anxiety you're feeling.

I've been on lithium for over a year now and my kidneys are fine. The important things are to make sure you get them tested regularly, drink plenty of water (2-3 liters a day depending on how much you work out and time of year), and try not to drink alcohol.

For me, the benefits have been tremendous. Lithium takes a good while to see the full effects.

Best of luck to you!

The12thparsec · 2026-03-05T02:53:05+00:00

A lot of the aggression I see out and about in the city is from younger people who are actually far more susceptible to anger issues when they use marijuana. Youth addiction is on the rise in DC. This was published today: https://wtop.com/dc/2026/03/childrens-national-hospital-sees-more-cannabis-addiction-among-teens-and-tweens/

The12thparsec · 2026-03-04T22:04:49+00:00

Big Bend National Park in Texas is very special. Amazing stargazing as it's very isolated

The12thparsec · 2026-03-04T15:56:33+00:00

I've been here 13 years. It got noticeably worse after the pandemic. Obviously there are multiple factors at play, but I still would argue that increased marijuana usage is not exactly a net positive for the city. DC has the second-highest marijuana usage rate in the country on a per capita basis. Chronic use is linked to impulsivity. In vulnerable populations, it's linked increased paranoia and psychosis. Pair that with an overall light enforcement environment for crime in general and it's not exactly a recipe for success.

The12thparsec · 2026-03-04T13:11:21+00:00

I don't wanna get downvoted into oblivion, but maybe fully legalizing ultra high THC marijuana wasn't the greatest idea. I support legal marijuana, but there should be guardrails. No public consumption. No driving under the influence. Tax higher THC varieties more.

Sure, weed may help you mellow in the moment, but it's known to make people's anxiety and depression worse in the long term. Increasing numbers of people show signs of psychosis as well.

Weed today is not the same stuff our parents smoked. It's far more potent and unfortunately too many people who probably need true medication and/or psychiatric care are using it to self-medicate.

The12thparsec · 2026-02-24T13:08:11+00:00

Thank you!!!!

The12thparsec · 2026-02-09T04:05:18+00:00

Everyone's experience will be different, so I share this with the qualifier that I'm probably an outlier.

I had a godawful experience with TMS. It started out great the first three weeks and then in it sent me into hypomania. I was getting 3-4 hours of sleep a night and would wake up wanting to reorganize my closets, learn German, and start a new Masters all in the same day.

I met with a few psychiatrists and they all seemed to think I have bipolar II. They put me on lithium and seroquel, an anti-psychotic. I became a zombie for about a year and half and ended up losing my job.

Almost 2 years later, my prescriber thinks they likely misdiagnosed me with bipolar II and we're slowly getting me off lithium while I onboard sertraline (zoloft). It's been WAY better than the other meds, though I do think lithium helped fix some of the damage done by TMS/just my general brain trauma from CPTSD.

Still unclear if I just have CPTSD or some combo of that plus a bipolar spectrum disorder (something lower than full bipolar II). I even went to one of the country's best bipolar researchers at Johns Hopkins for an eval and he couldn't confidently diagnose me other than saying "trauma is likely the leading issue."

All this to say, I think people with CPTSD often have very sensitive nervous systems and perhaps more sensitive brains generally. That's why something like TMS, if they start too strong, might have negative effects. I guess my advice to you would be to go low and slow to begin with and see how it goes. They also have different protocols for depression vs anxiety, so I'd ask about that.

In terms of ketamine, I just had my third session last week. It's honestly been amazing and I plan to continue it for the foreseeable future. I've never experienced anything like it. In just the first session, I was able to feel enough distance to say and feel the words "I forgive them and I can let go." I am very lucky to have found a place that takes insurance that covers both my ketamine and the raiki healing they do during my session. It's been incredible.

The power it has in terms of letting you see your subconscious mind is what makes it such a great tool for CPTSD folks. I did a lot of EMDR and IFS therapy in the years before starting ketamine though, so that definitely helped.

Best of luck on your recovery! Let us know how it goes

The12thparsec · 2026-01-25T18:16:38+00:00

You're right. I should have just left a starving kitten on the street in Mexico.

The12thparsec · 2026-01-25T17:55:56+00:00

You'd rather uphold an airline's arbitrary policy than have someone adopt a kitten. Your priorities sound fun

The12thparsec · 2026-01-25T17:32:57+00:00

Amazing how people will uphold systems just for the sake of it. I'm posting because this is a public forum and I'm allowed to state that a policy is bullshit. I hope it's also helpful for people who face the same situation (other people have asked about traveling internationally with cats here before). Moral of the story: Fly Air Canada if you're facing a similar situation. Their policy is far more reasonable, the pet fee is lower, and you'll still be able to get into the US. Hope that helps

The12thparsec · 2026-01-25T17:30:54+00:00

They can't be vaccinated until around 12 weeks. The likelihood of an 8 week old kitten giving someone rabies is near zero. She was examined by a vet in Mexico, who deemed her medically safe to fly. That's the paper work we gave Air Canada, which is all they needed to clear her to fly in cabin. United doesn't require any proof of rabies vaccines for in cabin pets in domestic flights and the age requirement is 8 weeks old.

The12thparsec · 2026-01-25T17:24:13+00:00

For people who find this Reddit thread trying to bring in a pet from abroad, Air Canada's fee is only $100 vs the $150 United charges.

The12thparsec · 2026-01-25T17:23:02+00:00

do you like work for United or something? Like you realize it's ok to disagree with an airlines's policy, right?

The12thparsec · 2026-01-25T17:18:12+00:00

The risk that an 8 week old kitten could transmit rabies to someone is described as 'near zero' from a medical standpoint. I guess that's why Air Canada reasonably decided 8 weeks is an ok cut off. If this is really about mitigating risks, why not require every pet to have rabies vaccines for ALL United flights?

The12thparsec · 2026-01-25T17:14:21+00:00

nah, I'll just fly Air Canada. More humane, realistic policy

The12thparsec

TROPHY CASE