#I think I'm either in the middle of a depressive episode or something similar to one

[aksually2008]

aksel's guide to relaxing media

A lot of people have asked me to compile a list of my go-to depressing/dooming media, but I feel it would be irresponsible to give you that without an antidote.

Maybe this will be of help to you on an anxious night and instead of smoking a cigarette you'll turn to this or maybe its a nice cozy afternoon and you need something to maintain that feeling.. either way here's stuff that I consume on those days:

Film/TV

Joe Pera Talks You to Sleep

This is something I have recommended to most of my friends at this point and if you ever give me the opportunity I'll probably talk your ear off about this man. I have a very special affinity towards this video, as it randomly found me on a particularly stressful quarantine night and boy am I glad it did.

I'm not gonna talk about it too much further, but if you're feeling a little bit lost or anxious, even after my 250 watches of this, I end up feeling a little bit better. If you like it make sure to check out his show, Joe Pera Talks With You on hbomax as it's one of my favourite shows ever!! The episodes are short and easy to digest :)

How to With John Wilson

It's hard for me to exactly describe this show, it's just one of those things you have to see for yourself to fully understand the appeal of it. For the most part, this show uses street footage of New York City and interviews with average everyday New Yorkers to convey some kind of narrative, usually disguised as a tutorial(hence the "how to"). There's a lot of absurdity, laughter and sometimes it plays with your emotions a bit, but sometimes it's nice to just unwind and learn about the insane industry of scaffolding in NYC.

Come and Visit Us Again

Okay, so this is probably one of the most niche things here.. Considering that it has 205 views as of me writing this and it's in estonian with no captions available.(Maybe someday I'll translate it)

As far as I can tell, it is a documentary short made by Liis Nimik, who at the time was a film school student. It follows the day-to-day of a village grocery store cashier and her interactions with the people who visit her store everyday.

Moms, dads, scary little kids and village bums.. It has it all and serves as this kind of a sweet time capsule of one particular week in this one Estonian village. I will admit this is probably extra comforting for me as I grew up near a village similar to this that also had a store just like this one. In a small village, the people who work at the local grocery store really become apart of your everyday life and I loved to see it captured like this.

I feel like even if you don't understand Estonian, it's nice background noise.

Malcom in the Middle

Need I say more?

Youtube

If you know me, you know I'm a fiend for comforting youtube personalities. Here are some of my favorites:

Steve Wallis

Even if you aren't particularly interested in camping, you'll still probably enjoy these videos. Steve is probably one of the sweetest dudes I've found on YouTube and he really knows how to keep a conversation. All in all, just nice to throw on if you just wanna disconnect for 30 minutes

Shirley Curry

I've loved Shirley's stuff for years now. She calls her viewers her grandkids and posts vlogs & let's plays. I think that covers the gist of it.

Featureman a.k.a. Tom Willett

This is an older gentleman, who for the most part shows you different meals that he makes & tells you stories about his time as an actor in the 1980s. Every video feels like you're visiting your grandpa.

GIFGAS

I found them quite recently, but they're quickly turning into my favourite Youtube channel. Videos of trainhopping, which are so well shot and the music choices are soooooo gooooood. Every travel vlog should have a mandatory requirement of at least (1) shoegaze song.

Roger Hance

Found this guy randomly on my recommended and him only having 4k subs feels like a crime. He's a bird photographer, who vlogs his outings and talks about all the little birds he sees. super cute.

Music

Below are a couple of playlists and tracks I recommend for this occasion:

Mixture of ambient tracks and just relaxing instrumentals. There's no vocals. During the summer, I would always listen to this if I was sitting in a park or doodling.

This is just some of my favourite ambient tracks. If you've never really listened to ambient music before, check this out I guarantee you'll like it.

I have fallen asleep to this so many times that sometimes i just constantly hear it in the back of my head. Maybe thats not a comforting thought but it helps me sleep so that's a price I am willing to pay.

That's about it though.. I didn't include everything, because this is already pretty long and I have to keep some things secret, but I hope you find use in some of this. bye

[b0ne--r0t]

I really love it when I bring up genuine concerns about my mental health to my mother, and it's taken me literal MONTHS to work up the courage to do this, and say;

"oh hey mom, I'm really fucking struggling with [insert symptoms] and I've talked to some people who experience similar things, and I also study psychology which you know because I hyperfixated on it two fucking years ago and I've done lots of research, and lots of thinking, and I think it might actually be [insert disorder] because I checked the criteria, and I actually fit every single one, and this is having a really detrimental effect on me, and I just think we should go to the doctor and see if-"

And then she interrupts me in the middle of my carefully structured speech and fucking laughs in my face, and tells me to get my ass off of Google and stop self diagnosing, whEN ALL IM LITERALLY DOING IS TRYING TO RAISE A GENUINE CONCERN ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS LITERALLY DESTROYING ME, AND THE REAL KICKER IS I DIDNT FUCKING USE GOOGLE.

It drives me mental. Whenever I bring up the fact that the stuff wrong with me is possibly not just 'mild depression and anxiety' she goes absolutely ballistic or laughs at me, because she views people with anything else as non functional and crazy. Like fuck off.

I've tried to kill myself five times. I self harm at any given opportunity mostly clean at the moment tho and I have these fucking horrible episodes where I'm either so happy it fucking hurts, so angry, I hurt MYSELF, or where I believe everyone fucking hates me and they're all gonna leave, and something as simple as texting me 'goodbye.' With the fucking dot at the end of the sentence is enough to make me spiral and believe everyone hates me. And let's not mention the psychotic episodes, like the time I had to smear my blood on every window and door in the fucking house to keep the monsters outside from eating and murdering the entire fucking family.

This isn't just a 'mild' case of depression and anxiety. This IS ME, GOING COMPLETELY FUCKING BONKERS, AND NOBODY FUCKING CARES. NOBODY NOTICES, AND NOBODY CARES.

IM NOT FUCKING EATING. I BARLEY SLEEP. I WRITE NEW SUICIDE NOTES ALMOST EVERY NIGHT BECAUSE I DONT HAVE A FUCKING CLUE IF IM GOING TO MAKE IT TILL MORNING. LIKE THIS IS NOT FUCKING NORMAL.

THIS IS NOT OKAY. BUT YET YOU JUST FUCKONG LAUGH AT ME AND ACT LIKE IM MAKING IT UP, DONT YOU MOM?

[twilight-blaze]

...oh that explains a lot

[samuel-de-champagne-problems]

I'm doing them all 5 at a time, feel free to share your opinions

Which type of cereal is their favorite?

Something excessively sweet but redeemable healthy, like frosted flakes. Sugary, but almost corn flakes.

What outfit do they wear when they need to feel confident?

Mmmmm some complimentary pants and a purple or green button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow

Describe their dream date

Go to bookstore, find books for the other person in various categories (eg a romance, a non fiction, a science fiction, etc.), present them at a picnic

What is their bath or shower routine?

Mmmm at first he used fucking 3 in 1 but then Penny g found out and he still uses the same products she recommended. He did some research and washes his hair every other day, sometimes every third day, and he goes to her with any questions about good haircuts or styles. He used a loofah in the bath and eventually gets confident enough in his loofah to use it in the shower as well. Baths are for relaxing or depression days when he feels like he doesn't want to shower even though he knows he should.

What is their love language?

Touch and quality time (I think those are right?? Idk much about this one)

ahhh it's long one friends...

1. Which type of cereal is their favorite?

Yes, he'd love something excessively sugary. I think he'd be a no-milk cereal kind of guy. Just munching on a box of cereal as a snack in the middle of their workspace with gory pictures surrounding them?? Peak SpencerCore!

2. What outfit do they wear when they need to feel confident?

So this would be so hard for him, because he would feel like everything fits him so awkwardly. But I think he'd pay attention to color theory or the science behind confidence and choose something that compliments that. Like you said, rolling the sleeves up to his elbows?? YES SPENCER <3 He'd feel really good in something that fits him, which I think is cannonical because post episode one, season one, his clothes fit so much better. So I think he'd like something like a lavender button up shirt with soft corduroy pants in a dark gray and a cardigan in a complimenting color. He'd wear his Converse for a touch of familiarity and a mismatching socks for luck.

3. Describe their dream date

Spencer's dream date would be either him show is partner things he likes or them showing him things they'd like. Like you said, he'd love a bookstore date. He'd love to pick out a book for you and you one for him. Imagine a museum date?? So fucking cute. Oh, and a star-gazing date. I love the stars and I'd love to show him all the constellations, but imagine him playing dumb and pretending to not know the stories and myths behind them so you can explain them. Like he'd bring a blanket to lay down on and he'd let you use his chest as a pillow or you'd let him lay his head in your lap as you both look up. And then you hands would slowly gravitate to his hair and end up brushing you hands through his pretty hair. Honestly, all the intelligence would be sucked out of his head when you thread you fingers through his hair-- he doesn't even have to play dumb. He'd fall asleep, at peace, safe and loved. And dreaming of a second date.

4. What is their bath or shower routine?

DUDE!! We said similar things when I did @reidslibrarybook ask :) but yes, Penelope turns him on to the good shit. Like Spencer was on his own at such a young age, so he'd be so clueless when it comes to maintain self-care. He's a night showerer, but would use a morning shower for a quick wake up. He also would have a fantastic skin care routine that he needs to drop because it's probably ethical and unscented and I need that crap for my dry skin.

5. What is their love language?

I think Spencer's love language is touch, even though he's so skeptical of it. Personally, he's a little hesitant to let himself be loved because in his past love has always had an expiration date or came at a price. His dad leaving really messed him up and makes him scared at the next person he loves leaving. So he holds himself out at arms length because from there he can't be hurt. But as he grows in a relationship he learns that true love doesn't have an end date. It's still good and fresh and wonderful no matter how long you've had it. Once he learns this, he never wants to be without touching you. Whether it's in the car over the console, in the kitchen with his hands ghosting your waist or on the couch when you are practically laying on top of each other, he loves it and craves it. After being touch starved so for so long he feels like he's playing catch up and you're more than happy to oblige.

[araminakilla]

Ducktales theory: Modern Arabian Night(mare)s

Warning: Long theory, has a little of angst too.

So, you already know I love the Treasure of the Lost Lamp characters, and with Found Lamp! things got better. Today's theory is about D'jinn (I'm not sorry) and a concept that was introduced in this new Ducktales' season 2. What is that concept? Stay tuned.

This Christmas I was watching an original Netflix movie with the name of "Knight before Christmas" The plot is simple: An european knight from the XIV century meets a witch in the forest. Said witch brings him to the present in 2019, days before our Christmas. He has to complete a quest before the Holidays or he can't return home, that is, his time period.

While there is more to tell, I wanted to point this because the knight spoke in a manner that made me think in D'jinn. That's when I realized: That's how medieval knights spoke! (yeah, I think you knew this by this point, I'm slow in some things, it happens)

Not only that, but said knight tried to solve conflicts with his sword and is very loyal with people he just met but have good intentions. Also, he was talking about his quest during the movie, just like D'jinn in the Found Lamp! episode.

There was a post about the movie where the person said that the knight was handsome, among other things, but also very stupid. Then I found this comment:

Why am I telling you all of this? Well, here comes the theory part. I thought in two possibilities of why D'jinn acts like a medieval knight.

1) He's a fan of stories with ancient arabian medieval knights and is imitating them (a dramatic theater boy)

2) He IS an ancient arabian medieval knight stuck in the present.

But how? Well, I think it has to be with this lamp: (pictures belong to @scroogeislife)

The lamp of Eternity. It has to do with time, so that could mean something. At first I thought of Merlock given that he's inmortal, and maybe that could be Gene the Genie's new lamp design, but who knows?

Also a fun fact: Faris means "knight" in Arabic so if D'jinn is really a knight that would make him "Al-Faris Faris D'jinn" which would translate to "The knight Faris D'jinn" or is The knight Knight Genie?? Anyway...

The point is, Faris was doing what arabian knights did with the company of other knights from his hometown. I theorize that he was in a war against some new invaders that wanted to conquer his homeland and destroy his family for the lamp. I would say they were either the Knight Templars or the Ottomans, let's go with the Ottomans since it was established he hates them in the series. The time period would be the early/mid XIV century (I don't really know much about arabian history in those times, so lets continue)

Be a lamp, a wizard or some strange magic, our Faris ended up in the XXI century, 700 years in the future.

To make things better (for us) he ends up in a modern arabian City with many modern malls, very advanced technology and beautiful skyscrapers (because yes, there are still people who believe those things don't exist in the Middle East)

He naturaly freaks up and demands to know what happens and for "demands" that means raising his sword, pointing it at everyone who is making eye contact with him and screaming: What kind of sorcery is this!?

The people around him also freak out, culminating in D'jinn being taken to the police, who proceeds to take pictures of him, hence those pictures in Lunaris' secret war room and why there are two of them when everyone has only one.

They began to make questions like: Who are you? Where did you come from? What are your intentions?

And D'jinn is like: I am Faris D'jinn! Loyal knight of (Insert name of a sultan here) who along with other magnificent people has the sacred duty of stop the Ottomans so they can not expand and become a powerful Empire!

And the police is like: Do you know the Ottoman Empire ended almost a century ago right?

Which is why Faris asks: They became an Empire!? How!? When!? What year is this!?

The Officers explain that the Ottomans ruled the Middle East for centuries and by the time of World War One they started to fall and now their descendants are the Turks. Oh, and also that this is the XXI century.

And then Faris D'jinn.exe has stopped working.

The officers were worried about this guy's mental health and told him they were going to call a doctor to see if he can help him and that he has to wait in a room.

But D'jinn had other things in mind. What happened seven centuries ago after he disappeared? What happened to his people, his companions in war, his family? Where are they now? He wants to know all those answers. He wants to know everything NOW.

So, like the good warrior he is, he escapes and begins to seach for the D'jinn family.

Unfortunately, they seem to have disappeared. There's no sign of his family or descendants with his last name. He begins to fear for the worst. He sometimes thinks the Ottomans wiped them out of existence, but other times he believes they are fine and it's only matter of seaching more, hence why Faris told Huey that the Ottomans failed miserably at trying to destroy his family (and suddenly another funny moment becomes an angsty one)

Gif belongs to @drummergirl231-2

We believed Della had it rough? Well yes that's very true but what about being the only survivor of your family? That must hurt a lot, specialy for someone very family-oriented and who consider bloodline and legacy to be very important.

He actually goes through the 5 stages of grief, the Anger and Depression stages being the most prominent ones.

He refuses to have any contact or friendship with other people, as he can't understand them and he feels they will never understand him.

It's only when he gets to the Acceptance stage that he begins to talk to others and is interested in modern technology, music, etc.

D'jinn even records everything new he learns in different scrolls just in case he has the posibility of return to his time period.

The people (mostly millenials) around him find his way of thinking and speaking funny and they call him a loony when he tries to convince them he is an actual knight from the past.

That's where we return to the "Knight before Christmas" post. D'jinn is not dumb, he's from another time period. He's adapting, with hilarous consequences.

After hundreds of failed intents to revelal his true identity, Faris gives up and adopts a "sure, I'm a dramatic man who loves knights, whatever" attitude, which makes him feel more lonely than what already was before.

Years pass and he knows how to use a cellphone properly, how to ride a motorcycle, among other things. But he still has the hope to return to his true home and see his family again.

In the future (our present), his quest for the lamp of the first Genie continues as it still is one of the (if not the only) relics his family has.

Then he meets the Duck family and the rest is history...

After the lamp adventure, he meets the Living Mummies and bonds with them as they were in a similar situation, being from "other times" and adapting to the present.

If he gets to meet Gene and have the lamp in his hands, he would try to make a wish to return to his original time period. But there are problems:

1) He is starting to like his new present and will miss all of his new allies (the Ducks and the Mummies)

2) He knows to much. OF COURSE he's going to tell everyone about what happens in the future which could end in him becoming the arab equivalent of Nostradamus at best, or everyone thinking he is crazy at worst.

3) He and his family have a code that if someone found a thing with a Genie in it and if the genie is good, they would free it with their first wish. This code is as strong as the Mandalorian's code of not removing his helmet (This is the way) so Faris will be torn about betraying the family code only to return to them or staying in the future and never see his family and friends again.

The only solution would be asking the Ducks to make a wish so he can return but knowing Scrooge, Della and Donald, they would consider that very dangerous because again, he knows to much, he could change dramatically the events of history.

Gif belongs to @nerdalmighty

And things could get worse if Merlock/F.O.W.L. get to know about the time traveler knight.

But that is another story.

[lightningbugqueen]

Disclaimer: I asked for a writing prompt, I got this awesome one. Dean is watching DC legends, but I'm writing this off what I remember of the episode, most likely wrong. I don't own either show.

Dean sat back on the couch, flipping through channels. The hunt had been rough, instead of the expected lone vamp, there had been a nest. They had taken care of it, of course, but had required angelic healing from Cas. There weren't any new episodes or re-runs of Doctor Sexy on(not that he watched it), so he ended up on some superhero show for kids, seeing as the news these days was just too depressing. He stumbled upon it in the middle of an episode, where it looked like a guy was exorcising a girl on a bed. Normally he wouldn't watch something that looked too similar to his every day job, but the man had on a trench coat that looked suspiciously like the one Cas wore, so he kept watching. The show went on to some weird stuff, sigils and time travel, as well as a really hot girl, who appeared to be some type of assassin. There was one scene that got him thinking. The girl and the trench coated man were walking down the hallway of this asylum, and started making out. It was a very heated scene(why they were kissing when they had a job to do, he did not know), but that wasn't what caught his attention. It was the conversation they had as they walked back down the corridor afterward. The woman -Sarah- was talking about how she liked both boys and girls. It intrigued Dean, because while he knew people could be attracted to both, thanks to John Winchester's A+ parenting(and homophobia), he had never heard the term. Bisexual. He mulled it over in his head, completely forgetting about the show. He remembered his mild obsession with the captain of the football team in 11th grade when they were in Louisiana. How he wasn't exactly opposed that time the male bartender flirted with him. He thought about Cas. The long stares, butterflies, and thoughts that weren't exactly heterosexual. He leaned back again, not remembering when exactly he sat up, and thought some more. Bisexual. Maybe that was a good word for him. Surprisingly, it didn't bother him that much. Huh, he thought, that's cool. Then he thought about how attracted he was to Castiel, angel of the lord, who gripped him right and raised him from Perdition. Then he freaked out.

@https://deano-cas.tumblr.com