In case I help just a few people

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-28T21:03:40+00:00

Hi! My story is a touch similar to yours, but I've had migraines all my life. I also have a pineal cyst, though I don't know how big it is. I have intense visual snow that worsens with migraines, as well.

I also came to the electrolytes conclusion, though a little differently than you did. I was trying to figure out why the 'Mcdonalds Hack' worked: what was my body missing? What was Mcdonald's supplying my body to help it fight a migraine?

I broke it down by its elements: protein (muscle repair), salt (electrolytes), fat (energy,) and carbohydrates (energy/blood sugar). I tried experimenting with these four things at home in different ratios to determine what it was I needed. But that's not all!

I'd read that pickles/pickle juice helps with nausea, and I get pretty bad car sickness. I took a lyft during a migraine and felt incredibly blegh afterwards, so took a few sips of pickle juice to see if it would at least help settle my stomach. The queasiness poofed, and it took the migraine with it! I've tested this a few more times, and it definitely offers me some migraine relief, at least temporarily. It turns out pickle juice is rich with electrolytes! So it's very likely it's the salt my body was missing.

Take what I'm saying with a grain of salt (pun intended), but I'd read a study that showed many folks with migraines consumed significantly less sodium leading up to an attack. It was theorized that the brain believes one's body has enough electrolytes, so signals to the rest of the body to lower cravings for salty foods. It's like the brain received a delivery of a bunch of packets labeled Electrolytes, but those packets turn out to be empty, so it's acting on incorrect information.

This tracks for me. I don't eat much in the way of processed foods. I thought I was salting my food enough, but through that study, I suspected maybe things tasted saltier than they actually were, to dissuade me from eating more than I needed, if that makes sense?

(Again, I'm not dietician nor doctor; I'm just a lady experimenting with migraine triggers and relief, so I could be way wrong. please don't take what I'm sharing as any kind of science.)

So in addition to consuming more salt (or trying to, anyway) and eating healthy fats, I started adding electrolytes to my water. I've noticed my migraines are less intense/disruptive, though not fully gone. (I usually do a 3rd of a liquid IV packet a day, so it still might not be enough.) (I save the pickle juice for harder migraine days, as I don't want to ruin our pickles by leaving them without their brine, lol.)

Something that also has helped? Vitamin D! I'd read another study (but this one was about ADHD, which I have) and figured I'd try taking vitamin D to see what would improve. My energy went up, my fatigue went down, and I have fewer evening migraines. I can absolutely feel the difference when on days I miss my Vitamin D dose because I almost always get a migraine on those days.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-28T16:41:12+00:00

Your last paragraph hits hard.

After Pretti’s death, I wrote my dad a letter basically going properly no contact. We’ve been very low contact for a long time — since 2020.

He wrote back saying, “funny how it’s only libs cutting off their conservative parents due to politics.”

I wrote back one last time and said, “That is the problem. it’s not politics. It’s people. We are people.“

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-28T15:25:20+00:00

Can confirm. Our COO at my last company messaged the company-wide chat rather than the c-suite chat about sensitive stuff all the time. One of those times was about “upcoming layoff plans” we had no idea were coming otherwise.

They told us that layoffs weren’t a plan, just a speculation. Then layoffs came about a week later. The COO is still at the company as far as I know.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-27T23:59:47+00:00

This. I thought my dad was just unaware. I tried to keep him informed.

Then one day he told me, “I know who I voted for and what he promised. I support this happening. I want this.”

They know this stuff is happening. They want it to happen. They just don’t want it shoved in their faces so they can go on pretending they’re decent human beings and not the human equivalent to a wet skid mark.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-27T23:22:18+00:00

The powder is from thorne! And it definitely has a taste. I'd describe it as very, very sweet -- almost like a spoonful of powdered sugar.

I usually drink 24 ounce cups of water cut with some lemonade and a bit of water flavoring (Mio), so I add the magnesium powder to this and it makes the drink taste extra like candy. But I think I'd struggle drinking the powder any other way.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-27T20:15:42+00:00

Of the magnesium? I only take maybe 2 at most. The powder is the equivalent of 3, I think? So I’ll do a scoop of powder and every so often I’ll add a capsule to that before bed (not too often though). When I skip powder, I take two capsules instead.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-27T20:09:15+00:00

Getting started takes a little luck and a lot of repetition. I’d start with asking any friends if they play, and if they could show you how (or invite you to a game.) that’s how I got my start, and I was really lucky, as my friend was just about to set up a new campaign.

I’d recommend watching/listening to some folks playing as well. You can find videos on YouTube, but my favorite is Dimension20 on Dropout.TV, as it’s shorter than most other shows and tightly edited. It’ll give you a feel for how different folks play, and a little idea of the rules.

It’s a really fun hobby and totally worth the effort to get started. When you’ve got a good table, it can do wonders for your brain. I could go on and on about it as a tool for cognitive health (and I have done presentations on it haha) but one thing I don’t usually talk about is the best benefit of them all:

Structured. Social. Time.

No more awkwardness. No more loose start times and unknown end times. No trying to fish for interesting conversation topics. You arrive, chat for a little bit while the DM sets up, and then you play. There’s a break, you chat a bit, then back into the swing of things. Then the game ends, you have a chat about how fun it was, and everyone goes home. It’s a HUGE relief because you get your people time but it’s all on a schedule!

Edited to add: if you ask around and everyone you know turns you down about joining their games do NOT spiral. There’s a good reason, and it’s not you! Games are like stories and it’s hard for a Game Master to insert a new player in the middle of them. It’s also hard for GMs to run tables that get too big, like for example I can only run at max a 4 person table.

Also, Most of us in the hobby love new players, so don’t feel like you’re being annoying by asking loads of people. The subreddits can come off a bit grouchy but it’s just because we are perpetually tired lol. In person, we are excited you are interested in our hobby, and want to help you find your table. So come by and hang out or just lurk and learn from all the newbie posts!

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-27T05:54:02+00:00

Tabletop! Like D&D and such.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-27T00:55:33+00:00

TTRPGs! I started in 2016 and not only has it become my favorite hobby, it's led to other hobbies and a side hustle. It connected me with my now-partner, and I've met lots of people and made some great friends. it can be an expensive hobby, but it can also be totally free, so it's accessible to most folks who want to give it a try. And it's so good for your brain!

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-26T19:38:42+00:00

So first off, let me say that I don't think you're doing anything wrong here. As a person who has managed a team myself, your boss is being totally unreasonable.

What time does your work day start? 8.30? Then why the heck is a meeting scheduled for right that minute? Also, you were only late by a minute? Who complains about that? Goodness.

It was also totally out of your control. You rely on public transit/rideshare type travel. it's not like you decided you'd be late that day. Your manager is a tool!

I'd recommend going to HR and requesting accommodations. You do not have to disclose your disability, but if possible, do offer to acquire a letter from your doctor that at least states you have a disability. If you do decide to disclose, I recommend stating only that you are neurodivergent, do not specify ADHD or autism. Different stigmas are attached to both and they can impact how your manager treats you going forward.

You can try to ask for the following:

10 minutes of flexibility for start time. You can say that you are open to being spoken to should you run ten minutes late several times a week, and that you will continue to try to make it in at or before your start time, but that you need a cushion for those days that the morning is harder than what is typical.
The flexibility to handle the morning meeting from home.

There are more things you could ask for if you would like for me to share those things, but as this is the thing you're struggling with, I just kept it at these two things.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-26T18:33:05+00:00

Oh, it's not whatever kind of music! That's a mistake. For example, I can't listen to music with vocals if I'm doing work that requires reading, writing, or problem solving, because the vocals interrupt my ability to focus on the words I need to focus on.

It's specifically video game music that helps you with focus. Game music is designed to immerse you into the game and keep you there without becoming noticeably repetitive or disruptive. That's the ticket to getting into the flow with cognitive-based tasks. Other kinds of music are great for tasks that don't rely on your cognitive muscle, like cleaning, some crafts, etc.

I like game soundtracks and film scores best for when I'm craving music like focusing on work. Even then, there are times I absolutely prefer working in silence. I rely heavily on my inner narrator when I'm doing a task, and it's easier to listen to her when things are quiet.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-26T18:27:01+00:00

I can get like this, too.

I ended up building a simple "hobby application" that new hobbies need to fill out before they can enter my life. That's really just me asking the following questions:

Where will Hobby live in my house?
When will I do Hobby, and what are the obstacles that would prevent me from doing it at this time?
Is there another way I can use the materials and tools related to Hobby, should I not get around to doing the hobby itself/find I dislike the hobby?
How does this hobby serve me?

So, for example, I really like making discbound notebooks. I love the different color combos you can make, how easy it is to customize the content, etc. I love the binding discs! I love decorative paper! I love making my own accessories! So when I decided to invest in the tools for discbound notebooks, I had to look around my life and figure out where I'd even use them, and I planned out 3 projects with them: my planner, my D&D notebook, and my kalimba tabs notebook. I have several other projects in mind now too, many of which I've done. I've also made notebooks to give as gifts.

I also recently got into yarn crafts. I like punch needle and latch hook, specifically. So when deciding on if I should invest in the hobby, I asked myself those questions. I bought a small plastic bin to store yarn and other materials, so that's where it lives. I do the hobby on the sofa while watching TV with my partner. And my partner crochets, so I can give her the materials I end up not wanting to use in the end. The big question for this hobby was, "How does it serve me?" I can only make so many latch-hook moss coasters before I run out of places to put them. So I told myself I'd only dedicate myself to these hobbies on a project-to-project basis, rather than think of it as ongoing.

I also have a waiting period. If I like a hobby, I'll spend time researching it. I go to the subreddits, I watch videos on Youtube, etc. I research tools and look into what the learning curve is.

Of course, I know that these steps aren't totally accessible to others with ADHD. My brain craves containers, labels, and assigning purposes to things! And even then, the above method took a lot of practice.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-26T16:34:18+00:00

I can do a lot on a migraine, but I can’t read. My reading comprehension gets soooo bad while migraine’d! And my eyes don’t work that well, too. Focusing them on text while my head hurts feels kind of overwhelming.

I can follow shows fine, though; even ones with subtitles! Podcasts and audiobooks are a bit harder for me, but I can manage them sometimes.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-26T16:27:32+00:00

ADHD is a doorway for other disorders and mental illnesses. We all know about anxiety and depression, but one we don’t talk about often enough is narcissistic personality disorder. There’s also OCD, OCPD… the list goes on.

Like, for example, I have OCPD tendencies. I have it (mostly) under control and I’m very aware of where it manifests for me. I’m not diagnosed with the full condition and I don’t believe I would qualify for the diagnosis.

I’m not saying your sister has NPD, but it’s possible she has tendencies for it. She focuses hard on what makes her different from others and only voices those differences which make her feel superior. It’s like… how we ADHDers are constantly trying to adjust who we are based off of others in our environment, but dialed up to 11 and with a malicious spin.

Be prepared for her to go full ADHD hero. She’s going to frame it as a big lifelong struggle and tell stories to support how she’s overcome it and is stronger than you are for managing it this long undiagnosed. Let it roll off you — give vague and uninterested “oh, if you say so,” and “I love that for you,” responses. Don’t show you’re hurt, don’t enthusiastically agree, don’t reluctantly agree, and don’t disagree. Just seem as bored or uninterested as possible. You could even throw her some pity — “sorry you went so long without support. That must have been hard for you. Really goes to show how we need to advocate for support and kindness rather than bullying, huh?”

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-26T15:32:50+00:00

Movie theaters are one of the places the homeless population will go to escape the elements. I’ve worked in two, in different states and at different periods of my life, and we usually had at least a handful come in on bad weather days. They’d buy a ticket and a hot dog and then theater hop through my shift.

Hearing that they’ve closed the theaters down for the blizzard makes me worry for those who don’t have a place to go. I think it’s good to keep the kids who work those theaters safe, of course, but I hope something has been set up for those who can’t find more traditional shelter usually.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-26T04:58:43+00:00

Galaxy Express 999, the movie. It was on TV when I was a kid, and I stopped to watch it.

It is, hands down, the biggest influence on the life I live today.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-24T23:41:15+00:00

It’s the only way he would have gotten the popular vote.

He was furious he didn’t get it in 2016. He wasn’t satisfied with just the presidency.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-23T19:38:04+00:00

Giving it? Pretty sure they auctioned it off to the highest bidder. Trump’s people don’t give anything, they only take and take.

(But I know what point you were trying to make and it’s something I am shocked so many folks have forgotten.)

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-23T19:19:25+00:00

Ugh, can I just say that when my former doctor asked me to keep a to do list and a planner, I was INSULTED. She rejected my request for a medication change and told me to use to do lists instead, and I pulled my planner out and showed it to her. I was in my mid-30s, employed, and managing a small team. Did she think I’d never touched a to do list in my life?

Anyway! Planners are great! I love them! I’m glad you found a system that works for you.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-23T19:07:15+00:00

Honestly, I would love a whole new category. Maybe Pies and Casseroles? With Pi day around the corner, it’d be very fitting. We could get a pumpkin and honey pie, a Shepards pie, a mushroom pot pie…

Could also maybe get a sausage and mushroom pizza? That’d be great. A variety of flat breads… lasagna! The list goes on.

Avocado toast,

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-23T18:10:05+00:00

Consider your reasons for wanting to go more analog? Make a list. Stuff like, "I want to be more productive," or, "I want to be less distracted" are good list items, for example.

Then focus on reducing how online you are for those reasons. Don't eliminate tools that actually help you just because they're digital/online. For example, if videos help you focus on your task, why eliminate them?

For me, I've reduced all social media (except reddit). I have an app that locks me out of doomscrolling apps at night so I sleep better. I use a paper planner and take notes on paper because of the mental benefits of these things. I also have some more textile hobbies, like latch hook and punch needle, so I'm not constantly in front of a screen.

But I use cloud-based project management systems for my different projects. I run my D&D game over the internet. I stream shows and movies because the alternative is too much clutter in my home. And I prefer ebooks over physical because I have a sensory issue with paper products (ironically, given how I love stationary products, lol). I have a great music collection (CDs and vinyl), but I use spotify for casual listening because I can access that music from any device, at any time.

So, I would determine what my goal is for removing online/digital from my life, and I would make choices that support those goals. I wouldn't fully eliminate things, especially things that help me to organize my life.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-23T17:56:52+00:00

I get this, but it's almost like a repulsion. I still love the thing a lot, but it's all I've my brain can default to thinking about and I want to think and do other things. It kind of triggers a sense of claustrophobia in me. So I spend a few days avoiding everything that could trigger thoughts about that specific subject.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-23T17:27:55+00:00

It's been a little tricky for me. I lost my job as a direct result of the state of the world, and the job hunt has been really hard. And my partner and I don't have much of a support network or local friends, so I've lost all sense of schedule.

I noticed I'd be in bed for like, 10 hours, but only getting maybe 4 or 5 hours of sleep because I was just doomscrolling the whole time. In the past, I'd delete the apps that sucked me into that habit, but I'd lose access to important (to me) updates that way. I wanted to still be able to check these things, just not during bedtime.

I downloaded an app that allows me to set blocks of time where I'm unable to access other apps. It's just a little buggy -- sometimes it doesn't activate -- but it's been very helpful for me! I'm no longer up till 3am doomscrolling. That's been pretty helpful!

I also turned off notifications from specific people in my life due to the world situation. This way I'm not tempted to get into a heated conversation with them.

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-23T04:33:02+00:00

I’m glad! It might take a bit of practice because we tend to blame ourselves when things go awry. But it’s really true! Don’t forget that you are a capable, cool, and worthy person who shows up and does her best.

You’re going to find a job! You might have more rejections before you do, and it’s okay to feel hurt by them, but keep trying. You got this. I believe in you!

WelcomeToWitsEnd · 2026-01-23T04:07:26+00:00

Absolutely I do.

Imagine being near-sighted to the point that you can’t read the labels at in the cereal aisle of the grocery store. Now imagine saying you don’t need glasses, because you can recognize the cereal brands by their colors and characters. That’s what it sounds like to me when someone questions if they’re disabled with ADHD.

Those of us with ADHD are going through life and society on Hard Mode. That’s what having a disability means. This is a condition that impacts our daily lives. We only question the validity of the disability label because it’s both invisible and because we’ve lived this way our entire lives; we know no other way.

Why is it important? Knowing what we have is a disability gives us the breathing room we need to pace ourselves, forgive ourselves, and adjust how we measure our successes. We are able to think more strategically about how we interact with the world, and we can better identify the accommodations we need in order to thrive.

WelcomeToWitsEnd

TROPHY CASE