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[dmndsave]

Some smol - hopefully useful - tips for dealing with sudden-onset, situationally-inappropriate stress responses, aka panic attacks.

In general:

*there is always a trigger - despite appearing seemingly out of nowhere, panic attacks are always triggered by something.

A sensory input, a thought, something a body ate, the weather, hunger, sleep deprivation, thirst, pollution, past trauma - the list goes on...

Consider keeping a journal to track the panic episodes and what preceded them. Eventually a pattern should emerge which can be used to mitigate further attacks.

*having a magic box handy in the house, car or pocket can really help - a Magic Box is a container - a box, bag, envelope, pocket (anything really) - in which a body can keep a few resources to help manage both the attack and the aftermath.

For example:

a rock/blob of clay/stress ball/squishy toy etc to hold and/or squeeze

a vial of favourite scent to sniff

a snack to eat (preferably a something salty and a something sweet - salt and sugar can be very helpful during a panic episode especially if it's due to low blood sugar/blood pressure)

a drink (preferably water or juice, no caffeine or alcohol)

a favourite cd (or playlist on the phone) to listen to

a pen and notebook (or box of crayons and paper/colouring book) to scribble thoughts and feelings

a stuffie to hold

Absolutely anything personally meaningful and soothing that can keep one's attention in the moment, make a body feel safe and give the hands something to do, can and should go in the Magic Box.

For some folk it will be everything listed above, while others might only need a chocolate bar. It's your box, fill it with anything and everything you think might be useful in the moment. Go ahead and create as many boxes/bags as necessary - one for every room of the house, one for the car, one to take with when going out etc.

The benefit of having a special box filled with soothing goodies to help a snausage through difficult times (not just panic episodes) shouldn't be underestimated....

During an episode:

* remind yourself that it will pass - physiologically speaking peak arousal can only last for +- 10 (usually less) minutes before naturally subsiding.

While an attack can take up to 40 (or more) minutes from initial activation - and the after effects can linger for days - peak arousal (shaking, rapid heartbeat, blurred vision, need to run etc) can only be sustained for between 7 - 10 minutes in most cases. So yeah, it will pass. It may feel like it will never end, but it will.

* allow your body to breathe in whatever way it already is. If that is impossible, or perhaps unsustainable, put your attention on the exhale.

Let the inhale happen in whatever way it wants to - fast, shallow whatever - and focus only on lengthening the exhale by breathing out as slowly and deeply as possible.

For most people, trying to exert control over the breathing rate and/or depth during a panic attack tends to look like holding the breath (in an effort to slow it down) - which escalates the stress response - or taking a deep breath in (in an effort to calm it down) - which also escalates the stress response.

By ignoring the inhale and focusing only on extending the exhale, one is working with - instead of against - the physiology. Which not only allows the stress response to subside fairly quickly, but as a natural side effect, also regulates the breathing.

If one understands what the stress response is - a survival mechanism that produces an adrenaline surge (amongst other things) in order to fight off an attacker or run for one's life - and a panic attack is just an inappropriate - because there is no external, physical threat - stress response, then one is far better equipped to handle an episode when it occurs.

Taking a deep breath in during a stress response (or panic attack) ups the ante - because the stress activation response is designed to allow maximum oxygen and blood flow to the extremities in order to fight or flee - and taking a deep breath in signals the amygdala that the system is still under threat and more oxygen is required.

Extending the exhale - taking a deep, slow breath out - diminishes the arousal response, which in turn calms the system - because it signals the amygdala that the threat has been dealt with, and it can stand down.

It also helps to understand that panic attacks are a legitimate way for the body to off-gas excess stress. Not an ideal way by any stretch of the imagination, but unfortunately, the body can only work with what it's got. So overall stress management/resolution becomes extra extra important if one suffers from panic episodes.

One last thing, please consult a medical practitioner if you regularly - or suddenly - experience symptoms. Sometimes medication and/or therapy is required to get a handle on panic episodes.

Good luck Frens. And remember, no matter what, you are not alone. You are loved. And you are absolutely fukken perfect - exactly as you are.

Much love Shiny

[dmndsave]

[dmndsave]

How is religion organized in your setting?

Here are some examples

Not at all: Basically some priest goes “Hey if anyone is interested, I built this temple and you can come in and do worship, donations are appreciated” and that’s all there is to it. Maybe other priests start preaching in the same temple. 

Global Church: There is a hierarchical structure that every faithful person is part of. They keep track of who is part of the religion, collect fees, priests are trained in special schools, you get the gist

The government takes care of it: Temples are funded by taxes. There is no cooperation between temples of god A if one of them is in kingdom 1 but the other is in republic 2. 

Feel free to add your own!

[dmndsave]

Fantasy Guide to Noble Titles & What they Mean

So I get a lot of questions about what nobles actually do or how much they own or why a certain title is higher than another. Understanding the complexities of nobility and their hierarchy can be a bit of a head twister but hopefully this will help you out. Just for the moment we will be focusing on European Titles because I can't fit all the titles into one post. Forgive my shitty doodles. The diagrams mark out where the particular noble would rule.

Archduke/Archduchess

These titles have two meanings. In the latter half of the Austrian Empire, it was used to denote senior members of the Royal family such as children and siblings. It is also a non Royal title given to someone who rules an archduchy, a large portion of land with in the kingdom. They are in charge of the archduchy, ensuring it runs smoothly. They are referred to as Your Grace.

Grand Duke/Grand Duchess

The Grand Duke is probably the trickiest of all these titles as there is a dual meaning. A Grand Duke can rule a state as a sovereign like in Luxembourg or they can rule a Grand Duchy (a large portion of land within a kingdom) like the Grand Dukes of Russia. The Grand Duke was below the Archduke and their lands may be smaller. They are in charge of ruling their Grand Duchy, upholding the monarch's laws in their name. They are referred to as Your Grace.

Duke/Duchess

The Duke is the highest rank in most European nations. The Duke rules a large portion of the kingdom- called a Duchy- which you can think of as a county/state. The Duchies are often awarded by the monarch to their children who are not the heir. The Duke is charge with running that portion of land by order of the monarch, handling the over all business of that piece of the Kingdom. Dukes are referred to as Your Grace. There was only one Duke per Duchy.

Marquess/Marchioness

A Marquess is the next rung down from Dukes. The Marquess is in charge of a portion of land within a Duchy which is called a Marsh which lays near a border. The Marquess is solely responsible for the running of that portion of land. The Marquess is called The Most Honourable (Insert name), the Marquess of XYZ. There could be multiple marquesses in a Duchy if it was near a large border.

Earl/Count/Countess/Compte/Comptesse

An Earl/Count Rules over an Earldom, which is a section of a Duchy but it has less importance than a Marsh ruled by the Marquess. The Earl/Count is the third highest ranking within the Duchy. Often it was the subsidiary title of the heir of the Dukedom, so the eldest son/daughter of the Duke would be the Earl. The Earl/Count of X is addressed as Lord X for example, the Earl of Grantham, is called Lord Grantham. There could be multiple Earls/counts per Duchy.

Viscount/Viscountess/Viscompte/Viscomptess

Viscounts are the Earl/Count's second in command, ruling a portion of land with the Earldom. They handled the judiciary matters of their lands and their barons. Viscounts were addressed as the Right Honourable (insert name) Viscount of XY. Viscounts can also be used as a subsidiary title for the son of a Earl. When Thomas Boleyn was made Earl of Wiltshire, his son George was made Viscount Rochford. There might be multiple Viscounts in a Duchy.

Baron/Baroness

The Baron is the lowest of ranks in the nobility pyramid. Before the mid-medieval period, almost all nobles were labelled as Barons. They ruled over a portion of the land under the Duke, the Earl and Viscount. There were always a huge force of barons with in the Duchy. They handled the minor local disputes of their lands, collecting taxes and monies owed. If they faced a larger issue or crime, they would pass it up to the next ranking noble the Viscount and then it could travel all the way up to the Duke. The Baron of Townville were referred to as as Lord Townville.

[dmndsave]

You know what’s some crazy $hit?

This fabulous bitch

She makes a shit ton of poses (like 16,000 or some crazy nonsense).  I used this lovely lady to draw so much as a teen.  Whether it was some nerdy pose for my Mary Sue as fuck OCs

or for full on fight sequences

or for tragic deaths of my OCs in the arms of a totally OOC main protagonist.  

this bitch hooked me up.  

And with the wildest, craziest stuff that you could see in your head but had no way or resources to reasonably draw like

or this

or this

DUDE!  INASNE SHIT!!  So I was using her for a pose reference and decided, you know what, I owe this bitch some cash.  Lemme dole it out for her.  BUT then, I looked and saw she only has 286 fucking patrons!!  This chick gives out free shit and spends countless hours arranging these shoots and setting this stuff up.  

I’ll fork up the cash, SenshiStock.  You’re worth it.  

Check out this amazing woman’s stuff, and get knowledged:  https://www.deviantart.com/senshistock

[dmndsave]

so something i think the rpc/writing community may have been sleeping on but i wanted to share…

“MEDIEVAL FANTASY CITY GENERATOR” 

by watabou

it’s a random generator for custom cities/towns that are perfect for things like roleplaying, writing, and d&d. it’s simple but just complex enough to allow for customization of the things you’d like to change

honestly i love this page because it’s so helpful for so many different things?? i can’t show all of the customization options here in the images but some are, but not limited to:

small, medium, or large maps

changing the map coloring

you can add a title and key

you can warp certain points for small adjustments

.png export

saving wips

and so much more!!

honestly the best way to learn all that the generator does is to play with it yourself. i adore using this and hope it helps anyone who also needs a similar resource!!

[dmndsave]

Some tips on eating as a poor person that aren't "live on dry beans and rice that take time and effort to make"

Food Banks Exist For YOU!! I don't need one anymore but am so thankful for them. You may hesitate to go to them bc you don't think you need it as badly as others... but from someone who spent years with their dad going to several, the food is there and they want to help. It isn't embarrassing; the people who volunteer are doing it for a reason, and ime treat you as a shopper, not a charity case. There are sites to find food banks. If you go to one, they usually have pamphlets for all the ones in the area. We never had to prove income or anything like that. They want to help, I promise.

If there's a local farmer's market, check to see if they have a subsidy program for people on food stamps. Another thing my dad and I used. At two separate markets 5 hrs apart, both had a program where you could DOUBLE your food stamp money in farmer's market coupons. Healthy, fresh, local, ethically raised food for less than the grocery store

If you go to a store more than once in a blue moon get the discount/membership/whatever card. It's usually super easy and almost always saves you a LOT of money

When in a supermarket, look at price per ounce if comparing items. Do not look at total price vs visual package size. Companies are experts at packing less and less food into larger packages. Grocery stores with a price per oz on the tags are so so helpful, but if they don't, sometimes it honestly makes a difference to use your phone calculator

CHECK IF YOU HAVE AN ALDI IN YOUR AREA. They sell actual seriously good, usually healthy food way cheaper than crappy stuff at other stores. This is for a lot of reasons I won't get into. But, it's also just a more ethical system for their workers, who make well above minimum wage. Aldi is Life. Tip: if you don't have reusable bags, keep an eye out for empty boxes as you shop. They don't bag anything for you.

BIG LOTS or other similar clearance/discount stores. They get an ever-changing stock of things at deep discounts. Lots of nice luxury and/or healthy groceries at half price as well as your normal staples. Also my go-to for home items and pet supplies

Shop Sales. This one is obvious to some but others just aren't in the habit. I almost exclusively buy things on sales where I save at least 1/3, usually 1/2. You can have a fully stocked pantry and freezer and spend half as much as if you only buy things when you want to eat that particular thing. It does mean less fresh food, but y'know. Just develop a laser eye for a sale tag and know where the clearance section is. Second nature to people who grew up poor but I was amazed shopping with college friends who bought full price name brand food and had trouble paying rent

I haven't done this but my brother swears by it. He went in with a few friends on a communal Costco membership. Could also do this with Sam's Club. They shop together, and then split bulk items if there's a great deal on something one person couldn't eat on their own. Bulk is the way to go if you can find a way to have the up-front cash. Impossible for many which is why the communal thing is so genius!

If this helps even one person it was worth writing out! I've realized last year, I learned a Lot growing up under the poverty line. It doesn't just appear in your brain when you're 22 and can't pay your bills for the first time.

Please feel free to add other tips if you have them. Just don't shame people for eating what they choose to eat like those "vegan dollar cookbooks" or whatever.

[dmndsave]

。・ template psd sixty by templatepsds ゜+.*

-`. info .’-

+ as requested, here is a template of a phone notification screen.

+ you can use it as it is, or you can move them around and have 3 notifications from today and 2 from yesterday, 1 today and 4 yesterday, etc.

+ you have to add the app icons.

+ the font used is ‘Roboto’ in regular and thin modes, and you can download them here.

+ not for commercial use or anything like that! just for personal use/to have fun.

+ adjust as much as you want to suit your liking.

+ please like or reblog if you download.

+ message if you have any questions/difficulties!

-`. dl .’-

[dmndsave]

Ever want to make a pair of faun feet but every single tutorial has you using power tools?

Well, now you can without the hassle of dealing with terrifying tools you aren’t certified to use! Recently I made a pair for a project and they turned out quite well, you can see how I made them below the cut.

Keep reading

[dmndsave]

After seeing the dad how do I channel, I really wanted this one. I searched for it and, tada! Mom how do I? Seems rather new, but I love it anyway.

[dmndsave]

PART ONE: CHARACTER NAME, BRACKETS + AVATAR

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO TUPPERBOX. firstly, thank you to @arrakispaul​ for introducing me to this wonderful bot. why will this improve your discord rp experience? this bot is universal in it’s ability to allow you create your own character profiles with the simple trick of a sentence of text. to help explain i’ve brought GIF SAMPLES to help you with this process. 

benefits: 

universal: meaning any server with this bot will carry through your characters. once you register a character, it will follow you into ANY server that hosts tupperbox.

avatar + custom name ( for those aesthetics )

what you’ll need: 

discord account ( duh lol )

a server to experiment 

the tupperbox extension

the goal: 

               LIKE IF THIS HELPED  /  TUPPERBOX BOT

Keep reading

[dmndsave]

film reviews that will haunt me forever

[dmndsave]

someone in a fanfic: s-stutters in embarrassment

me, closing the tab: sorry I must go

[dmndsave]

DAISY’S PSDS + INSTAGRAM PACK

INFORMATION  +  nothing new but i wanted to make my own templates anyway. basic photoshop skills is all you’ll need to be able to use these but if you encounter any problems, just let me know. you can find a live preview of these templates in action here!

FONTS  USED  + montserrat and made tommy (bold).

TERMS  &  CONDITIONS  +  there’s no need to tag me if you end up using this but i will ask that you don’t claim it as your own, that’s all i ask. this took me hours and it just wouldn’t be fair.

DOWNLOAD + you  can  download the templates from this page!! finally, please  like or reblog if you found this useful c: