IrmaJean

I have done some recent reading on this and it seems there is a new variant that is being watched carefully...30 new mutations. They also said they didn't expect it to go back to the madness, so to be speak, because we just aren't in the same space as we were back then. But that it's somewhat concerning that this thing seems to mutate out of the blue. It seems that COVID will be around for a very long time, unfortunately. I recently flew and definitely masked up for that.

I'm sorry for the late response. Yes, the smog here was so awful. The girls were so distressed. We have had two rounds of it now and I really hope this isn't the new normal. The things in life that we take for granted like clean air to breathe...

Welcome, Bonnyboo. I think it may depend on the person and their current needs. My daughter does much better with telehealth psychiatric appointments than she does in person. I have noticed she talks and interacts more with the therapist when she is home rather than in the office. But that may not be true for others. Telehealth visits could also be a stepping stone that helps someone get used to therapy and possibly gets them ready for face-to-face, which may be more ideal in the long run. I definitely agree it's a good idea to know the therapist well and be certain they are reputable. I hope whatever you decide it proves to be helpful.

Mts, it's been a long while. I'm sorry if you felt uncomfortable posting. I hope you are okay.

Welcome to the community, CookieCrane. My thought would be if it feels uncomfortable-- no matter who it is touching you---that usually means a boundary is being crossed. So maybe try not to judge yourself for how you are feeling, if you can, but rather listen to your feelings? That doesn't have to take away from your love for your mom or her love for you, but this type of contact is not something you aren't comfortable with at this time. Have you tried talking with her about how you feel? I hear that you feel guilt about your reactions, but it's okay to tell someone to not touch you. I'm sorry you have been feeling so uncomfortable.

Yah, it is. All of us plan on getting our booster vaccines this week, but even that may not be as effective against the new strain. We will do what we can to prevent it. 2 years of this now...

The weather here today was perfect ☀️. Great day for a walk. I enjoy September and October in the Northeast. Have a good weekend, Vic.

Have a good weekend!

Athena, it's good to see you here. My daughters struggle with eating and weight too, though it seems for different reasons. I may not be the best to advise..both of my girls weigh less than 100 lbs.😞 Does she like to cook or grocery shop? Maybe it might help to get her directly involved. Have there been any other challenges with food? My eldest daughter has sensory sensitivities and my younger daughter has some difficulty with motivation and initiation. Sometimes the situation is more complex than it appears at first glance. Either way, I hope your daughter feels better. Take care.

How's the weather where you are? We have had crazy amounts of rain here.

Yeah for being vaccinated! It does feel good to see the light at the end of this tunnel. On Friday, our company lifted the mask mandate if you're vaccinated. Now I feel weird and "naked" without it, so today I put it back on. 🤷‍♀️

Hi Sara and welcome to the community. I want to add my support. I'm sorry you were feeling so anxious and stressed. I hope you feel better now. Did anything precipitate the anxiety that you are aware of? I think talking to a professional would be a good idea. They can work with you to help you have an action plan with steps to take to care of yourself through this. Take care.

I got the Moderna and had no side effects from the first vaccine other than a very sore arm. About 10 hours after shot #2, I developed a fever, chills, fatigue, headache...I was much better 12 hours later. A small price to pay, I think, for some protection against this virus. Take it easy, rest and let those antibodies start building. I hope you feel better soon.

I would recommend getting support for all family members as soon as possible. My two daughters have level one autism, which is akin to Asperger's. My eldest daughter just turned 25 and her care is as challenging as it ever has been. Support can be invaluable. I follow kristy forbes - autism & nd support and autistic women & nonbinary network, but they may be more geared toward girls and women. I find Kristy Forbes enlightening. I hope your friend gets the support and helps she needs and that works best for her and her family.

My husband and I had the first vaccine this morning. My arm is a bit sore, but so far, so good. Very grateful!

I think some members may feel better, yes. Others have moved on for various reasons, I imagine. The terrain is always changing.. I have wondered why there hasn't been more new members here. The new ones don't often seem to stay either. 🤷‍♀️ There does seem to be a greater need these days for the instant gratification of sites like facebook. Though I do use FB, this place will always be my "home." I prefer a slower pace and a smaller community.

I use social media, but I mostly end up supporting others. I do enjoy seeing family photos and watching kids grow up. I generally wouldn't use Facebook to share a lot of problems, feels too wide open. I have always preferred to share in my blog here. Wayless, there was a time when this site was much more active, but activity has faded as the years have gone by. I sometimes miss the interactions with community members and friends.. SweetSue, Endless Night, Luna, Danni, David O, Smallstar, Finding My Way, Jai Jai, ken Ian..

I don't drink at all. It just tastes bad to me? 🤷‍♀️ Do you still get out an walk, Vic, or is the weather a big deterrent right now? We have had one huge snowstorm this year, but nothing else. Temperature has been somewhat milder than normal as well.

My husband and I are eligible for the vaccine now, but it is extremely difficult to find an open appointment anywhere. The supply is very limited, apparently. My eyes and ears are open. I would gladly give my spot up for my girls, if I could. I'm hoping they will be eligible soon as well. We are waiting and trying to stay safe in the meantime.

Hello, uptight outasight. I hope we can get this done soon. It does look like there is an update available. I will try to contact Mark malign, who is much more tech savvy than I am.

No, the site is not a headache at all. Computer glitches. I'm glad to hear that some of the issues have been corrected. Maybe Mark (malign) might have some insight about some of the remaining issues. Hopefully everything will be resolved soon. Take care, all.

I know that LaLa has been unable to sign in to our forum recently. I wonder if the latest update has caused issues. Is anyone else having similar difficulties?

My husband pointed this out to me last week, but he told me tonight that it suddenly disappeared! 😳 The mystery deepens...

Hello, Scruffycat. I'm sorry for the super delayed response. How are you feeling now? I have two daughters who are autistic (also diagnosed late) and who also both struggle with anxiety and OCD. What you have shared here does sound familiar. OCD can cause disturbing intrusive thoughts that, in turn, can cause extreme internal distress. I see this with them on a daily basis. I'm sorry you're going through this. 😞 As I tell my girls, it isn't always so much about what the specific thoughts are as it is a pattern of thought processes. I'm not certain if the inappropriate feelings you described could be a separate issue, what does your psychiatrist/doctor/therapist suggest? It can take some time to find the right medication and dosage. For my youngest daughter, meds make things more bearable for her..they don't eliminate the difficulty. I don't necessarily like labels either, but the knowledge can help with understanding and treatment, I agree. I hope you feel better, Scruffycat.

Have you called your doctor? Your body might need time to adjust to the meds or possibly you need a different medication and/or dosage. I hope your doc has some thoughts about what to do. Sounds stressful. I hope you feel better soon.