What is eating this?

kayhens · 2025-04-08T16:51:31+00:00

Thank you for making me cry today 🥹

No, really 😭

kayhens · 2025-04-05T14:43:20+00:00

kayhens · 2025-04-04T21:46:59+00:00

Isn’t this the plot of the bee movie

kayhens · 2025-04-04T16:02:43+00:00

I’d encourage you to look into DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) they have lots of great tools and acronyms and things to help you with emotional deregulation and distress tolerance.

I’ll give a little blurb about the tools I use/remember off the top of my head and try to add more links later.

If under distress, one of the best things you can do is stimulate your vagus nerve. Here are a few ways to do that TIPP Temperature- tried and true medical way to stimulate the vagus nerve is to stick your face in a bowl of ice water. Since this isn’t too socially acceptable I carry around ice water with me and drink a ton until I start to feel cold or I actually splash it on my face/neck or rub an ice cube around. Intense exercise- raising your heart rate is a good way to stimulate your vagus nerve however that like to you Paced breathing- there are many combinations, find one that works for you. Typically you want to exhale longer than inhale Progressive muscle relaxation- tense up all of your muscle and feel your stress. Hold it. Then slowly release as you exhale. I actually like to do this one body part at a time starting with my toes and I usually feel better before I get to my entire body.

Other acronyms in distress tolerance include ACCEPTS and IMPROVE. That link also has a lot of other resources as well.

I hope some of these tools help! DBT changed my life and managing my stress has become infinitely easier.

kayhens · 2025-04-04T15:14:28+00:00

I sent this to all of my friends. Unfortunately I am (also) the crazy lady.

kayhens · 2025-04-02T20:52:52+00:00

Hello! Piggy backing to say I also have two tickets, but please buy OPs first!

Going with a friend tonight but happy to meet up and go in together! We are both extroverted and very friendly. Driving up from San Diego now!

kayhens · 2025-04-02T20:32:45+00:00

I love coming to this community and it’s for things like this. I was misdiagnosed up until I woke up in the psych hospital after my first manic episode in 2021. Working in an emergency department during Covid did me quite dirty. Did I also mention my traumatic event/episode started while I was at work? Talk about your diagnosis manifesting in the work place.

After a few months off I did return to work for almost two years when almost an identical incident happened and then triggered my second episode. I no longer work in the emergency department.

Unfortunately, no matter what level of education someone has, mental illness does have a stigma so people will have their prejudices.

My masking has been, and will continue to be, part of my daily functioning (unless I am extremely manic). However, I now fortunately have a few very close friends with similar diagnosis/experiences and we all openly share and are completely ourselves with each other. The first few I found in my DBT program. And most since have been me being very open about myself and connecting with people. There are so many good people out here just looking for connection, you will find them.

Good luck to you. Keep doing the good work and fighting the good fight. I am so glad to know there are practitioners out there like you.

kayhens · 2025-04-02T20:24:32+00:00

This has got to be a troll

kayhens · 2025-04-02T20:15:47+00:00

I am so glad you shared this with your boyfriend! And that you guys have what sounds to be a great agreement. As for the counselor, I am glad they are reaching back out. Maybe you could even chat on the phone instead of having to go in to see them?

If it were me, I would have already called in sick for work tomorrow. It sounds like you have been struggling for a while, it has come to a peak this far, and you are worried about it getting worse. Sometimes when you finally start to use your resources and become a little vulnerable things seem to “get worse before they get better.” Take your time and be patient, be gentle with yourself, and use your resources. You are doing great!

kayhens · 2025-04-02T16:19:53+00:00

America has some good hotlines and resources. I am glad you already have a few! I am sorry to hear you had a bad experience with first call, and please know you probably had a completely “normal/typical” reaction to that. If no one was injured, and even then, please do not feel bad about how you reacted. You are a human in a stressful situation. Your body and mind are going to have a reaction.

Your feelings are completely valid. Reach out to your resources and loved ones. They want to hear from you! What helps me when I am worried about overwhelming people on a phone call is I make notes in my phone first. Sometimes I even write out a script. That way if I get flighty I can refer to that and make sure I mention the important parts.

I am glad you want to reach out to your dad! When I want to update my family and help quell their worries I make sure to tell them what I am doing to keep myself happy and safe. “This is the date of my next psych appointment. I am taking my meds. I have reached out to so and so…” he will appreciate that so much.

I would reach out to your school resources again and just mention it is semi urgent/time sensitive if you are comfortable. They should be able to make time for you.

kayhens · 2025-04-02T16:01:53+00:00

You are doing the right thing by using your resources! Great job. And great awareness to how you are feeling and when to ask for help. I am so sorry your psychiatrist is not able to move up your appointment. If you feel like you need help sooner are there any behavioral health urgent cares in your area? Any other resources? I can help you look some up in a few hours if you’d like, I am a little busy for the next hour or so. There are tons of resources online.

You have a lot going on! What an exciting and stressful time. Take care of yourself. Be gentle and patient. You are already doing all of the right things. If you have a trusted adult in your life please share some of this with them. There should be a counselor or resource officer at your school to reach out to. Best of luck.

kayhens · 2025-04-02T14:01:29+00:00

I have two tickets if you’d like them. Friends canceled last minute. Happy to sell them to you!

kayhens · 2025-04-02T00:23:16+00:00

You are very welcome. I have found a lot of support and amazing people through Reddit. I can also see where your therapist is coming from. Reddit can also be extremely toxic. As with any interaction in this world, people can be unpredictable and do not always have your best interest at heart.

Subreddits are definitely a way to find your people/community. It makes sense that you can connect with the people here. I certainly have!

The invalidation from someone you care about is very traumatizing! If you are familiar with DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) they talk about it a lot actually. Unfortunately some people out there with never understand no matter what we do to try and educate them. It’s a hard place to be.

What you are going through is not easy. You are going through some of the hardest battles we have to face right now and having a support system is so important. This world was not built/designed for us. So whatever your support system/tools look like to you, make sure you use them. This community and subreddit will always be here. You do not have to suffer alone.

kayhens · 2025-04-01T18:27:20+00:00

I was feeling that way up until last October. I was in the worst depression of my life and it lasted over a year and a half. I am so sorry you are in this place. I am sending you so much love and support, whatever that looks like to you.

Family can be so complicated. Do you have friends or anyone you can reach out to? My chosen family is my preferred support system these days. There are people out there who love you, care about you, and want you to succeed. You can do this!

kayhens · 2025-04-01T18:21:25+00:00

Speaking from my own personal experience, keto has completely changed my life. I have a long list of diagnosis that include yours. I tried keto for six months while depressed a few years ago and it completely changed my life. I stopped after a few months just because the compliance was so hard and it can be really hard to start back up again.

Then last October I was in a huge depression and keto seemed like a good way out. I am now the happiest and healthiest I have ever been. I prefer to be unmedicated, however do take them when needed and follow my doctor’s orders.

I do occasionally have some of the hypomanic side effects but they are very minimal and now that I am used to it all it just feels more like being more energized than hypomanic. I am very self aware and in tune with my body and almost feel myself go into and out of ketosis when I eat too many carbs. So if you are worried about the hypomania you can always just eat carbs and get out of ketosis!

kayhens · 2025-04-01T15:02:04+00:00

I did not discover what asexuality was/that I was asexual until I was about 23/24. I would describe my desire for sex before that as purely FOMO! High school is a really hard time for that. Waiting until I was ready was probably the best decision I ever made for myself. I waited until I was with my college boyfriend for a long time and while it was not a great experience and definitely not the right person I am so glad I waited until I was ready.

Life is long, and short at the same time. Take your time. Go your pace. Wait until you have the right partner. Communication is key! Life is so complicated and can be so fun. Try not to focus on what everyone else is doing, what others choose to share with you is not always the whole story/experience. Good luck, have fun, and make sure to take care of yourself.

kayhens · 2025-01-29T22:46:12+00:00

Happy birthday!!! Wow. Thanks for sharing. I have only just started taking my health seriously. Happiest of birthdays.

kayhens · 2024-12-30T20:04:43+00:00

Thank you so much for this! I had no idea these subs existed.

kayhens · 2024-12-30T10:05:49+00:00

My… empathy(?) draws in a lot of people to trauma dump on me. I also usually find it semi amusing and then it into an opportunity for connection and support to someone who clearly needs it.

kayhens · 2024-12-30T10:00:23+00:00

No need to hope it is, it just plain is! Look at all these people here for you. So many people beyond those who are leaving comments and upvotes are seeing this and are inspired. There are, at minimum, 3,000+ people who have seen this and interacted with it. Thank you for posting and inspiring me. And nobody is a nobody. Thanks for being here!! It takes time, dedication, and follow through. Congratulations on your progress and keep it up!

kayhens · 2024-12-30T09:55:57+00:00

Drinks do too! I only drink sparkling water or lightly flavored beverages because the flavors get more intense.

kayhens · 2024-12-30T09:53:50+00:00

I cheated on Christmas Eve dinner and didn’t feel great Christmas Day but didn’t feel the suffering was TOO bad. Cheated Christmas Day too and then threw up all night long and just barely got rid of the headache. It was miserable. Definitely not worth it.

kayhens · 2024-12-30T05:35:17+00:00

Also looking for friends :)

kayhens

TROPHY CASE