It’s Mental Health Awareness Month! How To Support Someone With Dissociative Identity Disorder.

truly the end goal is not "my close friends aren't annoyed by me and it's all in my head, they're my friends and they love me", it's "sometimes I do annoy my close friends, just as the people I love most will also annoy me sometimes, because this is normal, and we will continue to stay friends, and they're not going to want to immediately cut me out of their life if I do something annoying once in a while"

Sometimes good posts are made by annoying people so I’ll help out

These are Safe Shorts. They were made by Sandra Seilz after someone attempted to rape her. If the fabric is torn, an alarm will be sounded.

This is the Rape-aXe, invented by a South African doctor by the name of  Sonnet Ehlers. After interviewing a rape victim who wished she had teeth down there, she made this. If someone’s penis is inserted and pulled back out, the teeth will sink in, and can only be removed by a doctor.

The Killer Tampon (couldn’t find a site for it), made by retired anaesthetist Jaap Haumann. When penetration takes place, the sharp end will slice the offending appendage.

The Anti-Rape Belt (also couldn’t find a site), made by a group of Swedish teenagers led by Nadja Björk. It requires two hands to undo.

Anti-Rape Underwear/Bra (once again), as made by a group of Indian students. Will deliver an electric shock when met with unwanted advances, as well as sounding an alarm.

Undercover Colours. Made by 4 male undergraduates at North Carolina U, they change colours when in contact with chemicals or drugs that cause unconsciousness. Used in case you’re wary that your drink has been roofied.

These are just tools to help, but in addition to being mindful of your situations and staying safe, they can help when the worst happens.

Stay safe.

Just a friendly reminder that you don't have to have it all figured out today or tomorrow... Just do you and go at your own pace. You’ll eventually get to where you are going. 

my intrusive thoughts have definitely improved, personally, but actual intrusive thoughts are so horrifying that it creates a vicious cycle of stigma –> ppl dont want to talk about what its actually like to have intrusive thoughts –> lack of information on what intrusive thoughts ACTUALLY are –> stigma.

the point of intrusive thoughts is that they’re really scary. having quirky ideas are just thoughts. those are just normal thoughts. intrusive thoughts are distressing and painful. that is why they are debilitating. 

i think it would help if ppl who dont experience intrusive thoughts imagined them as….behaving more like flashbacks than normal thoughts. ppl with traumatic flashbacks dont intentionally have them. theyre a part of your brain attempting to process trauma, and more importantly, its indicative of your brain going back to a dark situation instinctively because of a trigger. 

intrusive thoughts are similar. they’re just relative to the current situation rather than throwing you into the past. its your brain literally applying your trauma/illness to whats happening around you. 

if you were heavily exposed to violence or suicidal ideation in the past, your first intrusive thought when in the kitchen with your s/o chopping carrots might be “stab yourself” or even “stab your partner.” its horrible, but its your brain reverting back to what it was exposed to. its not any more morally corrupt than seeing a knife and having flashbacks to an act of violence you witnessed that traumatized you in the past.

you wouldnt tell someone having a flashback that they’re doing it on purpose or that theyre intentionally having a flashback bc they want to traumatize others. dont do the same to people with intrusive thoughts.

Hey students, here’s a pro tip: do not write an email to your prof while you’re seriously sick.

Signed, a person who somehow came up with “dear hello, I am sick and not sure if I’ll be alive to come tomorrow and I’m sorry, best slutantions, [name]”.

During my first month with my therapist, I was given this worksheet to read and work on. She noticed that while I was talking with her, that my thoughts followed a lot of these. I wasn’t aware that my anxiety had brought me down paths of low self-worth and stinky thinking.  After a couple of weeks of talking with her, she gave me this worksheet to work on. 

While, at first, I thought these weren’t going to work out, I was very surprised to see just how easy they were to use . My homework at that time was to identify which sort of thinking I used on the regular and which ones would best challenge them for me. So, what do you think? Do any of the maladaptive thinking patterns sound like you? which ways would you like to untwist your thinking? 

I hope you guys like…eventually live the life you want to live and I hope nothing haunts you for too long and I hope you’re all kind to yourselves

First Time Walking-Stick/Cane Users Tips

I’ve seen a post about first time wheelchair users guide. Since I’ve been using a walking stick for a while now, I thought I’d make one specifically for these types of aids. These will be in no particular order– they’re just things you probably don’t know about using a walking stick.

- if you’ve hurt you left leg/ect., hold the stick in your right hand (if possible) and if you’ve hurt your right leg/ect., hold the stick in your left hand. Trust me, your shoulders and back will thank you

- the pad of your hand will hurt– it just will. You’ll get used to it and your hand will develop more protection there eventually. To start out, look into a pair of fingerless gloves. 

- a fold up/collapsable stick is good for beginners because you can take them on public transport/cars without too much hassle (they also fit nicely into desks and under chairs).

- When you’re using your stick, you only have one free hand. This may seem obvious, but it really impacts your every day life. Practice for a while around the house, so you get the feeling down.

-there are a lot of different types of walking sticks: fold up, one leg, two legs, three legs, etc. 

(these are only a few of the many designs)

-if possible, go to a shop that specifies in walking sticks. ask to try a few out, they will also help make sure that you’re using on that’s the right height for you.

- a height adjustable walking stick is a miracle, especially if you want to wear high heels to an event.

- you don’t need a prescription to get a stick in most regions (but in some cases they may help get a discount)

- getting a stick that is the right height for you if very important (even with an adjustable one). Too short, and you’ll hurt your shoulder. Too tall, and you can’t put weight on it properly. The correct height is when the highest part of the handle reaches your wrist when the stick is standing straight up, as shown in this image.

- if you’re young (under the age of 60) people will stare, often they wont mean to– it is annoying but you’ll get used to it. 

- again, if you’re young, people will ask why you’re using the stick, all. the. time. Even strangers will sometimes ask. You can use a really simple answer like “medical condition” and if they pry further, you can say “That’s all I’m comfortable saying”. If they don’t know you, or don’t know you well, they really have no business asking.

-Children will ask, a lot. Please be gentle with them, especially if they’re really little. I know it’s annoying but you can give children reallllllllly simple answers like “I just need it to help me walk” and most of the time they’ll be perfectly content with that and won’t ask more.

- don’t be afraid to use more advanced mobility aids if needed on bad days, or when readily available (eg. at a supermarket, when they have motorized wheelchairs for customers)

- You don’t have to use your stick every day for you to have a disability or for you to own a stick. Even if you need it once a week, once a month, you can still own one. You’re not less worthy or a mobility aid than those who need one everyday. 

-Use backpacks, the ones with 2 well-padded straps that go over your shoulders evenly. Use them as much as you can. Bags that you hold in one hand or have one strap make you unbalanced or take up your only free hand. 

- If you want to, decorate your stick, go all out. 

Even if you don’t need/use a walking stick, please reblog this to let those who do, know this information. 

It’s so wonderful that any day or even any minute now something so wonderful and exciting is going to happen and it’s gonna bring so much joy