• Having shared interests - What it says on the tin • Balanced relationships - To not have to put in all the work of planning, messaging, supporting, etc. That it's a mutual relationship (3/3)
• Showing up - To be there in big and small ways, whether that's checking in or major mutual aid • Accepting special interests - Even if they aren't as interested as we are in our special interests or hyperfixations, listening (and sharing their own) is nice (2/3)
Purely a me question here: How do you make the determination that it's unbalanced? I find that I can't (or don't is probably more accurate) trust my judgment around such things
I hear this from my clients about their ADHD medications all the time too. It's so easy for the new normal to sit front and center in our mind and it can make it feel like the medications aren't working anymore, even when they definitely, definitely are
While I wouldn't describe my experiences with this medication as life-changing, I would say that it's helped. For me, it's helped enough to continue taking them, and that flat-out baffles my relatively reluctant heart ^^; (10/10)
Similar to anxiety, I don't think the meds eliminated my struggles with emotional regulation; I think they reduce the energy it takes use my pre-existing skills. Where before I felt I was desperately clinging on by my fingernails, now it feels like I have an actual grasp (9/10)
When it has, I've felt as connected to my emotions as ever, but much less ruled by them. I've been more able communicate through intense emotions in a way I struggled with before. As this is something I've been working on for YEARS, this a big deal to me (8/10)
The biggest (and best, imo) effect, however, turned out to be neither of those. Instead, it was general emotional regulation. Since starting the medications, bad things have still happened. Life's thrown me sadness, anger, disgust, fear, and more (7/10)
Before the medication, my anxiety felt like it was present, but like it wasn't breaking shit. Since getting settled on the meds, it just feels like managing the anxiety takes less effort somehow. I wasn't seeking this effect, and it isn't a dealbreaker now, but I'll take it (6/10)
In terms of anxiety, I honestly felt my anxiety was mostly under control before starting on the meds. Me and anxiety are old friends. When I was younger, it definitely impacted my life in major ways. These days, it usually just feels like it's silently in the background (5/10)