#addiction representation

[thedisabilitybookarchive]

'10 Things I Can See From Here'- Mac, Carrie

Disability Rep: Mental Health, Anxiety, Addiction

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction

Age: Young Adult

Setting: Canada

Additional Rep: Lesbian, Bisexual, Stepfamilies, F/F

For more information on summaries, content warnings and book tropes, see here:

[laniidae-passerine]

can’t believe that Armand experienced a series of micro-aggressions from Daniel and it made him fall in love again. like maybe all my aunties were right maybe interracial relationships are a mistake

[kestalsblog]

Tips for Writing Characters in Recovery from Addiction

I've encountered several portrayals of characters in recovery from addiction, both in fanfiction and published writing, that are clearly somewhat under-researched or leaning into stereotypes. Additionally, writing advice posts on the subject often feel detached and cite statistics rather than express humanity.

As a result, I decided to put together what I believe to be some characteristics and shared experiences of people in recovery that aren't just about withdrawal and might be less familiar to the general public. Perhaps they can be useful to writers aiming to write thoughtful and accurate portrayals of characters in similar situations.

Please note, of course, that both addiction and recovery are very unique, personalized experiences, so no one list will ever apply 100% to a single person—fictional or real.

Dreams of relapse. I personally experience these dreams at least 4-5 times a month, and they're unlike any other other dreams I have because they're so vivid and lifelike that I wake from them completely convinced for a moment that I did, in fact, relapse. These dreams do NOT mean you want to relapse. In fact, they are often a sign of extreme fear of relapse. The possibility of it is so nightmarish that your mind can only translate it into a literal night terror.

Adding to the previous point, the fear of relapse is seriously underestimated. Some people assume recovered addicts are always thinking about relapsing in a tempting way, but lots of these thoughts stem from the absolute, paralyzing terror of the past repeating itself—not an alluring urge to return to it.

Paranoia that everyone is looking at you thinking "they know the truth about my past. They know I was an addict." These beliefs are, of course, unfounded.

Constantly categorizing everything as "before addiction," "during addiction," and "after addiction." Even something as simple as looking at photographs can elicit thoughts like, "I was so happy in this picture. I had no idea what was coming for me in six months."

Counting recovery days nonstop to the point that it can even become debilitating. Your sense of time is forever altered because you're always trying to "catch up" on all the time you "wasted."

If people know, they will constantly make snide or condescending remarks, no matter how far along in recovery you are. "An addict is always an addict." "Well, I can see you're doing better than you used to be!" "I would never do something like that."

People will relentlessly assume you are less intelligent and talk to you like you're a child, especially if you're in the early stages of recovery.

Everyone knows addicts lose friends and/or family, and sometimes for good reasons, but the sheer number of people who leave for no apparent reason when you're actively trying to get better is surprising. The stigma surrounding addiction is so intensely negative that most people don't even want to be tangentially associated with it.

Addicts and recovered addicts are fetishized in unexpected ways— sometimes because of the obviously sickly appearance, the assumption that they will do anything to feed their addiction, the false belief that they are "fun" or "exciting," or maybe even that they just seem pathetic. Random people in public will approach you and straight-up ask for the most disrespectful sexual acts you can imagine. (After my addiction became common knowledge, people I thought were good people suddenly started trying like mad to sleep with me and then ditched me entirely. That's probably one of the most painful learning moments I had).

Physical symptoms can appear months, even years, after recovery starts. I know some who have noticed their hands suddenly becoming shakier, their hair thinner, and unusual chest pains.

You often become so angry and guilty with your past self that it prevents you from seeing how extraordinary your progress really is.

You start to realize how far you've come and how liberated you are in the smallest of moments. One of the greatest accomplishments of mine was realizing one morning when I woke up that the last thought I'd had before going to bed had not been about my addiction. Throughout my entire years of addiction, it was literally always the first thing on my mind when I woke up, even if it was just getting up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. It was the last thing I thought of every single night before I fell asleep.

Speaking of sleep, a full night's sleep! Full meals! Not feeling sick 100% of the time. At first, it's almost like growing into a new body.

Your memory is not the same as before, whether you remember too much or there are big dark patches in your mind.

The appreciation. As difficult and painful as it is, a world in recovery is also so often a world of supreme beauty. You pay attention to life's details in ways you never could have imagined before. Things assume a gentle sincerity and sensitivity they never had previously.

Relapse does not always even happen. Some people quit and never look back. I decided to change my life in every way in February 2021 and spent all of that March relapsing. By April 1, I was ready and never went back once.

Addicts are always deemed selfish and narcissistic, even recovered addicts. Sometimes, ironically, recovery leads to increased empathy. It can take reaching a low point to understand another person's low point.

Recovery can be quiet. It's not always over-the-top constant relapses, breakdowns, etc. Sometimes it's just very private and silent attempts to make your life better.

Finally, a point I would like to emphasize is that addiction is a lonely, isolating experience, but often recovery is too. Yes, you can have rehab (if you're lucky to get into a good one), and, yes ,you might have a group or loved ones who help you (I hope). But every reason behind addiction and what you're actually addicted to is so individualized that no one will ever wholly share your experience. Finding a community can be challenging.

But, despite it all, recovery is a unique, beautiful, enlightening experience. If I were given the choice to go back and make it so I'd never had any of it happen, I would choose that option in a heartbeat. Still, I know in the depths of my soul, I'd be trading away some of the most raw, vulnerable, and profound lessons of my life in favor of blissful ignorance.

Above all else, I hope if you write a character in recovery, you try to portray them as you would anyone else—a nuanced and interesting human being 🫶

[sassypotatoe1]

Hey can we talk about the non-traditional ways digital devices can be disability aids? Like yes screen readers AACs digital health monitors all incredibly important, and I've heard far too many stories of how teachers and those in positions of authority over disabled people have confiscated, refused access to or damaged these devices, most famously that one person on reddit whose teacher cut the line for their insulin pump thinking it was earphone wires, but I also want to talk about the less traditional uses of digital devices like cellphones in aiding disability and how 'phone-free' areas like schools or exams or some crazy businesses and company offices, is terribly discriminatory.

Before fights break out in the comments people who use traditional digital devices and aids are allowed to still share their experiences, it is in fact encouraged, because while I do want to focus the discussion on how people use regular ol smartphones etc. to aid in managing their disabilities and why denying them access to said phones or shaming, harassing or assaulting them for using a phone in "inappropriate settings" to manage their disability, people who use things like AACs, smart watches and other monitors and digital insulin pumps etc. Are also affected by hard bans on the use of digital devices in certain settings because, as with the above example, insulin pumps can be mistaken for earphone cables and smart watches used for disabilities like pots can also be banned because they "make it easy to cheat on tests" etc.

So sound off in the notes. How do you use digital devices in a non-traditional way to help you manage your disability? And in what ways have being denied access to these devices impacted your health and well-being? The reason I want to have this discussion is because I want people reading the notes and reblogs to learn ways that they can use these devices to manage their own disabilities and conditions, work against internalized shame surrounding being dependent on devices and create conversation that will empower disabled and chronically ill people to advocate for the allowance of digital devices such as cellphones into spaces where they're explicitly banned because they are being used as disability aids. I mean allow devices because they're being used as aids not devices banned because they're used as aids.

[yellowsubiesdance]

i think i’ve learned a lot when it comes to not applying my own values to the media i consume

for my script analysis class yesterday, we discussed two gentleman from verona, and nearly every classmate of mine was up in arms about how sexist the story is.

and i'm not saying it's not, or that it's not infuriating to read. but i'm also not putting my energy into getting upset about something written 500 or so years ago. and i'm not about to put my own beliefs onto these characters that are not me. i'm going to let their choices speak for themselves, and interpret it in the context of the story.

all that said, this now brings me to the point of alastor in episode 5, and how viscerally people are responding to it. those of you up in arms about the choices he’s making, and the violent threat he gave husk, you’re missing the entire point of his character, of this place they’re in, of the story being told. he’s an overlord, and he became an overlord by killing much bigger overlords and broadcasting their deaths over the radio.

HE IS NOT A GOOD PERSON.

if you started this show with the belief that every character working the hotel is a good person, you’re in the wrong place. watch the good place if you’re looking for a good wholesome story about getting dead sinners into heaven, because that’s not what this show is about.

you’re more than welcome to hate him after seeing the way he exerted power over a being whose soul he owns, but you’re doing the media you’re watching a disservice by writing it off so quickly. if you don’t like to be uncomfortable watching media, watch something else. this is an uncomfortable show, it handles uncomfortable topics, and it’s going to be an uncomfortable ride, and if you’re not up for something like that, then you should take a break from it and pick up something else. you don’t have to get online and defend your own ideals while you watch a show that goes against your ideals.

[angellic-critique]

Oh yeah, Angel Dust has a sister, her name's Molly, there are a bunch of speed drawings with her.

Anon I think you are the only fan of Molly as I have not sent her be mentioned outside of 2017.

Genuinely thought that Molly was like Niffty/Vaggie situationship because I had NO fucking clue what stance Molly even was outside of just looking at a distant glance over definitely not realizing that was what happened to the past 'Angel Dust Drag'..... The fact that it personifies into a woman that is barely mentioned [much like angel representing or doing drag in the first place], turned into fucking THIS????

I cant even begin to comprehend.... She speaks for herself honestly. You can tell that viv genuinely did not give a fuck about the implications here or the lazy design that is 'Hmm angel dust but pink girly'

I feel like she just became cut content considering there hasn't ever been a mention about angels' family besides his Arackniss

Kinda weird how angel is more focused and put down upon in the spotlight more with Valentino and less with his 1930s mobster Italian spider persona :/ Even attempting to make a different womanly character known as the sister of angel dust, she is still tied down to him and has nothing besides this rainbow vomit old design.

How could I not be confused over angels' stance on dragging while VIV can't even fucking make characters up for him without retconning over herself!

You want this mess of a character design to be made but not Baxter???? I'm baffled. Thanks for bringing this horrid 'writing' decision to my notice. Since viv doesn't give a single lick of sense about Molly I too did not realize that Molly was supposed to be the hyper feminized pink eyesore that was SUPPOSED to be Angel's DRAG PERFORMING CARICATURE???

Your ask has the exact same amount of punch as telling me that Blitz has a sister, they are underwritten to be one of the same since they're women obviously Viv just doesn't like writing women ! :/

[wastingawayinmyroom]

reread disintegration, finished the currently posted chapters of cmu, and reread the second half of choices in one day.

the smut and angst are literally mixing in my brain like a blender 😭😭😭

anw, here’s my thoughts of cmu!!!!

CHEEESE TOASTIES

sir you get a date with a guy and you take him to fucking ITALY. BECAUSE HE SAID HE LIKED ITALIAN FOOD???

crazy but damn I need a sugar daddy now

regulus is an icon

the James Wins thing has me screaming istg

STOCKINGS KINKKKK (almost the same level of accurate as the knife kink)

”stroke your ego”??? girly more like stroking his di-

dude. the gender representation. this was actually wonderful to read abt, like gender-fluid reg is so underrated. give my pookie some love y’all!!!!

but fr his struggle with gender is something I relate with on an atomic level

the smut….

look ik somebody’s gonna be like “jia!!! you’re a minor!!!”

but if y’all can write masterpieces with minors doing stuff and write about minors reading that same type of stuff, then i can read about that stuff

anw GAHD DAYUM

THAT WAS HOTTTT

regulus in denial about the praise kink 🤭

”inappropriate use of champagne” “me and the limos are at it again” damagecontrol your tags will kill me

after the angst kills me ofc

that was WILD

can’t wait for puerta vellarta!!! or whatever it’s called!!!

ALSO THE THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS MENTION????

MICAH NEMEREVER OH MY GODDDD

IK ITS NOT THAT IMPORTANT BUT AKAHKWHWI

MY FAV BOOK

IN MY FAV FIC

SBAJBAJA

LILY EVANS HAS TASTEEEEE

[falloutnewnobody]

i love projecting eating disorders ive had onto characters who exibit anything bordering ed thoughts and behaviors its the closest i get to representation

anyway harry dubois is drunkorexic because i said so.

[quetzai8]

I’m curious, AroAce people, what are your thoughts on Chappell Roan’s music? Personally, I’m a big fan and I love her stage personality and music, but as an AroAce, I’ve never actually felt anything she describes in her songs. Most of what she describes of relationships and flings sounds entirely uninteresting to me, but I want to know what other AroAces think.

[brucewaynehater101]

How often does someone try to admit Brucie Wayne into rehab, have an intervention, or try to get him into AA?

[parkercore-69]

thank you J.R.R. Tolkien for writing the most devastating romantic subplot in your lotr books without even realising it

[stanielman]

Finally suffering through season four of The Umbrella Academy and while I have many complaints and frustrations, my biggest is one that I've had for the entire show and that's how everyone treats Klaus' addiction issues.

These season especially, we see him sober and proud and absolutely paranoid into slipping back to the old way. I'm well aware that getting his power back doesn't immediately throw himself into old habits, but to him it absolutely does because having powers means subjecting himself to non-stop psychosis which he can only subside with drugs and alcohol.

So the fact that he is petrified of relapsing, not a single one of them try to keep an eye on him, try to help him. No wonder he relapsed in probably the most heartbreaking scene of the show, and that's so far just been met with frustration from Allison and her promise to leave him to mess up on his own.

I understand having a rocky relationship with a family member with substance abuse issues, I absolutely understand now wanting to be around them or having them be around your child, I understand not wanting to pick them up off their ass over and over again, but it's just so crazy to me that they all have the ability to recognize that he has an addiction and see how hard he worked to be sober and not try to do anything to prevent losing him again. Not show any care that they're losing him

[fr3sh-c0rn]

Criminal minds where everything is the same except Morgan has hair

[chronicsymptomsyndrome]

I just came across this post which explains that disabled people are welcome in the community regardless of the source of their disability. Specifically, people who “did it to themselves” via complications from addiciton, injuries from high-risk behavior, or any number of other reasons (although someone in the notes correctly points out that addiction is already a disability on its own.) Its not currently reblogable but I really wanted the sentiment to reach as many people as possible

So just to be clear, people who “did it to themselves” still deserve accommodation and acceptance and community. In fact I would even go so far as to say nobody ever really “did it to themselves” because no healthy person with options would ever willingly or knowingly disable themselves, and also because factors leading up to pretty much any disability can actually be traced back for generations.

[thedisabilitybookarchive]

'The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue'- Lee, Mackenzi

Disability Rep: Addiction (MC), Seizure Disorder/Possible Epilepsy (LI)

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

Age: Young Adult

Setting: England, Europe

Additional Rep: Bisexual Male MC x Gay Biracial Male LI, Asexual-Aromantic Female SC

For more information on summaries, content warnings and additional tropes, see here:

[titsthedamnseason]

everyone lied to me about the bergman brothers these books are kind of bad