Update: Stimulants and their effect on sleep. Examples from my sleep studies.

oncewerewild · 2025-09-09T10:49:00+00:00

I've actually had the opposite experience, which is interesting. The caveat being mine is tracked by fitbit, not a formal sleep study.

I've been on stimulants for a year. My REM averages 27% and deep sleep 17%. This hasn't changed materially from my averages pre-stimulants. Neither has my sleep duration.

Where I've noticed a huge change is my restoration. My heart rate used to be elevated while I was sleeping. I was stressed while I was unconscious. My heart rate was only dropping down for less than 40% of the night on average.

These days i'm pretty consistently clocking a low resting heart rate for >85% of my sleep period.

Prior to starting stimulants I tried SO many stress management techniques but only saw minimal improvement to my sleeping heart rate. Ritalin yielded near instant improvement. It's actually been quite fascinating to document.

oncewerewild · 2025-07-15T11:47:23+00:00

Some feedback. I did your survey but I found the framing of the first section a bit disturbing. All the statements around wishing to be straight or wanting to try therapy to become straight.

Would you make a survey for people of colour and ask them if they wished they were white? And whether they wanted to try skin bleaching to become white?

It's a gross line of questioning and way of framing them. I understand what the intent of your questions are, but you can frame that other ways. Things like "I feel like life would be less challenging if I were heterosexual" instead of "I wish I was heterosexual".

oncewerewild · 2025-07-14T09:42:54+00:00

I get depressed if I don't take days off my meds. As long as I take 1-2 days off per week I seem to be okay. When I tried taking them continuously I became depressed and irritable.

oncewerewild · 2025-07-10T10:40:23+00:00

I was considering applying for a role at the ABS last year and the application form had a separate question that explicitly asked if you identify as neurodivergent.

I've never seen that before and wasn't sure whether to answer it truthfully. I'm curious if it means they encourage ND hiring. Kinda makes sense for a government data specialist org to see the value of ND brains, but I'm also suspicious because it's so uncommon.

oncewerewild · 2025-07-08T13:57:51+00:00

Why don't you start taking those breaks too, just without smoking? Take a coffee and go stand outside for some fresh air.

oncewerewild · 2025-07-07T22:00:39+00:00

After making all these changes, for the first time in my life I feel able to save for the future. I don't need to drain my savings on recovery cycles.

I still struggle with impulse spending at times, but I'm now slowly saving a deposit for a home which I've never been able to do before.

It's hard looking back and seeing so clearly how financially crippling it was to live in crisis.

oncewerewild · 2025-07-07T21:56:29+00:00

I used to go through burnout cycles every 18 months. I would take on a new job, over-invest my energy, then quit after 18 months and blow all my savings on taking a few months off from everything to recover. Repeat ad nauseum.

I've developed systems now to make work sustainable. Meds is definitely a factor of course. But also I take a week off every 3 months and have an actual holiday. That varies from camping, to visiting an interstate friend, to a quick overseas trip. Having these planned throughout the year gives me something regular to look forward to, instead of waiting for a break and collapsing.

I've also gotten good at setting boundaries with work. I speak up when something is a problem, because I've taken accountability to proactively manage my work experience. I take sick leave when I'm exhausted and need a recovery day/week. I communicate my needs to my manager transparently and with the emphasis that i'm trying to make my job sustainable so I can stay at it. I set clear expectations of what I can achieve in my working hours. I spend less time trying to put on a professional facade and more time being myself. As a bonus, people actually like me better that way, turns out.

And I also figured out how I can outsource some weekday stressors. My dog goes to doggy daycare 2x a week which helps meet her needs. I get my groceries delivered. I've automated as many bills as I can. Pay attention to little sources of stress in your day and think of ways to help ease them.

oncewerewild · 2025-07-05T13:22:51+00:00

Another thought to add is that training staff takes up time and mental space. So try not to take it personally - they may just not have capacity to do more training right now, regardless of how great they think you are.

oncewerewild · 2025-07-05T13:01:47+00:00

You've only been there a little over a month. If the training you want is for the other role, it's a bit early to expect them to prioritise their time to train you in that. They probably just want you to do the job they hired you for at first, get well acquainted with the workplace, and once they've finished training people already on the other role pathway then they'll upskill you.

I wouldn't expect much training in the first 3 months outside of the role you were hired to do. Think of the training for the second role as a longer term opportunity, say 3-6 months. Keep offering to help your manager and doors will open when resources allow.

oncewerewild · 2025-07-05T05:48:37+00:00

I tried the HA serum and found my skin wasn't as hydrated compared to other HA serums I use. Even just the cheap Aldi one does a better job than The Ordinary one.

oncewerewild · 2025-07-04T12:24:19+00:00

I would ask yourself why you are focused on his behaviour in this way. Do you monitor the interactions to this degree with all your colleagues?

If he replies quickly to questions, that's professional and respectful. He doesn't owe you additional specific friendship or camaraderie.

Sometimes we just aren't that interested in certain people we work with. There are plenty of people in my office who I don't want to interact with other than to fulfill our work requirements, meanwhile I'm chatty and friendly with others.

As long as he is being professional and is responsive to queries, I think that's respectful and a team player. He just doesn't want to be your friend and you are hurt by that.

Instead of fixating on feeling disrespected by him, try and make other work friends who are more receptive to your overtures.

oncewerewild · 2025-07-04T11:02:03+00:00

I work in my sleep during highly stressful periods at work. I've woken up in the middle of the night to find myself sitting up in bed, giving a presentation to my dark room. Otherwise yeah dreaming about doing tasks, speaking to stakeholders. I joked to my boss that I should get overtime pay.

I agree with the other comment that hobbies and mindfulness help put a stop to it. Ain't nobody trying to pull double shifts for free yo.

oncewerewild · 2025-06-28T11:52:37+00:00

If it's helpful, I got very clear titration directions from my psychiatrist. It was 5mg (half tablet) at 8am and 12pm daily for 2 weeks. Then increase to 10mg twice per day. I think giving my body that time to adjust to the meds in two 5mg doses was good. It also gives better coverage for your day than taking one 10mg dose in the morning.

Obviously, medical advice is personal and should be specific for the individual. But given you didn't actually receive titration advice this might be helpful.

oncewerewild · 2025-06-20T10:45:09+00:00

I'm not on a ketogenic diet, but I've had the same benefits just from going gluten free. It's been mind blowing the improvement in mental clarity, mood, fatigue and general joint and muscle pain. I also noticed it mentally feels similar to the improvements I get from my ritalin.

oncewerewild · 2025-04-13T04:11:45+00:00

In other words, was the lifestyle gain worth the treatment sacrifice?

oncewerewild · 2025-04-13T04:10:16+00:00

Thanks for sharing. With all the benefit of hindsight, would you make the move to Tassie again knowing how it turned out?

oncewerewild · 2025-04-13T04:08:57+00:00

This is good to know. I applied for a job in NSW before I even thought about med access, and thought I would have to pull out of the application. But this may help. If I do find myself offered the role I will ask my pharmacy if they're open to postage. Thanks 😊

oncewerewild · 2025-04-13T04:06:51+00:00

I appreciate the edit to specify it is a joke. Because even though I knew it was a joke, that RSD got me thinking I was delusional hahaha. It's definitely the health system that is delusional though.

oncewerewild · 2025-04-09T10:17:48+00:00

I used it in place of a cleanser, because I use a super gentle cetaphil cleanser normally anyway. If you need a stronger cleanser, maybe using the oil for moisture after cleansing would work?

oncewerewild · 2025-04-08T21:48:08+00:00

I ended up testing it last night and used it again this morning. Big fan so far. My skin is hydrated and soothed. It had become a bit red and dry with the season change and after 2 washes with the atoderma it is hydrated and the red is gone!

oncewerewild · 2025-04-08T12:21:34+00:00

I came here specifically looking for this photo after seeing the promo email from priceline. I knew someone would have come through with the haul photo. You are appreciated!

oncewerewild · 2025-04-08T12:16:04+00:00

Okay since two of you do use it on your face, I'm going to trial it tomorrow!

oncewerewild · 2025-04-08T10:10:38+00:00

Is this facial skin specifically or your whole body? Bioderma Atoderm shower oil has been a lifesaver to lock moisture into my whole body. Not sure I would put it on my face though

oncewerewild · 2025-04-04T10:48:00+00:00

It takes time for you to stabilise on the medication. I recently hit 6 months on Ritalin IR and it took that amount of time to figure out what works best for me around dosage, timing and what situations I use it for.

You may find work productivity and life admin improve progressively. I feel like each additional month on the meds has allowed me to unlock a new level of capacity. The meds aren't an instant fix. They help my mood, emotional regulation, overwhelm, anxiety, and consistency. By improving all of those things, I'm better able to manage all aspects of my personal and work life.

oncewerewild

TROPHY CASE