academentia and academia

social security / disability?

2008-10-11T20:22:51Z

so i am being forced to move out of my parents' house very soon... it's a long story, but basically i'm not doing too well and they (especially my stepmom) don't want to deal with it anymore, and I'm 19 so they're kicking me out.

this is sucky for numerous reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is i literally cannot afford to be on my own... at the moment i only have one part-time job that i work 15-20 hours at the most per week. i've been applying for a second job like crazy and looking all over for somebody who's looking to share an apartment and isn't asking too much for rent/utilities. even with a second job, though, money is going to be tight as hell since i'm still going to school full time as well.

my stepmom told me i could apply for social security benefits... and i checked it out, and it looks like i would qualify. i've been in and out of treatment for major depression, suicide attempts, and bulimia for the past 3 years, and have plenty of documentation to prove it... i might be able to get supplemental income.

i was wondering if anyone has had any experience applying for and/or recieving benefits from social security for your mental "problems"?

x-posted everywhere because i don't know what the hell i'm doing and need all the help i can get.

crazy_academics @ 2008-10-08T18:38:00

2008-10-08T23:48:48Z

It's time for midterms! Yay! *rolls eyes*

I'm very anxious and it's starting to affect my sleep, along with playing havoc on my nerves when I am trying to study. Since I started taking Seroquel back in March, I have not had any major problems with anxiety. It used to be a huge problem and I thought I had mostly conquered it.

I would really like a temporary rx for klonopin until midterms are over. Here is where I need advice.....

I OD'ed on klonopin back in March. It wasn't a real suicide attempt. I did it because I was PISSED OFF that my psychiatrist and my family refused to believe that something was physically wrong with me. I had been upset and frustrated for weeks before that. Eventually, we figured out why I was so ill physically. The depakote that my pdoc put me on was causing my liver to go ballistic. Yay for drug induced hepatitus!

Now, doctors are wary about giving me certain medications. How do I convince my pdoc that I won't harm myself and that I really need this?

depressed...

2008-10-08T03:09:36Z

Diagnosis: Bipolar disorder
Medications: Depakote
Major: Business administration

On the outside, I seem calm, but on the inside, I feel horrible. My parents are all the way in Italy until December, and I feel really lost and alone.
For some reason, I hate school. I know going to school is a huge privilege, but I just hate it!
I think I'm just really unhappy at my school, and I'm going to transfer, but right now I just feel like I don't like school in general. I feel a little anxious, I feel like I'm only here because I HAVE to be here, I feel inadequate and I just feel a little hopeless....I don't know what to do.

new counselor

2008-10-07T21:07:45Z

Today I met with my new counselor at the school's Counseling Center.

It was great to talk my problems out but I hate her. She's a nice person but she spent the entire time looking at the clock, only talked to me for 35 minutes and for the last ten minutes she pressured me into doing group therapy.

I have this giant problem with thinking I'm not sick enough. I can get out of bed every morning and I never miss class- but I do it out of guilt and I do it like a zombie. Nevertheless, I think I'm too inferior to be talked to. It doesn't help when your counselor hardly listens to you and pushes you into group. I feel like I should deserve someone's individual attention, because God knows I don't get that anywhere else.

I'm supposed to meet her next week but she said she's going to ween me into group. The group issue is one thing, but I honestly feel like she doesn't care about me. My fiance wants me to call up and get a new counselor, but they're too busy to reassign me. Am I better off just going next week and putting up with her or trying to get an appointment somewhere else?

Ugh part 2

2008-10-03T22:47:03Z

There was barely any budging on those exam/paper deadlines if any at all. Essentially I'm kind of more or less on my own. I'd have to put myself in the hospital to get anything. Either that or put on a pretty desperate act. Oh I'm feeling despair but just not really the suicidal kind. I'm not sure what to do. I could do two things.

1. Tank it and just take an academic hit that will affect at least two classes if not more.

2. Scuttle my psychology applications class in the hopes of the saving the other three. As of right now I have a D in that class.That's the average class grade right now but that besides the point. It's still a longer ladder to climb. It's a total pain in the but because of all the homework that is given. In reality it's a 4 credit class even though it says 3 credits. Anyway I got A's and a precarious B in the others.

Even with more lenient accommodations it would still be tough to catch up. I know my limits. I'm leaning to just dropping the Psych Apps class.
The funny thing is I got better under the table accommodations in my previous university. I wasn't registered with student disability services either! Here I'm registered with student disabilities. Psychological disability accommodations are not uniform in the USA which surprised me and a lot of latitude is given to each professor. Some will work with you(to different degrees) while others go strictly by the rules and don't budge an inch.

Again I hate this whole mental illness thing. It's that invisible impediment that gimps you in EVERY aspect of your life. I'm doing my best to be good to myself and to take things in stride (as calmly as I can). I won't lie about the fact that I'm extremely frustrated though. I'm frustrated with the school but at the end of the day my academic career is my responsibility. Honestly it's most of my fault that I'm in this dilemma, mental illness (that includes chronic fatigue and insomnia) or not.

Lastly I'm worried about dropping classes. If drop that class it'll be my 9th one I've dropped in my academic career. My current university won't care because it's my first with them. I don't know if this will affect my loans and grants.

Diagnose issues

2008-10-03T20:38:37Z

So one month I am diagnosed schizotypic with emotional affect, the other one I am bipolar rapid cycling with "just a bit of a different personality".

I have one of the two diagnoses that I seem to "adhere" a lot better to (schizotypy), and they have recently put me in the other category on base of complaints that I haven't had in 3 months.
(more info behind the cut)

First of: I KNOW self-diagnose is bad, but still...
Should I trust my gut insisting on the diagnosis that seemed to "fit"? I don't think that I am really bipolar per se, I do have swings but they calmed down since I took the habbit of retreating in my fantasy-land-in-my-head, which is more the schizotypic thing to do. When I researched schizotypic, I was all "aha, now i understand where a and b is coming from". However my psych insist that I have a too strong personality and a too high reality-awareness (and adaptability to reality) to be schizotypic. In a way I "preferred" schizotypy, because then I'd rather have screwed all that psych crap and went on with it, I like being off the world and unconventional. So I'm afraid a personal preference might be leading me astray.
I still don't feel like I am bipolar however. I had it much worse two months ago, now it's calmed down. I wouldn't want to be treated for something that was just a phase.

Anyone been in the same spot as well? What did you do then?

Ugh

2008-10-01T23:10:01Z

I have a philosophy paper due tomorrow, a take home philosophy essay exam(I won't get the topic until tomorrow) due tuesday, a psychology exam on monday, and another philosophy paper on tuesday, and another psychology exam on wednesday. Oh and I have a statistical project due Wednesday. So yeah I have a lot on my plate. I'm worried I'll choke on all that or end up having to sacrifice one or two classes (as in not do the assignments) for the others or something.

I'm registered with student disability services and I'm dismayed at what I was given or rather not given. I only get proctored exams in a nice quiet place and extra time(not days just more hours) to take an exam. I get special consideration for any assignments that involve presentations but what exactly that is is nebulous. I thought severe depression, social anxiety, and a series of hospitalizations would convince them to be more gracious with their accommodations. I feel uncomfortable with asking for extensions from my professors because it makes me look like a lazy student who doesn't care about his grades. I already did once but it was "under the table." When it comes to accommodations professors are not told what I'm diagnosed with but just what accommodations they have to give to me. I'm uncomfortable with this under the table thing business because it makes me look like I'm asking for constant favors. When in reality all I want is just a fair chance to succeed despite my handicaps. I really don't want to go around blabbing (to my professors and worst case scenario classmates if those professors don't know how to keep their mouths shut) that I have clinical depression and social anxiety.

I'm talking to the lady in charge of student disabilities tomorrow. I really don't know if she'll able to do much for me if anything at all. I'm talking to my psychologist also. The same goes for her.

I've known life is unfair for a long time but it sucks that depression and social anxiety hurts you academically and by extension career-wise. How well I do or don't do will determine how many doors are open for me whether for graduate school or getting a job.

universities don't have a pause button

2008-09-29T02:16:12Z

I'm at a low right now. I was feeling pretty good thursday/friday. I managed to get two A's and a B in three different classes and I also finished two papers in one night. I planned to hit the books so I could do better in my Psychology Applications class which I'm having trouble with. A combination of procrastination, insomnia, and fatigue hampered my efforts though. The coupe de grace though was conflict I had with my parents and my brother. I hate fighting because it really stresses me out. My anger transforms into depression/sorrow and just a general lack of motivation to do anything. I have a hard time brushing it aside and getting back to business. It's not really anything that can be resolved right now also. So it's late Sunday night and the exam is on Wednesday and I haven't studied a single definition or term for the exam. I'm doing badly in the class too. I got a D in my previous exam and nevermind that was the average grade of the class.

I doubt that having stress coming from home(as if stress from school wasn't enough) coupled with depression/bipolar exempts you from taking exams. Even if it did it would conflict with the timing of other exams, papers, and projects I have to do. I'm looking to move out of home for next semester to live on campus. Whether or not that is economically feasible I don't know.

NPR Story from Thursday's Morning Edition

2008-09-26T19:10:58Z

I don't know how many of you listen to National Public Radio on a regular basis, but I was struck by this story that ran in yesterday's Morning Edition:

A Lifeline For College Students With Depression

Morning Edition, September 25, 2008 · The emotional and intellectual challenges of college can knock students off balance. One group is especially at risk: students with mental illnesses. The illnesses are isolating, and the students may be far from the support of their family.

Students with depression, bipolar disease or schizophrenia have to find their own way through. That's what 22-year-old college senior Juliana Kerrest has done, with the help of a group called Active Minds.

Click here to read the rest.

It's a pretty well-done story and part of a series NPR is doing on college students with mental illness (they've also covered things like ADD and Asperger's). They have some features on resources for mentally ill students. I thought the whole thing was really neat, and figured y'all would be interested too.

Ammended Illinois law.

2008-09-26T15:00:14Z

I'm an Illinois college student. I go through my university's counseling center, and so far it's been a pretty good experience.

Two sessions ago, my counselor informed me that new wording in a mental health act had gone in to affect in Illinois this past June.

The synopsis taken from:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=234&GAID=9&GA=95&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=27706&SessionID=51
"Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that "person subject to involuntary admission" includes (i) a person with mental
illness and who because of his or her illness is reasonably expected to engage in dangerous conduct (instead of reasonably expected to inflict serious
physical harm upon himself or herself or another in the near future) and (ii) a person with mental illness who, because of the nature of his or her illness,
is unable to understand his or her need for treatment and who, if not treated, is reasonably expected to suffer or continue to suffer mental deterioration
or emotional deterioration, or both, to the point that the person is reasonably expected to engage in dangerous conduct. Defines "dangerous conduct" as
threatening behavior or conduct that places another individual in reasonable expectation of being harmed, or a person's inability to provide, without the
assistance of family or outside help, for his or her basic physical needs so as to guard himself or herself from serious harm."

At the counseling center's staff meeting, apparently they decided that this will affect the patients they serve with eating disorders. He said that they're going to begin asking those patients to get blood tests. What I don't understand yet is who or how they will determine when that's necessary. I'm going to ask at my next session.

When he first started talking about it, I figured he was going for the self-injury angle... and I don't understand why that's not included and why they're not concerned about that.

I hadn't heard anything about this until he told me, and I've found very little on the internet beyond the actual wording of the bill to even suggest implications for patients. My counselor had a point in that this law doesn't essenchally change anything unless more beds open up in hospitals anyways.

I know they're not going to start sending all of us with disordered eating or self-injury to hospitals for involuntary admission. I also know that our counseling center is reasonable, and the staff seems very competent (compared to some stories I've heard). I'm just not sure how i feel about being mandated (possibly) on getting blood tests. Will student insurance pay for it here; I'll have to go find out. What will the criteria be to determine when you'll have to get one? Purging more than twice a week; using laxatives more than once a week, will one laxative use be worth two purging episodes... like an algebraic equation? Seriously... h'm extremely curious to see how this policy will be implemented.

As a side note, I'm a social work major who's currently enrolled in policy and welfare class as well as a basic american government class where we're talking about policies and how they're made.

Thoughts? anyone else's state got anything like this? Anyone think this is a horrible idea; a good idea? I'm curious at to anyone else's take on this.

Intro

2008-09-25T23:02:57Z

Name: Hannah
Diagnoses: bipolar, GAD, ADHD, EDNOS, anorexia, BED
Age:21
Sexual Orientation: pansexual, queer, Hannah
College: small school in central PA
Major: Social Work and Communications
Favorite Books: PostSecrets, Life of Pi--Yann Martel, Wasted Marya Hornebacher
Favorite Music: I like it all
Favorite TV Shows: Six Feet Under
What Your Post Are Usually Like: thoughts, asking advice, rants

hypomania.

2008-09-21T03:49:28Z

Diagnosis: Bipolar 1
Meds: 800 mg Seroquel, 300 mg Lamictal, 25 mg Zoloft<--that one's in question

I've kind of been fascinated with myself lately, and I think Zoloft is helping with that in a potentially destructive way.

I was half-expecting to give up and socially withdraw for a while, but that definitely hasn't been the case lately. I've been very active living on campus as a staff writer in the school newspaper and in a poker society. I have no trouble talking to anyone and have been making friends extremely easily. Studies seem to be going smoothly, as is working with all the resources I have available. I'm frequently active in class discussions. I don't have much to complain about.

BUT. Zoloft is dangerous. Although I'm bipolar 1 and antidepressants generally don't mix with that, I was feeling awful for several months, and instead of switching from Seroquel to Geodon like my pdoc originally proposed I had asked about an antidepressant to supplement, and he said okay, just call in a couple weeks or if I feel anything like I did when I was on an antidepressant last (which was five years ago, a no-sleep good-luck-keeping-up-with-me-talking-this-fast experience). That was about a week ago, after which I started taking half a 50 mg tablet every morning.

I think it's very safe to say medication-induced hypomania is likely a primary cause, although it's not out of control at the moment. If my sleep schedule gets too unbalanced I'll make a call. I'm not too afraid of the decision to reduce or quit it because I know escalating hypomania can turn into something very bad for everyone.

Still, I think I'm okay now, and it's nice to feel this much more capable after a dreary period. I'm hoping I can find the right balance so I don't crash back into total social withdrawal or get excessively manic.

crazy_academics @ 2008-09-18T00:55:00

2008-09-18T05:56:04Z

I got a perfect score on my research assignment that involved excel. When I explained what certain statistical concepts meant in the assignment I promise that I didn't know what in the world I was talking about. Meanwhile I probably got a C or D in my social psychology class exam. Let's see how I do with my philosophy exams. Dean's List, two honor societies, 3.86 GPA. Oh how the mighty have fallen. Ashley, some of us fall farther down than others.

Can you be severely depressed and not know it? A professor (a very affable man. I wish all professors were like him) I used to have had seasonal depression and didn't notice until his wife told him.I lack a significant other and I'm pretty closed off to everyone I know as far as sharing negative emotions go(I would fit in very well in a collectivist culture because they prize that).

I can say I'm unhappy with where I am. I can only sort of feel it. I just know it not feel it. Five years ago I never pictured myself where I am now. Where am I going to be in another five years? Tomorrow is suppose to be a better day but it never comes. That's how you know that you're doing something wrong. I think Socrates spells it out very well. "I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance."

an interesting tidbit from the Texas GOP 2008 Platform

2008-09-17T21:45:51Z

Americans with Disabilities Act - We support amendment of the Americans with Disabilities Act to exclude from its definition those persons with infectious diseases, substance addiction, learning disabilities, behavior disorders, homosexual practices and mental stress, thereby reducing abuse of the Act.

Discuss, if you want.

new problem

2008-09-17T08:27:48Z

I am having a problem that I have never had before. I just can't seem to get any motivation for school work. I thought that it was just that last week was oveerwhelming, but it is continuing. I should be catching up right now - but I am not. Any suggestions on motivation? And I totally spaced my intake with the new therapist today...

big le sigh

2008-09-16T04:55:34Z

Big le sigh. I got so much on my mind. It's all going so fast and I constantly feel pushed for time. I feel as if I have to look at the watch just to see if I have enough time to sit down on the couch for a moment. I hate to say it but life is a drag for me right now. I've learned to not burden other people with my problems. I even hesitate to say much here on livejournal. Kind of funny because everyone here has depression, anxiety, and what not. But it seems like most everyone on my friends list seems to be doing relatively well if not great or at least ok. Makes me feel kind of out of place. I believe that's "upward social comparison" if I remember anything in social psychology. Anyway I'm sincerely happy for them. However, it's just depressing that I've been left in the dust so to speak like in a race. Not through anyone's actions but just a lack of progress on my part. I've learned to smile even when I'm sad. When I'm really sad I've learned to just do. Not think or feel. Just do what I have to do.

I'm considering switching universities. I can't objectively say if it would be the best thing but I'm not caring too much for my current university. My social life has been thrown out of balance by school. I've been neglecting pretty much everyone I know in real life. That in turn is affecting my academic performance. In the back of my mind I'm sincerely afraid of things not working out in the end as far as college goes. If that doesn't work what then? I guess I'm questioning my academic competency. I was at a 3.8 GPA, then 3.75, and now 3.6. The classes only get harder...

It's sad but I don't feel like I have anyone to talk to. I feel like my counselor and I are on two completely different wavelengths.

Prozac Question

2008-09-15T04:50:29Z

Last week, I forgot to take my Prozac. It happens on occasion but I forgot twice in a row and on Tuesday was just like "you know what? Fuck it." So I haven't taken it since.

For a while I've doubted the effectiveness of the medication. It was great at first and then sort of stopped. I'm regretting now that I've stopped, mostly because I probably should've gone to the doctor first and now I'm just getting really freaked out over it. I want to just start taking it again but I don't know if that's stupid or what's doing to happen. :/ I'm getting really tied up over it. I guess it hasn't been that long and I know Prozac stays in your system a long time but I'm probably just going to keep putting it off...

What should I do?

Pills, woo!

2008-09-14T01:38:08Z

The doctor upped my Zoloft to 100 mg, since I was having some super awesome depression. On top of that, he gave me some lovely Rozerem, since I have some super insomnia to go with that depression. I've been on Rozerem before, since I have long bouts of insomnia, and I have to say it's not so bad, but it does leave me feeling extra sleepy in the morning. I think the only reason I got Rozerem was because it's supposedly non-addictive. (My doctor doesn't like giving me anything serious [or letting my other doctors] due to what he calls "Poor Impulse Control")

So, I want to see if any of the rest of you had insomnia to go with your disorders, and if so, what drugs your doctor might have prescribed?

A Late Friending Frenzy!

2008-09-13T23:01:00Z

Name: Chandi
Diagnoses: PTSD, GAD. I have borderline traits, and my life changed significantly for the better after I did DBT but I do not have a formal diagnosis of BPD.
Age: 23
Sexual Orientation: Queer.
College: Athabasca University - it's totally done via distance education. I actually live 4 or so hours away from the university.
Major: I'm working towards my BA with a double major in psych and womens studies
Favorite Books: "Prey" by Michael Crichton, "The Giver" Trilogy by Lois Lowry, "Kushiel's Dart" by Jacqueline Carey
Favorite Music: A little bit of everything. My favorite bands are The Goo Goo Dolls, Queen, David Bowie, and classic Aerosmith.
Favorite TV Shows: I only really have time to watch Grey's Anatomy. I like the Simpsons and Family Guy too.
What Your Post Are Usually Like (i.e. are they about your personal life, about fandom, about current events, et cetera): Personal life mostly. I dont' update a lot, but I love to read. I dont' comment all the time either, but I always read posts.

Friending post response

2008-09-13T22:35:18Z

Name: Ryan (girl)
Diagnoses: Bipolar II, Borderline personality disorder, some ADD
Age: 21
Sexual Orientation: Bisexual
College: Rutgers University (RU RAH RAH!)
Major: Classics w/concentration in Latin
Favorite Books: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the Aeneid, many many more
Favorite Music: Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd
Favorite TV Shows: Sarah Connor Chronicles, The Office
What Your Post Are Usually Like: Rutgersiana, daily life, classic rock picture spams..

Mod post

2008-09-13T21:37:40Z

Sorry kids. I deleted the spam, sorry it took so long.

INTRO! Greetings Universe!

2008-09-13T01:02:33Z

Name: Thomas I. Essary
Diagnoses: Social Anxiety Disorder ---I ALSO FEEL THAT I HAVE BUT NOT FORMERLY DIAGNOSED--- : Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Depression, possible Generalized Anxiety.
Past Diagnoses: ADD / borderline ADHD
Age: 18
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
College: Fresno City College
Major: Architecture
Favorite Books: Grand Theft Jesus - Robert S. McElvaine, A Wrinkle in Time (I don't know the author), The Holy Bible.
Favorite Music: Pfft, what isn't? I'm currently listening to Rob Zombie, Earlier I was listening to some Industrial Metal and Industrial Electro, and also some Indie and Alternative. I also listen to 80s and 70s stuff regularly as well as a lot of Electronic Dance Music (Techno) and Hardstyle. And on more than one occasion you'll catch me enjoying some swing jazz!
Favorite TV Shows: Anything video game or technology related (I.E. G4) or educational (Mythbusters!!) Discovery, History etc. SpongeBob, Comedy Channel all the time! (SCRUBS! <3) Stand up comedians etc. Also webisodes on youtube. Like Yu-Gi-Oh the abridged series XD

SO I may not have a lengthy extensive list of disorders or whatnot but people still do find me ... interesting and it's definitely made it difficult school-wise as my first semester ever in my life in college :p. And honestly it's really difficult out there to live the way I'd like with Social Anxiety, and ADD/ADHD at the same time as well as other possibilities. I haven't been seeing the therapist very long so we haven't covered everything yet, maybe he'll eventually diagnose those things, maybe it's just me. At any rate my Name's Thomas, and, well the real me who is comfortable with things around him is an energetic happy-go-lucky silly and sometimes crazy individual with strong ideals and a sharp / creative / intelligent mind as I've been told but I am not arrogant about it. I love things like talking and / or listening to someone who loves talking, playing video games, talking about video games, playing soccer or playing something in the park recreationally. Dancing to dance music, Singing to myself, riding a bike, taking walks, listening to music, playing in big open spaces, the list goes on.

So that's my intro thingy. The link to the general intro was forbidden for some reason and I didn't want to do the MOD so I just stole this Intro layout from the previous person :p I hope I did it right.

A change of pace

2008-09-12T03:52:11Z

Plenty of things on my mind but I decided on a random post.

If you could of been born in any time era which would it be? What would you be doing there and why would you specifically choose that era? Forget about the factors of anxiety, depression, and what not when you answer these questions. This is an exercise in imagination.

Intro thing

2008-09-12T03:09:18Z

Name: Sara
Diagnoses: Depression, Anxiety, ED-NOS(it never goes away), Borderline Personality Disorder,
Age: 20
Sexual Orientation: straight
College: tech college
Major: none (nun?)
Favorite Books: William Gibson Pattern Recognition, Neil Gaiman Neverwhere, Anything by Neil Gaiman,
Favorite Music: Lots of musics. My Last.fm page It's a little messed up because sometimes I'm not the one choosing the music, but it's pretty accurate otherwise.
Favorite TV Shows: Stuff I watch online: Weeds, Dexter, Flight of The Conchords..not so much anymore since I don't have free time.
What Your Post Are Usually Like (i.e. are they about your personal life, about fandom, about current events, et cetera): In my personal journal, my posts are usually about drugs, something stupid I did, lots of whining, bitching about my boyfriend sometimes, hilarious cats, any sorts of cats, really...but so much bitching it's terrible. Let me tell you though: drugs, drugs, drugs.
I am suck a complete and total addict, anything and everything to feel alive, you know.

I could especially use support on the BPD and eating disorder stuff, I'm trying to start exercising and counting calories again to eat normally, don't want to relapse too hard, ummm.....drug people have been the most fascinating people, I have found, for me anyway.. I have a really hard time making/keeping friends; a lot of people have written me off as being something they can't handle and have stopped talking to me. Like a lot a lot of people. I am a bitch most of the time though, and I know nothing is going to fix me; I need to fix myself, so I understand how frustrating I can be.
Oh I bitch about being sick a lot

Catch me on AIM and I'll send you musex or probably more likely ignore you because I don't really do well at talking to people in any way, so I'm not usually in to talking to people: nursemachine
I am on Twitter sometimes: nursemachine

go cats!

FRIENDING POST

2008-09-11T16:57:25Z

Since the response to my suggestion about having friending post was positive, I've decided to go ahead and make one.

So, in comments to this entry, go ahead and introduce yourselves.

Here's a format you can use:

Name:
Diagnoses:
Age:
Sexual Orientation:
College:
Major:
Favorite Books:
Favorite Music:
Favorite TV Shows:
What Your Post Are Usually Like (i.e. are they about your personal life, about fandom, about current events, et cetera):

If you'd rather do your own thing, of course, feel free to do so!

I can't wait to meet and friend you folks!