[University Stress Levels!]

I'm glad for some positive replies. I was going to go today, and I even walked by the room, but I chickened out. I think there's just some anxiety involved in going.

Betty you can ramble don't worry xD.

And to reply to Jason, I honestly don't see my advisor that much. I reach out to him about twice a semester to just check up on things and get his approval/thoughts on classes that I'll take in the future. I had a meeting with him last week in which we discusses the MA exit exam (I'm getting a masters in the humanities, that might help contextualize things) and that reduced some long term anxiety because he gave me a few good tips and resources. Otherwise, he doesn't reach out to me to check-in. Which I don't blame him for, honestly, he's a prof, he's busy. But everyone else I talk to about him seems to think that he could do a better job. I don't know. He's pretty good when I reach out to him. So I think he's holding up his end of the deal just fine. I will say that I will hopefully be able to switch advisors, not because I dislike my current one, but because I want to switch to someone who specializes in something that is more attuned to my interests.

And I will DEFINITELY say that I day dream a lot about how I'm going to spend the summer. I've definitely identified a few tricks that I need to get get a (better) hold on. One of those things, as you mentioned, is planning. I'm hoping that I can just survive this semester and then once I get the chance to breath I hope to meticulously plan out my summer (with daily/weekly/monthly goals). I'm doing a lot of things this summer (summer class, studying for MA exit exam, moving, thesis research assuming that I get to write a thesis - something still up in the air), so doing everything will be difficult. But I've asked a few colleagues (advisor included) if my goals are reasonable and I've gotten a solid "yea but you'll be busy." Which I'm okay with (although, I got the same answer from people last semester when I told them I'd be taking 3 classes and teaching 2 sections, and this is where it got me).

Thanks again for the replies. Maybe tomorrow I won't chicken out when I get to the counseling building!

[University Stress Levels!]

I'm going to (try to) be short and sweet! I decided to post this here because it has to do with mental health, though maybe not necessarily depression. Feel free to move to the U of Peenix forums if this is more applicable there!

I've been doing graduate school for a year now. This semester has been VERY difficult and I've gone through a lot of disillusionment. I've been super stressed out since literally day 2 of the semester. I've been in my office every day this semester (weekends included, obvs) working or at least trying to work.

I've gotten to the point where I can't focus on anything anymore (actually, I got to that point about 5 weeks ago). I'm thinking that the stress level has been breaking me down, and I'm kinda surprised that I've made this this far tbh. I think that I need to go talk to a school councilor or something, because this isn't going to get better as the end of the semester approaches (2 weeks left!). I'm taking more classes than recommended, so the stress levels are way up there.

The thing that makes me think that I should see a councilor (read: school therapist) is that last Friday I had the weirdest mood swing in which I was AGGRESSIVELY energetic and positive for like 2 hours. Then I had NO energy (physical/mental/emotional) whatsoever. I walked only a part of the way to my car before I gave up and took a rest somewhere (to be fair the weather was nice). Then the other night (or maybe last night), I'm pretty sure that I blinked and 30 minutes passed. Granted, I was on Facebook but it didn't feel like that typical "oh I lost track of time" thing. It felt like I read a status, blinked, and 30 minutes had gone by when I was on the same page. I've tried googling "time gap" and stuff like that to see if this is a thing, but I get results for totally not related stuff so I think maybe I'm just making up things.

I feel stupid walking into a psych services office on a university campus and saying "hey I'm stressed what can I do?" because there's probably 30 000 other kids who are in the same boat. But it's gotten to the point where I'm no longer confident in my ability to manage it anymore. I feel like I've done everything I can, and that I need to get a professionals opinion on how to increase my ability to focus and reduce my stress levels. There are a few other factors playing around that I won't get into in detail, such as my position as a graduate student, and the new stuff that I've implemented into my routine thanks to a google search for "reduce stress" (read: cardio and bigger breakfast).

My question, really, for y'all is: should I go see someone? I honestly feel like an idiot trying to seek help for an issue that everyone else has. But I'm seriously considering going in tomorrow and the only thing stopping me is this anxiety over whether or not it's dumb.

Thanks for the read. Sorry I haven't posted much in the community lately. Don't worry, though, I still lurk from time to time!

[Crinkle Crate is now taking pre-orders! Subscription box for the AB/DL community!]

I definitely agree on the high price tag. For that same amount of money you could get a good amount of diapers that I knew were good for me, and/or I could try get a bag of new diapers to try out.

Despite that, though, I really LOVE this idea! Yes, I'm a vanilla DL and yes I'm very comfortable with that label. But I wouldn't mind at all trying out stuff made for other niches. So for people like me, who don't mind getting stuff that's outside of their usual ballpark, and for people who are maybe in between labels this is a nice idea. On the other hand, this might not be something that people would want to get every month. I can see someone getting this and deciding that they didn't like having a mixture of stuff, or I can see someone canceling their subscription once they found their "niche" (i.e. sissy, DiaperFur, etc).

But, money talks so I think I'll have to pass on this one. I do have to admit that if this was $10-15 less, then I might have signed up and not thought about it!

[We have better diapers than real babies and toddlers]

3 hours ago, Kayfabe said:

This thread is weird.

.....

Is it normal to go to the supermarket in your pajamas? I can't say I've ever seen anyone do it here and I tend to go late at night.

My sentiments exactly.

[ABDL or LGBT: Which area has caused more difficulties]

I don't think either has caused any issues for me. Some of my family knows about my diapers, and my parents both know that I just want to remain single (so I haven't had a proper "I'm asexual" convo with them). And I've received a more or less supportive "okay that's fine" on both ends.

As far as friends go, they're pretty much equally supportive. When we all get together, they sometimes get carried away with plant jokes for 2 straight minutes, which I really don't appreciate. And one of them doesn't really respect the whole "I don't want to know what (insert sex jargon here)" thing (which is more of a "me" thing than an "ace" thing, I think). But overall, it's good with friends also.

[AB/DLs and equal rights.]

When I saw the title of this, I thought we were gonna have another post comparing the queer community to the ABDL community, with certain jargon from the former being adopted by the latter. Which is a conversation that never ends well. Then when I saw it was from Tumblr I went "uh-oh" because Tumblr can be kind of intense (I enjoy Tumblr but some people get really really out there).

But, it was actually a good read. That's kind of crazy. I don't really have anything to add, but I hope it works out for her. Looks like she posted that just 3 days ago. So the throw-out must be recent.

[Art and Cartoon Contest!]

You don't have to be good at arting, you just have to be "the tallest midget"

(sorry, short people)

[A Case of the Nothings]

It happens to me every now and then! Kinda makes me feel bad when I give up on a day, though.

[Wetting Questions]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Bambino Diapers Brand]

^ I don't know what shipping service Bambino is using (UPS, USPS, etc). But keep in mind that last week was Veterans day and I don't think any service was running that day (or at the very least USPS wasn't). Also week-ends don't count! So you ordered on the 6th (Friday), but they wouldn't ship out until the 9th, so that's 3 days of waiting until the next business day.

IMO you should get them tomorrow or so!

[more proof miley is an adult baby]

I'm kinda weird-ed out by the obsession with whether or not she's an AB.

[I need help to find a special Pikachu plush]

^^ You ninja'ed me! After a Google search, this is the closest thing that I could find. Not sure if it's the same. But I think that we came up with the same plush, Maxxy.

[I need help to find a special Pikachu plush]

Sounds to me like you want to buy another Pikachu plush that's the same as the one you currently have.

There should be a tag somewhere on your plushie that says the year adn company that made it. After that, you'll have to do some e-bay digging and waiting.

[married and trying]

I echo Babble's praise to you for trying to indulge him. People have horror stories about their spouses discovering their little side.

A lot of ABDLs go through what is called the "binge/purge" cycle - which is what it sounds like it is. They indulge to the max, but after indulging they often feel bad for what they've done, and then throw out everything that they have ("purge").

Balance is usually the key to stopping this. Not sure what your baby time with him is like, but try to avoid a baby time that lasts too long or is too.....immersive (for lack of a better word). Which is to say: don't indulge too much! Instead of a heavily indulging baby time that only happens once a month, shoot for a mildly indulging baby time that happens every week or two. Spread it out.

[Your languages]

I'm bilingual French/English. I can guess my way around in Spanish (I understand a lot). I think it'll be the next thing I learn, but that'll take a while o.O.

[Looong Overdue]

yea it starts off kinda slow most of the time, it's not everyone's jam!

[Looong Overdue]

I love smash but don't get the chance to play it too much.

Also a huge fan of Monster Hunter.

If you want, and if you're rocking the 3DS, then I'll pass you my friend code next time my 3DS is actually charged haha.

[terrifying hypothetical situation]

"Hey Mom I'm indecent right now, give me a few minutes!"

[New Car]

go you!

[Being a Juggalo and an ABDL]

What the fuck is a juggalo???

It's okay to not know things. Google is there for you. In fact, usually the hardest part just double-left clicking the word. These are dark times, but I think you can make it.

To the OP:

Not sure what being in a Juggalo family entails, but just try to reflect on what they expect. Do they want you to have 0 secrets? Will they back off with certain things? I mean diapers are one of those things that are both private in that it's what you're wearing around your nether-regions, and public in that you're out and about in the public sphere wearing them, and that has implications.

[How long?]

I'm very sorry, DailyDi. I wish I knew what to tell you to do to feel better, or had some magic advice. Warm milk and a cartoon marathon, maybe? I don't know (I've had a proclivity for warm milk these past few weeks).

[Car Buying with Mental Illness]

I bought a car a few months ago, but I don't ever remember giving the car salesman my keys. I honestly forgot some of the details of the car sales game (already, whoops), but I'd say to stop doing that if you can. I remember that the one thing that could always always always always turn a deal back in our favor (had good 'ol dad with me) was saying the exact words "I think we're at the walking-away point."

Of course, even though I finished my car stuff months ago, I got a call from a dealership (not where we got my car but where we had test driven/given my phone number) just a couple week ago with someone asking "hey still need a car?" To which I responded "nope I bought a car and moved to Indiana!" (which is true!). So I think you can expect spam from pretty much every dealership you give your contact info to.

Also, if you have a certain car you want, I would look up that car on KBB or at other dealerships in the area. You might can even e-mail other dealerships and ask for a quote on that car (saving you the hassle and personal commitment) and take that quote and/or KBB info into a dealership that you physically visit. I bet you they'd want to match that quote (assuming it's lower)! But the KBB info can work with you on your trade-in also.

Also, from what I've been told, at the end of the month and during holiday sales, salesmen want to reach certain quota and so are trying to get a better deal. Maybe the last weekend in October would be better? Or maybe that's just a myth that the dealers want us to believe haha.

Overall, though, I wouldn't say to give business to dealerships where you had a bad experience.

[Ladies - confirm or deny?]

No.

[I feel dumb...]

You feel dumb. But feeling dumb and being dumb are different things. This could happen to anyone =p.

[Ways to calm down]

It's funny that I saw this topic here because I just opened up a bottle of wine in the name of calming down.

I don't think that I've ever really been in a situation where I 100% lost my cool. But just to manage stress I do everything from taking extra showers (somehow that helps me relax mentally), to meditating (cue the breathing thing), to tuning out of reality (e.g. surfing the web or playing video games). That last one is my favorite! Since I don't have internet (posting via hotspot from my phone, something I do sparingly) yet in my new place, and since I've been SUPER busy this week, I opened up some alcohol. Probably not good to do that as a first resort and/or for minor stressors =o.