#be sensitive to mental health

[sarah-skylark]

CW: SUICIDE BAIT IN FANDOM SPACE AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Fandom. World. We need to talk about how often go kys, go die, fuck off and die, how about you kill yourself are used way the fuck too much these days.

Too many people out there act like suicide baiting is a joke or a light jab or a normal-ass thing you can say to people in response to something that upsets you.

You DO NOT get to call yourself progressive and forward and suicide bait.

You DO NOT get to brush it off and go- whatever they should know I don’t mean suicide bait for real

You DO NOT get to post in your header a list of mental illnesses and personal information you want respect, patience, and understanding of and suicide bait others for theirs

You DO NOT get to pop up in a fictional fandom and suicide bait because you dislike their headcanons.

More controversial: You DO NOT get to tell a right-winger, TERF, politician, racist, homophobic misogynist pastor fill-in-the-blank-hateful-person to kill themselves because that is the exact person you want changing their mind because they become the strongest Allies.

-

I paid attention this week online because classes are starting and all our staff goes through a mental wellness course prior to the kids coming. In one week I saw casually slinging suicide bait or jokes over killing themselves with a tasteful asterisk sometimes to avert censors multiple times a day on every social media.

For not liking Hoziers album. For using she/her pronouns for the Muriel character in good omens and he/him for Crowley. For a suggestion of buying a crochet needle at Hobby Lobby. For someone not wanting people to smoke weed in their apartment cuz they don’t like the smell. To a lesbian because she preferred not to date amab women. To a writer because they didn’t like the plot twist in the book. For people who secured Taylor swift tickets when the poster didn’t.

This is not cool, y’all. This is triggering to people on the edge or with suicide related trauma. Scrolling past dozens of kys type messages a day is damaging. It’s not a funny slang thing to say. I’m not ‘too old’ ‘you don’t get our humor’ ‘it’s just a thing’ ‘you don’t get it’ OKAY NO suicide bait is bait and crowning yourself judge and jury on who’s opinions are worth life or death never comes out right and making light of it because you are pissed off and full of rage because someone used a particular pronoun for a character or drew them a way you disagree with is straight up bullshit

[chai-penguin]

On Isolation

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

It is estimated those with ADHD receive 20,000 corrective or negative messages by age 10

Neurodivergent_lou

[me-beef]

sorry folks January hit me like a mallet to the gut B(

always terrified of what other people are thinking of me. but also always feeling guilty and ashamed of how self-absorbed my mental illness makes me

have to keep reminding myself I’m a normal person with flaws and I’m not ruining everyone’s lives just by existing

[kumasakka]

a little reminder because no one talks ENOUGH about this matter. writing about dark romance, incest, minors having literally sex, intense stalker shit, rape etc. is actuall very concerning. that’s (I’m sorry) fucked up. and in my opinion, that’s something that shouldn’t even get supported AND DEF NOT PUBLISHED HERE OR ELSEWHERE.

“I do not support this—“ then don’t write this and keep ur nasty, freaky fantasies for yourself.

“don’t like, don’t read—“ bro no. this is just fucked up. you shouldn’t let those things slide. to me, it just seems like you’re defending this stuff.

“oh but—“ NO. GET HELP, I’M SORRY. BUT THIS IS NOT OKAY.

especially something like rape. bro. do you realize how many people experience something horrible like this? this isn’t something you should fantasise about. it’s absolutely disgusting and terrifying, no one should experience this and no one should wish for smth like this. imagine being a victim and then reading comments about “oh how I wish to get raped by that character/that person”.

absolutely hate it when writers make some mistakes and it’s like — a trivial matter — but I still see some people writing hate comments. as if making mistakes aren’t normal? shove up those disrespectful, rude comments into your mouth please and thank you. this is what I would call “don’t like, don’t read�� if you don’t like the story then don’t read it. go hate on things like dark romance or incest or IDK.

edited: I would like to apologize on my part for being insightful towards those people who use it to cope with their trauma. I’m sorry! stay safe and strong please ❤️

again: I won’t answer any asks anymore or anything because I’m tired of people telling me the same thing. like — I understand that one half of the people who disagree with me because they are explaining their point of view properly, but I will NOT understand the other half who don’t explain it properly enough. I guess that’s on me though.

[insert-name-heres-things]

Happy Disability Pride Month!!!

Remember Folks:

- SELF CARE IS NUMBER ONE

- Use your spoons sparingly! Here’s some spoons to go: 🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄

- Clean your mobility aids! (Seriously dude when was the last time you wiped that shit down with an antibacterial?)

- Accommodate yourself, as others will follow.

- Make goals within your reach and abilities

- DO YOUR COPINGS SKILLS

- Remember to stay hydrated and take your meds!

- For my fellow heat sensitive homies, stay cool this summer! A cold rag draped behind your neck, airy clothing, a small portable hand fan, keeping ice packs ready, cold water and expecially cold electrolyte drinks, all do wonders!

- For my fellow autistic folks, don’t be afraid wear earmuffs, stim, use chew charms, whatever it is that helps you regulate. You don’t have to mask if it’s something that isn’t benefitting to your life.

- POTS havin mofos like me, salt the ever loving fuck out of your food. Try different foods with salt, such as fruits and vegetables! I’m currently eating a salty tomato. Drink lots of water, I’ve been aiding gateraid packets to my water and it’s made a HUGE difference, especially as someone who hates drinking water.

- Those with PTSD for whatever reason, I wish you safety and support as you learn to cope and hopefully heal.

- I don’t know exactly what to say to others with H-EDS, as I’m still understanding this disorder other then BE CAREFUL WITH YOURSELF THIS PRIDE MONTH. I swear to god we are the most accident prone mother fuckers lmfao-

- If your immune system is all fucky like mine, keep clean and be sanitary, communicate with others that if they’re sick you can’t be around them, and wear a mask if you feel like that’s the right option for you. In my hometown I’ve gotten yelled at more than once for wearing a mask post-covid, however you can’t let someone else’s ignorance result in your own suffering.

- Don’t forget to move around and stretch! A little movement can do a lot for your body.

- Check in with your disabled friends! Try and see if there’s any way you can help one another, see where both of your strengths and weaknesses lie, and swap some spoons!!

- Be aware of what triggers your disorders. Whether if it’s caffeine triggering bipolar episodes, the weather causing fibro flares, big changes causing meltdowns, overexerting your hypermobility, whatever it is, it matters. Listen to your body and mind.

- Don’t be afraid to call out that doctor who isn’t listening, dismissing your symptoms and medically gaslighting you.

- While it may not seem like a big difference for some, trust me when I say your appetite is so important! Remember if it comes down to it, that it’s better to eat something, ANYTHING, than nothing at all. 

- To that person who might be hesitant, ashamed or might be questioning wether or not they should use a mobility aid, if it’s the difference between you being stuck at home vs going out and living some life… USE THAT MOBILITY AID!!! Same goes for braces and any other tool that may help you live a better quality of life.

- Be accepting towards those with disabilities different then your own- remember this month isn’t a competition about who’s struggling the most, rather to understand that people of physical, psychological, sensory, neurodivergence, and even undiagnosed disabilities all share one thing in common.. WHICH IS BEING DISABLED!

- Doesn’t matter who you are, how young or old, black or white, thick or thin - the disabled minority is one you can end up becoming a part of at any time, and likely will if you live long enough. Disability doesn’t discriminate, so EVERYONE should be advocating for disabled people’s rights.

- And of course, have pride in being disabled. This shit is fucking hard, but if you’re reading this, you’re doing it. Just being here today and doing what you can handle or manage, is doing your best, and that’s enough. You don’t have to push yourselves to impossible lengths to be proud of yourself.

Here, have the disability pride flag:

[openmindpsych]

i think there needs to be a shift in the way people talk about rejection sensitivity. while the sensitivity is often more than is necessary or appropriate, it's not totally unreasonably making things up to be anxious about. it reminds me of hypervigilance in ptsd - during childhood, there were tons of small rejections you experienced. and social rejection is a big deal - in the past, being rejected by your social group meant death! so your brain learned to pick up on those small rejections to stay safe. and even if you're in a safer environment now, like among friends who love you, your brain has already learned how to be cautious. it's annoying, and often unhelpful, but your brain is just trying its best to keep you safe. it's not just an overreaction or making up problems where there are none.

[thepeacefulgarden]

[serenityquest]

[safe-haven-safe-place]

[self-care-club]

I struggle big time with interoception, knowing how I feel and what I need in the moment. I made up this acronym to help. Whenever I feel my tension rising, I go through this checklist.

If you struggle to identify your emotions, check out this post.

[and-fishing-equipment]

rb for sample size

[studentbyday]

I'd like to think I made it out of survival mode this semester now that I've finally caught up. But once I'm in it, I always find it hard to shake the mindset of it. As soon as I hear of deadlines, even those I actually have enough time to prepare for, I feel my chest tightening and I forget to breathe, bracing myself for... what exactly?

I can't fall behind after reading week because that's the only break we have before finals revision. Yet at the same time, if I don't exit survival mode, I will surely burn out and find it really difficult to carry on, even post-finals.

So this morning I watched this video for some inspo and one of the most important things I got from it (although everything really was a good reminder because i clearly have issues with work-life balance lol) was the different types of rest. The ones I need most right now are creative rest, mental rest, physical rest, and sensory rest (depending on how busy this week will be, how overstimulating my brain and the rest of my life outside of schoolwork will be, and how much my social media use will be).

So here are some things I want to try/restart:

Sensory rest

Wake up before everyone else does for the peace and quiet and to experience the gentle transition to sunlight (rather than have the sun's rays pierce my eyes lol)

Lie on bed, even during day whenever I need sensory rest. Not to sleep if it will throw off my sleep schedule, but just to decompress 🧸

Creative rest

Get out and soak in the nature when I wake up early since that's when the air is best

Soak in the little pleasant sensations of every day (e.g. notice the beauty in food smells and how it combines with the taste and texture, kitchen/study/any other daily life ASMR)

Read fiction first thing in the morning (will also help me wake up by being smth to look forward to...i can even read while I'm out there soaking in the nature)

Mental rest

Meditate (10-20 mins)

Write out all my remaining worries/stray thoughts at the end of the work day (WHICH CAN NOW BE AT LEAST 1 HOUR BEFORE I ACTUALLY GO TO BED)

Physical rest

Exercise to release the stress.

Sleep as much as I want, worry free since I wrote them all down well before bed and sleeping is the first step to prepare myself to tackle them all one by one

[changingplumbob]

Using my night time rambling today to thank those who tag their stories appropriately. Thank you everyone who tags their sim stories when death happens, my brain does need a second to remember it's fiction. Thank you everyone who tags gore, or violence, or addictions or any other topics that are triggering for readers. I know I'm grateful when pet death is tagged, and I'm sure others are grateful to encounter warnings for whatever is tough for them.

Also reminder it's good practice to not tag your posts as cc unless you link the cc.

[thepeacefulgarden]

[me-beef]

A collection of Fell art I don't think I've ever posted before. This is all art I've made in the last year, those first pics being done in January/February-ish? It's been fun to see how much my art has developed since then :)

So, something I'm sure I've mentioned before, I have RSD- or rejection sensitive dysphoria. For the last decade or so, it's controlled a large portion of my life and has dictated a lot of what I've been able to do. It used to be a lot worse- like, eating-lunch-alone-in-the-bathroom-everyday-at-school-because-I'd-have-a-panic-attack-if-I-tried-to-go-into-the-cafeteria type of bad. Or, having-a-panic-attack-because-a-girl-complimented-my-socks-and-I-was-CERTAIN-she-was-actually-implying-I-was-a-stupid-idiot-loser-baby type of bad. It's made it really hard to make friends and maintain relationships, because a part of my brain truly believes the people around me don't want me there, or that it's better for me to be quiet and out of the way than to risk doing something "wrong" and drawing the ire of everyone around me.

It was something that I was really ashamed of for the longest time. I didn't understand what I was feeling or why I acted the way that I did, I just wanted everyone around me to be happy and I felt like I was doing everything wrong and making everything worse just by being present in any given situation.

So- what ended up working for me? How did I start moving forward?

Years of counseling and therapy? Yeah. Medication? That too.

But do you want to know what really ended up changing my life this year?

I made a character to conceptualize and encapsulate all of my anxieties and traumas, took my condition, and made it her superpower.

Some bits about her character:

In a ⋆˙⟡dramatic⋆˙⟡ and ⋆˙⟡tragic⋆˙⟡ childhood event, Fell's heart was fused with a star.

It sounds like a magical-girl dream- but for Fell, it's only ever been a curse.

Whenever her emotions flare, she has an uncontrollable surge of magic. Sometimes, that wild magic can scare or even hurt the people around her. She's become terrified of her own emotions- and that fear only exacerbate her "curse".

So, she isolates herself- not out of a fear of others, but out of a fear of hurting those around her.

When I was a kid, there weren't really any characters out there that I felt like I could truly identify with. Sure, I've seen social anxiety addressed in media throughout my life, but nothing that I felt really captured the full complexities of what I was experiencing in my day-to-day. Plus, I feel like those characters rarely got to be the heroes of the story.

So, all that to say, Fell is the hero that I wish I had gotten to have as a kid.

Starlight Saga (working title), or Legends of ZahKol, is the story and world that I built around the lessons I've learned in my journey of overcoming my anxiety and RSD. I can't give that to my past self, but my dream is to one day share it with the world- for other people out there like me, to help them and give them hope and let them know how strong they really are for fighting day in and day out. That these parts of yourself don't mean you're broken or damaged or wrong- these are tied to the most resilient, most beautiful parts of who you are.