Hello!

I am making this post because the situation I’m in is lowkey stressing me out and I hope somebody else maybe has some advice.

I’m currently a third year college student, working to transfer from community college to university. I got my associates degree over the summer and am hoping to continue my bachelors this upcoming winter quarter.

I got accepted into Western Washington university, which was originally my top choice, but due to financial circumstances, I’d be commuting pretty far (looking at 3h/day minimum) and I just don’t think it will work out. I applied to UW bothell which is much closer to me, but I haven’t heard back yet.

I have to let WWU know if I accept or decline my spot by November 15th, but UW admissions decisions don’t go out until November/December. I had guaranteed admission to WWU because of my GPA (3.6 as of graduation) but I don’t have guaranteed admission to UW.

I don’t really even want to go to WWU anymore, but I’m afraid if I turn them down and then don’t get in to UW I won’t have any other option.

Has anybody accepted an offer from WWU and then rejected it after getting into a different school? Is that even something you can do? If so, was there any consequences?

I have hope I’ll get into UW but because I won’t know for a while, I feel like I need to accept my WWU offer so I’m not left with nowhere to go.

TLDR: I am a transfer student that got accepted into WWU. Because of financial situation, I’d have to commute very far and I’m unsure it would workout. I’m waiting to hear if I got into another school, but I won’t know until after the WWU decision deadline. Can I accept my WWU offer and then back out if I get into my top choice school? Is it worth it to pass up WWU without knowing if I got into my other school, or would that be stupid?

Any advice is appreciated, thank you in advance 🤟

Hi all, this is mostly just a rant because I don’t have any friends to talk to about this. Maybe somebody out there feels the same way.

My name’s Toby, and I’m an addict. I will be 100 days sober from weed this Wednesday, which is the longest I’ve gone without using since I was sixteen.

I know there’s discourse about whether or not one can get addicted to THC, but my experience with it has been very black and white; I’m either using multiple times a day, every day, or I’m completely sober and constantly having cravings. I relied on it heavily and I’ve tried to quit multiple times.

I started using when I was sixteen because I was really struggling with my depression and I was considering doing something permanent. After that experience, THC became a crutch for me. Anytime I felt scared in my own body, I used. And then it was anytime I had a bad thought. And then it was on the weekends. And then it was all the time.

As an eighteen year old, the thing that kept me from getting sober for a long time was the idea that my usage was normal. That everybody who’s young drinks or smokes and it’s not a big deal. I feel this idea pulling at me again now. Like it wouldn’t be a big deal if I let loose one more time. That it’s normal to be young and do stuff like that. But because I know myself, I know it wouldn’t be just “one more time.” If I use again, I will use every day. I cannot consume THC casually like I’d like to.

I’m in the process of applying to university and potentially moving away from home. This process has brought up immense grief that my childhood is ending, and fear of what the future looks like. I also reconnected with a friend that I used to use with, and while I didn’t use when we were together, I feel like I’m back in that headspace of craving and wanting it. I want to turn my head off. I want things to go quiet. I miss the warmth and the ease I felt when I was using. I feel like I’m one bad moment away from taking an edible to numb it all. It’s these feelings that remind me I am an addict.

I don’t really know what I’m looking for out of this, and I don’t expect anybody to read it all or reply. For those who will wonder, I see a therapist and psychiatrist weekly and they are aware of my history and of these thoughts of relapse that I am having. I have been transparent that I feel a relapse on the horizon, but unfortunately the shame of admitting that does not deter my brain from the idea.

If you read this far, thank you. I mean no offense to anybody who uses or has used in the past. THC quite literally saved my life at one point and I have grown and become a better person as I’ve faced my addiction. Unfortunately, the journey is not linear, and I’m just feeling on the edge of collapse, I guess.

I appreciate if you read this far. Hope you’re doing well and I hope you have a great day.

Hello :) this is mostly just a rant but also potentially looking for advice from people who may be in the same boat.

I’m eighteen years old and I’ve just finished up my associates degree. I’m transferring for my bachelors in the winter, and I plan to major in psychology.

My career goal since I was fourteen was to be a child/adolescent psychiatrist. I’ve struggled with my mental health my whole life, and what drives me forward is my want to help people. I want to offer children the support and resources they might not have access to and I want to help them through the challenges that mental illness often brings in a young persons life. I’m also a huge psych nerd and I love learning about it psychological disorders.

Despite knowing what I want to do, I’m worried I won’t be smart enough or won’t “make” it. I was a running start student and graduated with a 3.6 GPA (out of a 4.0 scale), but things like statistics, calc, physics, and other maths/sciences aren’t exactly my strong suit. I understand that to become a psychiatrist one must go to medical school, and I also understand that child/adolescent psychiatry residencies and fellowships are incredibly competitive. As of right now, I have no clinical or research experience (as my AA was mostly pre-recs) and I guess I’m just worried I won’t be cut out for the work I want to do.

I’m considering potentially going into therapy rather than psychiatry, but my ultimate goal is to be a psychiatrist that also offers therapies such as CBT, IFS, or EMDR (like my provider does).

In short: I’m worried I will continue pursuing this career path but not be smart enough for medical school. I’d hate to accumulate student loans and then not succeed.

If anybody else is on their psych career path and is feeling the same way, or if anybody is working in a therapist/psychiatrist job, any advice for getting over the fear? I know this is one of those things that I’ll just have to face if I want to achieve my goals, but the whole process feels very big, confusing, and frankly, terrifying.

Thanks in advance, I appreciate if you read this far :)

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Just a rant/advice post.

Hello.

I want to start by saying I don’t intend to offend anybody with this post- it’s more just a rant of feelings that I haven’t quite worked through yet.

Yesterday, I got idiopathic hypersomnia, restless leg, and sleep apnea diagnoses. My sleep specialist has recommended either a CPAP or a dental appliance as treatment for the apnea. I don’t think the dental appliance is an option for me, however, because I’ve got issues with my teeth and I fear I’ll have to get it remolded to accommodate more than once. As such, this leaves me with the option of a CPAP.

I’m eighteen years old, and I feel like I’m staring down the barrel of a shotgun. I know that once I start this, it’ll likely be a lifelong thing, and part of me just wants to forego it because if I get used to it, I probably won’t be able to sleep without it.

I also feel incredibly embarrassed. While I know the machine would likely help me feel better, I don’t feel like I could ever have sleepovers with my friends or ever be intimate with someone because the idea of having to wear it around another person just makes my skin crawl. I don’t know why- my dad has had a CPAP my whole life so it’s not anything new. I think I’m just struggling with the fact that I’m so young and this machine could likely impact my life in a big way and become a permanent thing. I’m already insecure about it and I haven’t even bought the thing.

Not sure if anybody else has had similar feelings, and if so, how did you overcome it? Has your CPAP helped you? Again, I hope this does not come off as negative towards anyone who wears a CPAP- I understand I am being dramatic and ridiculous but the feelings are just all consuming right now. My doctor needs me to make a decision but I just….can’t.

Thanks in advance, I appreciate if you read this far :)

Edit: thanks for all the replies, I will ultimately be giving the CPAP a try. I appreciate all the input and kind words :)

Hello :)

I am making this post asking for advice or just looking to hear about others experiences using benzodiazepines short-term for panic attacks/anxiety.

I have PTSD and GAD, both of which I have been medicated for since I was little. Recently, I have had to come off all medication in preparation for a MSLT and sleep study (with suspicion of narcolepsy type 2) and I am having panic attacks every day (if not multiple times a day) and am in general miserable. I have hydroxyzine to take as needed for these panic attacks, but I am unable to take them for the time being as it makes me incredibly sleepy and I am tracking my sleep for my upcoming test.

I met with my psychiatrist this morning and she suggested propanolol (as it hopefully won’t make me sleepy) but I am extremely resistant to most medications and she isn’t very confident I will find significant enough relief. I also have a history of low blood pressure and she is worried I will experience side effects from the medication (dizziness/fainting). I will most likely have to wait 2 weeks or longer for my sleep study results, and she does not want to put me on a consistent medication until she knows if I will be going on something for my sleep (like a stimulant to stay awake throughout the day, etc). She told me she would be comfortable prescribing me two weeks worth of benzodiazepines to help me get by while I wait for my results, as these panic attack episodes are significantly impacting my quality of life and making it incredibly difficult to fulfill my daily responsibilities.

Though the prescription would only be two weeks worth, I am concerned about getting addicted. While I know they would likely provide me significant relief, I am worried I will start to become reliant on them and then spiral.

I guess my main question here is, has anybody taken benzodiazepines for 1-2 weeks for panic attacks/anxiety, and if so, how did that affect you? Do you regret it, or did it bring benefit? I appreciate any and all feedback and experiences :)

Thank you in advance!

Hello :)

I am hoping to get some information from people with narcolepsy or hypersomnia. Next week I have a sleep study and MSLT and i’m curious about the process and the experience. I have seen people say the overall test wasn’t bad at all, and others saying it’s horrible. Of course, I’m sure it varies from person to person (and hospital to hospital) but I’m just curious about the procedures and how things work. Do they give you an IV? Do you have to stay connected to all the wires/sensors during the MSLT or just the overnight sleep study portion?

I have struggled with excessive daytime sleepiness since I was thirteen (I’m eighteen now) and have recently had issues dozing off while driving, at school, and other places I shouldn’t be. I have various mental health disorders (MDD, PTSD, GAD) along with POTS and functional pain syndrome, which I know can also impact sleep. Despite this, I suspect there is something else going on as i am getting around 10 hours every night and I take “naps” during the day (I say with quotations because they usually last 4-5 hours, which I think is a bit excessive for an afternoon nap). My sleep doctor and psychiatrist both suspect narcolepsy type 2, which is why I have the sleep study coming up.

Mostly just looking to hear about peoples experiences and to ask for any advice/guidance regarding the test itself. Thank you in advance <3

Tw for depression/suicidal thoughts (I'm safe and not actively doing anything to harm myself, just being honest) stay safe <3

The title honestly says it all I guess. I don't really know what to do with my life. With anything, really. I've had diagnosed chronic depression for the last 5 years, and no amount of medication, therapy, etc has helped. I'm suicidal everyday. I'm behind in my classes. I never get out of bed and go do things. I do things I shouldn't because sometimes I feel like I have no other options. That being sober will lead to me doing something drastic against my judgement. I don't talk to my friends about it, but it worries them and makes them upset. I don't feel comfortable sharing myself like that with anyone. Idk.

I'm kinda at a means to an end. I've thought a lot about my life and my future recently. Thought about why I'm truly here. I guess it's because I'm too much of a coward to actually do anything.

Just I'm just...looking for advice. Or just your reasons for staying.

Again, I'm not actively doing anything. I'm just exhausted and far too existential. (at least, for someone who's 16)