#term insurance vs life insurance

[term-insurance]

What is Term Insurance | Explained in Hindi

A term insurance plan is the most basic life insurance plan that secures the financial future of your family and loved ones when you’re not there. It is called a term insurance plan because it is for a fixed period of time which is decided at the time of taking the policy. But what happens if you survive the policy term? Nothing, you must have to be happy as nothing happened to you.

[naukrisambad]

10 Reasons Why You Need the Best Life Insurance Policy Today

Are you wondering why you need the best life insurance policy today? Life is full of uncertainties, and having the right coverage in place is essential to protect your loved ones financially. In this blog post, we will explore 10 compelling reasons why you should prioritize getting the best life insurance policy without delay. Reason 1: Financial Security for Your Loved Ones The primary…

[swordfright]

What do you think is your most controversial dsmp take?

I got this ask a while ago and I've been wracking my brains trying to come up with something, but honestly...I don't think I really have many hot takes? At least, not ones that I'd consider controversial. Most of my controversial takes are about fanon/how the fandom interacts with the source material, which I assume isn't what you're looking for (but BOY DO I HAVE A LOT OF THOSE.) I also have likes and dislikes when it comes to duos and shipping stuff, but that's subjective obviously and more opinion than lore interpretation.

I guess if you put a gun to my head, I might say these are my most controversial Actual Lore Takes, but they're not all that interesting imo:

The experiments in the revival lab happened AFTER c!Dream's incarceration, not before it. My understanding is that most people interpret that sequence as occurring prior to the incarceration because...why would c!Dream let himself be locked up, relying on his knowledge of the book to be his life insurance, if he hadn't tested the damn thing out yet?! This logic tracks, but I think you could also flip it to argue the opposite: that he also could have conceivably waited to fully test the book until after escaping. During the run-up to the Disc Finale, c!Dream was incredibly busy with the fallout from Dethronement + Exile + Manburg related stuff etc, as well as busy preparing for the confrontation with c!Clingys, plus arranging the staged finale with Punz. The guy was busy as hell and he was also like...still kinda in the midst of a manic episode. Also, keep in mind that while the book was his life insurance for the finale and its immediate aftermath, he had no idea that c!Sam was going to betray him. Considering all that, I don't think it's inconceivable that c!Dream may not have had time to thoroughly test the limits of the revive book beforehand, and he likely didn't realize quite how vital his knowledge of revival would become during his incarceration period. So yeah. I'm open to either interpretation, but I am partial to the possibility that the Vikk and Lazar necromancy montage happened after the prison era. And the exact date/location of the lab are never specified either, which makes me even more open to the post-prison necromancy option. Not a hill I'd be willing to die on, but a hill I like to sit on and admire the view from.

End of Las Nevadas is the weakest stream of the Las Nevadas series. I found it narratively unsatisfying, and not in a clever way. I don't hate that stream, I think it had some really interesting moments, but overall I'd say its messaging was convoluted and the tension was pretty poorly mismanaged. I'd be willing to go on about this if you want, but I think a lot of other folks have probably already articulated it better than I can. Oh, I'll add that I also have complicated thoughts about c!Slime as a character. Don't hate him, don't love him...but I am puzzled about the role he was presumably meant to play in the story vs. the role he actually ends up playing. I could go on about this in detail but it's late and I'm sleepy.

c!Quackity has very simple goals and motives, but his pursuit of those goals is oftentimes way more convoluted than necessary, which ends up making him read as a more complex and dynamic character than he really is (I like this btw!) Another way to put it would be that Q is not a terribly complex character in terms of motivations and ambitions (dr3 has rly good meta on this btw), but he does tend to needlessly complicate his own life and the lives of the people around him in pursuit of simple goals. I think one of his big failings is that he sees violence as an easy solution to his problems but in reality it just creates more problems for him. It's like he keeps failing some sort of foresight check, over and over again. Take the formation of Las Nevadas, for instance. Most of the country's members were intimidated/threatened into joining, not because they're people Q particularly wants to hang around with, but because they're people Q sees as either strong (i.e. they are capable of contributing to LN) or directionless (i.e. they're in need of an owner a leader.) Quackity doesn't really forge alliances, he just...buys people, basically? And then he's shocked when this backfires. His relationship with Purpled is the most obvious example of this, but also LN as a whole: in LN5 (?), Quackity's angry and offended and hurt that only a tiny handful of people show up to the opening ceremony, even though by all accounts the reason the turn-out isn't bigger is because the server has by this point become a chaotic and violent place where anything can happen to anyone for any reason and most inhabitants feel safer sticking to their own turf...and that atmosphere of chaos and violence is something Q has ostensibly contributed to, even before Pandora. c!Quackity creates a country that no one is truly loyal to, inhabited by people who are closer to employees than allies...and then his solution, when he realizes nobody really gives a shit, isn't to try recruiting people in a more equitable way, it's to bioengineer a slime army. That is insane. That is an insane way to solve your problems. In no way is bioengineering a slime army a normal or well-adjusted solution to any conceivable problem. This is what I mean when I say he's a relatively uncomplicated character who complicates everything - he's constantly jumping through hoops of fire to avoid changing his behavior and taking any kind of accountability whatsoever.

I have tons more takes but they're mostly about silly subjective stuff and/or fanon, so I'll leave that for another day if anyone's interested.

[transgenderteensurvivalguide]

I turn 18 next year and I’m not sure where I can get testosterone, I’ve looked at planned parenthood’s website but the only one in my state doesn’t offer hrt services 😭 do you have any advice on how to access hrt?

Lee says:

Happy (Very very) early birthday! If you're still a year away from being 18 you have plenty of time to figure this out.

You should start by talking to your primary care physician and ask if they are knowledgeable about gender-affirming care and are willing to prescribe you HRT themselves. If they are not experienced with HRT for gender-affirming reasons, ask them to look into it and refer you to a healthcare provider who is.

While you're waiting for your appointment (often it can be at least a month away even if you schedule the first available date) use that time wisely and go out into the world (And internet) and talk to people! There must be at least ONE other trans person in your state who is on hormones, right? You just have to find ONE other trans person in your state who is on hormones (and trust me-- there's more than just one trans person on hormones in your state! But all you need is one person), then find out where they're getting their prescription from!

Online platforms can be a great resource for shared experiences and advice so I'd just start by googling "transgender [insert hormone name] in [insert state]" until you find the right key terms. You might also be able to find something on Reddit or through Facebook groups.

Additionally, going to trans support groups and meeting people there and asking your trans friends to ask their friends, etc can all be a good way to find a provider through word-of-mouth.

Another thing you can try is contacting LGBTQ+ centers or organizations in your state and seeing if they have any recommendations. Even if Planned Parenthood's local branch doesn't offer HRT services, they may have a lists of trans-friendly healthcare providers or clinics that do, so it could still be worth reaching out to them.

If you're planning on attending college or university, check if the campus health center provides HRT or can refer you to local resources that do. Some college health centers offer comprehensive services for transgender students, but unfortunately most do not.

Many healthcare providers now offer telehealth services for transgender patients looking to start or continue HRT. These services can be particularly helpful if you live in an area with limited access to transgender healthcare. Providers like Folx Health, Plume, and QueerDoc offer gender-affirming care to patients in many states, all through telehealth platforms.

There's more info on starting hormones in this post, and you should take a look at that too.

Finally, I'm guessing that you don't have much experience with adulting which is fine because everyone starts somewhere! I was in the same position as you once. I also started to look into starting T when I was 17 and got everything ready (appointments scheduled for after my birthday, letter of support since it wasn't fully informed consent, lab work done the month before I was 18, etc), but didn't actually start hormones until I was 18.

Everyone has a different path through life, but this may be your first time scheduling doctor's appointments for yourself, signing up for a patient portal, getting your own health insurance (unless your parents support you being on HRT and wouldn't boot your off of their coverage), paying for appointment and prescription and lab work copays, etc.

Since you have a year until you're actually 18, it would be a good idea to start getting prepped for your first dive into the healthcare system as a legal-adult-even-if-it-doesn't-always-feel-that-way and google the basics of having and using health insurance. There's a lot of words you're going to need to learn one day (what's a deductible vs an out of pocket maximum vs an allowed amount etc) and this is as good of a time as any to start learning some of those basics (The advanced level is learning how to appeal denied claims, etc).

You got this anon! You're clearly on the right track by starting to investigate the process of starting HRT in advance, and remember that starting HRT as an adult also comes with adult responsibilities like figuring out how to pay for it! When you're thinking through the logistics of finding an in-network prescriber, don't forget to budget for those things too.

Followers, any tips for anon?

[dainslavenderhaze]

Okay now that we're getting the new leaks in less than 24 hours, I guess I want to talk.

JJK Manga Spoilers

First off, let me just say this - I STILL BELIEVE GOJO WOULD COME BACK.

But not only that, I also think Nobara and Kenjaku would come back too. And Yuta won't really die even after 5 minutes and he may find a way to go back to his body after Gojo comes back (See : Ui Ui)

Now, let's talk about Ch 261 for a bit. This chapter surely gave us a lot of revelations which could also be subtle hints for the future.

1) Yuta being the 'insurance' and his panicked state throughout Gojo vs Sukuna fight

We found out it was because he would be taking over Gojo's body like Kenjaku did with Geto. And that's the reason Yuta was the one who killed Kenjaku after his fight with Takaba.

2) Yuta being a Fujiwara descendent when in JJK0 it was revealed he was a descendent of Sugawara (making him and Gojo distant relatives)

It was Uro who called Yuta a Fujiwara earlier. At first everyone thought it must be because she calls everyone she dislikes a Fujiwara and that it wasn't important. But bringing back this topic again in this ch definitely foreshadows something for the future, especially knowing Sugawara no Michizane and Fujiwara were not on good terms. Gojo said maybe him and Uro both were right and that Yuta may be more blessed than him. It makes me think, if Yuta has the Sugawara-Fujiwara lineage, will that not play an important role in the future? Why drop such info and then proceed to put him in someone else's body and say he may die after 5 minutes? Like I said, Yuta is not dying. And even if he 'dies' he'll be back for the merger (will explain on it later)

3) Rin Amai's CT and Gojo's brain?

It was finally revealed what Rin Amai's CT does. He basically he transforms the sugar (blood glucose) in his body and outputs it in some way. For that reason Shoko kept him in the medical team so he can supplement sugar to the brain. And we're getting this kind of revelation in the chapter that apparently 'confirms Gojo's death'? The very same sorcerer who is said to have developed a sweet tooth by trying to stimulate his brain by eating sweets? And let's not forget how Rin Amai said he himself doesn't fully understand his own CT. So, can he use his CT and output the sugar in his body as life source? Like Shoko converts cursed energy into blood to heal others? Or maybe he can keep a brain running even after it's taken out by supplying sugar?

4) Yuta's body after lobotomy kaisen?

We see Yuta being cut in half exactly like Gojo. But the difference we see here is that Yuta was still alive and could talk for a while. So could the same not be said for Gojo too? Well that's a topic for later. But for now, one of the possibilities Mei gave was that Yuta may have to live in Gojo's body forever after 5 minutes when the CT ends. But if that ends up happening, then what happens to Yuta Okkotsu's body? (I have a theory why it played out this way but more on that later!) Shoko must've stitched his body together too right? So all that he needs is the transfer of the brain? Or maybe his soul from Gojo's body once Gojo comes back?

5) Mei Mei and the 3 possibilities presented for Yuta

Mei Mei presents 3 possibilities on what might happen to Yuta after the 5 minutes are up.

Kenjaku's CT requires constant activation in which case the body and soul won't be able to be maintained and Yuta would die.

Kenjaku's CT activates intermittently where Yuta would die slowly instead of dying immediately.

And the last possibility was Kenjaku's CT needs to be activated only once and even after 5 minutes, Yuta would be able to use Limitless. In this case, Yuta would have to live in Gojo's body forever and they'd need to dispose off Yuta's body.

I honestly believe these are not the only possibilities and there might be a 4th or 5th one too. With how much we've seen Binding Vow be mentioned in this fight with Sukuna, I fear Yuta might end up making one. And if Yuta makes a binding vow, the only thing I see him sacrificing is Rika and finding a way to use his CT himself. Since as far as I know, Yuta can copy techniques only while being connected to Rika.

6) Gojo wanting to 'catch up' since he was left behind and a flashback of that panel?

I think, one of the most important thing we got this chapter is Gojo killing the higher ups. I still remember how everyone used to think it was Yuta and Inumaki who killed them. But I think it's important what he says before doing so. It's Yuta who says or rather requests Gojo to "not bear the burden of being a monster alone anymore". And then we see that infamous KFC panel of Geto from Hidden Inventory and Gojo saying

"Back then I was left behind. I have to catch up."

It was after he was unboxed from the prison realm. And what was the last thing he saw before getting captured in the prison realm? Kenjaku using Geto's body AND Geto's soul reacting and choking himself. Also, ever since Gojo got unboxed, we never once saw him covering his eyes anymore. Whether with glasses or with blindfolds. Just what happened in the prison realm that Gojo decided to no longer cover his eyes? Did he have too much time to think in there and concluded he needs to catch up with his best friend?

After 236, Gojo actually did catch up with Geto. He became a 'monster' by killing the higher ups. He died on the same day Geto died just a year apart. His body is now being used by his student like a meat suit the same way Geto's body was used by Kenjaku. Now he has the same scars on his forehead as his best friend. Through all this he caught up to Geto. And after 'dying', he got to meet and catch up with his best friend. So what now? Is that all for the strongest sorcerer? This is the end? Yayyy I caught up, fuck them kids, southern vacation?

No. If it were the case, Gojo would've never gotten the option to go either North or South in ch 236. Also, back at the airport, right after Gojo accepted he's glad he died at the hands of someone stronger, it's Nanami that interrupts him. And IT IS Nanami that told Gojo about the choice of North and South. And as we all know, Nanami is one of the most human sorcerers in JJK. He's the kind of sorcerer that always used Jujutsu to protect others and called out Gojo for using Jujutsu only to satisfy himself.

And one of the most defining things about Nanami is that he always tells things as they are and never sugarcoats. While what Nanami said to Gojo might hurt him, but it was also what he needed to hear. That all this time, even after getting his 'enlightenment' while fighting Toji and becoming a teacher, he used Jujutsu only for himself. That's not how a teacher should think whose job is to guide others.

And if that wasn't enough, we have Sukuna calling Gojo 'unenlightened'. And after his death, Sukuna even went as far as to use Gojo's domain expansion hand gesture.

The final panel of Ch 261 is actually interesting to me. We've always seen how Gojo struggled with his own identity. It started with Geto's question "Are you the strongest because you're Gojo Satoru? Or are you Gojo Satoru because you're the strongest?"

The next time we see his identity crisis is when he was about to be sealed in the prison realm. A literal black hole in the reflection where his should've been stares back at Gojo. And in that context, the final panel of Ch 261 shows us Sukuna vs Yuta (in Gojo's body) starting their domain battle. And in this panel, neither Gojo's body (and his powers) nor his domain hand gesture are his anymore.

[Fun Fact lol - The trailer for volume 25 starts with the same Geto flashback panel we see in Ch 261.]

◇ Kenjaku, the merger and Yuta Okkotsu's death ◇

☆ Why I think Kenjaku isn't really dead right now?

Kenjaku is someone who's been body hopping since God knows what era. Are we sure no one tried to kill him in all those years? Did Kenjaku never once revealed his CT to anyone? Or were people in the previous era were just dumb to not find a way to kill him completely?

"Oh but Rika already consumed Kenjaku and copied his CT"

Exactly. We got to know in this chapter that Rika ate Kenjaku (His brain or Geto's head?) But what if the brain is actually not Kenjaku? What if the CT itself is Kenjaku? It's actually hard to think a CT without any physical form but it may be possible. We never once saw Kenjaku without possessing someone's body. All this time we thought the brain is Kenjaku since it has a mouth, but what if it's not?

I saw even some JP fans theorizing that the stitches on forehead we see on a host's body when Kenjaku takes over are actually part of a binding vow. That Kenjaku may have made a binding vow where the condition may be - when he takes over a body, the stitches are visible as to let others know it's not the same person. And if Kenjaku actually had made such binding vow, then his physical form definitely isn't a brain.

Also, I actually have a feeling that Kenjaku knew Yuta would take over Gojo's body if he died and that's why he died so easily at Yuta's hands. And the promise he had Sukuna make before fighting Gojo wasn't about Sukuna (in Megumi's body) getting the authority to start the merger. But it may be about making Sukuna not cut off Gojo's head during the fight or asking Sukuna not eat Gojo. And the reason for this is because Kenjaku was aware Gojo could use RCT and he was also aware that RCT users need to be killed by going for the head (See ch 239).

Also in this chapter, Kenjaku looks more amused than surprised when he sees Sukuna expanded his technique's target. It may tell us that Sukuna may or may not have mentioned to Kenjaku about bypassing Gojo's infinity (which was actually impossible before) and that's why Kenjaku looked amused when Sukuna finally did it and showed how.

Now whether Kenjaku takes over Gojo's body, takes over someone else's body or comes back in a completely different form, we can only know in the next chapters. Besides, we never knew what happened to Yuki's body either. Whether she was merged with Tengen or if Kenjaku stitched up her body and kept her body somewhere to take over later 👀

THE MERGER

I read somewhere that the fight with Sukuna is approaching it's climax. And since it was nowhere mentioned it's the final arc, the merger will go through. Kenjaku transferred the authority to start the merger to Megumi Fushiguro and died. And Sukuna's the one currently possessing Megumi.

Remember? Right before Gojo got unboxed, Kenjaku added 2 new rules to the culling games.

No new players can join the culling games from that moment on.

The culling games will end once all the participants EXCEPT Suguru Geto and Megumi Fushiguro are dead. (Uraume is an exception too)

See how Kenjaku used the name of vessel instead of his or Sukuna's own names? (I forgot Uraume's vessel's name my bad 😔)

Since the condition was added before Gojo's unboxing, that means he was never a culling games player. The merger would go through even if he's alive. Same goes for Nobara. And since Kenjaku used the vessel's names while making the condition, him, Sukuna and Uraume can survive even if they leave the vessel's body.

Yuta Okkotsu's death

I said earlier that Yuta's death played out the way it did for a reason. And the reason actually relates to the merger. Like mentioned earlier, the rule for the culling games to end is for all the participants to die. Yuta is the OG mc of JJK and an important part of the cast. But the rules apply to him too. For the culling games to end, even Yuta will need to die. And he did.

The culling games registered Yuta Okkotsu (the body/vessel) as a player. And as of now, he's dead and in someone else's body. We don't know what will happen during the 5 minutes of his CT. The condition for all the players to be dead only applies to end the culling games and not to start the merger. And once the culling games ends, the merger won't automatically start. There will be some time frame in between. And that's when Yuta can be revived in his own body.

I personally think Gojo will come back. Because remember, the biggest flaw in all revival theories was how will Gojo attach both halves of his body even after using RCT? And that problem has been solved now, with Shoko stitching up his body and Yuta using RCT after swapping to heal Gojo's body. And since Yuta is possessing his body for the time being, the two of them may end up being in the same body temporarily like Yuji and Sukuna.

"The soul is the body, the body is the soul" this was Kenjaku's theory back in Shibuya after Geto took control of his body for a split second and tried choking himself. And Kenjaku concluded that's also the reason why he gained the vessel's memories even after body hopping. The last time we see Nobara, she managed to attack Mahito's soul, something, only Yuji was capable of. And it seems we may be getting more expansion on body and soul now that Yuta took over Gojo which makes Nobara's comeback very plausible.

And we still have Ui Ui, who can swap souls. The only condition or rather limit is two souls per person that can be swapped in one month. So even if Yuta and Gojo end up living in the same body, Ui Ui might be able to transfer Yuta's soul back into his body.

Ending it by saying that Kenjaku doesn't look like someone who'd be loyal to anyone lol. Idk why I have a feeling he'll give Sukuna the Mahito treatment somehow by betraying him 💀

[sabaramonds]

if anyone is wondering if im going to do an analysis of double & mikoto i uhhh need to find more stuff to read in english about psychiatric care and dissociative disorder patients in japan but given what ive found so far im like. well this is what i expected from milgram ill be honest having read the voice drama tl and watched the mv 8573485 times (omg hanae natsukis vocals) i do have a few thoughts. mentions of CSA and childhood abuse below as well as medical abuse - mikoto2 ("john" LMFAOOOO) claims he was born from mikotos workplace stress and implies that mikoto did not have DID prior to that; DID is only developed in childhood, but its common to live your life without knowing about it until adulthood (the average age at diagnosis is 29-35 years as of a 2007 paper on sciencedirect i just double checked; according to a 2009 piece from the national library of medicine, the average patient for a diagnosis is a woman of about 30 years old and a retroactive view of the patients medical history and symptoms tend to reveal a lifetime of DID symptoms) so basically im saying that its equally possible deco and yamanaka are unaware of this or mikoto2 is lying his ass off because why would he want to tell some amnesiac teenage prison warden btw the reason i exist is because mikoto was abused as a child. why do you think our mom divorced our dad. even if es likely researched it themself and is probably aware of the statistical likelihood that mikoto experienced long term childhood abuse, why would mikoto2 say it...especially if that abuse was sexual in nature - according to this video recorded by a japanese man (a recovering hikkikomori who experienced forced hospitalization in the past), the 2017 statistics for mental hospital inpatients was that there were 280,000 patients at the time, and 170,000 of those were hospitalized for over a year. 90,000 had been in hospital care for more than 5 years and 26,000 had been in care for 20 years. he also references that most psychiatric care facilities are private in nature, not government-run, so they prioritize the amount of patients they receive in a short period of time because it earns them more profits (another video i watched compared this practice to a mcdonalds burger vs a proper restaurant; make more at a cheaper cost). likewise, long term care facilities dont want to let their patients go easily, because even if families or the patient cant afford to cover the cost, insurance or the government social security system will cover it. a combination of the psychiatric business as its run and the broader cultural attitude towards mental health (in some cases, families do not want their shame to be public, and actively do not want their mentally ill relative to be released from the hospital; if this is the case, its more likely for a patient to be forcibly hospitalized long term without anyone outside to advocate for their release) so im kind of like. hm. (see saw motion with my hand) as far as rep goes i think its kinda middling, especially because mikoto2 is the Alter Who Kills People For Some Reason trope, which always sucks and basically every journal, article, or vlog ive looked into from people with DID has said "god please stop with the murder alter trope please please", but considering the source material i think its...well, its honestly better than what i was expecting. but milgram is designed to be abstract to a certain extent and were still missing information, so who knows. maybe yamanaka and deco have something else up their sleeve regarding mikoto. but yeah i couldnt find anything specifically regarding patients with DID (or related disorders) but i did only poke around for like 2 hours in the middle of the night soooo ill come back to it and that concludes my findings on this topic for today. stay tuned for my next mikoto fic installment or whatever

[elliesbelle]

Since your brain is huge and your meat is Big™, where do you stand on the Rellie vs Dellie debate. I've seen a hell of a lot of "Riley and Ellie were soulmates, Ellie was Dina's soulmate but not vice versa". I ship Ellie with long term therapy and medication so I can't comment but I'll take either of those over ellabs lmao

KSJLKDFJKLDF this description of me is making me howl

i did naught even see that there was a debate between rellie vs dellie omg? but let me gather my thoughts.

i personally believe in the concept of soulmates myself. and it's not something i will deny could exist in the tlou universe. however (and i may get flack for this), i don't think we've seen a character who's destined to be ellie's soulmate in the game tbh. not just romantically, but platonically either.

idk, i think a lot of ellie's life is based on circumstance. so her relationships are more based on that, rather than an inherent soul tie with the person. riley and dina were both her best friend at one point, and i think the process of ellie developing feelings for both of them was similar. but she was also a different person during the phases of her life where she had feelings for them respectively. so i feel as if the debate on who is better for ellie is honestly a moot point.

we also only got a fraction of riley vs what we got with dina, so we weren't given the opportunity to explore much else of riley's personality and chemistry with ellie as we did with dina.

as to who she had more love for, idk. probably dina? but i mean, she was an adult by this point and her shared traumatic experiences with dina probably bonded them more.

at the end of the day, the person ellie loved the most is joel, which is why she left dina in the first place. would she have done it if it were riley and not dina in the situation? idk. i think tlou2 cemented how much rage and guilt ellie clung onto, so she probably would have.

i personally ship ellie with a good insurance and in inpatient psychiatric ward myself. our girl needs to heal.

(did someone say ellie needs to heal? omg what a coincidence, @cherriesxinthespring's wasteland baby! series on ao3 is a story about both ellie and reader healing from shit in their past! perhaps we should all check it out omg)

[thistlecatfics]

do you have opinions on cbt

Hahaha everyone has opinions on CBT. For the radical queer trauma therapist circles I run in I’m actually pretty pro-CBT. For the average person involved in mental/behavioral health, I’m probably anti-CBT. 

[For context, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a famously evidence based type of therapy which works by targeting thoughts/cognitions. It theorizes that thoughts cause behaviors which cause feelings which cause thoughts all around and around in a spiral of doom for which the easiest intervention is targeting the thoughts. It can be very regimented, hence it’s easily studied, hence why it’s so “evidence based.” You basically identify “cognitive distortions” like catastrophizing (I failed my exam and so I’m going to fail out of school and live in a cardboard box) and reality-check them (it’s one exam in one class and I can still pass the class if I get a decent grade on my final). You also identify the thought/feeling/behavior spiral (thought=I failed -> I will be homeless, feeling=fear, shame, behavior=avoiding the professor and anything associated with the class.) It’s definitely bigger and more complicated than that, but you get the idea.]

For a lot of people with anxiety and with OCD especially, it can be so life changing. 

For a lot of people, especially people who are trauma survivors or whose presenting problems are connected to trauma, it can feel like gaslighting. 

(Fun fact! Part of the reason TF-CBT (trauma focused CBT) has such solid evidence behind it is that it ignores the wild survival bias in its studies. People who have a lot of trauma or really intense PTSD tend to drop out. Those who stay mostly have success with it and provide happy little data points)

I think certain parts of CBT can be so useful – noticing thoughts, identifying cognitive distortions, checking in with reality – and I think using the triangle with clients (the little triangle of “thoughts,” “emotions,” “behaviors”) can be super useful, and I do it fairly often.

Personally, I find a lot of my clients can do (most of) the mental/cognitive work on their own – what they really need help with from a trained professional is actually a felt sense of safety and emotional processing which require therapeutic flexibility and other modalities -- and a longer period of work.  

Some people like a very concrete, structured approach, especially if they’re new to therapy or skeptical of the value of therapy. Also, a lot of people only can access therapy for a short time and a lot of people only want to be in therapy for a short time, and you can make changes quickly with CBT. Also, from the therapist end, there are a million free CBT trainings and workshops you can do vs. most other modalities where you have to pay $1000s for trainings (on top of getting a graduate degree). 

Insurance companies and payers in general LOVE CBT because it’s structured, evidence-based, and short-term. You also require clients to do homework, which is basically like extra therapy time you don’t have to pay the clinician for. You can also train people in it pretty easily. I think it’s important to understand *why* CBT is held up as the best/standard therapy type now, and it has a lot less to do with CBT itself and more to do with service provision and structural factors around paying for therapy and with what can be effectively researched. 

I’m reading Richard Schwartz’s “No Bad Parts” right now about Internal Family Systems therapy, and I’m now thinking of CBT within that framework. Basically, CBT is an effective part of the overall therapy system but it’s being asked to do too much, and so is overfunctioning and causing problems. We really should just let it settle into its own niche. 

It’s not my therapy niche! But it has a place. 

(If you were asking about Cock and Ball Torture therapy that would probably fall under the category of “experiential” therapy. Not sure it’s really been studied, but I’m sure there would be enthusiastic participants.)

[term-insurance]

How To Choose Critical Illness Health Insurance I Critical Illness Riders

Critical illness insurance, otherwise known as critical illness cover or a dread disease policy, is an insurance product in which the insurer is contracted to typically make a lump sum cash payment if the policyholder is diagnosed with one of the specific illnesses on a predetermined list as part of an insurance policy. The policy may also be structured to pay out regular income and the pay-out may also be on the policyholder undergoing a surgical procedure, for example, having a heart bypass operation.

[littlerabbittarot]

Fiction vs Reality — Curb Your Anxiety

Using cards can be an excellent tool to aid you in both examining and challenging yourself to help you learn and grow. Sometimes it’s not only important to understand where you’re coming from, but to push back against it.

In this post, we’re taking a peek at our fears and worries, and finding ways to become calm. (See my previous spreads: analyzing your ‘normal’, or healing your inner child.) Feel free to read through and save it for later, or take this time to breathe, make space, get out your journal, cards, and explore.

Regardless if you follow along with your cards, I do highly recommend using a journal, one that is for your eyes only. That way, you can feel free to be as open and honest as you need to be.

‘To spiral’ or ‘spiraling’ is the term associated with your thoughts, emotions, or actions going in an endless feedback loop of negativity, often getting worse the longer it goes on as each thing piles up on one another — and can happen in the blink of an eye! With anxiety, especially those of us with a disorder, this can be a frequent, and difficult to control occurrence.

One moment could be fairly typical of a very normal event — perhaps you need to pick up groceries. But there are some looming clouds. What if it starts to rain? What if it’s a downpour and visibility is low? What if you get into an accident? What if you need to go to the hospital? What if your insurance doesn’t pay? Etc etc. It can go on forever if you don’t find a way to stop it, and bring yourself back to reality.

Let’s walk through an example reading with this spread using the scenario I already laid out above. (So if it made you anxious, keep reading, and hopefully it will help calm you down!) If these cards spur something in you, by all means pause reading and journal your thoughts.

I thought I’d use an oracle deck this time, to make this exercise feel more approachable. Use whatever deck calls to you, or no deck at all!

Deck: Urban Crow Oracle

What is the absolute worst case result or scenario? — Upheaval

I swear I shuffle my cards, haha. But certainly this feels like a disaster waiting to happen. Perhaps that car crash is a multi-car pile up! The medical bills could be overwhelming, you may end up deep in debt that takes decades to pay off, if you ever do. Gosh, and the impact to your family, with it already being so hard to stay afloat before, how could you manage now? Your life will be turned upside down with no one to blame but you! (See how these thoughts keep building and building, growing worse and worse? But keep reading!)

What is the absolute best case result or scenario? — Direction

As the crow is bursting with light, guided by it’s knowledge that not only will the ride there be smooth and safe, with nothing but green lights getting you from your home to the store, there will be no distractions in your wake. Those looming clouds will change their course, leaving you focused on the goal at hand. Once you arrive, as you traverse each aisle, your hand will immediately reach to every item you need — and wow, it’s on sale! Everything is discounted! With that money you saved, you can easily afford that birthday gift you really wanted to get your spouse, and then some! (See how these thoughts build and build as well? To the point of absurdity. What could possibly be every fantastical thing that happens? But keep reading!)

What is the most likely & realistic result or scenario? — Freedom

And for the real deal, we have ‘Freedom’. Freedom to leave your house and drive to the grocery store. It may involve some red lights or traffic, but you’ll still get there. You are certainly ‘free’ to pick some music or a podcast to keep you entertained and relaxed. Maybe it will rain, but you have the choice to take it slow and safe. You have the freedom to pick and choose your selection of food, of course to a point within your budget. Maybe you do happen to find at least one thing on sale. And maybe you decide to pick up a pint of ice cream for dessert. (Or breakfast :P Who’s to say?) Armed with the knowledge that no matter how anxious you may feel, you have the wings to fly to another place of mind — to peace of mind. (See how mundane this was? How ‘boring’ or simple it feels? Real life is not so extreme, find a healthy spot in the middle.)

I hope you’re feeling better now ;)

So go ahead, write in your journal. Take inspiration from this example reading, use your own cards, or free-write. But write!

Ask yourself: How can you remind yourself of what’s real?

— 

Thank you for reading! I hope to continue to blog about tarot, mental health, and similar topics. Feel free to follow, or support me on Ko-Fi.

-LR🐇

[naukrisambad]

How Does Life Insurance Work: A Comprehensive Guide

How Does Life Insurance Work: Life insurance stands as a cornerstone of financial planning, offering security and peace of mind to individuals and their families. But how exactly does life insurance work? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve deep into the mechanics of life insurance, exploring its purpose, types, processes, benefits, and much more. How Does Life Insurance Work Life…

[reedsofintimacy]

How smart are you? You’ve given some hints before but how many degrees do you have? What are you studying? What do you want to do in live professionally and passionately? What’s your purpose career wise?

Also hypothetically would you be open to being your wives employee if she had a really successful company?

I actually don't have any degrees! I'm a nerd and smart but also certainly have my flaws.

For context, I was an honors student all growing up. Always tested in the 99th percentile for state aptitude assessments. I got a 33 on my ACT, did well on a bunch of AP tests and went to a non-ivy-league but prestiguous state school in the top 25% of the incoming class and as a university scholar, in an accelerated chemistry PhD program, and lived in an honors community on campus.

I learned to speak some Chinese, became an instructor for a traditional Korean percussion group, led a bible study, tutored students in organic chemistry, and did excellent in my humanities courses writing on topics like a linguistic study of gender conception in viking-era icelandic society and designing an interventional plan to address youth homelessness in the community.

College was the best 2 years of my life, I adored everything about it but I also completely overloaded myself. Turns out you need more than raw brains for success. I was conflicted between prioritizing my studies vs my faith, and had unadressed adhd and anxiety i wasnt ever aware of and didnt know how to cope with. When my 19 credit hours were drowning me, I couldnt own up to the shame of overwhelm and failure, couldnt look my teachers in the eye and ultimately stopped showing up to class and dropped out.

I'm now back in school with a better understanding of myself, an absense of competing priorities and a lot of experience. Im pursuing working in Radiology doing either CT or MRI. A lot of my friends growing up are finishing their PhD theses and I love discussing them with them, but I myself don't have even an associate's to my name.

Career wise, I originally wanted to be a professor of either Chemistry or Materials Science. I debated majoring in Linguistics or teaching English as a second language but i don't speak anything fluent enough to really do that yet. I've since considered pursuing a career in comedy, as a science communicator and journalist or PIO, as a university student advisor, and taught myself to code to maybe pursue programming.

I love learning. Currently I'm putting the most effort into Chinese classical literature. I've done personal units on nutrition, skincare, fitness, urban planning, economics, and some software like adobe illustrator and game dev with Unity and Godot.

For my professional future, I think I'm for now planning on being a travelling technician in healthcare. It'd give me an opportunity to see lots of different places which is a goal of mine and shouldn't have too many commitments keeping me held in place. Maybe I'll finally get over my fear of casual hookups and become a traveling nurse by day and city-to-city clit servicer by night sampling all sorts of delicious lady bits. Idk. For now I'm just focused on what I'm doing in the moment.

In terms of passions I want time and independence to pursue learning as an autodidact. I'd love to maintain access to university libraries and attend lots of public lectures and symposiums if i could live near enough a big university. I want to read about the things that interest me and someday get over my social anxiety and travel to make friends all over the world with fellow nerds.

In terms of working for my wife of course that would be really sexy I'd love to be my partners doting but slutty assistant 💕 depending on the industry i guess. I think something like insurance or real estate is kind of predatory tbh and wouldnt want to be associated with it. But if I didn't have an issue with it I'd adore being my partners employee. Or even just a supportive house husband or trusted personal assistant ❤️❤️ a role i've always thought I have the potential to be quite good at

[idsb]

So just wondering basically whatever you can think would be good advice or insight or tips for someone wanting to move to Melbourne from the UK

Doesn't have to be limited to the likes below;

healthcare, prescriptions (I have a few chronic illnesses; nothing too serious, but I do need different medications etc), Visas, nominations, what sort of yearly wage/income would I need to be comfortable, taxes/insurance, bills, education (I don't have a family; but say I wanted to do a uni course, could ?); rent or buy, is a car needed, should I look into city living or suburb living, is it safe for a single female to move there & live on her own... and yeah just anything else you or anyone else can think of, l've never moved abroad before

Okay I can help with a lot of this!!! Great news re: health insurance, I know this from having a British housemate - your UK Medicare is 100% valid at any public doctors office in Australia! I’m not sure how this works with prescriptions because I don’t know how that works for you guys in general, but I know everything you have works just like if you were an Australian citizen and your Medicare transfers over (whatever that means). It’s, like, actually incredible.

I’m not sure how old you are, but a UK -> Australian working visa is literally one of the easiest work visas in the world to get as of July 2024! You literally can just go and work for up to 3 years if you’re under 35. The terms each last 1 year, and you can renew for 3 years and they do not have to be consecutive. Previously you had to do farm work to stay that long, but they’ve completely rescinded that for UK citizens. I would recommend just getting that and going to start off, and once you’re actively on the ground there I think a lot of possibilities will open up to you to get a sponsorship to stay permanently, if you want to. If after a year you don’t have any kind of leads for a path to sponsorship, that’s when I’d speak to an immigration lawyer and try and figure out a plan. But I think the possibilities are pretty open if you’re a UK citizen. You can also very much take uni there, but you won’t get any kind of financial aid outside of what’s available to you in your country. You can do that on a working holiday visa (WHV 417 is the one I’ve described), or there’s also a separate student visa you’re able to go on. I personally would do them separately, because you can apply for residency after 5 years. So if you’re a student for 2 years and then do your 3 year WHV, bam you can apply for PR. It buys you some more time if you can’t get a sponsor.

Suburb vs city is really down to personal preference, and same with car - I find amenities are incredibly close together in suburbs, and know heaps of people both in the city and suburbs who did not have cars and got around just fine. I had a car because I wanted one, but I don’t feel it’s 100% necessary, although imo it is if you’d like to go far outside the city and see all of beautiful regional Victoria, which to me is SO valuable. I wouldn’t want to live downtown in the city (called the CBD) with one because all parking is metered and v hard to find, so for that reason I chose to live in the suburbs. I thought it was a very easy process to buy a car, and I bought one on FB marketplace and just sold it when I left the country. Thought that all and getting the car registered was a very easy process, but the girl I sold it to was from the UK and called it a headache so I think selling cars is easier for you guys 😅

I’m from the US and it’s pretty unsafe there objectively so like, lol take this with a grain of salt, but Melb is the safest place I’ve ever been in my life. I could walk around at night and not really think anything of it, even at like 4am in the “nightlife” sort of area I worked in. I think there’s petty crime in areas like that like cars getting broken into and stuff, but yeah I’ve legit never felt safer in my life and I am a very tiny blonde girl who was always alone so!

A lot of aspects are VERY difficult (buckle up if you’d like to hear about my experience, happy to tell you about it) in that the startup tasks can be A Lot when you first arrive and you have to be prepared for anything and everything to go wrong - not that it will, but just in case. But I think Melb is the best place you could POSSIBLY move to and I think it is so so so SO worth it to give it a go, esp w how easy it is for UK residents!!!

There are TONS of specifics I’m happy to talk about that I didn’t want to put all in one ask such as the vibes of diff suburbs / pros and cons and how to choose, where to find housemates/ a place to live, what you need for taxes & to hold a job once you arrive, how to become a legal driver and car owner if you want to go the car route, etc. I’m more than happy to answer hyper specific things like this and you can feel free to DM me!

[spurgie-cousin]

hi, i was wondering if i could get any advice? i suspect i have autism, and i always struggled with social relationships all my life. i kept to myself as a child and teenager, and it wasn't until i was in university, did i try to make friends. it took a while, a lot of tears, and pain, but now i do have some great and understanding friends and i hang out with them at least once a week. however, i can't seem to get over the feelings of rejection and isolation. how to cope with that.

I relate to that feeling a lot ❤️ my go to coping mechanism for a really long time was just self isolation (very bad for you do not recommend) and I still really struggle with feeling alone even when I have no obvious reason to feel that way.

In the moment when I'm feeling that, I have a few rituals I do to distract myself, the main one is I kind of interview myself about the feeling. For example, "did something specific cause this" "are there any distinct thoughts or fears I am feeling", but what helps me most personally is "is what I'm feeling objectively true? What does being alone/rejected look like, and does it reflect my life?" That usually leads to me thinking about all the ways I'm actually not alone, and that is usually helpful. If you can, it helps to tell at least one person you feel safe with about this feeling, not only to take a load off your chest but to maybe have a go to buddy to help you out when you're struggling. For me, it's my husband or brother, and we don't always have to have a big deep conversation, honestly it helps me more to just talk about something light hearted or laugh.

Something that's also been really helpful is finding other autistic/adhd folks to relate to and talk to about these kinds of things. Outside of a few friends I do this on the internet for the most part, in groups usually for advice or venting, and it can be really helpful just to get stuff off your chest and have people who've been through exactly what you're talking about weigh in.

Longer term, I've been working with a psychiatrist for my overall neurodivergent struggles which I highly recommend for ADHD/autistic folks in particular if possible, just because I've had just a smoother experience overall with a psych vs a regular therapist (my psych also does talk therapy though). I work with her through GrowTherapy which is a more insurance friendly version of BetterHelp basically, so fully remote. I know that's not an option for everyone, it wasn't for me for a long time, but definitely worth looking into if it is an option. I hope it becomes something that's more accessible, talking with an expert is so helpful for so many things re: mental health and neurodivergence, especially as someone who was diagnosed late and is still learning.

[westandsons]

Building Your Dream in Auckland: A Guide to Finding the Right Builder

Auckland, the City of Sails, is a vibrant metropolis with a growing population. This translates to a booming construction industry, with many Aucklanders seeking to build their dream homes. But with so many builders vying for your attention, how do you choose the right one to transform your vision into reality?

This guide explores the essential steps involved in finding the perfect builder for your Auckland home building project. We'll delve into the key considerations, from understanding the different types of builders to navigating the initial consultation.

Know Your Options: Home Builders vs. Building Contractors

The terms "home builder" and "building contractor" are often used interchangeably, but there can be subtle distinctions. Home builders typically specialise in residential projects, particularly new builds and custom homes. They may offer a more comprehensive service, including design assistance and project management. Building contractors, on the other hand, can handle a broader range of projects, including renovations, additions, and even commercial construction. They might focus more on the technical aspects of construction.

Understanding Your Needs & Budget

Before embarking on your builder search, take some time to clearly define your needs and budget. What kind of home are you envisioning? Single-story, multi-story, modern, or traditional? Consider the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you require, as well as any specific features you desire, such as a swimming pool or a home theater.

Equally important is establishing a realistic budget for your project. Factor in not just the construction costs but also the cost of the land (if you haven't purchased it yet), permits, architectural plans, and any unforeseen expenses. Having a clear budget will help you find builders who specialise in your desired price range.

Research & Recommendations

The internet is a powerful tool for researching potential builders in Auckland. Look for companies with established websites showcasing their previous projects and outlining their services. Online review platforms can offer valuable insights from past clients, providing honest feedback on a builder's quality of work, communication style, and overall customer service.

Recommendations from friends, family, and colleagues who have recently built homes in Auckland can also be invaluable. Their firsthand experiences can provide a unique perspective on the builder's performance.

The Initial Consultation

Once you have shortlisted a few builders, it's time to schedule initial consultations. This is your opportunity to get to know the builder, assess their approach, and determine if they are a good fit for your project. Some key questions to ask during the consultation include:

Experience: How many years of experience do they have building homes in Auckland? Do they have experience with projects similar to yours?

Licenses & Insurance: Are they fully licensed and insured? It's crucial to ensure they have the necessary certifications and liability coverage to protect your investment.

References: Can they provide references from past clients? Talking to satisfied customers can give you peace of mind.

Communication Style: How will they communicate with you throughout the project? Do they prioritise open communication and regular updates?

Project Timeline & Budget: Can they provide a realistic timeline for completion and a detailed estimate of the costs involved?

Contract Review: Don't be afraid to ask questions about the contract and ensure you understand all the terms and conditions before signing.

Building a Collaborative Partnership

Finding the right builder is akin to finding the right partner for a significant life event. Look for a builder who listens attentively to your vision, offers creative solutions, and respects your budget. Remember, a good builder will be transparent, reliable, and committed to exceeding your expectations.

West & Sons Construction: Building Your Dreams in Auckland

At West & Sons Construction, we are passionate about building exceptional homes in Auckland. We understand that building a home is a personal journey, and we are dedicated to guiding you every step of the way. With years of experience, a team of skilled craftsmen, and a commitment to quality, we can help you transform your dream home into a reality.

Contact West & Sons Construction today for a free consultation and let's discuss your vision!

Follow us on our social media pages: Facebook, Instagram & Linkedin.