- Joined
- Jan 19, 2013
- Messages
- 831
- Points
- 178
I used to be super active in several online forums; particularly the Sphynxlair and Librarything. I'm easing back in here, and stumbling like hell trying to settle back on LT. I still automatically type that URL every other day when I forget which site I wanted to go to (the struggle of a "communications professional"), even though I haven't been consistently active in years. So much has happened since 2015, and I'm still recovering from a fair bit of emotional trauma. I'm so lucky to have wonderful friends, including a wonderful husband. A bit of oversharing and mild language to follow...
Some of you may remember that I was trying to rehome Nym.
She had a whole host of problems, and I was convinced that I was a major part of the problem. In truth, my husband and I had an awful roommate who had convinced me that Nym needed to be rehomed. My husband wasn't home enough to recognize the manipulation that was going on, so it may have looked like the idea was solely mine. Nym is a special-needs kitty; she still has accidents, fixates on locations, and we've learned how to deal with it. I'm not saying that this is something that anyone must do; just that we have. A major help: this place isn't wall-to-wall carpet!
In May 2017, I had an emotional breakdown, which aforementioned roommate made about himself. He and our other roommate decided to start looking for a new place to live, which made me feel freed from some twisted sense of obligation to help the asshole figure out how to human. So I found a nice apartment that was ready to receive me, my husband, and our babies several days before our roommates' new location could allow them to move in (but they left a full house for me, husband, and a wonderfully helpful friend of ours to clean up).
I am wonderful-friend's self-appointed little sister, and he helps husband from working too too much.
Nym and Smidget took to the new place instantly. Surprising no one, some of her problems have permanently disappeared.
In 2016, I'd started getting involved with fandom conventions. NerdCon was an amazing experience, I was fortunate to be part of a local convention's last event (though nobody was happy to learn that it was the last), participated in a few event firsts, and by May 2017 (an obviously pivotal time), I'd gone from unknown to expected at these things. ♥︎ The community was instrumental in jump-starting the healing process.
And...just...this happened! For several months, I'd introduce myself (at nerd functions) thusly:
Hi, I'm Jessica, and I cried on Rob Paulsen!
In December 2018, I reshared a depression grievance in a corner of my expansive community. I prefaced it with "I don't want any suggestions", because I just wanted to vent, but one of my friends shared something I hadn't seen before:
You see, I was tired of feeling anxious and depressed, but terrified of trying medication, again. I'd given SSRIs a go in 2008 to get through school, and tapered off at the end of my prescription (under strict medical supervision!!!). In that time, I experienced rapid weight gain (diet nothing to do with it), apathy, and severe lethargy. Taking all this in, my friend shared this diagram that his psychiatrist had shared with him. I replied: Why was I ever put on SSRIs???
I shared this with ALL of my friends, and one of them added another invaluable factor to my toolbox: When his medication is working correctly, he feels even; it's when he misses a dose that he feels the effects.
Better informed, I found a psychiatrist in my network, and she accommodated my concerns. I'm now on the appropriate medication, and I'm amazed by the difference it's made. In fact, since I started the regimen in January, yesterday was the first time I'd missed a dose, and am I ever feeling it, today. ^^; I'm mostly okay; just a bit dizzy.
To top everything off, I'm back in school. I was looking at MBA programs when I came across this "MA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation". The program is an innovation in itself, and I'm ready to help steer its future. If someone had told me, 3 years ago, that my life would drastically improve the way it did, I wouldn't believe them. I can't remember ever being happier.
Some of you may remember that I was trying to rehome Nym.
In May 2017, I had an emotional breakdown, which aforementioned roommate made about himself. He and our other roommate decided to start looking for a new place to live, which made me feel freed from some twisted sense of obligation to help the asshole figure out how to human. So I found a nice apartment that was ready to receive me, my husband, and our babies several days before our roommates' new location could allow them to move in (but they left a full house for me, husband, and a wonderfully helpful friend of ours to clean up).
I am wonderful-friend's self-appointed little sister, and he helps husband from working too too much.
Nym and Smidget took to the new place instantly. Surprising no one, some of her problems have permanently disappeared.
In 2016, I'd started getting involved with fandom conventions. NerdCon was an amazing experience, I was fortunate to be part of a local convention's last event (though nobody was happy to learn that it was the last), participated in a few event firsts, and by May 2017 (an obviously pivotal time), I'd gone from unknown to expected at these things. ♥︎ The community was instrumental in jump-starting the healing process.
And...just...this happened! For several months, I'd introduce myself (at nerd functions) thusly:
Hi, I'm Jessica, and I cried on Rob Paulsen!
In December 2018, I reshared a depression grievance in a corner of my expansive community. I prefaced it with "I don't want any suggestions", because I just wanted to vent, but one of my friends shared something I hadn't seen before:
I shared this with ALL of my friends, and one of them added another invaluable factor to my toolbox: When his medication is working correctly, he feels even; it's when he misses a dose that he feels the effects.
Better informed, I found a psychiatrist in my network, and she accommodated my concerns. I'm now on the appropriate medication, and I'm amazed by the difference it's made. In fact, since I started the regimen in January, yesterday was the first time I'd missed a dose, and am I ever feeling it, today. ^^; I'm mostly okay; just a bit dizzy.
To top everything off, I'm back in school. I was looking at MBA programs when I came across this "MA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation". The program is an innovation in itself, and I'm ready to help steer its future. If someone had told me, 3 years ago, that my life would drastically improve the way it did, I wouldn't believe them. I can't remember ever being happier.
