#whump resource

[bandits-whump-collection]

Anesthesia vs Analgesia vs Sedation vs Paralytic

So, what's the deal? Aren't they interchangeable?

Well, no! Though they can be similar in some ways.

Anesthesia

Good ol "knock out the character" drug. It induces unconsciousness, but will not reduce pain, and doesn't make our character sleepy weirdly enough, or unresponsive to being touched. If you stabbed an anesthetized character, they would still reflexively flinch back. They also won't be truly sleepy, though it will feel like it when they wake up, but that's ultimately just their body fighting off the agent.

Analgesic

This is what you REALLY want when a character's anesthetized. Analgesics are also known as painkillers, so we could stab a character under analgesics and they wouldn't feel anything more than pressure.

Sedation

This one's the sleepy one. It calms and soothes, and though it's possible to fall asleep with it, it's more likely to leave our favorite character pleasantly dazed, but still awake, aware, and feeling pain.

Paralytic

This one's the one that stops movement during surgery, since as mentioned before, our character could still move around, even when unconscious. This is NOT anesthesia, and even if a character is completely unable to move, they are still highly conscious and acutely aware of what pain they're in. Nothing's scarier than being unable to move and feeling a blade bite into you, especially when everyone's oblivious.

Just a brief resource for anyone looking to add some variety to their writing!

#whump resource #writing resource #sedative whump #sedation #whump writer

[whumpwillow]

on writing trauma

Note: I don’t have any experience with this personally (though I do have a degree in psychology, which is still such a wild thing to say tbh) this is just research that I’ve done into the topic. I’ve tried to get everything correct so as to not offend anyone, and as always, not everyone’s experience will be the same, so this is just a general information starting point. 

Symptoms: 

Insomnia Decreased concentration Loss of interest Irritability Depression Memory problems Nightmares Flashbacks Hypervigilance Mistrust Panic attacks Self-destructive behavior Loss of sense of “who I am” Outbursts of anger Withdrawing from people Difficulty connecting with people Fatigue Lethargy Mood fluctuations / mood swings

Feelings:

Hopelessness Numbness Shame Worthlessness Intense fear of loss and abandonment Suspicious & untrusting Demotivated & drained of energy Judgmental of self and others Emotionally cut off Scattered and distracted Self-sabotaging Negative & pessimistic Self-critical Feeling on guard all the time Empty 

Thoughts: 

“No one can be trusted” “Everyone will hurt you” “Everyone cheats or is dishonest” “Sharing your feelings will result in losing people” Belief that you are not safe and will never be safe

emotions associated with trauma:

shame anxiety depression suspicion unease desperation overwhelm

—

#whump #whump writing #whump reference #whump ref #whump resource #whump resources #whump list #writing trauma

[whumphilia]

✧˚ 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧 ༉‧₊˚.

𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺.

(for amputee whumpees)

⎯⎯ ୨♡୧ ⎯⎯

#phantom pain #amputation #amputee #whump #whump resource #whump idea #whump prompt #whumpblr #writers on tumblr #original post #whumphilic

[a-series-of-whumpy-events]

And we’re back! I’m still a little sick, but feeling good enough to repost! I’m hoping to finish reposting by the end of May and start posting new things in June!

This was by far the most popular post on the old incarnation of this blog. It was super fun for me to do- I got to just infodump about history and whump! I’m going to be really happy to see this post make the rounds again, hopefully finding its way to some new people too!

So here’s my list of possible Medieval Torture Things! (categorized for your convenience!)

Warnings: torture (that’s literally all this is), one mention of nudity, a lot of burning, a few mentions of hand/foot/mouth whump, etc.

Piper’s List Of Medieval Torture Methods

Things That Will Definitely Kill Your Character

(Not sure why you would want to do this, since I’ve never seen anyone actually kill their whumpee, but hey, if your character’s immortal, go nuts. Also, while a lot of these could be survivable if stopped soon enough, they were used for execution, not torture, so I’m putting them here.)

• Beheading (widely regarded as relatively painless, but only if done well. If done by an inexperienced person, this could be incredibly painful.)

• Breaking wheel (this one was usually public. The victim was tied to a large horizontal wheel (usually held off the ground a bit) and just hit indiscriminately- historically a hammer was used, but try some more creative options! After that the victim was left there to die from either their wounds or exposure.

• Boiling (yeah, no surviving this one. The victim was either cooked alive, or put in the water/oil headfirst when it’s already boiling, for a more merciful end. For a less merciful fate, they could be lowered in feet-first.)

• Burning (specifically a summer thing- the victim was covered in a mix of boiling water and oil, and simply left in the sun to die.)

• Burning at the stake (do I need to explain this one? Oh, fun detail- if the victim recanted or confessed, they were strangled before lighting the fire, as a last act of mercy. Or not.)

• Crushing (This one can be used as a torture method, but was used for execution, so it’s in this category. It basically consisted of laying a piece of wood over the victim and adding weight on top of it until their body couldn’t take it anymore.)

• Disembowelment (this was the drawing part of the famous “hanging, drawing, and quartering”, and it’s very hard to survive. Red-hot knife optional.)

• Ducking (usually used to make someone confess to witchcraft. If they confessed, they were usually killed anyway; if they didn’t confess, they drowned. One kinda…weird part of this was that in order to prevent the victim from getting a good breath before they were submerged, their nose and mouth were often plugged with fruit? Not sure why fruit, specifically.)

• Freezing (specifically a winter thing- the victim was stripped, taken outside, and then had water poured over them until it froze. After that, they were left to die.)

• Hanging (possible either privately or in public! And a lot more painful than you’d think.)

• Hanging, drawing, and quartering (a famous medieval execution method, and regarded as the most painful! The victim was hung until they were almost but not quite dead, then disemboweled, and finally horses were used to pull them apart. Messy and very agonizing, and historically reserved for as punishment for high treason.)

• Gibbet (okay, technically, this one was usually used after an execution- a gibbet was a suspended metal cage, sometimes person-shaped, sometimes with holes for the head, legs, or arms. Historically it was used to display a body as a warning, but hey, nobody said you can’t put your character in one anyway. As an added bonus, the metal would get hot in the sun, and the open framework would provide no protection and allow other creatures to take a bite out of the victim.)

• Immurement (a simple, but effective, execution- the victim was just walled up and left to starve. If the torturer wanted to draw this out, they could leave a hole and give the victim water, but no food. This was also used as a form of imprisonment, and the victim in those cases was given both food and water.)

• Live burial (this was a public punishment- the victim was buried up to their neck, and simply left to exposure and wild animals. Unless someone came along and put them out of their misery.)

• Quartering (definitely not possible to survive this. The victim’s legs and arms were tied to opposite horses (two is an option, but typically four were used, one limb tied to each horse, hence the name) and the horses were sent running, tearing the victim’s legs and arms from their body. It was like the rack, but a lot faster and more painful.)

• Rat torture (this is a nasty one, and almost always fatal. The victim was tied down, and the torturer would place a container with at least one rat in it upside down on the victim’s stomach or chest (sometimes they would speed things up by cutting slits in the victim beforehand.) Once a heat source was applied to the container, the rat would have no choice but to chew through the victim’s insides to escape. This could take hours, and it was pretty fatal.)

• Sawing (yeah, your whumpee is dead if you do this. The quickest and most merciful way was to start at the head and go vertically down, or to saw through the middle. The slower, more painful way was to start between the legs with the victim hung upside down, and cut through to the head. You can live through this a lot longer than you’d expect.)

• Stoning (this was also usually public, and took a long time. Typically the whole village/shire/hamlet/what-have-you was allowed to participate.)

Things That Might Not Kill Your Character But Will Hurt Like A Big Dog

(These are the most severe methods of medieval torture I could find. While a lot of them often did end in death, that wasn’t the intention of them, so they’re in this category.)

• Chair of torture (extremely painful and often ended in a slow death. This was an iron chair covered in spikes, which the victim was forced to sit on. The spikes didn’t penetrate any vital organs and closed off most of the blood loss, so death was very slow. Some variations included holes in the chair seat for hot coals, or weights to be set on the victim’s thighs and feet, pushing them further onto the spikes.)

• Flogging (there are a ton of possible variations on this. It was used as both punishment and torture, and could do little damage all the way up to fatal damage, depending on the skill of the person wielding the whip, the whip itself, and the overall condition of the victim.)

• Rack (a very well-known torture method and the favorite of the Spanish Inquisition, consisting of stretching the victim’s limbs on a special table, usually used to extract a confession. This could end in dislocation, and in extreme cases paralysis or dismemberment. There were variations, though- one involving setting hot coals beneath the victim, and another in which the rack had spikes positioned along the victim’s spine to rack up the pain even more.)

• Strappado (another favorite of the Spanish Inquisition. This was a simple one, but effective- the victim’s hands were tied behind their back, and they were suspended from their wrists. This dislocated their shoulders. Variations include adding weights to their feet, or jerking them up and down while they were suspended. Keep in mind, however, that the Inquisition limited this to no more than an hour for a reason- any longer and it could cause death.)

Things That Won’t Kill Your Character But Will Make Them Have A Very Bad Day

(These torture methods have little or no risk of death, but they’re still painful and can cause permanent damage. Enjoy.)

• Boot (basically a bigger, stronger version of the thumbscrew, and used to squeeze the victim’s foot and leg, sometimes crushing the bones to powder. Usually made of wood, but some versions were made of metal- heat it up for some extra fun. One very painful version from Venice included a spike which could be drilled through the victim’s instep.)

• Foot roasting (in a word? Ouch. The victim’s feet would be smeared with lard or fat, and then held over hot coals. The Inquisition liked this one, too.)

• Scavenger’s daughter (this one is very hard to describe. It’s basically the opposite of the rack. It consists of an A-shaped metal frame with holes for the head and hands. Once the victim’s head and hands were secured, the frame was folded and locked in place, forcing the victim into a compressed position. Apparently this caused bleeding from the nose and ears, but the source is dodgy.)

• Spanish donkey (another Inquisition method! This was a triangular block of wood mounted on supports, with the sharp edge of the triangle turned up. The victim would be forced to “ride” the device, which often crippled them- especially if their feet were weighted down while on the donkey. This was a medieval method, but it was used all the way up through the Civil War.)

• Thumbscrew (despite the name, this could also be used on the big toe, and some versions were usable on all ten fingers or toes. It was a simple vice used to squeeze and crush the victim’s appendages, although some were spiced up with studs or spikes.)

Things That Are Painful But Probably Won’t Cause Permanent Damage

(These are methods that are meant to be painful, but not damaging- when used correctly. They can be damaging in the right situation, of course. Some of them aren’t specifically torture methods, but rather punishments- although they can certainly be used as torture.)

• Branding (in medieval times, this was more of a punishment or a way to mark a criminal, not a torture method. But it has torturous potential for sure.)

• Cramped cell (most dungeons have one of these. It’s a very small cell, which wouldn’t let a prisoner stand up, sit up, or in some cases, lie down. Bonus points for the few that would get flooded in rainy weather- since the prisoner couldn’t get away from the water.)

• Denailing (this was used as a torture method, and special tools existed to tear out a victim’s fingernails and toenails. By itself, not very damaging. But it was often used in tandem with other methods, such as the boot- some boot devices actually left the toes free just for this purpose.)

• Pillory (another punishment, this was similar to the stocks, but only held the victim’s fingers. The pain didn’t come from the pillory itself, but rather the exposure that came with it- often including villagers throwing things at the helpless prisoner.)

• Scold’s bridle (this was an iron mask or muzzle, with a (sometimes spiked) bit for the tongue, which forced the victim to stay silent. Often used on “nagging” wives, usually at the request of their husbands.)

• Stocks (not stonks. Very similar to the pillory, but held the victim’s arms, legs, head, or a combination of the three. Pretty much every village had one of these.)

Things That Are Debatable

(These are methods that sound or look horrifying, but it’s not really known that they were ever actually used. But whump doesn’t have to be true to life- use these debatable methods to your heart’s content!)

• Choke Pear (this kinda nasty device had a pear-shaped metal body with four spiked petal-shaped segments that could split apart when a screw was turned. It was allegedly used to painfully force a prisoner’s mouth open, but there’s only dubious evidence of it actually being used.)

• Iron maiden (we all know what this looks like. The Inquisition did have these, but it’s likely they were used only as a scare tactic, and not for actual torture.)

• Oubliette (this one is tricky. An oubliette was a bottle-shaped cell or dry cistern, which a prisoner was lowered into for extra-secure imprisonment (or just left to starve, since there was no way to escape.) Oubliettes could be real. But a lot of supposed oubliettes seem more like storage chambers. That’s not to say no one was ever thrown down one, however.)

That’s all I’ve got so far! Feel free to let me know if I missed one, and I’ll add it to the list!

#piper’s lists #whump #historical whump #medieval whump #medieval torture #whump resource #torture #torture tw #gore #gore tw #literally all the trigger warnings

[pierceofheart]

What if whumper just knaws at the skin of tiny!whumpee? Just for fun, just for fun. What then? /non-srs

#bite the tiny!whumpee #i dare you #.the pierced #whumpblr #whump blog #whump community #whump stuff #whump writing #whumplr #whump prompt #whump resource #whumpee #tiny whumpee #tiny!whumpee #big whumper #creepy whumper #/unsure #whump

[cityandking]

oc asks: not-so-nice edition

alone: How does your OC deal with loneliness? Have they ever been completely alone before? How do they act when there's no one around to see them?

betrayal: Has your OC ever been betrayed by someone they thought they could trust? Has your OC ever betrayed someone who trusted them?

bound: Has your OC ever been imprisoned or captured? What happened? How did they get out? Did the experience leave any scars?

break: What would cause your OC to break down completely? What do they look like when that happens? Has anyone ever seen them at their lowest?

desire: What's one thing your OC wants more than anything in the world? Are they open with that desire? Why or why not? What would they do to fulfill it?

failure: What's your OC's greatest failure? Have they been able to move past it? Does anyone else know about it?

fear: What is your OC's greatest fear? What do they do when confronted with it? Are they open with their fear, or do they hide it away?

future: What's the worst possible future for your OC? Are they taking steps to avoid that outcome? Are they even aware it's a possibility?

ghost: Who or what haunts your OC? What happened? How do they live with their ghosts?

guilt: What is your OC guilty about? How do they handle their guilt? Do they try to avoid guilt, or do they accept it?

hate: What does your OC hate? Why? How do they act towards the object of their hatred?

heartbreak: Have they ever had a relationship that ended badly? Experienced some other kind of heartbreak? What happened?

hide: What does your OC hide? Why do they hide it?

hunt: Who or what is your OC hunted by? A person, a feeling, a past mistake? Is your OC able to let their guard down, or are they constantly alert?

mask: Does your OC wear a mask, literally or figuratively? What goes on beneath it? Is there anyone in their life who gets to see who they are under the mask?

midnight: What keeps your OC up at night? Do they have nightmares? Fears? Anxieties? What do they do in the small hours of the morning when they should be sleeping?

mistake: What's the worst mistake your OC ever made? What led to them making it? Have they been able to fix it? How have they moved on?

monster: Is your OC monstrous in any way? Is there something that makes them monstrous? Are they aware of their own monstrosity? Do they accept it or reject it?

nightmare: What does your OC have nightmares about? How do they deal with their nightmares? Do they tell people, or keep it to themself?

pain: What's the worst pain your OC has ever felt? Do they have a high pain tolerance?

secret: What's one secret your OC never wants anyone to know about them?

skin: How comfortable is your OC in their skin? Do they grapple with anything that lives inside them—a beast, a curse, a failure, a monster? How do they face the smallest, weakest, most horrible version of themself? Are they able to acknowledge it at all?

torture: Has your OC ever been tortured? Would your OC ever torture someone else?

wound: How does your OC handle being wounded? Are their wounds mostly physical? Mental? Emotional? What's the worst wound your OC has ever experienced?

#whump #whump ask #oc asks #oc ask game #oc ask prompts #oc ask meme #ask meme #ask game #character asks #character development #mine; ask meme #meme resource #please feel free and encouraged to reblog! or to send asks but I probably won’t get to them til next week #now with minor edits for clarity!

[allthingswhumpyandangsty]

tw: bruises

reference for my fellow whump writers out there

#writing #writer #whump #whumpblr #writing resources #writing research #whump community #angst #writers #writing tips #writing tip #writing prompt #writing challenge #writing inspo #writing inspiration #whump blog #whump prompt #whump prompts #writing prompts #prompt #prompts #writing tropes #writing trope #whump tropes #whump trope #tropes #trope

[macgyvermedical]

Fandom Medical Archive: Year 1

Okay Folks! As requested- I did it!

I compiled and vaguely organized the first year of all my original posts, medical reviews, and asks into one easy-to-search google doc. It is 128 pages and nearly 60,000 words. This blog is significantly bigger than even I knew, so I'll be going year-by-year and hoping to get the entire blog onto 9 docs.

You can read the first one here

This took some time to put together, so if you use it and want to say thanks, my paypal is below the cut. Donations will be used to purchase reference materials for the blog and blaze cool posts!

Paypal: [email protected]

Prefer to use Venmo? Email me at the address above for my venmo handle.

#whump reference #writing reference #whump #resources #writing #medical #archive post

[emcscared-whumps]

WRITING RESOURCES

This post will be updated with new entries Last updated: 23 Apr, 2024 See the Updated Version!

WRITING TIPS & RESOURCES

Disability Writing Guides (Another resource post)

Editing Service (by @concerningwolves)

Emotional Intelligence in Conflict

Ellipsus, the New Collaborative Writing Tool

Difficult Chapters

Drafting: Four Methods for Highly Anxious Individuals

Writing Disability: Overused Tropes

General Writing Resources Post (collaborative)

Lay or Lie

MS Word Shortcuts Guide

Platonic Relationship Development

Passive Voice Advice

Publishing

On Punctuating Speech

Scene Transition

Sentence Ending Pointers

YA MacGuffins and Games, A Trope Analysis

Your Readers Don't Know - The Truth of the First 30 Pages

Weirdly Specific but Helpful Character Building Questions

The Writer's Sus Resources Post

The Writer's Workbook

WHUMP

The Biology of Human Survival (Life and Death in Extreme Environments), by Claude A. Piantadosi

Whump Events (A linked Google doc by @whumpsday )

Whump Reference Books (A linked list created by @bump-of-whump )

Whump Resources (A resource post by @a-crumb-of-whump , how to start a whump blog, oc advice, advice on motivation and dealing with discouragement, and games

Iron Comb (Iron combs for processing wood/flax fibre used as a torture device in historical settings)

Mer Whump Bingo by @a-crumb-of-whump

The Whumpy Printing Press is Open for Submissions for Publication of Whumpy Novels!

WOUNDS, INJURIES, & TRAUMA

GSW Recovery - [A] [B] [C]

Malnutrition

Migraines

Passing out from pain

PTSD Dreams

Scar Tissue Info

Sleep Deprivation

Writing Traumatic Injuries Resources (Another resource post)

More Resources for Writing Injuries (Another resource post)

WEAPONS

Gun information

The Safety and Mechanism of a Bolt Action Rifle

Bolt Action Rifle Mechanism (Animated diagram)

Semiautomatic Rifle Mechanism (Animated diagram)

Pump Action Rifle Mechanism (Animated diagram)

CLOTHING

African Women's Fashion (Outfit examples video)

Lady's Clothes Guide

Men's Fashion Guide

Men's Suits Guide

Period Clothing References

Shirt types

Vintage Fashion Clips (Saved for scarf pin :))

MISC

African Hair Care and FAQ

Art Resources and References (Another resource post)

Creating a Chinese Name

Writing Deaf, Mute, or Blind Characters

Place Description Aid...?

Wheelchair References for Art and Writing (features images)

Whump Community Directory (Tumblr blogs)

If there're any broken links, please let me know!

#emc's shit #writing resources #whump resources #i store neat shit i find :3 #2nd link in the entry of the whump category is missing??????

[befuddled-calico-whump]

✨Content Tagging Guide✨

disclaimer: this is not directed at anyone, nor was it sparked because I've seen anyone mistagging anything. I just like lists and I'm going to make it everyone's problem :)

So you wanna write a story with darker themes, but are mayhaps a little uncertain about all the different content warnings you've seen.

Not to worry! Hopefully this quick guide will clear things up. To illustrate each level, I'm going to use macaroni and cheese as the content example. Without further ado...

cw: macaroni and cheese

^^this warning is very general. It tells the reader the content will show up at some point within the text, but doesn't specify the detail, use, or extent.

cw: macaroni and cheese (mentioned)

They drove through town, past the busy main street, and the factory where the local brand of macaroni and cheese got its packaging.

This warning tells readers the content will be mentioned; maybe in dialogue, or in a description, but not explored in detail.

cw: macaroni and cheese (discussed)

"I'm lactose intolerant," he said. "So I can't---well, I shouldn't eat stuff like that."

"But you did anyway?" they pressed. "I'm sorry, just... How did it feel? After?"

"Awful. I really should've listened to my common sense and ordered something besides mac and cheese."

As you'd expect, this warning tells the reader that the content will be discussed, either in conversation, or through a character's thoughts. Discussions can involve the moral implications of the content, how the content fits within the world, philosophies relating to the content, and the emotional or lasting effects of the content on a character.

cw: macaroni and cheese (referenced)

He tapped her shoulder. "Hey, I didn't see you after work yesterday, you okay?"

"Fine now," she said, shrugging. "I just had a bad batch of mac and cheese for lunch."

Very similar to "mentioned", this warning often implies a non-explicit, non-graphic mention of the content.

cw: macaroni and cheese (implied)

He frowned down at the bowl, then averted his eyes, appetite lost by the gooey yellow mass inside, and the heavy, creamy smell wafting off it.

This warning tells readers that the content is not outright stated, but the character's reactions and actions imply what's going on. If you could remove the context from the scene/paragraph in question and make it look like something else is happening, you probably have implied content. Note that there is a difference between simply "implied", and "heavily implied".

cw: macaroni and cheese (fade to black)

She took her seat at the table, queasiness building in her stomach. Her least-favorite food was to be served, and while she knew it would be rude to decline it, she wasn't looking forward to lunch. As the dreaded bowl was placed before her, she picked up the fork, and plunged it in.

Similar to implied, but instead of carrying on through the scene the content takes place in, fade to black builds up to the moment, and stops, often transitioning to the next scene before the content is given any kind of detail.

cw: macaroni and cheese (non-explicit)

For lunch, he was served a bowl of mac and cheese, one of his least favorite meals. He choked it down anyway, and hoped he wouldn't get an upset stomach.

This tells the reader the content will be present in some form, but not described in detail. It may have some active bearing on the character or plot, but won't be particularly graphic. While the character may be emotionally affected after the fact, the content itself is glossed over.

cw: macaroni and cheese (explicit)

The bowl was placed in front of him, steam still rising from the substance inside. He knew what it was before he looked. Mac and cheese. And he'd have to devour the entire bowl of it. He lifted the first forkful, strands of yellow cheese trailing from squishy curved noodles, all the way back into the bowl, even as he raised it to his mouth. Damn, it was extra cheesy. He knew his lactose intolerance just wouldn't hold up.

This is often used as the heaviest warning, telling readers that the content and the characters' reactions to it will be described in detail.

Again, this was something I mostly just wrote for fun, and to dramatize mac and cheese but I do hope someone out there finds it helpful. Let me know if there's a type I missed! :)

#most of this is commonly known but I Like List #writing reference #whump community #whump meta #writing resources #content guide

[much-ado-about-whumping]

Help for when you’re having a rough time

(If you're looking for my old pinned post with my whump masterlists, you can find it here.)

In light of some deeply sad news in the whump community today, I’m thinking about how many of us here struggle with mental health, sometimes including physical or mental self-harm and suicidality. Since I know lots of folks might be having a hard time right now, I wanted to share some resources that have helped me in rough moments. Please feel free to add on to this post (or make your own, if you want!) with the resources that have worked for you. 

First, a note:

Trauma, shame, and suicidality all tend to isolate - they make us feel like we’re all alone in the world, like no one else would understand us, and like the only solutions we have available to us are ones we can think of all by ourselves. In my experience, the antidote to that is connection. If you’re feeling scared or alone, you can hop into my asks or DMs if you want. I’m sure there are other folks in this community who would offer that, too. Many of us have grappled with mental health struggles, including suicidal ideation, and sometimes we can offer each other the care that can be hard to offer ourselves. Don’t be afraid to reach out if you need support.

A quick note about location: I live in the US, but about half the resources in this post are written guides you can access from anywhere. The hotlines and warmlines linked below are US-based. One or two are accessible in Canada or have an online chat or moderated forum that could be accessed anywhere. If you have good local resources from another place, please reblog and add them! (Thank you, @straight-to-the-pain, for flagging this in the notes!)

That said, here’s my absolute first recommendation if you’re feeling generally awful and don’t know what to do:

1. You Feel Like Shit (also available at its original site here)

If you’ve read a lot of ~self care tips~ in your life (and if you’re a bit of a salty bitch like me), you might be sick of being told to eat something and take a nap. (I don’t think we can hydrate our way out of long-term trauma and late-stage capitalistic hell, but thanks.) That said, I’ve found this site REALLY helpful. Personally, I have ADHD and CPTSD, a combination that makes it ROUGH for me to know how to take care of myself sometimes. This site speaks to you calmly, like a non-judgemental friend, and walks you through steps that you might struggle with if you have a hard time with executive function in general, or if you’re ill, grieving, overwhelmed, or otherwise just off your game. I pretty much always walk away feeling at least a little better, even if I don’t complete every step.

There are more suggestions and resources below the cut. Wishing everyone in this community love and care. <3

2. The 15-Minute Rule (info available in many places; after a quick google, I really like this site as a place to start)

One key principle to understanding the resources I’ve put together here is the 15-minute rule. If you’re feeling an urge towards physical or mental self-harm or suicide, studies show that the urge is unlikely to last more than about 15 minutes at its peak intensity. (Sorry I don’t have data on this off the bat - anecdotally, I can tell you that this rule also tracks with my own personal experience.) This means that, if you’re presently feeling overwhelmed by grief or pain that’s turning inwards on you, if you can stay afloat through the next few minutes, the tide of it is likely to ebb. The site I linked above has information about this concept and some great harm-reduction ideas, too. (Another resource on this that I liked in my quick search is here.)

3. Read This First (a compassionate distraction from feelings of self-harm)

I’m gonna be honest; this resource is aimed at folks having urges towards physical self-harm, but it looks like something I would find helpful with urges towards emotional self-harm, too. (It also looks like it could be handy for body-focused repetitive behaviors - BFRBs - like dermatillomania/skin-picking or trichotillomania/hair-pulling).

4. Resources from Pete Walker, psychotherapist and author of Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving

Obviously not everyone reading this will have complex PTSD (also called C-PTSD), but if you’re a person who, in general, tends to beat yourself up a lot, I’d highly recommend checking Pete Walker’s work out. If some of it doesn’t apply to you, that’s okay - take what you need, and leave the rest. This site (and the book it references most heavily) assumes you may have had parents who were emotionally or physically abusive or neglectful. If that doesn’t ring true for you, but other parts of the resources seem helpful, use them anyway! A handy place to start maybe this page on Shrinking the Inner Critic in Complex PTSD (that is, reducing the volume of the voice that screeches unpleasantness at you when you feel ashamed or scared).

As a note: this website looks VERY mid-2000s (which I kind of love). Most of the resources you want will be in the right-hand column full of links. Some of those links will open new pages, and some will automatically try to download a PDF of the article you want to read. 

5. Warmlines:

This is something I just learned today - if you’re feeling really lonely and sad, but you’re not in immediate crisis, there are warmlines you can contact! These seem to be numbers where you can call (or sometimes text) to talk with a counselor or trained peer when you need support and connection. I can’t vouch for any of these numbers personally, but as someone who has definitely thought, “It’s not bad enough to REALLY need help,” I think this is a fabulous idea. Here’s a list of warmlines you can check out in the US.

6. Specialized hotlines: 

There are lots of good crisis hotlines out there, but some may be better for your needs than others. For one thing, if you’re feeling seriously suicidal, it’s good to know the policies of the hotline you’re calling. In my opinion, everyone deserves bodily autonomy and the right to refuse care; for that reason, I think it’s important to know the policy of the hotline you’re calling as to whether or not they’ll call emergency services without your consent. Everyone has to make their own judgment call on this one, and I’m a little too (lightly!) triggered to go deep into my analysis on this right now, but I wanted to flag that it’s something to be aware of - if you’re going to call a hotline, you can try to look up their policy on calling emergency services before you contact them. You could probably even ask them in the beginning of the call. (A script: “Before we start, can you tell me what your policy is about contacting emergency services on behalf of callers?” If this is true, you can add: “I’m having some feelings of [suicidality/self-harm], but I’m safe and am not in danger of hurting myself or others.”)

With that in mind, here are some hotlines that seem promising to me, in no particular order:

A. For queer and trans folks in general:

Trans LifeLine

Available in the US (1-877-565-8860) and Canada (1-877-330-6366)

Available in English and Spanish

Will NOT call emergency services without your consent (you can read more about this policy on their website, including here)

Peer to peer support for transgender and questioning folks; also, microgrants (small amounts of money) for trans-related needs!

Does not offer text/chat-based support

I’ve never used Trans LifeLine myself, but I’ve heard excellent things about it from peers who have.

The Trevor Project:

Support from trained counselors for queer, trans, and questioning folks

Definitely available in the US; I’m not sure where else.

Offers support via phone [phone]), text message (678-678), and online chat (link here - scroll down to Start Chat)

Also offers an online peer support space, TrevorSpace, for folks ages 13-24

Their site says, “In very specific instances of abuse or a clear concern of an in-progress or imminent suicide, Trevor counselors may need to contact a child welfare agency or emergency service.” When you click Learn More, it takes you to their Terms of Service (informative, but in legalese that might be hard to parse if you’re in crisis).

Again, not a service I’ve used myself, but I’ve heard good things!

B. For BIPOC folks (Black folks, Indigenous folks, and people of color more broadly), especially those who also hold LQBTQI identities:

Call Blackline:

Available via phone or text (both at 1-800-604-5841)

Available for people in crisis. Call Blackline can also help connect you with local community organizers and officials if you need to report a negative, inappropriate, or physical interaction with police, other law enforcement, or vigilantes.

From their website:

Call BlackLine® provides a space for peer support, counseling, reporting of mistreatment, witnessing and affirming the lived experiences for folxs who are most impacted by systematic oppression with an LGBTQ+ Black Femme Lens.Call BlackLine® prioritizes BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). By us for us.

Here’s what I found regarding their policy on emergency services:

You do not have to provide any personal information to use the service. All calls remain private and will never be shared with law enforcement or state agencies of any kind.

Of course, a BIPOC person can contact any hotline for support, but for people dealing with racism, anti-Blackness, and other specific bigotries, I can very much see the importance of talking to someone who shares or understands that experience.

C. For folks processing bad psychedelic trips:

Fireside Project:

This one is something I didn’t even know existed! They do call- or text-based support (1-623-473-7433, or 1-62-FIRESIDE) for people processing psychedelic drug experiences, available 11am to 11pm Pacific time. I don’t have a ton more info, but their site seems really interesting and like they’re serving a unique need.

7. A soothing distraction:

One of the glories of the internet is the fact that it enables us to conjure up images of kittens at a moment’s notice. In that vein, I want to offer up a VERY cute distraction: Peptoc is a hotline [phone], or 1-707-8PEPTOC) where you can hear encouraging messages in English or Spanish from kindergarteners. How sweet is that? (Thanks to the wonderful @newbornwhumperfly for this suggestion!)

--------

Beloved whump community, I want to know about things that help you when you’re struggling. Please feel free to share them if you want.

And, Moya - we’ll miss you so, so much, even those of us (like me) who didn’t know you well. May your memory be an absolute blessing. <3

(I was going to put this in the tags, but oops, it’s going up here - I really hope this post will be helpful to someone, but it was also helpful to me to build. I feel better in a crisis when I can find a way to help - it’s how I soothe myself when I’m sad or scared. I really hope this doesn’t seem preachy or self-aggrandizing - it’s really just me processing-processing-processing. <3)

One more note: if this post makes you think you might want to follow my blog, you're totally welcome, but you should check out my note here first. This is not a DNI list; it's just a heads-up about my content, which could be inappropriate or triggering for some people.

#whump community #how to be a person in the world #ways to stay afloat #suicide mention cw #suicidality mention cw #self-harm mention cw #resources for taking care of yourself #bel talks #touchstones #sorry another disclaimer but also i know my experiences are not universal #my feelings might come from a really different place than other people's feelings #idk for instance if any of the shit in this post would have been at all useful to moya #but I'm sharing it anyway in case it's useful to SOMEONE

[bandits-whump-collection]

Here's a tip for nonhuman whump:

Look at veterinary medicine, and try incorporating some of those symptoms in.

Is your werewolf whumpee in shock? They might display human symptoms, like rapid light pulse and fast breathing, but what about dog symptoms? Completely blanched tear ducts and almost pure white gums?

Or a tabaxi/catfolk whumpee, what if they're panting under extreme stress and no one around realizes this isn't normal, because they've seen it with canines?

Maybe an angel or avian whumpee with feathers torn and snapped, some of them without any feeling past the initial pain on the follicle, but broken blood feathers feeling excrutiating against open air?

Works for fantasy species with no equivalent too, seeing a dragon panting when they shouldn't could be terrifying to their rider, or an alien with rich green flesh and blood suddenly appearing to have pale blue gums after suffering blood loss works as well.

Looking up real medicine for things beyond humans can give your nonhumans a truly nonhuman feel, and might even help you learn about your own pet, and how to care for them better than ever.

#whump prompt #whump resource #whump suggestion #nonhuman whumpee #pet whump #if you choose #animal harm mention

[whumpwillow]

Types of whumpees, a comprehensive list

this is really more for my own personal reference since I need to write everything down because my brain is made of smashed banana and cannot remember anything ever. 🍌

species / role:

mortal whumpee, the average human being

immortal whumpee

vampire whumpee

demon whumpee

angel whumpee

phoenix whumpee

elf whumpee

faery whumpee

tiny whumpee

giant whumpee

android whumpee

cyborg whumpee

robot whumpee

draconic whumpee

mer whumpee

dryad / plant-person whumpee

mage whumpee

royal whumpee

bodyguard whumpee

knight whumpee

naga whumpee

werewolf whumpee

dhampir whumpee

genie / djinn whumpee

ghost whumpee

zombie whumpee

undead whumpee

selkie whumpee

pet / box boy whumpee

guard dog whumpee

living weapon whumpee

assassin whumpee

spy whumpee

rebel whumpee

deity whumpee

slave whumpee

mafia boss whumpee

CEO whumpee

whumper-turned-whumpee

caretaker-turned-whumpee

villain whumpee

superhero whumpee

sidekick whumpee

civilian whumpee

famous whumpee

known whumpee

returner / regressor whumpee

monster hunter whumpee

behavior:

defiant whumpee

stoic whumpee

weak whumpee

cowardly whumpee

pathetic whumpee

obedient whumpee

prideful whumpee

detached whumpee

enduring whumpee

feral whumpee

vicious whumpee

powerful whumpee

bargaining whumpee

disbelieving whumpee

hopeful whumpee

hopeless whumpee

self-loathing whumpee

regretful whumpee

conditioned whumpee

Feel free to add on to this post if you think of any more!

#whump #whumpee #types of whumpees #whumpee types #whump list #whump resources #whump resource #whump reference #whump ref #a regressor or returner means someone who has gone back in time #which is something you'd see if you read literally any manhwa ever

[prompts-by-anjali]

“Don’t hurt them. Hurt me instead. I can take it. I can —”

“Oh, loveliness, you can’t. You’re already crying, and I haven’t even touched you.”

“… no, I’m just sweating a lot. It’s sweat.”

#(it's not sweat) #whump #whump prompt #writing prompts #dialogue prompt #character dialogue #writing resources #writing #creative writing #dialogue #dialogue ideas #dialogue prompts #imagine your otp

[whumpiary]

does anyone have any resources/references for fat bodies in whumpy poses? i’m a reference-heavy artist and am struggling to find anything but thin/straight sized people

a lot of the bigger models I’ve found hold more ethereal/elegant poses which is lovely in its own right but not quite what i’m hoping for

#whump references #whump resources

[professional-idiocy]

Writing Advice From Experience 1 - Blood loss

1. When you first lose blood, it doesn't feel that bad immediately, you won't actually notice it.

2. After 10 minutes and with you moving around, you will start to feel cold like you're sweating and your muscles ache.

3. Your face feels cold and you might get something akin to a headache. This is when you feel like you want to sit down.

4. Your vision will blur before going black at the edges and your limbs start tingling.

5. With the impaired vision your body will have a hard time balancing so any attempt you make is overcompensated, making you move more than you intended or crash into wall.

6. Your pulse will increase, like you can hear the heart pounding away along with some static noise in your ears as if you're standing next to a waterfall but directly in your ears.

7. You will later feel hot and then cold again. It will be like a roller coaster.

8. Trying to move without properly resting first will make your symptoms come back twice as bad!

9. It can affect you hours after initial blood loss event!

This information has been brought to you by me donating blood and not preparing properly. Fun stuff 11/10 would recommend for the experience alone, free snacks is a win along with learning your blood type.

#writing advice #blood loss #whump #whump help #writing resources