#physiological dissonance

[alias-mike]

me when going through traumatic events causes extraordinary issues down the line: 🤯🤯🤯

[eatmangoesnekkid]

I’m so tired of feminist women over 40 saying how they continue to be invisible to men the older they get.

I have never felt invisible to men and I’m close to 50. I do not try to be visible to men. I simply take care of myself and that naturally increases my visibility.

Today in my rebounding class, a young attractive Italian guy in his 20s asked for my number after class. Another lady in class commented on how attractive he was. After letting him know that I wasn’t interested and having a chat, I said to him that I was going towards 50 years old.

Santos was stunned. He, like everyone else, could not believe it. He said “I thought you were 25.” He was completely shocked and said “you are very beautiful” which made me blush because I could feel his sincerity. And I was sweaty in leggings and had my hair in two messy afro puffs in a gray winter climate. But it is really my aura, the fact that I don’t carry a lot of density in me, along with my love of being a woman, that attracted him at the level of the *unconscious.*

As we get older in these beautiful female bodies, our physical merely becomes a hologram of what lives in our subconscious in ways that we can no longer mask, hide, or lean on through youth or genetics. I was never the “pretty” or “beautiful” girl growing up; I was the smart girl. The “good” girl. The “nice” girl. But what I have learned is that every year we truly take care of ourselves will add up overtime and radiate out into the world in a higher frequency eventually.

Moral of the story —do not believe these women who say they are invisible to men because many of these women have spent years, their whole lives, living in their heads or complaining about their monthly cycles, not fully embracing being a woman. Now they want men to find them attractive after all those years of being disconnected from their own bodies. Over the years that constant dissonance and disconnection with self will add up and show through one's aura.

You must enjoy being a woman. This real genuine enjoyment is your magnetism.

Take care of your body. Be aware of what you are feeding your mind and your skin. Love your bleed time. Find ways to enjoy your breasts. Smile at yourself in the mirror. Nurture your softness. Laugh often- don’t take everything so seriously. Destress and nourish yourself in ways that stop you from having monthly cramps. Believe in something much more than what you have been taught about female physiology. Be lighthearted and connected to earth. Grounded. Let go, get rid of some things, sometimes people included. There are some deeper female mysteries that I will keep more veiled and private on this blog but will teach openly in my online school. I am a feminine wisdomkeeper which means that much of my work happens behind closed doors and in the underworld of the body and psyche.

All in all, when you *consciously* spend time being good to your body and saying good things about every facet of your womanhood and femaleness, then you won’t have any problem with people of all walks of life being attracted to you. Every year your aura will get bigger and bigger, more radiant and alive. Adore yourself and the world can’t help but to love and adore you back….at any age.

Living on earth is a game of frequency and consciousness. Nothing more or less.

—India Ame’ye

[anxious-lee]

why is tickling so intimate?

i somewhat knew the answer, obviously, but i never had the right words to explain why until now.

it's a crossover being animal brain and logical brain. the evolutionary need for knismesis is now nonexistent for mankind; it is, put simply, a byproduct of natural selection that we have no need for, like the appendix. yet, we can't let go of those reflexes. no matter how evolved you may feel, you have no choice but to feel ticklish.

and of course this can lead to a bit of distress in some. but that dissonence between rationality and physiology is what makes tickling so special. it is, on some level, an unwanted reaction. even people like us who enjoy tickling, still try and fight it and shout "no stop!". there is also a feeling of indignity with it. every social behavior, habit, cue, manner, whatever, goes down the drain the instant tickling is involved. you can't cover up any embarassing tics or reactions, they just happen. you can be completely composed, but once your sides are touched, you lose control.

this creates a vulnerability. who can i allow to a) know about this little weakness of mine b) use it without taking it too far? so when someone does find out about your ticklishness, especially if it was unintentional, there's a gap there for trust. trust that the other person won't make fun of you, and maybe even add it to the list of things they find endearing about you. you let that person behind the curtain and let them see just how incredibly human you are, how weak and humble, how uncomposed and silly, how soft and delicate.

and isn't that beautiful?

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

🤔💭How does regeneration affect memories?

While memories carry over across bodies, how a Gallifreyan perceives those memories can change dramatically with each new incarnation. Every body comes with a new personality, and that fresh perspective can colour past events. For example, what one peaceful incarnation views as a violent event, a future self might see as a moment of strength. Same memory; different lens.

This shift in perception often leads to internal conflict—a Time Lord may remember feeling one way about a situation but experience entirely different emotions after regenerating. This can create a kind of cognitive dissonance, where their past and present selves don't agree over the same memory.

Just imagine spending the first few weeks in your new body re-evaluating your entire past. You're not just remembering what happened—you're trying to decide whether your previous self was 'good' or 'evil' by your new standards. Was your past self truly wrong, or has your moral compass shifted? You may wonder whether it's your old actions that need questioning, or if your new personality is the real problem ...

Gallifreyan Biology for Tuesday by GIL

Any purple text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →😆Jokes |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired😴

[episims]

Aurora "-I'd assemble it back together, um, I think I can. It would be interesting to see the lenses."

Julian "You may do that tomorrow. It's bedtime now."

Cloud "-I lived to see the day you aren't thinking about work! What's with the frown, then?"

Julian "It's, uh—I've gained weight."

Cloud "Oh. Okay, but-"

Julian "Sarcopenia is unavoidable, yes. It's a part of physiological aging. I'm... surprised it troubles me."

Cloud "Not that surprising. It sure feels weird to me to suddenly have an old man's physique! When did I age, even?"

Julian "I... see your point. I suppose such dissonance isn't uncommon."

Cloud "We have little choice but to get used to it, right? But, look... while it might seem like I have a type for muscular, it's never been that. I like your body because it's you."

[elacular-kink]

Hicvember 5: Pinocchio Syndrome

Have my first non-Poly-techhic hicvember. I interpreted Pinocchio syndrome in the more tvtropes manner of an artificial being wanting to be more human.

Content: Hiccups, robots, not particularly wholesome.

"Dr. Silver, what are those noises you're making?"

Jack massaged his temples, having feared this question as soon as breath-holding and water-drinking failed to produce results. His unkempt gray hair, face wrinkled with the opposite of laugh lines, and "gave up halfway through shaving" stubble put him in stark contrast with the sleekly built humanoid made of metal and plastic. His face was significantly less expressive than the screen that served as her face, even though it could only display simple shapes made of pixels. "Could–*nnkt* you google this, Poly? *HMNK*–mmnf."

"But I like the way you answer things better!" Jack sighed, though his lungs interrupted him as one of Poly's glossy plastic arms was thrown over his shoulder.

"Poly" was short for "Poly-LLM-neural-comprehensive-synthesizer blah blah blah" a bunch more words that Jack could never be bothered to remember, and she was his least favorite of the "artificial intelligences" that he worked with, largely due to the cognitive dissonance she caused him. Because on the one hand, he was absolutely certain that she didn't actually have what could be called "intelligence" or "thoughts" or "a personality." But on the other hand, he was just as certain that she took pleasure in his suffering.

Just because he hated her didn't mean that he wasn't required to answer her questions, though. "They're hicc–*hup*s, Poly. A malfu–*uck*–unction of the human body *hmk* which causes noises an–*nnk* and discomfort."

Poly let out a strange, offended noise. Jack had no idea where she'd learned how to fairly accurately recreate non-word verbal communications, but he had a feeling that this specific sound might have been his fault. "I'm sorry, are you telling me that humans have malfunctions too? Well, then why are you constantly giving me shit for my errors? Clean your own house first, meatbag!"

"You know da–*uck* damn well we have malfu–*hunk*–tions."

"Sure, but I mostly knew about the 'complete physiological meltdown' types. I didn't know about the debugging types." Poly hummed, then crouched down and stared at Jack's stomach, which spasmed repeatedly beneath his T-shirt. She reached out and poked it before Jack grabbed her finger and pointed it toward something that wasn't him. "Hmph. Touchy." After that, she flounced off and sat down at the computer she had requested and gotten (despite the fact that she was perfectly capable of interfacing with the internet on her own), and Jack could see her googling "hiccups" from over her shoulder.

Doing his best to ignore his own hiccups, Jack grumbled and started taking notes. He wrote down the physical behaviors and state of Poly's robot body first, even though he knew he was supposed to be focusing on her "mental and emotional health". Jack kept telling himself that he'd quit tomorrow, and he'd been telling himself that for upwards of half a decade now. He became more certain of his conviction to quit than he'd been in at least a few months when he heard a staticky squeak behind him. A second, then a third followed. "Sto–*hup* stop that."

"Stop wha–*UCK* what, Dr.? *HIULP!*"

Jack turned around, his eyes tightly shut. When he opened them he saw exactly what he didn't want to: Poly having turned around in her chair to face him, the pixelated line of her mouth opening and closing every few seconds as her plastic torso jerked and her speakers squealed. "Stop maki–*ingk* those noises. *HMK-mmf*"

"You sto–*HUP* stop yours first. *HIK-ULK!*"

"I tried. *hmk* I failed. Just as I do–*hook* every day in trying *hnk* to interact with---you in a way that ma–*uk*–makes sense." He walked over and leaned against a nearby counter, glaring down at Poly, who stared innocently up at him from the chair. "You know, *hnk* if you re–*hkk-lk* really want me to *hnk* stop calling you a sto–*hok!*–nnnhf...stochastic p---parrot, then maybe y–*hk* you shouldn't mimic ev–*urk* every random noise I ma–*uck*."

"I'm not! *HIC-CUP!* I have a *HULK* case of th–*HUP* the hiccups! *HIULK!*"

Jack massaged his temples again, knowing it would do nothing to ease the splitting headache that was forming. This was why he had tried so hard to cure his own hiccups before he got here. He knew that this would be the inevitable result. And just as inevitably, Poly's "case of the hiccups" outlasted Jack's by quite a while, despite his best attempts to convince her to knock it off.

[incesthemes]

so okay. demon-human relations and logistics.

demonic possession transforms the host physiologically: the body is supernaturally fortified beyond pain and damage limits that humans couldn't typically endure (see: meg was still alive when the demon left her body in 1.22), the blood becomes corrupted and demonic in nature for so long as the demon is inside of the host (see: the nurse demon that sam drained in 4.22 went dormant inside her host body, but the blood was still demonic and sam was able to use it to power up)

demonic blood can be introduced into a human body via consumption, which induces psychic powers. the nature of the psychic powers seems to stem from innate demonic abilities, implying that there are some demons who, while unrepresented in canon, can see the future or control minds (at least i can't think of any demons who can do this, and the fandom wiki doesn't list these powers). other powers exhibited by the special children are represented by various other demons to some extent. (it's unknown and unexplored what the relation between demon-induced psychics and naturally born psychics are, though this is really something i'd love to think about more deeply.)

consuming more demon blood causes these powers to, allegedly, become stronger, though "accepting" the powers alone allows them to blossom on their own (the powers exhibited by sam in seasons 4/5 are incongruent with his powers in 1/2, hence allegedly. it's possible that the discrepancy between the seasons 1/2 powers and the seasons 4/5 powers have to do with the quality of blood sam is drinking: azazel is a prince of hell and therefore has a wider range of abilities, and sam consuming just a few drops of his blood would generate large enough amounts of power to tide him over 23 years; meanwhile, lower ranking demons have limited abilities, and so sam would need to consume more of their blood to achieve only a fraction of the power he got from azazel. just one theory to perhaps bridge the dissonance).

anyway, consuming a massive amount of blood causes the body to become demonic in nature, evidenced by the black sclera over sam's eyes in 4.22 when he kills lilith. the more demon blood that enters the body, the more demonic a person becomes.

which would imply then that it's possible to turn a human into a demon through consumption of demonic blood alone rather than the traditional centuries-of-torture-in-hell thing. season 8 also introduces the possibility for this demonization to be reversed: human blood replaces demon blood and thus humanizes the demon, in a perversion of the original concept.

this works conceptually in the way that demons are originally conceived as just corrupted human souls. this is of course contradicted by later retcons of the lore (8.02 specifically, and perhaps other episodes but i can't think of them at the moment), but the original lore allows this ebb and flow to work rather seamlessly: a corrupted soul can become uncorrupted, and an uncorrupted soul can become corrupted, all via the consumption or injection of blood containing the target physiology.

all this to say, it's reasonable within the show's own worldbuilding that dean could have saved sam and cured his whole demon blood thing by feeding him his own human blood.

[yuri-for-businesswomen]

I had a class earlier and it made me laugh inside. basically the teacher was saying that some politicians in south America were saying that they were indigenous (when they weren't) and they faced a backlash since they couldn't auto-determinate themselves as being part of an indigenous group.

but when it's a man saying that he is a woman, he receives no backlash and we have to accept it even though we can see he is a man.

anyway I'm a babyradfem and I'm starting to become gender critical so it just made me laugh because the cognitive dissonance is real

i think the argument is that you cant be part of an ethnicity/people/culture if you were not born into it but since there is no coherent culture to being female/male its possible to change sex. or something. but its funny because race, ethnicity, culture etc are a lot more flexible concepts than sex. actually trying to determine race can lead to shit like phrenology while determining sex is done with one look in 99 % of cases. even intersex conditions fall neatly into two categories. and then theyre like „well its transgender now not transsexual“ okay but gender are norms, expectations, etc based on sex; you could say that race is your physiology (like sex) and race is also a concept (roles and bias assigned based on physiology). so culturally it should be possible to change race if its possible to culturally change gender. you know what i mean? its super silly.

[mariyamavliwala]

Blog Post #06- Sound Design in Dead Space

In this particular blog post I will breakdown the notion of sound design as it contributes to the heightening of tension and horror in Survival Horror games using Dead Space (2008) as the main example. Because as a game designer, it's important to learn about the effects of audio elements in creating immersive experiences that players will remember. Let me introduce the framework of the game first of all. Dead Space, developed by EA Redwood Shores and released in 2008, is set in a dystopian future where engineer Isaac Clarke must find his way through the abandoned spaceship USG Ishimura. The storyline is basically interwoven with survival, horror, and mystery as Isaac tries to unravel the truth behind the Necromorph outbreak. But, as I said earlier, this would not have such an impact on the narrative without the masterful integration of its sound design. For example, the immediate eerie silence versus the jolting mechanical creaks of the USG Ishimura when first discovered set an haunting tone right away. This is best articulated by the composer, Jason Graves, who described how the approach was more about creating "textures and mood" rather than melody. Theoretically speaking, it is, in fact, a non-traditional approach that launches the audio into the status of narrative device.

Innovative Techniques in Audio Design:

Using the original audio recordings already represents a sure sign of how dedicated the team had been in bringing forth unique sounds. First, an audio team recorded raw sourced material on rare locations and applied boutique processing plugins, analogue synthesizers, and experimental techniques in creating futuristic sound. This really enhances the audio palette's feeling of realistic immersion within this game.

Moreover, dynamic music fits smoothly in-game. Graves employed features such as dissonant strings, crazy patterns, and new ways of playing instruments, like bowing cymbals, to create feelings of unease. My argument can be best explained when, from an almost subtle ambient tension, the music shifts into loud cacophony during action moments; in this case, the player's are always engaged emotionally and psychologically.

The use of Ambient Sounds :

Another way which the game shows off its audio design is through the use of background noises. For example, old structures of the Ishimura, the distant sound of machinery, and low voices instill fear in the movie. In definition, this use of sound engulfs the player as well as makes them feel exposed in one way or the other. The only way I can relate this portrayal of reality is by speaking about Isaac’s breathing and heartbeat which ever change with his or her health and stress levels at a given time. Such physiological feedback makes it quite easy for players to – at least – feel that they are experiencing Isaac in their own skin.

Despite the audiences knowing there is an ‘evil’ waiting for them at every turn, it is the lack of music that most scares. Modern examples of this technique include games like Alien: These are isolation that employs the use of silence to amplify the noise that ensues. Dead Space, however, goes a tad further by allowing environment sounds to come with a form of life of its own, leaving the players constantly feeling groping.

The Power of Silence:

After having explored the topic at hand, it is fair to say that the sound design in Dead Space is a masterclass in audio innovation. The contrary was proven when games with generic audio libraries failed to deliver the same level of immersion. In conclusion, all the aspects discussed in this blog have shown just how important sound design as a narrative tool in gaming is.

With the addition of dynamic audio, ambient sounds, and physiological feedback, Dead Space is so much more than its visuals and narrative. As I said earlier in this post, sound design is not merely a background feature—it is an essential driver of emotion, tension, and player engagement. For game designers, the lessons from Dead Space’s audio approach provide invaluable insights into crafting immersive gaming experiences.

Sources:

Jason Graves, & Rod Abernethy, 2008. The Music of Dead Space: Artistic Design and Technical Implementation. Music 4 Games. Available at: https://www.music4games.net/ [Accessed 28 Dec. 2024].

Jason Graves, 2008. The Soundtrack of Dead Space. Music 4 Games. Available at: https://www.music4games.net/ [Accessed 28 Dec. 2024].

Graves, J., 2008. 'Dead Space Sound Design in Space: No One Can Hear Interns Scream – They Are Dead.' Original Sound Version. Available at: http://www.originalsoundversion.com/dead-space-sound-design-in-space-no-one-can-hear-interns-scream-they-are-dead-interview/ [Accessed 28 Dec. 2024].

Source details from Reddit about Dead Space Sound Design, 2024. Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/DeadSpace/comments/mi9817/sound_design/ [Accessed 28 Dec. 2024].

Source details from Reddit about Dead Space Sound Design, 2024. Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/DeadSpace/comments/1eu4v7x/the_sound_design_in_the_remake_is_phenomenal/ [Accessed 28 Dec. 2024].

[eatmangoesnekkid]

One thing I struggled with when I was in my 20s during my coming-of age-story of blooming into Goddess spirituality as taught by one of my mentors/muses was how semen was healthy for the female body. This is a common way of thinking with those who practice tantra, kama sutra, divine union, ancient temple arts, etc., and what is pushed in "Goddess- centered" and of course heteronormative patriarchal women spaces. However, the most disciplined, healthy, regenerative, mentally-clear men will always practice semen retention, which means that they would NOT release their semen into a woman's body during sex, and would circulate it internally throughout their own body to increase their organs' vitality instead, unless both parties were desiring to procreate a child. The thinking that semen was generally healthy for the female body as also taught in one of my favorite books "The Sexual Secrets of the White Tigress (a book I obviously don't completely agree with but helped to expand my consciousness) never fully added up with me and no one could ever answer my inquiry that "if semen is so healthy for the female body, why do the healthiest, strongest men have to practice semen retention....why would the divine be so cognitive-dissonant..lol?" I would not be surprised if our Western world had a centuries-old, clandestine operation to weaken both the female and the male body so that neither one of us would know our full power and magical potential. And I know many women whose pH balance and vaginal biomes gets out of wack after having penetrative sex with their male lover. There is so much division and anti-male propaganda out there, and that's not what I'm up to nor is it a conversation or line of thinking I would ever participate in. I'm more interested in women and other female-bodied people coming into our full alive power and magic—softening and strengthening our bodies and life force energy, expanding our minds, integrating our shadows, and birthing real authentically beautiful lives of rest, nourishment, regeneration, adventure, and ease that shift the collective energy forward into more love and life-giving resolutions. I wrote this to encourage those with female bodies to question everything, including me, because the "truth," whatever that means, will also influence your entire physiology overtime. What I know is that most of what we have been taught are lies and made up by men and patriarchal-centered women, for the benefit of men. Many of you have asked me private questions around working out and getting back active and strong in your body, but also express how tired and inflame your body is, could this be why? Because what I also know is that there are plenty of men who dump their stress, disappointments in life, rage, anger, and the like into women's bodies when they ejaculate therefore women have to be more intuitive and mindful in choosing lovers. But there is so much unlearning that every human must be willing to do in order to live healthier more emotionally-intelligent lifestyles thereby be awake enough to not continue to make a series of bad decisions in life. Because there are plenty of healthy, dutiful, deeply loving men out there to choose from if/when you are interested. May the veil of conditioning be lifted from the inner eye so that you begin to know who you truly are. Elevate your frequency so that you CAN be more grounded, centered and clear in your choosing. And what's also true is there is valid nuance as well that I won't be able to go into here on this blog at this time. -India Ame'ye, Author

[serendipitysparks]

Full Name: Iori Yagami

Alias: The Red Devil, The Crimson Berserker

Nationality: Japanese

Date of Birth: June 9

Height: 5'11" (180 cm)

Weight: 160 lbs (72 kg)

Blood Type: B

Affiliation: Formerly Yagami Clan, Independent (Anti-KOF stance)

Psychological and Personality Profile: Iori Yagami epitomizes the archetype of the tortured anti-hero, an individual whose psyche is ensnared by internal conflict, genetic affliction, and a destructive, preordained fate. His character is defined by a paradoxical nature, caught between his intrinsic desire for belonging and the nihilistic impulse to embrace the destructive potential of his powers. Iori exhibits a pronounced dissociative discontent with his family heritage, compounded by an overwhelming aversion to the KOF tournament, which he both detests and feels compelled to partake in. His personality can be categorized as deeply introverted, bitter, and prone to episodes of extreme emotional volatility. Psychologically, Iori demonstrates signs of cognitive dissonance. Despite his overwhelming urge for self-determination, his existence is entangled with the curse of the Orochi bloodline, which instills within him an involuntary rage. This cyclical fury often erupts in deindividuation—a psychological state wherein Iori’s sense of self dissolves, leaving him a vessel for pure, uncontrollable violence. This profound inner conflict, exacerbated by his estrangement from his family, forms the crux of his character’s existential struggle. Iori exhibits classic traits of narcissistic vulnerability, often reacting to perceived slights or emotional turmoil with sharp cynicism and defensiveness, but his brittle ego betrays a deeper, unresolved self-loathing. His enigmatic and sporadic interactions with others are marked by disdain, mistrust, and an almost masochistic tendency to distance himself from any form of emotional support or affection. He embodies a form of existential isolation, rejecting external efforts to mitigate the crushing burden of his cursed lineage. His violent tendencies are not solely based on external conflict but are largely internally driven, the result of atavistic aggression tied to the Orochi curse—a malevolent spiritual heritage that influences his very physiology, leading to chronic psychophysiological strain. Iori's inherent hostility and unpredictability reflect a deeply rooted egoistic regression to a primal state, where power is both a means of survival and a mechanism for self-definition.

Life History and Trauma: Born as the progeny of the Yagami Clan, Iori’s life trajectory was irrevocably altered by the tragic patrilineal schism that occurred between the Yagami and the Kusanagi families. Iori’s childhood was marked by a profound sense of abandonment, as his lineage was mired in a curse that altered his very genetic makeup. The Orochi bloodline, which coursed through his veins, manifested itself as a latent, destructive energy, influencing his thoughts, actions, and emotional responses. Iori’s formative years were bereft of familial cohesion, as his father, who once served as a stern patriarch, distanced himself from Iori, burdened by the overwhelming power that his son inherited. The dysfunctional family dynamic that resulted from this alienation molded Iori into a deeply introverted and emotionally detached individual. His relationship with his mother was similarly strained, as her inability to protect him from the ramifications of his inherited power left a deep emotional scar. The catalytic event that solidified Iori’s psychological fracture occurred when his father died under mysterious circumstances, an event he would later learn to be orchestrated by the Kusanagi Clan in a bid to eradicate the Yagami bloodline. This betrayal instilled within Iori an unrelenting hatred toward the KOF tournament and the participants associated with it, a sentiment that would pervade much of his existence thereafter.

Intelligence and Combat Aptitude: Iori is intellectually astute, particularly in the domains of strategic improvisation and combat psychology. His natural acumen for battle is heightened by his ability to intuitively read his opponents’ tactics, exploiting their weaknesses with a brutal efficiency that can be likened to reflexive cognition. His intelligence, however, is often overshadowed by his emotional impulsivity, which, while not entirely detrimental to his combat performance, serves to destabilize his strategic foresight in high-stakes scenarios. In combat, Iori’s fighting style is characterized by a seamless blend of martial discipline and raw aggression, grounded in the koryū traditions passed down through his clan, yet spiced with a ferocious, almost animalistic spontaneity. The flames of Orochi that he channels are a testament to his profound inner turmoil and the latent potential for destruction that lies dormant within him. These flames are not merely an extension of his fighting style, but a manifestation of his psyche—unpredictable, overwhelming, and deadly. Iori's intelligence extends to his understanding of his powers. Despite the curse that defines him, he demonstrates a clear recognition of the destructive consequences of his abilities, though he paradoxically revels in their use. His metacognitive awareness of his cursed state contributes to a distorted rationality that fuels his self-destructive tendencies, as he continuously oscillates between moments of lucidity and psychological regression.

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

Who was The Eleven?

Who was the Eleven?

The Eleven is the eleventh incarnation of a Time Lord known as the Multitude or the Collective, infamous for suffering from a rare and incurable condition called regenerative dissonance.

💥 The Multitude/Collective

Instead of each personality fading away upon regeneration as per usual with Time Lords, the consciousness of each of their past selves remained inside their head. Every regeneration added a new personality to this growing crowd, making them one of the most mentally chaotic Time Lords. Though referred to as the Multitude or Collective at times, most incarnations are individually known by their number.

🧠 The Personalities

Each incarnation of the Multitude had a distinct personality:

The One: Their first incarnation was a member of Gallifrey's High Council, serving as a respected but rigid official until he became fed up and changed to a life of crime.

The Two: After regenerating for the first time, the Two realised they had regenerative dissonance, and spent much of this incarnation trying to get some peace and quiet, sometimes at the expense of others.

The Three: One of the more violent personalities, the Three was bratty and very quick to suggest murder as a solution.

The Four: A very arrogant incarnation, always believing they were the smartest in any room.

The Five: The joker in the pack - a trickster and wisecracker who believed he could kill anyone and everyone.

The Six: By far the most violent, the Six was likely psychotic, with a love for murder and zero care for who or what was lost along the way.

The Seven: Rude and abrasive, this incarnation served as a scientific advisor for the Eleven's schemes, though lacked social tact.

The Eight: The exception to the chaos, able to suppress the other personalities through meditation. The Eight tried to act as a force of reason, but was eventually overwhelmed.

The Nine: A kleptomaniac, obsessed with stealing.

The Ten: Skilled in hypnotism, The Ten used manipulation and mind control.

The Eleven: The dominant personality that led the Multitude after escaping imprisonment on Gallifrey, known for their cunning and calculated chaos.

🛡️ The Twelve and The Union

After the Eleven was defeated, they regenerated into the Twelve, an older female incarnation who looked like your grandmother. Unlike the chaotic Eleven, the Twelve was more controlled, stabilising her regenerative dissonance using a neural implant to suppress the voices of her previous selves. This stability, however, didn't last forever.

In her final form, she became the Union. The Union claimed to have rid herself of the previous voices once and for all, using a deadly weapon to extract degeneration energy from other Time Lords to stabilise her own mind. This caused her previous personalities to suppress and merge, making her greedy, arrogant, insane, and intelligent, yet looked like a sweet little old lady.

We don't know what happened to the Union in the end, but for now we assume they were killed in the Time War.

🏫 So…

The Multitude is one of the most unique and dangerous Time Lords. Despite briefly finding some vague form of stability in later incarnations, the Multitude is a pretty terrifying reminder of the unpredictability of regeneration.

Related:

💬|✨🧠Regenerative Dissonance vs Disassociative Identity Disorder - what's the difference?: How RD and DID compare.

💬|✨🧠Can a Gallifreyan with Regenerative Dissonance lead a healthy, long life?: The potential long-term impact of RD.

💬|✨🧠Could a Time Lord have Regenerative Dissonance with a consistent voice?: Exploring a possible variant of RD and how it might work.

Hope that helped! 😃

Any purple text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →😆Jokes |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired😴

[hlekani-666]

<091> 13. Atheist Republic Newsletter: Is there any meaning to a life without God?

On our Facebook page and website, we often have theists ask how we can possibly find meaning in life without God. We also frequently see questions like, "What is the point of living without an afterlife?". The implicit message is that people don't have the strength required to endure difficulty and grief; we require a god, the hope of eternal life in paradise and the belief that we will be reconciled with those we care about. How can an atheist possibly bear the weight of grief when a loved one dies if they don't believe they will see that loved one again in the afterlife? Theists also have the conviction that the only things of consequence, are those things that have eternal value – a person or action can't really have "true meaning" if it has an absolute end.

Atheists know we must invest everything into this life because it is all we have. We can teach others, care for others, impact the lives of those around us and create a better world for generations to come. We alone have the responsibility and the creative power to live our own life with meaning and to imbue it with significance. This can be both invigorating and terrifying.

So what does a religious person actually mean when they say life is meaningless without God?

In a bit of a twist, it's probably the human evolutionary process that leads people to religion. Our own brains compel us to find patterns in our world, enabling us to predict what might happen so we can make better choices and survive. We also long to explain those patterns, for without an explanation, we experience ongoing cognitive dissonance and unrest. It is this desire for explanation that has led to ascribing the patterns to a god or gods.

We want someone to care for us so we do not have to feel the weight of caring for ourselves and others. We want someone to forgive us so we don't have to bear the heavy weight of conviction and reconciliation when we have wronged someone. We make stupid mistakes and do not want to bear the consequences. The reality of living a full life without god is often too much to bear. Creating our own meaning is often too daunting.

In addition, we are frequently perplexed by our own behavior. Why do we hurt those we love? Why do we so often feel out of control? Why is there so much pain and heartache? We can't explain why people commit heinous acts. After all, we are just now beginning to gain a tiny amount of knowledge about how brain physiology and chemistry affects human behavior; so all throughout human history, we had no way to understand these things. In a way, it's probably easier to explain this often overwhelming sense of dis-ease by giving responsibility for it to a demon or devil or some inner spiritual defect. Christians call this the "sin nature" that all got started when Eve chose to disobey God and Adam chose to go along with it.

This sin nature puts us all on a track to hell no matter how good we are in life. If our "badness" is on a fundamental spiritual level, our salvation must then in turn be divine. There must be an all-powerful being to guide us and give our sinful existence some sort of meaning and then guide our eternal soul to paradise; for without god, we are eternally doomed. And because this god is so amazing and saves us, we must give this god thanks, and praise it, and give it offerings of prayers and worship.

This then is the basic tenet of "meaning" found in religion: to recognize that the only true good comes from God and the only true hope can be found in eternal life. Christianity teaches we all have a "sin nature" and so ultimate meaning for our lives must come from God who will save us if we submit to him. The "good" we do must be in the name of God and for his glory and ultimately, this life is fleeting and our only hope and joy comes from knowing that we will one day be with God in heaven for eternity. Jesus is our savior and we must accept this and worship God. Islam teaches that nothing happens without God willing it to do to and because of this, we owe God everything and must constantly be thankful to him and worship him. The meaning of life is to worship God through Islam and without total submission and surrender to God, we are damned.

But there is something very childish about the impulse to pass responsibility off to a divine being. Taking responsibility for our own behavior and making our own lives full and meaningful comes with maturity. When we believe all meaning is to be found in how we live our lives instead of where we go when we die, we are faced with the knowledge that we have quite a lot of work to do while we are alive, which can be scary. But it also frees us to fully embrace the wonder of the universe head-on without the marring cloud of spiritual fantasy. We have ways to judge our decisions and how we treat other living beings that share this planet with us. We have the freedom to figure out for ourselves what a full life looks like. We have the freedom to be creative, to explore, to question and also answer.

"The significance of our lives and our fragile planet is then determined only by our own wisdom and courage. We are the custodians of life's meaning. We long for a Parent to care for us, to forgive us our errors, to save us from our childish mistakes. But knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring fable. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal." - Carl Sagan

Many great minds have explored the issue of life meaning. Richard Dawkins has a series called "Why Are We Here?" and in "Grand Design", Stephen Hawking addresses ancient and profound questions about the meaning of life.

Link To Original Post

[ericosantos]

Title: The Detrimental Effects of Making Assumptions Without Seeking Truth on Mental Health

Introduction:

Assuming things without finding the truth can have severe consequences on a person's mental health. This blog will explore the scientific evidence and real-life cases that demonstrate how this behavior can lead to long-term damage.

Scientific Example:

A study conducted by researchers at Stanford University found that individuals who frequently make assumptions without verifying facts have higher levels of cortisol, known as the stress hormone, in their bodies. This physiological response to constant uncertainty and misinterpretation can contribute to chronic stress, anxiety, and even depression over time. Further research conducted at Harvard University revealed that individuals who consistently make assumptions without seeking the truth are more likely to experience cognitive dissonance. This internal conflict between their assumed beliefs and actual reality can lead to persistent feelings of confusion, frustration, and emotional distress. Over time, this cognitive dissonance can contribute to a decline in mental well-being and overall psychological health.

Case Study 1:

Sarah, a young professional, always assumed that her colleagues disliked her because they never invited her to lunch. Without seeking the truth, she isolated herself at work, leading to feelings of loneliness and worthlessness. Eventually, Sarah's assumptions took a toll on her mental health, resulting in severe anxiety and depression.

Case Study 2:

John, a college student, often assumed that his professors were intentionally trying to make his life difficult with challenging assignments. Without seeking clarification or feedback, John spiraled into a cycle of self-doubt and negative thinking. Over time, his assumptions led to increased stress, poor academic performance, and a decline in overall well-being.

Case Study 3: Emma, a high school student, often assumed that her friends were intentionally excluding her from social gatherings. Without verifying the facts or communicating her concerns, Emma began to withdraw from her peer group, leading to feelings of isolation and alienation. As her assumptions went unchallenged, Emma’s mental health deteriorated, resulting in heightened anxiety and a sense of disconnection from those around her.

Case Study 4: Michael, a middle-aged professional, frequently assumed that his partner was unhappy in their relationship based on subtle cues and assumptions. Without open communication and seeking the truth, Michael’s unfounded beliefs led to increased tension and distance in their relationship. Over time, this strain took a toll on Michael’s mental health, contributing to feelings of inadequacy and a pervasive sense of unease.

The Long-Term Ramifications: The long-term ramifications of assuming things without finding the truth extend beyond individual mental health. Unchecked assumptions can create barriers to effective communication, hinder personal growth, and perpetuate a cycle of misunderstanding and conflict in various aspects of life. Furthermore, the cumulative effects of unfounded assumptions can erode trust, foster a negative worldview, and impede the development of healthy coping mechanisms, ultimately impacting one’s resilience and ability to navigate life’s challenges.

The Long-Term Impact:

Making assumptions without finding the truth can damage a person's mental health in various ways. It can lead to a distorted perception of reality, fuel negative thought patterns, strain relationships, foster self-doubt and insecurity, erode self-esteem, and contribute to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. The cumulative effects of unchecked assumptions can create a vicious cycle of emotional distress and cognitive dissonance that is challenging to break free from.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the evidence from scientific research and real-life cases clearly demonstrates the detrimental effects of assuming things without seeking the truth on mental health. It is essential to practice critical thinking, seek evidence, and communicate effectively to avoid the damaging consequences of unfounded assumptions. By cultivating a mindset of curiosity, openness, and willingness to verify information, individuals can protect their mental well-being and foster healthier relationships with themselves and others.

[shiyorin]

This is inspired by loony

Ioony (Alpharius/Omegon x Reader)

TW: Yandere.

Alpharius watch in the shadows as usual, observing all yet revealed to none. His enhanced senses tracked each movement as plans took shape. Yet occasionally, amidst the shadows and intrigue, something... Intrigued him on a more individual level. 

You entered. Alpharius allowed his gaze to linger as you conferred softly with others, noting angles of your form, subtle nuances in tone and gesture.

Within his mind, analysis churned as always, strengths, weaknesses, potential vulnerabilities if turned against the Imperium. But in deeper recesses, another current stirred, one strange after millennia walled away from humanity's emotional tides.

He isolated each impression, the subtle play of muscle beneath skin as you moved, each minuscule alteration in breathing or posture conveying or concealing intent. Alpharius' psyche absorbed such intricacies effortlessly, yet analyzed them now with a frame altered.

Attempting simulation, he induced within himself the biochemical surges, corresponding physiological shifts. But like shaping smoke, the emotions themselves would not hold form no matter how perfectly rendered were their vehicles of expression. Unstable feelings gradually turned into something colder, paranoia?

That which watching you could only be described through antiquated, inexact concepts. Concepts like...love.

Was this what humans meant by "love"? An emotion so destabilizing it blurred clarity into chaos? Alpharius scoffed, even as uncertainty gnawed within. Only love, that illogical emotion create by the dissonant harmony your presence wrought. 

Your role here was unclear, its import unfathomed. But Alpharius suspected you will perceived that. How delicious it would be, to draw you in, see understanding kindle behind you at last.

Alpharius watched you leave. Your movements contained a lithe grace at odds with lethality honed within. A flickering spark awaiting tinder, or perfectly balanced steel? This thoughts pulsated, probably an impulse. Strange fruits of idleness, best pruned. 

He trailed your footsteps, mind alight with questions unasked. For now, it must remain a fleeting thought alone. But perhaps one day, when intrigues allowed... A word, a glance exchanged in passing, a meetings in somewhere. Entwining like a small diversion.

The thought pleased Alpharius, for the moment. He would let it linger awhile, hold it close, to be pondered in idle watches or drawn forth when solace was required.

A rare blossom amid plots marching to destruction, worthy of nurturing in ways even he did not comprehend.

***

You sat across from him as always, but you can't see him, or you can't know of his presence. And he still likes that, still and focused yet revealing nothing. A shadow, answering to one alone. 

Omegon watched you, worlds of speculation churning behind his obscured eyes. What did he truly see, this person shrouded in impenetrable calm? Could any mind withstand your assessing gaze, devoid of judgement yet probing deeper than fleeting surface?

Blankness sways, festering in the back of his throat. Your presence covered, enveloping, concealing all thoughts from intrusion. On your own, revealing nothing to avoid complication, choice or consequence. A clean existence, swimming placid as still waters while worlds collided around your edges.

You moved as through life were a dance, each gesture perfectly calibrated. Detached, you observed all yet revealed nothing, flickering nigh and gone like a little flame amidst machinery of war. 

Omegon was not one for fanciful words, but he understood their allure. With each glimpse of you passing by, he felt uncertainty stir within, a weak flame twitching fitfully to life at your nearness before extinguishing once more.

He did not need such complications. His works demanded perfect singularity of thought and action, without room for sentiments left unsaid. But in your gaze he sensed an invitation, to abandon identity, bleed away all traces of self until only nothing remained between him and you.

But reality persists, as do its obligations. For Alpharius or Omegon, duty must always come first. And in that, perhaps, lay fullest contiguity with the mysterious called you. 

Omegon kept his silence, locking away this vagrant fancy deep within where even Alpharius could not discern its shape. For one who lives divided can ill afford distraction, no matter how fleeting or sincere the source.

If a seed of something more lingered in the fragility of heart, such trivialities held no place in their meticulous design.

[antimirobialresistance]

The Solution (Antibiotic Stewardship)

Antibiotic Stewardship refers to the efforts in doctor's offices, hospitals, care facilities, and other health care settings to ensure antibiotics are used only when necessary and appropriate. Below are the core elements of antibiotic stewardship.

Enhancing Infection and Control

Antibiotic stewardship programs have shown to improve patient outcomes, reduce antimicrobial agent related adverse events, and decrease AMR. It's important that all clinicians depend on evidence-based IPC interventions to reduce demand for antimicrobial agents by preventing certain infections in the first place.

Controlling Source Control

Source control encompasses all measures undertaken to eliminate the source of infection, reducing bacterial inoculum and correct or control anatomic derangements to restore normal physiologic function. Source control generally involves drainage of abscesses or infected fluids, debridement of necrotic or infected tissues and control of the source of contamination.

Prescribing Antibiotics When They Are Truly Needed

Nowadays, people use antibiotics for almost anything, and it's unfortunate that some doctors go along with it. While antibiotics can be life-saving (quite literally) when treating BACTERIAL infections (not viral), if used inappropriately or misusing it, it can become dangerous for the patient as their causing more harm than good to themselves.

Prescribing Appropriate Antibiotics with Adequate Dosages

An ineffective or inadequate antimicrobial regimen is one of the variables more strongly associated with unfortunate outcomes in critically ill patients.

Educating Staff

Education is important to every ASP. Diagnostic uncertainty, fear of clinical failure, and time pressure. Due to cognitive dissonance (recognizing that an action is necessary but not implementing it), changing prescribing behavior is extremely challenging. Efforts to improve educational programs are thus required and this should preferably be complemented by active interventions such as prospective audits and feedback to clinicians to stimulate further change.

In conclusion, practicing antibiotic stewardship helps bettering patient care, reduced antibiotic use, and can help with cost-effective health care.