#we had a mental health crisis in my family and a real issue was how to approach professional help bc of institutional racism and xenophobia

[starlooove]

Smth about white ppl projecting their values and ideals on poc parents in media and immediately calling them abusive and awful and terrible and unredeemable bc that’s what they would do if they had those dynamics

[scarlet--wiccan]

How did Wanda’s time post-HoM when she was amnesiac work? Like was Agatha also a doombot or was she taking care of her without telling her the truth about anything for some reason or what?

"Agatha," in this context, wasn't real. I think it was just, like, a hallucination. You never see her on-page, which is part of what makes the whole situation so creepy. Wanda's entire storyline between 2004 to 2012-- and beyond, honestly-- is just one retcon after another, so it can be a little hard to keep track of what's "true" as the context repeatedly changes.

During Avengers Disassembled, we see a flashback of Wanda confronting Agatha about her lost memories of Billy and Tommy. Later, the Avengers find Wanda-- now in the full swing of her apparent "breakdown"-- acting out a domestic scene with imaginary constructs of Agatha, Vision, Simon, and the twins. SHIELD agents later find Agatha's desiccated corpse, indicating that she'd been dead for some time-- with the implication being that Wanda killed her. Agatha then appears as a ghost in Scarlet Witch (2016)-- so, presumably, she was actually dead the whole time Wanda was missing. I suppose it's possible Agatha that was actually watching over Wanda, in Transia, as a ghost, but I don't believe that's ever been indicated on-page. This is conjecture, but I feel like if Agatha were around during Children's Crusade, she would've, like, made herself known.

Avengers #503

When Hank, and later, Clint find Wanda living in Transia, she apparently has no memory of her life as the Scarlet Witch, but it's not just amnesia-- she's living a false life, with false memories. My assumption has always been that she conjured this safe, ordinary life for herself the same way she created M-world, ableit on a much smaller scale. Just like in House of M, she's hiding from danger and avoiding her grief by retreating into an unhealthy fantasy-- only this time, instead of a world where she and her family have absolute power, she's pretending she never had power at all. In a way, "no more mutants" included her, as well.

It's not clear if anyone else has actually seen "Agatha," or if Wanda is just imagining her-- New Avengers #26 implies, however subtly, that it might just be Agatha's corpse in the other room, like it was in Disassembled. Either way, Wanda has a house, money, and neighbors who apparently believe she's been living there her whole life, so that's why I assume there's some reality warping at work.

This issue was written by Bendis-- which I suppose explains why Wanda, at the height of a mental health crisis and lacking any real agency, is treated as a Sexy Exotic Waif and gets raped without consequence by one of her oldest friends. Great stuff, Brian. Point is, this is the same person who wrote Disassembled, so Wanda's powers and mental state recieve a similar treatment, which is why I think it's most likely that there is no realy "Agatha" in that house.

Children's Crusade retroactively states that this Wanda was actually a Doombot. We don't know when the real Wanda was replaced, but it's likely that the version Hank encountered was also a decoy. If that's the case, it might make more sense to assume that Doctor Doom set this whole thing up, in which case Agatha definitely wasn't real-- although I don't know why he wouldn't make an Agatha decoy as well, except to say that Heinberg, understandably, probably didn't want to bother writing one in at such a late stage. I certainly don't think that the real Agatha, dead or alive, would waste her time babysitting a Doombot, so if she was really there, she'd have already been gone by the time Clint rolled up.

[fuck-your-proana-blog]

Your account inspired and motivated me to unfollow the bajillion pro ED tags I was following, unfollow/block all those pro ED accs I was following, and block all the pro ED tags. I feel so strange (/pos) and free. My dash is filled with stuff that ACTUALLY made me happy rather than sad. I ate peanut butter on toast today and it was scary but it was so so good I had forgotten the taste but!! I remember it now!!! I’m crying tears of joy. Thank you so so much.

I'm so damn proud of you! I've been there, and it is definitely a freeing and new feeling after suffering for so long. Knowing there aren't any REAL "rules" about what you can and can't eat is an amazing feeling. Peanut butter toast is way too good to not eat; I have it often in my recovery because peanut butter is such a wonderful food that is meant to be enjoyed by everyone, as long as they're not allergic of course- I eat peanut butter almost every day now. Just today I had a food I've never eaten prepared by myself as I still have some "fear food" issues, but it was one of the best things I've ever eaten- even over a year into recovery I'm still discovering new foods to enjoy the freedoms of eating, and I laughed and enjoyed the cooking process with my husband and we were both dumbfounded by how good it came out- so don't give up because it keeps getting better the more you recover and allow the freedoms you were missing out on back into your life!

Recovery is full of celebrations, milestones, freeing feelings, and great accomplishments. There will be some hard stuff too though, so remember these great feelings when the hard days happen. I definitely have more good days than bad due to recovery though; that's for sure! Try to journal these happy and positive feelings to remember if you find yourself having an upsetting day down the road(on paper if possible so you can read it without the computer/phone- there will be days it's best to stay off the Internet). Not trying to scare anyone, but not every day will feel as great since EDs are seriously mental illnesses with many symptoms to face in recovery.

I need to warn you though, and everyone reading this here on Tumblr, that NO tag is 100% safe- selfish pro anas post in the recovery tags too, so I do suggest stepping away from Tumblr sometimes- get back out into the "real world," spend time with family, friends, pets, etc- enjoy the outdoors, do some fun movement; not to burn calories, but just go for a short walk outside if you can or sit in the sun/shade and just enjoy the world around you. Experience the world pro ana was trying to take from you by trying to force you to spend all day looking at disturbing images and repeating cruel mantras that urge you to suffer- life was not meant to suffer from- it (and definitely food!) was meant to be enjoyed by us all.

Stay motivated in recovery, and feel free to message me any time- I am disabled so I am usually at home around my phone and answer messages pretty quickly as long as I'm not having a health crisis (unfortunately my body got pretty damaged by my ED, so I will always have reminders of what my ED has taken from me and appointments to go to for various chronic conditions).

Wishing you all the best, and have fun as you rediscover the freedoms of eating what you want without punishment- I'm still making new discoveries of "food joys" all the time!❤️

[southeastasianists]

Tan Ming Li is a certified death doula. Just as there are those who facilitate bringing new life into the world, there should be people facilitating more and better ways to talk about death and dying, she reasons.

In 2023, she started The Life Review, a social venture with the mission to normalise conversations about death, dying and bereavement. Events open to the public include Life Stories, a series of chat sessions with topics such as “Motherless daughters”, “Real men don’t cry” and “Pet loss and our enduring bonds”; as well as Death Over Dinner, in which people come together to have conversations guided by Tan about their personal experiences with loss while sharing a meal.

The last Death Over Dinner took place at South Indian restaurant Podi & Poriyal, where participants were served dishes containing ingredients with special life and death significance in South Indian culture such as black sesame seeds, which signify purification; and jackfruit, the wood of which is often used as funeral pyre logs during cremation.

“What better way for Asians to connect than through food?” said Tan, explaining that Death Over Dinner is actually a global movement that originated in the US, “but we tweaked it so that food was a much bigger component, building the conversations around the ingredients and dishes. In other countries, the concept is just for people to talk about death over the dinner table.”

Tan, who is in her 40s, believes that getting comfortable with talking openly and honestly about such topics is vitally important.

“A nationwide survey conducted last year (by the Singapore Management University) revealed that ‘only 53 per cent of Singaporeans are comfortable discussing their own death while barely a third (33.4 per cent) would do so with someone who is dying’,” she shared.

She feels there is also a tendency to over-medicalise conversations about death, focusing on treatments and doctors.

“As a society, death is not something that is commonly discussed and we tend to be ‘death-denying’. Healthcare and wellness are all about ‘preventing’ death. In fighting against death, we are unaccepting of this natural part of life. This makes it hard to be vulnerable about our emotions around it,” she said.

Even if you haven’t lost a loved one yourself, “When someone else experiences a loss, many of us don’t know how to address the topic and end up using platitudes like ‘I’m sorry for your loss’ or worse, ‘Everything happens for a reason’,” she pointed out.

Ironically, avoiding the subject of death inadvertently gives it more power. “This power can then suppress our thoughts, beliefs and behaviour,” she opined.

NO STRANGER TO DEATH AND DENIAL

Tan speaks from personal experience. When she was 17, her mum died of cancer. “Dad said, ‘Don’t worry, she will recover.’ Her sudden passing left us in shock. I remember my dad brought me to the hospital canteen, broke the news to me and simply said, ‘We just have to accept it and move on’. I don’t think he ever recovered. As far as I recall, there were no conversations about it within the family.

“In the years that followed, I lost my dad, grandma, uncles and aunts… I was frozen in my grief response and it took a mental health crisis for me to start addressing these issues.”

Concurrently, Tan had always been interested in social work, from her university years when she volunteered to support children with special needs, to volunteering to teach yoga and breathing at various institutions including the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD) and the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). She also lived in Thailand for several years, where she gave her time to a social enterprise helping indigenous craftsmen sell their goods.

Her career was in Advertising Research until she took a sabbatical and travelled to India in 2013. Following that period of time in which to think and reflect, she embarked on a new path, offering services such as mindfulness and movement.

“In the course of my work, I encountered clients who are terminally ill or grieving the loss of a loved one. Curious about how to better support them, I started researching the topic,” she recalled. “One day, I received an email from students working on a grief literacy event, inviting me to facilitate a somatic movement session for parents who had lost their child. Somatic movement involves exploring the body's sensations and movements to promote healing. During this session, many participants were able to release long held emotions within their bodies, even years after their loved one had passed.”

Motivated by the experience, she enrolled in the death doula course offered by the International End of Life Doula Association, an organisation in the US. Participants acquire skills revolving around how to support and comfort the dying and their loved ones.

“As I delved deeper into the subject, I realised that this was something that needed to go beyond supporting my clients one-to-one. The societal reluctance to discuss death openly leads to a lot of discomfort and unresolved emotions surrounding the topic, and I realised the need to scale and bring this out to the public,” she said.

So, “I decided to pursue a Masters of Science degree in Thanotology – even doctors go, ‘What’s that?’ – and start The Life Review as a platform for people to get comfortable discussing end-of-life matters through education and engagement.”

As far as she knows, she’s the only one in Singapore taking a Masters in Thanatology (“When the course started, the Programme Director said, ‘Now we are an international programme, thanks to Ming Li!’”) and one of just four people in Singapore who have completed death doula training.

“While trying to help people going through bereavement and grief, it struck me that I also had to look at my own experiences and work through all the emotions and experiences that I hadn’t known how to deal with – or even realised was necessary to,” she divulged.

“The way society operates, if we experience a loss, we are given three days of compassionate leave – and only for immediate family – and then we are expected to get back to ‘normal’ as productive members of society. But what about losing a friend? A partner? A pet? Do you get over it in three days? Since the norm was to get on with life, that’s what I did. It was only later in life that I realised that it was affecting me in ways that I did not immediately connect back to my earlier experiences, such as in the way I interacted with people in relationships and friendships. I would not get too close in case they would disappear,” she shared.

And so, “The main reason I’m doing this now is because of what I have gone through in my own life. The programmes I’m planning are skewed towards caregivers for now, as I don’t want anyone to be in a situation that I was in.” She added, “It was a turning point for me to adopt cats, knowing that they will die before me, yet to accept this and love them.”

Her work has also turned into “my legacy project for my parents”.

“I have a purpose to fulfil now, to bring The Life Review into fruition, in the remaining years left of my life. And in a way, I’m already planning for my end, making sure that I don’t regret things that I could or should have done,” she said.

DINNER WITH A PURPOSE

At Death Over Dinner events, “The framing of conversations is intentionally designed to be inclusive and non-confrontational. Participants are encouraged to share their thoughts and experiences without feeling pressured to delve into deeply personal reflections or imagine their own funerals,” Tan said.

The dinner serves as a casual starting point for discussions about a normally taboo topic to unfold naturally, fostering a sense of comfort and familiarity around the topic of death, she continued. “The intention is not to impose rigid guidelines or restrictions but rather to offer gentle guidance and prompts to steer the dialogue in a constructive direction” while embracing cultural elements within our specific society.

It is also about equipping people with the knowhow and language to either walk alongside a person who is dying, or to support a caregiver.

There are sessions taking place every quarter, which are open for individual sign-ups. The next Death Over Dinner event is planned for Apr 25 at Podi & Poriyal, with a group size of 12 to 16 people. Tan is also open to private group bookings, and hopes to possibly work with other restaurants as well.

The topic of death is rarely broached when everyone is healthy, she mused. But, in the face of loss, which comes sooner or later to all of us, “People may struggle to find the right words to express their feelings or fears, fearing that broaching the topic could cause further distress or discomfort to the person who is ill. As a result, conversations about end-of-life wishes, funeral arrangements, or even acknowledging the possibility of death may be avoided altogether, creating a palpable tension and unease.

"Dealing with it openly and saying what needs to be said can help the ones left behind adjust to the loss after the person passes away.”

And, “In the case of someone who knows they are dying, people around them not wanting to talk about it can leave them feeling unheard. They may not be able to express their desires; there may be things left unsaid; there may be people tiptoeing around them and telling them, ‘You’re going to be fine’ when they know full well they won’t be.”

The question of how we can begin to approach the topic of death in a meaningful way begs another: How talking about death openly and frankly can help us to live our lives more fully and intentionally.

“Accepting the finite nature of life and finding peace with it can change our outlook on life. When we acknowledge that life inevitably starts and ends, we are able to define what happens in between that holds significance,” Tan said.

“How do we make what happens in the middle matter? How do we leave a legacy for ourselves and future generations? Do we want to spend our time sweating the small stuff and harbouring grudges, or instead, use it to create memories and foster deep relationships? Living intentionally prompts us to confront these questions and align our actions with our values.

“Ultimately, embracing the impermanence of life compels us to live authentically, love fiercely and leave a legacy of compassion and connection.”

To sign up for Death Over Dinner, visit https://thelifereview.org/death-over-dinner.

[zuzsenpai]

personal post

I met a friend for lunch yesterday who I hadn't seen in maybe 7 or 8 years. We've known each other for almost 30 years at this point, but for the last decade our conversations have largely been through birthday and Christmas texts. I went to school with her from kindergarten through eighth grade, our families were close, and she was a really good friend. But we had very few things in common as we became teenagers and eventually adults. She was a cheerleader and very classically "boy crazy", while I was a HUGE fandom nerd who was too awkward and nervous to even think about dating (still am, lets be real). She eventually became a very stereotypical "sorority girl" and I became a uhhhh bigger fandom nerd. But she always appreciated me as a friend because she claimed I was the "least fake and most genuine" person in her life. I was a bridesmaid in her wedding back in 2014, and since then she moved 90 mins away while I stayed in our home town. She became a social worker for a veterans hospital and I became a video editor/animator for a health care network. Our parents have stayed friends and see each other a lot more than we do tbh, and like I said, we became "2-3 texts per year friends". None of this background info is super relevant to what I'm about to say, but whatever. I said it anyway.

So yesterday we spent about 3 hours catching up. It was nice to see her, but a bit difficult. Because everything she caught me up on was one negative thing after another, one medical issue or work stressor or aging parent issue after another. She bombarded me with details on how every week at work is worse than the next. That she can barely handle the stress. That work stress is what's caused her to fail to get pregnant for the 5 years she's been trying, and now she's at the age where a pregnancy would be geriatric. That she can't do IVF because she has a severe anesthesia phobia. That her parents are dying and her husband's parents are dying and every vacation she tries to go on gets screwed up somehow. Even the tiniest little thing like "oh let me see a picture of your cat", turned into complaining about the cat's medical problems. I know life can be VERY shitty, especially for millennials, but what she said really got to me.

I absorbed the negative vibes and responded with complaints about my life/medical issues/work/relationships/parents as well. And soon I came to the realization that there's nothing good going on in my life either. Or at least nothing she would understand. Things like "I'm replaying a game I love because I want to write fanfic" or "I'm slowly pulling together a new cosplay".... those are things that I would consider positive in my life, but they felt like they weren't worth mentioning. But you know... maybe I should have mentioned them. Because she probably went home thinking the same thing about me-- that I'm a negative person and my life is shit.

During our entire 3 hour conversation, neither of us laughed once, and that really struck me. I spiraled a bit after I went home. It made me realize I need to be more positive, because I really don't want to lose the friends I talk to and see more regularly. Obviously I can't ignore the shitty things going on in my life, but I think it's important for me to say to myself that I'm doing alright sometimes. That something made me happy or something in the future will make me happy. I can't turn into my mom who, whenever she talks to any friend or relative in her life, only talks about her medical problems or other people's medical problems.

I had a rough year, not gonna lie. I broke up with my boyfriend. Then I had the most severe mental health crisis of my life. Then I had a breast cancer scare and lumpectomy. Then Zuko got sick and I started to have burnout/depression spiral/massive uptick in anxiety. Then work got too difficult to handle. Meanwhile I've been struggling with constant exhaustion, increased body image issues, loneliness, bad social anxiety, and the process of re-evaluating my life with the "I probably have autism" lens.

But I can't let this year define me. I can't let negativity and shitty situations define me. I can't have someone I care about think about me and say to themselves "wow she is depressing and all I know about her is that her life sucks." Because at this point? All that old childhood friend and I know about each other is that our lives suck. Literally nothing else.

I need to be more positive. Seriously.

[sheppardsmckay]

A bit of a rant here on main lol. Proceed at your own risk.

I’ve recently been going through a bit of healing and discovery about myself now that I finally have some time to process. It’s not a normal or fun thing for me to do to say the least. I’m a very closed off, private person who’s only just now understanding aspects of myself and working through about a decade and a half of trauma which has resulted in chronic health issues and a lot of mental ones too. I have a caregiver’s body at a young age, broken and failing before 30. It’s definitely not at all what I thought my life was gonna turn out to be, and although it’s certainly not been all bad (my career has made some wonderful strides this year, and parts of my health are improving), it’s been harder than I ever imagined.

Early this year was kinda the last straw for a lot of reasons. And because I was entirely too busy to deal with it I did what I do best: compartmentalize and box up the hell out of it. Unfortunately (for everyone) I’ve been developing healthier and better coping mechanisms which means that ain’t as easy as it used to be. A part of me I closed off a long time ago got torn open and left empty which is always exactly what someone like me just loves. And this time I found myself unable to close it again.

Long story (sorta) short, I had a mental epiphany/existential crisis/breakdown after randomly texting something to my friend and I realized “hmm, maybe I’m not keeping it together as well as I thought”. That forced me to take a minute and seriously start to figure this shit out.

So I sat down and talked to my friend (who is honestly the best for listening to my rants, I don’t know how they put up with me) and started processing everything as they recommended.

The process is taking a long time. It’s not like I can just sit down with my brain and be like “so tell me what’s wrong” and then we solve it before my afternoon writing session. It’s not like my brain even works perfectly all the time. But I’m trying despite it all, despite my neurodivergent brain and my health being uncooperative, and me barely understanding any of it, I’m trying.

And what’s the biggest thing that’s helped me in this? Well it’s two things actually. Some stories written by my best friend (same friend who listens to my rants on text, in person….) and a little sci-fi show.

I’ve talked about her here before, but my friend writes some of my favorite stories with some of my favorite tropes and themes. But also they’re very healing. Two in particular have kinda become a regular reread. The characters are relatable and real and I’m able to connect to the MC’s because of their pain, their struggles to survive in a world not made for them, and how they navigate the challenges of failing health in a fallen world. Happy Thought and Light The Way Back Home help me heal and process through these characters eyes, with all the magic and bravery of a fairytale. I read them when I’m hurting, when I feel useless or alone and they help me feel not so alone in the world, so I’m rereading them right now while I’m working through things.

And then along came Stargate Atlantis. Obviously I’ve talked about it a lot recently but this show was not something I planned on adoring so completely. And it was certainly not something that I planned on bringing me to my existential crisis and forcing myself to deal with it at the worst time lol.

But through it I’ve both grown and learned a lot about myself. I’ve become more myself and I’ve healed and worked through trauma because of it.

Through the show I’m once again remembering the value of finding a family, a home that doesn’t always include blood but most definitely warmth and love. Through Sheppard I’m learning that I shouldn’t deal with things on my own, that loyalty and bravery is important and you can rely on others. That the pain that you feel isn’t just a solitary experience and you don’t have to bear the world on your shoulders by yourself. That it isn’t your fault.

And through my dear Rodney I’m reminded that I’ll be loved despite my flaws, that you can be brave and true despite your worst impulses and you can keep trying and failing and trying again because it’s so hard but worth so much. And maybe, just maybe, you can be your weirdest, loudest self and be accepted for it anyway. Because of the show I’ve opened up more, laughed louder, cried more, and I’m realizing the importance of healing and love and a true family. A real one.

I’ve joked that I’m in my “villain era” but I think it’s just me being more of who I am and not what people expect, to create healthy goals and barriers and separate myself from the narrative of some of my family’s problems. I’m speaking up more for myself, which is causing some truly hilarious moments (I’m literally Rodney complaining sometimes it’s both funny and annoying I know) and I’m letting people in, letting myself be more vulnerable and open and not closing off the dangerous and hurt parts of me. I’m letting my wounds out into the sunlight and letting it heal instead of fester alone in the dark. I’m letting go, or trying to, and finding the value of the things to cling to. I’m trying.

And I’m writing again. I haven’t written in quite a well. I’ve edited a whole lot, but nothing new has come to mind. Until this all spiraled out and I decided to say “to hell with it, I’ll just put everything into this book”. It’s become a memoir (in a fantasy,steampunk, post ww2 way, of course) and helped me work through some issues that can only be explained in words on paper.

ALL of this very, very long post (I’m sorry/not sorry) to say that you can learn about yourself at any stage in life, that sometimes things don’t always turn out how they should (and it’s okay), that healing comes only in love and patience and light and that family doesn’t start or end with blood but it’s important, so important to find one. To never stop trying even when it feels useless.

And stories. Stories can mend and save and grow and teach and change. Stories can drag you into the light and they can help you become whole again. They can make you a better person, if you let them. So let them.

Special thanks to the author of the books mentioned, the dragger into the craziness that is SGA and helping me rant and heal and process and mentoring me through stories and writing and sharing. @lightthewaybackhome it’s been a blessing. And a real joy. I definitely wouldn’t have gotten here without you.

And I’m sorry for the Mckayness of me, it’s only gonna get worse I fear.

[thru-the-looking-glass-caroline]

Health issues & anxieties/worry thoughts

Yesterday I was able to come home from the hospital after a brief admission because I collapsed and had a seizure at home late in the evening on Saturday November 18th. I have no history of seizures so this was shocking, surreal, and scary for me and my family. After a lot of testing in the hospital the cause of my seizure was determined to be a major deficiency in vitaminB12 and magnesium as a result of my hyperthyroidism and malabsorption syndrome. I am relieved that the cause of the seizure was pre-existing conditions and not some sort of epilepsy, abnormality in my brain, or some other possible diagnosis discovered and added on to the list I've already been given. However simultaneously with the relief I still feel some anxiety, worry, fear, frustration, uneasiness and uncertainty. In and after circumstances where a new symptom/issue/mini crisis with my health emerges [in this instance it was me having a seizure], It's difficult to shake the anxious and worried thoughts and one of the biggest ones being that some new health condition/ something else wrong with me is going to be discovered and I will be forced to live, cope and try to battle/treat/medicate it as well. It's a sort of anxiety that is like an impending sense of...not really doom but more like something else is going to go wrong-the next shoe is going to drop. It's thoughts and worries about how this is going to effect my overall health if at all? Is this causing more damage to my already damaged heart, liver, bones, or eyes? How is this going to effect my family? Is it going to decrease my ability to function in life and my ability to do the things I love? Will l have to take more medication? What if I require some kind of surgery? Will I be in the hospital more? Will I be in the hospital longer? How much longer will I be able to dance and play sports and will my health problems put an early end to those passions?

Now this is NOT in any way me trying to insinuate that my health is so bad, and I am so sick and woe is me. I'm very aware that other people have much worse, some even terminal, health issues. However, on that side note who when they are sick or going through something is made better by being reminded that other people have it worse? One of the dancers in my acro and hip hop classes has asthma that gets pretty bad...should I or someone else go to her on a bad day and remind her that others have it worse...like at least you don't have lung cancer or lupus...it's only asthma! Will that cause her to need her inhaler less? Will it alleviate the anxiety that comes with not being able to breathe properly? No! Similarly, in the realm of mental health - the struggles of someone with depression are just as important, serious, difficult, valid and deserving of care as someone who has depression and schizophrenia or depression and drug addiction, depression and has attempted suicide, depression and an eating disorder. None of these needs to be ranked as having it worse than the other. This need we have to qualify and measure illness or situation against others and then determine what is worse is not only invalidating and shaming but gives space to this sick competitive one up‐man-ship vibe and conversation people can get in to...you know the kind where people tell of their ailments and struggles and in turn the next person tells their own that is suppose to be just as bad or worse than the person before. Anyways that's a soap box for some other time.

The issue with my hyperthyroidism and malabsorption syndrome is the severe deficiencies they cause do real damage-permanant damage to my organs and bones - every time more and more damage and I already have heart problems, I have already had to have a surgery on my heart. So each time something like this occurs where I am in the hospital I start to get the anxiety and worry - what's wrong now? Is it going to be so bad this time that I will have to give up dance and sports? One day it probably will come to that...I know that...my doctors have told me that and it's not that all my enjoyment and happiness in life or my whole identity is wrapped up in dance/being a dancer or a volleyball player, soccer player or tennis player. But those things are and have been a big part of who I am. They are things I love and am passionate about and good at...I work hard at. It will be a huge loss when that day where I have to give them up comes and that is scary for me.

The other big piece to this is the uncertainty, uneasiness and frustration. None of my immediate family has any health issues like I do! Not either of my parents or my brothers, not my Aunt and not my two cousins Kenzie and Grace. I am glad my family doesn't have these issues, don't get me wrong, but I still wonder WTF why is it all me? And what's coming next because if genetics play a part in any of my problems which science suggests it probably does then there's a lot of unease and uncertainty. If you don't know this from possibly my main blog then let me tell you that one whole side of my family tree and family history is a big question mark because my father was abandoned as an infant- he grew up in group homes run by the catholic church. He was named by those at the church he was abandoned at. My father lived and grew up in orphan group homes until He was old enough to be out on His own. He's never known his birth family- doesn't want to-and never had a family adopt him. My Aunt and my 2 cousins are the only extended family we have still alive and that is my mother's family. I wish I could explain to you just how uneasy this makes me. Maybe it doesn't make sense to you but it is very real and very much something I battle in my head a lot.

I am sorry this post is kind of rambling...just needed to get this crap out. I am glad to be home and I am doing okay and thank you to everyone...many from my main blog who messaged me concern and well wishes when I had the seizure 😊

[requincouche]

What do you think of the sentence: With the natural sciences we get to the moon, but never to heaven.

Well regarding the Moon, there's two quotes that are of interest to this question.

"Yuri Gagarin flew into space, but didn't see any god there"

"And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas – and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth."

It's kinda funny how opposing these seem, though both probably had an underlying motivation. As for what I think... Regardless of whether you're religious and which religion that'd be, the concept of heaven could be that there's a reward for you for good behavior in life. Though, you can ask yourself the question whether a reward in life is more valuable than a reward after life. The Christian version of this is that the after-life is eternal, thus your reward for good deeds in life would be immeasurably greater than one during life itself. The uncertainty of whether you'd get there would be the ultimate motivation.

If we replace 'heaven' with the blissfulness of a fulfilling life on earth, I think that the original Ask becomes much clearer. Science can improve our ability to communicate, our health, our food and drinks, and our entertainment. Though, what it can't do is make us a better person, help us to be a better friend, brother/sister, or parent. With regards to science, I'm most familiar with medical science. The topic I can bring to your attention is "medicalization of society". Medical sciences bring us the good, though they also add the dynamics of medical capitalism into our society; i.e. "pathologization" or pejoratively "disease mongering". It's more correct to refer to this as "overmedicalization", though. What I mean by this term is that an industry which profits on pathologies, will probably attempt to increase the rate of diagnoses, to get more people to buy their drugs or use their medical services, under the guise of improving health. The very concept of (the acceptance of) normality can be employed as a marketing gimmick. Regardless of the critique on overmedicalization, it'd be unwise to reject the benefits of diagnoses, drugs, and medical services. It would be an unfair discussion to argue overmedicalization versus undermedicalization. I don't even have a solution to it. I personally find it bizarre that for example 5+% of the Western European population is using some form of anti-depressants right at this moment. You can look at this and conclude that it's good for so many citizens to have access to pharmaceutical support for their health issues. Though, you can also look at this and conclude that there is a mental health crisis raging throughout populations which either exists for real, due to massive over-diagnosis, or due to over-prescription of these drugs. This pattern continues also into other pathologies.

The question here is whether all these medical-scientific advancements have brought us closer to 'heaven', i.e. closer to feeling fulfillment in our lives. My own answer is that it's unrelated to one another. Superficially you can answer that health is a huge part of happiness, and that you'd wish for your family and friends to live long and healthy lives. Though, does that imply that life was less fulfilling and happy in the past? 200-300 years ago there were many more hardships e.g. infant mortality. But what I want to bring to your attention that hygiene, quality food and clean drinking water probably played the biggest role in the advancements herein, followed closely by vaccinations.

I don't have a definitive answer for you. Science is a tool to generate new knowledge, and that knowledge can be used to help us. Though, I don't think that the generated knowledge can be part of happiness itself, at least not in a vacuum. If you can contribute to this monologue, please feel free and I'll be happy to revise my opinion.

[aphiwe-2004]

Mental Health Crisis: The Growing Issue Post-Pandemic

We all laughed at first. Covid-19 was just another headline in the news, and the jokes flew as fast as the toilet paper off the shelves. But then things got serious, lockdowns hit, job losses and streets emptied. What started as memes and viral jokes quickly spiraled into something far more concerning. Ramaphosa started creating graves for people, we were all taken aback in an unexpected way and all of that did not only have a physical impact but mentally. From young people who were suddenly facing isolation, anxiety, and a world turned upside down, to older adults facing financial and emotional strain. Now, the real battle is with the lasting effects on mental health, and it’s a crisis we can’t ignore any longer.

For young people—especially those aged 12 to 24—the sudden shift to lockdowns disrupted not only their education but also their social lives and sense of normalcy. Adolescents thrive on peer interaction, and the abrupt shift to online learning left many feeling isolated and disconnected. This isolation, combined with fears of an uncertain future, contributed to rising levels of anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation. Recent studies show that about 1 in 5 young people experienced a major depressive episode during the pandemic, with many not receiving the necessary mental health support​(World Health Organization (WHO)).

In addition to academic disruptions, many young adults faced financial challenges as well. Job losses and reduced opportunities hit them hard than expected, as many were just starting their careers and had to pay their university debts  or working part-time to support their education. The financial strain added to the uncertainty, and many young people felt unable to cope with these pressures.

On the other hand, older adults faced their own set of challenges. For many, the pandemic brought about sudden job losses, leaving them in financial turmoil. Older workers, particularly those nearing retirement, were among the hardest hit, with many losing jobs and struggling to find new employment due to their age and the economic downturn. This loss of income not only impacted their ability to support themselves and their families but also contributed to rising rates of depression and anxiety.

For older adults, work often provides more than just financial security, it offers a sense of purpose and social interaction. The pandemic robbed many of this, leaving them isolated, anxious about the future, and, in some cases, struggling with depression. The lockdowns and health risks meant older adults were often cut off from loved ones, increasing feelings of loneliness, particularly for those living alone or in care facilities​(Mental Health America).

Personal Growth

As a current occupational therapy student, I can reflect to what I saw back at home, about how the pandemic’s mental health impacted on both younger and older generations socially and economically. Some families lost their loved ones, can you now imagine how much financial strain they were under if a person who was a breadwinner at home passed away? Let alone the isolation, and uncertainty that were common things felt by both groups. The pandemic also forced many of us to rethink how we approach well-being, relationships, and coping mechanisms. This reflection has deepened my awareness of the importance of mental health, not just in times of crisis but as a lifelong priority.

The ability to support someone through mental health challenges requires a deep emotional connection and patience, qualities that I feel have been strengthened through this experience.

Professional Growth

The pandemic has highlighted the critical role of occupational therapy in addressing mental health, particularly as it relates to rebuilding routines and finding a sense of purpose. This experience has reinforced the importance of early intervention and holistic care, showing me how essential it is to address not just the physical but also the mental and emotional needs of individuals. And this gave me understanding of how different factors can lead to a mental illness.

For young people, interventions might focus on fostering social connections, developing coping skills, and creating access to affordable mental health services. For older adults, the focus could be on financial counselling, combating isolation, and offering support for re-entering the workforce or adjusting to retirement

The pandemic proved the need of mental health to be part of public health discussions. Occupational therapists have a unique role to play in helping individuals across all ages develop routines, manage stress, and find purpose in their daily lives. By addressing both the immediate and long-term mental health impacts of the pandemic, we can work toward a healthier, more resilient society.

References

World Health Organization. (2022, June 17). WHO highlights urgent need to transform mental health and mental health care. https://www.who.int/news/item/17-06-2022-who-highlights-urgent-need-to-transform-mental-health-and-mental-health-care

Mental Health America. (2022). State of Mental Health in America. https://www.mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america.

[versacherries]

You'd be home now (book rewiew)

“You can be around people every day of your life and not really see them, you know? ”

Following a fatal car crash where a well loved girl named Candy dies, two siblings who where involved in the crash, Emory and Joey (who happens to have severe problems with substance abuse) have to face going back to high school in the aftermath of the event. The book follows a 16 year old girl who struggles to find balance between living her own life and the need to save her brother as he struggles with recovery. Overshadow by his brother’s problems, she also struggles to connect with her mother as she feels she’s never seen and is always expected to be a nice and good girl.

My thoughts: While I’ve never had anyone close to me struggle with substance abuse, I felt compelled to read this book. It was an eye opening experience. It gives you insight on how addiction not only affects the person but it affects everyone around them. There’s a lot of stigma around substance abuse and this book manages to change the narrative around it and describes it as a sickness, which is something that I loved. While describing this sickness it goes back and forth on how mental health issues and substance abuse are not that different, I ended up relating to Emory more than I thought I would. It was beautiful, and sad, but mostly beautiful.

It took me right back to being 16 years old and feeling completely lost, looking for attention in all the wrong places because I had to take care of my mentally ill dad, just as she did her brother. Because we love them. She feels the need to take care of her brother because no one else is doing it, she misses parties, dances, and all the silly, but important at the time, high school stuff, just as I did mine.

There are beautiful quotes in here that I wish I read sooner such as, “You can’t put your life on hold for somebody else”, which is tricky when you’re 16 years old and you know nothing else.

“How dare you waste a life you haven’t even lived yet.” beautifully written in any context.

“It’s going to suck, and then it won’t, okay? Then it will just be after, and you can deal with that.” Reading this at 23 years old makes me so happy because it’s true. It sucked, and then it didn’t, and then there’s healing. And I wish someone told me at the time, that it wasn't going to be my forever.

“You can’t fix him because he isn’t broken. He’s just Joey. He has a disease.” Thought I could fix my dad, but I couldn’t, he had a disease, I wish I knew at the time. I couldn’t fix him, I had to live. It took me until I was 22 years old and therapy to realize he’s sick, I wish I knew sooner. It would’ve saved me a lot of heartbreak. And I wish I would’ve been more selfish too.

“How do you live when your life has been upended by someone else’s health crisis? When you feel guilty about wanting to go to a dance, or be kissed, or go away to college, because right next to you, someone else is suffering?” I had never related to a main character more in my life. Truth is, I felt guilty, and I missed a lot of important things, I went down wrong paths, and now at 23 I find myself feeling behind, because I didn’t live what I was supposed to at the time, I was busy surviving, and taking care of someone else.

So now I’m selfish, with my time, with who I let into my life. I need to live a beautiful life. Because precious time got taken away from me. And in the end, just like the book, I couldn’t fix him, I could just love him, even through the abuse. Sometimes you have to love people from afar, even if they’re family members. You can only help them so much. Beautiful book, with a beautiful, real, raw ending.

This book was a 5/5 for me

[scentedchildnacho]

I did do these most auspicious things .....like when asked if I liked an instructor for yoga......I thought ideas to force women into mens stuff is more agricultural labor crime.....pennhurst

But said many yoga instructors I don't enjoy thought dull but said there is a real master at the hare krisna temple in pacific beach

Then asked if money was no object to self care said I would hop a plane to buenos aires .........and tithe the ministry whatever it asked and take a sacred bath.....

Many episodes of claims people have healed from prostituted circumstances and they never once mention anything sacred....how would you heal if prostitution is still expected income

Buenos aires is like the capital of euro latinate mixtures with other cultures

Melanctha....but the white influence on health is very taking care of...

Anyway I said women can go to hare Krishna temple and I can go but it isn't mother God and mother earth and I found out mens interpretation of divinity isn't like closure and moving on

I said this to my new room share because her diet is still bovine spiritual and she gets into trouble if she won't be an ausbergers

She can't find her food stamp card and I suspect staff of taking it so the recycling trash didn't start attracting free loaders muggers rapists and all names for free loaders

If the recycling is very high impact male prime time sport party rapeists.....

I had a bad friend who needed a soda habit and she always canned and took her cans to the recycling herself you can't tell people you have a prior cigarette illegality life style or your sex life is ruined forever by guilty unwanteds

Thats what the indigenous people will give me for release from unwanted males as soon as you can tolerate diet and discipline strange mean single men stop stalking

Her name is Alex so now I know everything sex therapy is not....

She bought a bunch of single use containers from a Mexican shop that has more french about it....so if she wouldn't grab a 24 pack from wal mart for game day or on occasion I think the staff took it for her manic inability to stop buying single use containers

Southerners mentals like need southerners...the lady really makes you work sometimes but sometimes you can have feast and sociallizing

I was right it was the German that stole her food stamp card....the german understand China puppet and manipulative English...so...

I get accused because of poverty and the German staff took it away for her own good...without giving her a liquid diet ..

I have been popped before so I have a bed I don't need anymore pops

The German wanted us to understand psychologically flexible so I said that doesn't make sense that's a material adjective and psychology is speculation on the immaterial and you could get accused of chicago wardens if you use eastern philosophy till it's the immigrant called itself the boss and I have to call right wing legal aid

I told her English was a colonial force here so you have to be careful where and when you use it calling people a nigger because criminal rights activists give tough love speeches to black male incarcerated issues is not really appropriate for a mental house

I had said to the Germans commands to move seats from the table that it would be too close of contact for the group we are not peopled or relations here and it's not normal to treat it like family but I had to be commanded to bend stoop and lift....

Then I told her refusing my advise is considered very disrespectful in my world view to not do what a woman has said is boundary crossing....

Then she asked if i just pushed my paranoia out of my head when i could lie back and take it or rape charges

So i confronted her more bluntly you can't push a thought that's not a job jargon relevant

Hahaha...you a dumb German bimbo hahaha

She wanted us to really get into the emotions of intrusive thoughts so the disbelief people are in crisis sounds like not enough land resources for European factory....

We started eating their shipments and using things from europe so the Germans punish till you die of veganism or malnutrition related over work

It's German colonialism. In Africa they are Wilma mankiller to the line labor so those types of battles still don't stop between Germans and Americans

Germans protect alcohol

All the other counselors are fine they aren't black though their English or Jewish mostly all will be accused of not helping enough and it's the German that had a medication for my skin quickly reintroduced to water and wouldnt give it ...

The mind it away wouldnt stop

I explained to her that isn't maybe current criminal rights and those are women I think Alex appears bisexual and I think she is a woman and you can't call everyone under the males ability or if I have to be called a dudes name I also get a panic attack...

I explained to my counselor later its important because the war on drugs thought it was okay to rape minors in jails for not being allowed the Indian appropriation act of 1851....and when land is just european product hygiene some European internationals give us these medications and improve our lives with their gifts for science and others like that german prove to act the immigrant so

Fruitive aspects missing from high school nutrition then complaints that kids try stuff innocently with their friends

How does a pennhurst happen well the confederates are right its European science but our land and soil so

The English though tell me about agricultural labor the french also about drug rights and Spanish about American revolution but the German......no

Anyway the program is helping me transition from anthropocentrism to biocentric equality so I want to meet everybody i want to know what this is the german is?

That is the Alex....this is the German...okay

[unearthlydream]

hmmmmm i just lost so much respect for the majority of my co-workers....... one of my mentors who shaped me into the professional i am today too. this shit is insane.

i had rant typed in the tags but it was dumb long and it would be better to just drop this shit here.

we are sitting in a meeting talking about the “israel gaza war” (bullshit name, it's a genocide, but continue) and this bitch has the audacity to say that Palestine doesn't exist.

talking about how fearful she is of something happening and worrying about her family and children because she is jewish.... in america....

be so fucking for real right now. YOU'RE worried about your children and family??? what about the mothers digging their babies out of rubble??? the mothers who aren't even here anymore so their children must dig themselves out. the men doing their best to help recover bodies only to uncover that of a loved one.

talking about Palestinian students having a mental health crisis amidst all of this and just.... brushing it to the side like their lives and experiences mean absolutely nothing

talking about how throwing around terms like settler is 'dangerous' and that people aren't qualified to speak on the issue...

as if the black and brown people they're referring to know nothing of apartheid. of genocide and discrimination and targeted harassment from an oppressive class of people????

and then one of my bosses opens his big white ass mouth to say "Gazans only have support on social media because they won the game

'they only have support because they played the social media game better and got to the masses first'

talking about how college aged people are the bulk of people advocating for a free Palestine. and that their age somehow makes them unintelligent or unable to see the facts at hand (which as an aside how do you work for a UNIVERSITY and feel this way about college aged kids? Making fun of them constantly as they struggle to live in this oppressive world. it's disgusting).

CONTINUALLY referring to this genocide as a war. it's not a war when only one party has a nationally backed army

fuck you AND your war. fuck you fuck you fuck you fuck you fuck you

i was already thinking about quitting but i can't stay here. i can't be here.

our Palestinian students are aching. they just wanted to be acknowledged in the same way that the single Israeli student was acknowledged when the uni sent out a message on oct 8.

but that's too much. they're aggressive. FUCK YOU go to hell holy fuck

and then my one shit ass coworker who i already don't like brings up “oh well they faked the hospital bombing” “hamas did the hospital bombing” WE WORK IN THE MEDIA !!!! HOW DO YOU NOT HAVE MEDIA LITERACY????

it makes me sick. it makes me actually ill. i thought i was safe with all of these people. i thought these people were /good/ and /just/

i thought they at least had the brains to see past the blatant propaganda but they're all sipping the same shitty fucking kool aid.

the only one i like.... can kinda maybe forgive is my single jewish coworker. because i fucking get it. waking up to the fact that you've been lied to for so fucking long is HARD!! i know. i've had to do it regarding the racism and homophobia and other conservative backwash that was force fed to me

but like.... you have to do it. you have to unpack it and you have to face those uncomfortable truths and you have to stop being so SELFISH in the way you think about things.

i thought she was better than this. i thought she was better. i'm so devastated honestly.

Free Palestine. From the river to the fucking sea. There is no peace with a two state solution. They have stolen land just as all colonial powers have done before them and they are exterminating an entire culture of people.

and if you're scared of giving sovereignty back to Palestinians... unpack that. Why are you scared??? are you afraid that they'll treat you the same ruthless, cruel way you treated them?

And even if they do. Who do you have to blame?

it's crazy to support Islamophobia out of a fear for antisemitism.

Free Palestine. Shout it from the rooftops. Call your representatives. Every day more and more people will die and it's all of our burden to bear if we do nothing but sit by and watch.

[therosecitysreality]

According to the SAMHSA, homelessness is “An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, such as those living in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or places not meant for habitation” (SAMHSA, 2023). We have all seen, interacted with, or known someone at some point who is experiencing or who has experienced homelessness. It is a rampant problem in the greater Portland Metropolitan area and throughout the country. As housing costs rise and access to mental health and substance abuse programs dwindle, homelessness engulfs our most vulnerable populations. As of October 2023, there are 7,480 homeless individuals on the streets of Portland (Portland Gov, 2023).

Additionally, compared to 2022, just a year ago, there has been a 21% increase in homeless individuals (KOIN, 2023). If no solution is found, that number will continue to expand in the coming years. Due to this ongoing issue, countless government actions have been launched, including hunger relief, emergency shelter, and work programs, none of which have been successful. In the Portland area, roughly 2,000 shelter spots for those experiencing homelessness (Oregon Public Broadcasting, 2023). That leaves nearly 5,500 individuals without access to housing or a roof over their heads as the cold weather approaches. Despite Oregon having spent almost 1 billion dollars on the homeless crisis since the start of the COVID-19 virus, very little change has been made (Best, 2023). 

Now that I have discussed the issue, I would like to begin talking about why you, as university students, educators, and people, should care about this issue. Homelessness is a complex issue that affects every individual in the community, whether we acknowledge it or not. Homelessness demonstrates a humanitarian crisis. When we, as a society, fail to help keep our most vulnerable populations off the streets, it indicates how our government is failing us. Additionally, it can and has had a tremendous economic impact on the city of Portland and its surrounding communities. Businesses are forced to relocate or close their doors entirely; there is increased crime in areas with high homeless populations and, overall, the economic prosperity of a particular area. Social cohesion also plays an essential role in why we should care about homelessness. Addressing this crisis promotes social cohesion by fostering community and unity throughout the city. By caring and working toward ending homelessness, we are part of this community and can work toward building a future where the cycle of homelessness is drastically decreased. The reality is that homelessness will only continue to grow, as well as drug abuse and mental illness, if steps are not taken to reduce this issue. Real-life people are at stake here. As fellow citizens, I believe that it is our responsibility to work together in community-based efforts to help those in our area who are struggling. 

I once spoke with a woman named Georgia. She imparted to me wisdom regarding this issue that I will never forget. She told me that she never thought she would be on the streets in a million years. She had a doctorate in Mathematics, a beautiful family, a consistent job, and a home. And then life happened. Within a moment, everything in her world shifted. I will always remember what Georgia told me. Homelessness can happen to any one of us. It is a lumming threat that so many of us do not see. I hope my blog inspires a fire within each of you that propels you toward being a part of ending this growing issue. Thank you, and welcome to “The Rose City’s Reality: Homelessness Unveiled.”

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/gov-kotek-budget-housing-homelessness/283-74bcd9d7-0609-4fee-a96f-e4bb47f43c2d#:~:text=House%20Republicans%20believe%20the%20state,Governor%20Kotek's%20watch%20as%20Speaker.

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/09/28/multnomah-county-62-million-toward-homeles-services/#:~:text=Multnomah%20County%20currently%20has%20around,main%20recipients%20of%20county%20dollars.

https://soarworks.samhsa.gov/article/definitions-of-homelessness

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/toolkit/article/562207

https://www.koin.com/is-portland-over/portlanders-react-what-are-the-main-issues-the-city-faces/

[banyan-mental-health]

Carrie Underwood Speaks Out About Mental Health and Addiction

Carrie Underwood recently got candid about her mental health journey in an interview with Today's Natalie Morales. Underwood shared how her emotional struggles stemmed from a 2016 accident that caused her to suffer 40 different stitches on her face. Underwood is now willing to openly talk about her journey and is an advocate for promoting mental health awareness by spreading a message of resilience and strength. Underwood told Today "I had a lot of flare-ups of anxiety. I had trouble sleeping. I felt like I was lying in bed, and my mind just wouldn't stop … Everything was a bit fuggy and I could not find the reset button to calm my brain down. I had to figure out how to do that for myself." She noted that the situation taught her how to be better self-aware and that she now feels comfortable talking to her husband and son about her emotions, in addition to self-care activities such as running and yoga. The singer also touched upon the headline-making opioid addiction crisis facing America. Underwood said “It’s a real problem. I think people don’t realize how far-reaching it is." As a solution, Underwood believes that supporting drug rehabilitation and offering support for those in need of addiction treatment centers is the most effective way to combat the issue. Here are three key takeaways from the discussion:

Underwood experienced anxiety following an injury in 2016.

Underwood now practices better self-awareness habits like talking to her family about her emotions and engaging in self-care activities.

She is a proponent of supporting drug rehabilitation and addiction treatment centers to combat America's opioid addiction crisis.

Through her ongoing commitment to mental health awareness, Underwood is an example of how anyone can persevere in the face of adversity. Her story is one of many that must be amplified to better understand the intricacies of mental health and how we can all become better, stronger versions of ourselves.

[somethinglikelife]

We need to teach compassion

((Was written on my WP a while back. but wanted to transfer it over))

Sunday, my little town (okay not so little) was SWATTED, by someone from out of the state. If you don't know what that is, it's where someone calls the cops with a fake dangerous situation that has the local SWAT team sent to deal with it.

This is dangerous on so many levels, ties up the police from real situations, and the other, well gets people killed. This one, also had lost revenue for the local businesses around the fast food place that was the target of the SWAT.

What upsets me on it was that the SWAT that was called in, said that someone was going through a mental health crisis. The police don't exactly have a good record for mental health issues. There was an older man just a few years ago that was living with dementia that in one of his bad days, picked up a knife, wasn't using it as a weapon, just holding it, but he made it outside his home and the police didn't even try to de-escalate, they just fired because he had a knife, killing the man in front of his family.

I have heard other stories about similar situations.

And I shouldn't have looked through the comments about the situation, because people in there were commenting about how dangerous people who are mentally ill are.

I have depression. Only person I have ever harmed was two attempts at taking myself out. These are the same kind of people who say those with body dysmorphia are sick, as well as many people of the alphabet mafia.

Yet these are the same people that will say a cis-woman wanting breast reduction or enhancement is perfectly fine.

And when I did bring it up in a comment of course I was attacked by the person and their friends. And yeah the things that were said almost made me leave that ap, but I actually like the app for use when it comes to yard sale season, and for craft shows.

Though that experience reminded me why I didn't like the idea of hanging out on that app that often. I think I'm going to remember to stay quiet about topics there, because one, it's clear most of the people in my area are Sunday Book Cult members, and yeah, I really you can't quote their own book at them for compassion lessons, because unless you're a member of that cult, you take everything out of context.

Where, I'm pretty sure they take everything out of context, but who am I to talk. ON that note, I just got a call from my boss to see if I wanted to get some more hours at work. I'll have to be up soon so I can go spend time with a Client I haven't met before. I'm thinking just because of the incident on Sunday... I'm upping my whole Pagan look with a long skirt and my cute purple jacket. I need the fun. I think I'm also taking a book with me to keep me awake.

[olderthannetfic]

This Goncharov debate is only circling back to the two issues your marvelous blog has put into question all year long. (years?)

One, we are facing a new generation of people that have no idea how to use the internet. If people google search for the movie, and the first result is the Wikipedia page for it, and they settle for that information alone, then obviously they don't know how to look for other sources of information that is not the already digested ones by either social media or Wikipedia. The second is known for being the target of trolls constantly messing with the entries every time some meme is blown out of proportion.

But I don't buy this explanation from some other anons. People are always championing for wokeness but get blinded by their wish of making everything safe because I just google it, and several results mention how all this is a big Tumblr joke. Come on kids, if you can get easily gaslighted by the internet, then this obviously means the people you defend or yourself, maybe need to learn how to navigate this. This has to do with fake news and that stuff, but I thought that only happened to my 68-year-old mum because her only source is Facebook. There are several articles already about how this is “reality internet/unreality/meme”.

Second. Mental illness. I don't mean to victim blame anyone, I suffer from mental illness too, bipolarity, OCD, and clinical depression. I have my bad days. But I am aware of my issues, and that's why I have to be self-aware and not engage with everything that makes me hurt. Once again we need to understand that the only safe space, is the one you create for yourself. The internet is not supposed to be monitored or censured, people can try to control it, but honestly, that would only kill the internet, they already are containing people with algorithms and fake news as it is. To use another meme. “You can't handle the truth”. But others do.

Now, some people are not self-aware of their mental illness, but why do we need to turn it into a responsibility for everyone?. This is the same issue as kids on the internet, I don't have kids, so why should I care about some random kid wandering unsupervised by his parents into the space I have created for myself?. If I had a kid, I certainly would NEVER give them free access to the internet, and when ready, I would teach them at least, how to use it. This is the same issue with people with severe mental illness. It's the responsibility of their families (not their friends either, being in charge of the health of a friend would turn into caregivers burnout).

I might sound extreme, but this is similar to giving a mentally ill person a Gun. People are saying that those kinds of individuals “loss their grip of reality” because of a meme, and in turn, this makes them self harm?, suicidal?....this is the same then as giving them something as dangerous as a weapon. Only people think there's nothing wrong, and it's harmless to have an internet connection.

But if it was, then we wouldn't be speaking about people getting hurt by a joke. But as with guns, those are tools too, it's not problem of the tool, but who is allowed to use one/carry one. People need to stop babying others on the internet, it's no one's duty to make it safe. It took me less than five posts down in my main to see people fighting about Goncharov’s plot differences to make me realize it was a meme.

Do you know what actually needs unreality tags?. Everything and everyone on Tiktok, like put a tag on the App. In fact, I constantly need reality checks every time I enter Instagram and I see an incredible hegemonical beauty on vacation on some paradise island. Influencers should tag themselves as unreality because they induce in me an existential crisis with their dreamlike perfect -from outside capitalist lives. Maybe the real problem is social media….Nah, lets blame the creative artsy game of those dorks instead…right?...

--