It appears I like brandy. This is a surprise to me. I recall having tried brandy before, with eggnog. The Narcissist was a huge fan and would always have some of each in the house at this time of year. I tried it but never developed a taste for it. One of the friends who … Continue reading Surprise! I like brandy.
Depression/Anxiety
Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present
It is Sunday evening of Thanksgiving weekend and I have a glass of eggnog heavily dosed with brandy beside me. My Christmas tree was bought and decorated this weekend. I am admiring it as I type. Oliver the Cat is unimpressed A couple of friends helped me with the tree. We decorated while sipping a … Continue reading Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present
Thanksgiving Day Diet Strategy
This is not another piece about how to maintain one's diet through the holidays. This is a piece about saying fuck it to that nonsense. I've lost 15 pounds since August and that's pretty great. I've found nutritional strategies that work for me both physically and emotionally. Here's why it's working, though, and why I … Continue reading Thanksgiving Day Diet Strategy
Depression and… feeling thankful?
It's easy to lose sight of good things when in the midst of a depressive spell. Please remember this: one can be thankful without feeling happy. I am thankful for my friendships. For the roof over my head, the hot water and heat that both work, the clothes I wear, the privileged life I lead. … Continue reading Depression and… feeling thankful?
Thoughts On “The Miniaturist” by Jessie Burton, ADHD, and Loneliness
I spent the last week transported into the 1600s in Amsterdam. It was winter, and it was cold. And I was very much alone, and very lonely. The reading project is going well. I have made it through The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton, and have now moved on … Continue reading Thoughts On “The Miniaturist” by Jessie Burton, ADHD, and Loneliness
It’s okay to still be angry
Even years after going no contact the abuser will pop into your head sometimes. And it's okay to feel a burst of rage at them. It's okay to feel fury about all they did and all you've struggled to recover from. It's okay to have those moments. And it's reasonable and acceptable to lament their … Continue reading It’s okay to still be angry
Relaxing about appearances
People often don't understand how much preparation and forethought I put into how I look for random gatherings and events. It isn't consistent. It varies according to my mood and anxiety level. If I'm going to the house of a close friend to watch a movie, or to a casual brunch, or to grab coffee … Continue reading Relaxing about appearances
Failure to Connect (AITA?)
On Wednesday night, I was supposed to meet up for drinks with an old friend I hadn't seen in many years. We had texted on Sunday about it. Wednesday evening, we said. Neither of us could think of where to go, but we agreed we'd think on it and get back to one another. I … Continue reading Failure to Connect (AITA?)
ADHD: Workplace Successes and Frustrations
On Friday of this past week, I pulled out a notebook and a pen. There were four screens in front of me. Two of them were large computer monitors mounted to the back of my desk. One was the laptop attached to them both. The other was my mobile phone. Ha, actually, there were five … Continue reading ADHD: Workplace Successes and Frustrations
Cleaning House Without Distractions
ADHD, depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, recurring headaches… It's understandable why my home is generally not very clean. Tidying up quickly before friends come over is something I can do. Knowing there is a deadline puts pressure on me, and I perform well under pressure. (ADHD and Cleaning) It's an adrenaline thing. My mind and energy … Continue reading Cleaning House Without Distractions
ADHD and Cleaning
What to do when you're terrible at keeping your home tidy but you really enjoy having your close friends over? Invite them over anyway. We all know people who will judge us for not keeping our homes spotless. They might even find the urge to open a closed door to see what's inside a room … Continue reading ADHD and Cleaning
It’s Okay To Want To Feel Pretty
You want to stop spending so much. You even wrote a post about it the other day (Financial solutions and headway disorientation update). And yet you went to Sephora and spent $90 today, for no real reason. You intended to just go and get a sample of a foundation. You've gotten sick of tinted moisturizer. … Continue reading It’s Okay To Want To Feel Pretty
A week of dingbats
It's Saturday! Finally! I don't think I've been this happy for a weekend in ages. It was a long week. For some it might sound silly to hear someone say working every day was exhausting, but for me, working every day was exhausting. And there were a number of things I did to cause this, … Continue reading A week of dingbats
Thoughts on trying to date again
Today is day 4 of avoiding tomatoes and I'm feeling a ton better. Not 100%, but much better than I was. I think I might also be feeling a bit lonely for male companionship. I saw Cookie last Thursday and his hugs may have triggered something. Some memory of how nice it is to feel … Continue reading Thoughts on trying to date again
Appreciating Stillness
I spent my Friday night reading and listening to the sound of rain pounding down outside my windows. No screens. No music. No TV. (Benefits of a Digital or Screen Detox for ADHD Symptoms) Just the tap tap tap tap tap of raindrops on the metal of my oven vent and the shhhhh of water … Continue reading Appreciating Stillness