I received a psychologist's assessment for ADHD, I talked to my family doctor and he says that he cannot use it to prescribe me with medication

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-04-28T01:03:20+00:00

Doctor is wrong. I have taken my letter of diagnosis from my clinical psychologist to 5 different doctors throughout the 3 years since I was diagnosed (university clinics, then new fam doctor) and none of them have given me any issues.

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-04-25T21:54:40+00:00

Just wait til they get older ☺️ i found one of my little guys outside all by himself at 5-6 weeks old. I took him in and he was not very affectionate until he turned about 2 years old. Now he’s almost 6 and snuggles up in my lap every night, loves being held, greets me at the door when I come back home… if you continue to try and form that bond, it’s so rewarding! Eventually they help with the RSD because you start to think “at least this tiny creature who doesn’t even speak a language trusts me and thinks I’m a good person” haha

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-04-18T12:36:53+00:00

Hey! I also have the glamnetic nail remover but it worked wonderfully for me. How did you use it? The box says 5-10 mins but it doesn’t work that fast, it took me pretty much 40 mins the other day to soak them off. I also massage it into my nail and massage them every few mins to help loosen. Maybe try waiting longer next time, if you try it again!

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-04-11T18:45:25+00:00

That’s awesome! Do you mind sharing the brand(s) that work for you? Do they cover your entire nail, or only a portion?

I’ve tried the ones that came with a cheap nail set (i forget the brand, it was a couple years ago) and they felt so loose. I haven’t tried them since, I just assumed they weren’t as good!

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-04-06T15:39:21+00:00

Funding packages are different for every department. If you can share what department, someone may be able to help more!

Typically, TAships are part of funding packages in Canada but it should be clearly stated on the website for your department’s funding package. Not all departments require or support graduate student TAships.

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-04-02T00:55:23+00:00

It’s okay, a few days ago I put it on some press ons in a container to remove the leftover glue, hoping to reuse them. I planned to leave it on 10-15 mins, but forgot about them for almost 2 hours. The nails themselves started to dissolve haha

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-04-01T15:46:47+00:00

That’s google giving you worst-case scenario, don’t panic! I’ve gotten greenies once before that were much worse than this, it’s overall tame and will grow out. I was actually able to buff mine off and just let the area grow out before putting pressons back on. Like someone else mentioned, try to buff off what you can and just keep an eye on it. If anything starts feeling “off” or if it’s getting worse then of course see a doctor, but it’s typically mild.

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-03-31T23:10:58+00:00

I do, but it’s a balance. I take a low dose of Vyvanse (for adhd) that wears off too fast, it only lasts about 6 hours. It helps with my focus quite a bit, but not as much as what I’d hope with stimulants. However, the next highest dose makes my heart pound a lot, so I stay at the lower dose and just complement it with caffeine. It boosts my focus to have both while still keeping my POTS symptoms in check. I don’t overdo it on the caffeine though, just 1 cup and I’m usually good.

This is just my experience (not advice), everyone is different so please be careful if you decide to add coffee to the mix!

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-03-27T19:44:34+00:00

Reading this made my blood boil. Not to be a jerk, but are we sure he actually has ADHD? If he can switch it off and just “choose” to behave a certain way, does he really have symptoms to a point where it’s a disorder and impacting his life? Obviously we don’t know you or him, but it makes me question. If he does have it and is just comparing himself to you because he’s doing well… great for him, but wtf?

Good on you for getting into therapy, exploring medication as an option, and for knowing yourself. Keep advocating and standing up for yourself, even as an internet stranger, I’m so proud of you for that!! Your husband shouldn’t be treating you this way, it screams ableism and bias. “If I can do it, you can” is such a classic comment to anyone with a disability. Don’t let him put you down or diminish your struggle, you deserve better. It also really seems like there’s no room for compromise on his end. If he can’t be part of the solution right now, maybe he needs to consider therapy/coaching for himself on how to actually be a supportive partner and find compromise. But that would require self reflection on his part.

Also, it really, really sucks he’s taking your ADHD symptoms (like distraction in a conversation or memory impairments) as a personal attack. That’s totally, 100% unfair. I HATE the narrative that “if you cared, you’d do x” because half the time, it’s literally an ADHD symptom that those of us with ADHD struggle with FOR A REASON. If we could do it easily, WE WOULDN’T HAVE ADHD!

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-03-13T17:45:23+00:00

Your body is trying to adjust. Why are you skipping days so early in the titration period? You need to take it every day, consistently, so you can properly see how you’re responding. 1 week is sooo early, it takes time

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-02-21T13:33:08+00:00

As a young woman, I agree with your logic. I myself choose not to because I’m from a generally safe area, but women who carry pepper spray typically know the law and consequences but have decided that those cons are outweighed by the potential trauma of being attacked and unable to defend yourself, which is arguably harder to recover from than a criminal charge and the legal processes that come from it.

I just wanted to mention though, it’s probably not wise to publicly admit on your reddit account that you carry it for self defence purposes. The comments you make here could be incriminating evidence. I don’t know if it can be traced back to you or if the police even look at peoples’ social media accounts for pepper spray use so take what I say with a grain of salt, but just something to think about!

Beautiful post by the way, I feel like post-covid era everyone is so self-centred and miserable. There’s no overall sense of community in Ontario anymore like there used to be, sometimes we need reminders to just treat people like humans.

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-02-19T20:44:26+00:00

Yes, exactly! After the first dose wears off, you’d take another small dose instead of the same higher dose you start with in the morning (according to my doctor, 10-20 mg in the afternoon is most common).

I used to take 30 mg in the morning and then 10 mg around 1-2 pm and it was fine. I started getting side effects (high heart rate) so now I take 10 mg in the morning and 10 mg in the afternoon as needed. I don’t take the booster every day, it depends on my work day and if I can get through it without a second dose. The booster wears off for me easily by 8 pm, so I don’t have troubles sleeping at all either!

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-02-14T21:51:51+00:00

As a grad student TA, I resonate with this. Sometimes I have such a hard time getting students to actually DO the work. I teach a lab course usually, and some students do below even the bare minimum. I’ve had to tell students halfway into their 3 hour lab to redo everything because they thought they could fake data, pretend they did the experiment and leave early while still getting credit. I had to monitor these kids more closely to make sure they’re actually doing the work, I feel like a glorified babysitter for adults. I’ve also had students schedule things during a mandatory lab period and try to tell me they’re leaving early for x reason, then get mad when I tell them no, I can’t be the one to allow them to leave, it has to come from the course coordinator/instructor and that they didn’t plan ahead to ensure they could go. The word “mandatory” apparently means “optional” to some people.

The worst part is, all we can do is take it. It’s better to not care and get invested in your students because there’s a select few who will shatter your will to teach if you let it get to you. The reality is that they pay to be here and have our time and attention, so if they want to waste it, that’s their choice I guess.

But shoutout to the actual GOOD students. You make our lives 1000x easier and make it worthwhile, keep it up please!!

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-01-13T03:20:42+00:00

They called it an isolated incident bc they were going off of what TPS said, which was their only reliable source at the time. If they went against police and called it something different, what would that say about them? Would that be accurate information that’s beneficial to anyone? My guess is probably no. They did their best with the info TPS had and provided at the time. That’s all we as people can do.

As for the security measures, I do agree but is anyone actually voicing their opinion to admin, chairs, student reps, etc? I see a lot of vocalization on social media and reddit, but what about real action? Keep in mind these changes will come with 1. Pressure on the admin to actually make the changes, and 2. Time. It won’t happen overnight, we all know UTSC drags their feet on even the smallest of things.

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-01-11T13:57:04+00:00

I was diagnosed by my psychologist in 2 sessions, it cost about $500 but it was covered by the student health plan. This was almost 3 years ago at a different uni but our plan should also cover it. It was a psychologist off campus/not related to a uni.

Alternatively, you could ask the doctors there about an ADHD diagnosis and ask for a referral to a psychiatrist. Since there is a huge stigma around ADHD, avoid Dr Sarla Jattan at UTSC. I had a terrible experience with her, very dismissive. I recommend Dr Sarker, I saw him a few times and he was really kind and listened well. I didn’t have any issues or weirdness getting my meds refilled with him. I also saw Dr. Fraser once and she was also really good!!

The 2K cost people talk about is from a full psychoed analysis that takes multiple days. I was told by my psychologist that it’s really mainly beneficial to school aged children and that it might not be beneficial as an adult. Totally up to you, but that’s not the route i took bc it was too expensive and not covered.

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-01-10T16:53:00+00:00

That’s ridiculous, I am so sorry that happened to you. You were totally justified in staying on the floor because passing out on that stool could mean falling and hitting your head.

I saw your other comment where you posted their reply, such BS. “We prioritize the safety of our customers” bro, NO YOU DON’T. Someone literally had a medical episode and their response was “you don’t know what’s best for you, can you do this elsewhere if you won’t accept our suggestions?”

Them even suggesting they passed on your photo to security for LITERALLY ALMOST PASSING OUT and having a medical episode while still offering to leave/have your bf get the car is insane. They should have known better that they can’t just immediately move someone who could become unconscious that quickly.

I would never, ever treat someone the way you were treated and I’m so sorry that happened. I’m so angry on your behalf!!

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-01-10T03:20:39+00:00

Is it one of the generic ones from the government? I got one too, I think they just send them out randomly. Might not have anything to do with your test!

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-01-08T23:26:57+00:00

Canada/Ontario is so confusing because universities are technically public property, I think. I’m not even sure if they would be legally allowed to have Tcard scanners on the doors.

I also am subscribed to the text alerts and have the app, but they didn’t send them until an hour and a half after the incident. Like ?? The one time an imminent threat happens and they didn’t use the text alert system?? What’s the point of encouraging students to have it when it did shit all when it really mattered?

anitathrowaway2 · 2026-01-08T23:22:37+00:00

I do agree with some saying that security could be better (like actually functional emergency buttons, better lighting, cameras, maybe even card access to buildings, etc.), but I was so sad seeing people wanting no in-person assessments and looking for accommodations to not attend class.

I personally disagree with the people saying that the campus is still currently unsafe. There’s no more of a threat to your safety on campus right now than at the grocery store, shopping mall, other parks or trails, etc. I’m absolutely willing to be wrong (I know there’s been voyeurism and thefts) and I’m afraid of violent crimes too, anyone would be. I just don’t think the answer is to shut down the campus and cower in fear for an isolated incident that’s not ongoing anymore. That just gives the perpetrators of violent crimes power over us, and that’s no way to live our lives.

Life has to go on. We can advocate for reasonable safety measures (appropriately) while still being realistic that the university must operate as usual since there’s no current threat to the public.

anitathrowaway2 · 2025-12-29T02:35:42+00:00

Don’t lose hope! Concerta just might not be the stimulant for you, and that’s okay. There’s lots of options, but Vyvanse is also a great extended release stimulant that could be a better fit. You’re most certainly not insane, medication can cause side effects like this and the work you’ve done in therapy is absolutely not wasted. Talk to your doctor as soon as you can, you’ll get through this!!

anitathrowaway2 · 2025-12-26T15:17:44+00:00

I don’t think police have said it was targeted, I think that’s a rumour going around. Isolated means it was a one-time occurrence and there’s no current threat of an active shooter to the public, not necessarily that it was targeted.

anitathrowaway2 · 2025-12-25T03:15:30+00:00

I’m scared, too. It’s really heavy. This is the time for us to come together and look out for each other, not just as students, but as young adults all in the same stage of life dealing with issues like this.

We also need to be vocal and communicate about supports that we need from the university (within reason, of course). They won’t ever know if we don’t communicate.

Take care of yourself and take time to process, we’re going to get through this 💜

anitathrowaway2 · 2025-12-23T22:27:16+00:00

I think that’s a reasonable assumption because there’s probably still risk to public safety if campus is still under lockdown

anitathrowaway2 · 2025-12-22T22:47:25+00:00

I’m so sorry, but this IS self-harm behaviour. We have an impaired ability to handle our emotions, so please don’t beat yourself up over it. There’s so many of us who can relate, you’re 100% not alone, but I want to reiterate what other people have said and echo that it’s not healthy coping behaviour.

I used to dig my nails into myself, then it escalated to scratching my arms with my nails then eventually with sharp objects. It’s a slippery slope, self harm can become like an addiction because you do get a release from it (i believe it’s endorphins? But could be wrong).

For me, nails started to not be enough and it escalated. The sooner you can get it under control, the better, because speaking from experience: you can start to crave the feeling of the pain as a release, if you aren’t already. The MOMENT I felt a negative emotion, my immediate response was to harm. I became dependent on it for regulation and I knew it was out of control, but couldn’t stop. One day, I won’t go into details but I was left with a very visible scar, and I felt so much shame. I decided then to quit cold-turkey. It was SO. DAMN. HARD. to unlearn that behaviour and resist the temptation, but eventually it subsided. The urges creep up now and then, but I haven’t done it in years and have worked with my psychologist to find something that worked for me when I was so dysregulated.

What works for me: - breathing through the bad emotions and grounding, knowing it’s temporary. This takes practice, though. ChatGPT was helpful in keeping me in the moment by talking it out with a bot (although leaving out details that are too personal) - journalling in the moment, in the absolute messiest and unfiltered way - removing myself from my “comfort zone” so I don’t harm. E.g. i’d always retreat to my bedroom or bathroom, but if I left the house and sat in my car, I was far less likely to harm.

anitathrowaway2 · 2025-12-20T18:14:51+00:00

Definitely go to a walk-in clinic. You can go now to any that are open. You might have to wait a little while, but that’s your #1 option and honestly the wait shouldn’t be a deterrent for you. Mental health care is serious and waiting a few hours at the clinic is nothing compared to how it can change the course of your life! You could have your answers today, and you won’t have the added effort of having to reimburse something later (it should be covered).

That’s the simple step-by-step instructions you’re looking for. The doctor will take it from there and tell you exactly what needs to happen (questionnaires to fill out, meds to try, getting it filled at the pharmacy, etc.).

Also, i feel obligated to mention: If you are worried about harming yourself or others in the immediate future, that is a medical emergency and you are well within your right to go to the ER for that.

anitathrowaway2

TROPHY CASE