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officialspec · 2 months

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can you pleeeeease post your dm sexuality/gender hcs on here.... 🥺 i don't have a twitter but i wanna know. it's like a pandora's box to me now i'm like scratching at the door. let me in

heres the link 2 the thread (mild spoilers btw) ill post a transcript under the cut for ppl who dont have twitter

first off i think laios relationship to sex is super removed for like 50 reasons without even getting into his actual sexuality

he grew up in a place with very repressed ideas about sex and has a lot of fear about asserting his presence in situations

his special interest takes precedent over any social interactions he has and the level of closeness he feels towards people

he has a hard time figuring out his feelings towards other people both bc hes autistic and bc he has freaky deviantart fetishes that make sex in his mind a very abstract concept <- this one is me projecting mostly

that aside, i feel like gender-wise hes attracted to ppl so infrequently it may as well be entirely case-by-case

the idea of him being gay appeals to me from the 'raised with traditional values he Does Not fit into/hasnt begun to question it yet' perspective, i lauve characters who put a lot of stock into performing a role thats expected of them and fail miserably for unknown (gay) reasons

from his perspective tho i dont think he would ever really label himself anything. hes going to pride parades in the shirt+shorts Ally Fit to clap for his friends

hes also 'cis by indifference' imo... i love tmasc laios hcs it just doesnt mesh w his personal history to me. i do think hes got some kind of therian gender thing going on (not trans or nb but a secret third thing) but i cant see him changing anything abt his appearance/pronouns to accommodate that post-canon. hes just doin his thang

falin is in a similar boat for gender. i LOOVE tfem falin but the village repression thing has been bugging at me so i dont think i subscribe to it anymore (canon purist sorry) BUT if u hold that hc i am clapping and cheering regardless

instead i was propagandised to a while back and i LOVEEE the idea that being fused w a male dragon and the residual traits she has after being revived have given her a type of gender euphoria she didnt realise she was missing. a little boygirl swagger if u will

sexuality-wise i also dont think she would care to label herself, shes a lesbian by virtue of only being interested in One woman and zero other people. without marcille i do think shes still exclusively attracted to women, and i like to imagine she might experiment around a bit during her travels post-canon (pre-relationship). hearing abt it might put marcille on the news though

marcille is very simple That is a transfem lesbian. she cant get pregnant, shes obsessed w being femme and all that combined w her half-tallman struggles to be seen as 'properly feminine' by elf standards reads very transfeminine to Me. also her bookboy crush REEKS of comphet its not subtle

i think a more comfortable marcy might have the space to experiment w being elf butch like her manga boys but thats mainly self indulgence for me. utena could have saved her

senshi is gay his whole thing is abt not being able to perform dwarven masculinity to a proper standard (soft hearted, not as strong or rugged as his peers) which is like gaycoding 101. also hes a bear. homosexuality be damned by boy can work a grill

adding onto this i rly think senshi got some type of euphoria from being an elf in the changeling chapters. he was feeling himself so much i think he was using it as an outlet to have fun being a little fem and fruity without needing to justify it. do u understand

i dont have any particular opinions abt him gender-wise beyond that. his bulge is an essential part of his character design but i also saw a transmasc senshi a couple days ago that made me nod my head thoughtfully so i could go either way

chilchuck is cis and bisexual this is just canon. not even just his old man crush on senshi altho i do think thats very funny but they put his ass on a cover themed like hes in a dating sim with all the men and women in the cast and then slapped it in front of a chapter called "bicorn". i simply cant pass up that kind of overt signaling. its so fucking funny what else is there to say truly

izu to ME is a transmasc aroace lesbian (this one has the least basis in canon i just know it to be true) shes a little genderfluid with it nd uses he/she i think. i like to imagine she consistently uses masculine personal pronouns to refer to herself either way tho (boku, ore)

i think izutsumis gender/sexuality is entirely secondary in priorities to her body dysphoria. she has a lot of learning and acceptance 2 do before that kind of self discovery is on the docket and in my mind eschewing gender on some level is part of that. get sillay

shuro is cishet but at least he feels bad about it. next

kabru is a transmasc bisexual this is also practically text. his whole thing of being treated like a doll by milsiril to put in pretty dresses, plus i think it would be pretty easy for him to stealth in the west since tallmen are seen as inherently more masculine than elves

(i also think changing genders is just more common for elves. theyre androgynous enough that it wouldnt be hard and like who in their right miiiiind would be the same gender for 500 years. dwarves too)

i think he started presenting as male socially in the west but didnt need to consider medical transition until he moved to a more mixed culture where other races might see him as a woman

i dont have to explain the bisexual part. have u seen him

namari is a butch bisexual this is just canon straight up. shes not transmasc but i think the default settings for dwarven women is like 4 years of T regardless. shes a hit at all the local cruising spots despite her renfaire nerdisms i know this

and just bc im thinking abt em kiki and kaka are identical and kiki is tfem :} theyre both attracted to women but kaka is a sub so i forgive him

THATS ALL 4 NOW theres a lot of characters so i cant have thoughts abt all of them at once but i hope this was good. im right about everything forever as per usual

#ask #headcanons #passes out. my Mind #dunmesh

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bamdelune · 11 months

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In Hindsight 📹 Ch.10: "blue hour"

notes. narration ahead, song used: Pasilyo by Sunkissed Lola, original video: LESSERAFIM Yunjin's Raise y_our glass @ Weverse Festival 2023 (video is used for setting building — edited by me), kind of messy T_T

[December 18, 2022 — 8:50 PM 📍Teyvat Uni]

It was nearing 9:00 PM and you were still nowhere to be seen within the stage's area and Kunikuzushi was getting worried. It was currently 8:51, 9 minutes to nine o' clock. He was about to turn to Ajax if he's seen you anywhere as he pulled out his phone but the second he was about to, the stage lights dimmed, turning into a pink color. There were quite a few conversations of excitement up front with those close to the stage.

An electric guitar chord strummed into the speakers of the venue to reveal a familiar face, and Kunikuzushi swears he would've dropped his phone in shock.

It was you, wearing an outfit completely different to the one you had on earlier. This time, it was white with a few hints of pink to match the dreamy theme of the event. He saw how much confidence you had on stage and even he could smile as you did the same, only you were looking at the sea of people watching you perform.

—

"What do you want to do before..." Kuni trails off as he softly munches on the dinner you were eating after getting discharged, feeling that the topic might be a tad bit too morbid for a meal.

You ponder for a while, "Before I die?" you chuckle. "A lot of things. Maybe perform live in front of a big audience, I never got to do that before."

"Huh.." Kuni hums at your response. Perhaps it was fitting. That time, he never saw your passion for music in real time—he felt curious to say the least.

Now that opportunity has presented itself in front of him, in front of hundreds of fairgoers just like him.

The man's face tugs into an admiring grin at how you skillfully drag your hands over the strings of the guitar when you sing in such an alluring tone. Kuni's heart is full of pride, so full of admiration as you achieve one of the goals you had trusted him to hear that one day. He burns the memory into his head.

—

You don't know if the people in the audience could sense it, but you knew your voice carried an emotion buried deep. Underneath all the dreamy and breezy mood of the song was a feeling of attachment. As if you didn't want this moment of finally achieving something you were dreaming of to disappear into the back of your mind. Compare it to the feeling of hanging by the edge of a cliff, with only a hand to stop you from falling off—to stop you from letting go.

The euphoria of performing seeped into the lyrics, as if it was the one thing that helped your audience enjoy your performance even just by a little bit. Couples were holding hands as they looked into their partner's eyes as if they were the only thing that mattered, friends were singing along together as if your song was a ribbon that tied them together. You couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. You were jealous that you weren't goint to be able to experience the same by the time 10 months have passed.

The least you could do was make this performance memorable for the people here.

If you weren't able to experience that memory in the future, perhaps you would be honored to create that memory for others instead.

synopsis. You are a singer-songwriter. Music has always been a part of you, it's a part of your identity that no one can ever take away. However, there's always a catch: you are diagnosed with a chronic illness that puts your life on a timer. Those who have heard your countless melodies have grown to notice that the notes on the sheet played a gloomier tune. Would the snarky and capable medical student you've met be able to bring life back into these melodies? Even as life begins to seep out of your own body? (scaramouche x gn!reader)

tags. gender-neutral reader, angst, fluff, crack, heavy contexts of death and illnesses, friends to lovers, slowburn, profanities, drinking (characters are in college), suggestive themes but no nsfw.

taglist. (open, reply or send an ask to be added) — @beriiov @alatusorrow @br0oke96 @ohmyfinggod @itzblazekun @featuredtofu @sketcheeee @lazy-sanns @sakurapeach @sheraffim @vxmp-loml @sukunasrealgf @sleepning

masterpost ★ masterlist © bamdelune 2023. do not repost, translate, plagiarize any of my works without permission, thank you so much! reblogs, notes, and comments are always appreciated!

#bamdelune #genshin impact #genshin #genshin x reader #bamdelune's bookstore #genshin smau #📹 (in hindsight) smau #scaramouche x y/n #scaramouche x gn reader #scaramouche x you #scaramouche x reader #scaramouche #wanderer x you #wanderer x reader #wanderer #kunikuzushi x reader #kunikuzushi #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact fluff

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corvidaedream · 3 months

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the constant battle of trying to love my body as it is after years of being told i need to change it & lose weight & dress more flattering & wear make up

trying to give myself permission to change things i dont like to experience gender euphoria and its ok

like im going to see a plastic surgeon next week about top surgery and thinking about other stuff and the defensive part of my brain ive built up to fend off mainstream beauty standards is in fight or flight mode.

it doesnt help that i keep getting major gender envy about one of my work friends who is very willowy and thin and its like. how much of this is gender and how much of this is weird shit ive internalized about my size.

why is navigating this shit so hard

I keep trying to surround myself w images of guys and nb people closer to my stature and trying to shift my perception of What I Want To Look Like, but theres a huge difference between recognizing that another fat androgynous person looks great vs accepting that im also able to do that

(the difference is when other people are fat they are not disappointing my mother, i think. and also they do not see tim every day at work and think weird shit like "id gladly swap bodies w him even though we are both chronically ill in different ways and id probably die trying to manage the shit his body's doing")

anyway its a delicate balance trying to change myself for the better without falling into the fucked up self loathing spiral from my teen years and i hate it

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maudsleyhealth · 2 years

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Never Say This About Someone with Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a serious illness that can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender. It's also a condition that needs to be treated with the right medications and therapy.

However, there are some incorrect ways to think about bipolar disorder that could lead you down the wrong path if you are trying to deal with this condition on your own.

Here are some common myths about bipolar disorder:

It's an illness that only happens to people who get addicted to drugs or alcohol.

Bipolar disorder is not caused by drug use, alcohol use and/or addiction. It is a brain disorder that affects one in every five Americans at some point in their lives.

If you have bipolar disorder and you are looking for treatment options at one of the bipolar disorder treatment centers in Abu Dhabi, then it's important to know how your symptoms fit into the larger picture of mental health issues.

Bipolar disorder is your fault.

You probably have heard that bipolar disorder is your fault. This can be a bit disheartening, but it's important to understand that this is not true. Bipolar disorder is a medical condition and a chemical imbalance in your brain. It's not caused by stress or trauma, as many people believe at first glance.

If anyone around you is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it is important that you visit a bipolar disorder specialist so that you understand what the truth of this disease is instead of believing myths from the common man

It's all about being really angry and having a bad temper.

The first thing to understand about bipolar disorder is that it’s a mood disorder, not an anger problem. Bipolar is characterized by extreme mood swings between depression and mania (or hypomania). These cycles can last weeks or months, sometimes years at a time.

In addition to having extreme swings in their emotions and thought patterns, people with bipolar have periods of deep sadness followed by periods when they feel great—all within one day!

You have to take medication for the rest of your life.

The first step in the right direction is to understand that medication can help control symptoms of bipolar disorder, but it's not a cure. The medication also doesn't fix the underlying problem, so if you stop taking your medications and start feeling worse again then you need to do something else.

The second thing you have to realize is that medication does not make you “normal” or “healthy”; it just helps your brain function better so that life feels easier for now (and sometimes longer than others).

You might be able to go without taking your medicine for a day or two until things calm down again—but eventually, this will become unsustainable because their effects wear off over time without regular use of them—so there's no point in trying unless they're prescribed by a doctor who knows exactly how much dosage works best with each individual patient based on his or her specific needs at any given moment.

If you have bipolar disorder, you can't be happy.

While it’s true that people with bipolar disorder can experience periods of intense euphoria, mania and depression, these feelings are not the sole focus of their lives. Instead, they must also be able to manage their condition while maintaining stable relationships with family members and friends.

Bipolar disorder is a serious illness that affects more than 2 million Americans each year—1 in 10 adults will experience it at some point during their lifetime (that's more than 6 million people). It's important to understand that while there may be ups and downs in your mood cycle (during which time you might feel very happy or sad), this doesn't mean you have "free-floating" happiness issues because those emotions are tied directly to your overall well-being as an individual.

If you're bipolar, you are always going to be the same way.

If you have bipolar disorder, you are always going to be the same way. It's not something that goes away and it doesn't get better over time. The good news is that there are many treatments available for people with bipolar disorder, including medications and therapy.

It's also important to understand that everyone experiences mood swings differently—some may experience more severe episodes than others but they all share common symptoms such as irritability or feeling sad or hopeless when they aren't feeling well mentally or physically.

The most important thing is to seek help from a bipolar disorder doctor so that your symptoms can be managed appropriately so you don't end up losing control over them (like driving off cliffs).

You can just not think about it and it will go away.

There's a lot of misinformation floating around about bipolar disorder, especially in the media. One of the most common myths is that you can just "not think" about your symptoms and they'll go away on their own.

While this may seem like an easy solution for some people who feel overwhelmed by their symptoms or don't know where to start, it's actually not true at all!

Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition—there are no medications that will make it go away overnight (and even if there were, we wouldn't recommend taking one). In fact, there are very few things that can be done once someone has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder; most people will need to take medication for life unless they are able to manage their symptoms through treatment alone.

Final words

We hope that this article has helped you better understand your bipolar disorder, as well as helped you realize that there is more to being diagnosed with the condition than just taking medication. We want you to know that there are resources available to help you manage your symptoms and live a healthy life with bipolar disorder.

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loveerran · 4 years

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Re: LDS Trans Policy

My Bishop decided to read it out loud at a meeting I was at. “We don’t have anyone affected by this now, but we may someday…”. I am not out in my ward, so this was funny.

I like it. To be honest, I thought it was very liberal and generous.

That’s a stance that will strike some as ‘Refreshing, but odd...’ – Allow me to explain:

From the time I was 6 years old in first grade, I knew that I had a Secret. And my Secret was that I was Very Evil. And the things I learned in Church about hating the part of me that was Secret and Very Evil I allowed to sink deep into my heart. I even encouraged that Hatred to take root and grow in an effort to drive the Evil out. On purpose. Repeatedly.

Over time, I learned that I was not Very Evil, maybe just Evil. Eventually, that transitioned into knowing that I was Loved and not even Evil at all, but I still knew I had a Secret inside of me that had to be Destroyed.

And then one day in my early 20’s, I convinced myself I needed to dress up all the way and Get This Out Of My System. This was the first time I deliberately set out to buy Girl Things For Me (matching lingerie even… good times…). I got Kevyn Aucoin’s Making Faces and bought my first wig. Then I got dressed, carefully did my makeup, and Really Looked in the mirror for the first time. And Saw Myself looking back.

I’ve only realized in the last 10 years or so that I spent most of my life not really looking at my face in the mirror. I tended to focus briefly on only the feature that was required. This was different. I took it all in and it opened up a window in my soul. This was Me. I was Beautiful. The Euphoria was incredible. It was also one of the hardest single Kicks to the Gut I had ever experienced.

If you show someone a horseshoe, and hold it perpendicular to their line of vision, it will look like a horseshoe. But you can rotate it 90 degrees in such a way that they can see only a straight line. I had spent my life looking at a straight line, savagely condemning and beating on any deviation from that straight line. And then the horseshoe just snapped into place. And suddenly, all my illusions shattered. I had been looking at everything wrong all along. This wasn’t a Secret inside of me. This was Me. I had spent so much time and effort trying to Destroy myself, taking poison by degrees - And it was useless. Hating the horseshoe doesn’t make it a straight line.

I did not immediately tell my Bishop. What was he going to do? Tell me to stop? I’d already tried with every fiber of my being. The only stories I knew about ended in excommunication. In one case just for dressing as the ‘wrong’ gender.

So I bifurcated my life, each part of my experience stumbling forward independently instead of trying to drag themselves so painfully over and through broken glass together. I knew the church wasn’t equipped for this. I was barely equipped for it. I didn’t expect them to be able to deal. I was having a hard enough time myself. I hit a fairly healthy plateau. I found a mentor and eventually a great group of girlfriends, all outside the church. I stumbled along the way, but recovered and stayed close to God.

And then came the policy. And my neatly separated worlds started to mix again. I imagined, for the first time, going to Church as Myself. Taking the Sacrament, Being Baptized, Receiving a Blessing, Hearing my Name. Being called Sister in Relief Society? It was emotionally intense. My relationship with God had saved me, and the church’s fingerprints (for good and ill) were all over my life. Those two facts are Important and Intertwined.

And the policy said, in writing, that I wasn’t an Abomination. I wasn’t Ultimate Evil. I could enter a church building without being cast out or excommunicated. Some callings might even be open.

Like I said, it seemed very liberal.

xoxox,

erran

#and a few decades too late to prevent some intense damage #sensitivity kindness compassion and an abundance of Christ-like love #telling the members they have to make a loving space for people like me #that it is right we be seen as children of god and not as abominations #we are welcome in meetings and at events #i'm not syaing this is the end of things #but the beginning is farther along than i thought i would ever see #and it would have made an incredible difference to a much younger me #ps - ymmv and that is fine also :)#queerstake #tumblrstake

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mysticalmindblog · 4 years

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Whether under enforced quarantine, or on lockdown, or self-quarantined; this may well be the only time you have where you are forced to just STOP!!... From a busy and hectic schedule, where for once you are not running and competing in a rat-race solely focused on materialistic gains and pleasures. Maybe now you are fearful of getting sick, or fearful of death, in ways you have never perceived before...

How about taking this time to contemplate the bigger picture, the bigger questions: Who am I..? 'Why am I here..? Is there more to life than this..? In truth, you may never get such an opportunity again, to reflect inwards, to take time to focus on your place in the big scheme of things.

So, I say to you, take some time for Meditation. Reflect and contemplate by first quietening your noisy mind; allowing you for the first time in maybe a very long time, to focus with exquisite clarity, and grow your inner self.

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

I wrote this inspirational article back in September of 2018 for a now defunct website.

It is relevant today, more than ever, with the current global lock-down and quarantine situation related to the pandemic.

I hope it helps.

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

What is your typical Sunday like..? Assuming you don’t work on a Sunday, do you go to Church in the morning maybe, and then on to a family lunch at a restaurant, later returning home for an afternoon snooze if the weather isn’t so good, or maybe catch up with some household chores, or just have some quality family time..?

Do you finish off your typical Sunday by relaxing on the couch and watching some TV..? This seems a fairly typical Sunday for many in the Western world today.

Of course, if you are a student, or a business owner, your Sunday is probably spent busy working like every other day, juggling so many tasks and responsibilities.

For some individuals and families, it is what they would describe as “...a boring day”, one where everyone is together in the same house, and yet all are detached from each other, busy in their own activities.

It is generally regarded as a day of rest, or a Family get-together day, where banks and many types of corporate businesses are closed and that time of the week where a sleep-in is justified and allowed.

And yet all day Sunday, at the back of your mind, Monday is always looming..!!

So, how often on a Sunday, or on a day off from your typical work schedule, have you actually sat down quietly and pondered the age old question asked by so many before you... “Who am I..?”

For the sake of this article, I am going to hazard a guess, and say that it isn’t a regular practice of yours.

So... WHO ARE YOU..?

Note that - I didn’t ask your name. I didn’t ask your age. I didn’t ask your gender. I didn’t ask about your religion. I didn’t ask where you are from. I didn’t ask about your race or heritage. I didn’t ask what you do academically or professionally. I didn’t ask if you were a homeowner. I didn’t ask your relationship status. Think about it for a few moments. If you are like most people, right now you are scratching your head as if it is a trick question.

You may even be reasoning that the above conditional facts that weren’t asked for, actually make up the sum of the answer; which would be incorrect.

Truthfully, this question ranks right up there with the timeless questions of old -

Where did I come from..?

Why am I here..?

Where am I going..?

What comes after death..?

Now then, I neither have the ability, or purpose, of telling you right now, who you are. You are capable of discovering that for yourself.

Instead, allow me to simply get you to take the following concept on-board:

YOU NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.

How do you do that..?

REALIZE and CONTEMPLATE this FACT >>> THERE IS NO BOX.

We are the architects of the restricting mechanisms of our own minds. We place an illusionary box around our thoughts, perceptions, dreams, and around our very own concept of our reality.

Either by ignoring those deep and fundamental questions in favor of materialistic diversions and comforts of the moment, or by simply never taking time to get to know oneself.

Each of us starts out the journey of life as a blank slate, an infant born with only pure awareness and a craving for nourishment and warmth. In that time, those moments, as a newborn, who were we..?

That’s quite an ‘out there’ question right..?

And how does any of this connect to Sunday Fun-Days..?

It all is connected.

As we journey through it, we get so caught up in the demanding maelstrom of ‘Preparing for Tomorrow’ by rushing around today, that we rarely ever get those awe-inspiring moments where we just marvel at the complexity of the Universe.

We seldom appreciate the bigger picture, of nature, of life itself.

You know the moments I am talking about - like when you first saw the stars at night when you were far away from city lights.

As a result of our rushing to-and-fro we bury that beautiful and simple awareness under layers of acquired learning, programming, and self-definition.

The truth is that it is in our simple awareness that our true identity lies - and yet - going further, deeper into a state of a quietened mind (where you have successfully turned down the volume on all noisy thoughts and are experiencing the bliss of a silent and aware mind) encountering a lack of identity in the silence of simple awareness can be a target concept to experience, that enables an amazing euphoria as one can suddenly feel connected with all things, everywhere, regardless of time and space.

Confused yet..? Probably, right..?

Good - good, and so you should be, because these are things that we rarely consider as we rush about our moment-to-busy-moments in life.

Curiously, if you talk to someone who has had a Near Death Experience, someone who has maybe been revived after spending a short time medically classified as dead without a heartbeat - you will find that regardless of having any paranormal experiences or not, that they subsequently spend a great deal of time contemplating those big questions, and possible answers.

Furthermore, I have repeatedly found when conversing with the elderly and gravely ill, that in answer to the question of what thoughts occupy their minds in their recent days, practically all uniformly answer the following.

They replay specific memories from key periods in their lives, some good, some bad, and others where they wish they had made different decisions.

They remember and think about departed loved ones and friends from over the years. Often wishing that things could of been different - and/or regretting things left unsaid and undone.

They lament how much time they spent chasing after shallow dreams, selfish desires, and aggressive career ambitions - and each day feel the pain of lost opportunities to have led a more meaningful existence. Ultimately they will conclude the conversation by stating that they felt their lives had gone by too fast, and that they have too many regrets to feel a sense of deep inner peace.

AND THIS IS PERVASIVE IN TODAY’S EVER MORE DETACHED MATERIALISTIC SOCIETY.

“Some will say that they are tired and ready to pass on

because they want the pain and loneliness to stop, while

others will show too much tearful remorse and say they

are not ready for their lives to be finished.”

I asked a dear family member who was elderly and in bad health last year, literally a week before they passed away - “Who are you..?”

After a pause, they replied, “I don’t know, but, I can tell you that I feel like a tired old man”.

The point of this article is to get you to seize upon the idea that you need to make time for yourself to be by yourself to be able to peacefully contemplate and discover who you really are.

If Sundays are a typical day where you find yourself with a few hours spare without anything planned, take an hour in a quiet place with your phone either muted or switched off, no TV, no music or radio, nobody to bother you, and just sit and quieten your mind. Deliberately shut down all the noisy thoughts of the monkey-mind including responding to sensations of thirst, hunger, scratching an itch etc, and just get very still. Focus on your breathing, observing your inhalation and exhalation.

“If you do this, you will pleasantly sense your mind

becoming lighter, therapeutically and blissfully so.

It will become clear, invigorated, and crisp, as if you

have literally given your brain a nice warm soapy shower.

This is YOU being mindful, and meditating.”

With this state of clear-mindedness and mental bliss, your awareness will begin to perceive so much more than all your physical senses combined. It’s here - that your adventure into fantastic realms will truly begin, where those age-old questions can be asked, and answered - and you can finally start walking a clear path of the truth of Who You Are.

It’s addicting, and fulfilling. Don’t delay it anymore.

#isolation #lockdown #lock down #quarantine #virus #pandemic #time alone #lonely #loneliness #fear #anxiety #know yourself #know thyself #self #self realize #self-realize #enlighten #enlightenment

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allthetimenews · 4 years

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Alcoholism….It’s Still a Problem

Originally posted on Pinnacle Treatment Centers

Alcoholism seems to have lost its place as the number one addiction problem in America. The opioid epidemic is front and center in our minds when the topic of addiction comes up in discussion. But has alcoholism really gone anywhere? Not according to the statistics reported by the National Institute of Health (NIH). According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 14.4 million adults in the U.S. ages 18 and older (5.8% of this age group) had a diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). This includes 9.2 million men and 5.3 million women. Only about 7.9 percent of these people received treatment in the past year.

An estimated 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. The first is tobacco, and the second is poor diet and physical inactivity.

In 2015, nearly half of the 78,529 liver disease deaths involved alcohol, which is only one alcohol related cause of death. About 33,000 people died from an overdose involving an opioid in the same year. 68,557 people died from an overdose involving an opioid in 2018. So, alcohol use disorder remains the deadliest addiction problem in the United States.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), also known as alcoholism, inebriety, dipsomania and drunkenness, depending on your century, is a chronic relapsing brain disease characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. AUD has devastated countless individuals and families for centuries. You can find references to this disease as far back as biblical times.

Understanding alcohol

Alcohol is a controlled and legal substance, and the most available abused drug in the world. Most civilized societies around the world generally accept alcohol use, and the misuse of alcohol is fashionable within certain social situations. These trends make it difficult to notice when someone is having a dependence issue. The anxiety and inhibition lowering properties are most often seen as a positive side effect of alcohol. But alcohol comes with a long list of negative side effects. One of those side effects is being unable to remember periods of time during which the individual was intoxicated. This side effect, known as a “blackout,” can be a frequent experience of a person with AUD. The very real feelings of terror, bewilderment, frustration and despair (Alcoholics Anonymous, pg 151) often accompany questions like, “How could you?” “Why would you do that?” and “Where were you?” Families and loved ones are often left cleaning up after ill-advised decisions made while intoxicated.

Most-consumed alcohols in the world

Beer, wine, and hard liquor are the top three, respectively. The alcohol percentage of such beverages varies, which is measured as ABV or Alcohol by Volume. For example, the average ABV of many famous beers ranges from 2-12%. Wines have a higher alcohol percentage than beer. Hard liquor is at the top spot according to the ABV.

Anybody can become dependent on any of the alcoholic beverages mentioned. Physical and mental impairment due to excessive drinking any of such alcoholic drinks is an ever-present risk. The number of units or glasses of alcohol required to impact one’s mind and body depends on the individual and their tolerance.

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How quickly the body metabolizes alcohol

The rate at which the human body processes alcohol varies depending on many factors, such as gender, body weight, body composition, genetics, general health, and the amount consumed. The ABV of the consumed drink and the number of drinks consumed per hour play a part in the metabolization process. It is theorized that individuals who are genetically able to metabolize alcohol more rapidly are also more prone to become dependent.

Complications related to alcoholism

You or a loved one may have AUD already. Some factors and general trends make it difficult to identify alcoholism or misuse. Below are the top factors that complicate diagnosis:

Society may widely accept alcohol. The whole nation or a collection of individuals can experience negative effects of alcohol without even realizing it.

Some individuals are not open about their struggles.

A person may be a high-functioning alcoholic. These individuals can maintain a healthy balance between their drinking habits, and personal and professional lives. Their issue isn’t noticeable most of the time.

Social denial can further push someone away from ever getting treatment for their disorder.

How to spot alcoholism?

While an individual can spot the signs themselves, they often underplay the risks and are in denial over the negative consequences. Look for the following signs if you or a loved one is experiencing an alcohol use disorder:

You or someone you know has developed an immunity to alcohol over time.

Can’t start or end the day without a few glasses of alcohol.

The desire to drink more often clashes with personal and professional responsibilities.

More frequent or binge drinking.

Withdrawal symptoms upon stopping alcohol.

You begin to assume that “alcohol is the only escape.”

You or someone you know want to stop drinking but can’t.

Alcoholism comes with a series of long-term and short-term side effects. Accidents/injury, violent behavior, having unprotected sex, binge drinking, and alcohol poisoning are the short-term effects of alcohol misuse. Heart disease, stroke, bowel cancer, liver disease/cancer, mouth cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatitis are the long-term side effects of alcohol addiction.

Alcohol misuse can also lead to many mental health conditions, such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Alcoholism in the patient with one or more of these mental disorders is a complication known as Dual Diagnosis.

Treatment for alcohol addiction

Treating alcoholism is not straightforward. The person who consumes alcohol in excess amounts may or not realize their questionable behavior. Withdrawal symptoms may pull the patient towards drinking again.

Intervention for alcoholism is the widely-accepted procedure for helping someone understand the negative consequences of their actions. In general, a well thought-out dialog with the person who has an alcohol use disorder to help them understand how alcohol negatively affects their life and the lives of loved ones is one of the best options available.

The best treatments for alcoholism

A series of treatment options are now available. You or a loved one can regain control over your life and health through rehab and evidence-based treatments:

Detox and Withdrawal: Detoxing the body in conjunction with medication to suppress and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Psychological Counseling: This helps you better understand your disorder and the importance of overcoming it.

Oral Medications: These medications can block the initial euphoria of alcohol.

Injectable Medication: More efficient than oral-form medication but only administered by a healthcare professional.

Spiritual Guidance

Final thoughts

Alcoholism is a severe disorder that leads to unfavorable physical and mental side effects. This disorder hasn’t dissipated during the opioid crisis, and the individual who suffers from it needs treatment. Anybody can overcome it with the help of treatment experts who use evidence-based practices. Contact a treatment specialist to discover the best rehab path for you.

Headquartered in New Jersey, Pinnacle Treatment Centers is a recognized leader in comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment serving more than 28,000 patients daily in California, Indiana, Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. With more than 110 community-based locations, Pinnacle provides a full continuum of quality care for adult men and women which includes medically-monitored detoxification/withdrawal management, inpatient/residential treatment, partial hospitalization/care, sober living, intensive and general outpatient programming, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. For more information, visit pinnacletreatment.com or call 800-782-1520.

About Recovery Works London

Recovery Works in London, Kentucky offers a 12-step approach to treatment, individual counseling, group counseling, and an intensive family education program. We offer a full continuum of care for the treatment of substance use disorders and dual diagnosis. Our addiction treatment programs include Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP), Partial Hospitalization (PHP), Residential Treatment (RTC), Alumni Aftercare Group/Meetings, and Medically Supervised Detox. Following a clinical evaluation, patients are eligible to receive buprenorphine (Suboxone) or Vivitrol as part of medication-assisted treatment. Treatment plans consist of individual, family, and group therapy in addition to medication management, anger management, and grief and loss therapy. Therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) accompany relapse prevention, nutritional counseling, and spirituality groups. Music therapy is also available. To encourage ongoing support in recovery, we offer on-site 12-step meetings, aftercare monitoring, and free alumni meetings.

Contact Recovery Works London

300 Carrera Drive London KY 40741 United States

1 (844) 768-0285

Website: https://pinnacletreatment.com/location/kentucky/london/recovery-works-london/

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businesstribune · 4 years

Text

Alcoholism….It’s Still a Problem

Originally posted on Pinnacle Treatment Centers

Understanding alcohol

Most-consumed alcohols in the world

youtube

How quickly the body metabolizes alcohol

Complications related to alcoholism

You or a loved one may have AUD already. Some factors and general trends make it difficult to identify alcoholism or misuse. Below are the top factors that complicate diagnosis:

Society may widely accept alcohol. The whole nation or a collection of individuals can experience negative effects of alcohol without even realizing it.

Some individuals are not open about their struggles.

Social denial can further push someone away from ever getting treatment for their disorder.

How to spot alcoholism?

You or someone you know has developed an immunity to alcohol over time.

Can’t start or end the day without a few glasses of alcohol.

The desire to drink more often clashes with personal and professional responsibilities.

More frequent or binge drinking.

Withdrawal symptoms upon stopping alcohol.

You begin to assume that “alcohol is the only escape.”

You or someone you know want to stop drinking but can’t.

Treatment for alcohol addiction

The best treatments for alcoholism

A series of treatment options are now available. You or a loved one can regain control over your life and health through rehab and evidence-based treatments:

Detox and Withdrawal: Detoxing the body in conjunction with medication to suppress and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Psychological Counseling: This helps you better understand your disorder and the importance of overcoming it.

Oral Medications: These medications can block the initial euphoria of alcohol.

Injectable Medication: More efficient than oral-form medication but only administered by a healthcare professional.

Spiritual Guidance

Final thoughts

About Recovery Works Cambridge City

Residential facility located in Cambridge City, Indiana offering tailored detox and residential services. We serve people from all walks of life and take Healthy Indiana Plan, Medicaid and most commercial insurances. Our structured program is managed by a multidisciplinary team that includes a psychiatrist, medical providers, nurses, counselors, and residential aides. Services include education sessions, process groups, yoga, medications (as applicable), individualized assignments, exposure to 12-Step concepts and meetings (optional), and fun activities. We will pick you up and take you home.

Contact Recovery Works Cambridge City

2060 State Road 1 North Cambridge City IN 47327 United States

1 (844) 768-0285

Website: https://pinnacletreatment.com/location/indiana/cambridge-city/recovery-works-cambridge-city/

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newstvstation · 4 years

Text

Alcoholism….It’s Still a Problem

Originally posted on Pinnacle Treatment Centers

Understanding alcohol

Most-consumed alcohols in the world

youtube

How quickly the body metabolizes alcohol

Complications related to alcoholism

You or a loved one may have AUD already. Some factors and general trends make it difficult to identify alcoholism or misuse. Below are the top factors that complicate diagnosis:

Society may widely accept alcohol. The whole nation or a collection of individuals can experience negative effects of alcohol without even realizing it.

Some individuals are not open about their struggles.

Social denial can further push someone away from ever getting treatment for their disorder.

How to spot alcoholism?

You or someone you know has developed an immunity to alcohol over time.

Can’t start or end the day without a few glasses of alcohol.

The desire to drink more often clashes with personal and professional responsibilities.

More frequent or binge drinking.

Withdrawal symptoms upon stopping alcohol.

You begin to assume that “alcohol is the only escape.”

You or someone you know want to stop drinking but can’t.

Treatment for alcohol addiction

The best treatments for alcoholism

A series of treatment options are now available. You or a loved one can regain control over your life and health through rehab and evidence-based treatments:

Detox and Withdrawal: Detoxing the body in conjunction with medication to suppress and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Psychological Counseling: This helps you better understand your disorder and the importance of overcoming it.

Oral Medications: These medications can block the initial euphoria of alcohol.

Injectable Medication: More efficient than oral-form medication but only administered by a healthcare professional.

Spiritual Guidance

Final thoughts

About Recovery Works Cambridge City

Contact Recovery Works Cambridge City

2060 State Road 1 North Cambridge City IN 47327 United States

1 (844) 768-0285

Website: https://pinnacletreatment.com/location/indiana/cambridge-city/recovery-works-cambridge-city/

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dailyposttribune · 4 years

Text

Alcoholism….It’s Still a Problem

Originally posted on Pinnacle Treatment Centers

Understanding alcohol

Most-consumed alcohols in the world

youtube

How quickly the body metabolizes alcohol

Complications related to alcoholism

You or a loved one may have AUD already. Some factors and general trends make it difficult to identify alcoholism or misuse. Below are the top factors that complicate diagnosis:

Society may widely accept alcohol. The whole nation or a collection of individuals can experience negative effects of alcohol without even realizing it.

Some individuals are not open about their struggles.

Social denial can further push someone away from ever getting treatment for their disorder.

How to spot alcoholism?

You or someone you know has developed an immunity to alcohol over time.

Can’t start or end the day without a few glasses of alcohol.

The desire to drink more often clashes with personal and professional responsibilities.

More frequent or binge drinking.

Withdrawal symptoms upon stopping alcohol.

You begin to assume that “alcohol is the only escape.”

You or someone you know want to stop drinking but can’t.

Treatment for alcohol addiction

The best treatments for alcoholism

A series of treatment options are now available. You or a loved one can regain control over your life and health through rehab and evidence-based treatments:

Detox and Withdrawal: Detoxing the body in conjunction with medication to suppress and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Psychological Counseling: This helps you better understand your disorder and the importance of overcoming it.

Oral Medications: These medications can block the initial euphoria of alcohol.

Injectable Medication: More efficient than oral-form medication but only administered by a healthcare professional.

Spiritual Guidance

Final thoughts

About Recovery Works Merrillville

Recovery Works Merrillville, Indiana, provides medically supervised detox, residential treatment, and intensive outpatient services (IOP) for men and women struggling with substance use disorders.

Medication-assisted treatment, if needed, includes buprenorphine (Suboxone), Gabapentin, Vivitrol, etc. You’ll receive a custom treatment plan based on your specific needs. Personalized treatment plans consist of individual, family, and group therapy in addition to medication management, pain management, anger management, and grief and loss therapy. Evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), and Motivational Interviewing (MI). You will also receive relapse prevention, nutritional counseling, life skills training, and art therapy. To support long-term recovery, we also offer 12-step meetings, SMART Recovery, and free alumni meetings.

Medicaid and private insurance accepted. Call now to verify your insurance benefits.

Contact Recovery Works Merrillville

201 West 89th Avenue Merrillville IN 46410 United States

1 (844) 768-0285

Website: https://pinnacletreatment.com/location/indiana/merrillville/recovery-works-merrillville/

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lakeviewgazette · 4 years

Text

Alcoholism….It’s Still a Problem

Originally posted on Pinnacle Treatment Centers

Understanding alcohol

Most-consumed alcohols in the world

youtube

How quickly the body metabolizes alcohol

Complications related to alcoholism

You or a loved one may have AUD already. Some factors and general trends make it difficult to identify alcoholism or misuse. Below are the top factors that complicate diagnosis:

Society may widely accept alcohol. The whole nation or a collection of individuals can experience negative effects of alcohol without even realizing it.

Some individuals are not open about their struggles.

Social denial can further push someone away from ever getting treatment for their disorder.

How to spot alcoholism?

You or someone you know has developed an immunity to alcohol over time.

Can’t start or end the day without a few glasses of alcohol.

The desire to drink more often clashes with personal and professional responsibilities.

More frequent or binge drinking.

Withdrawal symptoms upon stopping alcohol.

You begin to assume that “alcohol is the only escape.”

You or someone you know want to stop drinking but can’t.

Treatment for alcohol addiction

The best treatments for alcoholism

A series of treatment options are now available. You or a loved one can regain control over your life and health through rehab and evidence-based treatments:

Detox and Withdrawal: Detoxing the body in conjunction with medication to suppress and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Psychological Counseling: This helps you better understand your disorder and the importance of overcoming it.

Oral Medications: These medications can block the initial euphoria of alcohol.

Injectable Medication: More efficient than oral-form medication but only administered by a healthcare professional.

Spiritual Guidance

Final thoughts

About Recovery Works Merrillville

Recovery Works Merrillville, Indiana, provides medically supervised detox, residential treatment, and intensive outpatient services (IOP) for men and women struggling with substance use disorders.

Medicaid and private insurance accepted. Call now to verify your insurance benefits.

Contact Recovery Works Merrillville

201 West 89th Avenue Merrillville IN 46410 United States

1 (844) 768-0285

Website: https://pinnacletreatment.com/location/indiana/merrillville/recovery-works-merrillville/

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midwestregister · 4 years

Text

Alcoholism….It’s Still a Problem

Originally posted on Pinnacle Treatment Centers

Understanding alcohol

Most-consumed alcohols in the world

youtube

How quickly the body metabolizes alcohol

Complications related to alcoholism

You or a loved one may have AUD already. Some factors and general trends make it difficult to identify alcoholism or misuse. Below are the top factors that complicate diagnosis:

Society may widely accept alcohol. The whole nation or a collection of individuals can experience negative effects of alcohol without even realizing it.

Some individuals are not open about their struggles.

Social denial can further push someone away from ever getting treatment for their disorder.

How to spot alcoholism?

You or someone you know has developed an immunity to alcohol over time.

Can’t start or end the day without a few glasses of alcohol.

The desire to drink more often clashes with personal and professional responsibilities.

More frequent or binge drinking.

Withdrawal symptoms upon stopping alcohol.

You begin to assume that “alcohol is the only escape.”

You or someone you know want to stop drinking but can’t.

Treatment for alcohol addiction

The best treatments for alcoholism

A series of treatment options are now available. You or a loved one can regain control over your life and health through rehab and evidence-based treatments:

Detox and Withdrawal: Detoxing the body in conjunction with medication to suppress and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Psychological Counseling: This helps you better understand your disorder and the importance of overcoming it.

Oral Medications: These medications can block the initial euphoria of alcohol.

Injectable Medication: More efficient than oral-form medication but only administered by a healthcare professional.

Spiritual Guidance

Final thoughts

About Recovery Works Merrillville

Recovery Works Merrillville, Indiana, provides medically supervised detox, residential treatment, and intensive outpatient services (IOP) for men and women struggling with substance use disorders.

Medicaid and private insurance accepted. Call now to verify your insurance benefits.

Contact Recovery Works Merrillville

201 West 89th Avenue Merrillville IN 46410 United States

1 (844) 768-0285

Website: https://pinnacletreatment.com/location/indiana/merrillville/recovery-works-merrillville/

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newsrecording · 4 years

Text

Alcoholism….It’s Still a Problem

Originally posted on Pinnacle Treatment Centers

Understanding alcohol

Most-consumed alcohols in the world

youtube

How quickly the body metabolizes alcohol

Complications related to alcoholism

You or a loved one may have AUD already. Some factors and general trends make it difficult to identify alcoholism or misuse. Below are the top factors that complicate diagnosis:

Society may widely accept alcohol. The whole nation or a collection of individuals can experience negative effects of alcohol without even realizing it.

Some individuals are not open about their struggles.

Social denial can further push someone away from ever getting treatment for their disorder.

How to spot alcoholism?

You or someone you know has developed an immunity to alcohol over time.

Can’t start or end the day without a few glasses of alcohol.

The desire to drink more often clashes with personal and professional responsibilities.

More frequent or binge drinking.

Withdrawal symptoms upon stopping alcohol.

You begin to assume that “alcohol is the only escape.”

You or someone you know want to stop drinking but can’t.

Treatment for alcohol addiction

The best treatments for alcoholism

A series of treatment options are now available. You or a loved one can regain control over your life and health through rehab and evidence-based treatments:

Detox and Withdrawal: Detoxing the body in conjunction with medication to suppress and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Psychological Counseling: This helps you better understand your disorder and the importance of overcoming it.

Oral Medications: These medications can block the initial euphoria of alcohol.

Injectable Medication: More efficient than oral-form medication but only administered by a healthcare professional.

Spiritual Guidance

Final thoughts

About Recovery Works Merrillville Outpatient

Recovery Works Merrillvile is pleased to offer our Intensive Outpatinet program in our new outpatient building. Treatment services include individualized treatment plans, individual counseling, group counseling, psychoeducational programming and 12-Step integration. Treatment methods may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and other evidenced based practices. Medication Assisted Treatment is supported and accepted as a part of the recovery process.

Contact Recovery Works Merrillville Outpatient

8955 Broadway Merrillville IN 46410 United States

(219) 472-4255

Website: https://pinnacletreatment.com/location/indiana/merrillville/recovery-works-merrillville-outpatient/

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mountainpostgazette · 4 years

Text

Alcoholism….It’s Still a Problem

Originally posted on Pinnacle Treatment Centers

Understanding alcohol

Most-consumed alcohols in the world

youtube

How quickly the body metabolizes alcohol

Complications related to alcoholism

You or a loved one may have AUD already. Some factors and general trends make it difficult to identify alcoholism or misuse. Below are the top factors that complicate diagnosis:

Society may widely accept alcohol. The whole nation or a collection of individuals can experience negative effects of alcohol without even realizing it.

Some individuals are not open about their struggles.

Social denial can further push someone away from ever getting treatment for their disorder.

How to spot alcoholism?

You or someone you know has developed an immunity to alcohol over time.

Can’t start or end the day without a few glasses of alcohol.

The desire to drink more often clashes with personal and professional responsibilities.

More frequent or binge drinking.

Withdrawal symptoms upon stopping alcohol.

You begin to assume that “alcohol is the only escape.”

You or someone you know want to stop drinking but can’t.

Treatment for alcohol addiction

The best treatments for alcoholism

A series of treatment options are now available. You or a loved one can regain control over your life and health through rehab and evidence-based treatments:

Detox and Withdrawal: Detoxing the body in conjunction with medication to suppress and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Psychological Counseling: This helps you better understand your disorder and the importance of overcoming it.

Oral Medications: These medications can block the initial euphoria of alcohol.

Injectable Medication: More efficient than oral-form medication but only administered by a healthcare professional.

Spiritual Guidance

Final thoughts

About Recovery Works Merrillville Outpatient

Contact Recovery Works Merrillville Outpatient

8955 Broadway Merrillville IN 46410 United States

(219) 472-4255

Website: https://pinnacletreatment.com/location/indiana/merrillville/recovery-works-merrillville-outpatient/

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selfiecharmedlife · 5 years

Text

RE: Mindfulness and connecting with my body through lifting.

I have a complicated history with my body. I’ve written before about how I was aware of my desire to transition from an early age but knew I’d be disowned if I expressed that desire (past Morgan was pretty much right on that one). I coped by distancing myself from my body and thought about it as this unfortunate thing I was attached to. In middle school, puberty hit my classmates like a tidal wave but I was so distanced from myself that I didn’t realize my body was changing until years into the process. Had I known about the existence of puberty blockers; my life could be very different right now. Instead, I felt trapped in a meat suit that was changing in ways I didn’t want and that I couldn’t stop. It was a living body horror. Consequently, I withdraw further and further from it. In high school, my friends were rampantly horny in the way that only teenage boys at an all-boys high school can be. Even though performative machismo and jokes about jacking off were practically dripping from the ceiling, I was profoundly ill at ease with the idea of having sexuality especially a masculine sexuality. I didn’t even masturbate until college and remained a virgin until my mid 20’s.

Sometime in college, I asked a girl out partially out of guilt about my lack of a romantic life and partially because I like Dune and she could spell kwisatz haderach. She turned me down and I felt a shame the next time I looked in my mirror. Making that effort had forced me to look at myself differently and also made me realize that my body was something other people evaluated. That week, I started going to the gym. At first, I would go early in the morning before anyone else was in the weight room. I was embarrassed that I couldn’t even bench press the bar. Little by little, I would add some weight, correct my form, get injured, rest and start over again. After years of work, I started to feel strong. By the time I entered grad school, I had gained 30 pounds and was one of the stronger people in the local gym. For the first time, people started telling me I was hot. It felt good at first but was ultimately still empty. I didn’t think I was attractive and connecting with my body to impress other people had only reminded me why I had withdrawn from it in the first place. Around the time I started to transition, I was riding my bike and had an intrusive thought “I hate what androgens have done to me.”

When I started hormone replacement, I stopped lifting. I wanted to lose weight, lose muscle and appear more feminine. It was a slow process, but I eventually lost the muscle weight I had gained. Looking back on it, I never really had to stop because it’s extremely hard to build muscle without testosterone in your body. I felt better as my body feminized, but I was still missing something. I’d still go to the gym and mostly do cardio and body weight exercises, but I’d feel sad whenever I saw someone step up the deadlift platform. I had over-corrected and lapsed back into self-denial. A few months ago, I realized what I needed, bought some gloves, and stepped up to the platform again. My mental health improved so much from just that small effort.

Lifting is much more than just a physical exercise. Even before you lift, you must center your mind within your body. Your posture and breathing gotta be right and getting there requires directing your attention inward. The moment when everything is positioned and I’m just about the attempt the set is a moment of profound mindfulness and clarity. In that time and place, I am aware of myself, my body and the connection between them.Whatever else is in the room fades away and any anxiety about whether I might fail is replaced with a desire to know whether I can succeed.

The soreness that follows also pulls me back into my body. It’s familiar but different now like reconnecting with an old friend. It hugs curves and corners that weren’t there before and reminds me of the ways both my body and mind have changed. My senses and they way my brain feels my body have also grown. Allowing myself to feel those changes is one way I experience gender euphoria. Seeing defined abs in the mirror while getting dressed is also pretty great. It’s still not an ideal fit, but it’s a reminder of the progress I’ve made both in transition and in strength training. It’s not perfect yet, but I feel more at home in my skin than the previous day. I’ve also been able to put aside the fear that muscles will make me less feminine. Having defined lats also doesn’t make me any less of a woman. It kinda rules actually.

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