#overwhelm

[itsaspectrumcomic]

Based on a true story

[longlivedelusion]

Absolute Beginners

[poly!Wolfstar x Reader]

A/N: Well, I made a self-indulgent drabble for my first wolfstar fic cause I had a rough day and needed it remedied via delusion. This is for my chronic fatigue fam who might not have the support they need. And yet they have things to do, like get a car or else they won't be able to get to work. 😬👍 So this is me rewriting a frustrating irl situation into a loving one! Hope you enjoy.

Song: Absolute Beginners by David Bowie

UPDATES ON MARAUDERS REQUESTS/CONTENT

Warnings: none I think. Just fluff. Enjoy!

+++

"I'm so exhausted," I say as I walk into living room, bag barely hanging onto my shoulder as I drag myself to Remus. I flop down next to him on the couch, his arm instinctively reaching around me.

"I can imagine. You had a long day yesterday, sweetheart. Did the extra rest this morning help at all?" His hand reaches up to my head, gently petting me as if he were soothing an animal.

I nod slightly. "Yeah. Still feel like shite though. Not sure I have the energy to do all this."

"I know, but you have Sirius and I to help. You just need to be there to make sure you like the car, and we'll handle the rest ok?"

"Wish it didn't have to be today," I mumble. "M'hurt."

From the other end of the apartment, Sirius' voice booms across the otherwise quiet apartment. "Sorry, sorry. I'm ready, just got caught up with- oh what's this?" His eyes fall on my slouched against Remus, his eyes furrowing.

"They're still exhausted." Remus says quietly, hand softly moving against my hair.

"Baby-" Sirius' eyes soften, walking over in an instant as he kneels down beside the couch. "Was I too loud today? Did I keep you up?" He says, gently reaching up for my hand.

I hold his hand back, my grip loose around his. "No Pads, just think I need more time to rest up is all. And wish we didn't have to go out today of all days." The end coming out in a grumble.

"Is there no way to reschedule?" Sirius looks up at Remus.

He shakes his head, "I already tried to think, but we've already put it off enough. The day's coming up soon. But don't worry we'll take care of everything, alright darling?" Remus says as his hand moves down to cup my face.

I give a little nod and Sirius's face furrows even more. I hear him sigh as he goes to press a soft kiss to my knuckles. "Well, I'm more than happy to be the conversationalist today. Or your own personal pillow whenever you need." He says, his usual grin splaying across his face.

I smile, tiredly. "Thanks. I just hope we have everything, I wanted to ask so many questions but I-"

Remus chimes in, "I already have them written out. I also pulled some research together the other day to find all we need to look over for the car. One of us will even test drive it for you if you want, so you can just sit in the back seat and see if you like it or not while we handle the more technical things." He presses a kiss to my forehead. "We've got it all covered, don't worry."

I sigh, my shoulders sagging in relief. "Thank you two. I really really wish I wasn't so tired or foggy today of all days."

"That's what we're here for," Sirius says as his hands trace over my palm. "We help each other when we need it. You help Remus every month by making sure he's loved and cared during his transition, you help me when I have my... Moments. And we help you when you're exhausted or overwhelmed. It all works out!"

I look between my two boys, heart so full of gratitude. I'd never had someone to support me like this, to be so understanding and willing to help me when most would tell me to just push through. When I've had to just push through or cancel. Yet... I don't have to do this. Not alone at least. Because of their support. Their love.

Tears start to well up in my eyes as Sirius's widen. "Oh! No, no I didn't mean to make you cry baby."

Remus tilts my chin up so he can see my face better, softening as he notices the water pooling beneath my lashes. "Is it really too much? We can cancel, we can always find another way if it's too much for today." He gently wipes the tears away.

"No," I start, eyes downcast to hide my embarrassment. "I just... I'm still not used to being supported like this. I had to struggle on my own for so long that I- I don't believe you both are real sometimes."

I hear a soft whine from below as Sirius moves up behind my on the couch and wraps pulls my back to him, now sandwiching me between him and Remus.

"We're real, we're here." Remus whispers. His hand running softly across my arm now.

"And there's no way we're letting you do this alone anymore. Nope. You're stuck with us." I could hear Sirius' smirk, his arms wrapping tightly around.

"Exactly. And we wouldn't have it any other way."

I pull Remus to me, his arm resting over Sirius' shoulder now as I hug them both to me. "I love you two, you know that?" My voice comes out breathy.

"And we love you. So much." Remus says, eyes never leaving my face.

"As long as we're together," Sirius starts to sing a familiar melody, ever for the dramatics. Remus looks up to his boyfriend and rolls his eyes, the smile on his face showing he knew where this was going.

"The rest can go to hell." I feel Sirius lean down and whisper in my ear, making me chuckle.

"I absolutely love you." His fingers brushing past my hair. Remus is just as mesmerized, quietly listening.

"But we're absolute beginners."

"Kinda feels like it sometimes," I say.

"But if my love is your love," He sings with a softness now, turning my face toward him. His eyes deeply holding mine, mesmerizing.

"We're certain to succeed."

[yourhealingjournal]

sometimes you really do have to let go what you want to do at least for the moment, not because you don’t deserve it or you are not allowed to have it, but because you have too much on your plate & your peace is more worth keeping than the overwhelm of achieving everything now.

[writing-whump]

Halfway to Healing

A soft recovery moment between Kieran and Alessia. Contains emotional overwhelm and a brief moment of self-directed hair-pulling.

"How are you doing, baby?" Alessia asked, propped up on the pillow next to Kieran.

Kieran groaned in response, melodramatically turning to his back with a pained frown. "Everything hurts."

"It's been three days, I'm sure it's hell a lot better than the first night," she reminded him gently.

Kieran cracked an eye open in response. "You mean the night you left me all alone with that unbearable wolf?"

She rolled her eyes. "He did a fine job, y'know?"

"You totally betrayed me," he said instead, scrunching his whole face.

"You just wanted to be babied, not helped."

"No, I wanted both."

"Kier," she said with a groan, rolling closer to kiss him on the cheek. "You got both. You got me."

He wrapped his arm around her to press her against his side, planting a kiss on top of her curls. "I got the best one in the world. By the way...do we have anything to eat...?"

Alessia huffed at the careful tone. "What, protein shakes for tough stuntmen aren't enough?"

"Aliiiiiii-"

"I'm sure there is a bunch of old croissants in the kitchen," she said teasingly, sticking her tounge out at him.

He threw an arm over his eyes. She noted the gesture didn't make him wince. "You are killing me."

"And you are pretty difficult for a patient," she said, kissing the top of his nose. "I'm gonna make you some porridge. Easy and warm for the big baby with sensitive tummy."

Kieran pouted in her direction, cheeks so ridiculously big it made her laugh as she got up.

Throwing his shirt over her short pajama top and taking his slippers, she made her way into the kitchen, scanning the supplies. The others were going to Pisa today. It was a shame she couldn't come too, really. The girls were nice and all these wolves were incredibly important for showing up so casually.

She was disappointed Seline didn't have the right kind of influence. The witch was so eager to befriend someone, to trust, to open up. Alessia would have gotten to her easy peasy but she didn't have the right pull on Isaiah.

Or rather, she didn't exercise the full pull she had over him. It was more than obvious to Alessia that Isaiah loved that girl to moon and back—in his own calm, composed way.

These calculating types were easy to read when in love. The disturbtion in emotional balance showed more in how they moved and acted without control.

As it was, Isaiah didn't seem that far out of reach. She could have asked him directly.

If she dared.

Alessia waited for the porridge to boil, making it simple with cinnamon and some fruits she found lying around. Improvised version.

At times, she even considered how to do it. Ask him about strays, about wolves picked up from the streets and where they were the most likely to end up. What he heard, what he was present for. What he thought and how and if he would look. For the right favour, maybe?

There wasn't all that much she could currently offer as payment. That's how it worked with powerful people with network, names and shadows, right? She should find out more sensitive info, she could sort of blackmail him into helping her...

But it was risky.

Not to mention the Executioner seemed relaxed, but he had eyes everywhere. The first impression definitely lied with him on several levels.

He seemed composed but he was always aware and watching them all.

He was listening in and remembering scary amounts of details about everyone. He knew who took what street, what person and how long it would take them to get there. He was checking and paying attention and sending Rip whenever he wanted to look into something closely.

Moved like a ghost, no traces, no sound and despite his smiles and generosity, he maintained that air of mystery.

In a strange way he seemed more approachable than most high ranks she has met. But the closer you got, the stronger his pull. Isaiah had a way of getting things out of people, making them talk and confess whatever they were thinking. Not though scariness or authority, but more with some kind of charisma.

He was a natural at his job, even in the low setting of a holiday trip.

The porridge was ready and served in two bowls. She also made some black coffee for herself, without milk and looked down the open window at the street while the food cooled off.

She didn't want to get Kieran involved, although Kier would know about stuff to pull up. Sometimes he randomly muttered something he overheared or researched about him from his own contacts.

But this was her secret and her fight. And she knew how he would take it, if he knew. That it would feel like a betrayal. An innocent secret at first, privacy she was allowed to keep.

If only she hadn't fallen in love with him. Would have been so much easier to get the info she wanted, go to the meets, carry on.

It wasn't like she was doing anything illegal! She just wanted the info, get closer to wolves. No way she would be allowed into the community without a wolf relative. An official one, at least.

Saying she wanted to find a lost brother was also not something wolves would react to. They would say he was dead, a street stray, mad. That he would not be alive or be worth looking for. The more they would find out about their case, their history, the less they would be likely to help.

A human girl looking for a lost cause wolf? Dream on.

Maybe that's what she should have done. Should have taken the luck she had gotten despite the impossible odds, the loving human family she won as a teen, as improbable it was...she should have just moved on and forgotten.

Yeah, that would have been smart.

Life hits you with shit all the time, it wasn't like you had to let it hang off of you forever.

Move on, move on, move on.

Alessia carried the two bowls back into the bedroom, nudging the door open with her foot.

Kieran had sprawled back across the bed like a cat in a sunbeam, dramatically limp, one leg kicked out from under the blanket. His shirtless chest rose and fell gently.

She raised an eyebrow. "You dying or tanning?"

He peeked out and gave a grin that was far too cheeky for someone who'd been doing his best impression of a tortured soul. "I was waiting for my angel of mercy. Did she come with cinnamon?"

Alessia snorted and held out the bowl. "Careful, it’s hot. Like me."

"Mm, you’re spicier," he said, straightening slowly and wincing as he pushed himself up. "Ugh. Okay. Maybe just warm enough to not kill me."

She gave him a light swat on the knee and placed the other bowl on the nightstand. "Big baby."

“You spoil me. I’m totally okay with it,” he said, already devouring the porridge with eager spoonfuls, wincing when moving too fast.

She leaned in to kiss his temple. “Back in a sec. Gonna freshen up.”

He mumbled his assent, focused on the food like it held the secrets of the universe.

Alessia stepped into the bathroom, flicking on the light with a sigh. She braced herself on the sink, stared into the mirror, and took in the mess—curl-tousled hair, faded dye licking pink through strawberry gold, skin a little too pale under the freckles. Not the worst she’s looked, but—

Something silvery caught her eye.

A thread of gray.

She leaned in.

Not just a reflection. It was there. A pale, wiry strand gleaming among the dark gold like a strike of frost through summer.

Her stomach twisted.

She combed through the colored mess with both hands, searching—and found another. And another.

"Shit," she whispered, voice small.

It was all about the colour, but not really it. It was everything it marked, the parts of her she couldn't suppress, redesign, hide, or push back. The strain of smiling, of playing it cool, of being the bold, fun, messy girl who didn't need much and always knew what to say. Of carrying questions in secret, of lying by omission, of loving someone who saw through her and yet still didn’t know the worst part.

She’d built a version of herself that was bold and breezy and unbothered—so different from the girl who used to lie awake listening to screams, covering from flying fists, who was only allowed to laugh when no one could hear.

It was that part of her that still hadn’t caught up to her new passionate, lucky life. The part that was still stuck with everything she hadn’t said.

The simple fact she had suffered and couldn't just be smart and move on.

A sob burst out of her before she could stop it, sharp against the tiles. She reached for her brush with shaking fingers and yanked it through her hair. Found the strands again—pale, wiry, out of place. Her grip tightened. She pulled. Once. Twice. Wanting to rip them out. Just get rid of them.

A gentle hand closed around her wrist.

She froze.

His touch was light but steady, warm even through the shiver running down her arm. Their eyes met in the mirror. Kieran stood behind her, face pale, shoulders tense, still bare-chested on, only in his boxers. He didn’t say anything, just held her wrist gently, thumb brushing the inside as if to steady her heartbeat through skin.

“Ali,” he said softly. “Don’t.”

She blinked, sudden tears stinging again. Her hand loosened around the brush, her shoulders shaking.

"I didn’t- I didn't mean to-" she began, but her voice broke.

"I know," he murmured, stepping closer. Slowly. Carefully. It hurt him to stand and hold her like that.

“I just— It's gray again,” she whispered, as if the words were a shame to admit. All the more ironic with Kieran's last name being 'Gray'. "I don't want you to have a gray-haired girlfriend in her twenties-"

"Shhh," he said again, resting his chin lightly on her shoulder. His arms circled her, wrapping her in the warmth of him, even as he winced slightly from the movement.

She let the brush fall into the sink. Her hands found his at her sides, clinging to them.

"It's not fair," she breathed. "I hate it."

"I'm sorry, baby."

She let herself lean into him until he muffled a quiet groan, and she noticed his pale, sweaty face in the mirror.

"You idiot," she croaked through the tears, "you shouldn't be up. Sit back down."

"I'm not going back without you," he clarified.

She turned in his hold so she could face him. "Seriously, go back and rest, I'll put myself together and I'll-"

He didn't let her finish, wrapping his arms around her again. Squeezing her waist, her face against his naked chest, right over his heart. "Silly thing. I can't rest if you are not okay."

That made her whimper again. "But I'm not. My hair is gray-"

"You fit right into the family," he teased, his forehead against her shoulder, breathing in her scent. "Seriously," he lifted his head to look at her properly, thumbing a stray tear from her cheek. "Your hair could be all white and face wrinkled and I would still love the hell out of you."

She snorted despite herself. "Yeah, sure."

"You are the most beautiful thing on this earth, I really couldn't care less if your hair is white, green or violet tomorrow," he said gently despite the teasing edge.

Kieran had no idea. Maybe he thought it was a genetic thing. Just a minor cosmetic detail.

She leaned into her stupidly sweet boyfriend, careful around the bruises—his and hers.

He didn’t know what the gray meant. Not really. But he loved her like he did. And that was more than she’d ever expected to get.

[desultory-suggestions]

You have to let go of your perfectionism if you want to live your happiest life. It is okay to have high standards, but when they become punishing you are only preventing yourself from growing.

[studentbyday]

today (and possibly for the next several days or weeks or idk, what is time anymore lol) i imagine i am a young woman in the 19th century studying for her degree by correspondence, far away from uni, due to illness... for once, romanticizing this way doesn't feel difficult because it's not that far off from my current reality! 😅🤧

during this time, i need to:

catch up on and get ahead in my schoolwork (please, i wanna get to the interesting part already 😭)

catch up on music theory (i was supposed to get through Ch 1A-3 in one week bc it's at least half review but i'm still on 1B! 🥲)

catch up on organic chemistry (i have not touched this at all, so i'm an entire week behind schedule. am i scared? heh. yes. but that's not gonna stop meee 🐵)

review cs50x content (i don't remember much of anything and i haven't done any coding at all since i finished the course in 2023 🙈🙈🙈)

it seems that human -> monkey as human gets increasingly unhinged and overwhelmed haha 🙈 it's okay it's okay, we break it down until it's bite sized 🍰 i might reblog with the breakdown for accountability bc i absolutely do not feel like accounting for myself rn 😅

[zaraillustrates]

I was recently commissioned by JW Health to create two illustrations for their brochure promoting their ADHD assessment and support program.

The illustrations capture some of the daily challenges faced by people with ADHD - like maintaining focus, managing time, staying organised, and navigating emotional ups and downs.

Using a paper cut style and JW Health's signature colour palette, I aimed to create relatable visuals that resonate with their clients.

© Zara Picken 2025 www.zarapicken.com

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Jeff Biege Photography

* * * *

Applying attention to smaller emotions—or simply focusing on form, sound, or physical sensations—develops your capacity to look at long-term, overwhelming emotional states.

—Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, “The Aim of Attention”

[alive on all channels]

[itsaspectrumcomic]

Hey I'm an autistic person ( Also I have ADHD ) What are some of Your recommendations for going to a concert I have issued with people yelling at my direction And the feeling of certain things It's going to be a smaller concert , so Less people But what are Some things I should bring

Earplugs (I used loops until I lost them 😭), headphones if you think you'll need extra hearing protection, a stim toy you can fit in a pocket or bag and take out easily, and ideally a person you feel safe with who can help if you get overwhelmed.

I also recommend checking out the venue in advance if you can (sometimes they have pics online) and figuring out where things like bathrooms are and if there are any quiet rooms you can go to for a break.

And remember it's ok to leave if things get too much! There's no point forcing yourself to stay once you're past the point of enjoyment.

I hope you enjoy the concert! 😊

[jujumighty]

You cannot be telling me this body that is overwhelmed by every minor sensation was meant to survive out here! I love being outside! But then it happens!?!

Alternate versions if I lived under the sea:

You cannot be telling me this fish body that is overwhelmed by every minor water sensation was meant to survive out in the world! I love being underwater! But then it happens!?!

[in-tenebris-et-in-solitudine]

[nando161mando]

[wiirocku]

Isaiah 43:2 (ESV) - When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

[adu0o]

Can someone invent an automatic system for folding up and putting away clothes because I kid you not my wardrobes are empty and I dress myself from a pile of clean clothes every morning 🙃

[fedorahead]

game idea:

everything around you goes into your inventory. every noise, every item you touch, every gaze upon your skin. they all get inventory slots. when your inventory is full, you have a meltdown!

also your inventory is variable between each in-game day and the longer you go without having a meltdown the smaller it gets.

there can be items like ear protectors that will expand your sounds inventory by small slots, but won't have any effect over things that take up a 1x2 or bigger inventory position, and add a sensation to your sensation bar. or earplugs, which might give you more sound slots or might not do anything at all, and can pop out randomly; this adds the event earplug vigilance to your processes page.