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[AKKOLADE]

Today I'm gonna put a picture of a pug in the news box.

[AugustWest]

Today I'm gonna put a picture of a pug in the news box.

Is that what you kids are calling it these days?

[theinevitable]

They directed me to the union website, and I think I have found something worse than a job application website. Unholy hell. There are a number of different plans listed, even though I am logged in with my union member number/plan number/etc. To figure out which one I have, there is a worksheet to figure out how many hours I have worked.

How can they tell me "it's all on the website" and all of the information on the website hasn't been updated since 2010. We changed insurance providers a year ago!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Carlos del Vaca]

When I click on "Summary of Benefits" it says "There is no Summary of Benefits available for your plan."

Perhaps you bought into the "Never Pay" plan.
(But maybe you'll get a nude lady out of the deal. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO2R_DDZPCM)

[theinevitable]

To be fair: the Aetna website (which I had through my parents' coverage until I became eligible through work this January) is my prettier but not any better at telling me information. "No summary of benefits available at this time."

[Arachno-capitalist]

What happened when you called the customer service number on the back of your insurance card?

[theinevitable]

They said the only thing they can do is physically mail me an explanation of benefits. So that's in the mail.

Today I went to my first Block Captain meeting. It still isn't clear what I am expected to do. The first step, though, is meeting my neighbors and telling them "hey, I'm a dorky white guy who elected himself block captain." That should be fun.

After the meeting I ran into a female friend who is newly single. I think I told you guys about her somewhere... she brought me cookies when the Big Ex and I broke up briefly a few years ago. Hmmm. Curly hair and a big smile gives me all kinds of ideas makes me think she is a nice lady who I will be friends with while I continue to focus on non-romantic aspects of my life.

Update: apparently I am a transparent enough person that I can list "oh yeah, today I went to ____, _____, _____ and ______'s house to drop off that shirt I borrowed" and everyone instantly knows which of those 4 single, beautiful women I am into. Oops.

[miles]

Today I'm gonna try to find a brain doctor to give me some pills. This whole "learn to cope" strategy is definitely important to keep working on, but is not sufficient.

Depending on precisely what you are struggling with and how severe it is, and also what is prescribed, I strongly encourage you to exhaust every other method before taking pills.

[jay-ell]

I'm guessing it's Inev wanting to go back on ADD meds, not anything mood-altering.

[KeithHernandez]

Euphoria is mood altering no? 

I did a lot of add meds (straight amphetamine) recreationally.

[Arachno-capitalist]

If he wants brain pills he can go to one of any walk-in clinics and start talking about how he needs a refill of riterall or fukidol or whatever. That's what this homeboy does, anyway.

[theinevitable]

Recreational use is completely bewildering to me. The times I have done more than the recommended amount of that stuff it was... not fun. Wide awake all night and weird emotional meltdown to cap it off.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about taking drugs for this issue. I am trying to remind myself that they are not a magic solution... but they do help me feel a little less paralyzed and overwhelmed. They make me feel more like a person who can do the things I need to do (in terms of organization/motivation/lifestyle changes) to move forwards.

[jay-ell]

I have a lot of mixed feelings about taking drugs for this issue. I am trying to remind myself that they are not a magic solution... but they do help me feel a little less paralyzed and overwhelmed. They make me feel more like a person who can do the things I need to do (in terms of organization/motivation/lifestyle changes) to move forwards.

I have to take thyroid medicine every day for the rest of my life. Probably in gradually increasing dosages, until I die.

I hate taking it. Even though I know it is a chemical problem with the way my body works, I have a hard time resigning myself to the fact that I require medication to function normally. Plus, I hate the physical process of swallowing a pill. I have to take them first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, and not eat or drink for thirty minutes after. It sucks, and sometimes I skip a pill just because I can't stomach the idea of doing it that day.

I'm sharing this because I know that there is a lot of stigma attached to ADD & especially to drug therapy for it -- but it's just like my thyroid meds, you have a chemical problem that impacts your ability to live your life the way you want to. Own it, and try accept the fact that, for you, for now, this is the way things are.

That's what I keep telling myself, at least. Good luck, inev.

[theinevitable]

Also trying to remind myself that the years I was on tr drugs, I was still a complete scatterbrained weirdo. I am not going to take a pill once a day and become a little ***** or something.

[wombat]

That seems like a really important point - the pills are just making you a more functional version of you, not someone else entirely. That is the same as medication for the problems we see as physical and therefore don't stigmatize in the same way.