#but bones extra should not be a therapist

[jaclynhyde]

obsidian's story in jsa 80-page giant 2010 is wild but i think my favorite part is mr. bones leading group therapy. mr. bones leading group therapy that includes todd. my guy. my man. my buddy.

[aropride]

one thing i just do not fucking get is the difference between "regulating emotions" and "suppressing emotions" i cannot get my head around how those are different. like if im sad and then i go "well im not going to be sad anymore" that's "dissociating" and "suppressing healthy emotions" but if im sad and im like "well im going to cry until i actually pass out" that's "not healthy" and it's BAD to suppress emotions but it's ALSO BAD to get super upset so WHAT IS THE SECRET THIRD THING cuz i do not fucking get it. "feel your feelings But not that way that's not healthy feel your feelings but less than that" ???????

[daytaker]

The Gang React to You Breaking Your Ankle

Lucifer

"This was bound to happen sooner or later."

I mean, really, with all the stunts you play with his brothers and that sorcerer, it's more surprising that you didn't break anything before now. Thank goodness your room is on the ground floor. Now, here is a schedule of where you need to be and when, along with the brother who is your designated companion at all times to ensure you don't get stuck somewhere or fall over and break something else. This is a rotating position so stop fighting all of you!

Mammon

"Holy shit, humans break easy, huh?"

Assuming for the moment that Mammon didn't accidentally get your ankle broken by pulling some stupid stunt for Devilgram clout and involving you in it, he'll be extra careful with you for a little bit. People keep jostling you in the hall! Don't they realize you're basically made of glass and paper?! He'll clear the halls for you to hobble by with your crutches. Yep, you're earning all sorts of new friends.

Leviathan

"E-sports are the best activity when you're injured."

What a convenient excuse to drag you to his room more often than usual for anime marathons and all-night gaming sessions. Like Mammon, he's a little uneasy about this revelation about just how delicate you are, but nobody gets injured playing video games. He's basically protecting you from your next inevitable accident.

Satan

"Stop trying to do so much on your own."

Satan acts extremely annoyed when he sees you trying to hop somewhere without your crutches or lifting anything more than fifteen pounds unaided. Of course, he's just worried about you and expressing that in the most practical way he can. He repeatedly reminds you of advice on improving your recovery rate he found in medical books and the blogs of reputable physical therapists (he always checks into their credentials).

Asmodeus

"Poor thing! Let me spoil you!"

And that's basically what he does, whenever he gets the opportunity. This is a great excuse to get some much needed R&R, in his opinion, so the two of you will be visiting spas and getting massages and you aren't walking anywhere anymore, he is one of the Rulers of the Underworld and you are going to be carried on a litter, so help him Gardonus.

Beelzebub

"You need to eat well to get your strength back."

Prepare yourself for Beel's version of "eating well". You only had three eggs for breakfast? You'll never heal at that rate. Have another six and some bacon. Here's a protein shake. It's designed for demons so it's probably a little grittier than the soft stuff from the human world but it's exactly what you need. No, he doesn't have any science to back this up. Yes, he expects you to clean your plate.

Belphegor

"Of course you got hurt, running around all the time. You should just relax with me."

Little did you know this was all part of Belphegor's master plan...

What a perfect opportunity to spend every second of the day with you. Now that you're forced to sit around and avoid being too active, he has you right where he wants you (specifically, under the blankets with him while he sleeps). He'll remind you at every opportunity that you normally run yourself ragged, and you've earned some time to laze around. And now that you're injured, you have the perfect excuse!

Diavolo

"Your poor human bones... My home is always open to you if you need somewhere more convenient to stay. Please take care of yourself, in the meantime."

Rest assured, he will provide you with all transportation necessary to and from RAD. Or perhaps you would like to try remote classes? Leviathan finds them productive! And if you need anything, please let him know. He'll be in touch about five times a day just to make sure you remember that.

Barbatos

"I am only a phone call away should you require my assistance."

And he will be on call at all hours of the day and night, just in case. You'll be treated like royalty when you visit the castle too, of course. (Even more like royalty than usual, that is.)

Solomon

"Oh, that? Here."

He just magics your ankle better. There, there, little apprentice. He's surprised you didn't do that yourself.

Simeon

"What are you carrying? I'll take it for you. No, I insist!"

Simeon will be a perfect gentleman, helping you up and down stairs and carrying your books and shopping for you. He's very concerned about you somehow re-injuring yourself, and even when you're alright to walk without crutches anymore, he still *really wishes* you'd use them for an extra week or two, just to be on the safe side.

Luke

"You did what to your ankle?! Ankles can do that?!

Congratulations, you've introduced Luke to the concept of broken bones, and he will find the human skeleton creepy and gross for the rest of his life.

--------

@thefandomthings I know this isn't exactly what your ask was, but it's similar, so I hope you like this!

[lastoneout]

Hey @ my fellow bitches and besties who deal with a lot constipation/gas/bloating because of IBS or other digestive issues!!

Did you know there's a way to deal with it at home on your own without medication?? Because my doctor sure didn't fucking tell me about this!! But I just tried it because my gas always makes me SO fucking nauseous that I can barely function and it takes like an hour for my nausea and IBS meds to kick in, but I always feel the urge to rub my stomach when I'm bloated, so my Wikipedia boyfriend ass googled it and YEP MASSAGING IS BACKED UP BY SCIENCE.

The article does say to not do this if you have recently had abdominal surgery, but here's the method:

"To perform abdominal massage on yourself.

Lie flat on your back with your belly exposed.

Overlap your hands on your lower belly and hold them here as you focus on your breath.

Warm your hands by rubbing them together for about 30 seconds.

Apply any oils that you’re using.

Use the palm of your hand to massage your entire stomach in a clockwise direction several times.

Then massage the centerline of your abdomen, starting below your sternum and ending at your pubic bone.

Do three more lines an inch apart down the left side of the abdomen.

Do the same on the right side of the abdomen.

Then press your fingers into your navel firmly.

Continue massaging with gentle pressure and circle outward from your navel in a clockwise direction.

You can spend extra time on specific areas or trigger points that feel like they need some extra attention.

Do this for up to 20 minutes.

If you don’t feel comfortable massaging yourself, you can also have your abdomen massaged by a massage therapist. Call before you make your appointment to see if the therapist performs abdominal massage. Not all masseuses provide this service."

I also found a slightly different one from the University of Michigan!

"Massaging your stomach can help to move stool along the inside of your colon. It may help relieve symptoms of tightness, pressure, cramping, and bloating.

Start on the right side of your stomach down by the bone of your pelvis.

Rub in a circular motion lightly up to the right side till you reach your rib bones.

Move straight across to the left side.

Work your way down to the left to the hip bone and back up to the belly button for 2-3 minutes.

Rub with your fingertips in a circular motion. You may press a little deeper with your fingers.

Spend about 1 minute moving from the right hip bone to the right ribs then 1 minute across the middle (gently) and then 1 minute down to the left bone by your pelvis to the belly button.

Repeat rub, always in a clockwise motion, for 10 minutes."*

I was literally so nauseous from being bloated that I couldn't even swallow food without feeling like I was going to puke, but I did the second one just sitting up at my desk, clockwise like they both said(I'm assuming bcs that's the direction things travel through your gut) and within like 2 minutes I felt better. I cannot BELIEVE no one has ever recommended this. Fucking life-changing. I used to just sit there and drink sprite and hope it was over soon and now I don't have to do that!! And if people already know about this that's good but like, again, no one EVER told me about this so if this can help even ONE person who struggles like I do I'll consider it a win!

Also, for clarification, I'm not advocating ditching your meds obvs, I just know it takes a while for pills to kick in and I don't think people should have to be miserable while they wait when there's something easy you can do to get some quick relief.

(*I added more bullet points to the second method because the wall of text was a little hard to read.)

[biteofcherry]

to find the light, we must first touch the darkness

Please also check out @bluepinkangel​’s amazing hot moodboard for this universe 🖤

dark mafia!Steve Rogers x female reader

summary: When you unexpectedly are appointed to run a health center, you foresee many struggles along the way, but not one in the form of a merciless mob boss. Steve Rogers’ core aim is to own and he won’t take no for an answer. To any of his demands.

warnings for this chapter: dark!Steve Rogers; power imbalance; forced relationship; D/s undertones; public humiliation; groping; dirty talk

I did warn you this Steve is dark 😜

word count: 4k

Touch the Darkness Masterlist

Main Masterlist

5. Breaking ice 

~ * ~ 

You’ve never been more annoyed with a sunny day and warm lightness filling your bones than you felt the day after the apothecary incident. Extra bounce to your step as the sun stroked your face and corners of your lips threatening to curl up irked you immensely. 

Every other minute you tried to force yourself into a stormy mood.

Into an expected reaction to what has happened.

You faced direct danger, witnessed people being killed in cold blood, you were trapped in a relationship with a fucking mobster, who - on top of it all - screwed your body and mind in a most wicked, deranged way.

You shouldn’t be feeling cheery. That reaction was inadequate to the situation and to the moral norms you thought you possessed. 

Either Rogers had that strong of an impact that you quickly bent to his dark whims, or the spine you thought you had always been a noodle not a steel rod. 

How otherwise explain the fact repulsion at his manhandling transformed into thrill and arousal? 

Last night, when you finally went to bed after taking a thorough scrubbing shower (and crunching a few cranberry pills to pray the UTI away), the images of being fucked with a gun resurfaced in a colorful burst. 

The crystalline blue frozen in ice of Steve’s irises, the soft pink of his lips inches away from yours, the black of the gun against your floral dress. 

It made you sticky instead of sick. 

You had some knowledge of the psychological aspects to rough sex fantasies, or bdsm preferences, even consensual non-consent role play; but they all were considered normal when consented and previously explored. 

You did not give Steve your verbal consent. Yet you didn’t exactly fight him. Convincing yourself it was because he had a gun and could kill you with it fell poorly since your pussy clenched at the memory of the barrel against your skin. 

What has your life become - cranberry pills and getting wet from being violated.

You were angry, yes, but not at what you should be. Your annoyance with Rogers was peaking, but the true resentment wasn’t only toward his actions. It was directed at yourself for not being outraged by what happened. 

When the next day at work Natalie asked you about the meeting, you gave her the short version - a trap being set up and Rogers coming to save you. The part about coming all over his gun was left unspoken.

You told yourself it’s to spare yourself further humiliation, but a part of you simply feared you’d get turned on thinking about it again. 

Really, that should be a topic to pick at a therapy session, but you couldn’t do that either. You had enough common sense to know going to a psychotherapist was out of the question, not with the man who was about to become your husband. You couldn’t tell all the truth in a session (to not risk a therapist’s life) and going there only to lie and omit had no sense. 

So you decided to channel everything onto the job. 

Focusing on work meant not allowing your thoughts to roam around Steve fucking Rogers, as well not giving your body reasons to stir with arousal. 

You caught up on paperwork, made a few phone calls - including those less important, just to occupy yourself; you visited the new speech therapist in their office. Being busy enhanced the sense of lightness, which you preferred to read as having no space to overthink and stress, instead of wondering if getting debauched was the sole cause of your serenity. 

However, the lull of denial burst the moment Natalie came into your office with lunch.

Lunch you didn’t order, and a couple trailing behind her with creepily bright smiles on their faces. 

“Miss Leigh Parrish and Mister Elias Asher are here for you.” Natalie informed you, professional as always, though you noticed the barely constrained eye roll. “And they brought you lunch, apparently.”

“What?” You looked at the set of neat three boxes with delicious looking food then at Natalie and at the pair behind her. 

The two walked in with confidence, as if they were about to take over your office. The woman, Leigh, had a pad in her hand and a huge binder under her other arm. The man held some small kind of measure tape and a little blue notebook. 

If they were some new donors, or a company who wanted to start a program with your health center, they sure were the very first to start negotiations this way. Usually you were invited to lunch, not have it brought. People meeting you were also more reserved and polite, instead of barging in with some wacky energy. 

“Lunch is from Mister Rogers, we’re just delivering since we were going to be here anyway,” said Leigh, her toothpaste-commercial grin not changing for a second.

Instantly your mood dropped, your eyebrows creasing into a hostile frown. 

“And why are you here?” Your tone remained calm, but you made sure displeasure in it was audible. 

Steve randomly buying you lunch was a worrying problem you stored to resolve later; though you had a feeling he wouldn’t care that these nice gestures annoyed you, as they clashed with the picture of a ruthless mobster you were adamant on hating forever. 

The two cheery people coming in unannounced - at the direction of Steve, undoubtedly - became the aim of your irritation and distrust. 

“To help you plan your wedding, of course.” They both beamed in unison and you almost groaned at how overtly sweet the woman’s tone has become. 

“Mr Rogers mentioned you’re fighting nerves, which is absolutely understandable,” Leigh cooed and your fingers twitched, ready to reach for something to throw it at her. “Planning a wedding can be stressful, especially an impromptu one. But that’s why I’m here! I’m the best wedding planner in the city and I’ll make sure it surpasses all your dreams.”

Your reluctance toward the wedding wasn’t something you hid from Rogers. Quite the opposite, you announced it any chance you had; within limits of reason, to avoid being disposed of.

Him sending in an actual wedding planner was a move you did not expect. At all. 

You’d sooner anticipate him dragging you in your pajamas in front of a forced registrar to get it over with. 

Ah, but that would be too easy. Not enough torment for you. Not enough room for you to show how obedient of a wife you’d be. 

We both know you will be a good girl for me, Princess, his voice resounded in your head, a decadent richness that softened your limbs for a split of a second before your resistance kicked in. 

Having you organize the wedding, or at least actively participate in it, was a lesson - that you would follow his orders even if you hated them.  

“The best wedding planner in the city has a free slot to organize a wedding in a month?” You arched a single eyebrow, studying the woman. “What skeletons are in your closet that my fiance managed to blackmail you?”

You didn’t doubt she was one of the best, but those had their schedules booked for three years in advance. To have her clear it for you meant there was more than just money at stake for Miss Leigh Parrish. 

Her smile faltered for a second, but she regained her composure fast. She ignored your question, walking instead toward your desk and placing her huge binder on it. 

“Since we have the venue covered, with Mr Rogers estate being more than enough to host the event,” she went on, “there are only details to talk over. Let’s start with the wedding rings, so that Elias can begin working on them right away.”

Her companion stepped forward. The tiny measuring tape in his hand now made sense, as it apparently was to measure the circumference of your finger to match a ring size.

“Let’s start-” you interrupted, pushing your chair back- “with you leaving my office.”

Interesting how you managed to maintain your poised self, professionally cool as you delivered the polite fuck you, while that composure quickly dissolved around Rogers. 

You kinda stepped on eggshells around him at first (and still, sensing when the crossing line was too near), but then his demands lit your fuse. Somehow you dared to stomp your foot, be loud in your outbursts and acts of rebellion. And it wasn’t because Steve provided safe space, oh no. He was far from safe. 

“What?” The man blinked, confused, while his friend blanched.

“We have to get it done. As soon as possible.” Still trying to sound sweet and soft, Leigh made the mistake of allowing a tremble to shake her voice. 

“Then get it done, I don’t really care.” You shrugged.

It was the truth. You didn’t care for the ceremony at all. 

You had a brief thought about hating it, if it was some overused boho or retro theme in a barn, but then again you would hate it anyway, since you didn’t want to marry Steve. Besides, it could be funny to see his face if someone told him to wear suspenders and a flat cap for aesthetics.

“You, um, you don’t want to participate in preparations for your own wedding?” Leigh frowned, utterly surprised. “Not even pick a dress?” 

“I can wear a t-shirt and flip-flops for all I care.” You probably wouldn’t go that far, but you really didn’t care. 

If Rogers didn’t order you to wear a wedding dress, you’d do it anyway just to please your parents who were going to be completely oblivious to the truth behind your speedy wedding. You preferred to keep it that way, playing someone so dumbly in love she was ready to marry a few weeks after meeting the guy. You didn’t want to worry your parents.  

Natalie snorted at your words, for the very first time so openly showing amusement. She even grinned when you glared at her, then turned on her heel and walked outside.

“The, um, the wedding rings?” Elias cleared his throat.

“Barbed wire would be fitting,” you snorted under your breath, but he didn’t seem to hear it. You suspected he might’ve fainted if he did. 

“Whatever Mister Rogers wishes,” you shrugged. “As a matter of fact, why don't you go and consult with him?” 

To underline that you were done with this whole shit-show, you opened one of the lunchboxes and dug a fork into it. You didn’t lift up your eyes from the delicious food until you heard the door closing.   

You ate your lunch while idly browsing the internet, just to get your thoughts off the wedding completely. It was approaching with each passing day and you preferred not to accept the fact. 

Though you weren’t sure denial would work once there was an actual ring on your finger. 

It seemed it wouldn’t work even before that, because not a half hour after you dismissed the wedding planner the door to your office opened with impetus.

Steve strode inside, a force of a thousand storms contained in a man’s body. 

His heavy boots and the hem of his tight jeans seemed to be freshly stained with something wet and dark. The rest of him was perfectly clean, not a smudge of dirt on his hands. You tried not to think of blood splashing on his shoes and legs as a lifeless victim fell at Steve's feet.

You definitely tried to ignore a wave of heat that washed over you at the thought. 

You forced your eyes to stay on the devil’s angelic face, drowning in the hues of blue, so that your gaze wouldn’t slide across Steve’s body in search of a gun holster. 

“Princess.” Steve sighed, but there was an undertone of amusement in his voice. 

He walked toward you with purposeful steps; his mass seemingly changing the gravity inside your office, so that all light fractured to disappear in his approaching darkness. 

Or maybe it was your attention discarding anything in your peripheral to focus on him, as if he was the center of your world. 

You abruptly stood up and shuffled back instinctively, bumping into a bureau. Steve caged you against it, blocking any route of escape with his arms on both sides of you. It was only then that you tilted your chin up, tapping into the remnants of your steel defiance.

“Why am I hearing that you’re scaring off the wedding team?” Steve tilted his head to the side and chuckled. “They’re here to take the planning burden off your shoulders, so that you can focus on your work. And your future role…”

You swore that if he said anything about wifely duties, you’d kick him.

“I told them they can plan whatever they want. As long as they do it far away from me,” your mocking sweet smile combined with your sneer. 

Perhaps your tone provoked it, or maybe a challenging fire in your eyes, but Steve’s lips curved into a wolfish grin. 

“Oh, Princess,” he cooed, brushing a thumb over your bottom lip, “look at your cute yip, yet there’s no real bite to it.” 

It was very dangerous to do anything to antagonize Rogers, especially when he was this close and could snap your neck with his bare hands, but you acted before a reasonable thought settled in.

You opened your mouth and caught his thumb between your teeth, clenching your jaw enough to cause pain, but not drawing blood.

Steve’s eyes hardened, the blue of his irises darkening. Time froze for a split second; you could almost hear the ice cracking beneath your feet and the murky depths awaiting to swallow your dead body. 

Suddenly your eyes widened, when instead of backhanding you, Steve pushed his thumb further between your lips.

Your teeth released their grip, his digit easing into your mouth and pressing against your tongue. Saliva pooled around it and you instinctively hollowed your cheeks. 

Twisted satisfaction igniting in his eyes and the subtle thrust of his thumb along your tongue stirred you from stupor. Scorching shame filled you to the roots, though you hoped it didn’t show. 

You pulled back, turning your face away from Steve as you swallowed remnants of his taste. He tilted your chin with his wet thumb, forcing you to look him in the eye again. What the fuck was with this man and maintaining eye contact? 

“Let’s get it over with, shall we?” He smoothed a hand down your arm and wrapped his fingers around your wrists. 

Next thing you knew Steve was calling for Elias Asher, as he stretched your arm out; thumb pressing into your palm to make your fingers stretch. 

Elias stumbled inside and almost tripped over his own feet at the sight the two of you displayed - you pressed against the bureau with Rogers’ intimidating size looming over you, your hand offered on a silver platter. 

“You mentioned you need measurements for the ring size,” Steve intoned conversationally, “do what you must.”

You glared daggers at Steve, which he accepted unbothered. The jeweler’s fingers didn’t shake as he wrapped a small measuring tape around your finger and wrote down the result in his notebook. However, all the while he was staring either at your finger or his notes, never up at either of you.

That way it was easier to pretend the scene before him wasn’t close to intimate, or that he didn’t suspect you were being forced into marriage.

“What type of metal?” His voice wavered slightly. 

“White gold,” came Steve’s decided reply. 

Something told you that while he was giving you free will to organize the wedding however you liked, Steve had already chosen how your permanent shackle looks like. 

You peeked at his hand, gaze sliding across the rings adorning his thick fingers. You noticed there was none on the finger on which a wedding band is worn. He was going to make sure that your rings matched the set he was already wearing.   

“Pure and fierce, like my fiancée.” Steve added, with a mocking tilt. 

“And the cut?” Elias scribbled down, not lifting his eyes at either of you even once.

Steve’s eyes sparked mischievously. His right hand moved up your thigh, squeezing your thick flesh through the fabric of your skirt.

“Cushion?” Steve mused aloud.

Then his touch moved upwards, along your ribcage and ghosting over the swell of your breast. 

“Round?” He cupped your tit indecently, causing you to gasp in outrage that he dared to do it in front of someone. 

That he dared to do it at all!

“No. We know which suits you best, right?” Steve’s hand ventured north, brushing your collarbone before his fingers curled around the front of your neck. 

“A princess cut.” 

Ringed fingers wrapped around your throat loosely, but it was a firm enough gesture to boil your blood and weaken your knees. 

You couldn’t blame it on the fear of being strangled, because not a single thought about it entered your mind when Steve did that. Neither when he did it the first time, in his kitchen, nor now. 

What you thought about was the power he spread over you and how it melted your resolve into an obedient puddle. Against all reason. 

Unable to look away from Steve, you didn’t notice the jeweler leaving your office in a hurry, undoubtedly ready to drink away what he tried not to witness. You didn’t even hear the door close, your ears were filled with the sound of your own heart pounding in a quickened rhythm as Steve’s hold on you continued. 

Slowly (it seemed reluctant, too), Steve loosened his grip. He didn’t move it away, though, shifting it only slightly, so his hand splayed like a necklace above your sternum. 

You took a shaky breath in, cogs in your brain starting to turn anew. 

“Why can’t we just sign the papers without this wedding party fuss?” You asked quietly, gaze shifting from Steve’s hold on your hand to his face. 

He brought your hand to his lips, kissing your knuckles before he let go of it and took a step away from you. He swiped a hand over his mouth then gave you a blank, almost condescending look.

“Because I need everyone convinced I’m here after your cute ass, Princess. Blind with love or lust, or whatever people want to believe in,” he winked at you, as if you were supposed to agree with his cynical assessment.

You thought quite the opposite. That no one sane would believe Steve Fucking Rogers was interested in you. 

“Who would even believe that?” You snorted, frowning.

It wasn’t about insecurities of any kind; you were mildly confident both in your looks and your worth. However, men like Rogers didn’t even circle around women of your kind. 

Men of power; men who rode the thin line of morality, mostly treading through the dark side; they went for women who craved such things. Women who suited that lifestyle. Women rotten at the core, or greedy (whether for wealth, or for power and influence). Or at least for women who looked really fucking good on their arms, like models and escorts. 

No one, none of Steve’s rivals surely, would believe that he was simply courting you. You beside him made zero sense.

Steve laughed. Actually laughed. A warm, sparkling burst of amusement that made his handsome face gain impossible boyish charm. 

“That a man got addicted to a sweet pussy?” He looked down at you, still grinning. But that grin transformed into a sly curve. 

“Everyone, Princess.” He leaned closer, again; voice nearly purring as his lips brushed your cheek. “I can assure you that even at this moment they’re thinking I’m balls deep inside you.”

You couldn’t help the shiver that rocked your body. Judging by the way Steve’s eyes dragged down and up your frame, he noticed your reaction. 

“I’m kinda thinking about it, too.” He licked his lips, drawing your hungry attention to them.

But the ire at his crude words snapped you out of daze. Your fingers curled in a fist and you pounded it against Steve’s chest when he pressed his weight into you.

“In your dreams!” You hissed.

Your small fist made no real impact against Steve’s hard chest. It didn’t deter him and it seemed he didn’t even feel any pain from the hit. 

His hands returned to your body, boldly gripping your hips and holding you in place as he licked along your jaw. He flicked your earlobe with his tongue - a lewd tease that should disgust you, but instead made your pussy tingle.  

“I’m dreaming of our wedding night.” Steve whispered before pulling away with a low chuckle at your wheeze.

“There will be no wedding night!” You pounded two of your fists against his chest. Futilely.

Steve regarded you with a look one may give to a small kitten trying to appear intimidating toward a wolf fifty times its size.

“I’ll make you a deal, Princess,” he tucked both thumbs beneath the hem of your blouse, his touch nearly scorching against your skin. 

“On our wedding night, if I touch your sweet pussy and it’s dry, I’ll let you pick a bedroom for your own. So you can live in solitude, unbothered by my presence.” He sounded sincere, like it was a business deal he was really willing to propose.

Then his hips were pressing against yours, bulge in his pants prominent as he rocked it into you. Steve’s eyes flashed a dark gleam; his sensual lips parting enough to reveal a row of sharp teeth ready to take a hefty bite.

“But if I find your cunt leaking, as I know it is now-” his deep growl resonated straight to your clit.

“I’ll take a pound of flesh. And I’ll be taking you over and over and over again, until you lose your voice from screaming my name.” 

You clutched at his shirt where your hands rested on his chest. You wanted to be able to shove him away, to punch away the beam of smug victory off Steve’s face. Reasonably, you knew you couldn’t do that without serious repercussions happening. 

You were also too busy with the inner battle, fighting some fucked up, primal need to have Steve do to you exactly what he threatened. 

The bastard was unfortunately right, you were soaked. Something you’d never admit to him.

Even if he pushed his big hand up your skirt and dipped his fingers straight into your dripping cunt, you’d deny it to his face. You’d deny it to yourself. Forever. 

Thankfully, Rogers didn’t push further. He seemed satisfied with his stupid bet and that you didn’t fight back (even if you kept your mouth closed in fear of releasing a whimper). Steve let go of you, only lifting one hand to cup your chin.

“Now be good, Princess,” he commanded. “I don’t have time to deal with hysterical wedding planners.”

You grimaced - eyebrows drawing in a frown, nose scrunching up. You weren’t interested in dealing with wedding planning either, but you were aware Steve considered the topic closed. If you reopened it, he might do more than just bend you into obedience in front of a stranger.

“Then why did you come here?” You asked instead.

“I came for my distressed fiancée,” Steve’s grin was cheeky as he used his grip on your chin to slightly shake your head.

He squeezed a tad tighter and when your lips puckered he pecked them. 

“You’ll get a big girl kiss when you start acting like one,” he added at your indignant glare. 

Then released you and simply turned around to leave. You cursed him and called him names in your head. You prayed that one day you’ll get reckless enough to throw something at him, consequences be damned. For now, you still liked to be alive. 

[you-remind-me-of-the-babe]

Happy weekend! The sun is finally coming out and it is starting to properly feel like spring. 🌞

I’ve finally updated one of my WIPs! Depth of Reason chapter 6 is now live. Here’s a bit that tells you the main plot of this chapter:

It was mostly Penny’s idea. She agreed to have lunch with me and Baz shortly after he said he was willing to fight his charges. She was reluctant at first, reminding me she thought I’d crossed enough boundaries for him. But I was like a dog with a bone, and I eventually got her to cave.

It took her a while to warm up to him. She spent the first half of the meal staring at him with calculating eyes and interrogating him on things that very clearly had less to do with his case and more to do with his relationship with me. I love Penny but Merlin she can be protective sometimes. I guess I spent so many years talking her ear off about Baz plotting that she had to see for herself whether he was.

But once we got to the details of Baz’s probation and the particulars of the charges against him, Penny’s compulsion to solve a problem kicked in.

Which is why we’re heading to Watford today. She suggested that, in order to build the case that Baz is an upstanding magickal citizen, he should collect a variety of glowing personal references.

And one more snippet, which is an altered version of something I shared recently. I had to change it a bit, as I needed the overall tone to change to make it work, and I moved it to a little further in the chapter than I had it before:

“I keep thinking about what you said earlier.”

I stare at him, confused.

“When you said helping people was all you’re good for.”

Ah.

“I just wanted you to know that you’re cared for. Just the way you are.”

I wonder if he’s been stressing about this the whole drive.

“You sound like my therapist,” I say, laughing a little and trying to lessen his worry. “I know,” I say, bobbing my head, “I’ve got Penny and Shepard. Gran and Uncle Jamie. I had Ebb.”

Baz clicks his tongue. It’s dark and his face is thrown into shadow from the street light behind him, but I can imagine the eye roll that comes with it.

“I was talking about me, you numpty.” His voice is gentle, yet determined. “I care about you.”

Thanks to everyone who has tagged me recently!! Here’s a bunch of tag backs and a few extras 💜

@fatalfangirl @cutestkilla @blackberrysummerblog @valeffelees @rimeswithpurple @facewithoutheart @aroace-genderfluid-sheep @forabeatofadrum @letraspal @palimpsessed @artsyunderstudy @theearlgreymage @ebbpettier @shrekgogurt @hushed-chorus @thewholelemon @imagineacoolusername @ic3-que3n @sosoapi @whogaveyoupermission @martsonmars @shemakesmeforget @ivelovedhimthroughworse @aristocratic-otter @larkral @captain-aralias @yellobb @toonysart

[hyah-lian]

@skyloftian-nutcase fanfic, for your Healthcare AU? It's more likely than you think.

I hope it's ok to post it and tag you like this ;;;; that one post yesterday got my brain goin. I hope its not too out of character for your boys or too off base on the situation lol

--------------------

The staff section of the cafeteria had been cleared of tables and filled to the brim with CPR mannequins, gym mats, and a small army of staff in various locations around the space. 

A few, like Wars and Time were pacing through with other educators brought in for the training exercise. Others sat, stood, or laid with index cards; acting out or reading off their cards to the handful who were on their turn for acting as triage and treatment.

"Oh oof ouch, I am dying. My sats are unreadable. Oh no," Legend deadpanned from the blue mat on the floor while one of the hospital's newer hires rocked from foot to foot above him.

"Don't panic, breathe," Time raised his voice a little over the din of the emergency preparedness practice.

"And- and check the leads if they are there? And- or call a code for help?" Time nodded and the new hire ran through the motions.

"Cool, alright Wind, so what is the next step?" Twilight grinned and pulled the young respiratory-therapist-in-training's attention back to the scenario at hand.

"Oh, yeah. Geeze, it's pretty loud and busy."

"Emergencies tend to be. You don't have to get it perfect, that's why we do the course."

"Right," Wind nodded and rechecked the card with the scenario information, "well then, uh, little mister bus crash. Your arm is probably broken and my what big bones you have for a second grader."

"Ha-ha. Take it seriously, please."

"I am. Reading the room, this kid wouldn't take kindly to coddling and lying from what I've heard. Plus it's not a red level emergency so-"

Wind laid Twilight's arm on his own legs on top of his folded up sweater. With slow and purposeful movements he held the hand still gently with one of his own, while the other went for the splinting materials in one of the tubs to the side.

"Your arm is going to get a, uhm," Wind furrowed his brow when Wars and another one of the course leaders walked by, "special jacket that'll hug it and help make it feel better until a doctor can get you a cast."

"My card just says 'inconsolable crying', I'm sure you can imagine what that is like."

"No, no Twi- do it right!" 

Legend was propped up on his elbow staring back at the two of them, oh so casually sipping his energy drink while his caretaker was tearing through the provided bins and listening to Time talk them through their panic.

"I'm not taking advice from an unconscious body with an untraceable rhythm that is somehow sitting up and drinking that crap."

"For all you know I'm asleep with detached leads," he stage whispered before slurping obnoxiously.

"I'm going to tie this here and here to help make your arm feel better," Wind half shouted over the other two.

Twilight flipped his behavior card around to show both Wind and Legend the underlined block lettering saying 'inconsolable crying' and shrugging. 

Wind rolled his eyes and the motion took his whole head lolling back on his shoulders in exasperation. Legend, the bug, just snorted. Then, of course, Wars looped back around to watch.

"Okay, one knot," Wind spoke as he continued, "and two. How brave! Quick, Legend! Wiggle your fingers!"

"Wha-"

"Flex those fingies! C'mon!" 

Legend flexed all of one at Wind's smiling face.

"Watch it!" Twi shouted before catching the glare from Wars. "Thats a swear finger. Tsk tsk."

"That's right! You should show him how to properly wiggle your fingers, kiddo," Wind, to his credit, avoided the patronizing tone most of the others put on when working with younger patients.

Sneaky Wind, trying to score extra points. Twilight lifted the splinted arm ever so slightly and wiggled his fingers in a little wave at Legend. One knot slipped and pinched his arm between it and the splint.

"Good use of age appropriate distraction. Mind the location of the knots on the cravat," Wars smiled and made a note on the clipboard he carried.

"Thanks. Patient is breathing fine, and I'm guessing you still standing here is like, another doctor showing up to take over? Or that I just did enough? I'd still try to sling it for real though, right?" Wind asked.

"Yes, a bit of both. If this was a true mass MVC once you got to this point and had the child safe and supervised, I would suggest you move on to other patients after retying the knot to avoid pinching. Sorry to shove you along so fast, looks like you're all having a great time but we need to keep this moving. Here is your next patient, over there."

Wind took the paper slip and his eyes followed Wars' motion. He slapped his palm into Twilight's hair and gave it a thorough messing-up before moving on.

"Watch it-!" Twi called after him, undoing the splint and resetting the bins for the next waiting person.

"Legend," Time's voice, a warning.

"Okay, okay!" He laid back down, "Ah, oof. I am so unconscious. My breathing is shallow, it's there but shallow, ok? You don't need to crack my ribs for real this time."

"Worst actor, isn't he?" Wild dropped off another bin of equipment and handed Twilight a new stack of cards for the next scenario before moving on to deliver other equipment to the different stations.

[deadliestpieceontheboard]

Minyard-Josten BIOMY Home

This one is the most canon-compliant to the fic I could make it, going back a bunch of times to the flashback chapter where they first bought it and adding the extra rooms they mentioned wanting. Yes, it's extra big. Mostly because I had to fit two bathrooms with enormous bathtubs and Andreil's ridiculously big bed. It was super fun to build!

Individual posts for each house: [The Villa] [Aaron+Katelyn] [Allison+Renee] [Matt+Dan] [Kevin+Thea] [photoshoot]

(All images should be with good res to zoom in)

First detail I wanted to point out is the move of their chairs from the back porch to the front. Because the back now goes into the shared ring I felt they would enjoy more the privacy of the woods around the villa :)

It's mentioned many times how the downstairs rooms are weird and skinny because they closed the floor plan, and anytime you see a funky tile, blame it on the kids (foyer has Nat's water-like one)! Also, no white walls, keeping lighter colors on the down-stairs and darker upstairs.

Living room opens to a huge cat tree because they're spoiled. There's also much more decoration thanks to the art classes and the kids pressuring them to put more pictures out. (you can see them up close on the photoshoot link in the beginning of the post). The pictures include the twins at Nicky's wedding and the pict Dan sent them, and you can see grey and blue bouquets Andreil got each other <3

I can't actually change window glass colors but we know they're all colorful.

Ok, I know, but there's only so much you can do when the characters decide they must have fox-orange cabinets. There was an empty wall so they let Nat and Paige add some trees.

Yes. This is how big an Alaskan bed is. I looked it up. Andrew's corner has a motivacional cat poster his mom-therapist gave him for decor and Neil's has his mom's bones so I guess they match? Shout-out to Andrunior at the window and their super safe knife target.

Paige wanted a pink and gold color scheme, so I went along those lines. She's got her crocheting paraphernalia on the floor, and because I can't put stars on the ceiling there's a cute nightlight.

Why does Nat's room looks purple? because right by that green mirror there's a craft paper lamp, you can kinda see it on the floor plan. Nat's room is very artsy, with a mirror gallery and lot's of paintings on her desired black walls.

Now pretty much all the other rooms, left to right and top to bottom: the foyer (their blue period, with abstract art and a gothic rug), downstairs bathroom (full, in case Neil breaks a leg), guest room, kid's bathroom (the Jack-and-Jill sink outside), Andreil bathroom, and stairs landing. Neil and Andrew let the kids go wild with the tiles, and I love them for that. Very funky. Also, behold their basically-hotubs.

And finally, because I loved how they looked: their back porch, with bench and floor painted by the kids, and the wall that faces Matt and Dan's home, where Nat painted a mural. (also, all houses have recycling and regular bins just outside, thanks to Renee)

As always, inspired by the fic Blame it On My Youth, by @yourficstheyglow

[hongism]

Hi Caly!!

Ok so .. ACT SEVEN IS GOING TO INCLUDE STUFF THAT ARE TRUE AND ALSO NOT TRUE??

*SCREAMS INTO OBLIVION*

also MINGI BEST BOY ♡

I have have mixed feelings about san now even tho I do get that his feelings are genuine but I feel like y/n rn, not knowing if I should entirely trust him or not 😫

ALSO MINHO??? was he trying to help y/n regardless of hongjoong's ultimatum... cuz it looks like it for some reason and well she needed that lecture from him.

AS ALWAYS AMAZING CHAPTER AND YOU'RE DOING AN AMAZING JOB ♡

Take love

-hana

YES IT WILL!! not in this most recent chapter but starting next chapter 😎 you'll know bc im gonna put in an extra a/n at the beginning JUST to give a little clue and help so that it's not ultra confusing hehe!

san is certainly in the weeds in terms of trust both from the readers and from y/n :(( however! i will say that he is far more genuine and honest than many believe him to be! and indeed minho was throwing our dear y/n a bone there for a minute... which makes a lot of sense looking back at minho's history with jisung and what he has said before about his own freedom, but also from his stance as a therapist his goal is indeed to help before it is to help feed hongjoong's wishes :3

THANK YOU SM i hope you take care and have nothing but good days ahead ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[kakashiswilloffire]

dysthymia pt. 11

another chapter to my series of drabbles of kakashi having depression. this one is kakashi realizing the depression is coming back.

tw: suicide mention, self harm mention (neither are graphic), ptsd reference

wc: 474

ao3

pt. 10 / pt. 12

He checked the wall calendar again, looking at the date Gai had circled and filled in with a smiley face without actually taking in the drawing. The fourth of the month. A little over a week away. That was six months since his most recent suicide attempt.

Gai liked to refer to it as his last attempt. Kakashi preferred to be realistic.

The disease he had was cyclical, after all. It wouldn’t matter how many pills they prescribed, the number of therapy sessions he sat through, the ever-growing list of coping skills, hobbies, and people who said he could count on them in a crisis. None of that mattered in comparison to the brick wall that he slammed into at least every few months.

Sometimes it wasn’t as bad. If things in his life were going okay, he could focus on just the bile being dredged up in his mind. Otherwise, things weren’t so simple– drowning in the flashbacks and panic attacks, his bones turning to lead and brain stuffed with hazy clouds, the overwhelming unceasing variations of “isolate, hurt yourself, end it all” consuming every waking moment. Gai would check in more frequently then, but Kakashi would pick up more missions.

This was one of the longer stretches in between episodes. Usually, he only got three or four months.

He could feel the milestone on the horizon just as well as he could feel the marks from self-harm fresh on his skin.

It had started subtly this time. It became harder to sleep, not that he’d ever had an easy time with that. Meals became less important, both to eat and to prepare. It was easier to pick up onigiri at the corner store when he was famished than it was to keep the supply of miso soup, eggplant, and rice up in the kitchen. He went an extra day between showers, feeling clean enough to not go through with the energy the process required.

He hadn’t put the pieces together until the thoughts became louder.

No one needs you here. You shouldn’t be here. You don’t deserve to be here. You’re taking up resources someone else could be using. You’re wasting everyone’s time. Everyone would be better off if you would just–

Logically, he knew none of it was true. The years spent in treatment had taught him that. Still, the thoughts persisted, snaking and twisting their way along every neural pathway, impossible to stamp out.

He should tell Gai. He should tell his therapist. The psychiatrist. The nice nurse who did his medication reviews. The shopkeep at the corner store. A stranger on the street. He needed to tell someone that it was happening again, that the depression was coming back.

Instead, he sat there in the kitchen, facing the wall calendar and dissociating until it became too dark to see.

[guptasonne75]

Begin working toward a much healthier, active set of objectives and you will notice that daily life gets to be more pleasant. A fantastic prize as the get to these milestones will be the traditional restorative massage. Spending a number of hours in the massage couch on a monthly basis will point out to you why you what you are preventing for from the beginning.

When offering a massage therapy, consider using a little bit of oil. Gas helps you to massage the hands over the pores and skin quicker, and it likewise makes it much simpler to look deeper with tension when supplying the massage therapy. Almond essential oil, extra virgin olive oil and infant essential oil are common excellent selections. If you wish, give a little crucial oils to help make the therapeutic massage fragrant. If you've got stretchmarks from latest putting on weight or fast weight loss, odds are you've tried out several things to eradicate them. Offering those places a massage therapy with coco butter daily may help these stretchmarks go away. The therapeutic massage energizes the tissue to regenerate, thus causing your stretch marks vanishing as time passes. You should attempt different methods when supplying a restorative massage. Make use of palms and fingertips to rub, use stress as well as give delicate faucets. Make use of the suggestion of the fingers if you want preciseness, for instance to chill out a tighten muscles. You might also consider addressing all the surface area as possible using the palm of your respective hands to use strain. When you usually have a lot of pressure with your muscle tissues, nevertheless, you don't such as a rigorous restorative massage, warm natural stone massage therapy could possibly be your best decision. The gemstones, which can be clean, are created hot and after that placed onto particular parts of the body. This warms the muscle tissues and tissues, delivering pressure and pent-up electricity. Ensure that the person you provide a massage therapy to is perfectly set up. Essentially, you need to use a therapeutic massage desk or at least a comfy mat. Unless you have this gear, possess the individual lay out with a secure sofa or a accommodating mattress. Make couples massage in Johns Creek is properly backed. Asian massages are acknowledged to support relax our bodies. One particular not-so-frequent, but very relaxing Asian therapeutic massage is named the Indonesian-Javanese therapeutic massage. Using this approach, the counselor will use both their palms and knuckles to get so strong into the skin. This will help your muscle mass chill out once they were actually tighten. If your little one is affected by colic, a gentle massage therapy could relieve some of their battling. A little comfortable some lavender infant lotion and carefully therapeutic massage your babies back again, hip and legs, hands and wrists and ft. This will aid chill out your child making them much less fussy when they are experiencing tummy cramps a result of colic. If rheumatoid arthritis is a thing that you must take care of, then you already know it may be agonizing. Medicine aids, but it may possibly not always get rid of the ache from painful bone. When you need some thing then your meds, consider obtaining a massage therapy. A great restorative massage can help increase circulation of blood and enhance flow, as a result decreasing overall pain and discomfort. Before acquiring a massage therapy, advise your masseuse of all of the problem areas you possess. In the event you don't you could possibly end up spending 50 % of your massage time on locations that require a lot much less work to feel happy! This interaction will offer your therapist a plan of action for your very limited time there may be readily available. When you decide to publication a consultation for any therapeutic massage, contact a couple of neighborhood health spas and ask them what they have to supply. You will probably find that they supply a massage type which you'd like to experience, or that they can don't supply the older stand by you'd prefer to use. When you are greater in your therapeutic massage, go quicker. It's a great idea to start out in a reduced speed to ensure the receiver has a chance to become accustomed to the restorative massage and support unwind them. After some time, you may relocate both hands throughout themselves quicker when you use far more forceful stress. If you want soft massages, request a Swedish massage. This kind of restorative massage employs very long, mild strokes. It has been identified as probably the most calming kind of therapeutic massage offered. This massage therapy carefully massages the shallow tiers of muscle tissues contributing to relaxation and satisfaction. This type of massage therapy is wonderful for those new to massage treatment. There could be tiny discussion a appropriate therapeutic massage is something that about everyone can value. However, not everybody possesses a great deal of information about them. By looking at this content previously mentioned and discussing the data when necessary, you have to have what must be done to be a real restorative massage specialist and aficionado.

[tejaswinia]

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN KNEES

An autoimmune illness that affects the entire body, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is typified by extra-articular involvement and inflammatory arthritis. It is a chronic inflammatory disease mostly affecting the synovial joints. Over time, joint inflammation causes bone erosion and cartilage loss, ultimately resulting in joint degeneration. The hands, knees, or ankles are frequently affected by the condition, and it typically affects the same joint on both sides of the body, such as both hands or both knees. However, RA can also occasionally result in issues with the heart, circulatory system, eyes, and/or lungs.

Rheumatoid Arthritis in Knees

The largest and strongest joints in the body are the knees. The lower end of the thighbone, the higher end of the shinbone, and the kneecap form the knee. The knee joint is formed by the ends of these bones. As the knee bends and straightens, protective cartilage covers the ends of the bones and cushions them. The joint is lined with a thin capsule of tissue known as the synovial membrane. This membrane's function is to exude lubricant, which lowers friction and shields the ligaments and cartilage. The immune system misidentifies the synovial membrane when RA affects the knees. The growth or proliferation of cells in this reaction results in painful swelling and inflammation. Then, movement is restricted by the enlarged synovial membrane.

Symptoms of RA in Knees

Tenderness, soreness, or discomfort in the joints that gets worse when standing, walking, or exercising is a classic sign of RA. We call this a flare. It may hurt just a little, throbbing or it may hurt a lot, sharply.

The following are some other typical signs of RA in the knees:

·       warmth surrounding the joint stiffness or locking of the joint, particularly in the morning or in cold weather

·       weakness or instability of the joint when bearing weight

·       creaking, clicking, or popping sounds while moving knee joint trouble straightening

Figure - Stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Knees

Source - https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/rheumatoid-arthritis-in-knee

Diagnosis

To diagnose RA in the knees, medical professionals combine a physical examination, laboratory testing, and medical history:

·       Medical history: A physician will inquire about the onset, severity, and aggravating factors of joint pain, as well as whether any family members have RA or other autoimmune diseases.

 Physical examination: During this procedure, a physician looks for indications of heat, oedema, soreness, or restricted movement in the knees and joints. In addition, they will look for lumps beneath the skin and a low-grade fever.

  Tests on blood: These can detect inflammatory indicators including C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Additionally, rheumatoid factor (RF), an antibody seen in 80% of RA patients, is searched for during testing, or cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP), which 60–70% of those suffering from this illness have.

     Imaging examinations: Doctors can detect bone and joint erosion using X-rays, ultrasound scans, or MRI scans since RA can cause damage to the joints. Images, however, could not be useful in the early stages of RA when there is little to no bone damage for doctors to diagnose.

Treatment

The first line of treatment for pain and stiffness should always be nonsurgical methods.

Non-Surgical approaches include the following:

\

·       For knee osteoarthritis, exercise is the first line of treatment.

·       To determine what may be done safely, a physical therapist's assessment is essential.

·       Low-impact activities that increase muscle strength and range of motion include swimming, water aerobics, level-surface walking, and riding a bicycle.

·       Losing weight can help lessen the strain on the knee joint.

·       It might also be appropriate to employ supportive equipment, such as canes and brace orthotics.

·       Pain relief using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen.

·       Inflammation can also be decreased by a different class of drugs known as Cox-2 inhibitors, which includes celecoxib (Celebrex).

·       Direct injections into the knee joint might be advised.

Different surgeries might be necessary, either separately or in conjunction with one another.

·       Surgery to replace a knee completely or partially. The artificial joint is a smooth joint surface that will be cemented to the bones in place of the worn-out and damaged surfaces on the extremities of the tibia (shin bone), femur (thighbone), and patella (kneecap).

·       For severely inflamed knees, a synovectomy—the removal of a portion of the synovium, the inner lining of the joint capsule—may be advised. ·       A femur or tibia osteotomy, which involves cutting and realigning the bone, can properly realign the knee to lessen excessive, unequal stresses that worsen osteoarthritis in a particular area of the knee. Those with early-onset arthritis who have alignment issues (bowleg, knock knee) or rotational abnormalities (femoral anteversion, femoral retroversion) may benefit from this. Even with mild knock-knee or bowleg arthritis, a person's condition may worsen as their arthritis progresses because one side of the knee experiences more bone and cartilage deterioration than the other.

[braybirch47]

Massage Bound? These Hints Are For You!

Start working towards a healthier, active set of goals and you will find that life becomes more enjoyable. A great reward as your reach these milestones is the classical massage. Spending a couple of hours on the massage chair each month will remind you why you what you are fighting for in the first place. Only disrobe to your comfort level. For many people, undressing for a massage is not a big deal. This is not the case with some and they often find themselves feeling uncomfortable or self-conscious during the massage. This will reduce the effect of the massage. Avoid this by only taking off the clothing you are comfortable with. Stretch marks usually appear during pregnancy or excessive weight gain or loss and they can be very hard to get rid of. A cocoa butter massage can be a huge help. Massaging the area stimulates tissue regeneration, lessening the appearance of stretch marks. If your child suffers from asthma, consider massage. Massage has been proven to help breathing in asthmatic children due to the relaxing benefits it offers. A child's massage should be done with a gentle touch and only for a limited period of time. Try this in the evening and help your child to also enjoy a good night's rest. If you're always catching an illness from everyone else, there is some hope! Massage can improve your white blood cell count, which can help fight infections. This is useful because white blood cells help your body fight off infection and viruses. Migraines can be debilitating. If you suffer from migraines, you need to comprehend your condition. Fortunately, massage has been shown to lessen migraine pain and even diminish their duration. Finding the right therapist is very important when it comes to massages. You do not want to visit an inexperienced or inept therapist who may cause you more harm than good. Ask friends or family if they know of a good one in your area or look on the Internet for reviews. To perform a pregnancy massage, have the expectant mother lie on her side and gently rub her back using a circular motion. A pregnancy massage is especially beneficial during the third trimester when the weight of the baby creates pressure points in the expectant mother's lower back and buttock areas. If you like gentle massages, request a Swedish massage. This type of massage uses long, gentle strokes. Masöz has been described as the most relaxing type of massage available. This massage gently massages the superficial layers of muscle tissue resulting in relaxation and peace of mind. This type of massage is great for those who are new to massage therapy. When you are stumped for what to give as a Christmas or birthday present, consider buying a coupon for a healthy massage! Everybody loves the soothing and relaxing benefits of a deep tissue massage and who couldn't use the extra pampering? Especially for the person who has everything, the gift of massage is perfect! Consider a hot shower after a massage. A hot shower can further relax your muscles, and it gives you an opportunity to stand still and enjoy all the benefits of the massage. The hot water is also very relaxing, lending to the stress free atmosphere you have probably hoped to create. If you are on the giving end of a very beneficial massage, make sure to read the signs the recipient is showing. During a deep-tissue massage, the body responds to pressure and muscles will actually contract under your finger-tips. Ease up on the pressure when you approach bones and joints and be guided by the response you get! Drink plenty of water before and after your massage. Drinking before your massage session ensures that your muscles are well-hydrated and supple, making the massage more effective. Water after your massage will flush out the toxins that were released and can even help prevent soreness by hastening muscle recovery time. A massage isn't purely for pleasure. There are many health-related benefits that come from spending time under the trained hands of a professional masseuse. Even if you aren't working towards a set of goals or achievements, you should still plan some time with your local massage parlor and give your back a break from the stress of everyday life.

[fitzpatrickparks21]

How To Find Out How To Massage Right

Massage can be oily, deep, or just concentrated on one body part. From Shiatsu to Swedish, the techniques run the gamut. It is hard to know all of the different techniques out there. Masoz of knowledge you'll get from the below article will help. The use of massage oil really does help usher in the extra feeling and sensation. This helps reduce tension and stress in the muscles. Technique is one thing, and having the right massage oil really does do the extra trick. Massaging the oil into the skin as you deep tissue massage is just wonderful. When you are giving a massage, try to have the person you are massaging in as few articles of clothing as possible. If they are uncomfortable, they can wear a towel to feel more secure at all times. Having areas of the body exposed is not only soothing, but it also facilitates your job. Asian massages are known to help relax the body. One not-so-common, but very relaxing Asian massage is called the Indonesian-Javanese massage. With this method, the therapist will use both their hands and knuckles to get so deep into the skin. This will help your muscles relax if they were tense. When using massage oil, before putting it on a person's back, place it into your hands first. If you place the oil directly onto your partner, the oil may be surprisingly cold and startle the person. That's not the kind of reaction you want from a massage. Instead place the oil first in your hands and warm the oil up by rubbing your hands together. This will make the oil the perfect temperature to use. When getting a massage, one should shave in advance. This will ensure that you're massaging a smooth, working area and this is particularly important if massage oil is being utilized. This will let your hands move freely, making the massage feel better. If you're pregnant, you can still enjoy a massage if it is given by a license therapist. This is a great way to deal with morning sickness, stress, back pain, sore breasts and swollen ankles. You can continue it after birth to deal with postpartum depression, weight loss and baby-carrying pains, too. Do not hesitate to talk to your doctor about massages. If you deal with back pains or muscle pains on a regular basis, ask your doctor if massages would be a good solution. Your doctor should be able to recommend a good massage clinic in your area and even write you a prescription. You can give yourself a hand massage by using a pencil with an eraser. Use the pencil eraser to press into the fleshy areas of your hand, paying particular attention to the thumb pad. Move the eraser in a circular motion around your hand maximizing the pressure if it is necessary. There are a few secrets to giving a fantastic massage and they involve things you don't do. Always be careful to not pull their hair. Body hair is included in this. Be careful of pressure on their bones. Learn to be gentle when you need to be and hard when required. Honestly, your masseuse may not look forward to rubbing your feet. Make sure to wash yourself thoroughly prior to a message appointment. Your therapist will be happy, and it will also keep your own body smells from interrupting your own relaxation while they rub you down. Wake yourself up in the morning or calm yourself down at night with a good massage! To do this, gently thump your body with your fists. Begin at your legs and arms and go from bottom to top. This massage is great for relieving stress and tension. However, avoid this massage if you are currently taking any blood thinners because you could bruise your body. When getting a massage, your actions will help you enjoy the massage more and receive maximum benefits from it. Practice deep breathing exercises while you are getting your massage. Breathe out when pressure is applied and breathe in when pressure is released. This will have an immeasurable impact on the relaxation of your massage. You are going to enjoy the massage much more with this knowledge. Knowledge will help you to know what to expect, reducing any anxiety that you might have. Read all you can to learn more and become even more knowledgeable.

[apluscarelaus]

Root of Pain- How Physical Therapy For Knee Can Help

If you're one of the millions of adults suffering from knee pain, you know just how much it can disrupt your life. Simple activities like walking, squatting, or climbing stairs can become challenging. Even restful sleep can be elusive when knee pain flares up. 

The knee joint is complex, with bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments all working together. This complexity means there are also many potential sources of knee pain. Understanding what's behind your knee discomfort is key to finding the right treatment. Read on to learn more about what causes common knee problems and how physical therapy for knee can help reduce knee pain and get you moving comfortably again.

What's Behind Knee Pain?

The knees bear a lot of weight and pressure, so it's no wonder knee injuries and chronic pain are common. Some of the most frequent culprits include:

Arthritis occurs when the cartilage protecting the knee joint breaks down from injury, aging, or everyday wear and tear. The result is bone rubbing against bone, causing pain and stiffness.

Tendinitis - Irritation and inflammation of tendons, often resulting from overuse or muscle imbalance. The patellar tendon connecting your kneecap to your shinbone is especially vulnerable. 

Meniscus tears - The meniscus is a cushion between the thigh and shin bones. Twisting motions and sudden impacts can cause these rubbery discs to tear.

Ligament injuries: Sprains or tears of key stabilizing ligaments like the ACL commonly occur with sudden stops, pivots, jumps, or blows to the knee.  

Patellofemoral pain syndrome, or "runner's knee," refers to irritation where the kneecap meets the femur. It can result from flat feet, weak muscles, or poor kneecap tracking.

How Can Physical Therapy Help with Knee Pain?

If you have achy, stiff, or unstable knees, making an appointment with a physical therapist should be one of your first stops. A trained specialist can identify impairments and weaknesses contributing to your knee pain. They can also create a tailored rehab program to build strength, restore function, and keep you active.

Some of the ways physical therapy for knee pain helps treat one’s knee pain include:

Stretching tight muscles - Muscle imbalances or tightness in the quads, hamstrings, hips, and calves negatively impact knee alignment and function. Stretches lengthen tissues and improve flexibility.

Strengthening weakened areas—Weak glutes are closely associated with various knee injuries. Resistance training with weights, resistance bands, or your body weight fortifies weak zones around the knee joint for better stability.

Soft tissue work: Hands-on techniques like massage or Graston break up adhesions and scar tissue to improve circulation and mobility.

Bracing or taping: Braces or kinesiology tape provide extra support and stabilization during activity for those recovering from injuries.

Mobility and balance work: Crucial skills like gait, squatting, and balance are practiced to make everyday activities less stressful on the knee joint. 

Cardiovascular exercise: Low-impact options like cycling or swimming maintain fitness levels without added knee strain during rehab.

Your physical therapist can also show you proper body mechanics for lifting, squatting, going up and down stairs, and more. This ensures you move in ways that minimize pressure on your knees during everyday functions. They'll also advise you on a home exercise program to supplement the in-clinic visits.

Overcoming Chronic Lower Back Pain 

Along with stiff knees and creaky hips, lower back pain is one of the most common chronic and life-interrupting conditions as we age. Estimates show about 31 million Americans struggle with physical therapy for lower back pain at any given time.

While a sudden strain or spasm causes some instances of back pain, most chronic cases boil down to a few key causes: 

Poor posture: Hunching forward over laptops and phones puts excess strain on back muscles and tissues. Weak core muscles allow poor posture in sitting or standing.

Excess weight and belly fat: Extra pounds put more pressure on the spine, and a large belly pulls the body forward, straining the back.

Lack of flexibility—Tight hip flexors, hamstrings, and muscles along the posterior chain restrict the range of motion of the lower back. 

Leg length differences—One leg being shorter than the other disrupts pelvis alignment and stability, leading to low back trouble. The build-up of scar tissue or ossification after prior injuries also lowers flexibility.

Degenerative disc disease—The discs between vertebrae dry out and shrink as we age. Bulging or herniated discs pressing on nerves cause debilitating pain.

The Value of Physical Therapy for Back Pain Relief  

Rather than immediately prescribing pain-masking drugs, many doctors now recommend physical therapy as a first-line treatment for chronic back pain. A physical therapist's specialized skills in movement analysis pinpoint the root causes unique to your back pain. Personalized hands-on techniques and targeted exercises progressively ease stiffness and strengthen your back for lasting relief.

Benefits gained from physical therapy for low back pain include:

Improved flexibility: Various stretching exercises lengthen tight muscles and connective tissues around the hips and spine. Better flexibility reduces pull on vertebrae that contribute to painful muscle spasms.

Strengthened core and glutes: The core, glute, and deep stabilizing muscles around the lumbar spine support good posture and relieve pressure on discs and joints. Specific training alleviates weakness that contributes to low back pain.  

Manual therapy techniques—Hands-on myofascial release, joint mobilization, and other specialized techniques deactivate painful trigger points. They also improve alignment and mobility and reduce muscle guarding. 

Postural correction: Poor sitting and standing positions often feed chronic back pain. Movement retraining helps cement improved postural habits into daily routines.

The physical therapist also tailors an exercise program to continue strengthening your back after formal treatment ends. Maintaining core and postural strength helps prevent future flare-ups of low back pain before they gain momentum. Simple lifestyle adjustments in conjunction with conservative physical therapy are highly effective for managing and overcoming chronic back discomfort.

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