"You're smarter than you seem."

Never posting again but you can look at my old stuff ***side blog***

[5tudy-or-die]

Please donate!! All donators will get a special prize!!

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Click here to support Help my aunt stay in her apartment organised by Sideena Williams

My aunty has been given 2 months to find £2000 to be able to stay in her rented room in London. She had a job but she is currently and stud

[threebigolsausages-deactivated2]

scientist: hey dad, I discovered a new spider today! and I named it after you

dad: thanks son! I really needed this today, the boys at work were making fun of my long legs again. what did you call it? :)

scientist: uh…

[onlinecounsellingcollege]

“Know this: you can start over each morning.”

— Unknown

[futureevilscientist]

ADHD anti-procrastination tip

For when other tips fail. No, forget the ‘tomato timer’/pomodoro technique. Forget breaking things down into itty bity entries on your to-do list just so you can give yourself a sense of accomplishment for every basic step. Those are absolutely great, useful tips, but sometimes they’re still not enough. Because the problem with those methods is that no matter how much you break it down, there will still be chunks of work that will seem big and insurmountable because they’re objectively harder to complete than the rest of it, and you will dread them and put them off. Instead, you know what you should do instead?

Don’t start. Don’t try to ‘trick’ yourself into starting, either, and don’t guilt yourelf over failing to start… but DO perform some basic prep to make it easier for you to start way down the line.

What are some tasks associated with starting and completing that Big Task™ for the deadline that are needed to do it well and efficiently? Tasks that by themselves are not hard, just potentially time-consuming and kinda boring and tasks which would only slow you down and sap your focus if you have to do them in the same chunk of hyperfocus as the Big Task™? Especially tasks that are hard to estimate in terms of how much time they’d take (so that if you did them last-minute, you’d be stressing out if they took longer than expected)?

For example, if you have to write a report for a field trip and the deadline is months away, you will take your messy hand-written notes from the field trip and transcribe them to the computer (or just write them anew, neater and more legible). Now when you finally do start, even if it’s one day before the deadline, you won’t have to do THAT just before you can start properly writing it.

Or if you have to write an essay and have a literature list, you can absolutely just… download the papers and articles and collect the materials for it ahead of time, without planning to start right away. Maybe sort them into folders by topic if you’re feeling ambitious. Track down papers you can’t get access to or that are behind a paywall, maybe ask a supervisor for them.

If you have to write a lab report for an experiment, you can prepare yourself by collecting the data from the experiment, tossing unsuccessful or blurry photos (if applicable), labelling things correctly and just making sure you know what’s what and what’s where. Clear up in advance that you know what was done where, and ask questions at this stage if you don’t. So that when you do start the lab report, you won’t have to stress out over not knowing something crucial and being too embarrassed to ask someone because the lab report is due in 8 hours and you’ve only just started it.

This seems like an obvious tip but it’s amazing how much you can fail to do it if you’re used to relying on hyperfocus to get you through steps A through Z of a given task, all in the same session.

And the best part? You get to thank your past self for doing that work ahead of time. And maybe even slightly feel like a functional human being who prepares for things. And really, how often do you get to do that? Even if you still put off the “main” part of the work, it’s still a nice feeling and a nice change of pace from the usual self-loathing and anger at yourself you might feel when trying to power through a procrastinated project.

[studyblringstudent]

Surviving School with Depression

Hey guys! So I’ve had depression since around middle school and now i’m a sophomore in college. I thought I would try to write some tips since I’ve been able to still do pretty well in school despite having depression. Now disclaimer, everyone’s depression is different and this is just what works for me. 

1. Do as much work at once as possible

You might think is a weird tip but for me, my motivation and mood fluctuate A LOT! I have times where I am super motivated and can stay focused and get several assignments done. Then there are other times when I don’t do any work all day. This makes it all kind of even out. When I get really focused, I just keep doing work for as long as that feeling lasts. 

2. Try different environments

The library is a really good one. The quiet can help some people focus and can be good. Also if you have a desk, that can be a good place. Play around with different elements: lighting, music, time of day. It may take some time but finding the ideal time and place for you to work can really help in productivity.

3. Plan and do work in advance

At the beginning of the semester, I went through all my syllabi and wrote a to-do list for each week. This was super helpful to be able to look ahead and see when everything was due/which weeks had more work than others. For me, all of my syllabi had the due dates for the entire semester included which made this easy to compile. I created a note on my phone with a checklist for each week. I also color coded each class so I could easily distinguish these (I’ll show this in a future post once the new semester starts!) I also made daily to-do list that broke down bigger tasks into smaller ones. Honestly, to-do lists are your best friend!

4. Give yourself a break

It’s important to not be too hard on yourself. You’re human! Everyone can’t be at their best all the time. There are good days and bad days. If you can’t focus on your work, try doing something else for a while like watching netflix, listening to music, whatever you like to do. Anything to distract your mind from bad thoughts can help improve your mood. Writing and coloring help for me sometimes too. It’s okay if you don’t get any work done all day as long as you’re taking care of yourself. This is something I’ve learned over the years and lately has been helpful. Find coping mechanisms that work for you. Just don’t be too hard on yourself.

5. Reward yourself

Similar to #4, recognize when you’re doing good. Did you get your homework done? Get that reading done? Start that essay? Reward yourself! That can be anything from a cookie, a face mask, an episode of that show you’ve been watching, anything! Celebrating the small victories is important when even the most menial tasks can be difficult. 

6. You come first

Your mental health should come first above all. I don’t want to get too personal but I left the first college I went to after the first semester in order to take time to get better since I was in a bad place. I decided not to go back and that’s totally fine. Every college is different and if you realize the place you’re at is not the right fit, you can transfer. It’s not the end of the world! (btw if anyone wants to talk about transferring/taking time off i’m here) Leaving definitely made my mental health improve, some schools are honestly just toxic. 

If any other depressed or neurodivergent peeps need some help feel free to message me any time!  

[myusshi-deactivated20250317]

Hello sweeties! My dad always raised me with the idea that I had to be intelligent, obedient, beautiful, quick, responsible and basically perfect. You can imagine what happened when I didn’t do something right. It still has an impact on my life to this day, but now I’ve learned that failure is part of success ♥

Practice acceptance:  It is okay to fail. fail does not equal negative. failing just means that it didn’t work this time. it does not mean you are worthless or stupid.  Once you accept this reality, you’re going to avoid a lot of pain. Suppressing it will only give you health problems (i’m talking from experience here). 

Replacing emotions:  Self-recrimination and guilt are not the right feelings to start with. It’s like trying to lose weight because you hate yourself. It will not work, or make you happier. Take the time to identify your feelings, and ask yourself what you could replace them with to achieve what you want: “I am proud of myself for trying my best.”

Ask for advice: Depending on what you failed at, you have a lot of people you could talk to. If it was a test, you could ask a friend with a good grade to help you. If it was a paper, talk to your teacher. If it’s a personal goal, you can journal your experience, meet with a counselor or someone with an unbiased view of the situation.  

Why did you fail? Before you do anything, ask yourself these questions and answer sincerely. Was it because you slacked off? You didn’t have time? Did you have other priorities? Is it maybe not what you really wanted? Were your goals too much to handle? Be flexible with yourself. 

It’s okay to try again: Trying again is perfectly fine. I don’t know where the fear of failure came from but we need to let it go (starts singing Meghan Trainor’s NO) But seriously. Do you know how many times famous people were rejected? go look it up, it’s seriously inspiring. 

*I wrote each one of these personally, so please don’t repost. I hope this helps you and encourages you to try again! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate on messaging me ^_^ © freepic icon

Love, Yumi 🌱

[lapt0pp]

how to grow the fuck up

[mxturity]

Home

what the hell is a mortgage?

first apartment essentials checklist

how to care for cacti and succulents

the care and keeping of plants

Getting an apartment

Money

earn $50-$100 by taking surveys

how to coupon

what to do when you can’t pay your bills

see if you’re paying too much for your cell phone bill

how to save money

How to Balance a Check Book

How to do Your Own Taxes

Health

how to take care of yourself when you’re sick

things to bring to a doctor’s appointment

how to get free therapy

what to expect from your first gynecologist appointment

how to make a doctor’s appointment

how to pick a health insurance plan

how to avoid a hangover

a list of stress relievers

how to remove a splinter

Emergency

what to do if you get pulled over by a cop

a list of hotlines in a crisis

things to keep in your car in case of an emergency

how to do the heimlich maneuver

Job

time management

create a resume

find the right career

how to pick a major

how to avoid a hangover

how to interview for a job

how to stop procrastinating

How to write cover letters

Travel

ULTIMATE PACKING LIST

Traveling for Cheap

Travel Accessories

The Best Way to Pack a Suitcase

How To Read A Map

How to Apply For A Passport

How to Make A Travel Budget

Better You

read the news

leave your childhood traumas behind

how to quit smoking

how to knit

how to stop biting your nails

how to stop procrastinating

how to stop skipping breakfast

how to stop micromanaging

how to stop avoiding asking for help

how to stop swearing constantly

how to stop being a pushover

learn another language

how to improve your self-esteem

how to sew

learn how to embroider

how to love yourself

100 tips for life

[confusedphaniel]

Websites to help ease Anxiety

I don’t have severe anxiety, and I’m not diagnosed by a professional but these help me come down from overstimulation so I hope this list is useful to others! 

The Thought Room

This lets you type of your thoughts then drops them down into the stars. It has calming music and to me is very calming, and excellent for letting your feelings out.

Casanova

You get to stretch a giraffes neck so it can kiss other giraffes. This one is really cute and simple. You play until the time runs out.

90 Second Relaxation Exercise 

Calming words to calming music 

Hatchlings 

You get to use your mouse to lead a chicken around and hatch eggs. It super cute and good if you want to not use your brain at all

Liquid Particles 

You just drag the mouse around and the colourful particles will react to what you’re doing 

Silk 

This one is basically a mirror drawing game. What you draw on one side appears on the other as well. (you can change settings and stuff too so it doesn’t mirror. I drew a dog.

The Calming Manatee

This one is basically pictures of Manatees with nice, encouraging saying on them.

Neo Flames 

This is where you create your own nebula. You choose colors and intersperse them so you create your own special spacey art. The colors mix and stuff so you can make it rly rly pretty. Here’s a piece of my nebula 

I hope this post helps someone, and if it doesn’t I hope someone at least has fun :) 

[deciduqueen]

Tips for writing an essay with executive dysfunction: do this.

Write out bits and pieces of the essay. When you get to a part you can’t/”don’t want to” write, put it in bold brackets. Get as much done as you can and come back in a half an hour or so!

If the executive function is still bothering you, take it one bracket at a time. Don’t delete the bracket until you’re done “filling it in,” so to speak. If you need to take more breaks or hop to the next bracket, you can do that too! Similarly, if you have a thought you want to get down but you aren’t sure how to word it, put it in bold brackets as well!

It may not “cure” the executive dysfunction or procrastination problems, but it makes writing the essay more like putting shapes in holes of the same shape. It can be a pain, but the process is a bit more streamlined and user-friendly.

I know this may not work for everyone, but as someone who has really bad executive dysfunction and problems focusing (thank you, ADHD!) this works REALLY well for me! I hope by sharing it it can help other people (with and without executive dysfunction/adhd) too! o/

[mt-is-mental]

Studying with mental illness

I’ve discovered a couple of things first semester of college and dealing with mental illness. Most of the semester I was feeling depressed and anxious (rather than manic or lucid, etc.). It was very difficult to focus, but I found out some stuff.

THE POMODORO TECHNIQUE IS LIFE. If you can’t focus, take a break and do something distracting for a little bit. Check in with yourself. What is preventing you from focusing? After you adjust a little, try to do some work.

DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP OVER NOT GETTING STUFF DONE. It’s not your fault. At the worst you can email your professor for an extension.

GO TO DISABILITY SERVICES. They can help you get accommodations for your classes. Accommodations are there to help you succeed.

SEE A THERAPIST. This sounds strange for helping you study, but if there’s stuff on your mind, it’s best to get it out by talking to a safe person. This will help you get back on track. Also, Dialectical Behavior Therapists will help you come up with strategies for studying.

TAKE YOUR MEDS REGULARLY. If you don’t have a meds schedule, start one. Taking your meds at different times each day is going to throw you off. I’ve been there. Set reminders on your phone and keep the medicine with you so you have no excuse.

READ SUMMARIES. If you have trouble with focusing, read the summary. It’s not going to work to force yourself to read long things.

FIGURE OUT YOUR LEARNING STYLE. And then use it. If you’re a visual learner, go look at diagrams and read summaries. If you’re a kinetic learner, rewrite your notes. If you’re an auditory learner, record yourself reading your notes out loud or ask to record the class (you can get an accommodation for this). Figure out your style.

TRY TO ATTEND CLASS. This is especially important for classes where they take role. If you have to, show up for the first 30 minutes and then leave. When I’m not doing as well, I sit in class on my laptop looking at Pinterest and tumblr.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP. This is the most important thing. You can do this!

So I hope these tips are helpful. If you want to hear more about my experience or want a suggestion on how to work better, shoot me a message.

[why-d0-i-exist]

Alternatives for Self-Harm

Alternatives for when you’re feeling angry or restless:

Scribble on photos of people in magazines

Viciously stab an orange

Throw an apple/pair of socks against the wall

Have a pillow fight with the wall

Scream very loudly

Tear apart newspapers, photos, or magazines

Go to the gym, dance, exercise

Listen to music and sing along loudly

Draw a picture of what is making you angry

Beat up a stuffed animal

Pop bubble wrap

Pop balloons

Splatter paint

Scribble on a piece of paper until the whole page is black

Filling a piece of paper with drawing cross hatches

Throw darts at a dartboard

Go for a run

Write your feelings on paper then rip it up

Use stress relievers

Build a fort of pillows and then destroy it

Throw ice cubes at the bathtub wall, at a tree, etc.

Get out a fine tooth comb and vigorously brush the fur of a stuffed animal (but use gentle vigor)

Slash an empty plastic soda bottle or a piece of heavy cardboard or an old short or sock

Make a soft cloth doll to represent the things you are angry at; cut and tear it instead of yourself

Flatten aluminum cans for recycling, seeing how fast you can go

On a sketch or photo of yourself, mark in red ink what you want to do. Cut and tear the picture

Break sticks

Cut up fruits

Make yourself as comfortable as possible

Stomp around in heavy shoes

Play handball or tennis

Yell at what you are breaking and tell it why you are angry, hurt, upset, etc.

Buy a cheap plate and decorate it with markers, stickers, cut outs from magazines, words, images, what ever that expresses your pain and sadness and when you’re done, smash it. (Please be careful when doing it)

Alternatives that will give you a sensation (other than pain) without harming yourself:

Hold ice in your hands, against your arm, or on your mouth

Run your hands under freezing cold water

Snap a rubber band or hair band against your wrist

Drip hot candle wax on your skin (please be careful doing this)

Clap your hands until it sting

Wax your legs

Drink freezing cold water

Splash your face with cold water

Put PVA/Elmer’s glue on your hands then peel it off

Massage where you want to hurt yourself

Take a hot shower/bath

Draw in red ink lines where you want to self harm

Take a hot or cold shower/bath

Jump up and down to get some sensation in your feet

Write or paint on yourself

Arm wrestle with someone

Bite into a hot pepper or chew a piece of ginger root

Rub liniment under your nose

Rub lotion on yourself

Put tiger balm on the place(s) you want to cut. (Tiger balm is a muscle relaxant cream that induces a tingly sensation. You can find it in most health food stores and vitamin stores).

Alternatives that will distract you or take up time:

Say “I’ll self-harm in fifteen minutes if I still want to” and keep going for periods of fifteen minutes until the urge fades

Colour your hair

Count up to ten getting louder until you’re screaming

Sing on the karaoke machine

Complete something you’ve been putting off

Take up a new hobby

Make a cup of tea

Tell and laugh at jokes

Play solitaire

Count up to 500 or 1000

Surf the net

Make as many words out of your full name as possible

Count ceiling tiles or lights

Search ridiculous things on the web

Colour coordinate your wardrobe 

Play with toys, such as a slinky or play-doh

Go to the park and play on the swings or jungle gym

Call someone

Go “people watching”

Carry safe, rather than sharp, things in your pockets

Do school work

Play a musical instrument 

Watch tv or a movie

Paint your nails

Alphabetize your CDs or books or movies

Cook

Make origami to occupy your hands

Doodle on sheets of people

Dress up or try on clothes

Play computer games or painting programs, such as photoshop 

Write out lyrics to your favourite song

Play a sport

Read a book/magazine

Do a crossword 

Draw a comic strip

Make a chain link out of paper counting the hours or days you’ve been self-harm free using pretty coloured paper

Knit, sew, or make a necklace

Make ‘scoobies’ - braid pieces of plastic or lace, to keep your hands busy

Buy a plant and take care of it

Hunt for things on eBay or Amazon

Browse for forums

Go shopping

Memorize a poem with meaning

Learn to swear in another language

Look up words in a dictionary

Play hide-and-seek

Go outside and watch the clouds 

Plan a party

Find out if any concerts will be in your area

Make your own dance routine 

Trace your hand on a piece of paper; on your thumb, write something you like to look at; on your index finger, write something you like to touch; on your middle finger, write your favourite scent; on your ring finger, write something you like the taste of; on your pinky finger, write something you like to listen to; on your palm, write something you like about yourself

Plan regular activities for your most difficult time of day

Finish homework before it’s due 

Take a break from mental processing

Notice black and white thinking

Get out on your own, get away from the stress

Go on YouTube 

Make a scrapbook

Colour in a picture or colouring book

Make a phone list of people you can call for support allow yourself to use it

Pay attention to your breathing (breathe slowly, in through your nose, and out your mouth)

Pay attention to the rhythmic motions of your body (walking, stretching, etc.)

Learn HALT signals (hungry, angry, lonely, tired)

Choose a random object, like a paper clip, and try to list 30 different uses for it

Pick a subject and research it on the web - alternatively, pick something to research and then keep clicking on links, trying to get as far away from the original topic as you can

Take a small step towards a goal you have

Alternatives that are completely bizarre, at least you’ll have a laugh:

Crawl on all fours and bark like a dog or another animal

Run around outside screaming

Laugh for no reason whatsoever

Make funny faces in a mirror

Without turning orange, self-tan

Pluck your eyebrows

Put faces on apples, oranges, or other sorts of food

Go to the zoo and name all of the animals

Colour on the walls

Blow bubbles

Pull weeds in the garden  

Alternatives for when you’re feeling guilty, sad, or lonely: 

Congratulate yourself on each minute you go without self-harming 

Draw or paint 

Look at the sky Instead of punishing yourself by self-harming, punish yourself by not self-harming 

Call a friend and ask for company 

But a cuddly toy 

Give someone a hug with a smile 

Put a face mask on 

Watch a favourite TV show or movie 

Eat something ridiculously sweet 

Remember a happy moment and relive it for a while in your head 

Treat yourself to some chocolate 

Try to imagine the future and plan things you want to do 

Look at things that are special to you 

Compliment someone else 

Make sculptures 

Watch fish 

Play with a pet 

Have or give a massage 

Imagine yourself living in a perfect home and describe it in your mind If you’re religious, read the bible or pray 

Light a candle and watch the flame (be careful) 

Go chat in the chat room 

Let yourself to cry; crying is a healthy release of emotion 

Accept a gift from a friend 

Carry tokens to remind you of peaceful comforting things/people 

Take a hot bath with bath oil or bubbles 

Curl up under a comforter with hot cocoa and a good book 

Make affirmation tapes inside you that are good, kind, gentle (sometimes you can do this by writing down the negative thoughts and then physically re-writing them into positive messages) 

Make a tray of special treats and tuck yourself into bed with it and watch tv or read 

 Alternatives for when you’re feeling panicky or scared: 

“See, hear, and feel” - 5 things, then 4, then 3, and countdown to one which will make you focus on your surroundings and sill calm you down 

Listen to soothing music; have a CD with motivational songs that you can listen to 

Meditate or do yoga 

Name all your soft toys Hyper focus on something 

Do a “reality check list” - write down all the things you can list about where you are now (i.e It is the 9th of November 2015, I’m in a room and everything is going to be alright) With permission, give someone a hug 

Drink herbal tea 

Crunch ice 

Hug a tree 

Go for a walk if it’s safe to do so 

Feel your pulse to prove you’re alive 

Go outside and attempt to catch butterflies or lizards 

Put your feet firmly on the floor 

Accept where you are in the process. 

Beating yourself up only makes it worse 

Touch something familiar/safe 

Leave the room 4/7/8 breathing - breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and breathe out for 8 seconds. 

Repeat until you feel calm. 

Alternatives that will hopefully make you think twice about harming yourself: 

Think about how you don’t want scars 

 Treat yourself nicely 

Remember that you don’t have to hurt yourself just because you’re thinking about self-harm 

Create a safe place to go 

Acknowledge that self-harm is harmful behaviour 

Repeat to yourself “I don’t deserve to be hurt” even if you don’t believe it 

Remember that you always have the choice not to cut: it’s up to you what to do 

Think about how you may feel guilty after self-harming 

Remind yourself that the urge to self-harm is impulsive: you will only feel like cutting for short bursts of time 

Avoid temptation 

Get your friends to make you friendship bracelets; wear them around your wrists to remind you of them when you want to cut 

Be with other people 

Make your own list of things to do instead of self-harm 

Make a list of your positive character traits 

Be nice to your family, who in return, will hopefully be nice to you 

Put a band-aid on the area where you’d like to self-harm 

Recognize and acknowledge the choices you have NOW 

Pay attention to the changes needed to make you feel safe 

 Notice “choices” vs “dilemmas" 

Lose the "should-could-have to” words. Try “what if" 

Kiss the places you want to SH or kiss the places you have healing wounds. It can be a reminder that you care about yourself and that you don’t want this 

Choose your way of thinking, try to resist following old thinking patterns 

The Butterfly project - draw a butterfly on the place(s) that you would self-harm and if the butterfly fades without self-harming, it means it has lived and flown away, giving a sense of achievement. Whereas if you do self-harm with the butterfly there; you will have to wash it off, therefore "killing it”. You can start again by drawing a new one on. You can name the butterfly after someone you love. 

Write the name of a loved one [a friend, family member, or anyone else who cares about you] and write their name where you want to self-harm. When you go to self-harm remember how much they care and wouldn’t want you to harm yourself. 

Think about what you would say to a friend who was struggling with the same things you are and try to be a good friend to yourself. 

Make a bracelet out of duct tape, and put a line on it ever day (or ant period of time) you go without self-harm. When it’s full of lines, take it off and make a chain out of all the bracelets and hang it up somewhere where you can be reminded of your great progress 

Alternatives that give the illusion of seeing something similar to blood:

Draw on yourself with a red pen or body paint 

Cover yourself with plasters where you want to cut 

Give yourself a henna or fake tattoo 

Make “wounds” with makeup, like lipstick 

Take a small bottle of liquid red food colouring and warm it slightly by dripping it into a cup of hot water for a few minutes. Uncap the bottle and press it’s tip against the place you want to cut. Draw the bottle in a cutting motion while squeezing it slightly to let the food colour trickle out. 

Draw on the areas you want to cut using ice that you’ve made my dropping six or seven drops of red food colour into each of the ice cube tray wells 

Paint yourself with red tempera paint 

‘Cut’ your skin with nail polish (it feels cold but it’s hard to get off) 

Alternatives to help you sort through your feelings: 

Phone a friend and talk to them 

Make a collage of how you feel 

Negotiate with yourself 

Identify what if hurting you do bad that you need to express it in this way Write your feelings in a diary 

Free write (write down whatever you’re thinking at the moment, even if it doesn’t make sense) 

Make lists of everything, such as blessings, in your life 

Make a notebook of song lyrics that you can relate to 

Call a hotline 

Write a letter to someone telling them how you feel (but don’t send it if you decide not to) 

Start a grateful journal where everyday you write down three: good things that happened/things that you accomplished/are grateful for/made you smile. 

Make sure the journal is strictly for positive things. Then when you feel down, you can go back and look at it.

Hotlines:

Suicide Hotlines Worldwide

Suicide (and other support) Hotlines UK

Suicide (and other support) Hotlines USA

Sexual Abuse & Domestic Violence Hotlines (USA)

Child Sexual Abuse & Domestic Violence Hotlines (USA

More:

Feeling Sad? - Masterpost of Links/Websites/Games to visit when feeling sad

100 Reasons NOT to Commit Suicide

More Help/Tips/Advice

[sensitivesuggestion]

types of healthy coping skills

1. self-soothing

comforting yourself through the 5 senses

Touch: stuffed animals, stress balls, taking a bath, a soft blanket

Hear: music, audio book, guided relaxation

See: snow globe, glitter, calming images, art, anything that pleases you visually 

Taste: tea, mints, gum

Smell: lotion, candles, incense 

2. distraction

removing your focus from the stressor for a period of time

puzzles, art, crafting, reading, movies, gaming, exercise, being social

3. opposite action

doing the opposite of the impulse that aligns with a positive emotion

affirmations, inspiration, lighthearted and encouraging focus

4. emotional awareness

identifying and constructively expressing what you’re feeling

journaling, listing emotions, using a emotional identification chart, drawing, therapy

5. mindfulness

centering and anchoring yourself to the present moment

meditation, guided relaxation, yoga, breathing exercises, candle gazing, going for a walk

6. ask for help

this is important to do when you feel like your coping skills are not enough or they are too negative and detrimental  

therapy is ideal for helping a person create a healthy coping strategy and incorporate it into their life 

*a coping skill is considered healthy if it helps you to deal with stress more positively, does not hinder your progress, and isn’t harmful physically or mentally. A coping skill can become negative when it is used to completely avoid dealing with the stressor. 

[astro-chica-blog]

me: i have adhd

you: but i’ve never seen you act hyperactive

me: it’s… it’s not that kind of adhd

[self-healing]

Having ADHD is such a rollercoaster because it’s like we have to strategize every single day of our lives, even when taking medication, in order to do tasks or bring them to full completion.

I have to make sure I get a good night’s sleep otherwise my medication will usually only help me during the morning rather than last consistently throughout the day, and I also have to make sure I eat a fulfilling meal, and I have to coordinate my schedule so that I don’t get lost. Sometimes my mood isn’t particularly amazing either and it often compromises everything else.

I’m thankful that I have medication but I wish there were more doctors and professionals that taught us how to work with the medication rather than let us loose on the presumption that therapy and medication alone is all that can be done. People with ADHD live their whole lives up until diagnosis with little to no clue how to set up a system that’ll work for them because they! are! disabled!

Seriously. If I could describe one major element of receiving a diagnosis and taking medication all at once, it would have to be that feeling and realization that I have lived my whole life with no clear direction of where I was going or what I was doing. Having both ADHD and depression feels like I have to play catch up, not with other people, but with myself.

[coalmuffin]

Haha wow who would’ve thought that one of the big contributors to me failing my first semester of college was because I was undiagnosed with inattentive adhd 🙃

[yafeel-deactivated20191104]

-that adhd feel when you copy down every little detail the teacher has on the board to “pay attention” even though you have no idea what you’re writing because you’re completely gone and tuned out - that adhd feel when you “come to” and realize you just missed like the whole class lesson -that adhd feel when you haven’t learned like anything new these past few years because your brain just won’t soak up the information - that adhd feel when you’re scared of driving or going to an airport alone or being an adult with basic responsibilities like bills and a job because you lack common sense and forget basic rules and always space out and feel lost and you don’t trust yourself handling things -that adhd feel when you have no idea what you did in class today but you think you’ll “figure it out at home” because you haven’t processed yet that you have homework and learning to do -that adhd feel when there’s silent reading in a class period so you pretend to read while you think of other things -that adhd feel when you realize you forgot to write homework down in your planner so you’re fucked unless you ask a bud -that adhd feel when you’re looking for something in your backpack and right away you forget what you even need so you keep rummaging around hoping the thought will eventually come back -that adhd feel when halfway through your Spanish class you realize you were thinking of an American idol audition from like 10 years ago that you thought was really funny and how there should be an American idol special with all of the craziest auditions and then you think about Simon Cowell on the X factor and how it really gets to you when he smiles at the contestants because he’s normally a rude guy but that’s a super cool thing for him to do and then you realize you’re supposed to be working on a Spanish activity with your partner - that adhd feel when you’re like “nah I’m normal I’m making this up in my head everyone zones out here and there” but then you become hyper focused on all these adhd blogs while ignoring all your other responsibilities because u realize you actually are relating here -that adhd feel when you’re trying to take a test with no meds and you can only focus on the sounds of the pencils of all the kids around you and why do they have to write so hard calm down write lightly

[untitled4022]

Okay, but concept: shout out to the ADHD/ADD kids that don’t try harder than everyone else anymore.

Everybody always shouts out the kids trying harder than everyone else, but you deserve a cheering section too.

I don’t know who made you feel like your best wasn’t good enough, but they’re wrong.

That was my older brother. Everybody told him he was stupid despite his best efforts and then he just gave up and nearly flunked out of senior year. While I know one post isn’t gonna change that for somebody, I just want you all to know how valuable you are: That you’re smarter than your 6th grade math teacher said, and you’re working harder than your 10th grade history teacher could understand.

Keep trying your best. That’s all anybody can ask of you.