short bitch, tall disorder

Harm Reduction for a Buch of Different Things

seriously this is such a random list idk if it'll even help probably not but i was bored

@toothsheeran @luc1d-is-d34d @leakingfemboy - they helped make this post

1. Dont fast for more than 2 days, it really isn't worth it.

2. If you make yourself throw up, wash your hands before and after. Brush your teeth after 30-40 minutes.

3. If you restrict, try to stay above 500 calories. that's the very very minimum your brain needs, and even then it's still very dangerous.

4. if you have depression, and have a messy room, i suggest cleaning it. i know it feels impossible, but i feel 10x better when my room is clean.

5. If you struggle getting things done, make lists! i keep my lists in an app called "Notion" and it helps me keep track of things i need to do

6. If you have someone you trust to talk to, talk to them. they care, and are here for you.

7. if doing drugs, make sure you are somewhere safe. if not, make sure a friend or parent knows where you are.

8. If fasting, and going outside, stay away from roads and such. you could pass out.

9. keep a lil snack in your purse/bag. can be something small, like candy for sugar, or crackers or something. eat that if you start to feel dizzy

10. there are a lot of natural laxatives, rather than actual laxatives.

11. Drink water. even if it's flavored water.

12. This might not work for everyone, but i journal a lot. i put down all my feelings and thoughts, and it helps me from taking things out on other people

13. before starting an argument with someone you care about because your upset, take a few minutes to think. drink some water, eat a little something, take a walk, take a shower, just do something to clear your head. if your still upset, bring it up to them in a healthy, commutative way.

14. dont make any huge decision's if you haven't eaten in a while, if your sick, if your on drugs, or if your very emotional.

15. if possible, keep medication away from your room or bathroom. keep it all in a weird location you dont think about much. out of sight-out of mind (unless like, medicine you have to take daily. if so i suggest getting a small bottle with enough to last for a few days, but not enough to overdose on. so when you need more of the medicine you can restock but in a healthymind set. does that make sense at all? i dont think it does)

16. Have something else to take care of. wether it be an actual pet, or maybe a plant or one of those apps where you take care of digital pet or animal or something. or even pretend you gotta take care of a stuffed animal. my cats keep me alive because if i died no one would take care of them.

17. if you binged, try laying down for a good hour or so. do things to help the body digest. over exercising isnt healthy in the first place, but especially not right after a binge.

18. listen to more upbeat music! studies have shown that if you listen to sad music, your mood will obviously be super sad. so. listen to some happy music!

19. Try out a new hobby to distract yourself from whatever is going wrong currently. i personally crochet

20. look around every once in a while. the world may seem like it's ending, and maybe it is. but there's so much beauty in the world. look for it. see what's beautiful to you.

1. i LOVE to hide half of my face

I will now impart all of my profit killing resources onto you, in case you don’t know them. I think most of you know them, now. But just in case you don’t.

THIS IS US-CENTRIC. I’M SORRY. 

1. GoodRx - this thing has an app now, so you can look up the best places to get your expensive medicines at the lowest possible prices without insurance on the go, and you no longer have to print coupons because you can just hand over your phone or tablet. Times have changed for the better with GoodRx. Definitely use it before trying to fill your scrip, because it will tell you the best place to go. (You can do that on the website, too.)

2. NeedyMeds - Needymeds is basically the clearinghouse of drug payment assistance. They have their own discount cards, but also connections to many patient assistance programs run by drug companies themselves. They are good assistance programs, too.

3. Ask your county - This is not a link. This is a pro tip. Most county social services will have pharmacy discount programs for people with no and/or shitty pharmaceutical coverage. You can often just find them hanging around at social services offices; you can just pick one up and walk off with it. 

4. Ordering online - There are a few safe online pharmacies. I keep a little database in a text file on my computer. Most of them are courtesy of CFS forums, my mother or voidbat, so a lot of that is a hat tip to other people, but if you’re in need of a place to get a drug without a prescription … first I’ll make sure you 100% know what you’re doing for safety reasons and then I’m happy to turn over a link. 

5. Healthfinder - A government resource that helps find patient assistance programs in your area. This might also point out the convenient county card thing. RxHope is something a lot of people get pointed to via Healthfinder that’s a good program.

Do a Google search for “patient assistant programs” + (your med), or search the manufacturers website. Sometimes the info is online; other times you have to call.

Even some of the big name pharma companies have this. It’s certainly not all companies, or all meds, but it is worth a shot.

Before Obamacare, I lost insurance and couldn’t pay for my mood stabilizers (kiiiiinda important to have those when you’re bipolar.) I was on generic Lamictal, but I went to the official Lamictal website, filled out a form with a valid prescription, and they mailed my meds to me every month for free.