#caffeine intolerance go crazy

[sugarcoatednightshade]

thinking about how Humans Are Space Orcs stories always talk about how indestructible humans are, our endurance, our ability to withstand common poisons, etc. and thats all well and good, its really fun to read, but it gets repetitive after a while because we aren't all like that.

And that got me thinking about why this trope is so common in the first place, and the conclusion I came to is actually kind of obvious if you think about it. Not everyone is allowed to go into space. This is true now, with the number of physical restrictions placed on astronauts (including height limits), but I imagine it's just as strict in some imaginary future where humans are first coming into contact with alien species. Because in that case there will definitely be military personnel alongside any possible diplomatic parties.

And I imagine that all interactions aliens have ever had up until this point have been with trained personnel. Even basic military troops conform to this standard, to some degree. So aliens meet us and they're shocked and horrified to discover that we have no obvious weaknesses, we're all either crazy smart or crazy strong (still always a little crazy, academia and war will do that to you), and not only that but we like, literally all the same height so there's no way to tell any of us apart.

And Humans Are Death Worlders stories spread throughout the galaxy. Years or decades or centuries of interspecies suspicion and hostilities preventing any alien from setting foot/claw/limb/appendage/etc. on Earth until slowly more beings are allowed to come through. And not just diplomats who keep to government buildings, but tourists. Exchange students. Temporary visitors granted permission to go wherever they please, so they go out in search of 'real terran culture' and what do they find?

Humans with innate heart defects that prevent them from drinking caffeine. Humans with chronic pain and chronic fatigue who lack the boundless endurance humans are supposedly famous for. Humans too tall or too short or too fat to be allowed into space. Humans who are so scared of the world they need to take pills just to function. Humans with IBS who can't stand spicy foods, capsaicin really is poison to them. Lactose intolerance and celiac disease, my god all the autoimmune disorders out there, humans who struggle to function because their own bodies fight them. Humans who bruise easily and take too long to heal. Humans who sustained one too many concussions and now struggle to talk and read and write. Humans who've had strokes. Humans who were born unable to talk or hear or speak, and humans who through some accident lost that ability later.

Aliens visit Earth, and do you know what they find? Humanity, in all its wholeness.

[mothgodofchaos]

Chocolate

Another classic combination. Including some of my personal werewolf headcanons and views.

Werewolf!Yancy x GN!Reader, TW: none Words: 783

Yancy has been quite the excitable roommate since his release from the pound, wanting to try everything he can while nearly bouncing off the walls. At least there’s one benefit with having to walk him multiple times a day, as your leg muscles have gotten ridiculously strong. You wonder if you could even finish a marathon easily with how much you have to walk him. While he’s not always on a leash, trying to keep up with him as his jog is almost as fast as your sprinting speed, it does take a bit out of you. 

But he also is just happy to be around you. He’ll shift into his wolf form and snuggle up with you while watching a movie, or sleep in weird positions on the floor. One thing you definitely wanted to do with him, however, is introduce him to new foods. 

Fortunately all the foods that are usually toxic to dogs, act as a mild allergy at the worst for Yancy. His worst one is grapes, which you found out after he was itching like crazy after a glass of wine. Since a lot of the foods that are toxic to dogs are only that way because they can’t process certain substances due to their own anatomy. This is less of a problem for a canine-human hybrid, so usually his reactions are similar to lactose intolerance. 

On this specific day, however, you’re determined to show Yancy the delight of chocolate. With Halloween coming up soon, you’re hoping that you can take him to a Halloween party and experience all the treats that usually frequent these parties. Additionally, it may be a safe place where he can let himself loose, be a werewolf in public without worrying about other people treating him weird or freaking out. 

“Alright Yancy, I got some things at the store for you to try, I just want to see if you like these. You should be okay, but it is possible that your stomach may not like them.”

“Oh alright, youse sure about this?”

Yancy vaults over the back of the couch, greeting you in the kitchen. He towers over you, his chest being at just about eye level. Perks of being a werewolf, I guess. He digs around in the bags you brought home, smelling all the packages, investigating all of the new things you brought for him. He does find the candy bars with peanuts in them, a lot more excited about those in comparison to the others. 

“So I got the minis in case you don’t like them, but we can always get more if you end up liking any of these. Consider these like, bite sized versions of them.” “I getchu, youse don’t gotta worry about me.”

It takes him a moment to figure out how the candy wrappers work, needing you to demonstrate before he copies your behavior. He holds the mini snickers in his hand for a second, before shoving the entire thing in his mouth. You have to stop him from just immediately swallowing, taking his time to chew it and savor the flavors of it. His eyes light up as he continues to chew, nodding to you earnestly.

“Woah, youse humans just eat those all the time? Damn, us pups do be missin’ out on this stuff.”

“Well, it’s the caffeine in it that makes normal dogs’ hearts beat too fast. Their bodies can’t handle it. Honestly, you’re probably going to tolerate caffeine even better than humans since you’re a bit bigger.”

“Huh. Weird!” Yancy pops another chocolate into his mouth, inspecting the wrapper.

“Youse don’t eat these?”

“No, that’s plastic, Yancy. That’s not food.”

“But it held the food.”

“Yes, but it’s not food.”

You dig through the bags again, and hear a crinkling sound coming from Yancy. When you look back at him, his eyes are wide open and he stops chewing.

“What are you eating?” “Noth’n…” “Show me what’s in your mouth.” Yancy backs up, chewing faster as you move to take what you assume to be the wrapper away from him.

“Yancy, you can’t eat plastic! Spit it out!”

He shifts, running around your house, trying to play keep away as he loudly chews on the crinkly wrapper. You manage to tackle him, getting him to lay on his back as you pry his jaws open, taking the wrapper out of his mouth. All you can do is look down at him, disappointedly.

“And what do you have to say for yourself? Hmm?”

Yancy shifts back with a smirk, kissing you briefly on the lips before yeeting you onto your couch, running away with a cackle.

“YANCY SPARROW, YOU GET BACK HERE-”

[pale-plant-bones]

Terrible / Incorrect Things Cardiologists Have Told Me While Pursuing a Diagnosis For My POTS

For context I have been fainting since age 12 (2013). A full decade+ of a ton of disabling and quality of life-altering dysautonomia/postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) symptoms, and knowing this is the condition I have + self treating for the last 5 or so years. And I am still formally undiagnosed and untreated.

“You’re just dehydrated.” (many times)

“You’re just anemic.” (tests said otherwise and no treatment was given because he knew he was wrong but wouldn’t admit it)

“This is normal for girls your age. You’ll grow out of it.” (it was not normal and symptoms only got worse)

“Well it’s not seizures so you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

“You need to cut down on the sugar. Don’t drink juice. You’re probably becoming diabetic because of kids’ diets these days.” (meanwhile, on a low sugar diet because sugar really worsens some of my symptoms)

“You’re just fainting because you’re scared. You need to go to therapy to learn coping skills.” (scared of what? I was fainting in P.E.)

“Don’t drink Starbucks every morning and you’ll be fine.” (I’m literally caffeine-intolerant, I never drink coffee)

“You’re just deconditioned. Exercise and you’ll be cured.” (3x. always after I already explained that I overheat and faint from any exercise)

“There’s no reason for you to experience these things.” End of discussion.

“People with POTS don’t faint, so you can’t have it.” (not only blatantly wrong but what about all my other symptoms? ignored. didn’t offer further help/explanation)

“I don’t think you have POTS, but just keep doing what you’re doing because that seems to be helping.” (referring to the self treatment I do that’s specifically tailored for POTS)

“Come back to me after you’ve got some therapy.” (after I had a panic attack due to his malpractice that took me weeks to physically recover from)

“You meet the criteria, but I’m not going to diagnose you.” (2x)

“You’re not allowed to use a wheelchair, you don’t have any disabling conditions.” Notes orthostatic intolerance on visit report

“It’s just because you’re not eating enough.” (after I already explained I constantly overeat to maintain my weight, and purely based on me being thin and not my diet)

“Your heart rate is supposed to go up when you stand up. The tachycardia isn’t a problem.”

“I don’t think you have hEDS.. you don’t have the symptoms. And so POTS is out of the question.” (hadn’t discussed anything about my hEDS symptoms, not his place as a cardiologist to determine EDS, and you don’t need it to have POTS)

Feel free to reblog with what you’ve been told. These doctors are so arrogant, they drive me crazy 🙃

[okartichoke]

What would avian food culture be like :O? Would they genurally have more seedy/nutty/oaty dishes? Would stores have more oaty breakfast bars instead of chocolate (coz its poisonous) or would they be fine :O? When kudo threw seeds at pheonix and everyone in court did the jury fly down and start pecking the floor? AHJDJWD sorry thats silly-

OOO.. OKAY...

tbh the most fun i had thinking about how to answer this question was while thinking historically about how these people hunted and gathered !!! with the added speed and mobility that wings provide, hunts would go a lot different. i wonder if people wouldn't been more nomadic for longer,,,, but after the invention of agriculture and domesticated animals ig none of that really matters anymore aejfoiaejwof... but for the present day, i think there's two ways you could go,, both interpretations are cool to me >:333

the first interpretation is kind of boring tbh,, but it's the one i'm a bit more drawn to (bc im boring ig LOL). this au is "people with wings that just happen to look like bird wings" more than "hybrid bird people",, so the boring answer is: their diet doesn't really change.

the second interpretation is the FULL ON BIRD one!! saying YESSSS they like nuts and seeds, people who are birds of prey like rodents (or fish or the like), species affects taste preferences, etc etc

my PERSONAL interpretation is somewhere in the middle. I think their diet is slightly more akin to a birds than what we eat, maybe nutty seasonings are a lot more common, and i think species affects taste preference, but not to a too crazy degree.

HOWEVER!!! I HAD NOT CONSIDERED TOXIC THINGS FOR BIRDS....... very interesting indeed.... apparently caffeine is toxic to them ????? (poor godot),, my idea for this is that the foods that are toxic for bird affect the winged-people in the same way that eating dairy would for someone who's lactose intolerant :333,, so like, def not GOOD for them,, but not horrible

FINALLY I THINK THE IDEA OF EVERYONE PECKING THE FLOOR IS SO FUNNY,,,, if im being 1000% serious,, i don't think they would do that,, but if im being even just a little bit silly.... THEY WOULD DO THAT LMAO AND YES YES I HAVE IMAGINED THAT,,, In that one scene where godot catches all the seeds in his mouth,, he'd swallow them and then ask for more

[englishlistwords]

. Food Intolerances, Leaky Gut and Histamine Toxicity Food intolerances and allergies play a starring role in the presence of eczema and its incessant itch. You may be doing everything perfectly to avoid mould and dust in the home, but that won’t be much help if your eczema is triggered by that yoghurt or Kombucha you are consuming everyday for breakfast! One person's medicine, is another's sleepless night itching. Histamine toxicity and leaky gutIt's hard to avoid fad foods when EVERYONE says they are "good for eczema", "good for leaky gut" etc. We get asked about fermented foods nearly every day, so we thought we would cover WHY you should resist this fad ...

Fermented foods can be the worst for eczema as they are very rich in histamines.What are histamines?

Histamines are a type of amine that is produced in your body during an allergic reaction - histamine causes the swelling and itchiness you experience when you eat a food you are allergic to. You can also eat histamine-rich foods and histamine-releasing foods in your diet. Dietary histamines require enzymes called DAO and HNMT in order break down the histamines so they don't accumulate and cause damage in the body.

The issue is this... The more histamines you consume in your diet, the more vitamin B6, vitamin C, zinc, copper, magnesium and other DAO supporting nutrients you will need in order for your body to cope. When you run out of any one of these nutrients, histamine toxicity can occur.

Histamine toxicity can make your skin crazy itchy. It's painful, and hard to correct once you fill up your histamine bucket. Histamine intolerance symptoms mimic an allergic reaction and can include: diarrhoea, headache, sinusitis, asthma, hay fever, low blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, hives, eczema, itchy skin (pruritus), skin flushing

Histamine-rich foods

I bet most of the following histamine-rich foods are your favourite foods, because histamine (amines) have flavour-enhancing properties that are highly addictive. Fermented dairy products, Yoghurt, Kefir, Cheese, Pickles, Kombucha, Sauerkraut, Cured meats (salami, sausages, ham etc), Cacao, Chocolate, Avocado, Mushrooms, Wine, champagne and most alcohol, Tofu, Soy sauce and tamari sauce

Vinegars (including apple cider vinegar), Slow cooked meats, Dates and other dried fruits, Leftovers from the fridge, Smoked fish, Fish that has not been stored properly, Eggplant, Spinach, Tomatoes, Broth

Note how many popular health foods are on this list. I feel a craving coming on now.

I really like these foods and in moderation (if you don't have eczema or histamine issues) they are totally okay to eat. Still, I totally understand why you may despair at this list. But ...Sometimes you have to give up the foods you love because they are hurting you.It's like giving up on a violent spouse or a friend who is bullying you. You eventually distance yourself from harm, because that's good for you.

High histamine foods could be hurting you but you won't know for sure unless you avoid them for a bit of time (then test them).

When I ate high histamine foods I felt anxious and depressed, and after about a year of feeling mildly unwell, I suddenly became itchy and developed body aches, especially when I ate fermented foods or caffeine (caffeine blocks the DAO enzyme needed to break down histamines). Now I have given up these foods, I feel energetic, happy and amazing on most days. I wake up feeling good and I don't need a coffee or tea to 'wake up' anymore. "Do I miss having a morning cuppa? Yes, occasionally, but what I love more is feeling young and energetic and happy - that's worth more than any cup of coffee or tea!"

Histamine toxicity and leaky gut

Histamine toxicity is associated with leaky gut - it's certainly not the only cause but it is a contributing factor. And leaky gut will worsen your eczema. So it's important to avoid histamine-rich superfoods such as kefir and kombucha in gut healing protocols...

I know these foods are commonly recommended in gut healing protocols (what the?). But one thing is clear: not enough people know about the dangers of eating too many histamine-rich foods all at once. It depletes your DAO enzyme and other important enzymes so your body can become unable to degrade histamines effectively. The new 'fermented craze' could be why histamine toxicity is becoming a growing problem. Histamine toxicity doesn't usually happen overnight (unless you get food poisoning), it's usually a gradual decline in health that can eventually trigger the immune system to become hyperactive.

What is a safe alternative?

The Eczema Detox is a book I wrote to help my patients and readers to get well. It is the new version of my older books The Eczema Diet and The Healthy Skin Diet (Exisle Publishing). Within the book there is a Food Intolerance Diagnosis (FID) Program specifically designed to help people with skin inflammation (eczema, TSW, psoriasis etc.) to work out their trigger foods. You may have heard of the FID Program online.

Rather than follow a diet blindly, with the FID Program you are working out YOUR specific trigger foods, so you know what foods to avoid and what foods to safely enjoy for clear, healthy skin. It's a science-based food program that is low in histamines. It's also designed to heal the gut and boost the health of your liver and skin. You can find out more about the book here.

5. Nutritional Deficiencies

If your body is low or deficient in magnesium, calcium, zinc, molybdenum, biotin or any other B-group vitamin, your eczema won't clear up until you correct the deficiency.

Your skin is literally made from the foods and drinks you consume.Your skin is made up of nutrients, essential fatty acids and amino acids from protein foods. These nutrients are essential for skin health and deficiencies in these vitamins and minerals result in impaired skin repair.

For example: Molybdenum is an important mineral your body needs on order to process sulfites. Without enough molybdenum in your diet, you develop sulfite intolerance which means you adversely react to sulfite-rich products such as wine, vinegar, dried fruits, some medicines, sauerkraut, pickles and cheese (to name a few).

When you consume molybdenum along with vitamin B5, you are less likely to have food intolerances and sulfite intolerance. I developed the Skin Friend AM (which contains molybdenum) and Skin Friend PM supplements after my daughter developed severe eczema, as I could not find supplements that were free of colours, salicylates, histamines, vitamin A, flavourings and sugar. (Vitamin A dries out the skin and causes flaking skin.)

For years I prescribed Skin Friend AM and PM to my eczema patients in order to correct nutritional deficiencies and support skin health. After years of feedback and testing, the supplements are now available online. If you would like more information you can read the customer and patient reviews on this page. Do you have eczema?

If so, do the following check-list to see if you have undiagnosed triggers:

1. Have you checked for mould in your home or office? Fifty percent of homes in the US have mould damage - it's not rare and it can harm your health. Consult an expert in your area if you are unsure what to do.

2. Have you had allergy testing and have you made your bed dust-mite proof? A zip-up mattress protector is a must.

3. Are you managing stress properly, or just complaining about it? Get pro-active - it's your life, you should enjoy it.

4. Are you eating foods rich in histamines or are you eating well but your skin is not getting better? You should try the FID program or the Detox Program to help you get answers.

5. Do you have nutritional deficiencies and are you taking supplements? Stop wasting your money on supplements that contain skin irritants, and ensure you are taking pure vitamins and minerals that do not contain tabletting agents, colors, flavorings, fillers or capsules. Purity matters.

[irismfrost]

July 31 - Shoyoen, Library, Liouhe Night Market

I am sore- mostly the muscles around my hips and ankles. I thought my calves and thighs would be hurting the most, but I guess all my practice taking the stairs instead of the escalators at the Taipei metro had been silently preparing me.

Yesterday I had some good pizza (again) for dinner at this place called Pizza Rock. It's crazy how many people in my group don't like olives on their pizza, but there are a few real ones here too. The one I got had green and black olives, garlic, and sun dried tomatoes - it was great. This is one of the first places that made it easy to split the check because we all ordered separately at the beginning.

It's the last day of July! It's crazy to think that we're already over halfway done with the program. We started the day off with some class time and I finished an assignment that's due tomorrow so I felt good about that. I had some coffee from the OK Mart next door and as good as the coffee was, it did not sit well with me. Maybe I need to stop drinking caffeine or maybe it's because there was probably a lot of milk in the coffee. I'm not lactose intolerant but since I've started consuming less of it, it hurts my stomach when I have too much. I wanted to continue some more class stuff while we had 2.5 hours to break for lunch, but I ended up doing practically nothing.

We watched the Harbor Bridge swing open today at 3pm.

Our first stop was Shoyoen, or Happy Excursion Garden. It was a cool building built in the Japanese colonial era known for its synthesis of Japanese and Western elements. It had a little cafe and gift shop downstairs and you had to take your shoes off when you went upstairs - there are many historical sites here where they require you to take your shoes off.

Next, we went to the Kaohsiung Main Public Library. It has 8 floors plus a basement level and a rooftop (with a skyway). The second and third floors were actually the same floor. The hole in the middle was cool and the view from the top was awesome. The building is supposed to be a green building and was meant to revitalize the area. There were a lot of kids in the library and it was cool to see so many of them reading - I don't think many kids go to the library in the US. I couldn't read anything except on the 5th floor foreign language section. There, I found a few vegetarian recipes that I might use when I get home.

Our last stop was the Liouhe Night Market. I got some cooked sweet potatoes with some sort of glaze - they were pretty good and I was pretty hungry. I caught up with the rest of the group at a banana pancake stand. I got one with chocolate sauce and even though I don't really like bananas, it was still pretty good. After I felt satisfied with my dinner, it was time for me to head home. The metro station was pretty awesome and had some cool ceiling lights and a colorful mural type of thing in the center. I have been feeling worse and worse all day so it was past time for me to go back to the hotel.

Reflection

Shoyoen was inhabited by Japanese religious leader and advisor at Taiwan Governor- General Office, Otani Kozui. He was also the brother in law to the Emperor Taisho of Japan. The building was designed with a unique architectural style with Japanese and Western elements such as wooded terraces and porous spaces while also incorporating columns and arches (made out of wooden materials). The bottom floor was also fitted with an air raid shelter - this was built during WWII and located near the Armed Forces General Hospital, a potential target for US air raids. The surrounding area was also fitted with air raid shelters and in total could accommodate up to 240 people. The entire building had very thoughtful design - everything seemed to have a place and was compact. I thought it was interesting that there was a downstairs dining room, upstairs entrance and waiting room, upstairs dining room, and upstairs lobby. They all seemed to serve different types of people and slightly different purposes. The majority of the structure was made for receiving guests.

The maintenance of Japanese culture here is impressive. There are many who romanticize Japanese rule. Our amazing tour guide, Peter, shared a personal story about when he was a kid. When he went to school, Taiwan was a single party state under the rule of Chiang and anti-Japanese history was taught in schools. He would come home to his grandparents and say something along the lines of "grandma, I am so sorry that you were treated so horribly under Japanese rule". Grandma tells Peter that this isn't true and that Japanese were okay rulers. Peter is being told one fact by school and another by his grandma. There are many older people who dislike(d) Chiang and post Japanese rulers because they didn't do a better job and spread propaganda about the Japanese. During Japanese rule, the literacy rate in Taiwan rose from 3.7% to 90%. It was also hard for many people like Peter's grandma to accept new rulers when they didn't speak the language. They already had to learn Japanese and now they can't understand the language of the new rulers. It makes sense as to why so much Japanese culture is well preserved here in Taiwan.

[ushijimacentral]

the way i wanna go on a coffee date with kuroo rn

[good-night-space-kid]

I always get crazy bad side effects from caffeine I hate this

[vintagegenderpunk]

ADHD medication tips from an overly introspective person who has been on them for a decade

This is all in my own experience, though I sort of believe that others go through similar things. Again, not a medical professional. Talk to your doctor. Et cetera. But like, ADHD is kind of like autism, in that you’re not gonna get the same info from an allistic person than you are from an autistic person. People without ADHD just... don’t get it. 

ADHD meds help regulate your anxiety, so when you don't take them (say, you forget and miss like a few days) sometimes your forgetful mind will get super depressed and anxious and feel like the world is ending

And you won't know WHY you feel like this. It's usually just that you forgot your ADHD meds and are being harsh on yourself. Be kind to your brain. It’s adjusting

Higher doses mean higher suppression of appetite, lower doses do it too, but not as bad. Make a plan to eat regularly. Like... schedule it if at all possible. Get yourself some protein bars or drinks. As I'm lactose and soy intolerant, I recommend OWYN (Only What You Need) brand protein drinks, the dark chocolate is the best, but the coffee one is good too.

If you go for a while off meds then start them suddenly, your first day or two of ADHD meds will feel a bit crazy (if you'll pardon the word use). you'll probably get a lot of energy but not have adjusted yet to dealing with it, so it'll feel a bit manic. In that case, remember that you’re okay, you’re just trying to deal with having different brain chemistry.

Take the meds as EARLY in the day as possible. I usually try not to take them after noon, as they'll keep you up at night.

Coffee or caffeine will often stabilize untreated ADHD, so if migrate towards that, don't worry too much. Although, same rules as the last point, try not to drink caffeine too late in the day or else your sleep problems will be expounded upon even if you don’t physically feel caffeine’s effects.

If you do take adhd meds consistently, don't think of them as your "get things done" meds. think of them as your "get consistent neurotransmitters" meds. If you assign productivity as a value to the act of taking your adhd meds, you're more likely to not take them when you feel like you have nothing to do, which will then conversely tank your mental health as in the first point mentioned.

The Metaphysical Stuff: 

If you’re not into the metaphysical, potentially pagan or witchcraft or spirit work related things here, just skip to the next section. I don’t want your comments on this. 

I find that since I've become accustomed to taking ADHD meds on weekdays, on weekends when I don't take them, I really struggle to do anything astral / journeying related. Like, it feels like I cannot focus on it to save my life.

My best guess  is that your body/brain becomes accustomed to doing that thing with the ADHD meds going on, so when you don't have the meds in your system, it struggles a lot more than usual, which since you've probably forgotten a lot of prior coping methods, means you're more likely to think it's just not Happening right now

Be nice to yourself in these moments. You’re not disconnected from the astral or the spirits or whatnot. You’re just having an adjustment of brain chemistry which wildly affects how you perceive this plain of existence, let alone anything else. 

General Information Regarding ADHD for the Uninformed:

Do you see how I broke up this big-ass post into littler chunks? Just like how sarcasm tags (/s) and such helps people with autism or issues interpreting nuanced language, spacing out large chunks of text into smaller pieces will allow your ADHD friends to actually read what you wrote. Please don’t make me look at essay with no line breaks. 

ADHD is often co-morbid with anxiety and depression. It fucks up your sleep cycle. The medication messes with your eating habits as well as causes trouble with physical intimacy at times. It throws your ability to focus in a blender along with a plethora of other issues that come off as “lazy” or “immature” to someone who doesn’t have ADHD. 

Chill out and be nice to your ADHD friends. We basically don’t get happy neurotransmitters like you do and so it takes a lot of effort to get to the same headspace. 

[rainydayhogwartsimagines]

Bet! Remus Lupin owns me 😅 Can you do one where you finally convince him to start trying for kids, but he leaves for an order mission after a few tries. when he gets back, you're pregnant with twins boys but have kept it from literally everyone to wait for Remus but he freaks out

Ooohh this is crazy awesome

Remus kissed your forehead, walking out the door with a sigh. He said a silent prayer to whatever God came to mind as he left with Sirius for a mission. You would've gone with them but you had been unbelievably lethargic and sick. Remus for the most part had been taking care of you, but the second another mission came along you told him to go for it. Tonks was to be your caretaker, a wonderful friend of yours and cousin to Sirius.

"she'll be fine Remus. As long as you come back." Tonks said to him. He nodded and sighed. "I hate leaving her." He said. "We know Mooney. She's your world." Sirius said. Harry gave a small smile to Remus's smile at your mention. Everyone knew how much Remus loved you. You were so patient with him, always making sure he was okay. Remus looked back in the direction of your room and sighed before leaving with the group.

Tonks for the most part, spent her time on the couch before hearing the sounds of movement. Rapid movement. Followed by coughing. She got up, shoving off her jacket to find you hanging over the toilet. She frowned, pulling back your hair into a ponytail. "Jesus Y/n, it's like... Five in the morning." Tonks said. You coughed. "I know." You muttered. "When did Remus leave?" You asked. "Almost an hour ago." She answered. You threw up again and she grimaced. "Why aren't you with him?" You asked. She looked at you with a sigh. "Remus didn't want you sick on your own. He loves you, y'know." She said. You coughed. "You didn't need to Tonks..." You breathed. "I know. But you're my friend and I'm trying to make sure you're okay." She said. You coughed a couple of more times. "What do you think is wrong anyway?" Tonks asked. "...I already know what's wrong." You answered, eyeing the glass cabinet before coughing again.

Oh you had an answer alright. And it was sitting in a plastic bag in the cabinet with two pink stripes. You convinced Remus that he'd be a good father to any child and Harry was proof enough. He was hesitant but the idea of you being a mother was too much to deny you after you had been so patient with him. He may have had crippling anxiety about certain things, God knows it took forever for him to actually propose to you, but he loved you. Sirius called you "Crescent" because it went along with "Mooney" like a Crescent Moon. Which of course sparked this whole astronomy debate of "Well there's a waxing moon and a waning moon, and the new moon" which caused sirius to shut you up by saying "CRESCENT. SHUT THE FUCK UP." so you did.

You spent the week being anxious with Tonks, waking up around five every morning, sick to your stomach before the group finally returned. Sirius collapsed onto the couch and Remus slipped into your room, finding you asleep on your side as usual. Tonks was passed out on a cot in the corner and he smiled kneeling to you and kissing your forehead. Your eyes opened and you leaned up, hugging his neck. He buried his face in the crook of your neck, your thumb tracing the bottom of his hairline as you held him. You pulled away smiling at him. He turned on a light and tonks bolted up. "I'm up, are you sick again?" She asked drowsily. "Remus is home. You can stop worrying." You assured. "Thank. God." She breathed lying back down. Remus turned back to you. "You're still sick? Honey, you need a doctor or something, this isn't--" "I'll tell you in the morning. Okay. Right now you look exhausted." You said softly. Remus looked in your eyes and noticed something different. He couldn't put his finger on it but something had changed while he was gone.

He did as you said though, falling asleep next to you. He was the one that woke up with you that morning though, sitting on the bathroom floor half asleep while he was holding you. "Would you like some coffee darling?" Remus asked drowsily. "I can't drink caffeine." You breathed. He rubbed his eyes, confused. "What do you mean you 'can't have caffeine'? Have you developed some sort of intolerance or allergy?" He asked, still clearly half asleep. "Remus... The cabinet. Second row, the plastic bag." You said. Remus was confused, but assumed you needed a specific mediation and did as instructed.

He pulled out the small object and then froze, a jolt of energy pulsing through him as he stared at the two pink lines. "Oh my God." He breathed, putting a hand on his forehead. "....Are you happy--" he scattered kisses on your head and then your stomach, making you laugh and look at him. "you're... Oh my God we're..." He kissed you, not even caring if you had been sick before. "I'm going to be a dad." He said looking back at the stick. You nodded. "Twins." You said. He blinked and looked at you. "What?" He asked. "Twins Remus. We're having twins." You said. "...Oh my God!" He said a little louder. Sirius found his way into the bathroom to see the commotion. "You're still sick?" Sirius asked. He yawned before locking onto the object in Remus's hand. "OH MY GOD!" he yelled loud enough to wake up the others. "Here we go." You chuckled. Remus smiled and kissed your knuckles before Sirius pulled you up into a hug. "We have to tell them now!" Sirius said. "You're acting like they're yours!" Remus laughed. "Shut up and go downstairs with your wife!" He said pushing you two forward.

Everyone was half asleep but noticed when you and Remus were present. "Hey you." Fred yawned. "Remus said we could all crash here." George added. "We'll get out of your hair the moment we're... Awake." Ginny muttered, her head resting on her hand. "Is there something wrong? I heard yelling." Hermione asked, handing you and Remus coffee. You handed Sirius the mug and she cocked her head to the side like a confused dog. "Well uhm... I'm pregnant." You said. Everyone bolted up. "What?" Harry asked. "Pregnant... I'm... Pregnant." You repeated. "OH MY GOD!" Tonks gaped from behind you. You turned around and laughed as she hugged you. "YOU SNEAKY BITCH!" she said making you laugh. "how far along!?" Ron asked. "About ten or eleven weeks." You admitted. "Oh my God! Congratulations!" Ginny said hugging you. Harry hugged you tightly and you smiled, looking at Remus and then Harry. "actually Harry... We did want to discuss something with you." Remus said. Harry pulled away confused.

"We wanted everything sorted out and... Well we wanted to make sure that if Y/n did get pregnant and something happened the child would be in good hands... Harry would you be the godfather to our children?" Remus asked. "Absolutely-- wait children?" Harry asked. "Are you trying for more?" Sirius asked. "No, we're having twins." Remus said. Fred and George exchanged a mischievous grin and you chuckled. "I'll make breakfast!" Hermione said. "I'll help." Ron yawned.

You and Remus sat out on your front porch, him sipping on coffee as you were curled into his lap, looking at the sunrise's reflection on Remus's wedding ring. "Mooney?" You asked. He smiled playing with your hair. "Yes darling?" He asked. "Are you happy? With all of this I mean?" You asked. He looked at you with a sincere look. "I wouldn't want this with anyone else darling. I am going to love you and these children so much." He assured. You hugged his side and he smiled returning back to his comforting you. "Plus I think we'll make good parents." Remus said sipping the coffee. "Why's that?" You asked. "We're already practically babysitting the entire order." Remus said making you laugh. "That's not entirely true--" "SIRIUS GIVE ME BACK THE SPATULA!" "FRED HAS CHALLENGED ME TO A DUEL AND I MUST ASSERT DOMINANCE DAMN IT!"

"...Never mind. You're absolutely right."

Taglist: @amhyeah @newtaholic-staygold @bbeauttyybbx @fleurho @yodeadxss @mariah-can-dream

[awisa-moved]

omfg i thought i beat my caffeine intolerance but no my body hurts and i’m going crazy

[reverseopossum]

IMO one of the many, many problems with autism research is that too few disciplines are involved. Of course behavioral scientists are going to look mainly at behavior, but if behavioral science is the only perspective involved, that colors the questions asked by neuroscience researchers. 

I was reading a study that found altered autonomic responses (think an imbalance between “fight or flight” and “rest and digest”) in young autistic boys in response to sensory stimuli, which makes a lot of sense. But the only significance anyone seemed to see was that you could use autonomic responses as an outcome measure.

The thing is, as a PT, I know that the autonomic nervous system affects basically everything. A chronically elevated sympathetic state can contribute to a lot of long-term health problems. The ANS is involved in your physiological ability to adapt your heart rate, blood pressure, etc. to the demands an activity or environment. If you google “autonomic dysreflexia,” you’ll get a lot of resources for spinal cord injured patients, because they can get such severe autonomic dysreflexia that it causes a medical emergency. Because the parts of the nervous system involved in sympathetic/parasympathetic responses are physically severed from each other, these patients can have a crazy fight-or-flight type physical reaction to a stimulus they can’t even feel, and the PNS can’t talk it down. 

So what I really, really want to know is this: is all SNS/PNS balance affected in autism, or only in relation to sensory things? That makes such a big difference in terms of where we should prioritize research and treatment approaches. If it’s just a sensory problem, the focus can be on sensory habituation and finding ways to make activities more sensory-friendly. If it’s everything, we should be a lot more concerned about this than people currently seem to be.

 I know a disturbing number of otherwise healthy young people with unexplained syncope or cardiac issues. Could some of that be a lower-severity version of the autonomic dysreflexia that spinal cord patients deal with? My mom and grandma with fibromyalgia (which I strongly suspect is just what happens when sensory issues collide with chronic pain) both can’t “come down” from a fight-or-flight reaction when startled, and also have some caffeine intolerance. I tend to get a racing heart in seemingly random situations where the stakes are low and I don’t even care that much. Could that actually be a PNS activation problem, not just anxiety? 

I’m not going to jump to conclusions, but I’m slowly realizing that in the current state of things the research I want to read probably isn’t going to happen. I’m  less than a year into realizing I might be on the spectrum, and legitimately starting to re-shape my career plans to focus on research because the current perspective is so narrow and people in my profession don’t seem to be offering a lot of input.

[breathlester]

Play date

pairing: dan howell/phil lester

summary: Dan and Phil need a night off parenthood duties, so they leave their baby son with Phil’s mum and make reservations at a nice restaurant. Only things don’t really go to plan…

genre/themes: parenting, fluff, smut

content warnings: mild sexual content

“Y’know-,” Phil says mid yawn and stretched halfway across the table. “Y’know what we need?”

Dan doesn’t respond, face hanging so low above his mug of coffee he’s inhaling it rather than drinking.

It’s seven in the morning and neither of them have slept for more than three hours.

There was a time when three hours of sleep would have been fine with them. There was also a time when getting up at seven would have been intolerable - at least for Dan - but those times have passed, and though neither of them says it, they are both immensely thankful for this short while of peace and quiet that only the early morning grants them.

Phil tries again, this time lifting his face off his arms. “Dan, you know what we need?“

The other man makes a grumbling noise, not looking up. His hair is a mess of tangled brown curls and his lids are so heavy Phil can barely make out his eyes.

“We need a day off,” he declares.

There are two bowls of cereal on the table in front of them that Phil has managed to pour in his overtired state. He’s forgotten milk and spoons, which proves handy now as Dan extends one hand and shows a bunch of dry cereal into his mouth.

Phil listens to the crunch, crunch of his teeth, then his inevitable cough as he swallows too many shreddies at a time.

“You think?,” Dan replies finally, lifting his mug with a shaking hand to take a careful sip.

His brown eyes blink at Phil, small and blood-shot.

Phil drapes one arm across the high-chair next to him to be able to interlace their fingers, cracking the first tiny smile of the day as Dan’s wedding band presses cold against his skin.

For a while neither of them says anything else, as Dan sips his coffee in silence and Phil is content for the moment playing with his fingers, his head resting on the table again.

He doesn’t realize he’s fallen asleep until said fingers weave through his hair and tickle him awake.

A mewling noise slips off his tongue and he frowns, hearing Dan giggle softly. It takes the greatest effort to crack his eyes open again and he yawns so wide he can feel his jaw click unpleasantly.

“Did you hear what I said?,” Dan asks, seeming slightly more awake now that he’s had his daily dose of caffeine. “I think you’re right. We do need a day off. And a night, for that matter. We haven’t slept through in a week.“

Phil smiles up at him, feeling giddy at the mere idea, until doubts and a sense of guilt seep into his mind. “Are you sure we can do that, though? Just leave him with somebody? Wouldn’t he get -“

Dan interrupts him before he can start to obsess. “Phil, he’ll be fine. He’s been without us before, remember?“

“You mean when we were sent on a BBC thing late at night and he was supposed to stay with my mum until the next day but you got so anxious we drove all the way up north afterwards and picked him up at 4 in the morning?“

Dan blushes and looks down, fiddling with his cuticles. “Yeah, well, he was only a baby then. Now he’s a toddler and we know better.“

Phil catches his hand and pulls it away, up to his mouth so he can kiss Dan’s maltreated fingernails as a silent ‘don’t do that’.

“Let’s call my mum later?,” he suggests. “She’s been meaning to visit us in a while; we could have her over for dinner tomorrow and let her take Charlie home. Then we can take off Friday and go up north on the weekend. I haven’t seen my dad in a bit anyway.“

Dan closes his eyes and sighs happily as Phil’s lips move to the back of his hand, pressing a soft kiss there.

“Sounds like a plan. We should probably give her a fair warning though…“

-

“Sounds to me like he’s moving on to his defiant phase now,” Kath says on the phone. “You boys better prepare yourself for some mean temper tantrums.“

Dan’s slouched on the sofa, forming a new crease on their fairly new piece of furniture. He’d brushed off Phil’s attempts at critique with the argument that he needed to break it in.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. The paediatrician said so, too. The terrible twos and all.“

“Oh, Phil was bad with those. I don’t quite know how I survived.“

Dan bites back a grin, watching Phil stack lego towers on the lounge floor, looking quite a bit more enthusiastic about the building exercise than their small son who’s sat next to him. “Was he? I can hardly see that.“

„Yeah, he’s playing Mr Innocent now. You’d better watch him with Charlie though, I have a feeling he might turn out just as indulgent as his dad used to be. It’s no good for a child to be spoiled.“

Phil looks up questioningly when he feels Dan’s eyes on him. Dan puts him off with a wave of his hand, but Phil pushes out his lower lip and reaches out one hand for the phone.

Dan chuckles. „Speaking of two-year olds – your thirty-two year old is pouting at me because he wants to talk to you.“

She laughs. Dan can hear her clanking with pots. „Ah, that sounds like him. Well, then, Dan. It’s been nice chatting with you! I suppose I’ll sort out the details with him?“

„Yeah, alright. See you soon!“ Dan straightens his back, stiffling a moan as he hears it crack, and gets off the couch to hand the receiver to his husband.

„Hey, mum!“ Phil’s face lights up immediately as it always does when he’s talking to his family. Not like Dan’s jealous, because he knows he’s part of that.

And someone else is as well, for nearly two years now.

„Hey, duck“, he says softly, crouching down next to the infant. „You’re building a nice house, yeah?“

Charlie looks up at him, dark blue eyes wide and honest. „Daddy build house.“

In front of him, Phil has constructed a small tower of blocks. Dan smiles, settling down cross-legged. „Yes, daddy was building one just now, you’re right. But let’s bet you and I can build an even better one, huh? One just like the one we live in?“

As Phil reclines on the sofa, Dan picks up a yellow brick and holds it out to Charlie. „What colour’s this one?“

-

It’s the morning after dinner with Kath and Phil is a nervous wreck.

„And you’re sure you’ve got everything you need? Nappies, toys, his blanket -“

He reaches out to check the baby bag for the third time, but his mother stops him.

“Philip, I’m not an old woman, I promise you I haven’t forgotten anything. Besides, Martyn’s left some of Sophia’s things, including a potty that Charlie can use.“

“I’m sorry, I’m just trying to make sure.“

She reaches out to pat his cheek. “Since when have you become the over-anxious one? Wasn’t it Dan last time who rang me out of bed in the wee hours?“

“Hey, I’ve improved since!“ Dan emerges from the nursery down the hall with a warmly dressed Charlie in his arms.

Kath’s face lights up like a christmas tree at the sight. “Aww, look at you, little man! All dressed up! The neighbours are going to be so jealous, Mrs Hudson’s granddaughter isn’t half as charming as you are.“

Dan laughs, tugging on the jacket his son’s wearing. “I know, right? Phil found it online. It’s got a duck’s bill on the hood and a tail and everything.“

“Me ducky“, Charlie voices confidently, causing Dan to press a kiss to the side of his face.

“Yes, you’re a little duckling, aren’t you, sweetheart?” he coos, smoothing down Charlie’s feathery locks of ginger hair.

Two years ago, Dan would have cringed at words like these, but now look at me, he thinks, gone all mushy and soft. And he’s not even ashamed of it. If it’s true that fatherhood changes people, it’s certainly brought out the best in him and Phil, and they wouldn’t have it any other way, even if lately Charlie has cost them their good night’s sleep more often than not.

The boy calls for his granny, and Dan passes him on to her after one last kiss to his cheek.

Phil observes with a smile how his mother greets the two-year-old, lifting him up and joggling him softly until he giggles.

Dan’s arm snakes around his waist, chin coming to rest on his shoulder; a touch that reassures him without words, ‘don’t worry, it’ll be fine.’

“I’ll best be off then,” Kath says, the baby bag slung over her shoulder and Charlie stood next to her contently holding on to her hand. “Before traffic gets too crazy. You boys enjoy yourselves, yeah?“

She eyes them with a smile playing in the corner of her mouth.

Phil goes red in the face, about to say something when Dan bursts out, “Oh, right! The baby seat!“, and runs off again to fetch it.

-

At five in the afternoon, Dan stumbles out of the shower and wraps himself in a towel. Phil’s playing Muse in his bedroom while getting dressed. He’s banned Dan from the room as if this was their wedding all over again.

It’s good though, it makes Dan feel giddy and even more excited for the night. They’ve reserved a table at a nice place in London they haven’t been to in a while. Living on the outskirts, they rarely visit central London now except for the BBC.

But tonight they will, and considering the traffic they should leave in about half an hour if they want to be on time, Dan realizes with a glance at his phone.

He dries himself off and puts on his clothes – a semi-formal black suit and a white dress shirt, because how long has it been since they’ve had a proper date? Just as he’s done straightening his hair with extra care, Phil calls for him from the hall.

He’s leaning against the wall next to the door, checking his phone as Dan walks up to him.

And fuck, this is one of those moments Dan wants to pat his own shoulder for getting this gorgeous man to marry him.

Phil’s wearing a slim grey suit and the azure blue shirt Dan got him for his last birthday that matches his eyes perfectly. His hair is pushed back casually into a quiff, there’s a subtle waft of his cologne in the air, and Dan wants to eat him up.

“Good, you’re ready.” Phil’s eyes dance over Dan’s frame and he smiles before looking back down on his phone. “Shall we go then? I was thinking we could take a walk along the Thames before, since the restaurant’s right there. You know, work up a bit of an appetite and all that”, he rambles on, taking no note of Dan’s change of mood.

“Oh, I’ve already got quite an appetite, to be honest,” Dan remarks and Phil finally looks up, picking up on his suggestive undertone.

Dan meets his stare, smirking although his heart is beating slightly too fast. Saundering towards him with his hands pushed into his pockets, he allows his eyes to wander as well.

“God, you’re a feast for the eyes, aren’t you,” he says in a low voice once he comes to stand in front of Phil, watching with satisfaction how Phil’s adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard.

“Dan…”

Dan ignores him, reaching out to smooth the collar of his suit jacket, then grabs his tie to pull him close. Phil’s breath hitches, his eye lids fluttering closed, and Dan can’t lie, he definitely enjoys the little whine his husband gives when he draws out the moment before the kiss.

“I’ve always wanted to do that”, Dan admits, tugging softly again on Phil’s tie to emphasize his words, before Phil lets out a moan and takes the initiative, leaning in to crash his mouth against Dan’s.

Dan flicks his tongue against Phil’s bottom lip, then takes it between his teeth, and Phil’s hands capture his face. When he tips his head to deepen the kiss, Dan wraps his arms around his waist and pulls him flush against his body.

Phil groans, attempting to pull back, which only causes Dan’s mouth to leave his and press tiny kisses to the underside of his jaw instead.

“Dan – we’re going to – be late,” he manages to croak out.

“Oh, screw the walk to the restaurant, Phil, don’t pretend you hadn’t got this in mind when you said we needed a night off,” Dan mutters against the soft spot beneath Phil’s ear, making him shiver.

He sucks a patch of skin into his mouth, biting into it softly, and Phil’s hands slip to his shoulders, fingers digging into his suit jacket. “Don’t l-leave marks,” he warns him, head leant against the wall to allow Dan better access nonetheless.

Dan moves to nibble on his earlobe, causing Phil to whimper softly. He kisses his way down Phil’s neck, fingers fiddling with the upmost button of his shirt. When he manages to pop it open, he pulls Phil’s shirt to the side so he can latch his lips onto the joint between Phil’s shoulder and neck.

Phil whines, running his hands down Dan’s arms in search for something to hold on to. As Dan pulls back to admire the purple mark he’s created, conveniently hidden beneath Phil’s shirt, Phil pushes him against the door.

“We should really leave,” he says, palms pressed flat against the door to both sides of Dan’s head, “if we want to make it on time.”

His cheeks are flushed, his hair is starting to come loose and his lips are red and swollen.

“Who needs dinner when I can have you?,” Dan murmurs, head cocked to the side, glancing up at Phil from beneath his lashes.

“That such a sentence should come from your mouth,” Phil huffs in amusement, still keeping a fair distance between their bodies.

“More than that shall come from my mouth,” Dan smirks and Phil gasps.

"Dan.”

He chuckles, watching intently as Phil exhales heavily, then bows his head until their foreheads touch.

They stare into each other’s eyes for a bit, basking in the simple fact that they’re able to. No child is going to start crying in the background and disrupt the moment, no child is going to walk in on them doing something he shouldn’t see.

They’re alone. And fuck, if they aren’t going to make the most of it.

The next kiss is soft and slow, composed of Dan’s arms around Phil’s neck and Phil’s smile against his lips.

“Love you,” Phil sighs as Dan winds a strand of hair around his finger and tugs on it. As a reply, Dan pushes his thigh between Phil’s legs and breaks the kiss so he can whisper into his ear.

“Say that again.”

A moan tumbles off Phil’s tongue. “D-dan – love y-”

Dan doesn’t let him finish, pulling his fingers out of Phil’s hair and snatching his wrists in his hands in one quick movement. He sucks Phil’s bottom lip into his mouth, revelling in the way Phil thrusts his hips against him eagerly. Interlocking their fingers, he lets go of Phil’s lip.

“Want to take this to the bedroom?”

-

It’s dark and quiet when Dan comes to.

He feels so warm and relaxed it takes him a bit to orientate. He stretches, then flinches as he becomes aware of the soreness in his lower back.

Steady, gentle breaths to his right.

He turns, moving closer to the source of the breaths and the source of body heat, trying to recollect his memory.

Hot breath against his neck.

“You smell like cinnamon and apples.”

“New shower gel.”

A flick of tongue, a sharp inhale.

“Hmm… I like it.”

Soft giggles, muffled by skin.

Oh, right. There was that. Well, that might explain why his ass hurts.

Dan almost laughs at himself. Between their demanding jobs and their even more demanding two-year-old, they’ve gone without sex for so long he’s nearly forgotten what it feels like to wake up afterwards.

But god, was it worth the pain. He closes his eyes again, revelling in the memory.

The sound of skin slapping against skin.

Forgotten words whispered into his ear.

Phil’s hands holding on to his shoulders too hard, not hard enough.

The feeling of heat pooling in his stomach, legs wrapped tightly around Phil.

Breathy moans, high-pitched begging, fingernails scratching flushed skin.

The final thrust, the touch of Phil’s hand that sends him over the edge.

And then bliss – Phil curling up next to him – panting breath, a kiss to his cheek –

He blinks as someone yawns and shifts next to him.

Right, Phil.

He looks so lovely with his hair ruffled and no clothes on, Dan thinks, and I’m the only one who gets to see him like this. A smug smile spreading over his face, he reaches out to wrap one arm around his husband.

Phil reacts by snuggling up to him, face pressed into Dan’s shoulder.

“Hi,” he mutters, voice soft and slurred.

Dan chuckles and presses a kiss to the top of his head. “Hi, love. Sleep well?”

“Hmm…”

He’s ready to happily settle back in and drift off again when one thought rises from the back of his mind, claiming his attention.

“Oh, shit.”

At first he wants to slap himself, but then he just throws his head back and laughs, because fuck it, this was worth it.

Phil looks up at him, his wide, puzzled eyes replicating the expression on Dan’s face. “Dan?”

It takes him a few minutes to stop laughing. “Phil,” he chokes out, breaking off into a hiccup. Tears are sliding down his cheeks, and Phil reaches out automatically to wipe them away.

“What? What is it, Dan? You’re scaring me.”

Dan bites his bottom lip to force the laughter to subside, cradling Phil’s face in his hands.

“Phil, we had dinner reservations,” he says finally, like it’s the funniest thing in the world.

But actually, the funniest thing must be Phil’s face as realization hits him.

“No,” he says slowly.

“Yes,” Dan replies, still chuckling.

“No,” Phil repeats, sitting up and reaching across Dan. “Give me my phone. What time is it?”

Dan finds it on the bedside table and unlocks it, promptly beginning to laugh again. Phil pries the phone away from his hands.

His eyes grow even wider. It’s hilarious.

“Fuck!” he exclaims, throwing the sheets off. “Why won’t you stop laughing? Dan, we’ve got to get dressed, maybe if we hurry we can still make it!”

“Phil, I’m moderately sure they’ve given our table to someone else by now,” Dan says, watching Phil climb out of bed to put on his boxers.

“Why? It’s not seven yet, I mean we’ll probably be a bit late but we can call in and -”

Dan shakes his head, sitting up as well. “Phil – Phil, wait. Phil!”

“What?!” Phil cries out, exasperated and half-dressed. He’s got his underwear on backwards.

“It’s half past six in the morning, not at night!”

-

“Stop laughing already!”

Phil hits him across the head with his pillow.

Dan rolls over on to his back, still choking back laughter. “You have to admit it’s funny!”

“It’s not! I really wanted to go there, Dan!” He looks genuinely upset.

Dan raises one eyebrow. “Are you saying you would have rather gone to this restaurant than have sex with me?”

Phil looks at him uncertainly for a moment. “Yes?”

Dan huffs and turns away from him. “I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear that.”

He’s mostly faking, but it serves to finally get Phil’s mind off their missed reservation.

His arms snake around Dan’s waist from behind, lips brushing his shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy the night, though.”

Dan grins, pushing his bum out to earn a gasp from Phil.

“Yeah, I had the feeling you were enjoying yourself quite a bit there, just like your mum told us to.”

“Shut up,” Phil says, pulling back one hand to pinch him, albeit gently.

They settle into silence again, curled up comfortably until Dan mutters, “There’s one disadvantage though. I’m fucking starved.”

Phil groans in agreement. “Pizza would be amazing right now.”

Dan giggles. “It’s seven in the morning. I’m pretty sure they don’t deliver before noon.”

“I think we still have some in the freezer,” Phil murmurs sleepily into his neck.

“Are you serious?” Dan frees himself from Phil’s embrace and sits up, pushing back the duvet. “Then why exactly are we still in bed? Come on, move! It’s time for breakfast!”

Ignoring Phil’s protest, he strolls to the door, swaying his hips as he’s aware of Phil’s eyes following him.

“Don’t you wanna put some clothes on?” Phil asks, the corners of his mouth curled upwards.

“Why?”, Dan replies, eyebrows raised. “Charlie’s not here. Or does it bother you?”

They look at each other for a moment.

Then Phil grins.

“Go preheat the oven, I’ll be right there.”

*** this used to be on my ao3 page (softiejace). i’m taking my phan content down from there for personal reasons but reposting it here so people can still enjoy it :) ***

[highqueenseleni]

I'm so sad, I've apparently developed a caffeine intolerance, even chocolate is affecting me. This is a first and I don't like it. I'm hoping after a few months and my crazy hormone have adjusted to their new alteration that I can go back to tea but for now it's all herbal, which is kinda lame. I wonder what I'll do with all my tea and teaware if I can't drink tea anymore? https://www.instagram.com/p/BxBAnmXHm5B/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kj3xclmgoe1y

[galacticchaosminion]

I'm guessing your problem with hot chocolate is the dairy part, lactaid pills help if you're lactose intolerant but I'm allergic to dairy and I use soymilk as an alternative. You can have some warm tea if you like tea, get a big soft blanket to cuddle up in. Make yourself cozy as heck, you're a lovely and gorgeous human being and taking a coziness moment can really help out when things aren't so nice. Takr care of yourself ❤

The thing is that I’m used to not doing anything and i need to go on walks more but i don’t want people to see me because i get so nervous to be around people and I’m afraid they are looking at how bad my body is and because of some things back in August of 2017 not long after i moved in with this old man i take care of it made me stay up all night so now I’m used to staying up until 7am so I’m sleep deprived and sad and i have no motivation. The thing about the hot chocolate is i cant handle caffeine so stuff like tea and pops (besides sprite i can still drink that) and coffee always get me. And also if i have things that have milk in it, it always gets me too. Milk ust tastes bad to me if i don’t have chocolate with it so i haven’t had that in a long time. also does ranch have milk in it? it also makes me feel bad. and sometimes eggs but i am not giving up eggs lmao.

if i have caffeine it makes my heart race and my nerves go crazy. I guess thats why people use it to stay up and awake. It just makes me feel extra bad and i definitely get no sleep because my body feels awful afterwards. wish i could rant about past stuff and things people online have said to me but this would get way longer than it already is. i just feel like a shit person who doesn’t deserve to feel cozy and happy.

[drlaurynlax]

The Most Comprehensive HPA Axis Dysfunction Guide

HPA Axis Dysfunction affects many people and having the right treatment could help them live fuller lives.

Stress is “normal.”

…So is feeling imbalanced. At least for approximately 3 in 4 Americans who will experience “adrenal fatigue” in their lifetime, according to Dr. James Wilson, author of Adrenal Fatigue: the 21st Century Stress Syndrome (2001). 

Stress: Mental & Physical

Most people think of stress as psychological and emotional stress.

Technically, however, stress is defined as:

 “Any event in which environmental demands, internal demands, or both, strain or exceed the adaptive resources of an individual.”

(In other words: Stress is a demand on our mental or physical body that we can’t handle well). 

Stress (both mental and physical) is the “elephant in the room,” that sets the stage for all sorts of disease and health problems we experience in our lifetime. 

Common Stress

You and I encounter hundreds—if not thousands—of stressors in our daily lives, some that happen in the blink of an eye, and others that linger for years.

Common daily stressors include:

Gut-irritating foods, like chocolate-glazed donuts, beans or even difficult-to-digest raw broccoli in your gut

Getting stuck in rush-hour traffic

An e-mail exchange where the person’s tone on the other end seems tense

A spat with your significant other

Negative news headlines on our notifications throughout the day

Running late

Drinking 2-3 cups of coffee to tide you over after 4 hours of sleep

A 3 pm sugar binge when a sugar crash strikes

Accidentally overeating or feeling really hungry before a meal

Pushing ourselves hard in an intense workout

Feeling the crunch of a tight deadline at work

Lack of sleep one night

Saying “yes” when you really wanted to say “no”

Getting over-heated in the sun

Generally, daily, or “acute” (short-term) stressors are things we quickly adapt to—

If you get hot for instance, you naturally seek to cool your body off with some AC. If you ate too much, you may not feel like eating as much the next meal; or if your body is ‘stressed’ with hunger, you typically eat something to ‘adapt’ and calm the stress.If you didn’t get much sleep last night, you may try to find time to take a nap, or to get to bed extra early tonight.

With short term stress, your body and mind is innately wired to learn how to deal with the stress.

However, when stress lingers and remains (with little to no relief in sight)…

Houston, we have a problem!

Some examples of chronic—lingering—stress may include:

A rocky or strained relationship with a significant other, business partner or best friend

Financial pressures

An autoimmune condition—that won’t go away

Years of eating a processed food diet or disordered eating habits

Daily (constant) demands of a boss we can never please or a job we hate

Trying to do everything—and not being able to do any one thing really well

Not eating enough (every day), dieting or restriction

Drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee (every day)

Burning a candle at both ends—every day

Sleeping 5-6 hours most nights

Staring at screens fo 8-10 hours per day

Overtraining (Chronic cardio with little to no rest for recovery)

Overwork and little to no play

Staring at computer screens while hunched over—every day

  Try as we may to adapt, relief doesn’t come, and if chronic stress persists, things go awry BOTH physically and mentally.

Hello SUPER STRESS!!!

Technically we call this “HPA Axis Dysfunction.”

HPA Axis Dysfunction 101

HPA Axis Dysfunction is another word for what’s come known as “adrenal fatigue” or “poor stress management” in laymen’s terms. Mental and physical stress triggers the hypothalamus in your brain to activate two distinct pathways of the stress response:

1.) The “Fight or Flight” System (“Sympathetic Medullary System”): the system the responds IMMEDIATELY to stress, like increasing your heart rate, blood pressure, alertness, and metabolic rate; and,

2.) Your HPA-Axis (Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis): the “mothership” of all things stress related in your body.

HPA Axis Anatomy

The HPA-Axis involves three key parts of your brain and body: 

Hypothalmus. The region in your brain that controls the “automatic” (autonomic) functions like: metabolism, body temperature, thirst, hunger, sleep and emotional activity.

Pituitary. A “hormone regulating” gland, in your forehead, that helps your body feel, helps you manage stress, and stimulates growth, hormone balance, reproduction, and lactation.

Adrenal Glands. Two pea-sized endocrine (hormone) glands that produce a variety of hormones including adrenaline, aldosterone and cortisol (your stress hormone)

If your HPA-Axis takes a hit from LOTS of stress or chronic (ongoing) stress, then it leads to “HPA Axis Dysfunction,” resulting in an assortment of side effects, including:

Inflammation

Blood sugar imbalances

Most all disease: Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc.

Mood imbalances, like depression

psoriasis or eczema;

IBS, bloating, or other digestive symptoms

Brain fog 

Hormone imbalances

Infertility

ADD/ADHD

And (you guessed it) chronic—ongoing anxiety—that anxiety you seemingly can’t control, no matter how hard you try to think about controlling it. 

  “HPA Axis Dysfunction” is simply another way of saying, “chronic” stress.” Chronic stress is the root of all imbalance in the body. 

And tying back to our gut-brain-body connection, chronic stress often stems back to the gut. It’s all intertwined!

HPA-Dysfunction vs. Stress

But don’t we all experience stress in our lives? Shouldn’t we just be able to deal with it?

What’s the difference in every day stress vs. “HPA Axis Dysfunction?”

Good questions!

True, our bodies DO deal with A LOT when it comes to stress; and your body (and brain) can take A LOT (“bring it on!”). But when stress goes overboard, or lasts for a long time (without proper recovery) our body can only handle so much.

Example: the Poptarts and Cheetohs I ate daily as a kid, and artificial sweeteners and additive-filled protein powders I ate for years in college and young adulthood. 

The result from these chronic stressors in my life? Frequent bloating, constipation, bacterial overgrowth, and the anxiety I battled in my teens and young 20’s. My body was not designed and wired to eat Silicon Dioxide, aspartame, corn solids or high-fructose corn syrup.

Gone are the days of our ancestors who lived in the natural (toxin-free) environment, ate nutrient-rich foods, and spent their days in accordance to the rhythms of the sun. Eventually my repetitive poor quality foods led to poor gut health, which then led to stress and a variety of symptoms. 

Consider the variety of stress your own body encounters on a daily basis:

Working a job you don’t love, staring at a screen for 8-hours and staying stuck in your cubicle;

Barely getting 6-hours of sleep

Running off 2 to 3 cups of coffee every day

Eating ketchup, pasta sauce, yogurt and deli meat—laden with hidden sugar

Forgetting to eat, or subsisting off of chicken and broccoli—not eating enough

CrossFitting, spinning or running miles upon miles 5 to 6 days per week with little attentio to your recovery 

If this becomes your “norm,” that HPA-Axis of yours also takes a hit. And when your HPA-Axis takes a hit, a “normal stress” response no longer remains.

Cortisol Conundrum

Speaking of “normal stress, “ever heard of the hormone cortisol?

Cortisol is your “stress hormone” that helps you deal with “normal stress.” In the good ol days, it helped humans run really fast from bears chasing them in the woods; and it helped you “suck it up” when the mean girls left you out at the lunch table in middle school. 

Cortisol is directly produced and regulated by the HPA-Axis. 

Higher amounts of stress produce more cortisol.

If cortisol levels are constantly produced and pumped out (with little to no recovery or rest from the stress), then the HPA-Axis gets pooped out!  

And we are right back to square one: Imbalance and inflammation (think: mood swings, sugar cravings, racing thoughts, disrupted gut flora leading to disrupted serotonin in the brain, increased or decreased respiration rate, elevated blood pressure, etc.).

Without the ability to regulate stress (normally), your body and mind naturally become more sensitive and fragile to respond to even little stressors (like a loud noise, the lack of control, a comment someone said, the effects caffeine, etc.). 

Again: stress is more than just a mental battle, it is also a physical battle.

How do I know if I have HPA Axis Dysfunction?

It’s not always easy to “see” or diagnose—especially if your “subpar (stressed out) norm” has become your norm.

Common signs of an out-of-whack HPA-Axis include:

Anxiety—that doesn’t go away

Panic attacks

Feeling wired and tired at night

“Waking up” when you workout—and needing the highs of workouts to keep going

Plateaus in training, “gains” and physical goals

Muscle weakness or wasting

High or low blood pressure

Suppressed respiration (needing “more air” during training)

Subpar performance “Crazy fast” metabolism or super slow metabolism

Telling your body to “work harder” or “push more”—with difficulty implementing it

Digestion difficulties (bloating, gas, IBS, constipation)

Suppressed appetite

Hormone imbalances (low testosterone, loss of period, infertility)

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

Unable to go long between meals without getting a headache/shakey

Dependence on coffee, sugar or artificial sweeteners

Never feeling 100% rested

Apathy and/or burnout

Feeling emotionally “flat”

Falling asleep if you sit anywhere for too long

Insomnia

Weepy for now reason

Inability to lose weight

Mood swings

Fatigue

Anxiety or Depression

Autoimmune conditions

Food intolerances

Headaches

High blood pressure

Low or high heart rate

Feeling dizzy when standing up

Inability to concentrate/focus or memory loss

Lyme disease

Catching colds, flus or illnesses easily

Not “feeling like yourself”

Skin breakouts or acne 

Feeling burned out or unable to do your usual basic “to dos”

Inability to tolerate exercise like you once did

Random allergies

“Diabetes” 

Thyroid issues/hypothyroidism

Unwanted weight loss and inability to gain weight

Feeling “wired and tired”

Shortness of breath

Hormone imbalances 

Apathy about my work

IBS

Poor workout performance

Electrolyte imbalances

  If any of these factors are ongoing (lasting more than 7 days), then it may be worth at least exploring if you could benefit from “resetting” your HPA-Axis (i.e. targeting stress).

What to Do About It

Address stress—the elephant in the room.

Not just mentally, but physically. 

Remember: While talking about your anxiety and counseling with someone around your anxiety can be two HUGE PIECES of the anxiety puzzle, if your physical well-being goes unaddressed (targeting stress reduction and improving gut health), then you are only treating half the “problem.”

How to do it? 

Here are some basics to start:

1. Assess Your Own Stress.

What are the top stressors in your life right now, and what stressors have you dealt with in your past? Surgeries? Medications? Light exposure? A job you hate? Food intolerances? Gut issues? Make a list of both psychological and physiological factors that may be contributing to your current state of stress.

2. Test Don’t Guess.

Many people read about “adrenal fatigue” or HPA Axis Dysfunction on Google and immediately turn to self-treating—buying supplements and tea labeled “adrenal support” at Whole Foods, downloading the Headspace meditation app, and diffusing lavender in the air. However, without understanding a full picture of the cortisol imbalance in your body (if at all), you may be under treating or over treating. For instance, your cortisol may be high or low, melatonin may be suppressed or perfectly normal, estrogen may be nonexistent or extremely elevated.

In addition, cortisol imbalance may be triggered by the gut, the hypothalamus or your thyroid, or a mix of all three. The problem is, if you treat your “issue” inappropriately you risk not getting to the “root” or potentially making the problem worse. A comprehensive saliva/urine test like the DUTCH test can help you get a clearer picture of your unique cortisol story. Consider working with a functional medicine practitioner to navigate test results, as well as address any other underlying health imbalances contributing to your condition.

3. Eat a Nutrient Dense Diet

Balance your meals with protein, healthy fats and moderate carbs. No extremes. 

Protein, particularly in the morning, has a balancing effect on blood sugar. 

Avoid foods with fillers, sweeteners and unknown ingredients.

For a time, avoid caffeine and alcohol. 

Prioritize clean filtered water (Tip: Add a pinch of sea salt to 12 to 16 ounces of water in the morning. Sea salt is a natural electrolyte to balance sodium levels). 

Also don’t neglect mindful eating (chewing your food well, slowing down at meal times, not eating on the go or while watching TV, etc.). Mindfulness is a game changing practice your body appreciates.Reset Your Circadian Rhythms

Eliminate blue light exposure at night (blue-blocking glasses, nightshift apps on your phone),

Get back to nature (aim for 30-60 minutes at least of fresh air)

Eat at regular intervals

4. Catch Enough Zzzz’s

Sleep at regular times (keep a schedule). Speaking of sleep is essential to just about every type of “wellness” protocol, but it is particularly essential for HPA Axis Dysfunction recovery. Prioritize 7 to 9 hours each night.

5. Move Your Body

Overtraining is a common cause of HPA Axis Dysfunction. Common signs of overtraining include difficulty recovering from workouts, increased gut issues or loss of appetite, a plateau or decrease in performance, increased body fat despite regular exercise and “eating clean,” poor sleep, restlessness, anxiety, fatigue, muscle or joint pain, suppressed immune system, and low mood.

The best exercise? In the immediate recovery period, opt for lower intensity exercise such as walking, cycling (not cranking up the notch on your spin bike), strength training, swimming, or yoga over high-intensity activities like CrossFit WODs, Orange Theory workouts or straight-up cardio training. Just Say No.

What’s filling your life and what’s draining you? Take a thoughtful inventory of what’s crowding your space. Cut out the things on your plate that are weighing you down.

6. Relax

As cheesy or overrated as it sounds, take time out to settle your mind and integrate mindful activities through mental and physical (intentional) relaxation.

Consider these:

Prayer

Journaling

Meditation (Try Muse, or Headspace)

Biofeedback/Heart Math

Yogi Breathing 

Yoga 

Tai Chi

  These are just a few ways people actively seek to “relax” more. Although it will probably be “awkward” at first, by starting small and prioritizing relaxation (even 5 minutes in the morning) make a difference.

7. Supplement Smart

A big mistake people make is taking random supplements that can actually make your adrenal fatigue worse, not better, if not careful. As mentioned, testing and not guessing helps prevent over-treating or under-treating with supplements. However, there are some natural and gentle supports for HPA Axis Dysfunction that can work for many people as your figuring out your unique picture including:

Liposomal Curcumin + Boswellia AKBA  

Lavender & Peppermint essential oils

Adrenal Calm Cream by Apex Energetics 

HPA Axis  

The post The Most Comprehensive HPA Axis Dysfunction Guide appeared first on Meet Dr. Lauryn.

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