#your life doesn't end due to this diagnosis

[homunculus-argument]

I was born and raised American, but with everything that's happened over the past few years I've been considering moving to another country. but I don't know if this is just "the grass is greener". Not sure if this really fits with your blog, but as someone from Europe what's your attitude towards living in the US?

I've visited there a handful of times and most of my thoughts are "damn bitch, y'all really live like this?" People in Finland like to complain about the climate, the taxes, and how stingy the welfare systems are (if you currently rely on them) or how costly they are (if you're currently not relying on them), but honestly most of the time that's because people are used to having it so good, or don't really have a perspective of how bad everyone would be doing without the infrastructure that everything runs on.

Sure, nowhere is perfect, and there's always room for improvement, but honestly the people I've met in the US only really seem to think that their system is good because they've never been anywhere else and don't know any better.

Mostly it's stuff that you'd never think about if you hadn't been to both places, like being able to trust that tap water is drinkable or that you can safely walk/bike to wherever you need to go. The US really doesn't have the kind of ability to just hang out in public places, just walking to the town and sitting on benches. Having public parks and libraries isn't really the same if you can't just walk there, and you genuinely need a car to go anywhere.

I moan and lament a lot about how the winters here are hard to endure - at the darkest time of the year the sun rises at 9 and sets before 5 pm - but I wouldn't move from here just because of that, mainly because of how reliably everything is structured here. Sure, it's all run with funds from relatively high taxes, but that is a self-feeding loop on its own. The tax-paying workforce isn't a disposable resource that's wrung dry once and tossed out when it's broken, but even when you're just another cog in the machine, you're one that's maintained, not replaced if broken.

I had a lot of breakdowns when I was younger, largely due to depression and other mental issues I had due to the undiagnosed ADHD. When I started breaking down at work in my old factory job, they couldn't just fire me on the spot because of the workers' union fought tooth and nail to make sure that you can't throw people out for getting sick, and mental illness is treated no different from other health issues. I was allowed to take two years off work in order to study into a career I thought would fit me better. That didn't turn out well either, but I was still allowed to bounce back and forth between odd jobs, sick leave, and studying - all on government pensions during the spots when I wasn't working a wage - until I found the right diagnosis, the right medications, and the right job.

It's not a hyperbole to say that I owe my life to the ample and studry social welfare systems that Finland has in place. Sure, you're just another brick in the wall, a cog in the machine, but if you keep breaking down, it takes a long time until they completely give up on you if you can somehow make them believe that you're trying, because it's cheaper for the tax system to figure out how to make you fit into the machine than just toss you out. A human being is an expensive investment and if getting you to the right job, education, diagnosis, medication or even arranged housing is what it takes to get your ass back into the workforce, they'll at least try.

I'm perfectly happy to pay the taxes here to fund the system that helped me onto my feet when I was in no condition to function, and to support the people who never do recover, find their place, or be able to support themselves on their own. And I can live with the peace of mind that even if I fall apart again, that safety net is still there. It's brutal, pragmatic, and regards your health and welfare as a means to an end - to get you working and paying taxes again - but they still do prioritise your welfare. Cogs are cheaper to maintain than replace.

[pikatrainer99]

Kieran is autistic and you can't change my mind!

Okay, I KNOW that I'm not the only one who holds this headcanon...but I wanted to do an analysis on Kieran anyway, especially since my best friend @sinnohanvulpix said she'd love to see me do one. Credit to her for all the screenshots used btw. The GIFs on the other hand were either found on Google Images or created by me using gifrun.com and these YouTube videos:

I did not use my own footage for this at all...as proof here's what MY character in the game looks like...he has my real name but I tried to make him look like Orange which is why he has the orange eyes 😅

(Sorry for the bad quality btw...taking pictures of my Switch screen is hard 😅)

Okay, now without further ado, let's get started with the analysis!

First, Kieran has a CLEAR special interest in Ogerpon, he admires and looks up to her, he was obsessed with the story of the ogre, he was always trying to go to her den and meet her, he has a meltdown when Ogerpon chooses the player over him, etc. Carmine even says that Kieran "really really REALLY likes the ogre" and that made me think, "Ah! Special interest!"

And then at the end of the Teal Mask he gains a new special interest in getting stronger to beat the player...and he hyperfocuses HARD on that...to the point of it being detrimental to both his physical and mental health, as he was doing nothing but training during that time...he barely ate, barely slept, just trained...and that is not healthy. It's a rare example of media showcasing a special interest being unhealthy and absolutely CONSUMING one's life, and the consequences do actually show for it.

Kieran is very introverted and doesn't know how to make friends very well. I actually think the player is his first friend considering his surprised reaction when the player says they consider him a friend, and following this, he quickly becomes a bit...too attached to the player, as he doesn't quite understand how friendships work.

(This is also such a neurodivergent way to say "I'm so happy I finally have a friend")

He also struggles socially, as is a requirement for autistic people to qualify for a diagnosis. Kieran specifically has a hard time reading social cues, he struggles with making eye contact, he has clear anxiety when talking to people as proven by his little stutter he has at times.

(This is an adorable screenshot 🥺)

He also struggles with social and emotional processing (and might have alexithymia as well due to his sudden huge outbursts of emotion), and he also struggles with initiating conversation as well, as seen when he tries to talk to Penny at the League Club. They both have no idea how to even start a conversation with each other and it's honestly pretty adorable seeing the two quiet adorkable kids trying their best to hold conversation. I get it, you two, initiating conversation is really difficult for me too.

Also the way they try to start the conversation by talking about the weather...that's really funny and ironic to me because that's what NTs do all the time. NTs always use the weather as a small-talk conversation starter but NDs like me (and Kieran and Penny too apparently) just don't get that stuff.

(These two are so neurodivergent it's great and I love them both 🥺)

Kieran also has four in-game animations that I personally see as stimming. The first one is him tapping his fist against his hip when he's thinking or nervous.

(Focus your attention to his hand here and you'll see it.)

The second one is him playing with a strand of loose hair, usually when he's nervous.

(The little nervous side glance at the player is relatable and adorable 🥺)

The third one is a more agitated stim that he only does ONCE in the entire game...and that is tapping the front of his foot on the ground. I do that myself when I'm agitated or impatient, somehow it's comforting, especially since for some reason I really like the way my shoes sound when I tap them on the ground... especially since I got my brand new Infernape-themed shoes, they sound extra satisfying because they're brand new.

(This is not the way most people tap their foot...I've never seen an NT do it like this...only other NDs such as myself and one of my brothers)

The fourth and final one is, unfortunately, a stress stim...Kieran runs his hands very fast through his hair and it also looks like, to me anyway as someone who has self-injurious stims myself, that he is digging his nails into his scalp as well while doing that. I do something similar myself, though on top of running my hands through my hair and digging my nails into my scalp, I also pull at my hair...yeah... self-injurious stims are no joke...and I'm kinda glad Kieran's autism coding brings attention to that aspect of autism...at least in my eyes as someone who does those things myself.

(He's in so much stress here, poor kid 😔)

Another aspect of autism that I'm surprised and kinda glad that Kieran exhibits as an autistic-coded character is meltdowns and shutdowns. Kieran has actual meltdowns in the game! This is something we have never seen in such an in-your-face way in any Pokémon game, and as someone who regularly has meltdowns myself, it hit me in the feels whenever I saw him having them. His first meltdown is in the Teal Mask when he steals the Teal Mask and runs off to Loyalty Plaza where he battles the player. He yells at Carmine and the player for treating him like an outcast...which is unfortunately something that happens to a lot of autistic people, myself included. Kieran screams at the player and Carmine for for lying to him while doing his stress stim, before running up to the Lousy Three's shrine and punching it, without any regard for his safety, which is also something autistic people may do during meltdowns...I know I have no regard for my safety during mine. After that's all over he gives the mask back to the player and goes home, leaving the player to talk to Carmine alone, who says that she's worried and thinks it's just "teen angst". When I saw that I was like, "...Uh, Carmine...I don't think it's just that, I think your brother is neurodivergent and really needs a lot of help and support because he's struggling a lot right now..."

His second meltdown is also in the Teal Mask, when he wants Ogerpon to go with him but Ogerpon wants to go with the player...Kieran can't process that and doesn't understand how to take Ogerpon's feelings into account, instead demanding the player to battle him for the right to be Ogerpon's partner. He collapses on all fours after being defeated again, and it gets worse...he looks like he's crying while the player battles Ogerpon in order to catch her. After the player catches her, Kieran wonders why he can't be like the player, and runs off crying, locking himself in his room for the rest of the story. The end of the Teal Mask has him doing his stress stim while being consumed by a new special interest in a very detrimental way...that interest being becoming so strong that no one can defeat him...including the player.

Kieran's third meltdown is in the Indigo Disk, after the player defeats him in the championship match. That meltdown is a full-on cutscene, where it is CLEAR to see his spiraling mental state through the visuals, and he holds his hands on his head like he has a headache while trying to process the fact that he lost to the player AGAIN (which is also relatable as someone who struggles with processing difficulties myself...it really does give headaches and it is one of the worst feelings when I just can't process what's going on around me or the emotions I feel or anything really)...he collapses to his knees and looks like he's breathing very hard as he is so upset and distressed at this loss. It is definitely one of the most heartbreaking scenes for me because this is a CLEAR CUT MELTDOWN in my eyes and it hits me in the feels like a TRUCK to watch that cutscene.

Also, in the Terapagos fight, Kieran has a bit of a shutdown for a bit, standing there frozen, thinking he's useless and can't do anything right (which is relatable as I have regular shutdowns as well, and I also constantly feel like I'm a failure of a human being who can't do anything right)...but let me tell you, when the player finally gets him to snap out of it and convinces him to help and he opens his eyes revealing that the light is back in his eyes as well as visible tears...I cheered (and teared up myself). My boy was back, and I was so happy.

(When I first saw the tears I was like, "NOOOO don't cry Kieran! 😢)

Also in the Indigo Disk, Kieran seems completely different and "no longer like his usual self". His autistic traits are (mostly) nowhere to be seen as he becomes much more serious, angry, assertive,and aggressive. I personally see this as a persona he puts on by masking, which is common for autistic people to do. I myself can't mask, but Kieran definitely seems to be masking here by putting on this persona in order to get stronger and seem stronger as a person as well. This is NOT his real self, this is a FACADE!

We see him start to drop the mask again in Area Zero when he says it seems like they're in a spy movie or something and how cool that is, but once the crack in his mask is pointed out he immediately puts it back on.

After everything in the under depths ends, and you go back to Blueberry Academy, he drops the mask again completely, and goes back to his real, adorkable, relatable self...and stays that way from then on, which made me so relieved and happy.

(This is my favorite cutscene in the entire DLC because of how adorable it is and also how neurodivergent Kieran is being here while apologizing for all he did 🥺)

In conclusion, I think Kieran is a great example of an autistic-coded character who has many relatable traits, and also does a good job showcasing some of the more "unpleasant and challenging behaviors and traits" (NTs use that terminology a lot, not me... that's how NTs unfortunately view NDs a lot of the time) of autism. I used to be afraid of him during the post-Teal Mask pre-Indigo Disk era but that was my trauma and PTSD talking (I talked about the emotional rollercoaster Kieran's story arc took me on in another post from last year after I finally worked up the courage to play the Indigo Disk...feel free to check that out too if you'd like). Now though I can wholeheartedly say that I love and appreciate Kieran a lot as a character, and his relatability is definitely a big part of why he is a big comfort character for me now (please Pokémon put him in Pokémon Masters EX, PLEASE I will literally cry from joy if he gets added to the game)!

Hope you all enjoyed this autistic person's analysis of yet ANOTHER autistic-coded character in Pokémon! I know I had A LOT to say but that just proves how relatable Kieran is, and I love him for that. Let me know what you think and if I missed anything in the comments below!

[apple-and-berry]

Queen of Tears presents us this incredibly flawed couple in such a heartbreaking yet funny way that it will tug your heart strings and will tickle your belly.

This is a story about how two people who are irrevocably in love with each other but are separated due to miscommunication. This is not a story about who is right or who is wrong or who suffered more. It's about how different each human being is and how we act regarding that.

Hyun-woo fell in love with Hae-in for who she is without having the knowledge of her family background. Like mentioned in the show he wanted to be by her side. This shows his devotion and loyalty to her. But what happens when your wife treats you in a cold manner infront of your office colleagues and doesn't stands up for you when your in-laws are constantly insulting you. Some people may say that she did support him behind his back but it doesn't work like that. What happens when your wife clears out the nursery built for your child that both you and your wife wanted but lose due to miscarriage, you are obviously hurt and angry. Would you feel okay if your partner doesn't care about your parents and your side of the family going as far as not saving their contact numbers and not visiting them. People would say she did help his father when needed and it only happened after the change of heart she had after her diagnosis, so I appreciate Hae-in for doing that but that doesn't cancels out the rest. Hyun-woo felt ghosted after the honeymoon phase of their relationship ended. It's a taxing process to be with someone who refuses to have conversations and internalises everything. He felt isolated in that relationship and Hae-in who was supposed to be by his side played a major role in it. He was miserable in that relationship because he comes across as someone who is definitely commucative and understanding. The thought of separating from her unscathed was a luxury he desired but couldn't dream. So he was happy and content with the knowledge of her dying because in that moment he was looking after himself. I don't agree with his reaction but I understand how toxic and awful things must have gotten to bring out such a reaction from someone who once doted on his wife. He is someone who doesn't have a single bad bone in his body and Hae-in obviously loved him but her actions were quite opposite. It was nice to see him realise his mistakes and take ownership of it and continue to do the right thing.

Hae-in is the best example children growing up in broken homes. Her family dynamic shows that you can have all the luxury and money in the world but love and togetherness can't be bought. Growing up in such situations can always make or break a person and in her case it broke her. She is someone who internalises everything because she thinks no one cares about her feelings and that she would be a burden if she told her problems. Her family has the biggest hand in her being that way. Her mother accusing her for her brother's death when she was a kid herself and then continuing to treat her that way is sad. It's no surprise that she thinks she doesn't deserve to be sad after the loss of her baby. She was happy in the brief period of time when she and Hyun-woo dated and later married because he was the first person who truly saw her and wanted to be with her. She loves him, there is no denying in that but as they say actions speaks louder than words. Regarding her I always question myself that would she have a change of heart if not for her diagnosis. The diagnosis obviously plays a big role in her life and now she is looking at things with different perspective and is trying her best to mend. I liked when she said she divorced hyun-woo because of everything he suffered during their marriage. She is taking accountability.

I just want both of them to actually have a real long conversation. I want both of them to put whatever they have felt on the table and work on it. Its not about who is right, it never has been. It's been always about their marriage.

[necroromantics]

So it’s not Toby I headcanon with BP, it’s Jeff. And it’s kinda the reason why I feel hesitant to write him. I’ve been reading up on stuff recently about BP and how to write characters with the condition, but I was wondering if you had any tips? I don’t want to contribute to any misinformation.

ALL ABOUT BIPOLAR DISORDER + WRITING IT

Warning. This is a very very very long post. LMAO

Ok so when it comes to writing any character, you need to understand that they aren't a real person, they're a storytelling device. They don't really work on the same logic systems of reality like we do in the real world. So when you're writing a character with things like mental health issues, it's important to view it as "How does this contribute to my story" or "How does this fit into the unique logistics of my stories reality"

But in order to bend (not break) the rules when it comes to portraying mental health issues, you need to first know the rules, and then work to weaving that framework of the real world into your fictional world/character.

For example, my OC Tobin has bipolar disorder, but it doesn't really come up in the Creepedverse story cuz it just doesn't fit in as a storytelling device. In reality, throughout the story, Tobin would have at least an episode or two over the course of the year the plot takes place. An important thing to consider is how a characters mental health issues contribute to the story you wanna tell. And if it doesn't, its ok for it to just be a lil side thing you know about.

Now for actual information on Bipolar Disorder (which is shortened to BD, NOT BPD. BPD is a completely separate disorder called "borderline personality disorder", they are very different though people constantly mix them up due to terminology similarities)

There are two main types of bipolar disorder that someone may be diagnosed with, (theres also cyclothymia which is like diet bipolar with hypomania/mild depression, and schizoaffective bipolar which is like schizophrenia and bipolar mixed, but Im not getting into those today). When writing a character with BD, its very important to note how the disorder actually effects them. Remember, a disorder is something that causes a person significant dysfunction and impairment in their day to day life. It negatively impacts them in many ways such as personal distress, their relationships, job, finances, etc.

Bipolar Type 1: The requirement for being diagnosed with type 1 is the presence of an episode of extremely high energy/moods that lasts more than a week, OR ends up being so severe the person gets hospitalized. This lengthy period of high moods is called a manic episode, which Ill get into later. You only need to have experienced one manic episode to qualify for a bipolar diagnosis. Thats why you can only experience mania if you are bipolar, cuz the moment you're manic, you fit the bill for bipolar type 1. Make sense? Most, but not all, people with type 1 also experience periods of extremely low energy/moods called a depressive episode. These lows are not required for a diagnosis, but they are very prevalent. They may last weeks to months. The main thing about type 1 bipolar is the manic episodes they experience that cause them significant distress in life.

Bipolar Type 2: Type 2 is diagnosed if someone experiences a hypomanic episode that lasts more than 4 days, AND a depressive episode (not at the same time, but within the same year). Hypomania is a mild form of typical mania. If someone experiences extreme mania, they will be diagnosed with type 1, never type 2. In type 2, its the depressive episodes that cause a person the most distress, while in type 1 its the mania. Depressive episodes are typically more severe and last longer in this type, and the hypomanic episodes are typically mild and short-lived enough for a person to not even notice theres a problem there. Both hypomanic and depressive episodes are required for this diagnosis.

Now you know the two different common presentations of bipolar, but you need to understand exactly what a bipolar episode looks like. The WORST thing you can do is to misinterpret them simply as mood swings. In reality, its more like a merry-go-round where youll drop and stay down for awhile, or youll go up and stay up for awhile, or youll just relax in the middle without any ups/downs for a bit.

Manic Episodes: Manic episodes are only prevalent in type 1 bipolar. A common misconception is that you can experience mania without bipolar disorder, but that isnt true. Mania is the hallmark feature of BD, so it isnt associated or experienced with any other disorder. It isnt a symptom, its a defining feature. But what are the symptoms of a manic episode? Remember that mania is very severe, and causes significant impairment in someones life, often the person ends up hospitalized. The common symptoms are a lack of sleep (~0-2 hours), very high moods/euphoria, racing thoughts, talking very fast and often not making sense to others, and taking dangerous risks/being impulsive/irresponsible without any sense of judgement or forethought. Mania presents differently in a lot of people, but generally its like very very high energy coursing through your mind and body to the point you feel like youre zooming or gonna explode, jittery. You might laugh a bunch at nothing, act very erratic, irritable, say shocking or distasteful things cuz you cant slow down enough to even think about what youre saying. You might ruin relationships, scare people, quit your job/get fired, get into trouble with the law, drain your bank account. Psychosis is also something people may experience with mania, such as delusions (grandeur ones commonly) and hallucinations. You might feel like you're completely untouchable, overly confident, like youre the king of the world. Its like everything is moving in hyperspeed, your body, your thoughts, your mouth, and its pretty overwhelming. Very commonly, a person in a manic episode doesn't realize they're in a manic episode. They might question it, but they brush it off as "its fine, I feel good" or "this is just how I am" or "Im not manic Im just in a good mood"

Hypomanic Episodes: Hypomania is like mania in the sense that the person experiences high energy/moods. The main difference is that hypomania is mild, and not severe enough to require hospitalization or immediate psychiatric treatment. Type 1 may experience hypomanic episodes as well as manic episodes, but this is not required for that diagnosis. In type 2, hypomanic episodes are required. In a hypomanic episode, someone might suddenly be very happy and social, they may get very productive in life, optimistic, and a bit eccentric. Due to the high energy, you don't feel as if you need as much sleep to function (~3-4 hours), and you might begin to talk a lot, overshare, ramble, go on nonsensical tangents. You might get more irritable and antsy. Risky and irresponsible behaviour is common too, such as impulsive decisions without regard for consequence, carelessly spending money, high sex drive/unsafe sex, etc. Cuz hypomania isnt as extreme as typical mania, most people dont even realize when they are hypomanic, its very often brushed off by being in a good, productive mood, or that a person is simply extroverted, or energetic. Bipolar people tend to have unhealthy relationships with both manic and/or hypomanic episodes, almost glamorizing the high moods they experience, especially during depressive episodes.

Depressive Episodes: Depressive episodes are a period of extremely low energy/moods. They typically last longer than mania, ranging from weeks to months. Sometimes a short period of depressive symptoms occurs right after a manic episode called a "crash", but this doesn't necessarily mean its a depressive episode. Bipolar depression is typically regarded as a bit different from typical depression, due to the nature of the disorder. The common symptoms are hopelessness, oversleeping, fatigue/tiredness, slow thinking, lack of concentration, irritability, feeling worthless/bleak, and a loss of passion/interest in things. Its like the other side of the same spectrum as mania, with similar changes such as appetite, sleep patterns, energy levels, irritability, etc, just in different ways. Depressive episodes can cause someone to socially isolate, or experience suicidal thoughts. You might feel more emotionally sensitive, or like nothing will ever get better. Its like suddenly a filter of hopelessness, negativity, and sadness gets put over your brain and eyes, and the world loses its colour, and everything sucks so bad all you wanna do is lay in bed and rot. It feels physically heavy, like youre dragging weights. When manic you might feel very fast and light, when depressive you might feel very slow and heavy.

Mixed Episodes: A lesser known episode that may be experienced is a mixed episode. Any type can experience this type of episode, but it is not required or considered for any diagnosis. Its sort of like something that happens instead of something thats a hallmark feature of bipolar. In a mixed episode, someone will experience both symptoms of depression and mania at the same time, or in rapid succession/back and forth in short bursts. This is typically regarded as the most distressing and severe episode to have because of the combination of both episodes. You might feel like your thoughts are racing, or like youre going crazy, but at the same time youre so tired you cant get out of bed. You might feel very very energized, but have thoughts that youre hopeless and worthless. You might laugh, and then start crying, like youre being shot up into space and then thrown into the bottom of the ocean. You might feel very jittery, but a pain in your chest, or an exhaustion you cant shake. You might also experience a burst of joy, laughter, very high energy where youre talking super fast and speaking nonsense and acting erratically, and then immediately you start to feel very sad and slowed down, like everything hurts, and is meaningless. Mixed episodes are very painful to deal with, because youre being constantly thrown around, and you cant get a grip. Rates of suicide are higher during these periods. Not everyone with bipolar may experience mixed episodes, and it will present differently for everyone. It may last a couple days to even weeks.

So theres a rundown for the different episodes. To write a bipolar character, think about the type of bipolar they have/how it presents, and then think about how their episodes may impact them contextually. If a character is manic at a certain point in your story, what actions may they take, or thoughts, or interactions, that will show this? Can the people around them tell when theyre in an episode? What gives it away? What behaviour cues show their episodes? For me personally, my fiancee can always tell when Im in an episode, cuz of my eyes/behaviour. She says my eyes get more wide and sorta erratic looking when Im manic and I move around very quickly like Im restless, and when Im depressive, my eyes get more heavy/tired looking and I move very slowly and less expressive. Remember that someones episodes, especially mania, will have an impact on the people/world around them, not just internally, it causes issues externally as well. Someone might cause a lot of destruction or drama or get into fights when theyre manic and impulsive, they might do crazy or ambitious shit just to drop it, they might socially isolate and sleep all day when depressed, or not show up to work or school.

Another thing to consider is the persons cycle. This is how many episodes a person experiences in a year. If they have proper treatment, they may experience ~0-2 episodes a year, if not, they may experience ~1+ a year, typically in the 2-4 range. This means that someone who is treated with the proper medication may not experience any episodes at all, or they might experience milder, shorter lived episodes a couple times a year. Someone who isnt treated is very susceptible to experiencing more extreme and lengthy episodes, and more often in a year.

Rapid Cycling is when someone with bipolar experiences one episode after another. So they might be manic for a week or so, and then immediately experience a depressive episode right after for like a month, and then back to being manic. Typically, someone with bipolar will experience plenty of time in a year in between their episodes without any significant manic/depressive symptoms, like periods of stability.

Triggers for a bipolar episode are usually lack of sleep, stress, alcohol/drug use, and even changes of seasons or life events can trigger a high/low in someone. Everyone has their own unique triggers that is important to recognize when it comes to treatment and preventing episodes. Think about the triggers your character might have, and what they might be exposed to in your story that could cause this. Episodes may come on as a gradual up/down climb, or very suddenly.

Thats really all I got for information on bipolar. The biggest issue I see is just the way people write bipolar episodes as mood swings. It's not being happy and then suddenly really angry or sad, its not changing your mind really quick, or suddenly switching up. Its moreso long periods of high/low energy. Thats why I say "episodes" instead of "mood swings", cuz its not a mood swing at all, its very literally just random periods where you'll experience an episode of mania or depression. The classic "mood swings"/switching up thing is more closely related to borderline personality disorder which is VERY different from bipolar, despite them being mixed up so often.

This was very long but feel free to send in more asks if you need any specifics. I just tried to cover all bases cuz its good to know what youre working with before you work with it.

[kindlyre]

Can you talk more about your personal headcanons for Rantaro?

uhhh shore!!! :3

he has thirteen siblings overall, twelve sisters and a brother

out of those, his brother and oldest sister are blood relatives. his brother is a few years older and they have a... complicated relationship. his sister is his (younger) twin

he has a pretty bad case of conduct disorder and has been compared to enoshima on many occasions because of it

his sisters have no idea, his twin kinda realized as she got older, his brother is 100% aware

rantaro's dad divorced his mom when he was about nineish, took his sister in the custody battle, but the dad fought for the two boys in the hopes that one of them would amount to SOMEthing

this is hyperspecific but. the "-taro" suffix is usualy reserved for the oldest son, so the reason rantaro is named that was because his brother ALREADY didnt live up to expectations, so his father saw rantaro as a replacement and named him accordingly

rantaro's talent came about because he has conduct disorder- the chronic boredom is why he travels so much in the first place, and the risk taking behavior commonly associated w cd is why he gets into so many Situations that make for good headlines

he's banned from morocco because he got caught graverobbing. everything he took had to be given back, except for ONE thing he got away with. he keeps it in his capsule necklace

yes he does drugs but he managed his habits well until shortly before his appearence in danganronpa 52, where he started getting worse cravings

rantaro used to have a mix of clear headed travels that are more backpacking or in rural areas or mountain climbing, AND stints in big cities where hed do some drugs and gamble

a thing he likes to do is get real messed up on drugs, black out, then play some irl geoguesser when he wakes up in some random ass location

this is why he didnt seem too concerned when he woke up in v3; he's used to just waking up in odd places and not remembering how he got there

mmmmost people with conduct disorder dont actually go on to develop aspd, which you can only be diagnosed with once you turn 18. rantaro is in the minority yaay #lostcause (that is, if he'd lived to 18)

he near-exclusively calls himself "a sociopath" because he got tired of explaining that thats not a diagnosis anymore and you cant even get the renamed diagnosis till youre eighteen and he'll Totally Be Fine By Then He Promises and that he has something else entirely, because people kinda didnt care much so he just stopped explaining

he still very much wants to find his sisters but even when he DOES find them, he's always too nervous to approach them because he feels like they would maybe not like a baby sociopath as a brother

(he's had symptoms all his life and was never all that good at hiding them. his sisters like him just fine, lmao)

HE KNOWS WHERE HIS TWIN LIVES he could literally go see her at any time. he doesn't. he's simply too ashamed of how he is on account of being compared to the girl who Ended The World all his life

rantaro's got a nasty violent streak and one of the reasons he wears those rings like that are as a brass knuckle subsitute

he's attacked and even tried to kill his father on MULTIPLE occasions due to his treatment of both rantaro himself and his sisters

he's a gambling addict though if you asked him he'd say it's "just fun sometimes" and its not that big a deal because he's rich, he can tank whatever he loses

he likes big open spaces like the ocean or the great plains; he finds it a nice reminder of how HUGE the world truly is and how, despite all he's done, he's only experienced a fraction of it. it makes him excited for his next adventure

he loves his sisters, but it's in a kind of... detached way? its hard to explain.

his relationship with his brother is even harder to explain- they fight a LOT but they're kind of the only family each of them has, but they're still pretty distant with each other (a lot of it is gonna be in fics im doing so i lowk dont wanna spoil it aaaaaaall~)

rantaro has always wanted to fall in love, but it hasn't happened yet

he hasn't fooled around with anyone, he's saving himself as it were for the person he falls in love with. he used to tell people this, but stopped after like 95% of the responses were variations on how that was such a surprising sentimentality for Someone Like Him

he's well aware that people see him as a sickopath first and a person second, growing up in a post-tragedy world with the bad luck of having the same mental illness as the person who caused the whole thing. this is a contributing factor in why he's so distrustful of other people

other factors include seeing atrocities, corruption, et cetera traveling around, AND the abuse he faced growing up and how his father is continuing to get away with it due to his wealth

even so, rantaro absolutely has used his wealth to stay out of prison. it sounds hypocritical but rantaro is a mentally ill 14 year old whom nobody really knows how to (or wants) to help in a way that actually is respectful of him instead of treating him like a nuke that needs to be disarmed, and his father is an adult man who uses his wealth to take advantage of poor women to fuck their daughters. so its a bit of a different situation i think

uuuuuuuuuuhhhhh

i think you deserve a few fun ones after all that

he's sicilian on his mom's side

he tans a LOT in the summer and has a lot of freckles, you can barely see them if he's not tanned lmao

he's a natural brunet and his hair is really thick so it gets tangled easily; he got an undercut largely so he didnt have to deal with so much of it

he has a stick n poke tattoo on his leg, though it's so blown out and faded that you kinda can't tell what it is. not even rantaro knows what it is (a sailboat? maybe?)

he did all his own piercings; they're all staggered on his right ear because he's left-handed (except his left lobe, but tbf its easier to do that than your cartilege)

people are generally aware that there's Something Just A Little Off about rantaro, including some of the killing game participants, but some of them wouldnt have minded, honestly

these ones are oumami ones for Me but rantaro likes kokichi's view on morality and that decoding kokichi's lies means they effectively have a secret language

and because of just how odd kokichi is and how outlandish his lies are, rantaro'll never get bored of him

kokichi asks "am i boring?" and the guy with Chronic Being Bored Disorder always says "no, never"

they invented romance

haha cool a guy with muted emotions concerning other people fell in love in a killing game and is now feeling a bunch of new, strong, overwhelming emotions! i wonder if this can be exploited in some way!!!!!!!!!!!

woof this got LONG!!!! anyway we love exploiting the mentally ill for shock value and television. team danganronpa sucks, good thing we don't do that!!

anyway if u want some elaboration on any of these hmu!!! i love to yap!!!!

[anonzentimes]

What is your thoughts on komaeda's life expectancy? Since he have 2 chronic illnesses, Will be survived?

(I am bawling my eyes out thinking about this angst)

There's a few ways you can approach his eventual death, I don't like when people erase his diagnosis entirely though as a method to have him live unless it's an au I suppose Lol. I think he probably outlives his life expectancy due to his luck post canon but regardless everyone dies at some point. What really gets me is the situation where people think Nagito should die last, if it's for angst sure, if not THEN ABSOLUTELY NOT GOOD GOD. Nagito's biggest fear in his life is dying alone, if he dies last that causes his worst fear to be realized. He gets to heal, he gets to have a found family, and to see them all go one by one, and eventually still in the end die alone is such intense angst I CAN'T. Nagito doesn't need to be the first to die but my golly him being the last to die kills me.

[blindmagdalena]

Here is another "let me pick your brain" lol.

I was wondering what your thoughts are on whether Homelander would die for Ryan and the endless debate about Homelander's mental illness.

I was arguing this point, and I personally thought he would. The person disagreed due to someone citing Homelander's narcissism and sociopathic personality.

We also disagreed on what and the spectrum of mental illness he suffers from. My personal belief is that he is that he is on the spectrum of grandiose narcissism, sadism, and APD (specifically sociopathology). I wouldn't put him completely in any of these boxes because he repeatedly demonstrates behavior that doesn't fit nicely in them. Still, he certainly has tendencies that fit somewhere on the spectrum of these disorders.

so, i don't feel qualified to talk on the diagnosis (even fictional) of these various mental illnesses, but i'll happily talk about what i believe is in character for Homelander, and what narratively makes sense to me. first and foremost, he is a tool in a story, so he's bound to make choices that don't fall in line with any singular diagnosis, but instead best serve said story. from the perspective of the writers, anyways.

yes, i think under the right circumstances, Homelander could sacrifice himself for Ryan, and i think that precisely because of his ego. it's important to remember that Homelander thinks of Ryan as an extension of himself. he wants for Ryan the life that he never had.

minor speculation/spoilers mb for season 4, but Homelander is getting older. that's going to be a crisis for him, and the only chance he has at any kind of legacy or immortality IS Ryan. his son is his second chance and his proxy.

all that said, i know that i'm presenting the Vader narrative. redemption at the last minute through death. that's not the spin i would like to see on this situation, though.

i don't believe in accountability for fictional characters. i don't believe redemption and love and sacrifice are all easy or clear-cut subjects that can—or should—be spoon fed to us. stories are tools of human emotion just like music and poetry and art, and emotions are messy.

were i writing for the series and it came down to "Homelander has to die for Ryan. Go." i would frame this as an impulsive move on Homelander's part. an honest to god miscalculation in a crucial moment driven by his instinct to protect his son. we already saw Homelander turn his back on a hostile enemy for Ryan's sake once. had Butcher not also been swayed by Ryan's injury, that right there could have been a death sentence.

in my minds eye, Homelander dying in Ryan's arms is straight up denial. he looks younger than his years and confused, like he just can't really process that he, a god, is dying. it doesn't make sense. so he assures him, "Hey, it's okay, bud, I'm right here. It's okay. Your dad's here."

because in the end that's all he ever wanted for himself. someone to love and protect him despite his strength and powers. and the only way he's going to get it is by giving it to his son.

[captainkirkk]

✩ WEEKLY FIC ROUND-UP ✩

All the fics I’ve read and really enjoyed in the past week-ish. Reminder: This list features any and all ratings and themes.

Chainsaw Man/Mob Psycho 100

None but the Brave by Zykaben

When Reigen finds a kid with dangerous powers and no one to turn to (why does this sound so familiar?) he can't help but get involved. Just until Denji figures out the whole half-devil thing and starts feeling alright again. The only problem is that Reigen isn't so sure that Denji was ever alright to begin with and really, it would be irresponsible to leave him on his own.

... Reigen is about to end up with another kid, isn't he?

(Or: Reigen finds Denji instead of Makima. Everyone is better off for it)

DC (Batman)

Vrykolakas by Chemical_Processes

(Warning: contains cannibalism)

Tim Drake lives with monsters. The same monsters behind Batman's latest homicide case.

free (as a bird) by hollow_city

Tim spent the first eleven years of his life with an ignored diagnosis and quiet hands. but now that his parents are gone, he's really trying hard. or, one time tim didn't have anyone to support him and a bunch of times he did.

Clone Wars

Compulsive Honesty by afoundling

Seven clones and a Jedi get dosed with truth serum and trapped in a confined space for 5 long hours

a tionas ra a jag o’r linibar be nuhoy (a mystery or a man in need of sleep)? by foreverchangingfandoms

My second fill for Codywan sleep bingo, featuring a very tired Cody, a Jedi who decides sleepwalking off a ship onto a planet to find something to cuddle is a good idea and the clones being cuddly.

Fills: Bunk, sleepwalking, disturbed sleep, little spoon, snoring and sleepover (bingo card in the end notes of the fic)

Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun!

Cherry Blossom Mischief by IcyPheonix

Trying to hide a crush is hard enough.

Trying to hide a crush when you have succubus blood running through your veins that has other ideas on the matter, is nearly impossible.

That doesn't mean Asmodeus isn't going to try.

I (Don't) Care by Zykaben

Balam says something he shouldn't have to Kalego. Kalego thinks nothing of it. He then proceeds to think about it far too much.

(Or: Kalego figures out that Iruma is a human and he doesn't care, he really doesn't, shut up.)

my love from the star by thewunderkind

The Ouija Board @tobnews  • 9h

It has been officially announced that on the 27th of November, Suzuki Iruma-sama will be crowned as the 13th Demon King of the entire Netherworld! Congratulations, @irumakun ! Stay tuned for more news about the royal crowning.

Or the one wherein the internet spirals into chaos due to one particular video uploaded by a certain blonde HellTuber.

Is it sharing if you didn't ask? by FandomsandFlowers (+ podfic)

Iruma is wearing Azz's clothes. Azz doesn't know how to deal with this.

[the-palelady]

I was reading your carrd earlier (looking to see if your requests were open for later 🫣) and I saw you suffer from a chronic illness. Do you mind me asking if that affects how or what you write about?

IF THAT’S TO PERSONAL I UNDERSTAND!!! But I also suffer from a chronic illness myself, so I like to hear what motivates other people 💚💚💚

omg no worries it isn't too personal at all. although i won't delve into it too much. i'm kind of glad to see an ask like this seeing as i'm just now coming out of one of my slumps.

i was diagnosed with my illness when i was 15 which i guess is fairly young for what i have, and despite my diagnosis a lot of the doctors i went to didn't treat me for it???? even though the diagnosis was clearly written in my charts, they treated me for other things like bipolar depression and bpd. they were...basically in denial of my diagnosis, said i was too young, etc? i didn't find a good doctor until i was 23 (literally last year), and i'm just now on the path to getting properly treated for it. unfortunately because i went so many years not being given the correct medications and what not, it kind of got worse.

so i do tend to step away from social media or disappear for extended periods of time. in the past, this has offended people, but at the end of the day, i have to take care of my peace, and i believe everyone should do this. at the end of all of this, we all die (that sounds awfully morbid, i know) but it is the truth. i don't want to spend my one chance at life trying to prove something to everyone and trying to please everyone around me. it just doesn't seem right or fair.

i've always been a people pleaser, but as i've become an adult i've broken that habit. this is my life and i need to do what's right for me, and if stepping away from social media or not speaking to anyone can help that than that's what i'll do. i believe everyone should do that if that's what they need to do in order to protect themselves. everyone deserves to be happy. everyone deserves to do what they love.

this includes my writing. i don't write about what everyone else wants to see. such as my bloodborne au. bloodborne is a very niche game. not very many people have played it due to it being a playstation exclusive, but it is also considered old and outdated. i wrote about it because i love ghost and i love bloodborne. did it get as many interactions as other cod writers works within the community? no, but i don't care about all that. the people that did interact with it i am incredibly grateful for, and i'm happy they enjoyed it. but at the end of the day i wrote it for myself. ghost has been a comfort character of mine since i was a kid, and bloodborne has been my comfort game since its release. combining the two was just a silly little thought i had.

since the beginning of this blog it's never been about how many followers i have, how many likes or reblogs i can get, or how many people notice my writing. it's just been about sharing my writing with people who might take interest in my dumb ideas. if you read it and interacted? thank you. i'm so thankful and appreciate you so much. if not? that's okay. thank you for being here. i appreciate you as well, and i hope you have a wonderful day. numbers don't matter to me. i'm just here because i love some fictional guy like everyone else.

i hope everyone here writes about the things that they love and not because they feel obligated to write what their followers want them to. but i also hope everyone here, not just people i've interacted with, or people i follow, but anyone who reads this, takes the time to take care of themselves, and steps away if need be. your mental health is always important.

(simon isn't going anywhere, he'll be waiting for you when you get back ♡)

[existsdeath]

Things nobody will tell you about ocd + a mini guide for those who recently got a diagnosis

-𝓢incerly , someone who is disabled due to it .

1. It's gonna be really fucking hard,and that's okay. it's okay to cry after your diagnosis. I'd be more worried if you didn't cry than if you did. Unfortunately for me,I didn't get the opportunity to fully process the depth of my diagnosis at 12,and I personally believe I deserved significantly more than what I got.

2. ocd has NOTHING to do with being clean,organized,or hygienic. ocd is based off of an obsession and then a compulsion,hense the name obsessive compulsive disorder. The reason this stereotype is so often enforced is because contamination ocd is one of the most common forms of ocd,which can come across as just "being clean" rather than a symptom of a deeply complex disorder

3. What are obsessions and compulsions? what's the difference between a neurotypical obsession and a disordered one?

obsessions in ocd are a type of intrusive thought that makes you feel the need to engage in a compulsion in order to relieve this feeling. Neurotypical peoples obsessions do not require compulsions to be done,and are usually not intrusive.

4. ocd is not just obsessions and compulsions, here are some symptoms directly linked to ocd that I personally struggle with :

intrusive thoughts unrelated to compulsions

delusions

panic attacks

paranoia

fatigue

hyperfixations

emotional contamination

hoarding

5. if you're not ready to take medication,DO NOT. My doctor didn't explain the side effects of the meds I would be taking, so I took them without even thinking. This ended in severe fatigue,depression,and an entire year of school missed, which I'm still trying to catch up with. If your psychiatrist encourages you to take medication,ask about the side effects,and make sure they know what they're doing.

6. Adding on to the last point, please get a psychiatrist if you can,and only accept medication from your doctor if it's your only choice. Don't go based off what people say about medication online too much,since it's vastly different for everyone. For me,sertraline was horrible,and for others,it saved their life.

7. ocd is a neurodivergence. it will deeply affect your life in the beginning,and that's okay,you'll get through it. I know it's hard,but I promise it'll get better.

8. ocd does NOT go away. ocd changes the way your brain thinks,you physically cannot recover from it in the same way you can't "recover" from things like autism or adhd. This doesn't mean you'll suffer forever,it just means you'll always have symptoms. Some of these symptoms aren't bad either,maybe by the time your 30 the only evidence of your ocd is mild hoarding & hyperfixations.

9. people without ocd do not understand ocd,especially if they're neurotypical.this goes for most people, excluding psychiatrists & and doctors, to some extent. Yes they will understand it,but they won't ever feel the pain you feel. I guess this goes with most disorders,but I always expected someone to understand my disorder,and they never did,so I think it's good you get that warning.

10. There is so much stigma,stereotypes,and lack of research on ocd. This adds to the last part about how people without ocd truly will not feel the pain you feel, and some will not even understand it.

coping !

so,you just heard all this yapping about ocd,you're probably wondering how to cope,other than getting professional help,these are some things that really helped me.

1. Getting the right therapist , doctor & psychiatrist. Pretty self-explanatory,get someone who truly takes you seriously;someone you have faith in.

2. Medication. Medication is such a huge part of coping,at least for me. I know I'd be dead without it,it truly is an amazing thing.

3. Find support groups. Find other people with ocd,usually through support groups! If you're nervous about talking irl there's tons of online ocd communities you can join on Twitter,discord,reddit,and I'm sure more.

4. Go out of your way to find representation of your disorder. This can mean finding artists with the disorder,or really just anyone you look up to. I find it very inspiring to see how much someone with the same disorder as me accomplished,while also being able to relate to their media. Some of my favorite artists who discuss ocd are Alec Benjamin and NF. You can even find certain games that talk about ocd,personally I find milk inside a bag of milk is perfect. it's difficult to explain the plot since it's very much up to interpretation,but it's the only thing that's made me feel so represented.

there's also a sequel , milk outside a bag of milk which is really beautiful , although deals with some pretty heavy topics. ( can you tell I'm hyperfixated on this game ? / s )

5. Deal with your compulsions constantly. I know it's hard,I know you're tired,but something my therapist told me that always stuck with me is that "whether or not you do your compulsions,you're going to be stressed ,so why not fight back against them so in the future you'll be at peace?"

6. do NOT give into your compulsions. ( easier said than done, I know ) you'll feel relief temporarily,and then you'll need to do it again,again,and again,and again...again...again...again... and again.

7. lean on people ( family & friends ),and take time for your mental health. Your mental health is so important,especially with disorders like these. If you think you need a break to focus on recovery,do that. Don't keep pushing yourself until you break,give yourself support first. For me,I haven't been in school since the beginning of the year ( not by choice ) and I actually don't know what I'd do if I had to go to school,I really don't know.

8. get accommodations when possible. This is a disorder,so as long as you have proof of your diagnosis you should be able to get accommodations. I know for me,I'm allowed to do school completely online,but obviously it'll depend on the severity of your ocd aswell as what your psychiatrist & therapist think.

9. I highly recommend involving your therapist & psychiatrist in school,it has helped me so much. Give them your principles contact info if possible,and let them discuss how they can help you together.

And as always,if you're feeling suicidal please call 988. It gets better and you're stronger than you think. I'm proud of you for going this long.

feel free to ask questions if you're curious!

[put3rv1rus]

Tell me your Joe headcanons! >:)) I want to know more about your Joe — Crazy Director and Billy too if you ever thought about them…

dramatic sigh OKAY FINE!!!

Some headcanons are more just,,, one off-ish well others have more,, explanation?? Listen, idk how to word it. Just bear with me

Joe 🍾

• He has Autism + OCD as well as insomnia. His OCD and insomnia are diagnosed while his autism remains undiagnosed

• He does try to treat his insomnia by doing certain things via: taking certain medication and trying to set a sleep schedule but often gets disturbed by his alcoholism (alcohol can affect sleep)

• the sweater Joe often wears is his comfort item and almost never takes it off unless it needs to be washed or repaired slightly. He feels some sort of calmness whenever he wears it (definitely not self projection)

• He's at least in his late 20s or early 30s in my view

• He's roommates with CD mainly because why not he's lonely anyway, and the apartment he used to live in was getting a cockroach infestation

• He sleeps on a mattress on the floor because he couldn't afford a bedframe at the time when he moved in with CD, but even when he could, he still didn't buy one because it would've been "too much of a change" for him

• He doesn't have bedsheets on the mattress. (Definitely not also self projection)

• Joe has tried getting sober in the past but always ended up relapsing after a certain amount of time

• has mixed feelings about CD.

• VERY touched starved

• hates going out but knows he has to, so he bares with it

• Joe has some tummy due to him drinking a bunch of alcohol and stuff (hehe....)

• Likes listening to Weird Al as well as Mitski while he's having a drunk breakdown

• tbh... he's half white...

Crazy Director 🛍

• Has some burn scars on his left hand up to his lower arm from an accident he faced during her high school years. It bothers her, and she doesn't know why... so that kinda explains the glove...

• Likes painting her nails whenever she can because he finds it fun

• Has an associate degree in arts

• in his late 20s

• will often do unhinged and potentially illegal things out of spite plus the thrill and pleasant feeling he gets from it (listen I need to put the 'Crazy' in 'Crazy Director' somehow because I don't see people doing it that often... let my girl be wild and free...)

• Has a problem of finding life boring and... doing some unsavory things to herself to find some sort of euphoria. Joe will often have to get her to stop, which he doesn't like for obvious reasons

• Has stretch marks

• is usually the one to buy Joe alcohol, sometimes out of his request, or against his will because, in most cases, CD can get wasted with his best-bud and use "I brought it" as an excuse to drink it with him

• has some abandonment issues due to mainly being alone through his entire life due to being seen as "weird" and a "freak"

• Most likely has ADHD but isn't getting diagnosed because she doesn't really see much of a point in getting a diagnosis if it's just to label her "weirdness"

• Really enjoys doing random crafts, especially with Joe or anyone she's managed to form a bond with

• Likes keeping his hair long since it's something he wasn't really able to do growing up, + he can style it however she wants without the paper bag covering it all

• I like to imagine her to be wayy more tan than how pale she is in the mod,,, (pale man begone!!!)

I do have some for Billy but it's 4 am and I have a dentist appointment in the morning so I'll definitely reblog this with my Billy headcanons in the future so sorry about that....

[miyukiford]

"Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman."

Every single man that insults a woman by saying that she has daddy issues is a misogynist. She is not responsible for the failures of her father.

Did it hurt when you had to accept that body autonomy is one of the most fundamental human rights and you can never force someone to sustain another life?

The fact that so many people are so comfortable with calling people they do not know “baby murderers” is absolutely insane to me. Its such a horrific and, at this point, intentionally disingenuous copout. These people desperately need to feel morally superior in their gambit to control others, its deeply pathetic.

Did it hurt? When you tripped all over yourself to call me a murderer, but I actually understand the Biology courses I’ve taken and know it’s an unviable clump of cells and not an actual baby?

I just think its absolutely depraved behavior, especially when they try to couch it in “care for the innocent”, innocent’s that they actively vote against when you look at the other 98% of the platforms they vote for. Nobody with an ounce of empathy would call someone who had an abortion a muderer.

I fear that most bigotry and hatred comes from people who were poorly educated. it makes sense considering they love using outdated terms and make up nonsense ones. There's no such thing as a "late term abortion", it's a conservative lie.

sure, let’s discuss. abortions at 24 weeks or later are very uncommon (less than 1% of abortions) and not widely available. the most common reasons for seeking an abortion this late are maternal health or diagnosis of terminal fetal abnormality.

People believe that once someone has a child, their view on abortion changes and that is so not true. While I don’t have a child, I can vouch for all my friends who have children. When someone has a child it, it makes them even more pro abortion. A child should be a blessing and not a PUNISHMENT.

If my mom did abort me I’d be happy because I love my mom. You really think with a million ways to prevent pregnancies the people who get pregnant are the ones who “accidentally got pregnant due to a hook up”? Have u heard of rape and incest? Martial rape? Stealthing?

abortion is defined as “terminating” (or ending) a pregnancy. ending a pregnancy at 9 months is as simple as inducing labor, having a c-section, giving birth. this isn’t the “gotcha” you think it is.

I don’t need to ever know the reason someone chooses abortion. I just need it to be safe and available. Abortion is healthcare.

so when a lady wants to have regular sex, casually or with someone they love it’s taboo and deserves having their life ruined by having children but when boys grow up and start wanting to have sex it’s “boys will be boys”. teenagers are going to have sex regardless of what you think because honestly? no one really cares what you think. sex is MAJOR part of this world it’s human nature its pleasure and there’s nothing bad about it. and birth control doesn’t always work

The response from men is always "take birth control then". Has your small brain considered ANY of the side effects it puts us through? Nausea, weight gain, mood shifts, diarrhea, fatigue.. on and on. How about YOU get a vasectomy that is 100% reversible and stop putting all of the weight on us and making us put shitty ass chemicals in our body. Not to mention birth control doesn't always work, especially if you're overweight or on other meds.

men really know nothing about women’s bodies and the women that don’t agree with abortion..you don’t have to get one?? contraception can fail. plan b, if you’re over 165 pounds won’t work.

there could be internal or physical complications that could be life threatening for the women to continue being pregnant.

where’s your pro life stance on that? keep our legs closed? Ok then take NO for an answer the first time. and you could quite literally compare a fetus to a parasite.

[archive-of-the-lost]

𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 @bibururokku

Your ideal match is…Yukimiya Kenyu!

♡ As charming as Yuki is, he isn't overly friendly and doesn't seem like the kind of person you would end up being friends with naturally. Which leads me to believe the two of you were grouped together for a project in high school, creating the opportunity to get to know each other. He would be drawn to your cute and sweet demeanor, and seek to spend more time with you even after the project ends.

♡ When you get to know him enough to start being sassy, it's a pleasant surprise for him. He wasn't expecting your sense of humor to be like that, since you seem like such a nice and chill person, but he gets used to easily enough. He quite likes this side of you actually, as he's also the straightforward type that doesn't mince words.

♡ He stated his type as someone who will always watch over him, so when you both grow close enough for you to be more concerned for his wellbeing, it's over for him. He's plenty independent, but perhaps he likes having you check up on him. A while after he realised he developed a crush on you, he cheekily showed you his bruises from training just to get you to worry about him for a bit a few times.

♡ Your explanation for why you live life to the fullest without taking things for granted sounds just like Yukimiya, though your reasons do differ. Yuki likes ephemeral things like cherry blossoms, likely because they remind him of how things are fleeting and never guaranteed, like his eyesight. His diagnosis gave him a strong sense of Mono no Aware, allowing him to appreciate everything in a new light. Pertaining to you, he treasures every moment spent with you and tries to make sure you know it. Once you two begin dating, whenever you have to go your separate ways, his hold on your hand always lingers longer than necessary, and he bids you goodbye with a kiss to the cheek.

♡ Reading is also one of his hobbies, so that's something you both bond over! He likes reading biographies about the lives of important people, which you might be interested in due to your liking for historical books? Likewise, he's also likely to be interested in your historical books, perhaps slice of life too. The scene of the two of you, sitting side by side on bed, engrossed in a book is quite common.

♡ His worst subject is art (because it strains his eyes), so he appreciates your drawing abilities and how you're attending art school. It's the kind of thing where one admires their weakness being a strength in someone else. He likes to see what you're working on, because the process is more interesting to him than the final product. But if you're not comfortable with showing him, he won't push for it.

♡ Yukimiya doesn't bake or cook often, but he's happy to help you when you do it then watch as you get to work. He'll put some background music on if you don't do that already, which usually leads to him pulling you into a clumsy waltz in the kitchen while the food waits on its plate. The waltz is clumsy because he doesn't actually know how to dance, he just pulls you around in what he thinks a waltz looks like. Most of the time he has enough self-control to end the dance before the food goes cold. Most of the time.

♡ His giving love languages suit you so well! I'm sure I've made quality time obvious enough, and physical touch was teased a little in the Mono no Aware point. He likes having excuses to snuggle up close to you even when outside, like under an umbrella when it's raining or during the winter when it's super cold. He's such a gentleman, definitely loves giving kisses to your hand (to fluster you). He really appreciates your giving love languages as well! He secretly likes being pampered, and will melt internally whenever you do things for him, especially after a tiring day of soccer practice.

♡ Finally, INFPs and ENFJs are known as a golden pair! They're highly compatible, usually having similar values which makes for a harmonious relationship. The both of you are so considerate of each other, caring and willing to compromise. Couple goals honestly.

[tirsynni]

Slightly random mental health thing:

I often see people posting ADHD or ADHD-adjacent things online, and people who haven't been diagnosed with ADHD (for multiple reasons, usually just failing to see a psychologist/psychiatrist in the first place) go "Oh, shit, that sounds like me! I must have ADHD!"

When it comes to mental health diagnoses, a good doctor will rule out other possibilities first. It's not to discredit or diminish the patient. It's to make sure the right thing is treated. When you see something like that online describing mental health symptoms, it might be a good idea to give yourself a good once-over, too.

For example, while many people (typically women and non-white individuals) are frustrated that they don't get an ADHD diagnosis and thus treatment until they're adults, many children are diagnosed with ADHD who don't have ADHD and thus receive medication they never should have had. Why? Because exhaustion and stress have many of the same symptoms as ADHD. For many doctors (and especially parents), it's quicker and easier to slap on the ADHD label and, in far too many cases, effectively blame the child for the child's struggles rather than recognize it as an environmental issue which needs changing asap. A parent struggles with a child being cranky, distracted, and moody and decides that the child must have ADHD rather than it being a symptom of their parenting. They take the child in and will sometimes doctor-shop until the doctor agrees with them and medicates the child into submission.

(Sometimes, the parent ignores the child's concerns in a completely different way and blames the child for "staying up too late" and "playing too many video games" and insists that ADHD is made up and their child doesn't have it, but that's a different rant.)

ADHD symptoms have a strong overlap with other symptoms from other issues, including burnout and depression. Sometimes, things aren't symptoms and are basically just personality quirks. (Remember: for it to count as a disorder, it has to have history to it and it has to have a negative impact on someone's life.) There's a fine line between self-awareness and self-pathologizing. The immediate response shouldn't be watching a Tik-Tok and going "Shit, I must have a neurological disorder!" Sometimes going down that rabbit hole helps someone realize that yes, they should check in with a psychologist for a professional opinion. Sometimes, it just ends with the person self-diagnosing with something they don't have and entering self-pathologizing or hypochondriac territory.

But the big thing? Sometimes, people watch videos with people describing ADHD or other symptoms and feel kinship, and it's not because they have a neurological disorder (or that specific neurological disorder). Cranky? Distracted? Having problems focusing? Difficulties with emotional regulation? Difficulties starting/completing tasks? It might be ADHD but it is usually better to check into physical or environmental problems first and rule them out. It might not be an ADHD diagnosis which is needed but a life/environmental change, improved self-care, a new life path, whatever. Sometimes the need is less for meds and more for improved sleep, more sleep, finding things of actual interests instead of what you feel like you should be interested in, etc.

It's always better to rule out physical issues before checking into neurological disorders. It's similar to the doctors who have the kneejerk response of "You're just fat and you need to lose weight," and then the person discovers the symptoms were due to cancer. Before deciding your constant distractibility or whatever is due to ADHD, make sure it isn't exhaustion, dehydration, and pending emotional/physical burnout before the shit hits the fan.

[strandnreyes]

(I sent this ask to paperstorm as well but I wanted to send it to you as well since your post is great and I agree with it so much)

Truth be told, I've noticed a lot of ableism in this fandom from the start. It's been directed a lot towards TK since pretty much s1 and the dialogue got particularly ugly in s3 with the breakup and then later 3x13. As it is, addiction is not something we see portrayed well very often and there is a great deal of stigma about it. But it's something a lot of people struggle with and they deserve to find a space in a fandom with a character that represents them. This is something that tends to get glossed over a lot but it is something that's been happening since the start. I've even noticed it this season. There's constant chatter about how TK isn't good enough for Carlos and doesn't bring anything to the relationship. Even his vows have been criticized as not being good enough. And the language being used towards Iris is very similar. Granted with Iris it's complicated by the way her arc was done but it still doesn't excuse the ableism. With Carlos, I've always said that even if he doesn't specifically have anxiety (and since they've never said it, I'm hesitant to say that he does) he does have trauma and that manifests in him being anxious about certain things and avoiding certain topics. That's a very common thing and there are a lot of people who have experienced what Carlos has and they deserve to be given grace.

A lot of people tried to pin the blame on Iris for Carlos not telling TK about the marriage or even the marriage itself. There were also people dredging up past mistakes or even just making stuff up about TK in order to justify Carlos not telling TK. Basically, these people fell back on ableism rather than admit that Carlos is not perfect and capable of making mistakes. At the end of the day, just because it's a show and the characters aren't real doesn't mean that the things we say and the language we use doesn't matter. As a trained psychologist, I can tell you that the language used to talk about characters does reflect the way we view things in the real world.

Hi! Thank you for your input and your perspective.

Yes, unfortunately there is a lot of interpretation that TK isn’t someone who is good enough for Carlos. This extends beyond fandom, too. During s3, someone irl said to me that Carlos deserves better (and I know in part that it had to do with his addiction because of some other comments about Bobby from og and addiction and how it’s almost perceived as some kind of burden that the partner has to deal with. some extra weight in the relationship. which I disagree with, just to be clear).

Re: Iris’ depiction in the show, I also agree. If it was done poorly or if there was harm in it, that doesn’t mean it’s okay that we say harmful things as well. That doesn’t justify hateful speech. And that’s what’s been brought up recently, that’s the point I was making. To be mindful with our words and the impact they have.

Also agree with Carlos and anxiety. I know it’s never been stated, but I also think about how someone can still display anxious characteristics and tendencies, or even be treated for anxiety, without someone straight up giving them an anxiety disorder diagnosis (speaking a little personally there).

About his actions this past season, that could probably be a whole separate post so I’m not going to get into much here. I will say that it is possible to recognize that Carlos has made mistakes and to also understand why he might’ve made the choices that he did and find empathy within that. Neither of those are exclusive and explaining that anxiety due to trauma leads him to hide things doesn’t excuse the behavior either. People are complex, mental illness is complex.

The way we talk about characters absolutely translates to real life.

[pluvicor]

Zion is by far one of my favorite OCs and the one whose story I spend the most time trying to continue despite not actively writing him that much anymore.

Some of the reason for it is how I, admittedly, became close minded and skeptical about collaborative work on this side of the RPC. But that's for another post (or none at all), I'm here to lay out the things I've established for him, either through development over Discord, ideas that came and stuck with me but were never shared, or a secret third thing, lest I forget and punch more holes into his storyline:

Personal life:

Leads a married life (not on paper yet) with Rickon. It's a very fulfilling relationship, Rickon is the exception to Zion's compromise to never resort to violence and/or dirty tricks, should anyone do anything to harm him. Given Zion's current state in life, that is not to be taken as lightly as it once could, as I'll touch on more down this post;

He's also in a relationship with Samael, though he's still conflicted about putting a name to it, given his aversion to the idea of having multiple partners. In fact, he is Zion and Rickon's boyfriend, that makes it easier alongside the fact Samael is a literal god and doesn't seem to mind how Zion navigates this new state of affairs between them, as long as it's good for everyone;

He's in therapy, has been for a while. His therapist is not human but I haven't decided what or who they are yet. Zion never felt he'd be safe with a regular professional, seeing as his problems stem from very unnatural events - he concluded he wouldn't be taken seriously at all, with less than pleasant consequences and the actual assistance he needs;

Zion has something going on with his mental health, he's on mood stabilizers and some antis;

His blood is haunted. In all seriousness, a regular doctor can no longer provide reliable diagnosis for any ailments he may have, as his body has been permanently affected by years of consecutive and direct exposition to demonic essence. Would an exorcism work? I don't know, maybe not, maybe it'd kill him. Remains to be decided;

And he's still mortal, though;

He no longer lives in an apartment with Rickon, they're sharing a house and have ??? cats;

Business:

The petting zoo that became a ranch then became an inn and is now large enough to be considered a district? Yes;

It's giving him a bit of legal trouble for that. It's expansion is partly due to his impulsivity;

It has over 100 rooms for guests and a sizable staff. He's the owner and head manager, has many sub managers for each department (cuisine, reception, maintenance, accounting, legal, etc etc);

It's no longer in the stock market and he's put an end to contracts with sponsors as means to avoid too much meddling from external parties;

🆕 It has an alchemy department! Cool, yeah?;

The lake is alive and she is moody. She has recently learned to assume a form of her own made of pure water but isn't fond of it and uses it exclusively for communication (when she wants to talk). Skip stones in her and she'll beat you up, try to go for a dive and she'll recede enough so you hit the bottom instead. She didn't quite like Zion at first, he doesn't know why, but now they're on friendly terms;

The animals in its rehabilitation center are no longer exclusively earthlings or from his universe. Guests have started to leave them there for care;

Same with his plants (garden and greenhouse);

Alair, the concierge, is no longer the only Boto working there. Hide your wives when visiting;

It has a growing system for people who want help for any activity, a "help wanted" board that he totally did not take inspiration from Stardew Valley, and if you imply as much he will laugh and deny despite everything. It's loosely supervised by a moderation team just to make sure nothing against the place's rules is posted;

It doesn't run exclusively on regular currency, any item can be evaluated at the exchange office to have its value assessed;

I'll add more as I remember it.