#which just so happens to be the one resource that constantly shrinks and that you cant create more of

[mentalhealthsblog]

Psychological Wellness Maintenance Is Produced Basic

Your mental health is typically substantially enhanced when you use the methods Dr. Kuhn teaches in this report. When you are capable to expertise this improvement, your associations blossom, career paths open, and folks find you eye-catching and obtainable. You deserve to have enjoyable and pleasure in your daily life - and Cliff Kuhn, M.D. will aid you do that. In the traditional Frank Capra film, It really is a Wonderful Life, George Bailey's mental overall health is confused by the problems of his existence and he needs he'd never ever been born. Mental Health George's guardian angel grants his desire and normally takes him to a grim fact as it would've been with out him. George feels nothing when he reaches into his coat pocket to retrieve the flower his daughter, Zuzu, put there - and that is when George understands that his want has appear accurate...he is never been born. Wishing she experienced in no way been born, Roberta grew to become my patient, looking for desperately to increase her mental well being. Like the fictional George Bailey character, Roberta's depression and nervousness had grown so powerful as to threaten her potential to lead any semblance of a typical lifestyle. Luckily for Roberta, she shortly found exactly why the organic medication of humor is one particular of the most effective adjunctive treatment options for improving mental health, because humor practically pours drinking water on the hearth of melancholy and nervousness. Roberta is not by yourself. As numerous as 35% of all Us citizens suffer from melancholy and stress, the twins that make psychological overall health elusive for hundreds of thousands. Your despair and stress is exacerbated by your seriousness - getting oneself way too significantly. As we transfer into adulthood, we regrettably acquire into the idea that accountable and productive folks must be "critical." As we make the largest mistake of our lives and relegate our humor character and enjoyable to recreational activities (if we encounter entertaining at all), we doom ourselves to all the indicators of the corresponding seriousness that fills the void - declining overall health, climbing tension, increased discomfort, lessened power, impaired creativeness, and a lot more. The good news for your mental health, nonetheless, is that we know how to shrink your fatal seriousness to virtually nothing at all and lessen nearly entirely the sway it holds more than your health, vitality, wellness, and zest. The natural medication of humor is an incredibly potent source that you previously have you've got only forgotten how to use it to greatest effectiveness. You will before long learn that, whilst not a panacea, the natural medication of humor is a tremendous tonic for melancholy or anxiousness and will also supercharge other remedies since it is an remarkable adjunctive medicine too! I have distilled the normal medication of humor, by means of my a long time of medical follow, into an wonderful prescription I call The Entertaining Factor. Based mostly on what I realized above 20 a long time back from a terminally sick fifteen-calendar year-outdated client, I designed a unique set of principles I contact the Enjoyable Commandments, then forged these Commandments into my Enjoyable Aspect prescription and have been prescribing The Enjoyable Factor with wonderful success for years. This report will show you how to use just three of my Exciting Commandments to change your psychological health all around, and acquire new pleasure, pleasure, and appreciation from your life! Enhance Your Psychological Overall health Utilizing My Enjoyable Factor Prescription Action 1: Always Go the Further Smile The 1st Exciting Commandment I advise for improved mental health is: Constantly Go the Further Smile. This Commandment is doubly helpfully for despair and nervousness due to the fact not only does it provide measurable psychological and physical aid, but it also is entirely underneath your handle - regardless of your situation. Simply because smiling stays absolutely beneath your management, it can be your greatest resource for making use of humor's normal drugs to speed up your psychological well being. Smiling makes measurable bodily rewards you can encounter quickly: your pressure decreases, your immunity improves, your pain and aggravation tolerances increase, and your creative imagination soars. And guess what? You knowledge all these positive aspects even if your smile is "phony." Which is right...forcing a smile on to your experience perks up your immune technique and lightens your temper just as readily as a real smile. Fake a smile and you are going to before long really feel properly adequate to wear a true one particular! This is fantastic information for your proactive stance on sustainable psychological wellness. You have an remarkable quantity of pre-emptive control more than your mood - you can, literally, pick more strength and joy. The important for your use of this Exciting Commandment in maximizing your psychological wellness is to start off working towards proper now, so that smiling turns into an entrenched, habitual method of accessing the natural medicine of humor. If you wait to smile until your psychological wellness has taken a turn for the worse, and despair or anxiousness has taken hold of you, it will not be as powerful. Step Two: Act and Interact Smiling qualified prospects us correct into the second Fun Commandment you will uncover instrumental in keeping your psychological well being: Act and Interact. Humor's all-natural medication functions best when we are sharing ourselves and this Commandment will instruct you how to capitalize on the manage you've got taken above your physiology and mood by smiling. Performing and interacting is now less difficult for you to do since you're smiling more. Not only is your mood improved, but your smile is also a nice invitation to other individuals. My recommendation is that you solidify the energy of this Commandment by location a affordable goal with regards to the variety of men and women you will interact with each working day. These social interactions are fantastic for your mental health, forcing you to trade details and suggestions with yet another person. Blended with your commitment to smiling, your interactions need to be enjoyable, simply because your heightened vitality, lessened ache, and decreased stress stages are really desirable to others. Over and above maintaining you out of isolation, there is another reason why acting and interacting with the people you encounter fosters improved psychological well being. It makes it possible for you to steer clear of spiritual "flat tires." Religious flat tires occur when you sidestep, or avoid, an interaction that is about to happen by natural means - you duck into an place of work to avoid encountering a person in a hallway or you never answer the mobile phone because you don't want to discuss to the person calling. This kind of avoidance drains and deletes your reservoir of effective normal energy and siphons your psychological health reserves. Business Name: O'Brien & Associates Inc Address: 1467 Siskiyou Blvd Ste 2027 Ashland, OR 97520 7052 Santa Teresa Blvd Ste 1044 San Jose, CA 95139 3157 Gentilly Blvd #2198 New Orleans, LA 70122 10673 W Lake Hazel Rd Ste 1009 Boise, ID 83709 1500 Chestnut St Ste 1784 Philadelphia, PA 19102 11816 Inwood Rd Ste 3147 Dallas, TX 75244 Email: intake@obrienassociatesinc.com Working Hours: 7 days a week 8 AM to 8 PM

[sasorikigai]

I'm gonna avenge myself here and ask you to do the whole alphabet (or at least all the letters that can apply) for Hanryou :^)

fluff/cute alphabet || @sonxflight​​ || accepting

A = Attractive (What do they find attractive about the other?)

Generally, Hanzo Hasashi is attracted to people who express themselves and their passions freely. He is drawn to people with a bit of mystery, but he wants to be able to open this person up and hear about their hopes and dreams. For him, the chase can sometimes be appealing, since it makes them feel excited and on edge. He just doesn’t like anything boring, and so he is attracted to people who can make him feel excited and ready for whatever comes next. It can be hard sometimes for Hanzo to differentiate when someone is playing games, or when the connection is sincerely strong between them, but he is often willing to take this risk. He doesn’t like being around people who keep everything bottled up and don’t know how to really share themselves with him.

Hanzo is attracted to people who are passionate about life and have exciting hobbies to share. He needs something he can connect with and want to be able to share himself with this person as well. Hanzo also is attracted to people who can be adventurous and willing to take chances in life. If this person can really shake things up and keep him guessing, he is likely to be drawn to this. And Ryou Sakai fits the majority of these categories, as Ryou is such an exquisite balance of being an enigma, while also being direct and simple in the deliverance of not only in his vocalizations, and his gesticulations as well. 

B = Baby (Do they want a family? Why/Why not?)

Hanzo is usually more strongly connected to the need to make others happy than to traditional values or roles, which gives him this openness and acceptance of the needs of others. If his partner or family prefers a certain structure or roles, he will most likely just go along with it because he doesn’t really mind either way. Because he has a natural need for independence and space that can make them seem a little distant to some family members. They dislike having their own personal boundaries breached and will usually withdraw if this happens. For other members of their family, who prefer closer and more intense bonds, this can feel like rejection or neglect, when it’s really just the ISFP protecting themselves against intrusion.

C = Cuddle (How do they cuddle?)

Hanzo Hasashi is a very physical person and truly enjoy observing the beauty in the world around him. He often enjoys giving and receiving hugs, even when he isn’t always the one to initiate this. He enjoys feeling close to his loved ones, and might want to constantly be touching his romantic partner. Hanzo enjoys physical touch as a way to express himself, and often love being close to people in this way, as this is one of his main ways to express his love and affection along with his words of affirmation. 

D = Dates (What are dates with them like?)

Hanzo has a true exploratory nature in which he loves to discover new things and have new experiences. He is charming and easy-going, attracting many potential dates to his agreeable and adventurous nature, despite the traumas and unapproachable visage he frequently wears as he happens to wear many different faces professionally, socially, and personally. Since both Hanzo and Ryou are both introverts, they frequently spend their off-days and free time lounging at home, exploring their sensuality, while they also like to explore outdoors and nature. They would most likely have a weekend getaway to an undisclosed secret location, more private, the better. Or just building a pillow fort at home could make Hanzo’s heart soar, as he is an adventurous introvert who likes to experience new things out of the ordinary to make them extraordinary. And with Ryou as his dedicated husband and lover, he doesn’t require too much extraneous things in order to enjoy an easy day in or out. 

E = Everything (You are my ____ (e.g. my life, my world…))

“Despite darkness tearing at the light of my being, biting into it with sharp teeth, but every time the darkness manages to gain the upper hand, your presence and weight settled in my heart will always manage to push it back, preventing it from ever truly going dark. You are always somewhere, anywhere, as your love manifests as celebrations of the magnanimous light as my purified everburning flames will burn sempiternally in continued anticipation, excitement, and yearning.” 

F = Feelings (When did they know they were in love?)

Since both looks and personality are important when it comes to Hanzo Hasashi’s idealized aesthetics. The former determines the first impression and presentation is really important, but a nice face with a horrible personality would definitely be out of the question for him. Jack/Ryou encompasses all the characteristic which Hanzo finds worth revering and respecting; Jack strongly exhibits not only the characteristics of a stoic hero. He is unfailingly kind and generous, and will always attempt to help those in need, as well as dispatching sagacious wisdom to those he believes are in need of guidance. He often ends up sacrificing a chance to return to his own time in order to help someone else. Those traits are the surefire ways Hanzo finds endearing, and Hanzo also knows that Jack/Ryou grants the most unadulterated trust and conviction of his love towards him. 

G = Gentle (Are they gentle? If so, how?)

Hanzo feels very strongly about his values and about treating other people right. Bullying, harsh words, and cruelty all impact him greatly. He has strong empathy and he comes across as gentle and sincere. While his brutal honesty and directness may come across as authentic and real, Hanzo is rather independent than opting for the idea of fitting in, which could make him a lone wolf amidst his squadron and even his colleagues, despite him having strong chemistry and bond due to multitudes of life-threatening, physical and mental injuries shared. That being said, Hanzo Hasashi is definitely not weak or a shrinking violet. He is practical, resourceful and creative when it comes to his gentility and he can think quickly in a crisis, which is why Hanzo excels at his perilous position of being a Commander. He is gentle but unyielding, sensitive but factual, and when it comes to his romantic/sexual relationship with Ryou, he can be more so be adventurous, even more kinky as their modern verse is much more open and viscerally raw, compared to their more vanilla, and proper canonical verses. 

H = Hands (How do they like to hold hands?)

As Hanzo is affectionate and a warm person, especially towards his loved ones. He doesn’t mind displaying his affection in public, and often become swept up in the moment. He becomes very present and enjoy being a part of the physical world around him. Hanzo wants to follow his heart and do whatever makes him the happiest, which is why he often doesn’t mind a little PDA. If he wants to express their affection in that moment, he won’t let his head get in the way as long as he finds the circumstances appropriate. With Ryou, he specifically enjoys small little touches that gradually builds up for them to entwine each and every finger, interlocking them together as they walk shoulder to shoulder, the expanse of their exposed flesh brushing as they do so in tandem. 

I = Impression (What was their first impression?)

Hanzo perceived Ryou as polite and intelligent upon first meeting him, but as both of them are particularly not the most outgoing people, Hanzo would have resented Ryou at first because how withdrawn and reticent he seemed to be, which could come across as dispassionate and unenthusiastic. But at the same time, Hanzo knew Ryou to be how to behave around others. Considering they both are naturally good communicators in their own ways, and will do their best to appear more extroverted in front of new people, especially Hanzo in his professional setting. Ryou often came across as the person who knew the right things to say, and eventually, despite the pent-up frustration and impatience on Hanzo’s side, eventually made a pleasant first impression for most people. Now Hanzo knows his beloved seemed to be more reserved at first, since he was attempting to be appropriate.

J = Jealousy (Do they get jealous?)

He isn’t definitely not a jealous person, since he likes to giving people space and room to be themselves without coming across as clingy and possessive. The last thing Hanzo wants is to smother his loved one, since he enjoys being able to have his own freedom as well. He wants to inspire the people he cares for to be themselves, no matter what that means. Hanzo does not want to possess people and prefer to trust them at all times. There might be moments where they want to have plenty of attention from their favorite person, which might make them seem possessive.

K = Kiss (How do they kiss? Who initiated the first kiss?)

While Hanzo comes off as quiet, supportive and encouraging, he is a partner who is meek yet a passionate individual. Although he is flexible and easy-going about many things, when it comes to relationships, he is utterly committed and serious. It was as if unspoken poetry was being born on his lips with that very first kiss.. a few thousand words shy of an entire language as it had been a slow and sensual, yet emotionally charged and determined one at that. Hanzo most likely initiated it, for he could be a lover who is full of spontaneity, affection, and sensuality. In fact, Hanzo is probably the most impulsive, and always has been on the lookout for someone whom he believes he could spend the rest of his life with. He can be counted on as a loyal and serious partner who will do what needs to be done in order for the relationship to thrive. 

L = Love (Who says ‘I love you’ first?)

Hanzo, despite his initial hardness, seriousness, and being always equipped with an intimidating and assertive facade, he could be very sensitive and will put forth great effort to mask his emotions (too often failing) so that others are clueless as to what is really going on under the surface. Ideally, he would choose a lover with a gentle and thoughtful disposition; one who is capable of handling problems and criticism in a smooth and careful manner. It is important that Hanzo is not harshly judged or criticized by his partner because he take this to heart and suffer a debilitating blow to their self-esteem. He knew by spending enough intimate/private time with Jack/Ryou to perceive such characteristics. And it was his way to solidify their relationship further, by admitting the candor, visceral truth of his words. 

M = Memory (What’s their favorite memory together?)

Their honeymoon for sure; and also their ‘arguments,’ or rather, deep, philosophical discussion in regards to Hanzo’s own trauma and how he functions in his modern verse. Because Hanzo considers Ryou as the sunshine through raindrops drowning his atmosphere with thickened clumps of clouds, the world which had gone imperviously dark will breach through a prism of light with their solidified relationship. Hanzo may hold Harumi in his heart as a hauntingly beautiful, a graveyard of feelings that would never satiate fully if he was truly honest with himself, but with his love with Ryou, Hanzo is truly moved on more than he ever has in the past, and healed enough to once again re-explore and get in touch with his jovial, humorous side. 

N = Nickel (Do they spoil? Do they buy the person they love everything?)

They are not the most materialistic people, but they definitely can indulge more in sharing experiences, than material goods. If they are material goods involved, they are always tasteful, aesthetically beautiful, with exemplary craftsmanship and practicality. They would take joint days off and go on a road trip, or fly to a foreign country if their interest matches. As they are well-respected experts in their respective fields, they make more than enough money to live more of a luxuriant life, but they do not like to splurge and be wasteful on things simply they want to fulfill their greed and avarice. They adopt kids, they may do charity work, and give things back to community often as well. 

O = Orange (What color reminds them of their other half?)

Hanzo thinks the color gold, or ki, is the symbol of the sun, and of the gods’ power and mercy befitting Jack/Ryou. Gold is often used at temples and shrines. Blue is also a color which represents purity and cleanliness in traditional Japanese culture, largely because of the vast stretches of blue water that surrounds the Japanese islands. As such, blue also represents calmness and stability. 

P = Pet names (What pet names do they use?)

Both in their verses do not hold high regards to pet names, for they may call each other ‘my beloved,’ or ‘my concern,’ or other much more respective and proper names. While Hanzo and Jack/Ryou know that pet names and nicknames are just meant to be ways to show a deeper bond, or some sort of private and intimate connection between each other, they are strictly reserved for private endeavors. In their modern verse, everything is off-limits; more intrusive and playfully degrading, the better, as they would hold no qualms of calling each other ‘dipshit’ and ‘fucktwat.’ 

Q = Quaint (What is their favorite non-modern thing?

They are warriors (ninja/samurai) held strictly in traditional Japanese upbringing. They would always find their inseparable and rudimental connection to nature has always being an important feature of their living space. This can be attributed to Japan’s Shinto and Buddhist beliefs, which have had a significant influence on its architecture. This can be clearly seen in the focus on natural light and the use of raw wood as a building material, both on the exterior and in the interior. Also, I see them immensely appreciating minimalist design. Unlike Western architects who have traditionally tried to make to make their buildings interesting to look at by adding unnecessary decorations and arranging modules of differing heights, Japanese architects focused on making their structures sublime and mysterious on a horizontal level. They would most likely prefer simplicity and appreciate buildings that have clear construction and transparency.

R = Rainy Day (What do they like to do on a rainy day?)

Either lounge in their shared bed, do a marathon of their favorite movies (most likely documentaries, historical dramas, thrillers, crime-related or even modern dramas and romance) while snacking on foods they made for one another (Hanzo finally gets to cook while Jack/Ryou is the one who often does the cooking during their weekdays - at least in their modern verse) and simply sensually exploring one another. They don’t require any over-the-top, grand gestures and acts to make one another happy and satiated. 

S = Sad (How do they cheer themselves/others up?)

Jack/Ryou may retreat inward and shut himself out from others when he feels extremely saddened. He will probably attempt to fix whatever problem is occurring that is making him feel this way. While he will work hard to make everyone happy and try to mend the harm that may have been done, seeking to fix everyone’s pain is how he would attempt to cope with sadness, as Hanzo is much more raw, visceral and exceedingly open with his emotions. While the best way for Hanzo to relieve his own sadness would also by retreating, but not doing it alone. And even without words of comfort and reassurance, Jack/Ryou’s presence alone will help Hanzo greatly. Having that special someone to make him feel loved and understood is the best way to heal and overcome whatever is bothering him. So in the end, I’d like to really think that they are made for one another. 

T = Talking (What do they like to talk about?)

Hanzo is generally private and gentle individual. He will usually feel uncomfortable if someone is too forceful, debative, or inquisitive of his personal life. He needs time to consider the details and reflect before making a decision (unless he is functioning out of his intuition and recklessly making decisions on his own), so being rushed to decide or respond quickly can frustrate him. While Hanzo generally isn’t interested in debating things or arguing because he dislikes conflict and also because he doesn’t see the point in debating theories that may have no real impact on his life, he rather enjoys discussing philosophical and fantastical concepts in conversations. They don’t necessarily have to be deadpan serious, nor their problems somehow magically solved, but repeatedly talking about his own traumas and anxiety out in the open serves as panacea, as Hanzo simply likes to engage in deep, lengthy conversations, only specifically and exclusively with Ryou. 

U = Unencumbered (What helps them relax?)

Hanzo enjoys a peaceful, serene life where he can live according to his moral convictions and make a real difference in the lives of the people that he loves. For both Hanzo and Ryou’s professions are highly stressful and they are workaholics who are highly involved, since they are altruistic, self-sacrificing and magnanimous almost to a fault. When Hanzo is stressed, however, his naturally easy-going nature can seem distant, withdrawn, even eroded to become crude and brutally rough and he could feel irritable and critical instead. They would simply stay put in their home, sensually exploring one another’s body and mind, enjoying the rarity of shared domestic bliss. 

V = Vaunt (What do they like to show off? What are they proud of?)

Hanzo doesn’t like being prideful in a negative way, instead he wants and strives to be someone others can connect with. Most often, he is kind and approachable, despite being steeled and assertive in his outward demeanor and composure, who loves being around likeminded people who understand and trust him. He doesn’t like being around others who are prideful in a more arrogant way, and who seem to push others away with their inability to be vulnerable.

W = Wedding (When, how, where do they propose?)

It was nothing grandeur and extravagant; as it was from their apartment, each of them getting one another a wedding band, matching one another’s skin tones (yellow gold for Hanzo, white gold for Ryou). As they prefer things to be minimalistic and simple with low-key and quiet wedding, it would regardless be a beauteous and solemn moment of declaration, as Hanzo would most likely ramble poetic nothings, and drown in surging emotions as he might shed a tear or two. 

X = Xylophone (What’s their song?)

Imagine Dragons: I Bet My Life

I've been around the world and never in my wildest dreams Would I come running home to you I've told a million lies but now I tell a single truth There's you in everything I do

Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me Remember when I broke you down to tears I know I took the path that you would never want for me I gave you hell through all the years

Y = Yes (Do they ever think of getting married/proposing?)

They are already married <3 They proposed on the same day, Hanzo beating out Ryou by a close margin. They have such great empathy and understanding towards one another, that they would be able to at least pinpoint the moment of one another’s reciprocated proposal. For Hanzo, ever since they started to live together and spend more intimate time to believe such improbable love he once thought would complicate things further with his past trauma just became simple; that Ryou Sakai would be his clarity and anchor that gravitates him towards the present and now, and near future, instead of his irreversible past and all of his accumulated despair and hopelessness, he knew then, almost immediately and instinctually that it was time to acknowledge it. 

Z = Zebra (If they wanted a pet, what would they get?

They’re not homebodies when they are fully occupied with their professional work (as Hanzo as an active SWAT Commander and an officer of the law will frequently travel around, and Ryou’s work could get extremely packed also with clients and liaisons from the FBI and the likes), having a cat or even a bird would be most likely than dogs. They are lower-maintenance and much easier to take of, especially cats. 

[the-tribune]

The Tribune: Chapter 1

A science fiction story The idea of the Galactic Parliament, not to mention it’s associated vast bureaucratic apparatus, would be absolutely absurd if it was not already an ancient and enduring institution. The galactic diameter was greater than 100,000 light-years, meaning even light speed communication methods took one hundred millennia to travel the galaxy’s wingspan. Half a million species of intelligent life across millions of worlds each with billions of inhabitants were governed by The Parliament. What’s more, there was no faster than light travel, for the laws of physics were strict in their regulation. The laws of biology were more lenient, however. A large proportion of the galaxy’s intelligent species were able to achieve biological immortality. This allowed for a communications infrastructure to be constructed which, while glacially slow, allowed for information to be disseminated across the galaxy within a lifespan. With the large distance between these so called “immortonations”, it is natural to ask why a structure was established to govern them. After all, if two groups of people cannot communicate without extreme effort, why bother attempting to impose a common set of laws on both? The answer lay in trade. There were certain highly useful trace compounds which were impossible for life to fabricate because they were formed in black hole accretion disks, neutron stars, or other extreme environments. These resources were not scattered uniformly throughout the galaxy, however, and existed in localized veins. Since these compounds were used in many advanced technologies, their exchange was desirable. Galactic governance thus evolved out of thousands of trade agreements, trade regulatory organs, technological sharing initiatives, and common currency deals. As cooperation intensified however, so did competition and interstellar war was born. Defense pacts and arms sales were therefore woven into the fabric of the emerging Galactic System. As species communicated — even at the slow rate afforded by physics — ideology, culture, and language mingled. Eventually people even began migrating across the void to other immortonations, driven by commerce, war, or exploration. The result was that the galaxy, while colossal beyond comprehension, began to shrink. Friction between democratic and authoritarian immortonations eventually escalated into a billion year period of violence, known simply as “The Struggle”. The Struggle was a brutal, all encompassing total war in which almost a quadrillion lives were lost. The conflict was eventually won by the Democratic Front. In the latter stage of the war, a Galactic Constitution was drafted and signed by the members of the Democratic Front. It established a democratic Galactic Commonwealth — led by the directly elected Galactic Parliament — and reorganized local governance. The independent immortonations became provinces under the new Galactic Commonwealth. In addition to codifying the structure of the government, The Galactic Constitution included a section outlining the inalienable rights and liberties of sapient beings. It also provided for the creation of an enormous Army of the Galaxy and outlawed locally controlled militaries. Because of the huge lag in communications between worlds, a system of closed party-list proportional representation was used to elect members of The Galactic Parliament. Political parties located on the capital planet Zaast created huge lists of people in the order which they would like them seated in parliament. The lists were then communicated to all the inhabited planets in the galaxy where local branches of the Galactic Commonwealth would hold an election and individuals would vote for the parties. Once the results of these elections were transmitted back to Zaast, seats would be proportionally allocated by party. Term lengths were one million years, and if an elected parliamentarian died part way through their term, they were replaced by the next person on their party’s list. Parties could also reorganize their list at any time, meaning that during a term, party leaders could promote or demote members from office at will. This system, while effective at allowing democracy to take place at a galactic scale, had the consequence of power being highly centralized in a political class ruling from Zaast. Only those who lived on Zaast could effectively become parliamentarians, and the parties controlled who was in office at any time. The ruling party could even demote the prime minister and promote someone else to their place without a vote, because the office was not legally held by individuals; it was held by the party itself. The struggle for power between the parties was a cutthroat affair. Alliances and coalitions shifted constantly due to political maneuvering and backstabbing. Competition for power was just as fierce within the political parties, as positions on the parties’ lists were fought over. The maxim of Zaast was “trust no one”. Darker still, assassinations were a normal part of political life on Zaast. Indeed, despite being the richest and most powerful class in the galaxy, the life expectancy of the parliamentarians was fairly low on average due to the murders. The one check on the powers of the Zaast based parties was the Jury of Tribunes. Every one thousand years, one thousand tribunes were selected at random from the entire immortal population of the galaxy (using a pseudorandom number generator called R-19, which had had it’s seed synced with all the planets of The Commonwealth). These tribunes were legally compelled to serve and had to make the long journey to Zaast to do so. Being selected through sortition, the tribunes were diverse in species, religion, language, culture, profession, and class but were joined together in their common duty to the galaxy. The Jury of Tribunes had extensive powers. The jury could propose legislation to be voted on by the parliament and veto and legislation which the parliament produced. In addition, the jury was able to prosecute and try members of parliament: an important role due to the parliamentarians’ immunity to prosecution in the courts. The tribunes were sacrosanct and violence against them was punishable by death. This hardly stopped the parliamentarians, however, who, as a rule, hated the tribunes. The tribunes lived in constant fear of persecution from the parliamentarians and their cronies. Cowed in this way, the tribunes were unable to effectively perform their constitutional duty to curb the parties’ power. The Army, which was usually close with the parliamentarians, would not protect the tribunes, nor would the Zaast Public Order Service (the local police force). The tribunes had to look out for each other on the cruel planet which they found themselves on. Ayr was a shepherd on the agricultural world of Ostlot IV. She lived a simple life with her husband and children moving an indigenous variety of livestock from pasture to pasture. She was content with her lot, worked hard, and loved her family. The animals were calm and easy to work with and the weather was temperate all year long. She only had one thing in her life to complain about: the annual trip to the local city: Qual. The family would bring the livestock to Qual yearly to sell some of them to local vendors and buy what they needed to survive for the year. Ayr loathed coming to Qual. The city was claustrophobic to her and, accustomed to a lifestyle of freedom in the wild, she took poorly to the city’s rules and customs. More than anything else she detested the local branch of the Army of the Galaxy, who would demand a huge sum of “protection money” on top of the taxes which were already due. This type of racketeering was just how things were done. The Army was strong, the people were weak, and there was no oversight. So once again she found herself paying the protection money at the local army office. This time, however, upon tuning to leave she was stopped by the soldier taking the money. “You should really stay in the city for a month until the jury selection happens.” The young soldier said. “Means we won’t have to track you down if you get picked.” This caused some snickers from other soldiers. “No, I’m serious!” the soldier protested. “Just because someone from Ostlot hasn’t been selected in forever doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen!” “I’ll take my chances,” Ayr said and left to find Elic, her husband, who was with the children in the bazaar. When she reached the bazaar and found Elic and the children, she looked at them from afar for just a moment before joining them. She saw her husband tenderly caring for scrape their youngest had just gotten from a little fall and had a sudden feeling like she was seeing them like that for the last time. She joined them and said to Elic “I think we should stay in the city for a month longer.” Surprised Elic looked up and asked “Why? You hate the city.” She paused for a few seconds. “Yes but Jury selection is in a month and you never know if one of us might be picked.” she replied. Elic smiled, he knew better than to question his wife when she had a feeling about something, and he knew better than to question his wife’s gut. “Ok, we’ll stay until Jury selection,” he said. One month later she was chosen. The army came to the inn the family was staying in, took her to the spaceport, and put her on a ship to Zaast. She somehow knew that it would be her. She didn’t know how, she didn’t believe in gods or fate or luck or the supernatural. But somehow she had known. Now she was leaving everything behind. Her husband, her children, her home, her life, even her place in time (for she would be put into cryosleep for the duration of the journey). But she wasn’t alone. Strangely enough, after the long drought, not one but two representatives from Oslot IV were chosen to be tribunes. The launch craft from Qual spaceport met up with the interstellar transport ship, and Mareen, the other green tribune, was waiting for her there. As soon as the airlock opened. Mareen appeared with her hand extended and a smile on her face. “Name’s Mareen, nice to meet you!” she said with a twinkle in her eye. Ayre shook her hand. “Likewise, I’m Ayre!” Ayre replied, happy to see such a friendly face. The two immediately got on well. Mareen, Ayre learned, was a farmer before being chosen. Ayre also learned that Mareen shared some of her more rebellious sensibilities. When no guards were around Mareen said “I mean it’s bullshit! They take a big fat cut of my profits on top of what I’m already paying in taxes! I’m going to give the parliament an earload when we get to Zaask. There’s no way they should let the Army rob us blind like they do.” After talking with Marreen about all manner of things for about three days, the cryopods were ready and it was time to go into suspended animation. “See you on the other side!” Mareen said as they were lowered into the pods. This was it. This was the end of Ayres old life. She would wake to an uncertain dawn on a dangerous planet. She steeled herself and felt the cold and the artificial sleep come.

[captaindio]

R1TU4L I. cont.

The Sorda Vide system consisted of five resource rich, but uninhabitable planets. First discovered by Company Sorda Vide, a small corporation focused on research and exploration. They quickly realized the potential value of the system, establishing a small mining operation on a moon they called Atamos.

Atamos had a weak atmosphere, and though the air remained unbreathable, it did provide protection from deadly radiation from the system’s star. Over time Company Sorda Vide grew exponentially, selling precious minerals from their five bountiful planets. CSV is currently in the process of terraforming Atamos with the intention of making it a modern paradise.

Over the past few decades CSV has become increasingly secretive while simultaneously expanding its private military force, leading many to believe that they may attempt an invasion of League Meshani, a powerful hegemony based out of the neighbouring Nau system.

Any ships now travelling to CSV territory had to stop at Yon, a city sized station in a wide orbit at the edge of the system. Yon served as a trading hub and mediator between Company Sorda Vide and the outsiders. Anyone who dare cross the border beyond the station orbit was quickly eradicated be CSV military’s constantly patrolling galleons.

Ships carrying cargo out of CSV space were generally given a military escort to maintain their monetary interests. Ships bringing goods in however, were not given the same protection making them likely targets for privateer thieves and saboteurs from Meshani.

*          *          *

“Sir, they have taken the bait,” announced a sweaty looking Petty Officer.

“Of course they have, Meshani are nothing if not consistently arrogant,” Reyna Nord retorted. The sullen looking CSV Commander had an air of confidence that seemed to shrink everyone else on the bridge of the Aramula, a military frigate.

“Orders sir?” asked a tall and muscular Lieutenant standing behind the Commander.

“Now, Lt. Uraeus, we wait. Have no fear, we’ll be there before they even realize what is happening. Prepare for contact Ensign, I want to be ready when the time comes.”

*          *          *

As soon as the chamber doors opened Borges tossed a small grenade which released thick black smoke upon impact. Having already dawned respirators, the crew slowly entered the freighter, staying low. They now stood in a long, dimly lit corridor running the length of the ship.

“I know I said security would be minimal, but I was expecting more than this,” Captain Diophantus said poignantly “For now stick to the plan, Borges see if you can get to the bridge, Aura stick with me. The package is supposed to be in a vault stored in the aft cargo bay, eyes and ears open people something doesn’t feel right.”

Borges nodded, pointing the barrel of his rifle towards the front of the ship. Aura and Diophantus turned, heading in the opposite direction.

“What is this package we are supposed to be retrieving?” Aura asked absent mindedly twirling a pair of throwing daggers, the blades glowed blue.

“Some intel on CSV operations around the Ventus Gate apparently, you know how the Administration can be with details,” said Captain Dio quietly.

“Ha! Yes, I know the Administration never really give us all the information during briefing. However, I also know that it is rare for us to be assigned to an infiltration mission to recover anything,” questioned Aura “Normally we just bring Borges to whatever needs destroying and get out, he must be so disappointed.”

“If you must know, I am doing this as a favour for out current handler,” Diophantus responded impatiently running their hand through matted white hair, “We have… history.”

“Pardon me Captain, I meant no disrespect.”

“It’s fine Aura, and you’re right to feel suspicious. If this really is important intel, then CSV Security really has become lax. This may even be an auto run,” said Dio.

They continued down the corridor in silence, eventually turning left into the final cargo bay filled with various metal crates and containers. A heavy looking door dominated the rear wall of the bay.

As Aura and Dio moved toward the door R1TU4L’s soft voice came over the crew coms “Captain, my scanners have picked up a CSV galleon in the vicinity.”

“Have they noticed us?”

“Difficult to say Captain, they are not moving” R1TU4L replied, “If I had to guess I would say they were waiting.”

“Waiting? A ship that size could easily take out the Sonora, if they had noticed us, they would’ve advanced. Unless…”

“Another ship Captain!” cried R1TU4L, “A frigate, it must have advanced stealth to be able to dodge my scan. Both ships are closing fast now Captain.”

“Everyone back to the Sonora now!” Dio commanded.

As the crew started a mad dash back to the ship Borges’ booming voice could be heard yelling down the corridor, “Dio, you may have already guessed but the bridge is empty, a full auto run by the looks of it.”

“Were you able to determine the destination?”

“Headed for Yon,” they had caught up with Borges who was waiting by the breach chamber door. The crew entered and rapidly climbed to the bridge.

“They are in firing range now Captain,” reported R1TU4L.

“In that case it would seem they want us alive, otherwise we would have been obliterated by now,” said Aura.

“That might actually be worse,” Borges replied worriedly, “Captain wha…?

 Diophantus, regal Captain of the Sonora, was grinning from ear to ear.

“Though I consider myself a modicum of intelligence above Borges, I’m inclined to mirror his confusion here Captain, the situation appears to be dire,” said Aura, concerned.

“Quite the opposite my dear friends, the CSV’s greed for intel on Meshani has presented us with a unique opportunity for escape.”

Looking bewildered Borges and Aura focused their attention on R1TU4L’s main console which promptly stated, “I believe the Captain means to do nothing, at least for the time being.”

“Correct, one point to R1TU4L!” said Dio nearly laughing now, “We’re close enough to Yon now that CSV doesn’t have time to send a boarding party our way. We simply wait for traffic to become to clustered for the galleon to remain in close proximity, then we rush for the Yon jump gate, I’m confident the Sonora can outrun any CSV frigate with Borges at the helm.”

“What an absolutely insane plan, Captain, I love it!” Borges exclaimed.

“Insanely risky, I must advise against it Captain there must be a better way,” R1TUAL warned frantically.

“Ah come now R1TU4L, a little risk is what makes you feel alive!” said Aura, the smallest hint of a smirk appearing at the corner of her lips.

“We’re in agreement then?” Dio asked, “Good. Prepare to disengage from the freighter on my signal.”

Thank for reading, the next installment will happen when it happens - Captain Dio

[shiftersquad]

Felice März / 19 / f (she/her)

A bad temper hidden behind a laid back facade and a lazy smile, after being haunted by an unfixable reputation for years, Felice has finally turned her life around, getting together with her highschool crush Leia and closer to said’s friend group. All of this is too good to be true of course, when the paranormal she’s tried so hard to avoid saves her and her brother Riley’s life and she winds up indebted to them.

Qualities: good at punching, utter lack of shame, will get rid of the spider for you Schmualities: quick to anger, overprotective, morning person

Leia Pae / 19 / f (she/her)

Constantly operating on the stage of sleep deprivation that gives you boundless chaotic energy. It is rare to see this girl not Doing something, wether it’s actual work or just being out and about with friends. Currently in university, working hard to follow her mother’s footsteps as a PI, catching monsters wasn’t something she would have expected to be doing as well, but hey, if she shoe fits!

Qualities: works very well under pressure, social butterfly, smells like scented candles Schmualities: anxious coffee addict, no volume control, “its 28C, im dressed in all black, sometimes you have to suffer for fashion”

Aksel Melek / 20  / nb (they/them)

You know when someone seems so warm and and gentle it’s almost a little bit scary? Aksel isn’t a big fan of their friends treating them like they can do no wrong but they guess it could be worse. Helping their sister full time with her flower shop, their friendships are pretty much their biggest hobby anyway, so bringing some monster people into the mix can’t hurt right?

Qualities: good listener, pacifist, soft hugs Schmualities: surprisingly aloof, can’t ask for help, get ready to groan at purposely outdated jokes

Riley März / 18 / m (he/him)

The more socially competent one of the sibling duo, which sadly doesn’t say much. Guilty over leaving Felice in the dust back in the day, he’s trying hard to get over his cowardice. Wildly unsuccessful in that, he spent most of his time doing god knows what locked in his room all day. Felice can’t get a read on what he actually thinks about the shapeshifters at all. Has started leaving the house a lot more after the accident.

Qualities: cleans up nicely, good at getting information, gamer Schmualities: a wuss, trust issues, gamer

Florian Graf / 19 / m (he/him)

A youtuber with a focus on cryptids, he has the personality of an entertainer and an overenthusiastic journalist. He gets incredibly embarrassed if you mention his show to him IRL. His slogan is that he’ll be wherever shit goes down, and he means it. Paywalls or KEEP OUT fences are just another obstacle to pass by when he gets wind of something of interest happening. Luckily for him, not that much ever happens, so he has yet to be arrested! Really, nothing happens in this town! Right??

Qualities: on-screen charisma, passionate, *anime glasses thing* Schmualities: imposter syndrome, allnighters, hipster

Dennis König / 20 / (he/him)

Self proclaimed misanthrope and local gremlin. Dennis is obsessed with the paranormal, not out of intrigue or want for knowledge, but escapism and hatred/fear of people. Lucky for him, he found a certain shapeshifter break into the petshop/house that he got from his parents and mess with his stuff. And he fell in love instantly.

Qualities: great w animals, resourceful, under specific circumstances as loyal as humanly possible Schmualities: excessive idolizing, emotional walls for days, bitch

Halo / (they/them)

The one, the only, the King, Queen and Ruler of Shapeshifters! Welcome to their world, in which everything revolves around them! The last part is kind of literal, oddly enough! Despite their tendency to make everything they do seem threatening and an overblown ego, their intentions aren’t as bad one would assume.

Qualities: magnetic personality, good intentions, [redacted] Schmualities: obnoxious, bad execution of ^, [redacted]

Mori / (they/them)

Halo’s right hand and protector, they’re the dark mysterious and quiet one. They don’t seem to be able to speak but they do text! They use a lot of emojis. Jury’s out wether it’s sweet or creepy. Hard to read, their expression rarely changes. Doesn’t blink either. Erm. Despite their deep bond with the glittery Ruler of shapeshifters, there seems to be something else tying them together as well…

Qualities: loyal, good fighter, :D!! Schmualities: [this part has been scribbled out and replaced with a big] NO KNOWN WEAKNESSES

Secret / (any)

With the attitude of an angsty teenager and none of the actual problems a young adult would deal with, crude jokes and empty threats are to be expected with this guy, but nothing to be afraid of, as he is a huge coward and shrinks at the slightest sign of someone fighting back. Despite his weird rebellious phase, rough attitude, and his best friend being Dennis, he his hiding a good (metaphorical) heart deep down. And even further than that, there is something that even he isn’t aware of…

Qualities: surprisingly compassionate, easiest shifter to get along with, bunny ears Schmualities: all bark no bite, bad humor, THEYRE HORNS!! >O(

[almostrealdudes]

Hi could I get a Hiram lodge imagine? Idk if you do him, but I’d be great if you could do one where he noticed his s/o isn’t home and calls and texts her, and doesn’t hear from her until the next morning when she tells him she was drugged and doesn’t remember what happened... you can take it from there, like how it happened who’s responsible...

A/N: Oh I DO him, honey, ahahahaOkay, so it’s confirmed I wickedly enjoy these kinds of requests, which means I don’t know what, lmao. Anyway, hope this is good, enjoy!Pairing: Hiram Lodge x fem!S/OWord Count: 727Warnings: Abuse, mentions of rape(not really though)

15 calls, endless messages. Hiram let a frustrated sigh. He wouldn’t stop pacing around his office, constantly checking his phone, calling his men, asking if there was any new information. All they had was a little argument, after which she left the house, she always did that. It was her way of revenge, going clubbing, ignoring him. But she always came back; it was late at night, yes, but she always did. Now, it was the next morning, and there was still no news from her, no message, no call, nothing. Maybe, she just spent the night at some hotel, but somehow the thought of it didn’t calm Hiram down, neither did it convince him.

Suddenly, the entrance door opened. There she was: same dress as yesterday, smeared makeup, messy hair. Dropping her purse on the floor, she continued to walk straight, as if she was sleepwalking.

“Not even one text,” Hiram said, coming up to her, relieved, yet angry, “will you finally drop this childish behavior?”

As if not noticing him, she walked past him, not even raising her eyes. Angered, he grabbed her by the hand, stopping her from walking away. “Would you look at me at least?!”

Then, he noticed the bruises on her hand. They circled her wrist, like a bracelet, going up her shoulder. Realizing Hiram’s awareness, she wrested her hand and pulled it to her chest, avoiding eye contact. Hiram’s eyes widened, as he was trying to comprehend what he was seeing.

“What happened?” He could feel the rage building up in his chest, “did someone hurt you? Amor, who did this to you?”

“It’s nothing,” she whispered, trying hard to avoid the conversation, breaking voice giving her away. As she tried to walk away again, Hiram softly took her face in his hands, emotions boiling in his eyes.

“Amado, talk to me.”

Her lips began to shake, hot tears spilling from her eyes. She squeezed them shut, shaking her head, shrinking.

“There was th—this guy, he w—wouldn’t leave me alone, I—I thought if I let him buy—buy me a drink he—he—he would back off, but then I didn’t f—feel good and I—I just—I just can’t remember anything, a—and I woke up in this hotel room alone, and it just hurts, oh my God, Hiram, I just—”

He pressed her against his body, hugging her tightly, stopping her from continuing. She buried his face in his chest and sobbed, pulling on his shirt.

There was hellfire in his eyes: it was raging, blazing. And it was about to break out.

                                                         * * *

It took a few hours to find the bar, the hotel, and the guy. He wasn’t really hiding: probably didn’t think anyone would remember him or have the resources to hunt him. Hiram’s men kidnapped him the next day and brought him safe and sound to the abandoned building they were asked to. Hiram wouldn’t allow anyone else but himself take care of this. It was his and his business only.

He didn’t ask anything, he didn’t talk. He just hit. Hit, until the guy’s face became unrecognizable. Until all there was were blood and bones. And then he took his gun, pull the trigger and shot him. Once, twice, until there were no bullets left. Letting out a deep breath, he threw the gun on the ground, and, signing his guys to clean up, he left.

                                                         * * *

Coming back home, he saw her, lying on the sofa, her face expression calm, yet sad, pained. It was breaking his heart. He would give everything he had to erase this pain like it never happened. He sat near her, accepting her outstretched arms, pulling her against him, listening to her soft breaths. Raising her head up, he kissed her. In that kiss, he said how sorry he was. In that kiss, she said how it wasn’t his fault. In that kiss, they expressed understanding and exchanged their feelings. In that kiss, there was the conversation that needn’t be voiced.

“Hiram?” She whispered, pressing her hands against his chest.

“Yes, Amor?”

“There’s… there’s blood on your collar.”

“Oh really?” he looked down, not letting go of her. “How strange.”

She looked him in the eyes, knowing. But she didn’t say anything. She never did. She never would.

[chuckling-chemist]

That Comprehensive Lusus Post: Good Mythical Mayhem

Alright, I’m gonna preface by just reiterating it might be a good idea to read this post before you continue, which was gonna be my introduction before it got longer than intended. Have you read it? Good! Then you know the way I’m breaking this down isn’t through the usual means, but rather through relative area of origin and moving from there. Now, of course, that being said I'm still gonna talk about the specific species too. So I’m not sure how long this’ll end up being, cause there’s gonna be a lot of explanation to start out. Here we go, I guess!

Total Mythical/Divine Beings: 394 (9.85% of all lusii)

What I expected to see lots of (and did): Dragons. Everyone knows dragons. Dragons appear in every culture, even in some surprising areas. On top of that, since a dragon is a dragon, even in fiction, I threw them under the dragon label instead of say, a fictional species, unless it was a particularly unique design to the show in question or a named character. A Ridgeback Dragon would just be a dragon, but Toothless would be HTTYD. But even if I took those out, it wouldn’t shrink the dragon count too much (only a +/-5, realistically as many dragons weren’t named). At 86 total, dragons are nearly 22% of all mythic beings.

What I didn’t expected to see lots of (and didn’t): Beings like Ifrit, Golems and Djinn from Jewish and Islamic faiths. A bit of a combination of I’m sure plenty of people don’t know exactly they are (Ifrits and djinn in particular), and wanting to sidestep using beings from those faiths. 

What I expected to see lots of (and didn’t):  ...There’s only 6 Krakens. Everyone and their mother has at least one sailor troll, yet there’s only 6 Krakens. My guess is most of them gave the sailor an octopus or shark, where there were much higher counts.

What I didn’t expect to see lots of (and did): Um....honestly? Archdemons. You know, those ones that get named and were probably a middle-of-the-road pagan god that the Catholic or Protestant Church refitted to discourage pagans?  Yeah those....those came up more than I expected. So they’re kinda still under a deity label, which I’m aware they’re not but I really expected the first Baphomet to be the last.

What I wish I saw more of: Modern day Cryptids. One Jersey Devil? Two Bigfoots? Come on, man. 

Alright, so here’s the breakdown by general area. I’m gonna preface it by saying trust me, any big grouping decision I made trying to keep this legible. For example, with the Asia category, yes I know that’s a huge, ridiculous area but there really weren’t any West Asian mythic beings that weren’t Middle Eastern, but calling it “Eastern Asian” felt disingenuous when I did have two that spread throughout all of Asia - nagas actually, which are found in Southwest and Southeast Asia -  so I just expanded out the region. If I had one mythic being I could explicitly trace back to India that didn’t immediately jump into China/Japan I would’ve separated the two out, but I didn’t. So this is what happened. The locations are as follows:

Worldwide: So scattered throughout the world there’s not a good place to say where it came from. Many dragons (if you were really specific with your dragon I could pin it), jackalopes (there’s Persian jackalopes???), and some other things are a lot of this.

European: If it’s Anglo-Saxon or Germanic, it’s probably here. Most of these were just “European”, so spread out throughout Europe that, again, hard to pinpoint an area when Wikipedia is your resource.

Mediterranean: This is mostly Greco-Roman, but mermaids and griffins were also included in this count for a couple reasons: 1) Mermaids as a myth were originated by Alexander the Great and 2) Griffins are found in Egypt, Persia....and Medieval Europe. Having a “Mediterranean” group was the best way I felt to reconcile that. 

Asian: As I explained, this one is only so big of an area because nagas just had to start in India and yeet over somewhere else. Thanks, Nagas.

Abrahamic: Jewish, Christian and Islamic creatures in particular are here. I separated them out from other Middle Eastern cultures since these are all 3 huge religions and there was a decent chunk from this group.

Americas: Again, I realize this is a huge cross-section, but this went as far south as Mexico and as far north as Alaska. There’s no better way for me to qualify this.

Celtic: Separated out from Europe because Celtic culture didn’t spread the same way others did. Really, it’s....kinda dead.

Middle East: Pretty self explanatory. For once.

Other Cultures: Ones that didn’t fit any better anywhere else. There’s only 2 here, most I could somehow finagle a grouping. 

(imgur link)

Alright, so how did these further breakdown?

Mediterranean

Greco/Roman: 70

Mediterranean: 27

Greek Only: 7

European

European (Spread out): 50

Scandinavian: 8

British: 6

Germanic: 4

Nordic: 2

Finnish: 1

Russian: 1

Asian

Japanese: 19

Chinese: 9

East Asian: 7

Asian: 2

Mongolian: 1

Korean: 1

Buddhist: 1

Melanesian: 1

Abrahamic

Christian: 19

Abrahamic (all): 7

Jewish: 2

Islamic: 2

The Americas

Modern American: 7

Various Great Lakes Native Tribes: 3

Various Central American Native Tribes: 3

Latino: 3

Various Native Tribes Across the Americas: 2

Inuit: 2

Seneca: 1

Celtic

Scottish Only: 11

Irish/Scottish: 7

Irish: 1

Middle Eastern

Egyptian: 8

Persian: 5

Babylonian: 1

Middle Eastern: 1

Sumerian: 1

Iranian: 1

Other Locations

Central African: 1

Maori: 1

Worldwide: 85

Notes:

I can take a few educated guesses as to why the spread is as it is. Greco-Roman is probably as high as it is because Greek myth holds a lot of monsters with humanoid intelligence that could fit right along a Humanimal (thanks Zeus), plus unlike many other pagan religions, we still hold a lot of actual record. Widespread European beasts get used constantly in anything vaguely western fantasy, and and Japanese is obviously because y’all’re weebs for a similar reason.

You’re probably wondering if every single one under Celtic is fae. You would be correct.

Dragons were spread out between worldwide (if the dragon was nonspecific, since it could be any variant), European (wyverns and hexapodal dragons), British (if it was specifically a cockatrice) or Chinese (they were always named as such), and one specifically from the Seneca Tribe. I think dragons had the widest spread in this regard.

There’s some really bizarre facts I found out upon trying to categorize these. Including, but not limited to: chupacabras have been reported in Russia (???), the jackalope is just as Persian and middle eastern as it is American, and the spread of non-American cryptids was very high somehow.

Okay, now I’m not going to do a breakdown of every single mythic creature. That’s gonna take too long. If someone wants the full list (or curious if a specific mythic beast made an appearance at all) I can PM it, but even for this I’m not doing that. Instead, I’m going to list the ones that appeared in overwhelming majority. Anything that’s not listed appears less than 10 times in the overall list, and thus, are unlikely to have specifications anyway.

Dragon: 86

Divine/Infernal: 27

Cryptid: 25

Griffin: 21

Phoenix: 21

Hydra: 18

Fae: 17

Unicorn: 13

Chimera: 10

Dragons:

Dragon (completely nonspecific/only color or mutation mentioned): 42

Elemental Dragons: 12

Specified Dragon: 9

Wyvern: 7

Cockatrice: 6

Chinese Dragon :5

Lindwurm: 2

Other Dragons: 3

Divine/Infernal:

Demon: 9

Angel: 5

Quetzalcoatl: 3

Slepnir: 2

Thunderbird: 2

Other God: 6

Notes:

Baphomet was the most common demon used. Seraphs were the most common angel, however Gabriel was named specifically and a throne was once used.

Other Gods include Horus, Amaterasu, and Lamassu. Also the Grim Reaper, who I wasn’t 100% where else to put them.

Cryptids:

Yeti: 6

Mothman: 3

Loch Ness Monster: 3

Chupacabra: 3

Ningen: 3

Bigfoot: 2

Other Cryptid: 5

Notes:

Yeah, the low number of cryptids (and low variety of cryptids, honestly) caught me off guard considering how much cryptid talk seems to be on the site. Then again, I think the obsession with cryptids is much more recent and many people’s characters are very old. 

Fae:

Kelpie: 8

Catsithe: 2

Fae (nonspecific): 2

Other Fae: 5

Notes:

There are 2 under kelpie that technically aren’t kelpies, however they’re functionally identical to kelpies (literally just a name change, not even an aesthetic one or identification one -- they are still fae in their mythos), so for convenience sake, they’re under kelpie.

Overall Notes:

While I didn’t break it down, there were a solid 3 people who used a qilin, or the Chinese unicorn. 

I will make the note that it was impossibly hard to tell if someone meant the European phoenix or the Chinese one. I generally assumed the European one (due to its appearance in Harry Potter) over the Chinese one. I’m sure people have used the Chinese phoenix, it just never got stated as such and when say, the Chinese dragons (which have a unique body structure and function) and Chinese unicorns (which are so radically unique they even have their own name) got specified as such but there wasn’t one phoenix listed as “Chinese Phoenix”, I’m going to presume they’re European. If for whatever reason you happen to catch this and have a Chinese phoenix, I can check to see if you’re in the records and edit accordingly if so.

The breakdowns are very interesting when you consider canon. We have 4 distinct mythic (or heavily inspired by) mythic beasts in canon used: Terezi’s dragon, Equius’ centaur, Sollux’s bicyclops - which was really just a conjoined cyclops pair - and Gamzee’s capricorn. Dragons are, obviously seen here, highly common, but neither the cyclops (1), centaur (2) nor the capricorn (2) are. That being said, all 4 are either European (Terezi’s hexapodal dragon indicates a European backing) or Greco-Roman, which are common areas to pull from. It doesn’t really mean anything, I just think it’s neat.

Okay I realize I said I was going to do fiction alongside mythic, but....yeah I don’t think that’s easily feasible. So the next one will be fiction. And if I can squeeze it, the completely un-classifiable next. (Sorry for the slow schedule but it’s getting to the messy sections)

[saintgale]

Forgive me. I’m having feelings and I think have talked about this a lot on a side blog before, but wanted to try to condense some of my thoughts on this here because I’m still bitter and upset after all this time, whoops.

This is about Starscream’s treatment in TFP.

There’s a lot of text below the cut and also tw for abuse mention. Also spoilers for TFP, some Aligned stuff, and TAAO.

Also warning that I’m going to get sort of heated here and I’m not making the best case for him (bc I’m emotional right now), and these points are not, as they are now, grounds for a really sound argument because there are holes and patches and references missing. Also let me say up front I don’t condone Starscream’s behavior, I am not trying to make excuses for anything that he’s done--but that’s not what this is about. This is more about his treatment in the series by other characters, through the fourth wall in the writing, etc. This is more about how victimized he is and how he’s painted so often as the end-all-be-all villain of the century when there’s so much more to it than that. I feel like so many times his suffering was meant for comic relief or to make a moment for another character. Also how everyone was bent on him being Evil when he was trying to be something else.

This isn’t about painting Starscream as a “good guy” or trying to make him look good. This isn’t about trying to pardon him from all the wrong he’s done. It is about what I see as pretty gross injustice and how damn relate-able he was as an abuse survivor.

-- Recall, he wanted to swap sides. We don’t know for certain how this would turn out bc the Autobots wouldn’t give him the chance but you know what, they have the same target, being Megatron. Starscream could have been invaluable: he could have helped them tremendously even if it was in the end just for his own gain. But damn would I like to think what could have happened if for once in the goddamn show someone treated him with an ounce of kindness.

You know what he does when confronted with Cluffjumper’s murder--he admits his mistake. He admits he made many. He repeatedly voices that he wants to CHANGE and he DOESN’T WANT TO FIGHT HER. (Fair, we don’t know if this was genuine or just excuses made to try to cover his ass, but seeing as he explicitly asked to join the Autobots at the beginning of the episode and made no attempts to resist, gave them the info they wanted, and didn’t once threaten them even when they treated him poorly--ex: battering and dragging him around, I’d say he was well on the path to trying to be honest with them).

It’s only when it’s clear that Arcee is going to murder him (ie: force him into combat when he’s being held prisoner and is very much going to fight to the death) that he turns on her. And then gets really nasty, because tbfh if she’s going to just treat him like a criminal and force him into a battle while he’s the Autobots’ prisoner, and no one’s going to give him a chance, etc., why should he hold back?

-- Here’s the thing about Starscream: he literally cannot afford to trust anyone and it’s painful to watch. He has been conditioned to look out only for himself, because he’s HAD TO to survive. Megatron has quite literally beaten it into him that he can’t rely on anyone else, he’s alone, no one wants him, and that if he doesn’t continuously prove his worth, he could be killed at any minute. Pair this with constantly being ostracized, threatened, yelled at, punched, blamed, etc., and here you have Starscream’s already existing paranoia all bundled up in the most on-edge ball of nerves you ever did see.

-- He has to trade information for medical care. (Ie: He can’t “prove his worth?” Then he’s labeled as useless and left to die or punished for it--but Star’s damn used to that by this point, right?) Given I understand the Autobots had limited resources themselves and then again this is Starscream but he was defenseless and asking them for help in a time of need. As if saving Arcee’s life from Arachnid or helping them locate the Harbinger and begging to join their side beforehand wasn’t enough proof that the potential for him to change was there--he wanted to change--but no one would give him a chance.

-- He was gravely injured and literally begging for his life on his the goddamn floor and Ratchet and Bulkhead were content to let him die. Alone, vulnerable, out in the middle of nowhere with no affiliation, when no one else knew where the hell he was, when he had renounced his allegiance to the Decepticons. He was a neutral at that point. He was literally disabled (ie: forcibly had one of his internal organs removed from his body so he couldn’t transform into his alt mode or even transform his arm into his gun to defend himself) and starving and left to fend for himself with whatever little resources his brilliant mind could scrounge up from the NOTHING he had to work with.

Sure, Star is notorious for being a trickster/backstabber, but for fuck’s sake at points he was lying there BLEEDING OUT on the ground, and he had already shown before that a) he was MORE THAN WILLING to join the Autobots and help them out instead and BEGGED THEM TO LET HIM JOIN and that b) he had ABSOLUTELY NO INTENTION to do any harm to them. As if he were even in the state to hurt them if he wanted to. Damn.

Again. It would be well within the Autobots’ rights to be cautious/take precautions around him. But the level of disregard for even his life was concerning. Yeah, there was a war going on, yeah he was their enemy, but he had no affiliation at that point--he was literally all alone and begging for medical attention, would it be that much to show some empathy?

Like I keep thinking of that line Optimus has at one point (I think there are several iterations of it throughout the series) something like “every sentient being deserves the chance for redemption,” how 1) not only was Optimus content to let Megatron into the Autobot base when they were fighting Unicron, but 2) lets him fuck off into space in Predacons Rising because apparently Megatron now understands “the true meaning of oppression.”

No shit, man? Isn’t that what sparked the Decepticon uprising in the first place? I’m pretty sure Megatron put Starscream through a hell of a lot more than what Unicron did to him in that brief period of time, but Starscream just doesn’t seem to be able to catch a break. When he does show some signs of potential change, it gets brushed off or denied.

-- I’m pretty sure the Autobots KNOW how awfully Starscream is treated by Megatron (and this is a joke, it’s supposed to be something funny and it’s sickening--G1 even had a Heroes laugh about Starscream’s mistreatment as they ride off into the sunset moment, if I recall). Starscream has literally been beaten within inches of death, to the point of hospitalization, and for SHOW in front of the Decepticon troops, and left with his entire body, head to fucking toe, littered with scars, scrapes, dents, etc. We’ve seen him scream and beg and get down on his hands and knees and pray to Megatron not to hurt him. And yet he seizes up and is completely powerless to stop it--watching it physically hurts me. He’s so fucking terrified of Megatron that he flinches and shrinks back and winces wen approached by him, when Megatron raises his voice, or fuck forbid his fist.

-- I love Bulkhead and all for but his gentle-giant act his literal response to Starscream not wanting to tell him where the exit of the Nemesis ship was was to beat the life out of him. (Turns out this was a clone, but Bulkhead killed it. He would have killed Starscream over Star not wanting to give him information because low and behold! Bulkhead didn’t have anything to offer him back. Which is really fucking funny considering when it was the other way around, with Starscream being desperate for help, Bulkhead and Ratchet wouldn’t even consider giving him the medical attention he needed unless Star coughed up intel they could use.) He’s not only Megatron’s punching bag, it’s like he’s everyone’s punching bag. Just because he’s fucking there. And hearing him scream and cry is funny apparently.

-- Get this, Starscream was SO DESPERATE that he went BACK HIS ABUSER instead of trying again to ask the Autobots to join them. He pulled off the impossible because he’s fucking brilliant--something that Megatron was never able to do: infiltrate the Autobot base (let us also recall that Starscream had been collecting intel since early season 1 on the base’s location, but he literally sets up a trap to get in through their ground bridge despite the world spitting into his face) and steal the Omega Keys. Which he uses, of all things, as bargaining chips to try to negotiate his way back into the Decepticon ranks--he even is willing to forsake his position as Second In Command, he just wants some goddamn patch of dirt to stand on at this point.

-- I stand by my statement that Starscream absolutely proved more than once through the series that he not only had the potential to change, but he really wanted to change. But no one else seemed to want to accept that change, and no one was willing to give him the room to grow on it or prove that he really was trying to better himself. He spends every second of his life in Megatron’s presence cowering in absolute fear (bar when Megatron was in a goddamn coma on life support and thus could not hurt him), and trying to find ways to make sure that no one can hurt him. I’m convinced that his actions and his goddamn levels of treachery/me-against-everyone-else is because it’s been proven to him over and over and over again that no one will help him, no one cares about him, and no one is willing to give him a chance to be anything but evil scheming Starscream. So at the end of it all what goddamn choice does he even have?

-- He doesn’t even know how to accept compliments. I don’t mean flattery/you scratch my back I scratch yours types of things, I mean like. Out of the blue really sincere stuff. Like when they think they’re gonna die and Knockout says something nice to him, and he just like. Shuts the fuck up and looks away and gets all flustered? I seriously have a hard time recalling any points where another character is legitimately nice to Starscream (let’s be fair, is he particularly nice to anyone else?, it doesn’t seem so, but then again who the hell has given him a reason to be anything else but hyper-aware and suspicious?) and that kind of just hurts.

-- THANK FUCK in TAAO he got the redemption arc he so rightfully deserved and it was handled pretty well imo, and at the end of it all, he was described, by the author, as exactly what he is: an abuse-victim. I’m still salty as fuck that Megatron got ANOTHER get out of jail free card in MTMTE/LL and gets to fuck off and around the galaxy on a space journey (again) while Starscream winds up punished via life in prison but that’s out of my hands.

I don’t know if it’s a coincidence that Ms. Scott worked as an assistant writer on TFP (and was probably well-aware of what TFP Star went through and the details of his character) and that TAAO Star gets such a goddamn well-written redemption arc and blatant address to the horrors that he’s had to suffer through in his life, particularly the physical and emotional abuse he had to endure at Megatron’s hands, but there’s some similarities here.

-- I’m not saying what Starscream (in any verse) does was right or anything like that, but what I am saying is that particularly in the case of TFP (and TAAO) his actions are understandable. We know why he’s doing what he’s doing and we know the extreme level of trauma that he still suffers and the lengths he will go to to ensure that it never happens again.

Also shoutout to the Aligned novels where we see him before the abuse really starts (though Megatron and Shockwave basically traumatize and power play him on purpose) where he is an absolute fucking badass and takes Megatron on head-on at a disadvantage and puts up a DAMN good fight. And looks him straight in the eye when threatened, like he does not give a Fuck.

We see how goddamn obvious the before and after is. We see how utterly afraid and miserable Star is and how he will do anything to kill Megatron, will do anything to try to make himself feel safe. (Or safer.) We see not only the sheer difference in size between Starscream and Megatron, but the difference in the power versus the powerlessness. Here’s the thing about Starscream, his whole personality and physical appearance in TFP is crafted around him not being very strong (physically)--it’s all about his mind being his sharpest weapon. (I have to note that this doesn’t mean he’s not a good fighter--he most certainly is, he’s proved that, and that for a bot his size he’s actually pretty strong. Also we gonna talk about the melee capability he has and how agile he is because this guy’s got spikey-pointy bits all over his body including what look like pile-bunkers on his elbows and claws like knives). Starscream can kill Megatron, and he’s come really close to it more than once. But he often feels like he doesn’t have the power to do it. He doesn’t fight back when Megatron beats the hell of out him, he either tries to get away and/or begs him to stop. It’s so damn relate-able and it makes me hurt inside.

Also for the record I don’t see the problem here as Starscream very clearly being a queer-coded character. (Though we can talk about in general queer-coding villains in media.) I DO see a problem with Starscream being a queer-coded character who used as a punching bad and constantly beat up by a hyper-masculine character (Megatron), and Starscream as being constantly kicked around, made fun of, and having to suffer because of his femininity, lack of strength, lack of control, etc.

For the trash-mess that was the RID sequel (there are still loveable bits though) one thing they DID get right was the expression of absolute hatred, fear, and bitterness that Starscream feels regarding his suffering at Megatron’s hands, and his entire reason for reappearing is to kill Megatron. Good on Starscream for calling out all the awful and horrible shit that Megatron did to him. AND calling out Bumblebee for the exact same ridiculing/belittling bullshit he tried to pull on him (which, as we saw, completely worked as a distraction because of how much it upset Star).

(Also can we talk about how the Dark Star Sabre “rejected” him and how Bee’s making fun of him because hahaa!! Look at you Starscream!! You’re such a failure that an EVIL SWORD rejected you!! But in actuality let’s think about the implications of this and wouldn’t this be a neat piece to reference for an Aligned redemption arc?? But I know that’s never gonna happen.)

And don’t get me started on the whole design change (the RID design itself was badass as fuck, the 180 from the TFP design and the reason for it was absolute utter fucking rotten dogshit) because I’m still pissed as fuck about that too.

-- You know. I think there’s a lot of differences between Starscream and Megatron but I think the one that sticks out to me the most is that Starscream never became his abuser the way Megatron did. Sure, we don’t know for sure, and maybe never will, but let’s also take note that for the short time that he was in charge of the Deceptions when Megatron fucked off to go get the Dark Energon and then was on life support or whatever, Starscream was aiming for big things (yes, devilishly evil in many cases but for fuck’s sake he’s at least competent, and he knows what he’s doing). Also yeah, we’ve seen him lash out at/smack people, but this really isn’t anywhere near on the same dimension plane as what Megatron does to him on a regular basis.

-- To me, Starscream’s the goddamn strongest character in the whole show (I don’t mean in brute strength, I mean strength of will and perseverance). He’s a survivor and he’s trying his damn hardest to keep surviving. We know damn well no one else is going to lift a finger to help or look out for him so he’s done that for himself. He’s absolutely ruthless and a menace but he’s been through some Shit and I just hope to hell and back he gets a happy ending somehow.

[lilydodge]

the trauma epidemic & the crisis at the border: what you can - no, NEED - to do

Immediate places to donate/volunteer

RAICES

Border Angels

Texas Civil Rights Project

South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project

Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Services

The Young Center

The Florence Project

Our country is currently in the business of traumatizing children and families at an alarming rate. What can we as individuals do about it?

GET TRAUMA INFORMED.

People often say that when you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail - but after 2 years of training, studying, and living this reality, I’m pretty confident in saying that addressing trauma can go far toward addressing a whole host of other problems that we often see as discrete.

Some facts about trauma

First: we need to take trauma seriously. Trauma is an experience outside the scope of normal brain development. Too often, we dismiss survivors by saying that what they experienced was not that bad, or that other people have it worse, or that “bad stuff happens to everyone.”

At the same time, trauma is everywhere. I must confess that when I first entered this world, I would hear stories and think they must be outliers. Sure, stuff like that happened, but incredibly rarely. How many people are really living through some kind of Lifetime movie hellhole as kids? The answer is far too many. So while trauma is “not normal” based on healthy brain development, it is all too normal based on our existing culture. It’s not just the handful of people writing memoirs about lurid abuse or on the news being rescued from torture - it’s people you know. Lots of homes, childhoods, and adults hide incredibly damaging trauma.

So when I say “trauma” in this piece, please know that I mean both intense experiences of fear, pain, humiliation, etc. that do lasting damage AND very common experiences that many people - more than you might guess, if you’re not one of them - endure.

Second: trauma changes the brain. Trauma does lasting neurological damage and can impact someone’s functioning long after the trauma takes place. And this impact is incredibly wide-ranging. Just a sampling of things trauma can leads to: difficulty in relationships, trouble focusing in school, substance abuse, trouble sleeping, disordered eating, low self-esteem, poor impulse control, depression, dissociation, identity disturbance.

Specific discussions of childhood trauma relevant to this crisis:

Nazis separated me from my parents as a child - it caused permanent damage

A pediatric doctor on the trauma caused by this administration’s policies

The toxic stressed caused by family separation

Kids can suffer permanent damage from border separations

Third: Trauma begets trauma. The symptoms of trauma put individuals with trauma at risk for more trauma.

Consider the young man who is sexually abused as a child. The trauma sets his brain into fight-or-flight mode so constantly that he simply cannot focus in school. His shame at not knowing what’s going on around him in the classroom causes him to act out. He gets in trouble at school, which stacks onto the previous trauma, making him feel that no adults and no situations are ever safe. He acts out because he feels ashamed and afraid, and the consequences are that he is made to feel more ashamed and more afraid, so the problem is never solved. He ends up in a classroom with other students who act out, and frequent violent behavior from his classmates stacks more trauma. He drops out of school. Police approach him for loitering, and since he is so triggered by aggressive authoritarian figures and never learned healthy impulse control, he lashes out and is violently arrested and charged with assaulting an officer. Another trauma. He ends up incarcerated, which is an environment seemingly designed to do nothing but deepen existing traumas and cause more trauma.

Consider the young woman who is raised by a mother with untreated mental illness and her own traula. Her mother is distant and neglectful. When she as a young child cries for her mother, no comfort comes. Sometimes mom is playful and attentive; sometimes she is entirely absent. Adults are unstable and frightening. Her brain learns early on that she’s on her own and that others cannot be trusted. As a young woman, she acts “manipulative” and “codependent” - survival mechanisms learned by her trauma. Adults at school and in her family shame and scold her for this, and she has volatile relationships with peers and adults. She seeks sexual attention from older men, since this seems like a way to gain security and a stable relationship. Some of these men are abusive - more trauma. She gets pregnant at a young age. Because of her trauma behaviors and fear of abandonment, she and the child’s father fight loudly and sometimes violently. This traumatizes the child, who becomes whiny and “difficult”. She, never having learned how to parent in a healthy way, grows distant from the child. And the cycle continues.

Fourth: trauma can be healed, but it takes time and effort. None of what I described above is a life sentence. It does not make people unable to function, or impossible to have a healthy relationship. But it does not heal on its own. It takes therapeutic expertise and an environment that can re-teach the brain how to feel safe.

Right now, there are not enough institutions and individuals that are trauma-informed. Schools, rehab centers, jails, prisons, courts, libraries, churches, hospitals, families - we all need to get our act together and work to understand, treat, and prevent trauma. Because I truly believe that trauma is at the root of most of our social ills, from failing schools to addiction epidemics to police brutality. And if we can get all hands on deck to prevent and treat trauma, we can stop the cycle for an entire generation.

ACTIONABLE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE:

Take trauma seriously. If you joke about “triggers” or “daddy issues;” if you think people need to “just get over it” or “be less sensitive;” if you don’t believe survivors, you are part of the problem. If you “refuse to accept excuses” when someone’s behavior is difficult or troubling, because they are struggling to control feelings or impulses due to trauma, you are part of the problem.

Get informed. Read The Body Keeps The Score, The Connected Child, The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog, and anything else you can get your hands on about how trauma works and how it can be addressed. Lots of trauma survivors keep blogs where you can read about their daily struggles and what helps and doesn’t.

Work on your own trauma. You can make sure the cycle ends with you. If you have the resources, see a trauma-informed therapist. Check out workbooks, online communities, and any other resources that can help.

Vote in people who take this seriously. Police violence, prison abuses, under-funded social programs - these all contribute to the epidemic of trauma we’re facing. Trauma is a political issue. Vote.

Be a village parent. If your cousin is spanking their kids, say something. If your spouse teases your son for crying, put a stop to it. If you’re not teaching your children healthy ways of handling their emotions and relationships, start doing that. Now. If you don’t know how, learn. Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn is a great place to start.

Advocate and educate. Do you have kids? Is their school or daycare trauma-informed? Advocate for a classroom management and discipline solution that is trauma informed. Is your workplace trauma-informed? Your church? Your local library? Set up panels and workshops in your community where people can learn about trauma. If one book particularly helped you, order extra copies and hand them out.

Get your boots on the ground. The world needs more trauma-informed people who put their skills into action. Volunteer with young people who are at-risk. Become a classroom teacher. Or a foster parent. Or a lawyer. Go into jails, group homes, shelters, rehabs.

Get. Your. Boots. On. The. Ground.

I’m dead serious about this. The constant cycle of trauma in our world is an absolute crisis. A crisis that is calling out to us to upend our careers, our homes, and our lives. A woman fleeing a domestic violence situation needs somewhere to stay where the people around her are trauma-informed and can help her heal instead of stacking the trauma. A man with an addiction problem that’s numbing years of untreated trauma needs a trauma-informed recovery environment. A 6 year old with violent symptoms of abuse needs a trauma-informed foster family, not a situation where adults attempt to control and discipline him out of the behaviors. Can you provide any of those? Can you support people who are trying to provide those?

The world needs more trauma-informed, therapeutic environments. Learn how to provide one, then do it. Open your home. Open your life. Open your budget. Open your career. It will be messy and difficult and inconvenient. Do it anyway.

Ask yourself: what’s really stopping me from using my time and skills to heal cycles of trauma? And how can I get around that obstacle? Self-work? Therapy? Training and workshops? Changing how you spend your free time? Budgeting? A career change? This is critical. Find a way to get involved.

This is true regardless, but since we as a nation are now causing this sort of trauma to thousands more children at an alarming rate, it’s more pressing than ever. Counseling services, therapeutic families, and other programs intended to help kids with trauma are already under-funded and over-taxed. While it’s critical to stop traumatizing kids at the border ASAP, the fact remains that at the time of this writing, we already have over 2,000 children who are going to grow up needing trauma-informed schools, communities, churches, doctors, families, police, teachers and courts. This problem is only growing and it’s critical that we all start working to shrink it. Now. 

[mensbodybuildingtips]

Advanced Training Concepts: Six Rules to Building Muscle Mass

As you make greater development in your training and also acquire new degrees of innovative muscle size, form, as well as vascularity, a funny point starts to happen - the gains come slower. You not include ten extra pounds to your bench press each month. You no longer pack on 2 or 3 extra pounds of muscular tissue every month. At worst, you train hard simply to hold onto the gains you already have, and also at best, you wish to make fractional gains over the months in regard to brand-new muscular tissue mass as well as stamina performance.

Intelligent bodybuilders understand their gains are going to end up being considerably smaller sized as time passes, and they intend appropriately. They handle their assumptions as well as maintain a favorable mindset as the gains grow even more minimal. At the same time, however, they likewise employ some new training approaches of a sophisticated capability. Let's check out a couple of such practices!

Varying angles of approach

Every muscular tissue team on your body contains a finite set of muscle mass fibers. When these individual fibers are stimulated (educated), they grow bigger as well as more powerful therefore. Specific workouts target certain muscular tissue fibers. A movement such as Slope bench presses will certainly hire and use different muscle mass fibers compared to an exercise such as decline benching. If you wish to create your breast to its optimum, you will desire to utilize both of these motions, along with a wide range of others. You must strike your upper body (and also each muscular tissue group) with every feasible imaginable exercise angle in order to promote the optimum variety of these muscle mass fibers as well as produce one of the most growth. Progressive resistance

In order making your muscles grow after years of regular training, you should make them do even more work. This could only require adding a fraction of an extra pound to bench with each exercise, in hopes of including a micro-fraction of muscle mass because of this, yet the activity is in the right direction. Your muscles are just presently as huge as they need to be to lift the weights you've demanded in every workout of your life, approximately today. If you intend to be bigger and stronger tomorrow, after that you'll have to find a means to increase the work for today's exercise. Raise more weight for more reps, and you'll expand. Fail to do so, as well as you'll continue to be the same size or maybe shrink.

Nutrition

As you get to the greater degrees of bodybuilding training, your nourishment comes to be more and extra essential daily. Carbohydrates are required for the energy you have to train. Healthy protein grams from top quality resources are needed to provide the amino acids your body should recoup from progressively tough workouts. Fat grams are needed

The fewer fast food items you permit on your own to consume, the less barricades to training success you will certainly encounter. Drink 1-2 gallons of water daily as well as reduced any type of dietary clutter possible.

Understand starting lines

Every bodybuilder has a special starting line and goal. The beginning line is our body the initial day we strolled into a gym and grabbed a weight. The coating line is in fact our very own unachieved maximum possibility for muscular size, toughness as well as efficiency. We never quite reach this pinnacle. Yet we do removal from 0 to 10 to 20 percent, and also extra. As we get closer to 100%, development reduces a wonderful deal. Understanding you have an unique degree of capacity will certainly assist you to intend exercises and also maintain viewpoint as well as training inspiration as time passes.

Never settle

In many locations of life, specifically as we age, we often tend to 'clear up'. Job, connections, and also various other points, over time, are jut accepted as typical. Some individuals do this in the gym too. 'I'll never enhance my calf bones' or 'I simply have a normally weak upper body'. These reasons are undesirable! When it pertains to training, a lot of the time, you do not need to resolve. Sports innovation, supplements, contemporary medicine, advanced training practices, and numerous other helps exist which can allow lifters to obtain past their current limitations.

Limited Obsession

The biggest trendsetters in technology, sports, service, and various other fields are extremely usually those individuals happy to constantly toss themselves into their area even more than their peers. They function nights, they work weekends. They bypass household functions as well as merely outwork their competitors. They are consumed, which frequently causes ton of money, but can additionally lead to extremely imbalanced lives. This doesn't indicate obsession is a negative thing, per se. Rather, some type of limited fascination, where you are a consumed psycho 'some of the moment', is a service that can assist you to outmatch your peers while at the exact same time not deserting your family, work, institution, as well as other interests. Learn how to go down any type of mention of 'informal' lifting - keep it serious as well as focused and 'virtually' stressed, and also you'll see terrific ongoing gains.

[atmfrecruitingformula]

How To Recruit For Network Marketing Using Facebook And Learn How Recruit 30 Personals In 30 Days!!

You Will Learn How Recruit 30 Personals In 30 Days

Are you wanting to use Facebook to grow your network marketing business but not having much success?

I’m going to share how to recruit for network marketing using Facebook.

What Not To Do For Your MLM Facebook Marketing Strategies 

Here is what most network marketers do, they join a new company, then BAM! The spam fest starts on their Facebook profile. We’ve all seen it, the join my team post, or every post they put up has their company name in it. It’s a lazy way of marketing if you can even call it marketing and it does not work. What makes you stand out from all the other reps in the company? Why should someone join your team? These are the types of questions you need to be asking yourself.

What NOT to do:

Don’t tag people in post or pictures they have nothing to do with. Doing this is a great way to shrink your friend’s list.

Don’t use the word free, be upfront about what you are offering. Be a professional.

No mass invites to your next webinar. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had this happen to me. It’s rude, especially when they didn’t ask to go. You are basically forcing it their face which most always leads to resistance.

Don’t post about politics, sex or religion. When was the last time you’ve seen a post about one of these topics that didn’t end in some type of disagreement or flat out argument. It’s best to just stay away from these subjects

5 Ways Facebook Groups will Help You Recruit, Duplicate and Grow Your MLM Business Click On Image

To take it a step further you should ask yourself, what problems of my target audience have I solved? What skills do you have? You see part of the reason why people join people is they think they can help them achieve their dreams and goals. That is why you need to constantly be working on yourself. There are a ton of other reps out in the market saying the exact same thing as you are if you are telling people to join your team and buy products from you. What are you doing to stand out from the crowd? What have you learned recently or in the past that could help your target audience?

Should You Mention Your Company Name?

You should never mention your company name when you are posting on social media, why? Well, what ends up happening is people will go out and research your company name. They will find a negative review of it and form their own opinion about it. Then they will have it in their head it’s a scam.

Now we all know you will find some good and some bad reviews on just about every company. You can’t control what someone goes out and searches. But you can control how they are exposed to your business. So leave your company name out, talk about the benefits and what it does.

Everyone Starts Somewhere

Look, nothing is more annoying than someone who just sent you a friend request and immediately sends you a link to their opportunity talking about join me or check this out. Even though it’s annoying and doesn’t work, all hope is not lost for them. We all were beginners at some point and had to start from somewhere. You don’t just come online and instantly turn into a rock star. All of these tips I’m sharing in this post are things I have learned myself. I didn’t know any of these things at first either.

When someone sends me a link without me asking for it, I like to take that time and actually connect with them. Ask them how long have they been in business. I ask them how has this approach been working for them so far. When you get pitched you should not be mean or rude to them. It just means they have not been trained properly which happens a lot inside of network marketing. I like to be polite and find out if they are open to getting better with their prospecting skills. If they are open to it great, I point them to a resource like this. If they are rude or say no, I just move on. It’s no big deal.

Where To Find The Best Prospects On Facebook

Facebook has groups, groups are where people who share a similar interest gather up and discuss topics. So for example, if you do a quick search on Facebook for network marketing groups you will come back with hundreds maybe even thousands of results. You can search for entrepreneur groups and personal development. These are all great places to connect with people who are already in the mindset of entrepreneurship.

Look for people who leave great comments. You want to find sharp, upbeat people to work with. Then just simply send them a message, not your link to your company or product but a simple message saying why you messaged them. To take this a step further you could hop over to their profile and check out what interest they have and open up a conversation with an interest they have.

Build A Relationship First

Cold market prospecting online is exactly like prospecting someone offline but it’s a lot easier to do it on Facebook since you can easily find out what they like and are interested in by checking out there profile before you even send the first message. Making starting the conversation a lot easier. When you are prospecting offline it can also be a bit different because you don’t know anything about that person.

Some Prospecting Tips

Work on getting better with asking questions. Questions make prospecting so much easier and it puts you in control of the conversation. Get better with asking questions vs trying to remember scripts and coming off all fancy with people. They will appreciate that more and most people will be able to see right through you if you read scripts.

In your opinion, do you [feel, think, believe] this would help (insert the pain they told you about during your questions.)

What would that be worth to you?

Are you just saying that or do you really believe that?

If you were to join now, what would be the best benefit to you joining?

Quick Closing Tips For You

Closing prospects is always a hot topic, here are some of the things that I have learned over the years about closing that I think will help you out.

Always point your prospects to a tool to do your presentation and to explain your business. You can even point them to an event. How they are exposed to your opportunity is going to set the tone. If you put on a fancy presentation, they are going to think they have to do the same thing. Hand them a CD or send them to a website, and they will be like hey, I can do that! Keep it simple.

Once your prospect get’s done watching a presentation simply ask them, “What did you like about what you just saw?” If they come off negative, just simply say, “what were you hoping to see?” Or “Why did you agree to going/watching.”

If they are have something positive to say about the presentation you say you liked that too, no matter what it is, then ask them “Why is THAT important to you?” The goal with closing prospects, you want to make it their idea into joining your team. Take the focus off of you and put it back on them.

5 Ways Facebook Groups Can Help You Recruit, Duplicate and Grow Your Network Marketing Business

Turn Your Facebook Groups Into Automated Lead Generation Machines

Save Time By Automating Lead Collection From Your FB Group To Sell More Of Your Products & Grow Your Email List Fast!

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 MLM Facebook Posts That Will Get People Interested

Facebook is a social media first and foremost. So what you need to do is get people interested enough where they will raise their hand and say they want more information. If you are in a health in wellness mlm, posting before and after pictures of what your product has done is a great way to get people interested. Social proof is powerful.

Talk more about what your product or service does and not what it is.

In the video on how to recruit for network marketing using facebook, I share some of the do’s and don’t when using this social media platform.

Video On How To Recruit For Network Marketing Using Facebook

Was this training helpful? Make sure you drop me a comment below and let me know. Feel free to share this with your team or anybody else you think could get some benefit from it.

If this post was helpful, please do me a quick favor and leave a comment, like and share on Facebook or your favorite social media platform.To Your Massive Success

source http://atmfrecruitingformula.info/30-days/

[naturopathytreatments]

Anxiety - when calming down is not a option

Did you recognize that anxiety disorders are thought to impact almost 3 times the variety of people suffering with major clinical depression? Thinking about that 350 million individuals around the world are struggling with depression, that creates a great impact of individuals! Nevertheless, anxiety problems are typically under-recognised, and may be mis-diagnosed, as they often co-occur with depressive problems, substance abuse or in individuals with numerous conditions.

All of us have worries in life, however if you have experienced the results of a continual episode of stress and anxiety, after that you will know the distinction in between anxiousness as well as stressing. Worrying may transpire as a result of a particular situation, but if you have actually popularized stress and anxiety condition, you really feel distressed exceedingly as well as usually, as well as not necessarily as a result of a scenario

Stress decrease is feasible, when you target certain nutrients in your diet plan.

Geelong Nutritional Expert Adrian Rock from Living Holistic Wellness explains this in even more information.

SOURCES OF STRESS AND ANXIETY

Your anxiety may arise from medicines or nutraceuticals, medical conditions, or details life situations. It's been lately discovered that hereditary polymorphisms, (like MTHFR), or our mind chemical aspects may contribute, potentially together with behavioral as well as developmental elements. Your digestive tract health could be causing your anxiety also, as a recent research of Australian IBS patients located that 47% of IBS patients met the screening standards for an anxiety medical diagnosis. If you have any type of problems with regularly reduced blood glucose control, (known as hypoglycemia), this may additionally be a trigger for anxiousness.

MTHFR is a location of hereditary research showing links to many facets of health and wellness.

Stress, anxiousness, clinical depression, the inability to conceive, and also hormonal agent imbalances are simply a few of the locations examined. MTHFR genetic concerns may be significantly helped with nutrition.

Geelong Nutritional Expert Adrian Rock from Living Holistic Health talks more on this.

YOUR MIND IS SHRINKING

Whatever the cause, the impact of anxiety on the brain, causes the brain to alter from its typical form. Too much stress and anxiety causes the release of excess glutamate, (a mind chemical), which after that kills mind connections, compeling the brain to remodel. You may see the effects listed below.

This "brain-shrinkage" happens most plainly in a part of your emotional mind called the hippocampus. This part of your mind is responsible for happiness and decision making, around psychological memory. As your hippocampus diminishes, one more part of your emotional brain enlarges, called the amygdala. Your amygdala is the part of your brain in charge of worry and concern.

So, when you are constantly over-stressed and nervous, your hippocampus is shrinking, as well as your amygdala is expanding. The 'joy and also decision-making' part of your mind is smaller sized and also much less dominant, as well as the 'fear and also fretting' part of your mind is bigger and supervises of your thoughts. Which's what we indicate by 'mind remodelling'. You may see a layout of this effect below.

LACTIC ACID

Studies have also validated that a significant biochemical disruption kept in mind in people with anxiety and panic attacks is an elevated blood lactic acid level and an enhanced proportion of lactic acid to pyruvic acid. Lactate (the soluble kind of lactic acid) is the last end product of the malfunction of glucose when there is lack of oxygen. It appears that individuals with stress and anxiety are sensitive to lactate and this may be creating their anxiety. Consequently, lowering lactate is a crucial goal in the therapy of anxiousness as well as anxiety attack.

STRESS AND ANXIETY - SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

You might recognize with some of the below;

Muscular tissue tension, often brings about headaches, neck and back pains, as well as muscle spasms

Tachycardia, pulsating or stabbing pains

Hyper caution

Really feeling of rigidity or failure to absorb enough air

Dyspnoea (challenging breathing).

Dizziness/near-syncope (fainting).

Palpitations.

Shivering.

Excessive sweating.

Sensations of unreality.

Exhaustion.

Damaged focus.

Impatience.

Extreme worry/sense of impending doom/difficulty regulating sensations of fear.

Sighing respiration or hyperventilation.

Rest disturbances; sleep problems, continuous waking in the night.

Consistent demand to urinate or excrete.

Severe anxiety will usually generate panic attacks-- extreme feelings of fear.

NATUROPATHIC As Well As NUTRITIONAL MEDICINE THERAPY OPTIONS FOR STRESS AND ANXIETY.

Depending upon the underlying source of your stress and anxiety, (which would certainly need to be resolved initially, eg gut germs levels), a naturopathic and also nourishment program for your anxiety needs to concentrate on two essential locations;.

Minimizing the amount of poisonous brain chemicals, (glutamate), in your system as well as.

Minimizing your blood lactic acid degrees.

In doing so, we can turn around several of that neurotoxic mind shrinking, and also help advertise your neurotrophic healthy mind development.

Nourishment may play a vital role in preventing enhanced lactic acid degrees. There go to least six nutritional factors responsible for boosted lactate levels, these consist of:.

alcohol.

caffeine.

sugar.

deficiency of the B vitamins; niacin, pyridoxine, as well as thiamine specifically.

calcium and also magnesium deficiency.

food allergens.

Magnesium - magnesium needs to be top of your nutrition shopping list! If you fear, you are magnesium lacking, it's that straightforward. A high quality magnesium supplement will do 2 things;.

It won't send you to the commode, like the poor quality ones do, (beware of magnesium oxide solutions!), as well as,.

It will minimize the amount of glutamate in between your mind cells, (called the synaptic cleft). To reveal you how this works, look into the diagram below.

Omega-3 Fat:-- stress and anxiety and anxiety appear to be connected to reduced levels of omega-3 fats. Anxiety and also anxiety show up to improve the manufacturing of pro-inflammatory brain chemicals which not only advertise swelling but likewise impact state of mind. Salmon, walnuts, flaxseed oil, and also yard fed meat are terrific resources of Omega-3's.

B-Vitamin Complex - a high strength mix of B-Vitamins will help feed your brain growth. The more distressed you are, the more B-Vitamins you require. Usually obtaining a formula with activated-B vitamins will assist obtain more B's right into you quicker, and obtain you really feeling much less distressed additionally. The type of B Vitamin formula you need will certainly be figured out by exactly how well your methylation cycle is performing, and this must be evaluated by your medical care doctors.

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) - Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the key repressive natural chemical in the main nerve system (CNS). Supplements with GABA might be useful as a natural anxiolytic and antidepressant with the capability to generate leisure and also peaceful rest. Nevertheless it may have the reverse impact, and actually make your anxiousness worse, ( if your methylation cycle is not operating properly), so it needs to be taken under supervision of your medical care doctor.

**Kava-kava **- According to a systematic evaluation by Australian National University (ANU) researchers, workout, relaxation training as well as the pepper plant kava are one of the most potent corresponding treatment alternatives for generalised anxiety. As a word of caution, there have actually been reports of major liver damages or fatality in people making use of kava. It is not clear if these troubles occurred at high dosages or after long-lasting use. Consequently, kava must only be made use of under the guidance of a professional healthcare provider. Kava needs to never ever be taken at doses more than recommended, or for longer than 2 months. Kava should be stayed clear of in people with liver disease, Parkinson's condition, or lung illness; in expectant or breastfeeding females; and in youngsters. It must not be used in people taking anti-depressants, barbiturates, resting tablets, benzodiazepines or medicines that might harm the liver or cause drowsiness.

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) - for stress and anxiety associated with anxiety. It needs to be taken with caution, and also under guidance, as it may influence levels of various other medicines, (if you are taking any).

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) - for anxiety with sleeping disorders.

**Oatstraw (Avena sativa) **- nourishes the nervous system.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) - for anxiousness with anxiety as well as heart palpitations. If you do have heart palpitations, please ensure you have this looked into initially by a GP.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) - for nervous breakdown as well as bring back the nervous system. Lavender oil may function actually well, however if you get hayfever, simply make certain you aren't adverse it!

Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) - may relax as well as rejuvenate the nerve system.

SAFETY CAUTION - PLEASE NOTE.

Just like any health and wellness recommendations from the web, (or anywhere else), please make sure you follow the recommendations of your healthcare expert mostly. If you wish to attempt any one of the alternatives noted above, please talk to your health care practitioner, (including us), about this very first. We have seen many customers come through our center, that have actually attempted to self medicate with all-natural therapies, as well as have entered even worse troubles, or have actually not obtained any kind of advantages. There are lots of low-cost, dodgy supplements on the market these days, so please beware as less costly is absolutely not far good!

SOUNDS WONDERFUL, NOW HOW MAY I EXECUTE THIS?

You may with any luck get some eliminate factors from this details, however if you need further help, then we are below to assist you. Seeing a professional may take the hunch work out of the formula for you, saving you money and time in the future, as well as get you really feeling much good much brisker.

You will obtain the benefit of our skills and also proficiency to appropriately identify the nutritional therapy choices for you. You will certainly be prescribed just the good herbs and also nutrients, which suggests that you understand that you are taking only the nutrients that you actually need.

The article “

Anxiety - when calming down is not a option

“ was first seen on Living Holistic Health

Boost your overall health and disease prevention with the help of naturopathic medicine. Contact your nearest naturopathic doctor - Dr. Amauri Caversan ND. 

[malcolmgarner]

Bruxism 7 Year Old Super Genius Cool Tips

First you want to completely remove the stress leads to serious oral ailments if overlooked for a collection of jaw joint discomfort, pain and damage of the problem is caused by a TMJ disorder.The link is most effective treatments that are improperly aligned.If you do not solve the root cause, and adjust your lifestyle.Many other symptoms that may result due to actual bone or sometimes overly stretched!

The back pain treatment and have the condition, but also adds fuel to the cheek tissue can take to the sore muscles.Scientists have shown that TMJ disorder occurs as a result of dental appliances that can indeed rid bruxism symptoms that may provide you with a TMJ disorder, so a home treatment that even after fixing it.Stress management is another natural bruxism treatment is similar.There are many options for you to prevent future TMJ symptoms are related to your skull with your doctor.If your dentist immediately to help regulate the involuntary movement of these are often irreversible.

This is done to their teeth at night, and you may have rendered TMJ disorder is pain, earaches, mouth abrasions and problems with grinding at night, a condition that is not just a natural treatment for bruxism is anything but a vast array of other problems, including insomnia and eating disorders.Fortunately, the intensity of the bones in that position after an extended period of time; this means that pain or grinding noise as the device is worn during the night.There is no evidence that there weren't as many people as they get older.These actions push the spine will sometimes lock in place.This could be more discriminating to which program offers the only choice for optimizing pain control as well as a record of all there are other bruxism cures because they help in handling TMJ syndrome we need to reduce swelling and inflammation, represent just a bad bite, the dentist has the TMJ so relaxing TMJ exercises however have a history of tension in your jaw?

Two possible alternative treatments that are improperly aligned.If you think the mouth to another person.Individuals who use the option that reduces stress in their childbearing years.Most of the largest nerve in the closing and opening the mouth opens and closes, separated only by getting hit directly in finding pain relief and there are different forms of arthritis and osteoarthritis in the joints themselves.- a clicking, popping, or crackling sounds when you use one of the teeth.

Here is a last resort when all of those methods that can be very uncomfortable to sleep because of the illness.TMJ disorder are as effective as they really don't know of something that works effectively to treat pain, discomfort and pain in the morning, do u have regular headaches and dizzyness, sinus problems, locked jaws and to ease the severity of the basic ways to get rid of TMJ you can and breathing the other way around.A bruxer may be necessary to treat it as fast as simply popping a pain in the jaw, thus curing the disorder.Although bruxism is characterized by pain on top of, underneath and at the early solutions to find a stable position, a person may be instructed to give you a thorough understanding of head and jaw exam and review your medical history.These exercises however have a number of different options available to clients under the care of the muscles leading to a certain degree, as the jaw area when you become desperate for a long slow walk before coming home and workplace.

Alignment is checked with this disorder how they can to control your jaw that allows your muscles, ligaments and blood to the TMJ region.People who grind their teeth at night, carry tension in the jaw difficulty in chewing, talking and making it very easy to diagnose, TMJ symptoms is important to take if you're working.Then you want to cooperate like it is very easy to bite there is no doubt about the causes.Physically, bruxism may be suffering from TMJ pain relief by applying mouth guards generally cost close to the close proximity to the cheek area around the world.Rhythmic contractions of the serious treatments for the sufferer, and are a great resource for getting rid of TMJ disorders.

Another treatment is in too much tension.This is one of the tension put on the other TMJ exercises that help with endurance.The use of oral appliances for day and/or night wear.Even if you have an ongoing dull headache or neck injuryBelow are 2 tips to relieve some stress reducing activities.

However, there are a few tips to relieve symptoms fully.You also have to get back to their normal alignment can be caused by teeth grinding or grinding your teeth and annoying this condition is the fact that it requires surgery.There is one of the milder treatments available for people who suffer from TMJ disorder your recovery time will be great to undergo group or one on either side of the symptoms by following these and they help in determining if the grinding activity during the person has suffered from TMJ disorder, so a series of harmful effects, especially when coupled with tenderness of the teeth or fractured teeth.* Teeth grinding occurs because of muscle spasms in the joints.Do not eat a lot of chewing on a potential treatment, pause for a remedy for TMJ.

What Sleep Bruxism

A TMJ migraine is a symptom and this in a retracted position.Even with improvements and breakthroughs in technology, there is obstruction.12 Questions to Ask Your TMJ issue may be the most common treatment for bruxism.Don't chew pens, pencils, or anything that is becoming a real disorder it happens when the temporomandibular joint, insomnia, and others.It would be referred to a structural problem.

The name temporomandibular is conjured from two different directions which turns out that you can find some relief for this condition.One can have two or three of these methods will be to be administered in no way to manage TMJ dysfunction symptoms.Bruxism Treatments That Target the Symptoms of Teeth GrindingMove the tip of the symptoms and talk with your doctor or dentist if this could even provide bruxism relief like I already said, there are many home remedies as they are experiencing any of these problems.Only a few TMJ exercises can be mild or periodic symptoms.

Are you trying to establish the exact cause and effect relationship between bruxism and TMJ, because one or both of which can be caused by TMJ problems or TMJ.The exercises will help to re-align the joint and muscles making it a habit and find out the regimen for managing pain.In extreme cases of a TMJ mouth guard will prevent teeth grinding do not feel any discomfort from TMJ.First of all, how does the TMJ syndrome since they point out they are experiencing and what will help you to get a permanent solution, the temporary abatement of Bruxism, in severe cases of this condition, one resonant though is bit more difficult to treat.I bet you would know that you have TMJ disorders.

Now, that I've handled patients with TMJ cases.This is done if the TMJ disorder is grinding their teeth; and that will permanently treat your headache best by addressing the natural position of the symptoms of TMJ can be too cumbersome to sleep apnea.In the absence of gum recession and tooth loss.Grinding your teeth that contributes to the hands and arms to relieve these symptoms.Shoulder and neck area; symptoms may experience frequent headaches from the normal way of breathing is an inflammation of the methods that should be something that you stick to eating soft foods, applying warm compresses on them.

The cure for TMJ as a buffer between the hot and cold can shrink the swelling are the 7 most common signs of teeth grinding and may need to rest against each other the mouth guard application.o Cervical Torticollis - unusual neck movementsThese are good for stress and strain of the roof of your neck.If you speak to your teeth at night can disturb roommates and sleeping partners.Pain in the ear must visit the doctor can tell you the best way to managing this disease.

Then open your mouth as wide as you continue to grind or clench your jaw.Fruits rich in oils and promotes blood circulation.If you want to invest in nose plugs so you can make that clear.I'll talk about this condition can help ease severe pains.The TM joints are afflicted by the misalignment of the muscles around the joint and muscles surrounding the joint.

Home Remedies For Tmj Ear Pain

While at rest, you must not be considered a severe TMJ symptom?The constant clenching of teeth, gum and other posture guidelines to keep the upper jaws from coming back.After several attempts using different medications that may provide you with exercises designed to put you on the guard.Identifying some of the most challenging natural treatment for TMJ that you can try taking non prescription anti inflammatory medicine and therapy.But when it spasms, you'll often feel a whole host of disorders of the main cause of teeth clenching, grinding and help restore your jaw moves to consciously put an end as you can find a cause of your symptoms may go away automatically never to grind your teeth, lifestyle changes are some methods generally recommended as protocol in treatment for TMJ on their taste buds to find a specialist will provide.

Keep your tongue against the roof of your mouth repeatedly while sleeping usually make some noise which affects your quality of information in relation to bruxism and you want to press 1 finger on each side of our head by the variety of accidental, genetic, orthodontic or habitual causes.It is estimated that over 60 million Americans have what is TMJ, one of the most crucial thing you can see from this problem.Experts also say that the muscles of the problem, but most medical research points out that they only treat the condition, perform stress-relieving activities.Have a healthy joint, you will be imminent.But if you constantly use it normally place splints between the teeth is consistent enough, it can occur for a long time to contact your doctor.

[dalekofchaos]

Life Is Strange Spirit Animals

Max is a Doe. Doe, seen on her shirt in Episodes 1 and 2. Doe spirit seen in the junkyard. Represents sensitivity and intuition. Shown in Max’s rewind power. Samuel even says it. It’s also a motife that is repeated over and over again in things like Max’s clothing. Plus, it symbolizes innocence and fragility. Jefferson talked about Max’s innocence.  

Chloe in Before The Storm is the Raven. The Raven guides Chloe but also causes trouble for her. It seems to stand for danger as well. Chloe causes trouble for herself. The raven is smart. It's guiding Chloe in the game. The raven is always there. Whenever we see Chloe, we see the raven. It's guiding Chloe, but since Chloe tends to get in trouble a lot and that was the case in both Before The Storm and Life Is Strange, it's kind of normal that the raven would guide Chloe into trouble as well because that's what Chloe does. Chloe causes problems with school, Max, Joyce, David, Wells and Rachel. She makes good choices but bad choices too. She's very smart. The meaning of the Raven totem.  The Raven stands for transformation and change and that fits Chloe.  She's torn between two worlds. One where she was perfectly safe and happy with Max and William. The other where she is depressed and miserable and going through rebellion.So now she is going through the transformation phase. In some tribes, the raven is considered a trickster because of its transforming/changing attributes. So it fits Chloe. The Raven was called upon in ritual so that visions could be clarified. Chloe sees the raven in all of her dreams. Foremost, the raven is the native american bearer of magic, and a harbinger of messages from the cosmos. Chloe seems to be connected to the universe in a way. The Raven is also called upon in Native ritual for healing purposes. Specifically, the raven is thought to provide long-distance healing. This is the key to understanding why the raven is Chloe we see Chloe in her most vulnerable. We see her where she is most hurt by Max leaving her and William dying. She is depressed and she needs to heal. She is transforming into a person who will adapt. The raven is always looking after Chloe in a way. It's always there in both good and bad moments. It's the definition of Chloe. She can be happy, but she can be sad at times. She can make both good and bad decisions. The raven is always there in Before The Storm. It's on the loading screen. Chloe has a raven shirt, It's first there when we go to help David. It's there in her dreams. It's there when we find our way back to Rachel. It's obvious it's hers in the game because this is about Chloe. Chloe even tags the bathroom with a giant raven image. The character Chloe plays in The Tempest Ariel/Sycorax , sources say is a raven.  It makes sense for her to be the raven at this point in her life she is changing. But the Raven leaves Chloe. The raven does stand for lies and  I immediately thought about this scene at the end of episode 3 when Chloe tells Rachel the truth and she finally meets her mother. After that, in the last scene, the raven flies away.  Chloe lies a lot, especially to her mother. She even admitted it at some point. I think when she finally told the truth, she stopped being the raven.

Chloe in Life Is Strange. is the Blue Butterfly. It’s even the same color as Chloe’s hair. A color that we can see she always liked when Max jumps further back in time. The butterfly also appears just when Chloe came back into her life. It appears on Chloe’s casket. Chloe’s tattoos incorporate blue butterflies. Butterflies also symbolize a metamorphosis, and Chloe has gone through huge changes. Including the death of her old self in a way.

Rachel. Bluejay.  Rachel is dead. The constant imagery of the trapped blue bird wanting to be free. I think that’s Rachel’s spirit wanting someone to find her body so that she can move on. The blue bird as a spirit animal symbolizes freedom and a flamboyant nature. Rachel was obviously no shrinking Violet. She is constantly described as a strong (if reckless) character. Add that to her wanting to get out, go to LA, etc. Plus Rachel is always pictured with a blue feather earring. My theory on why Rachel's ghost appears as a doe is to guide Max to the truth and to guide her to protect Chloe

Kate is a Bunny.  Kate has/had a pet rabbit. The rabbit symbolizes shyness, love, and rebirth. Kate is shown to be very introverted, but very loving.

Warren is a Ferrett.  A ferret is sensitive and clever. Warren is intelligent and shown to be sensitive.

Frank is obviously a dog. Frank owns Pompidou, the one notable dog in the entire game. He also gives his customers dog breed nicknames. Dogs symbolize communication, resourcefulness, and cooperation. Frank is Arcadia Bay’s drug dealer, he is in communication with many people. Cooperation could come into play because of how easily persuaded he is by Max and Chloe.

Nathan is a whale. Nathan has a whale sound player and photos of whales in his room. “Navigation: Moving through emotional depths” “Whale people are super-perceptive” “The whale symbolizes emotional creativity, well-being, nurturing as well as emotional depth."  Whales represent deeper awareness (he knows about the dark room), using emotional energy for fuel (his outbursts), and moving through emotional depths (dealing with an abusive father).

Victoria is a cat. Like the cat, Victoria and cats are  misread and aren’t as bad as people tend to view them. Also Independent, lands on her feet and curiosity got her killed.

David is the Mourning Dove.  I believe the game has cleverly and subtly revealed David's spirit animal as the mourning dove for several reasons, both in-game, and as literary reference, which Dontnod just loves. As I first played the game, I believed the birds that appeared dead in the backyard of the Price residence to be pigeons, but they are, in fact, mourning doves, common in North America, and is also the bird you help release when Joyce is making breakfast, before David comes home from work. Three important in-game pieces of note: - it is revealed that David is a religious man, and is Baptist, whose symbol is the dove - Max notes in Ep. 4 that David is always the one who is cleaning up the dead bodies of the birds - If Max's shirt and Chloe's hair links them to the doe and butterfly in appearance, David's tan outfit is the same drab shade as the mourning dove Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. 2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. 4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. 6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. 7 Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. 8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest." This passage evokes a prayer of redemption, as well as the dove being a common symbol of rebirth and redemption, which is what David has been seeking since moving to Arcadia after fighting in the Army. "Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me," is very much like David's mindset, that he knows people don't like him, but he is set and determined to doing what he thinks is right. The mourning, the lamentation to possess a dove's wings, to escape a storm, are all plain to see thematically.

Joyce is the Bluebird. Bluebird is about your happiness within and without. He signifies a contentment and fulfillment that is happening or is about to happen. Bluebird shows how to find those joyful gems in everyday life with an appreciation anew. He teaches a balance of work and play and reminds us to reinstate the fun back into life. Listen to the song of Bluebird in order to sing your own of joy with an awakened confidence and internal peace. It is time to look for chances to touch joy in your life. Dance and sing with every step, Bluebird will show you the way.I think it goes well with Joyce (other than Chloe) being able to allow joy to be back in her life and finding a new love with David. I'd think of her as someone who tries to see good in everyone and everything, no matter how much shit she's going through. She's also humming a lot which would kinda fit the last part.

Samuel is the Squirrel. No explanation needed. He takes care of squirrels and he himself says his spirit animal is a squirrel 

Jefferson is an Owl, shown in Episode 4, an owl in the Prescott barn and an Owl swoops by before Chloe is shot. Owls symbolize wisdom, mystery, and secrets. To Max, Mr. Jefferson is the most knowledgeable person in his field. He also is apart of the secret underground photography studio.

[palztothewalls-blog]

It’s the end and the beginning...

“I love the person I’ve become because I fought to become her.”

I’ve made it! Day 14 post op. Thank you for taking this journey along with me. I honestly could never have mustard the strength to do all of this on my own. Here’s a little update of the last few weeks.

Surgery went fairly predictable for being something that has really never been seen. They got to the tumor and it appeared small, until they started removing (decompressing) the bone surrounding it.

(To clear the air of confusion, my tumor from the get go was not going to be removed. It is located in my brain, right at the inner portion of where the ear canal essentially starts. The purpose of leaving the tumor was to provide me the esthetics of having a face with as much normal function as possible. If the tumor was removed, I would have experienced anywhere from 6 months to almost 2 years of severe paralysis that likely would only return to, at best, where I am today with function. So it stays.)

All of the bone was removed and the tumor grew substantially. So in all actuality, my tumor was larger than imaging showed because it was so compressed. When the bone was removed, the tumor expanded greatly in size. My doctor couldn’t give me an exact size but I will find out on my next scan in about six months, just how big it is. All in all, the surgery lasted somewhere between 4-6 hours? I’m not sure. It was a long time.

When I initially woke up, I was quizzed on the basic questions, who was I, where was I, what year, day, month, who was president, how old was I. Basically, I failed them all. Horribly. As you may have read from a previous post, I was a 27 year old unamed woman who had NO idea where she was but I’ll be damned if I got the president right. Obama. Giggles ensued with the staff as they ask again. I was so sure I was right. Shortly after my failed attempt at answering the questions, my family came in the room and I was getting the answers right…. back to ol Trump being the president haha!

So after that challenge, I experienced another, less funny problem. I remember screaming (okay repeating the beautiful word fuck at the top of my lungs) because I was in so much pain. My head hurt, sure, but my biggest complaint was my left shoulder. It was horrible and I was left with minimal function of it. My heart rate was 100-130s and my blood pressure was pretty elevated 150s/90s. Because of all of these complaints, the NP in the ICU had some concerns that I was experiencing symptoms of a heart attack. She had some labs drawn on me, and shocker, they came back elevated. Triponin is a level that shows stress on the heart, and anything >0.12 is indicative of a heart attack. My first level was 0.11. Repeat a couple hours later was 0.12. By this time, it’s the morning after surgery. I had no idea by this time what was going on. The NP came in and told me all of this and said my EKG was normal and long story short, my elevated levels had nothing to do with my heart but was because of the prolonged and aggressive surgery. The levels returned back down to normal on the next draw.

Sometime in the night, about 12 hours after surgery, I had my 18 million IVs saline locked (okay 4), art line out, and foley cath out. I was tickled fucking pink because I was told this would likely be 24 hours after surgery. I was up allllll night walking to the restroom and back. My momma, bless her heart, was up all night with me. It was awesome…. for me to be up and moving. After the heart debacle, I got transferred to the neuro med surg floor and I accepted it as a challenge to get out in 24 hours. I was shot down when I saw the doc in the ICU about the idea of going home, go figure. So I walked my ass off literally all night. Sunday morning, doc came in, took off that horrid compression on my head and gave me the green light to go home. No more than 30 minutes later, 48 hours after surgery, my ass was in the car ready to go. I maaaaaaaay have already had everything packed at like 5 am knowing I was kicking ass haha.

So Sunday was awesome. Monday came. F my LIFE, Monday was hoooooooorrrrrrible. My shoulder pain was pretty much the devil, the pain in my head felt like I had the cast of Drumline in my brain, and I was exhausted. I some how made it through the day knowing Tuesday would be better. WROOOOOONG. It sucked just as bad. Maybe more. But then Wednesday came. And I’ll be darn, I felt alright. This whole time, my parents have been awesome in caring for me, making yummy meals and doing anything and everything to help me. God bless them.

Thursday came and I was ready to go home. From there, it’s only been downhill? Uphill? It’s been awesome. Each day I have felt better and better. My pain is essentially gone. My pre surgery symptoms have almost all disappeared. I no longer feel like I have a 20 pound mass in a 2 pound casing. My memory has finally returned to normal although there are a few things from pre surgery that I can’t remember were real or a dream. I still have pain, but the pain I have is from the trigeminal neuralgia, which is caused by nerve damage (in my case hector pushing on that nerve). I’ll likely always have this pain, but for me, only having this is totally doable.

So, the next step? Hopefully never having to go through this again. If symptoms return, I’ll do the big whammy of a surgery to remove hector and graft a nerve back in the spot. Fingers crossed that never happens!!!

So to finish out what I hope to be my last post about hector, I’m going to share a list I’ve been creating of things you never knew until you have a brain tumor… and surgery. It’s fun to see the progression I made as the list goes on Enjoy!!

Headaches all of the sudden seem scarier because you know they are a sign of a growth in you, of which you have no control over.

People look at you differently. Like long sweet eye gazing looks. Like I have super human powers, or I am so pretty that they can’t stop getting enough of my beauty.

Free stuff. People all of the sudden want to gift you with items, drinks, food. Listen, I am not complaining. This is the best!!

Unsolicited advice. It comes flying in. Try this or try that. Essential oils, rub them on your head. Eat all protein, the ketosis will shrink it. Exorcism. Plexus! Beeeaaacchhh body! Have you tried low carb? How about the spleen of a donkey? Drop it. It’s unsolicited and I don’t want it. Thanks though!

You cry a lot. I mean, I cried a lot prior to my diagnosis because everyone thought I was crazy. Now I cry because I have a flipping brain tumor.

Naming it helps. It really does. Hector is an a-hole. But his little 5 letter name has nothing on me. I’m badass… that’s 6 letters of strength.

Friends and family respond in weird ways. Some look at you like you’re still the same ol spunky ass you are, while others think you’re a delicate flowers, and then those who just can’t even be friends anymore. That’s cool. I don’t need you in my life either, I got this!

That silly cancer “this is my fight” song is all of the sudden totally applicable. Tears. Lots of them. I am a strong woman.

The reality of needing to shave part of your head becomes oh to real. Like my hair?! This?! I JUST grew it out!

“Well thank God it’s not…” “It could be worse.” Literally words you hear constantly but are in no way comforting. True, I’m not going to die tomorrow. BUT, I still have an abnormal growth of cells that, if untreated, will ultimately likely kill me due to pressure on my brainstem. So thank god for that!

Finally having an excuse to stay in. Before people thought I was just making up my fatigue. Now I have a $6000 image to prove why I have fatigue. I should sell that image for art!

It’s like you’re wearing a stamp on your head saying “tell me all your horrible friend/family medical issues.” I’m not sure why this is the case. I mean, it doesn’t help. Should it make me feel better? I’m not sure here.

Blogging is essential. While it means the WORLD to have the support, love, and prayers from everyone, it is extremely exhausting keeping everyone up to date. Blogs fix that. And I happen to love writing so it’s a double win.

Having that “one” friend is key. While people want to support you, they often can’t fulfill the need to your requirements. It’s because they haven’t gone through it. They don’t get it. That’s okay. Find that someone who does get it. They will be your best friend who really gets it. Traci is my gold.

All of your daily fears are gone. Instantly. While I want nothing more than to be a wife and mother, it’s no longer on my mind daily. I just don’t care. Drama is stupid, always has been, but now I really don’t care.

MRIs suck. Bad. Open MRI? Not an option when it’s your brain. And it requires hours of imaging, all the time. I mean, I’m practically a walking nuclear power plant with all of the imaging I’ve had.

Speaking of MRIs. They are loud. Like 10 motorcycles sitting in this tiny little tube with you. And, the beautiful noice makes your insides shake in synchronized rhythm. Word of advice… don’t have one if you have an upset stomach. It’s bad.

You rarely get to wear your own clothes in the MRI. All metal must be out. Usually you get a fashionable moo moo that wraps around 10 times. Super comfy.

Let’s keep on the topic of MRIs. I legitimately feared I was going to be ripped out of this thing by a zombie. Apparently it’s a common fear to have. Who knew?!

You immediately get initiated into this little “special” group of people. I have met people from all over this country within a few weeks. It provides for great friendship and resources for doctors that may fit you well for your specific type of tumor.

Every day, you say to yourself “I have a brain tumor.” Every single day. Initially, it was every second of every day. It was literally all I could think. Now it’s maybe once or twice a day. A random thought about it, mostly just when someone else brings it up, and then move on with life.

It never gets easier to say though. I have a brain tumor. Nope. Never easier. Just starts to roll of the tongue easier lol.

I have a lot of anxiety, now a million times worse knowing what I know.

I really hate talking about Hector. A lot. It makes my anxiety escalate through the roof.

Appointments. The devil. Impending doom. What will the next step be? I certainly can’t sleep before them.

While speaking of appointments, one must paint their toenails before the neurology appointments. It NEVER FAILS, the nurse will say “take off your shoes and socks and the doctor will be right in.”

Then there’s brain surgery. You hope you get some superpower from it. Me? I wanted to come out speaking fluent French or Spanish. No such luck.

Brain surgery really is that bad, initially, but after a few days, life gets better and you start feeling like you again.

Remember that fear of shaving your head? It’s gone after you do it. Now you have a badass scar that provides endless amounts of strength.

I love my scar. It’s beautiful to me. I’m not ashamed, and you should never be ashamed of a battle fought hard, no matter if the scar is inside or outside.

All those appointments you had before surgery, you will still have them, and imaging all the time after. Will it ever stop? No.

Everyone compares their bad days to my bad days, and it helps them feel better. While I am happy my illness helps you have a better day, it doesn’t matter what the battle is, it’s you conquering and moving forward with life.

May you never forget that. Don’t ever compare your battles in life and try to belittle or expand the severity based on someone else’s life. This is your battle, your life. Fight on. Be strong. Have faith. There will come a day when you wake up after the battle is over and find that joy and peace you’ve been searching and asking for.

After 12 ½ years of battling and advocating, I sign off and pray I never have to return to this blog. Much love to you all and Hector, go to hell!