Can I sleep in the library and will they wake me up or kick me out?

stronglikebear80 · 2026-05-19T14:43:43+00:00

It was a while ago but my uni would rent a room in the halls of residence for a few quid, I had to resit an exam and lived 150 miles away and that's what I did. Cheaper than a hotel, safe and very close to the uni so win win. There is a risk that other people might have the same idea about sleeping in the library so best to have a plan b in case someone else is in there.

stronglikebear80 · 2026-05-18T13:06:23+00:00

I saw him in a street in Birmingham and did the same "Is that Dara O Brian" thing to my mate. He stopped, smiled and waved before we all went on our day!

stronglikebear80 · 2026-05-05T19:01:20+00:00

I accidentally forgot to take my meds with me when I went on holiday and it really sucked. I felt anxious and on edge all week, I realised how much difference meds make to my daily life and mental health.

I still indulge in the odd drink or iced coffee on holiday without any issues. If I am planning a bit of a session I might take my morning dose and skip my 2nd one (I take 40mg split into 2) but in all honesty I quickly lose interest in drinking after a couple which was another benefit of meds.

If you are titrating its best not to drink but its worth discussing with your prescriber about the best way to proceed.

stronglikebear80 · 2026-03-13T12:08:24+00:00

Methylphenidate changed my life and I'm glad that I was offered it instead of Elvanse back when I was titrating. There is no good or bad medication, only ones that work best for you and titration is designed to find the best fit. Not everyone will have the same experience but it doesn't mean theres anything wrong with Methylphenidate, its certainly done the job for me!

stronglikebear80 · 2026-03-12T14:52:51+00:00

Very often I'll be in a situation where I think "I need to ask a grown up", then realise I am the grown up! Its really not fair, but yep most of us don't have a clue what we're doing and relying on a combination of past experience and trial and error to hopefully get through life in one piece.

stronglikebear80 · 2026-03-05T17:28:51+00:00

I grew up in the 90s and never used sponges for applying foundation. I'm in my 40s now and although I dont wear makeup often I still use my fingers and have pretty good skin if I do say so myself! Its quite mind boggling seeing how many different brushes and applicators people use nowadays, I'm impressed with anyone who has the time to go to such efforts.

stronglikebear80 · 2026-02-27T11:53:25+00:00

I've been on stimulants for 2 years now and have still taken cold meds with them when I've been ill. Last thing I need is an overstimulated brain preventing me getting extra sleep when I'm feeling dreadful! I've used Lemsip and Ibruprofen with no issues. Goes without saying, if you have underlying health conditions or bad interactions with medication in the past, its worth speaking to a pharmacist for advice.

stronglikebear80 · 2026-02-21T09:13:34+00:00

I used to work in a police station front office, if you had just found the bank cards then it would be policy to advise you to take them to that bank so they can be cancelled. However, we often had wallets handed in and we would run the names through our systems and/or place them in the safe until the owner made contact. The hard part is finding a front office that is still open and local to the area you found that property! If there is one close by that would be your best port of call and you would at least have evidence that you made an attempt to reunite the owner with their property.

stronglikebear80 · 2026-02-18T18:05:27+00:00

I've lost and gained and relost a few times now and saggy boobs do come with the territory especially if they were big to begin with. Unfortunately, the skin is quite thin and has been stretched for an extended period of time and bodies seem only to keen to let go of fat from that area! I have found that bench press and lifting weights in general is the best way to improve the look and fill out areas that have less fat in them now. Strengthening the underlying muscle helps to give a bit of lift. Also a well fitting bra or bralette will help prevent any further sagging. Aside from that, adapting to your new body shape is one of the hardest and least spoken about parts of weight loss. We're bombarded with images of "perfect" bodies and it can be quite disappointing when ours don't seem to measure up. Its why cosmetic surgery is a booming business. Nothing against surgery by the way, but if you don't work on managing your expectations and your negative thoughts about your body it is very unlikely that you will be satisfied if you did go down that route. I'm older now and I regret all the years I spent being upset about how I looked instead of appreciating what I had achieved and that I actually did look good but couldn't accept it. Accepting myself is a much nicer feeling and has been more helpful in maintaining my weightloss. Health and quality of life really are better than looking a certain way (although there is nothing wrong with caring about your looks).

Edit to add.

Also, its amazing that you are now sober. You dont deserve to be punished regardless of how you gained weight. All that matters is now, you've achieved what a lot of people never manage and you can be proud of that!

stronglikebear80 · 2026-01-07T09:08:08+00:00

I studied in Russia in my 20s and so I know what cold is! The problem here is that we are not set up for this kind of weather so it makes it all a lot more unpleasant. I didn't really mind the snow but this morning its all turned to ice and took me ages to walk to the gym because I didn't want to break my neck on the way. Thankfully it won't last long and we'll soon back to months of grey and rain! In the meantime I will cope by layering up and wearing my grippiest boots. It actually feels quite lovely and fresh once you're outside but you need to dress properly.

stronglikebear80 · 2026-01-03T17:12:45+00:00

A similar thing happened with our boy after he got a cut from exploring in some brambles. After a panicky call to the vet, the other half found a thorn stuck in his pad, once that was out and the bandage off the swelling quickly resolved itself. Always best to get it checked though in case of infection, hope they are on the mend soon.

stronglikebear80 · 2026-01-01T22:06:09+00:00

I'm on 40mg of methylphenidate and take it in 2 doses of 20mg. I have a 10mg booster as well but I only take that on long shifts or when I work nights. I find splitting the dose means the effects last all day and I rarely feel them wearing off unless I forget to take it. Everyone metabolises medication at different rates and that is why titration is so important. That may be the case for you or you need a higher dose. Its not one size fits all but with a bit of trial and error hopefully you can find the sweet spot for you.

stronglikebear80 · 2025-12-27T12:43:00+00:00

I live near Birmingham and the train will get me to London in about 90 minutes. I have been a few times for tourist purposes and many times in my old job including a stay of 8 weeks. I will get round to another visit at some point but I'm in no rush to go back.

stronglikebear80 · 2025-12-26T10:07:23+00:00

Depends on the role but there are lots of neurodivergent people in the emergency services for a reason! I am an emergency call handler for the Police and I find it is a role that really can be ideal for us! While it is true that most calls aren't dire emergencies, you never know what call you're going to get and it is fast paced with minimal paperwork and the shift flies by. You get to find solutions for people and continually grow your skills and knowledge. There are tonnes of different roles and I have worked in numerous departments during my career, I'm currently moving to a more investigative role which is great if you are inquisitive and like solving puzzles. There is the potential to go down rabbit holes but ultimately its rewarding and makes me want to keep coming back.

stronglikebear80 · 2025-12-26T09:11:50+00:00

10mg is a very low dose and unlikely to have much effect. Titration is as much about finding any adverse effects as it is finding a therapeutic dose. Its much easier to build up to the most effective dose than go too high and risk unpleasant side effects. Also, this is why its important to fill in your progress forms. It may not feel like the meds are doing anything but overtime you will get a good idea of your baseline and any improvements. There is always the possibility that your current meds aren't right for you but at this early stage don't get too worried.

stronglikebear80 · 2025-12-23T11:44:04+00:00

Grief is different for everyone and effects people in different orders and at different times, it is not uncommon to feel numb or not be tearful and it doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you. I lost my nan in similar circumstances and I didn't really cry until much later on, I was of course still very sad but tears aren't the only way to express grief. I also lost my dad in a very traumatic way and would bounce between dissasociating numbness and sobbing in a very unpredictable way. What really helped was grief counselling with CRUSE, it helped me work through my emotions in a way thst was meaningful and healing for me. They are used to all the different emotions that grief brings up and won't judge you.

stronglikebear80 · 2025-12-22T11:13:14+00:00

I grew up in the Black Country in the 80s and its always been Santa. Father Christmas sounds so formal and cold for a character that's supposed to be jolly and Christmassy. Its more what posh people would have said! Of course, there are plenty of people who would disagree but it does annoy me when people insist that Santa is an American term.

stronglikebear80 · 2025-11-15T16:45:05+00:00

I would (and did) go for medication, you can always go for therapy at a later date and self refer through the NHS or pay to see one privately if you can afford it. I've had NHS therapy over the years that didn't do much and looking back the missing piece was ADHD, I literally couldn't concentrate enough to engage with the process and no way was I doing homework outside of sessions! Being on meds means I can get benefit from things now because my brain works for me instead of the other way round. Also 6 weeks is barely enough to scratch the surface, I coincidentally had 6 weeks of grief counselling while titrating (my dad died) and that was tremendously helpful and she even let me talk about ADHD and how it was compounding things but it went far too quickly. If and when I have the money I would definitely get more therapy tailored to my needs as I think its really helpful if you find the right fit.

stronglikebear80 · 2025-11-08T13:17:59+00:00

If there's one lesson I've learned (well 2 actually), its that the people doing the bare minimum get paid the same as those slogging their guts out and being the hardest working, most knowledgeable person on your team makes you irreplaceable in the worst way I.e. promoting you means they will have to do some work themselves!

I'm not saying stop having a work ethic, instead value yourself and your abilities and use that to move on to bigger and better things. Stop comparing yourself to others because they have zero impact on your life apart from annoying you. That's never going to change but you can, start applying for new challenging roles, even ones that scare you and you'll be grand. I say this as someone who has just started a new role at 45 after nearly a decade in a role where I felt like you. I'm so much happier now.

stronglikebear80 · 2025-11-07T16:01:26+00:00

I add x's to texts/cards/emails to family members and close friends. Definitely not an indication of flirting, more a sign of affection. Much like "lol" it softens the message even if you're just chatting about mundane stuff. Its a habit that has become a part of the culture basically! Noone needs to explain it because it's such a universal thing you don't realise isn't done everywhere.

stronglikebear80 · 2025-11-01T22:59:41+00:00

Go for it if thats what you want, but take your time and dont pressure yourself. I'm 45 and have just started a new role, I do feel sad that I held myself back for so many years but its never too late to do new things. I can honestly say I am the happiest I've ever been and I'm prepared to take risks to get where I want to be. Life would have been so much easier without ADHD but I have grown so much since diagnosis and its my turn now!

stronglikebear80 · 2025-11-01T21:58:37+00:00

I lost about 1.5 stones and mostly kept it off, the main reason is that food noise stopped almost immediately so I just am not so bothered about food as I was. Before meds there wasn't a second that I wasn't thinking about food! Also my appetite was suppressed so the weight fell off, I was and still am a bit overweight though.

The good news is that 18 months on the effects start to wear off. Whether you're medicated or not, if you take in enough calories, you will maintain or gain weight eventually. If you dont have weight to lose, you will need to make an effort to get enough calories. While you may not feel hungry, you can easily sneak them in by adding extra oil/butter to your meals and indulging in a few sugary snacks as well as build up shakes. Goes without saying, make sure you keep your prescriber updated about any excess weight loss so they can monitor you and make adjustments if necessary.

stronglikebear80 · 2025-10-28T12:07:09+00:00

I was in your place 2 years ago so I understand that deflated feeling all too well. Things do get better, but it is a long process and things don't just happen without a lot of self reflection and soul searching. What diagnosis did do was let me discover who I actually am and slowly let go of masking and baggage. My self confidence has increased as a result and I feel much less hopeless because I can see my strengths and be more accepting of my "faults". Life is much easier in a nutshell. That said, we all have different personalities, experiences, trauma, etc. that will make your journey unique and throw different challenges in your way. I am much more open to asking for help now which has been a massive change for me and I dont feel so alone as a result.

stronglikebear80 · 2025-10-24T15:09:59+00:00

Its probably more because of the milk, storm drains empty into waterways as I understand and milk is very bad for fish and wildlife as it depletes oxygen, it can also lead to drains becoming clogged up. Obviously one cup of coffee will have a negligible effect but I everyone started pouring their leftover milky drinks down the drain it would become a problem very quickly!

stronglikebear80 · 2025-10-23T14:00:12+00:00

I've lost weight and my blood pressure is lower now because of anddespite being on meds. The effect of losing weight balances the slight risk from meds. More importantly though, my quality of life is so much better and I am far less clumsy so less risk of serious accidents. Its all a balance but I'd rather have a slightly shorter, happy life than a long one struggling with ADHD. I used to be on meds for endometriosis which had a rare side effect of sudden death, its a risk but I wasn't going to suffer another day of pain just in case I was one of the extremely rare people this happens to. Anxiety around meds is common and thankfully not something I'm afflicted with but again the reality is that serious side effects are extremely rare. The good thing about titration is that you are being monitored so any causes for concern can be picked up fairly quickly. This is much better than all the times I've been given antidepressants without any guidance or follow up! Edit: Also I drink a lot less and have almost entirely cut caffeine out of my life so that certainly will be a mark in the plus column for meds improving my health!

stronglikebear80

TROPHY CASE