#adhd & emotional flooding

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

ADHD & Emotional Flooding

Future ADHD

[magentasnail]

Creatures Stickers - Common Asks

I've been getting a bunch of asks about the creatures stickers and where can you use them so I think it's about time I organize it in one place to save both of us the struggle

Existing stickers: Autism/TBH creature reactions Autism/TBH creature emojis ADHD/BTW creature reactions/stickers Anxiety/IDK creature + Depression/wtf creature

(all designs are currently available on my Redbubble shop !)

Can I use the stickers for reactions/emojis? yeah of course! you can use them on whatever app you'd like. you can also make packs of them if you'd like (as long as they remain free of course)

Can I use any for a pfp? yes, just make sure to @ me in your bio if you can!

Can I use them for my YouTube/Twitch channels? because these are more brand focused and can be monetized, I'd rather you don't

Can I use them for a tattoo? go ahead! I'd love to see the results too if you feel comfortable sharing!

Can I edit the stickers (for example, to resemble a character)? no problem, I'd love to see the results!

Can I print them as stickers myself? if you can, I'd rather you get them from my Redbubble so I can get a few cents !

Thank you so much for the support !!!

[rory-cakes]

The Child

She was here…

“Alastor! She’s here! In heaven!!!” 

“Who Birdy?”

“Eudora!” 

Huh?

“Oh, I HAVE to go meet her! I’ll get approval for her to come down and visit you too!”

His daughter was here…

“Everything’s so bright up here…” 

Eudora was in awe of the sights of heaven. Her jaw dropped for a moment while she looked around. 

Emily giggled, “Yeah! It’s so great!!” 

“Emily, there was someone I hoped you could help me find. Her name was-”

“Eudora?”

The woman could have been her twin. Sure, there were little differences here and there, but overall, the two were one and the same. Despite having never met her, Eudora could never forget the face of the woman in the painting in her family home—the woman who gave her life for her own. The woman was her mother, without a doubt. 

“Mama?”

Tears welled in the singer’s eyes,

“Oh, my baby!!!” 

The women rush forward in a crushing embrace. Y/n’s body shook from the sheer emotion of being able to hold her child for the first time. She finally got to hold her baby. 

“Hi mama.”

“Hi baby.”

A certain antlered man was a lot more quiet than usual.

Normally, Alastor would delight in the chaos that the hotel provided. Even Husk started to get anxious as that man hadn’t threatened him in a good three days. 

“Soooooo, anyone know what’s wrong with smiles over there?”

“Now that you mention it, he hasn’t been meddling lately.”

“I’m taken it as a blessing.”

“Come on guys we should go see what’s wrong!”

“Uh Char, I don’t think that’s a good idea…”

“Why not?”

“Cause smiles ‘ll rip ya head off?” 

“You don’t know that…”

…

“Okay maybe! But-”

The front door is opened and a golden glow floods into the space. 

“Hi everyone I’m back!!”

“Y/n! I’m so glad your here! What’s wrong with Alastor?” 

“What ever do you mean?”

“Well he’s been mopey for days!”

“Mopey? My husband? Really?”

“Uh Mama?”

Everyone freezes. 

In the doorway is another angel. 

She is the spitting image of their angel friend. 

“Ah right! Everyone this is mine and Alastor’s daughter Eudora!”

Alastor has a what? 

“The deer procreated?”

“The what?”

“Birdy is that you?”

“Yes my darling! Come here!”

Alastor’s heart stopped.

She was so beautiful. 

“Hi Pop…”

“My little doe…”

The facade falls. 

The members of the hazbin hotel watch as the small family is reunited. 

The Child Is Home…

A/n: I hope you all enjoyed the family reuniting!!

Taglist: @crazed-flower, @nanamunath, @preferably-fictional, @eccedentesiast-sapphic, @leximus98, @cupidsgift, @mag-chan, @stygianoir, @thereeallink, @yelloeukulele, @mariaclarade-la-cruz1, blurpleuni-squid, @galaxywing-has-adhd, @just-here-reading, @deez-nuts0, @strawberry-gothic, @purplerose291,@1-800-mocha, @trashbin-nie, @queenmizuki, @nkirukaj @bennythebitch @otherthoughtsofbu, @fantasycantasy, @hunnybee11626, @notally-tormal, @valerie-36, @lovingyeet, @holographicage, @har-har-harvey, @i-love-jafar, @cupidsgift, @meow-meowo, @theblueslytherin, @deadt3tinside, @lyralibra, @the-unhinged-raccoon, @avitute, @alastorswifeee, @stygianoir, @sideshow-b0b, @deadlymouse123, @mysingularitybts, @emotionalfangirl2002, @t0xic1vi, @goodlittlepup, @starsatmyhome, @wendds, @reader3, @redfoxgotlost, @hurthermore, @frostychurro, @isa-dragon

[animasola86]

Sebastian Sallow Headcanons (revisited)

I made a similar post a while back, but I think it's time to revisit it.

Sebastian Sallow is a Scorpio (born between Oct 23 and Nov 22).

Typical Scorpio traits include being resourceful, ambitious, brave, (com)passionate, possessive, jealous, loyal, supportive, emotional, intense. I’d say he is all that. Also fits the Slytherin characteristics.

I don't have a particular date in mind for him anymore, but I'd say around Halloween or after would suit him and Anne. (I haven't looked at the actual Astrology aspect of it, leaving that to the experts here!)

He is a nerd and an athlete.

He is the kind of nerd who will hit you with knowledge when you least expect it and never as the know-it-all type, but rather the let-me-share-my-knowledge type. I'm sure he'll be actually fun at parties.

And I see no problem in him being hunched over books for hours on end and being physically fit at the same time. (Yes, he seemed a little unfit at the start of fifth year, being all breathless on the way to Hogsmeade and during a mission up some stairs, but I'll ignore that. He'll grow into it.)

So he's not only fit enough to brave all those stairs in Hogwarts, I also see him on the Quidditch team. I initially had him as a Beater in my head, and I still stand by it, but I do see him as a Seeker as well now, just because how he can show off by catching the Snitch.

(I don't see him as a Chaser, too average a position for him imo, or a Keeper, I think he'd be too hyper to stay in one place all the time, even though his protective trait might play into it, but he can focus on that more when he hits some Bludgers around.)

He is tall.

I also HC that Ominis is taller, but Sebastian is still tall. I put him at 1.80m/180cm (5′11″) initially, but I might even put him taller now. He'll definitely have another growth spurt during his last years at Hogwarts and grow into an even taller adult, so for now, let's settle on him being 1.85m/185cm/6'1" at the end of the game. (Angst can make you grow, yes.)

(And I need him to be tall because my MCs usually are quite short and I just love that size difference dynamic so much!)

He is an extrovert.

He might have his baggage to carry during his fifth year (and beyond), but he still has many extrovert tendencies, especially needing people around to recharge - even if it's just one person (our MC preferably). He is a twin, so being alone was never really an option before Anne got sick.

That's why he hates being alone, he'll certainly have his mind flooded with doubts and dark thoughts if he happens to be alone. That might make him clingy and/or overprotective towards his significant other/friends, but if it helps him sleep at night, he won't hesitate to hog those special people to his advantage.

He is a light sleeper.

And probably has nightmares more than your average boy considering all the stress he puts himself under, with his worries for Anne and the constant abuse from Solomon and his general past (loss of his parents, etc.).

Yet even though he might have trouble falling asleep and sleeping in general, I do think he can sleep anywhere, thinking about the shed in Feldcroft that the fandom considers to be his place to stay when he visits his sister. Also as a twin he was probably used to sharing small spaces and finding sleep wherever he can.

He can't sit still for long.

Call it ADHD, restless legs syndrome or general nerves, he probably can't sit still and has to fidget a lot as well. Might conflict with his ability to absorb himself in books for hours on end, but even when reading, I'd imagine him moving a lot (think back to him pacing in front of the fireplace in the Slytherin common room, or his constant walking cycle through the DADA tower, etc.).

His favorite color is green.

Obvious choice, I just needed something to end this with. So here we go. Green for Slytherin, for nature, and maybe, probably hope? Who knows.

[ 🔞 NSFW Sebastian Sallow Headcanons ]

[takabinaryy]

The Wolf's Kit

Originally posted on June 23rd 2023

Request made by RonnieMidnight on Wattpad Caregiver Derek Werefox Little Stiles Also a reminder not all littles talk with a lisp or like a toddler. Even if they are mentally a toddler in that moment)

Normally Stiles has an okay day , remarks from other teenagers and hanging out with Scott and their other friends. But today was a little different not by much though his day started with him taking his ADHD meds. Getting dressed in his usual choice of clothing denim jeans , black tank top and one of his flannels. Then having blueberry pancakes with his dad before they both had to leave for work and school.

His beloved jeep was in the shop so Erica and Boyd had so generously gave him a ride they of course had made a plan to do a, Batman marathon with both the classic cartoons and the movies next Friday night.(Erica actually likes DC like stiles does and Boyd can't say no to his girlfriend or Stiles's puppy eyes) But unfortunately halfway through the end of the school day he was shoved against the lockers by some one on the team (it was Gerrett) , most definitely bruising the side of his face.

And this is what he hated about high school the bullies that will bully anyone because they either want to for fun or , because their beaten at home and take their emotions out on other teenagers. Danny had Jackson deal with the other asshole while Danny had actually taken Stiles to the nurse to get the injury looked at , incase it was more then just bruising even if it was just going to heal in a few hours anyway. Surprisingly when the bell had rang and all the students were flooding the halls making their way outside and to their cars , the bus , bikes or some just walked home. Anyway when Stiles walked outside Derek's car was in the the parking lot a few cars away from Lydia's to be exact.

Derek was leaning against it with those stupid sunglasses he had worn a year or so ago when Erica was in the car. The Werewolf of course spots his boyfriend and waves him over making the fox less confused as he makes way to Derek. And to be honest he's had a day so as soon as he's in arms reach he gives the slightly taller(by like two inches)male a hug. Derek hums wrapping his own arms protectively over the younger stilinski , already sensing that Stiles has had a somewhat bad day.

"Bad day kit?"

"Mmhmm got pushed in the lockers , Jackson took care of the douchebag. Danny took me to the nurse even though it wasn't necessary"

"Oh I'm sorry that happened to you Mischief. You know he only took you to see the nurse's office , because he cares about you"

" yeah I know. "

"You wanna be little hu? I'd be more than happy to take care you , you know I don't mind "

"Please?"

And just like that Stiles gets a kisses to his forehead before his bag is taken off his shoulder and put in the back and he's buckled into the passenger seat. Derek rounds the other side to the driver's seat , getting in and opening the glovebox grabbing the plastic container and gives it to the other. Letting him choose what teether , chewelry , or even pacifier he might want while the older of the two pulls out of the parking lot and drives on to his own house.(the hale house had been rebuilt and it's Derek's now)

During the drive Stiles had chosen one of those clear colored teethers and had actually shifted into his slightly small fennec fox form when the light turned red. Thankfully no human saw because of Derek's tinted windows , he gently bit and chewed on the teether as he was given soft scratches to his ears for a few seconds. Another hour goes by and finally they are at the hale house , the car gets parked in front of the house. Stiles gets carried out of the car and into the house gently set on the couch in the living room as Derek gets Stiles's little stuff out. Stiles himself stayed a fox for a few more moments before he went up , the stairs and into the main bedroom. Where Derek is getting his stuff layed out on the bed and of course the fox shimmed under the covers and shifted back to normal making the other smile in amusement.

" Hello sweet pup , how old are we right now?

" Hm three"

" Such a small kit , wanna choose what you wear? "

And just like that the little looks at the layed out clothes, there's two choices layed out. A black snap crotch onesie with white lining on the collar and short sleeves , with fluffy white socks on top of them. The second choice is one of Derek's T-shirts and a pair of Stiles's sleep shorts. There's a pair of batman themed underwear and there's something next to it. A pull-up on the bed to, incase the werefox needs it or wants to wear it.

"Can I have the the shirt and um maybe the pull-up? "

"Of course honey. Do you want me to change you or would you like me to give you some privacy and you can change yourself? "

" Change by my self"

Derek kisses his forehead and gets up and slipping out of the bedroom giving his little one some privacy. So that's what Stiles does he moves the covers away from his frame. And puts the onesie and shorts away before getting dressed into the T-shirt , pull-up and the fluffy socks. Once dressed he finds his favorite stuffed animal "Sour-Apple" the stuffed turtle, Peter had actually gotten the plush. For him at a festival the pack had went to last summer , Stiles opens the door and makes grabby hands(well grabby hand more like cuz his stuffie is in his left hand) wanting to be held , in a split second he's hoisted up on to Derek's hip.

" Would you like a snack, jellybean?"

"May I have apples and peanut butter?

"Cut in slices right? "

" Yes please Der-Der"

"Such good manners my kit has. "

Giggles fill Derek's ears when Stiles gets kisses pressed all of his face as they make their way back down the stairs. Passing the photos of the pack and some of the Hale family members along on the walls. Stiles is set on the countertop and given a sippy cup full of his favorite juice.(it's just peach Snapple but stiles counts it has juice) While the other male peals and cuts up two apples , making a circle with them on a plate. And uses a silicone cupcake liner to put the peanut butter in and sets it in the middle of the circle of apples. Stiles slightly jumps off the counter and walks to the living room putting on Max and Rudy.(he's on Amazon) Derek follows him of course and sets their snack on the coffee table and sits on the couch, pulling his little one in his lap. Reserving a soft relaxed hum from said little as Stiles takes one the apple slices and munches on it as he and Derek watch cartoons and just relax.

[autisticlifelessons]

Tips from an autistic teacher about communicating with education professionals

So, some context: I taught Primary for 1 year, and had lots of interactions with parents with all kinds of concerns about their kids. I also remember being in high school and college/university and being too nervous to approach my teachers/tutors with any problems I had until the situation was dire.

For those who don't work in education, I can appreciate how needing to speak to your child's teacher about something can be intimidating, especially if your and/or your child are neurodivergent. And if you are a student, it can be equally as scary.

It's true many teachers are overworked and underpaid, but the vast VAST majority would move heaven and earth to help you. However, there are lots of things you can do to help them to help you, so here are my top tips.

Tell them ASAP if there is a problem - alerting the teacher to a problem or concern as soon as it arises gives them the chance to nip it in the bud before it becomes a big deal. If there is a bullying concern or something you don't understand, they would much rather you told them straight away so they can do something about it than have you or your child suffering in silence for weeks or months. We are generally an observant bunch and are looking out for issues, but some things do fly under the radar. Even if it's not something they can do anything about straight away - like if you think your child is showing signs of autism or adhd but they mask heavily at school - they can bear this in mind and pass it onto other relevant members of staff so it is 'flagged' up for the future.

If your issue is complicated, be sure to put it in writing - chances are you have access to a messaging service or at least an email address. Even if you have raised your concern with the teacher face to face, having it in writing is helpful for both parties. It provides a record that the issue has been raised and passed along as appropriate, and it helps remind the teacher about what has been discussed so they don't end up forgetting about it among the million other things they have to do.

Be specific - it may seem obvious, but there is no point in having a casual chat and then throwing in a bombshell at the end. Make sure to give as much relevant detail as you can about what your issue is, and if you want to raise multiple concerns then it is doubly beneficial to put them in writing.

Think about what your desired outcome is and come with a proposed solution - this is a psychological thing, apparently, but people are more likely to be sympathetic to your concerns if you can demonstrate you have thought about how you would like it resolved. If you want your child put forward for an autism assessment, make sure you actually say this. If you know you are going to be late handing in an assignment but can give your teacher an alternative date you will hand it in, tell them this. I can't guarantee they will always be able to fulfil it, but knowing what you would like to change or happen makes it much easier to sort things out rather than just guessing.

IF THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL THAT'S HAVING A NEGATIVE IMPACT, TELL THEM!!! - I CANNOT stress this enough, especially when it comes to little ones or neurodivergent children who may have limited means of both communication and emotional regulation. Being hungry, tired, stressed etc can have an enormous impact on behaviour/ability to learn. Even a simple message or email giving the heads up your child has had a poor night's sleep because the house flooded or whatever and might be a bit grumpy that day can be a huge help to the teacher, who as a result of having this information will be in a better position to be patient with a child who is struggling. For bigger life changes such as divorce, birth of a new sibling etc, this is even more important so that your child's teacher and the school can, if necessary, put measures in place to support your child through this transition. Communication really is key.

Remember to be kind and considerate - teachers are humans and make mistakes like everyone else. Equally, there are many circumstances they have to deal with that are totally out of their control and frustrate them just as much as they do you. As I said at the beginning, the vast majority want to help you and/or your child in any way they can, and being kind can make what is a very stressful job just that little bit less.

So, there you have it! I hope these tips gave you an idea for how to communicate with teachers effectively.

Oh, here's 1 more bonus tip - if you have anything to ask that is more than just a quick question, be sure to schedule a meeting with the teacher to ensure they can devote enough time to deal with your issue. Catching them at the beginning or end of the school day generally isn't a good idea as they're very chaotic times and they likely have other meetings/appointments/deadlines they will be thinking about.

Your support is much appreciated xx

[adhd-attention-deficit-dumbass]

This might be random and unrelated but I'm a high school senior taking my final exams which in my country determine the next 4 years of my life. it's now 4 days to the start of test season and Despite prepping well and feeling confident I woke up today to an empty mind. The mocks I took today were awful and I can't really speak to my parents about this as we aren't on speaking terms due to my grades seeing a drop before this. I'm consumed by brain fog and lack of motivation and feel completely lost on how to get back to the way I was yesterday, feeling equipped to handle this. My mind floods up with random details from ages ago?? I'm sorry...Kindly advise

Thank you for your question.

First of all, apologies that this reply is insanely late. Depression hit me like a brick wall this past year. I hope your exams went well and that you’re doing okay❤️

It sounds to me like all the pressure to perform is making you really anxious causing you to blank. Some general advice is to try and exercise or go for a walk as studies show it is a very efficient way to lessen anxiety. As well as mindfullness, meditation or any other generic anxiety reducing activity.

On a more specific note anxiety can really mess you up and for me taking walks just don’t cut it.

The most important ”technique” I’ve learned is called SOAS, and I learned it from a swedish book about ADHD. For translation reasons we’ll call it SOAR

It stands for

S-Stop

O-Observe

A-Accept

R-Release/Respond

It works kinda like this:

Whenever you have a strong overwhelming feeling (like anxiety) pause for a moment and stop. Take a couple deep breaths and take a moment to reflect.

Observe what is going on in your mind and body. What are you thinking/feeling? Maybe you feel scared, afraid to dissapoint yourself and/or others. Maybe your heart is racing or your jaw is clenched. Don’t try to stop or correct anything you’re doing just…observe.

Try your best to accept the way you’re feeling right now. Don’t judge yourself or your emotions by labeling them as ”good” or ”bad” emotions just, acknowledge and accept that they exist. ”I am stressed & anxious. Even if I don’t like it. That’s just how it is right now.”

Finally decide whether you’re going to respond to or release your emotions. This can be tricky. It’s not always clear which answer is ”right” in the moment but I’ll explain them both.

Responding to a feeling means we make a concious decision to act upon it. Our feelings exist to protect us and help us navigate the world. If you feel afraid upon seeing a lion about to pounce on you, then responding to the feeling by running away is probably the sensible thing to do.

By ”releasing” a feeling on the other hand we decide to let go of it and make a concious effort to not act upon that feeling. Sometimes this means taking a deep breath and moving on with your day but with particularily strong emotions it might feel impossible to just let it go. Sometimes to release the feeling you have to actively act against it.

If fear tells us to run away and avoid something, lets say a social interaction, with lots of new people (an introverts worst nightmare) then in order to release the feeling we have to the opposite of what it tells us. Go say hello, socialise, make that phone call, apologise to that friend you’re angry with that you really don’t want to apologise to. It’ll help you overcome the intensity of the feeling and with time and practice the feeling will lessen.

🌻Apologies about the wall of text. I hope this was at least somewhat helpful. If you made it this far, thank you for reading and have a nice day.🌻

[temnurus]

Wangxian Top Ten Fic Recs

So. I got into MDZS/The Untamed back in February, & I've sort of fallen into a Wangxian black hole from which I am not sure I will ever emerge. Thusly, I've been reading a ton of Wangxian fanfiction lately & have acquired quite a few favorites. Naturally I had to eventually compile a rec list lest I combust with all the barely suppressed love I have for this ship.

Now you lucky people get to reap the benefits of all my hard work because not only have I ranked my top ten, I am also including a bunch of honorable mentions because I'm ridiculous & have no self restraint because I'm such a kind & generous person. Note that the honorable mentions are not ranked & are listed in no particular order.

Fair warning, all of these recs are rated Explicit because I enjoy either a sprinkling or a flood of adult content with my fics. It's far from the focus of many of them, but it's there to varying degrees in each. Also, some of these fics cover some heavy content that may be triggering for some folks, so please do mind the tags & any authors' notes for your own peace of mind.

And with no further adieu, onto the recs!

1. Scars Where They Used to Be by CwythanWind (E, 58,467)

Thoughts: I lost count of how many times I cried in this fic. It was gorgeous in every sense of the word. The characterizations were phenomenal. Wei Ying’s pain was palpable, & the pining was agonizing. Lan Zhan conveying his love through poetry made me sob like a baby twice. The prose was just that beautiful. I can’t recommend this enough. As soon as I finished it I knew it was going to become my favorite Wangxian fic, & nothing has managed to top it yet.

2. Beneath Your Skin by Wrenwolf (E, 147,201)

Thoughts: I was sold on tattoo artist Wei Ying from the word go, haha, but Lan Zhan as an antiques dealer was also surprisingly on point. I go on about characterization a lot in these recs, but I have to tell you that Lan Zhan's here is one of my absolute favorites. I felt like I'd crawled into his skin & was just living there right along with him. And don't get me started on Wei Ying in this fic. I just.. fuck, I cried so much, y'all, & it was incredibly cathartic. Nie Huaisang was my favorite side character in this, & they were an absolute BAMF! You can't go wrong with this one. It's just stunning.

3. Pentimento. by orange_crushed (E, 72,966)

Thoughts: This fic was full of sentiment: regrets, longing, & so, so nostalgic. The love of art was apparent & beautifully on display here, & it added a richness to the whole thing. I cried several times during this from the empathy I had for both Lan Zhan's & Wei Ying's experiences (can you sense a theme with my favorites making me overly emotional? lol). The tone got heavy in places, but it didn't feel graphic or overwhelming at any point for me. The writing was just fantastic, & I've enjoyed a few more of the author's fics since I read this one.

4. i'm gonna drown when you wake up by teenjiism (E, 51,752)

Thoughts: I related to this fic on several levels because both characters are portrayed as neurodivergent in ways that felt very authentic, & I rarely see it done as well as it was here. I have ADHD, & Wei Ying's headspace felt extremely familiar, ha. Lan Zhan & Wei Ying's friendship was so lovely here, too. I adored their easy intimacy & how they were each other's favorite person before Wei Ying even realized he was in love with Lan Zhan. Oh yes, this is another fantastic oblivious Wei Ying/One Brain Cell WWX Strikes Again fic. The pining was perfect, & the overall sweetness of their relationship made this a very floaty/happy reading experience for me, personally.

5. Nothing But Trouble by brooklinegirl (E, 60,318)

Thoughts: Continuing with the theme of One Brain Cell WWX Strikes Again, this was a hilarious & heady fake dating scenario fic. His cluelessness reached new heights in this one, & I about died when he came up with the idea that naturally he & Lan Zhan should practice things like kissing for authenticity's sake. (Oh Wei Ying, you sweet summer child... he kills me; can you tell?) I loved how matter-of-fact Lan Zhan was about the whole thing, too. I laughed a lot during this fic. I even blushed a couple of times, too! Highly enjoyable & a must-read for me.

6. you've ruined my life (by not being mine) by cicer (E, 132,713)

Thoughts: None of the parents in this fic are doing a good job, but hey, they didn't in canon either, in my not-so-humble opinion. It's not what I focused on in the fic, but the tags certainly amused me. I haven't come across many texting fics in MDZS, so this was a pleasant & welcome surprise. The whole fic wasn't done through texting, but their text exchanges were SO CUTE. Lan Zhan texted exactly how I thought he would in this, & it made me laugh every time. The pining was lovely, & when they finally got to see each other in person again in New York I was glued to my computer until I finished the fic. I adored the tone of this one. It was great & just a really fun read.

7. and so my heart beats wildly by lily_winterwood (E, 106,435)

Thoughts: This was one of the most original modern AUs I've seen & featured competitive cultivation that had a Hunger Games meets professional figure-skating competition vibe. It was wild, but it made sense when I read it, I promise. The author was very good at fleshing out their world, & I was fascinated by the concept. Wei Ying once again failed to notice Lan Zhan was in love with him, & his confusion over their interactions never failed to entertain me. I never get tired of their dynamic, y'all, & it was just perfect here. I highly recommend this one.

8. Falling to the Rhythm by Selenay (E, 128,916)

Thoughts: Ever seen So You Think You Can Dance or Strictly Come Dancing? This was basically that but Wangxian! Wei Ying was stunning as a professional dancer being handed a socially awkward, concert violinist Lan Zhan & having to teach him to dance in front of the nation for 12 weeks, & I absolutely loved Lhan Zhan in this. He was precious. The sexual tension during some of the dances was electrifying, & watching them fall in love over the course of the filming of the show was a delight to read.

9. Two Dollar Coffee by marizousbooty (E, 145,286)

Thoughts: I almost fell out of my chair laughing because how do you acquire an accidental sugar daddy?! Well, if you read this fic, you'll find out. One Brain Cell WWX Strikes Again! Yeah, it's one of my favorite AO3 tags, so sue me, lol. The sex was obviously one of the highlights, which I am known to enjoy in a fic (don't judge me, Puritans), but it certainly wasn't the only thing that was well written here. I loved everything about this from beginning to end.

10. things that make it warm by yabakuboi (E, 33,327)

Thoughts: This fic hurt my feelings, not gonna lie. I cried ugly tears at the break up, but I've always had a hard time with reconciliation fics. It was very worth it, however. The way the fic covered their relationship growing & changing over time was very compelling, & a highlight of this for me was Wei Ying's relationship with the Wens, particularly A'Yuan. It was very sweet amongst an ocean of angst, haha. I read this in the span of a couple hours. Just couldn't be torn away. If you're a sucker for angst with a happy ending, then you might want to check this one out.

Honorable Mentions

The Simplest Way Forward by harriet_vane (E, 70,972)

Thoughts: This was so heartwarming I couldn't stop smiling over how adorable it was. Kid fics aren't typically a favorite of mine, but I do enjoy a really good one every now & then. This was one of the best I've read, to be honest. A'Yuan was the sweetest little angel, & he was so cute with Wei Ying spazzing out about every aspect of his care. Lan Zhan being the quiet, responsible source of reason & support was expected but of course always a welcome addition to the mix. Accidental Baby Acquisition isn't a tag I'd seen before, but it's a new favorite when it comes to Wangxian getting to be surprise parents together, haha.

undone (the spreadsheet song) series by spookykingdomstarlight (E, 282,452)

Thoughts: This is a two part series that tells the same story from each love interest’s point of view, a la Rivals by Reiya in the YoI fandom, which is one of my favorites of all time. Similarly, this story is also phenomenally written. I was sucked in immediately & read both fics over the span of like 3 days. I actually read Lan Zhan’s POV fic (the second in the series) in a single day. I was spellbound by the whole thing, couldn’t get enough. I highly recommend this. The characterizations are incredible, & the emotions are so intense I couldn’t help but feel everything right along with each of them as the story progressed.

My only word of caution is that if you have a hard time reading about Wangxian being intimate with people other than each other you might want to skim/skip those sections of the second fic like I had to. The author makes it fairly easy by giving a heads up in the author’s notes at the beginning of each chapter in which that occurs, which I very much appreciated.

Many happy returns. by orange_crushed (E, 25,470)

Thoughts: This fic started with a very serendipitous first meeting between businessman Lan Zhan & Wei Ying, who he mistook for the (non-sexual) escort he'd hired for the evening. I nearly died of mortification right along with poor Lan Zhan when he figured out his mistake. Him confessing this to Wei Ying was painfully awkward & hurt my heart, but fear not! We all know I can't handle a fic without an eventual happy ending, haha. Watching their instant connection develop into something more was such a treat. I loved this fic quite a lot for it being a quicker read for me.

Multiphonics by androkastia (E, 63,705)

Thoughts: Wei Ying was such a lovable disaster in this (as he often is, bless him). Him & Lan Zhan both being in the orchestra was a fun idea, & I loved the author's choice of the harp for Lan Zhan's instrument. I thought it was very different from the usual violin or cello choice I've seen previously but still suited him perfectly. I also loved his overall characterization, down to his fashion sense being tastefully eclectic when his style is usually portrayed as very stuffy & conservative. I really enjoyed this college/university AU, & I've read quite a few of them at this point. So obviously this one stood out.

No Compasses, No Signs by brooklinegirl (E, 36,041)

Thoughts: Ah, finally! A soulmate fic. A Temnurus rec list really wouldn't be complete without at least one. This was a modern AU, which made it especially fun when their soul bond inexplicably manifested as they literally collided with each other on the sidewalk. It was painful watching them fumble for answers to why they suddenly knew things about each other they had no way of knowing only moments before, but the sweet conclusion made it more than worth the temporary angst.

A Haunting Love by Selenay (E, 64,621)

Thoughts: This was another very unique modern with magic AU, & I was nervous because Wei Ying was a ghost haunting Lan Zhan's new house in the quiet little town he moved to in order to write his next novel. Naturally Lan Zhan became ensnared by the mystery surrounding Wei Ying's departure. This had a very romantic feel to it, intensely poetic in a way that I found very alluring. There were even thriller-esque moments towards the end of the story, so it had a bit of everything, all of it equally satisfying to read.

love, in fire and blood by cicer (E, 360,042)

Thoughts: This was an example of a cool MDZS-specific trope I hadn't seen before, & in it Wei Ying, the infamous Yiling Patriarch, was a cultivator who had achieved immortality (aka, he's OP as fuck but in a fun way). The great sects enlisted his help to win the Sunshot Campaign, & what did he demand in return? Lan Zhan's hand in marriage, of course! It was a fantastic slow burn in which poor Lan Zhan suffered the mortifying ordeal of falling in love with his own husband. An amazing & complex plot, chock-full of angsty goodness.

a place to hide (can't find one near) by yiqie (E, 76,091)

Thoughts: I'm giving y'all a heads up first thing that this fic pulled no punches when it came to the heavier subject matter covered in the tags & author's note. Some of the descriptions were fairly graphic, so please take care of yourselves when considering this one. That said, it was a powerful portrayal of someone suffering from mental health issues & the long & often complicated journey of healing. This one also happened to contain a love story so beautiful that I was brought to tears several times by Lan Zhan's patient & loving care for his most important person, nevermind all the times I cried at the sad parts! I found the emotional cost of those very much worth the payoff of their happy ending, which is why I just had to include this one.

Just You, Just Me (Just Us, Just We) by wincechesters (E, 19,777)

Thoughts: Lan Zhan thought his brother made him an appointment at an acupuncturist & was aghast when he discovered it was for a session with a professional cuddler instead! Enter Wei Ying, gratuitous cuddle therapy, & his usual chaotic charm. Poor Lan Zhan being so overwhelmed while also becoming hopelessly besotted made me laugh, bless his fragile little heart. This was an adorable & light-hearted fic that made me want to go back & reread it almost immediately, haha.

my age has never made me wise by idrilka (E, 63,439)

Thoughts: I absolutely loved this. It was pretty CQL (The Untamed) compliant & told the post-canon story of Wei Ying wandering alone as a rogue cultivator after the events of the show. Of course he was pining after his zhiji the entire time, so when he heard gossip that the Chief Cultivator might be married by summer's end it nearly undid him. The angst was excruciating, but at the same time, One Brain Cell WWX Strikes Again fics somehow always manage to be fun at the same time. I've read several post-canon, wandering Wei Ying stories, & this one was particularly good.

[jadetheblueartist]

hi again! :) same anon. I’ve been experiencing shutdowns for a few months now, both verbal and verbal+physical. Are shutdowns exclusive to only autism? I’m pretty sure I’m autistic/some form of neurodivergent, and I find researching on the Internet can get confusing—especially when autism is such a diverse spectrum. Autistic Friend told me “correlation does not always equal causation”. I also know that autism has lots of overlap with ADHD and OCD, so it’s possible I have one of those instead and also have shutdowns. Any/all info would be appreciated! Thanks! :)

Hello, again, Anon ^^

I don’t have much info on other types of neurodivergence, so I can really only try to help with autism stuff. My apologies :(

With autism, while it’s not listed as a diagnostic trait for some reason, meltdowns are a quite common experience and tend to be the fight response. From what I’ve found, however, shutdowns tend to be the freeze response to excessive stress (as opposed to fight, flight, flood, or fawn). Personally, when I was quite into bottling and ignoring my emotions, I would often experience what I can now identify as shutdowns. This was me trying to deal with and process my stress in a way that was convenient for people around me (could have been some form of masking). This type of thing seems to depend on your response, so if you find that this often happens with stress, it could be worth being aware of.

I looked at a few things and it doesn’t seem like shutdowns are exclusive to autism. It may just be that autistic people (or other neurodivergent people, again I’m not too sure aside from autism) experience these shutdowns more frequently or to a greater extent.

It’s definitely worth noting that correlation does not equal causation. When it comes to neurodivergence, there seems to be a higher likelihood of comorbid conditions (multiple conditions at once). For example, I have heard from many places that it’s more likely to be autistic and adhd rather than just one or the other. Neurodivergence just seems to do that. It’s also not just neurodivergent stuff since there seems to be a correlation between autism and ehlos danlo and various gastrointestinal issues. That being said, the presence of one of these conditions doesn’t mean that you also have the other one. It’s just more statistically likely.

Hopefully this was somewhat helpful. If you were interested in some good informational content about autism by autistic people, I really like “You’re Autistic, Now What?” on YouTube. She has lots of videos about traits and her experience that were helpful to me when I first started looking into it.

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

ADHD & Emotional Flooding

Future ADHD

[pagesandpothos]

Fall for Him by Andie Burke

Official Blurb:

Dylan Gallagher’s hot neighbor loathed him from the second he moved in, and causing a flood, falling through the floor, and landing directly onto that same neighbor’s bed probably means that’s unlikely to change. The poorly timed “It’s Raining Men” joke didn’t help. Meanwhile, ER nurse Derek Chang’s life is a literal when-rains-it-pours nightmare. A man he hates dropped into his life along with an astronomically expensive problem originating from Derek’s own apartment’s plumbing. Also, the local HOA tyrant has been sniffing around trying to fine him for his extended, illicit banned breed dog-sitting. Since Dylan also wants to keep the catastrophe quiet, he offers to fix the damage himself. Dylan’s sure he’s not Derek’s type, so he focuses all his ADHD hyper fixation energy on getting the repair job done as quickly as possible―avoiding doing anything stupid like acting on his very inconvenient crush. Meanwhile Derek tries to ignore that the tattooed nerd sleeping on the couch is surprisingly witty, smart, and kind, despite the long-term grudge Derek’s been holding against him. But will squeezing all their emotional baggage plus a dog into a tiny one-bedroom apartment be a major disaster…or just prove they’re made for each other? Fall for Him combines banter, hijinks, and heart in a story of finding out what it means to fix things after your life crumbles.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed Fall For Him. I've read some great romance books this year and this one is certainly going on my list of favorites. I always love it when a romance can make me laugh, cry, and swoon along with the characters. I want to feel like I went on a full emotional journey by the end! Fall For Him gave me all those feelings.

Dylan and Derek are great characters and their emotional journeys throughout the book were really well done. Some scenes seriously made me want to cheer because I felt so proud of their fictional growth.

I also loved the cast of supporting characters, Gus, and the book's humor. I really had the best time reading this! It's delightful and the ending made me shed some happy tears.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tropes/Tags:  romance, rivals to lovers, forced proximity, slow burn

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5. There are multiple sex scenes that are “Open Door”.

Content Warnings: Nothing major but it does focus slightly on grief. Grief is not a heavy theme in the book but it does factor into why one character is behaving a certain way and e processes this grief throughout the book.

If you liked this I think you will like Fall For Him: I think fans of Alexis Hall's contemporary romances should enjoy this book!

Other Notes: Fall For Him is a companion novel to Andie Burke's Sapphic romance from last year called Fly With Me.

Links: Storygraph | GoodReads | AndieBurke.com

Fall For Him will be released on September 3, 2024, and is available for pre-order!

I received an advanced copy of this book for free thanks to NetGalley. The above are my honest feelings on the provided book.

[enoughslices]

Hey so I read your post about Mulder respecting Scully saying they can never be together and you totally cracked my brain open?? When people say that, they might just mean it in the moment but not forever... and they don't clarify this if they change their mind?? I'm rethinking so many things right now lol

Obviously I know each person is different but it was never phrased this way to me and now I'm just sitting here with galaxy brain

This is something I have come up against the hard way in my real life, where all through my childhood and adolescence people continually told me I was, "taking things too literally," and I was like, "... ... ... How else am I supposed to take them?? Should I not take you at your word?" I had a number of situations (like in relationships or friendships) where someone would declare something and I would just accept it and never revisit it, and then later find they were frustrated with me for assuming a statement they'd made two years ago was still true since they had not modified it. I used to do performance-related work and my one colleague who really got me (we love a work wife) would have to explain to directors that if I was told to do something a certain way I would just keep doing it that way and not try anything new until they revised their instruction. I was baffled to learn that the expectation in rehearsals was that I keep trying new things even when I had been explicitly told to do it one way. Or, worse, intuit when they wanted me to keep trying new things in the face of the instruction and when they didn't. It stressed me out so much. I always felt a little betrayed when someone said one thing very emphatically and firmly ("We can't ever get back together," or "I'm never going to do that again.") and then did indeed do or want to do the thing again days or weeks or months or years later (especially without clarifying or explaining). I've had to work really hard on finding respectful ways to not make assumptions even when I feel like something has been communicated clearly to me and get in the habit of raising things periodically from a place of open curiosity to see if people are still in the same place, because not everyone is as precise or literal when they're speaking about things, especially if they're coming from a place of emotion in the moment. I don't know for sure that I'm autistic, but I do know that I'm neurodivergent. I have cPTSD and was also late-diagnosed with ADHD at 36 and have MCAS, which also can impact how your brain works, so diagnosis is a little complicated. I suspect that I'm AuDHD (autistic and ADHD) and I have an evaluation scheduled for this year. Seeing and hearing about people's neurodivergent experiences on TikTok and other corners of the internet has helped me recontextualize a lot of parts of my experience and has illuminated corners I had not even realized were dark. It's made so many things fall into place that have made me go, "Oh. Wait. Fuck! Really??" But also there's a certain relief in having things make sense that never did before, even though it's been absolutely wild to identify my (many, many 😅) blind spots. In conclusion: Me 🤝 Mulder in this headcanon lol I'm sorry to crack your brain open and I hope the light flooding in is not too overwhelming!! Being a person is a trip sometimes! Feel free to DM me if you want to spiral about this together! PS: Obligatory disclaimer that people have a wide variety of different experiences and feeling this way or relating to this is not necessarily an indicator of autism, which I don't even know for sure that I have! I am just over here projecting onto my blorbos on the hellsite, as glob intended 😂😂

[starlight-bread-blog]

Today I overheard a convo of people talking about ADHD saying everyone has it and it's just how the brain works...

Almost everyone has trouble concentrating. That's not ADHD.

"ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can cause attention difficulties, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Research suggests that imbalances of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine".

Reducing ADHD to just trouble concentrating is inaccurate and quite ignorant. Some symptoms I have:

Hyperactivity and Impulsivity: Being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings, constantly fidgeting, being unable to concentrate on tasks, excessive physical movement, excessive talking, being unable to wait their turn, acting without thinking, interrupting conversations, little or no sense of danger.

——————

Hyperfocus: Happens when a person becomes so absorbed in an activity that they tune out to everything around them. This usually occurs when the person is engaging in something they find fun, rewarding, and stimulating.

——————

Hyperfixation: Intense focus on a single subject may cause you to spend more time and energy on it than you intend to. If left unchecked, hyperfixation can lead to negative consequences and disrupt your day-to-day functioning.

——————

ADHD Paralysis: When a person with ADHD is overwhelmed by their environment or the amount of information given. As a result, they freeze and aren’t able to think or function effectively. This makes it challenging for the individual to focus and complete their tasks—including urgent ones.

——————

Emotional Dysregulation: Experiencing emotions so deeply that they become overwhelmed or “flooded.” One may feel joy, anger, pain, or confusion in a given situation—and the intensity may precede impulsive behaviors they regret later.

——————

Executive Dysfunction: A term used to describe faults or weaknesses in the cognitive process that organizes thoughts and activities, prioritizes tasks, manages time efficiently, and makes decisions. (I wouldn't say I experience this, but it's really common).

And if you know you don't have ADHD and think this is all relatable, remember the extent.

It's a disordser. I'm sure people without ADHD struggle a lot with some of these, but they do not have a biological difference that causes them. There's a difference between struggling with something and having a disorder.

——————

It has medical treatment, as s disorder. There are 3 different types of medicine that are prescribed by professional doctors. If you know you don't have ADHD, you cannot take it. Just like medicine for any other disorder.

A few not-so-fun statistics about people with ADHD:

Percent of children with ADHD who had at least one other disorder:

[The facts below are taken from Cross River Therapy]

About 10% of people with ADHD a substance use disorder regarding alcohol or drugs.

——————

Bipolar disorder is 6 times more common in adults with ADHD.

——————

About 33% of students with ADHD dropout of high school, more than twice as many as those without ADHD.

——————

Only 15% of people with ADHD complete a four-year degree at a university.

——————

Drivers with ADHD have a risk of accidents that is 47% higher than their non-ADHD peers.

Not everyone has ADHD.

And I kindly ask everyone to stop saying things like this. Because it's contributing to the myth that ADHD isn't a real disorder, just something people make up for attention, or isn't that serious.

[tadpoles-and-daydreams]

I'd like to get in on the free readings you just posted about, if you're still doing them that is. May I have a reading please?

I'm newer to bringing gods into my practice and worship and I feel my adhd is making it terribly foggy and difficult for me to make a solid connection, so I'd like to ask if I'm trying to connect with the wrong gods/goddesses for me.

Thank you for offering your time and energy!~✨️

Yup, I'm still doing them! That post was only posted like an hour ago as I'm typing this, and I didn't get flooded, so no worries. Also just a quick note; my Ko-Fi is at the end of this post, but it's not a weird social pressure to tip. It's for anyone who is financially able and wants to, and so people who want to check it out- whether they're the one receiving the reading or not- can!

"Are they trying to connect with the wrong gods/goddesses?"

STRONG no on this one. LIke 4/5 cards were reversed. (I use upright = yes, reversed = no)

"What should they keep in mind to help make a solid connection to the deities in question?"

Nine of Cups: Wish Come True, Fulfullment, Pleasures. This card is all about abundance; balance in all areas of your life, satisfaction, all the good things! At first this didn't quite make sense but what I think it's trying to say here is… gratitude. Look at the good things around you. Maybe you're judging yourself too harshly, especially if you're seeing other people talk about their connections with their deities. Rather than looking at where you feel you fall short, look at what you already do have. You have them in your life, whether you feel like you're getting the "fireworks" you should have or not! While I won't go into full interpretation paragraphs for them, I did draw a couple clarification cards while writing this. The cards (Knight of Cups upright and Ace of Pentacles reversed) feel like they imply that you're looking more towards the money side of things, and you should be looking towards the emotional side. That could be talking about financial hardship causing you to panic and forget the emotional wealth you have, or it could be talking about the very common problem in the witchy/pagan community of thinking you need to have a fancy altar and top-notch offerings to connect with a deity, when really all you need is yourself and the deities you want to connect with.

This was only one card (which tbh surprised me, normally my deck spits out a LOT more) but I hope it resonated nonetheless! Here's my Ko-Fi if you want to tip, or for those who might want to check it out. Good luck with your deities, I understand how much of a pain ADHD can be as a witch sometimes! I appreciate feedback (even if that's just an ask going "yes it resonated" or "idk what you're talking about funny little card man") but there's never any pressure to do so, especially since some of these readings can get- if accurate- REAL DAMN personal.

[manty-monster]

It's always messed me up how manageable some symptoms of BPD could be with the right communication and understanding of the mental illness.

It's a disability, and like many disabilities, there are accessibility options, and there are concessions that can be made, knowledge that can be expanded on. Having a relationship when you have a disability can be work; sometimes, you or your partner may have to help each other. This shouldn't be different for mental disabilities.

So I wanted to come up with some basic practices that can help you if you or your loved one has BPD.

disclaimer - this is one person with BPD's opinion and may not be true for everyone, communication is key, BPD is a complex but manageable illness.

Understanding what a trigger is, neurobiologically. When a person with BPD has a trigger, their brain floods with chemicals, driving them into panic. The things they say and do should be taken under that consideration. This is not to say dismiss what's being said. There is still a conscious mind behind the words and the things and those topics may hint at a core insecurity that should be discussed later, but understand on a conscious level that your loved one may not necessarily be in a clear state of mind.

Stop responding to everything at face value. Building off #1, once you recognize that your partner is emotionally compromised, with a disorder that creates black and white thinking aka splitting, or heightened emotional responses, you can't respond to everything in the same way you would respond to a casual question. If your partner hits you with the classic "Are you mad at me?" that should be a cue to you to try and explore that more deeply.

Initiate open communication. ☆ Which brings us to communication. Open, loving communication has to come from a place of empathy first and foremost. It requires briefly stepping into your partner's shoes in communication. It's not easy to steel your immediate reaction when someone says something untrue or hurtful to you, but it does become easier if you can recognize the emotional meaning behind words as well as the literal meaning. "Are you mad?" becomes helpful inside-shorthand for "Hey, I'm feeling insecure right now. Could you help me manage that?" rather than a frustrating phrase. I had to put a star there because holy shit is it important to understand emotive communication, heightened emotions, and cognitive empathy/perspective-taking when communicating with someone with BPD. This one's gonna involve some metacognition, folks.

Calming techniques. As you learn more about each other, try to include learning what calms you or your partner down. Comforting/soothing actions can help the chemicals from being triggered or splitting to dissipate faster. Learning what makes your partner calm or happy will go a long way towards easy caring management of some symptoms. While things like "Please calm down" can make things much worse, a simple "Can you tell me about [aspect of their special interest]?" "Do you want me to turn my webcam on?" "Can I put [favorite band/show] on?" "Do you want to be held?" are much more personal, show you have an interest in helping them feel better, and can diffuse a situation. Context matters, of course. Sometimes all that's needed is "I'm listening, I love you."

Understand your partner's symptoms. Looking up symptoms of BPD and understanding them is crucial to understanding what is going on. For instance, people with BPD have a warped sense of object permanence, and sending small messages while you're away can be a way to manage this. Rejection sensitivity, which is also seen in other neurodiversities like ADHD, autism, and CPTSD (which shares like 99% of symptoms and cause with BPD), can be managed by establishing a vocabulary together to navigate rejection, trust, and symptom recognition.

Understand your partner. Every person is different, and their history and trauma are unique. Some people with BPD were neglected and abandoned, while others were parentified or victims of other forms of abuse. Many people with BPD have other comorbid neurodivergences. It's important to be curious about your own and your partner's minds. Preventing a trigger is much better than resolving one. Knowing the things that could cause yourself or your partner to split or experience another symptom can allow you to discuss it beforehand, even set up a plan to prevent it. This can include making plans for things to do in your or their absence, having an object to hold to help remember that you or they are loved (such as a bracelet or stuffed animal), or setting an alarm or using post-it notes to remember important dates or schedules. Using self-aids is a good thing!

TLDR: So much of BPD can be almost totally mitigated with empathy, pre-planning, and understanding. Having a partner with a mental illness isn't always easy, but we could be doing a lot better for people with CPTSD/BPD, and frankly, for anyone with a mental or physical disability than we are right now with leave him sis dating culture. Obviously, this whole post depends on both people being able to introspect enough to enact these things. If you have BPD, mindfulness, CBT (the therapy kind), and DBT can be very helpful for consciously managing your way through triggers.

Sources:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35357883/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3182008/

https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/January-2022/Understanding-Mental-Illness-Triggers

https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjc.12216

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-disorder

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parentification

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-ptsd/202006/is-it-borderline-personality-disorder-or-is-it-really-complex-ptsd

https://psychcentral.com/ptsd/how-ptsd-cptsd-and-bpd-can-impact-relationships

https://mark-havens.medium.com/understanding-cognitive-empathy-the-key-to-better-relationships-and-communication-8b3ea7a4370c

https://www.youtube.com/@HowtoADHD

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6026651/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/affective-perspective-taking

you made it this far heres a cool storm i saw from a plane

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 2/5

Book Blurb:

In Fall for Him by Andie Burke, seven-hundred-fifty square feet isn’t enough for the home-renovation-fueled hatred and the building sexual tension.

Dylan Gallagher’s hot neighbor loathed him from the second he moved in, and causing a flood, falling through the floor, and landing directly onto that same neighbor’s bed probably means that’s unlikely to change. The poorly timed “It’s Raining Men” joke didn’t help.

Meanwhile, ER nurse Derek Chang’s life is a literal when-rains-it-pours nightmare. A man he hates dropped into his life along with an astronomically expensive problem originating from Derek’s own apartment’s plumbing. Also, the local HOA tyrant has been sniffing around trying to fine him for his extended, illicit banned breed dog-sitting.

Since Dylan also wants to keep the catastrophe quiet, he offers to fix the damage himself. Dylan’s sure he’s not Derek’s type, so he focuses all his ADHD hyper fixation energy on getting the repair job done as quickly as possible—avoiding doing anything stupid like acting on his very inconvenient crush. Meanwhile Derek tries to ignore that the tattooed nerd sleeping on the couch is surprisingly witty, smart, and kind, despite the long-term grudge Derek’s been holding against him. But will squeezing all their emotional baggage plus a dog into a tiny one-bedroom apartment be a major disaster…or just prove they’re made for each other?

Fall for Him combines banter, hijinks, and heart in a story of finding out what it means to fix things after your life crumbles.

Review:

What happens when it literally starts raining men... and by that I mean a cute guy floods his apartment and lands right in yours. Dylan Gallagher is a cute nerd who has never really gotten along with his hot neighbor, ER nurse Derek Chang. From the moment Dylan moved in Derek has hated him and Dylan has no idea what he did wrong. What Dylan doesn't know is that Derek knows him before he had moved in, specifically because Dylan had dated the Derek's best friend's brother... the same guy Derek has nursed a long time crush on and slept with multiple times yet by going out with Dylan said guy was hurt and then when he passed away Derek's hatred for Dylan solidified. Yet here when Dylan lands smack dab in the middle of Derek's apartment, flooding it... they have to come up with a solution and that means Dylan will repair Derek's apartment while Derek moves in with Dylan. And so begins a tension filled roommate situation where there feelings for one another only grow stronger... but the longer Derek hides his past from Dylan the more it'll ruin the blooming relationship between them. This one just felt like a disappointment for me, the premise was really cute but the actual characters just weren't for me. I didn't like the pacing of the story and the actual conclusion for the mess between them just felt meh. I really liked how the story had a lot of rep in it and how it handled grief, but the actual romance just didn't feel there for me at all. I do appreciate getting to read a story with unique rep but I would just say this one missed the mark for me.

Release Date: September 3,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*