prismaticbleed: (flashback)

I'm miserable and terrified about both Thanksgiving and vacation coming up, both situations in which i will inevitably be forced to eat strange foods in public settings, and I'm trying to figure out if whatever the heck I'm dealing with ACTUALLY IS. How much co-morbidity is going on?
I've been diagnosed with OCD, anorexia, and bulimia, as well as a tendency to psychosis, but I'm googling ARFID and some of these comments are SPOT ON=

https://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/comments/1hgtcxb/i_have_arfid_a_complex_type_of_picky_eating/
"ARFID is not like a severe craving to certain types of food, and a willingness to starve in protest until you get that food. Parents can serve their kids as much real food as they can get and never let processed food near their kid. The child will starve rather than eat unsafe foods. Not because they’re holding out for cookies instead, but because their brain makes them feel like they will die if they eat that food. It’s a survival instinct, just a poorly wired one..."

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS WITH ME. The issue is that I apparently dissociate so bloody hard that I don't even COMPREHEND textures/ tastes/ smells typically?? Like I can sit here and try to remember sensory data of food, but despite all of Iscah's old obsessive datalogging NOTHING IS ACCESSIBLE. It's due to abject terror. How in the world did that develop post-TBHU?? Most notably though, is that my avoidance of food is actually rooted in "poison" and "infestation" and "moral panic" fears, rather than sensory issues. I am literally scared to death that if I eat 1/4 teaspoon of dry oats, it WILL somehow "kill me"-- either because my body will reject it/ react to it so disastrously that I will die, OR because "eating it is WRONG/ SINFUL" and I will be PUNISHED with death for "disobeying God" BY eating it. It's hell. 
BUT THEN there is ALSO the terror of gaining weight, which is ACTUALLY tangled up IN the "poison/ infestation" fear. To me, "weight gain" is the result of FOREIGN MATTER. It is a PARASITIC SYMPTOM. "Gaining weight" means that THERE IS EXCESS STUFF INSIDE OF ME THAT DOES NOT BELONG THERE. It's a literal "existential horror" reaction, based on this rocksolid conviction that the REAL me, the TRUE me, is STILL PHYSICALLY CHILDLIKE (prepubescent), and therefore if I gain weight-- which, honestly, is synonymous with "become an adult/ become female"-- I am actually only "burying myself alive" beneath superfluous junk matter. The "real me," the small but healthy wiry fiery child me-- NOT thin or waifish or sickly-- is SUFFOCATING. It's a TERRIFYING feeling and I get it ALL THE TIME. It's why "feeling full" is one of the scariest things in the world, let alone feeling food IN the body at ALL-- it registers ENTIRELY as essentially a MALIGNANT TUMOR. I cannot find strong enough words to describe it. Food, to me, in general, is INVASIVE. It is an INCURSION, more specifically-- "an invasion as well as an attack," a "hostile entrance into a territory." Eating, to my psyche, is INHERENTLY something scarily analogous to rape. Even with my "safe foods," I need to dissociate the entire time (hence the Bible study hyperfocus) or THAT awareness clicks in and I am overwhelmed with survival panic. It's a literal trauma response. 
Eating food, to me, means "forcing foreign objects into my body in a painful and humiliating manner, where I cannot get them out and I am helpless to do anything about their unwanted weight inside of me, and they will take over my mind and body from the inside out, and I will die from their poisonous influence infecting me unless I violently vomit them up to destroy them, and am clean and safe and good and pure again." 
 THAT IS MY DAILY LIFE, and THAT IS NOT NORMAL. THAT IS TRAUMATIZED LANGUAGE. And, despite recognizing it as technically incorrect according to "normal people data", IT STILL "MAKES PERFECT SENSE" TO MY LIFE SITUATION and registers as 100% FACTUAL. 

I had FIVE RELAPSE DAYS THIS WEEK due to trying very hard and therefore very stupidly to reintroduce "new foods" (mostly carbohydrates) into our diet. Long story short= 99% of it ended up donated, thrown in the garbage, or vomited up. I was SO UNBELIEVABLY SCARED that as SOON as I got symptoms of nausea, stomach pain, headaches, dizziness, shaking, confusion, itching, burning, etc. I PANICKED and PURGED EVERYTHING. But are those symptoms really life-threatening, or are they the results OF unconscious fears? I don't know. 
I tried lettuce, bread, tomato, mayonnaise, tunafish, salmon, oatmeal, sunflower butter, blueberries, apples, raisins, zucchini, cucumber, carrots, chickpeas, blackeyed peas, eggs, rice, and protein powder. ALL OF IT SCARES THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME. But when I look at that list and ask myself, "but WHY is it so deadly/ scary?" The only response I get is, "because it's POISON." When I ask, "can you define "poison"?" The response is, "IT DOESN'T BELONG AND IT WILL KILL ME." So... deep, deep down, ALL FOOD is somehow potentially "poisonous," because EVERY SINGLE THING THAT "GOES INTO OUR BODY" IS FATAL BECAUSE IT IS A FOREIGN INVASIVE OBJECT. 
That's the fear. "It doesn't belong." "It's an invading enemy." "It's a parasitic infection." 
How ironic that Animorphs was such a definitive series for me as a kid. I was already severely germaphobic back then, with serious magical thinking issues... the Yeerks were the second most perfect simile for the deep horror I experienced daily. The most perfect one was demonic possession
God I am so tired.

I have so much more work to do tonight. I'll pause this thought for now. At least I was able to voice some of my most immediate concerns.

OH. I almost forgot. The PARALLEL concern is how my MOTHER is reacting to this, because this whole topic came up during a phone call in the specific context of my saying, verbatim, "every time I go up that house, I have a relapse into disordered behavior. I've been saying that for years; you know that, and it hasn't changed." It's true. No matter WHAT I do, being in that environment just RUINS me. When I went up on Saturday evening to do some odd jobs for mom, as I was peeling old wallpaper off the walls, I had the sudden awful lucid thought that, "if I still had to come up here every night, with no escape, I would absolutely still be drowning in the eating disorder and self-abuse." I knew it was true, and that terrified me. ...and then, my mother decided to keep me there for for hours while she did other things, and what do you know, I had my worst E.D. relapse in MONTHS. My brain just couldn't handle it. I don't know how to explain it. It feels like the "opposite" of a survival instinct-- it's the same screaming urgent compulsion, but it's DESTRUCTIVE, not protective. It's like... "I can't get out of here, everything is wrong and dirty and scary and loud and evil, and I'm stuck here, and it's ALL WRONG," therefore "I'm going to kill myself WITH it." THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO. Somehow, being in that environment triggers what I can only figure is a bizarre SUICIDE REACTION, an "escape route" that is POINTEDLY ACCUSATORY because it uses the impetus itself AS the means. Basically = this house is scaring me to death, and I can't do or say anything about it, and I cannot get away somewhere safe, SO the ONLY way I can "scream for help" or "protest against this horror" is to MAKE MY AGONY VERY VISIBLE by using this house itself to make me sick enough to DIE." Does that make sense? It's like, if a child was mute and couldn't voice his fear, but he was scared to death of the family dog, so he did everything it could to make the dog ATTACK and HUR him, JUST so the family would GET RID OF THE DOG. It's a desperate cry for help, for rescue, for escape, but no one is listening, and no one takes you seriously, and no one believes you, and no one cares, so your ONLY OPTION is to force circumstances to become SO UNIGNORABLY BAD and DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT YOU NEED TO GET AWAY FROM, that it will annoy or inconvenience or outright outrage others to the point where they WILL get you out of there EVEN if it's solely in their own interests. The single point pursued is to escape. The means are not important. Desperation will do anything it must. So that's apparently what happens when I go up that house and am forced to stay there for longer than a few minutes apparently.
HOWEVER. What was my mother's response on the phone? It was the same as it's been for years as well: "I don't know what else to do! I'm making EVERYTHING in that house look so different, so you SHOULDN'T be traumatized by it anymore! Everyone who used to live there is dead, so you SHOULDN'T have any problem with it!"
This time I had the guts to reply, with noted resignation, "that actually made it worse for me, mom."
See, it's PERFECT for her-- she actually feels "completely safe and happy" there now, "for the first time in her life" she claims. And I am GENUINELY HAPPY FOR HER. Apparently, making it look different DID help her. But not me. 
There was no way I could explain why over the phone, and I know she didn't want to hear it anyway-- whenever I attempt to explain how my broken brain works, she immediately cuts me off or changes the subject. This is a repeatedly proven phenomenon and I do not want to burden her with that data anyway; she has no interest in it and therefore no need to hear it. She isn't my therapist, she isn't a nousfoni, she isn't Jesus, so there's no reason for me to tell her anyway. So I didn't even try. This was fine by her-- she continued the conversation in a different direction and I nudged it along that way, glad to not be talking about myself anymore.
However, I knew that I would have to at least try to explain WHY/ HOW "that made it worse for me" in this journal, for System purposes. 
Here's the core of the matter: what triggers me about that house is notsomuch how it looks but how it feels. I get triggered by the SPATIAL REALITY of it somehow. There's a texture to the air, a smell, a sense of proprioception in reverse, almost-- it's like I'm physically, immediately aware of the ghosts of the past. It's like building an amusement park over an old graveyard. No matter how cheery and uplifting you try to make the space now, no matter how much you try to override and abrogate the memory of what was before, there are still corpses buried beneath it and you cannot get them out. The bathroom looks 1000% different than it used to, but it still takes up the same physical space, and therefore it registers to my psyche AS the SAME bathroom, which it "is," regardless of physical appearance. Don't forget-- I've lived my entire life as internally-rooted in one sense or another. Physical appearance is not what I'm focusing on. My subconscious seems to assume, by default almost, that "what I see is illusory" or at least "not the reality of the thing." I notice this more often now-- it's a "dream logic," this assumption that apparent forms could shift or dissolve or disappear in a moment. It's hard to parse that yet. But I feel it, even looking around now. It's the constant underlying feeling that "I could wake up at any moment" and everything will just disappear, leaving some deeper, truer reality behind? Like everything is just a symbol, or better, a hologram, like Erek the Chee. He's a human boy and yet he is absolutely not, and yet one can know him all one's life as the former without suspecting the latter. Still, it's the truth. That's how I feel about life, I guess. Maybe that's a depersonalization symptom-- this "nothing is quite real" sort of "interim space" undertone to life itself. 
But I digress. With the house, "changing the hologram" is not going to alter what's beneath it, to continue that analogy. And, most importantly, it's still taking up the exact same space in the world. THAT'S what triggers me, more than anything. 
The second and third issues are ones that I cannot tell my mother out of filial respect. First is the fact that she is, to my perception, a hoarder. She owns DOZENS of outfits, DOZENS of shoes, HUNDREDS of books and CDs and DVDs and movies... the house is SO CLUTTERED with sheer stuff-- BOTH hers and grandpa's-- that it completely burns out my brain the minute I walk in the door. The sheer dirtiness of clutter is bad enough on its own, but the oppressive VOLUME of it makes that house a cesspit of NIGHTMARISH SENSORY OVERWHELM. And it's not just visual volume-- it's AUDITORY. When my mother is around, NOISE DOES NOT STOP. She's either talking literally nonstop, AND/OR she is blasting music or an audiobook or the television or all three at once PLUS the conversation AND the cooking AND the bloody CATS. That's the new and unbearable overwhelm: the ANIMAL FILTH. Oh of course there is an ABUNDANCE of "human" filth-- garbage, food waste, hair, unknown sticky substances, spills, etc. not to mention the incredibly unsanitary condition of the bathrooms-- but  NOW we have LITERAL FECES AND HAIR AND VOMIT OVER EVERYTHING due to the fact that there are three filthy dirty stinking animals running free around the ENTIRE HOUSE, so that NOWHERE IS CLEAN and NOWHERE IS SAFE and EVERYTHING "BELONGS TO THE CATS" now, in my brain. The "infection" feeling is tangible, with those animals everywhere. It literally makes my brain scream the instant I open the front door, and it is impossible to escape. No matter where you go, there's litter and kibble and biological waste and everything STINKS. That's INFINITELY WORSE than all the overwhelm with the more "abstract dirt" of sight & sound, and even of tangible touch, as horrible as that is. I've realized lately that, unexpectedly, a TON of my WORST triggers are OLFACTORY. Although I don't "pay much attention to it," it is HUGELY IMPORTANT TO MY MIND, and when I want to remember something I NEED to "smell it." It's almost obsessive; I'm noticing that, frequently, my memories don't seem real UNLESS I can "smell" them. I guess this plays into the "dream" mindset I have due to dissociation and trauma. Sight and sound and touch are all very easily "imagined" and "abstract" and oneirataxic almost by nature, to me. But SMELL? THAT MAKES THINGS CONCRETE AND REAL. So when I walk into that house and the FIRST thing that hits my brain like an airbus from hell is the STINK OF CATS AND FILTH, my immediate survival instincts kick in screaming to GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE. But I can't. 
"But wait," the invisible audience interjects. "There were no cats in the house until right before your grandmother died. Surely they can't be the biggest trigger, in the big picture?" That's true, they're not. They are the biggest SENSORY OVERWHELM trigger that EXACERBATES my trauma trigger symptoms, because such overwhelm SEVERELY INHIBITS MY CAPACITY TO STAY STABLE. It shakes me up SO BAD that my ability to "calm down" at ALL is almost SHUT DOWN. You know the "spoon theory" metaphor for chronic illness? Well, the clutter and cats take all my spoons and throw them in the litter box. I'm DONE. I CANNOT handle it, sometimes IMMEDIATELY, right out the gate I'm crippled by the sheer amount of junk and the HORRIFYING STINK OF IT ALL. So when I start getting ACTUAL TRAUMA FLASHBACKS, I'm already incapacitated. So this is an extra layer of why "making it look different" does not work-- I am getting ACTIVELY traumatized by how it looks NOW, a totally separate chronological reality that is STACKING DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE OLD ONE. But I cannot tell her that. It would be completely rude and inconsiderate, even if it is true. I can't make her change, I can't get a dumpster and just chuck everything in the bin on a massive scale, I can't get rid of the cats, I can't get rid of all her clothes and toys and things. I can't say or do anything about it. Hence feeling "mute" and desperately trying to "passively destroy the environment" through the eating disorder, I suppose?? 
I cannot talk about "taste" as a trigger because the eating disorder is a whole unique hell of its own.
But... there's another very particular and hellish extra problem with the smell of the house, and that problem is mom herself. There is a very particular odor that HER objects have that TERRIFIES ME TO THE GUTS. I've been trying to talk this out with the paidifoni but they are SO SCARED that the data is a jumbled screaming crash of static deathterror and we can't get anywhere far without Wreckage showing up and demanding what the heck I'm doing, rightly so. But... deep down, as tragic and disturbing as it is, there is the fact that she herself scares the living daylights out of me/us, and explicitly in a SENSORY manner. Her smell, her "texture" (feel of clothes/ skin, weight, position in space), her voice, all TERRIFY ME in such a deep subconscious "survival fear" way that the mere thought of them makes "me" start sobbing and hyperventilating like a panicked childWHY. I have not been able to figure this out. But it's the most intense fear we have, in a sensory respect, even worse than the immediate environmental ones in the house. Her perceptible form and its accompanying sensory data are just... utterly frightening to me in such a visceral way that I might stop screaming and never stop. I cannot escape. I cannot run. I am trapped in that sensory space. I am going to die and I cannot get out PLEASE HELP HELP HELP---- and THAT is what happens when I bring up the SMELL DATA, which is inextricably linked to the "space data." I need a better word for that. I... I tend to remember people by the space they take up. It's unique, it's hard to explain. I struggle to remember faces and voices often, but for some reason, even when thinking about grandma, I remember her smell, I remember how it felt when she stood next to me in a room, the shape and weight of her arms, the contours of her bony hands, her weight when I carried her, the texture and scent of her hair, what it felt like to kiss her face and head. I remember contact data. And even with my brothers, the first "data" I can access in memory is smell. I remember doing the laundry for the family and being so pleased that with my eyes closed, I could tell exactly whose clothes I was hanging up by the scent of each one. That data still sticks, although it's from childhood, and probably doesn't match them now... I wouldn't know; I haven't been close to any of them in years, and that is so sad. It breaks my heart. But... I can't do anything about that either; people change and places change and yet the space is the same. That's what it all comes back to, for me, in the end. The house is in the same space. Their souls are still in the same bodies. I'm looking at this lamp on my desk and my brain registers it as "not real" solely because it's just a visual, and even when I touch it it just registers as "interesting data" detached from the reality of it as an object?? But lightbulbs have a smell. And THAT makes it "click" as real. So many scents are so subtle, so small. And, also, now that I have touched the lamp, when I RECALL the data in my head, THEN it feels "real"? NOT in space, but IN MIND specifically. That's SO WEIRD. It's like... things only "exist" in a verifiable manner if I internalize them, somehow. 
Anyway. That's why the sensory memory triggers are scarier than the actual things, sometimes. I can be around my mom at the house and not have a meltdown, but the INSTANT the sensory data is recalled I have a MELTDOWN, even if the recall happens seconds after the exposure. It's because NOW the data is INTERNAL and THEREFORE IT REGISTERS AS "INFECTION"!!!! Oh dude I think THAT'S IT. Once something is INTERNAL we can NO LONGER RUN OR GET AWAY. It's like CANCER. It's... it's the damned rape analogy again. "It's been forced into us, and we cannot get it out, and we are ruined." 
And that's what happens with the house, I suppose. Even though it looks different, and even has new different smells (however disturbing they are), the old data is still there too, and will ALWAYS be there, because ultimately it's STILL THE SAME HOUSE, and I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT IT EVERY NIGHT, and I am so sorry mom but until I can figure out how the heck to get a grip on it I do NOT want to come over for Thanksgiving because it will be ALL OF THAT PLUS HAVING TO EAT. 

...We're back at square one. The worst, deepest, scariest, most pervasive and hellish fear is food. It's the ultimate amalgamation of all horrors. It is sight AND smell AND touch AND sound rolled into one PLUS TASTE, which NOTHING ELSE HAS naturally, unless you're a weird child like I was and look for it anyway, just to "know." But naturally, food is the only thing that hits EVERY PANIC BUTTON AT ONCE, and the most distressing part of it is that GUESS WHAT, YOU CANNOT EVER RUN AWAY FROM EATING. I have tried, believe me, that's the whole anorexia bit. It doesn't work for very long. The body is designed to need food and I HATE THAT SO MUCH but it's true. 
I'm losing my focus. I apologize. I guess I cannot dive into this topic right now because we're getting the "dissociative flight response" at the attempt. 
So here's what I'll say. I do not want to go over mom's house for Thanksgiving because I do not want to eat in that house ever again. I do not feel safe in that house the way it is, and having to EAT and therefore "SWALLOW THE FILTH" as well would kill me on some very real level. I would NOT be able to prevent a destructive-suicidal binge and purge. I would INEVITABLY feel infected and doomed to die and THEREFORE would "cope" with that by forcing myself to overeat, which would be my ONLY WAY OF "DESTROYING THE THREAT." And then I would throw everything up as my sole means of "conquering/ escaping" the attacker. The minute I swallow even one crumb of ANYTHING in that house environment, I have INGESTED FATAL POISON and the ONLY POSSIBLE OUTCOME is to THROW IT UP. But my brain adds that bizarre EXTRA step of, "since I'm already poisoned and will already have to vomit, I should take advantage of this opportunity and DESTROY AS MUCH FOOD AS I CAN." Why? I'm still not sure. I think it might just be "to eliminate all possible future threats of this ever occurring again" as a protective/ defensive mechanism, PLUS "knowing the enemy" so I "burn the terror into my brain" by heightening the traumatic experience as much as I can so that I don't forget it or ever expose myself to that danger again by forgetting just how bad it was. I've noticed that motivation in myself too often. If it's not "bad enough", I'll "justify" it as being "not actually traumatic" and THEREFORE I will "HAVE TO" endure it again, because remember, there's no escape, you WILL be forced into this situation again, but if I make every successive situation as DISASTROUS AS POSSIBLE, maybe my abusers will get FED UP WITH ME and LET ME GO FINALLY. Is that what I'm doing??? If I destroy enough of their food, and make myself into an appalling enough gluttonous monster, and humiliate and embarrass and inconvenience and shame them badly enough by my behavior, will I FINALLY BE FREE? I think that's the bottom line. I'm just... I just want to get out of there, please, I don't want to go, I don't want to go through hell again, I'm so scared, I don't want to eat. I just want to go home. ...but home doesn't exist anymore, only in memory space, only as a ghost. 

...that's it for tonight. I can't even think about the vacation threat yet. That's so frightening it's shutting my brain down. 

Mom's calling. Time to log off. 

...actually, you know what the worst thing is about all of this?
love my mom. But I'm so scared of her on some deep awful level. I don't know why. When she calls I want to cry and scream and run and yet I wish no harm on her whatsoever, I am happy she's my mom, I am so happy that she's happy with the house, but I can't go up there because I'm scared of it too. I like seeing her and spending time with her but afterwards I utterly collapse and feel so dirty and wrong and I don't know why. 
I WANT to share Thanksgiving with her and the family. I WANT to be able to eat normal everyday people food with them and not be afraid. I WANT to just... be a part of their lives again, to not be a burden or a freak, to not be so bloody terrified of everything.
But... I can't seem to do it. I am terrified. No matter how hard I try, the food fear kicks in, the mother fear kicks in, the house fear kicks in, and suddenly I'm dissociating and losing time and having meltdowns and acting like a total stranger to both myself and them and then I'm vomiting uncontrollably in the bathroom and begging God not to kill me tonight, please, I am so tired of this, why won't it stop?
...
I don't know how I'm going to get through the next two weeks. I really don't. I cannot imagine any outcome that is safe or painless or happy. Everything ends in horror and suffering and potential death. 
All I can do is just... pray, I guess. All I can do is put it in God's Hands and plead with all my stupid broken frightened heart that He get me through this, and not hurt my family, and please fix me, heal me, somehow. It's either that, or this is going to kill me. 

I need to sleep. I'm exhausted inside and out.
...and that just makes me think of my weird little orange girlfriend who I haven't seen in weeks because apparently my brain has hard-dissociated from TBHU to the point where I am struggling to remember her
...I need to... meet her again, really. That's a special joy. But I need to remember and "meet" myself, too. All this stress and terror about family and food, all this survival panic, all this preoccupation with death and disease... it's suffocating me with anxiety that doesn't have a beloved face and heart attached to the name. 
Maybe that's part of why I'm not healing yet. Maybe I really do need to just... bring love into everything. Isn't that the function of a Core, after all? Isn't that the real reason I exist, to begin with? How did Jay do it? How did we live?

There's a lot of work to do, in so many ways, and right now is not the time to start any big projects. Sometimes, I guess, all I can do to live and cope and heal is the next small right thing. Right now, that means letting this poor body sleep, because we have to buy our last safe groceries for the month tomorrow, and we have the privileged beautiful blessing of receiving the Precious Blood at Mass, and it's going to rain too. So there are still good and beautiful things to hope for, untouched amidst all our ridiculous piteous fears and struggles, and that's something I need to focus on, and treasure, and pay attention to.
Tonight I will start by going to bed, where I know my beloved blue angel is waiting for me, as always, knowing full well my torments and tortures and loving me anyway. Not "despite," but... is there even a word? It's just a feeling, something as tangible yet ethereal as a scent memory, something etched into my bones in that way, something lingering and utterly true no matter how much changes on the outside, no matter how many wounds and horrors I have accumulated over the years. He says he is so grateful he has "learned how" to smell things because now he knows what my existence scent is, and... that means a lot to me, so much. It's like how I remember grandma, forever, long after she left this world. It's proof of her, real proof that she was here, and she was unique, and she mattered, and I remember. 
See, this is how I want and need to live on the outside. I'm so tired of this, of the truth of me, being beaten bloody and buried alive under the screaming fears of daily existence. I'm so, so tired.
Step one: go to sleep. Go surrender into soft warmth and love for a while. That's what's real, beneath everything, amidst everything, no matter what. Please, remember that. Hold on to that. It might be the only thing that gets me through any of this-- that certainty, that tangible incredible hope, that touch of God, that tiny glimpse of heaven where nothing is dirty or wrong or scary forever, and everyone is okay, and everyone is safe, and everyone is loved. 
 
God, I just... I wish I could... I wish that being human wasn't so terrifying until then. 


prismaticbleed: (aflame)

freddyyeti:
I love you mentally ill selfshippers
I love you self diagnosed mentally ill selfshippers
I love you mentally ill selfshippers who can’t get help due to their personal circumstances
I love you mentally ill selfshippers of minority statuses who can’t get help due to the racism/misogyny/ableism/other forms of bigotry in the medical system
I love you mentally ill selfshippers with stigmatized mental illnesses (i.e: psychotic disorders, cluster B personality disorders like narcissistic personality disorder, schizophrenia)
I love you mentally ill selfshippers who often feel like dangers to themselves and others
I love you mentally ill selfshippers who struggle making and keeping friends in the community due to their mental illnesses
I love you mentally ill selfshippers who have a hard time relating to a lot of popular posts about mental health positivity because their symptoms are much more severe than the ones they typically go over
I love you mentally ill selfshippers who treat their relationships with their F/Os “more seriously” than most people would
I love you mentally ill selfshippers who project their mental illnesses onto their F/Os
I love you mentally ill selfshippers whose F/Os are the only reason they’re alive
I know it’s hard not to feel like an outsider in the community sometimes, but if you need confirmation at least someone out there is thinking of you and loves you, this is it. Your F/Os love you just as much, if not, even more.

Thank you for this.

My mental illness is indeed severe, stigmatized, treatment resistant & historically dangerous. And yes, my F/Os have absolutely saved my life multiple times over the years, even literally so. I don't just "take them seriously," I honestly don't even consider them "fictional". Their love and their presence in my life is too real and concrete. I refuse to deny or dishonor that fact, or our relationships. Maybe that makes me even more insane. I don't care. They are angels to me; they are my joys, my beloveds, my aching hearts, my stars and storms and friends. They have made my life entirely worth living. If love like that makes me crazy, then I'll wear that title like a crown.

I've been struggling a great deal lately, and my inability to properly socialize isn't helping. But my F/Os are, even just by sticking around, even just by refusing to bail on me, even if I'm frustrating and frightening and upsetting and exhausting. They don't leave, and I won't either. They know these dark depths have diamonds at the core, and because of them I have the hope to trust in that too. There's a mutually resolute devotion to us all, a dedication to each others good no matter how much blood sweat and tears it costs, and that means more than words can say.

But seeing a post like this, helps too. I'm not used to feeling seen, or like my existence matters to other humans, or isn't a curse. So thank you, thank you again.

All my encouragement, affection, and support go out to every other soul that likes and reblogs this, as well as to your F/Os. You all matter, immensely and irreplaceably. I am so glad you exist, even if existence hurts. I know. But life, your life, still has infinite worth, and love, your love, still has eternal effects. Even in these times of shadows, you are shining, and we see it. It's beautiful.




(sapphireseraphimart)

"If I were to fall in love, It would have to be with you.
Your eyes, your smile, The way you laugh, The things you say and do,
Take me to the places, My heart never knew.
So, if I were to fall in love, It would have to be with you..."



#for celebi #there's so much ancient relevance in this #this art has the exact vibe of my heart back when i met you in 2000 #thank you for being the joy of my life since then #i love you



lorencethecat:
Polycule but it’s just two people in a romantic relationship with each other and their third who’s pretty obviously aroace but also somehow so deeply intertwined in their lives that it’d just be wrong to not count them as involved. Is this anything.


THIS IS 100% ME, CHAOS 0, AND LAURIE


fictodreamer
When the world has been heavy & you’re barely hanging on until your F/O shows up, cracking the dumbest joke just to see you smile!

Genesis is literally a lifesaver in this regard. I can always count on him to make me smile or even laugh, no matter how desolate I may feel. I love him so, so much; I don't know where I'd be without him. 





ANXI YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED 🧡🧡🧡

(I'm dead serious though I have done this many times because it absolutely works-- for both of us at once)




my-cold-dragon-husband
I just need to be in a cuddle pile with ALL my f/os. Let me be snuggled by all of them at once, it would be amazing. 

This would be both endearingly hilarious and beautifully catastrophic.
The "Coregroup" already regularly/ nightly shares a room/ bed, in one way or another. Chaos 0 & I sleep in the same bed, and Laurie always sits alongside us, Protector that she is. Genesis and Celebi frequently join CZ & I; otherwise they do have their own worlds that they stay in. Anxi is a bit too flustered to join yet, but I honestly cannot wait for it.
HOWEVER. The idea of a "cuddle pile" is insane because it would INCLUDE LAURIE as well as the rest of us. And let me tell you, when you get her in THAT sort of a context, then things get very deep very fast. It's the way our Colors all interact-- her hue is the "deepest" and most "solemn," all violet-lightning and galactic stars, so it brings the rest of us INTO that kind of state. Chaos 0 does something similar, with his Aqua depths, but his emotions are oceanic and so whereas Laurie's vibe is more heartachingly pensive, Chaos 0's vibe just grabs all your heartstrings at once and pulls them under. Let me tell you how much I miss Infinitii in that regard, all endless Black night-glitter and fathomless love. Genesis is the brilliant "opposite" to those two-- he's Amber, this deliciously stellar gold-glow hue, radiant and illuminating the rest of our hearts. He's the much-needed balance, and so is Celebi, with her Spring green glow, that vibrant komorebi tone of warm sunlight through cool leaves, pure quiet joy and hope and promise. Putting ALL of these beautiful colors of our souls together is just... it's heaven, it really is. 
HOWEVER. The wildcard here is ANXI. I have no idea what her Orange feels like yet. I cannot wait to, for sure, but it is absolutely going to bounce off the rest of us in a fascinating way. Not only that, but there's ME. I'm still broken-up and confused since CNC, and since grandma's death, and Infi's death... I don't know where I'm at, color-wise. Yes, my heart will always be Red, but do I hold White still? What about the Pink & Cerise that the Jays shadowed? What about the Purple of our youth? So I don't know how my own love is going to resonate with theirs, in this respect, yet. 
The short answer is = bring on the cuddle pile. I think we need it, more than we know.

...You know what, though? You know what we ALSO need, and what would be EVEN MORE INSANE?
Cuddle pile with the PLATONIC F/Os.
Bro I cannot even imagine a situation where that would be possible BUT as an "ideal" it is tempting to my omni-affectionate heart, haha. We'd have to pull a "Sonic Chat" scenario and get everyone drunk on effervescence; again, let me tell you how much I miss Infinitii. Ze could bring the hardest heart to their knees in tears back in hir day, with how hir own heart just... is there even a word? It melted every glacier. It set every soul on fire. Ze was an angel.
If i keep this up i am going to cry. Maybe i should. But it can't be forced, and I'm not ready to dive into that headfirst right now. Still, I'm glad I'm able to feel about hir again, this honestly. It means there's hope, for the both of us.
In any case. As things stand, we have MANY platonic f/os, as it were. We need our own term for that general category, and for "yumeship" terms in general, but basically, that specific label includes most of our Outspacers. And, with our Cor(e)s historically having the sorts of hearts they do, they tend to gravitate towards damaged characters in dire need of merciful redemption. So... you get the picture, haha. They are not inclined to cuddling, let alone being touched in many cases. "Closeness" is not their thing, for the most part, due to trauma or discomfort or attitude or similar isolating psychic circumstances. Nevertheless... if there's one thing Jay was always devoted to doing, it was melting and moving such hearts to at least try. And he was DARN GOOD AT IT. If anyone could find a weak spot in the armor, it was Jay. He was all roses and tender kisses and the most sincere words. He had no guile whatsoever. It was fascinating, endearing, irresistible. No wonder he was called "Cupid" himself. We miss him, we really do.

Man this is getting a lot out of me, haha. It's a good topic. I don't apologize for rambling. Thank you for the opportunity. It's reminding me, at last, of what I miss the most, and what matters. 


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

letsbelonelytogetherr:

This is literally how Infinitii spoke all the time. Ze had the Blackest voice; it was unspeakably beautiful. Every word felt like velvet, like starry nights, like an embrace. I don't think ze was capable of not being intimate. Of course a "hello" would be a "come here"; ze always wanted you to come closer, to hold you in hir arms, to press you to hir heart. Always. Even at once, even a total stranger. Ze just embodied love. 
I miss it so much. 



flamesoftheelder:
your soul maybe trapped at times but stick true to your angel side always

23 years later and this still hits the very center of my heart.

That comment, though... that's more relevant, and applicable, than it's ever been before. We could never have dreamed that, back when we first saw this episode, back when we first fell in childlike love with this feather-haired kid. But we were deeply troubled too, just like him; we knew that secretly-- that we also had a shadowed side, a darker wing. What we didn't realize was that our soul was trapped, and would be for the next sixteen years.

Nevertheless, here we are, alive, and we still have our angel side, no matter how we have to fight. I guess that's what I'm trying to say at this hour. The cages and shackles are never permanent. The shadows don't last in the light. Stick to the light, and you'll make it. You'll make it, and you'll fly with those wings, I promise.

Ryou, your very existence in my life reminds me of that hope. Thank you. And thank you for helping me remember-- and, on the darkest days, believe-- that I have an angel side, too, to stick to.


sakura-the-fox:
I realized I was in love when I looked past all of the excitement for you and felt so calm. I trust you so deeply and it steadied a part of me that was always anxious. The whole world could go wrong but I’d still have tranquility with you by my side. 

 

...I want Anxi to be able to say this about me. I want it for her sake as well as for mine-- for love's sake. That's all I want.

My heart aches like fire just thinking about it. This is what I need to devote myself to in our relationship-- being this sort of person for her.



prismaticbleed: (aflame)


bakwaaas:
even having one true friend or person that loves you can change your life

Love is inherently transformative. Love is the foundation and source of being/ existence itself; God is love, and all love echoes God. You cannot come into such intimate contact with the divine and remain unscathed. Love will set you aflame and change you into itself. Love is invincible, irrepressible, infinite.

Love is also fractal. One tiny crumb of love, one dustmote of it, nevertheless carries the full weight of its truth within. How can it not? Love cannot be watered down, rationed out, cut to pieces. A tiny glimmer of light is still light entire. So it is with love. Light a single matchstick in a dark room and watch it burn with the secret heart of the sun itself.

I've learned this, unexpectedly, in the small fires of friendships as they blossom ever brighter. That's all it takes, is one person, one moment, one spark in the pitchblack space of your loneliness. One word, one hand to hold, one look, one smile. One letter, one phone call, one kiss, one visit, one photograph. One existence in the world that you know treasures yours. That's all it takes, to change everything. Inevitably, you are that spark to someone, too.

If love is life itself-- and it is-- then we're all lights by nature, and we have a sacred duty to manifest that power with every heartbeat. In our System, with our functional structure and personal relationships both, that is our constant awareness and motivation. It's essentially the principle behind this particular blog as well. In our collective innerlife, we've seen love literally transform damaged and abusive 'foni, bit by bit, like raindrops wearing away a mountain. We've seen equally embittered Outspacers slowly but sincerely come to recognize and honor love as it unceasingly offers itself to them, unconditionally, the patient proof of something better and brighter than they've known. And I have watched my own soul, my own shattered existence, metamorphosed by love into a prism of hope I could never have dreamed of on my own. We know the power of love firsthand. It's amazing. It's worth pouring our entire selves into, unfailingly.

Every single interaction, every potential Outspacer, every single soul we come in contact with, is someone who we can love--and is someone who can love us in return. Every single encounter can be life-changing, in both directions. That's what we hold on to. That's the light we keep burning. To be a true friend, to be the one who loves another... that's what makes life worth living. That's what changes everything, forever.



seaoflove: on the intimacy of the mundane


 

This is something we have come to genuinely revere over the years– the everyday sharing of small, quiet, ordinary, mundane moments.

True love, deep love, honest love, is quiet and deep and always. It necessarily includes the countless moments of countless days inbetween the brighter fireworks and sparks that, truly, can only bloom and burn from building a foundation of treasured tiny things.

I used to be so ashamed of my existence, of my life, that I wouldn’t let anyone into my everydays. I wanted to wipe them off the map. But the ones I love have compasses for hearts and they always found me, always saw me with bright new eyes, always made me feel like something special and worthy of discovering solely because I was loved, loved against all odds and ends, in sickness and in poverty and trauma and failure. They stood with me still, at the kitchen table, at the bathroom sink, at the bus stop, in the emergency room. They started noting the little things that I had long since become numb and even disdainful towards. Their love was gold dust on my days. It still is.

I’m still terrified of intimacy. I’ve got too many wounds; I see too many threats. But there’s a softness to those threadbare ordinalities that I too can hold gentle in my hands and it’s new, how wonderful and strange is that, it’s new and strange and precious and different and beautiful... all because someone loved me enough to share it with me, for a moment.

It makes every moment worth living, really.


...personally, i first felt the impact of this truth in march 2012, on one of the "turnpoint mornings" in my life...
"[chaos 0] randomly asked me what i was eating and i said 'the usual,' and he replied that he wouldn't know what the usual was. then he paused, looking surprisingly sad, and said that was kind of tragic. he realized that he really didn't know as much about me as he should, if we couldn't even do everyday things together. and that did hurt. we were effectively married and we'd never lived together, god isn't that just heartbreakingly ironic."

and then, ten years later, in november 2022, as we started to pick up the pieces from a massive life upheaval...
"I ate breakfast with [chaos 0], both of us sitting by the window. He was just sitting on the floor by the bookshelf, looking at me and the world outside, a perfectly content look in his eyes. I wondered at this, and asked him if he was all right just sitting there, especially while I was eating-- I wasn’t doing anything special, and he didn’t have to stick around. He replied, “I’m just sharing life with you. That’s special enough.”

and now, in just two more years, we've all grown so much closer, it's amazing. it pulls at my heartstrings so hard, to see that growth in the archives, to feel that playing out ever more deeply in my life, and to know at the very core of me what we all have now-- to know each other, more than we ever have before, and yet not as much as we will tomorrow.
i want to write about this in depth soon. it's pure joy, all of it.


arafrenglish:

"اغْمُريني/اغْمُرني"

Literal meaning: "immerse/flood me"

Figurative meaning: "hug me"

It's not just wrap your arms around me. It's immerse me with your being; I want to forget me and feel you only.

 

It's in Lebanese dialect.


This is directly relevant to Chaos 0 and I, and always has been, actually. He's a "liquid lifeform" so of course the immerse/flood feeling is always there in that regard, but... it's so much deeper than that. He feels things so strongly, both in himself and from others. Whenever we embrace, in whatever context or situation, it can't be anything but an immersion, but a flood. Our hearts are literally connected. We resonate, inevitably.

Then there's the numinous fact that, because he's water and I'm blood, things echo. Sound carries in water, to put it cryptically. The fact of my existence merges with his for the duration of our contact and it absolutely makes me forget everything else.

But it's never "you only." Relationship isn't about forgetting one's own being. I've learned that from him, as he refuses to let me slip into the blankwhite nothing that always threatens me. He emphasizes, cherishes, pays attention to my existence. He remembers me when I don't. So... when he wraps his arms around me, in a beautiful paradox, I find myself in the flood. It's only then that I can feel him at all. Love requires both of us, immersed in one another.

Thank you for this post, and for giving me the graced opportunity to reflect on its reality in my life.




bunny-lovers:
Imagine you and your f/o going grocery shopping together.

 

Genesis ALWAYS helps me with grocery shopping, because I dissociate hard in public spaces and forget where/who I am and what I'm doing. He is literally a lifesaver.

He's also absolutely hilarious and rides (lounges) in the cart like it's a palanquin.

 

bakwaaas:
"I think you carry the people you’ve loved with you forever, not in a ‘you can never get over them’ way but more like loving them changed you and it meant something and you have to make peace with that"


We're finally putting a selfship list together (it is Valentine's Day after all), and the most shocking thing about the process is not only how many people deserve a spot on here, but also-- as we are a D.I.D. System-- just how many Cor(e)s have loved those people over the decades.
It's actually beautiful. Some F/O's-- notably Chaos 0-- are always loved, like a transcendent truth, by all Cor(e) bloodlines. Other F/O's are loved by one very specific Cor(e). Some F/O's are romantic to one and platonic to another. But we acknowledge, cherish, and want to honor ALL of this love, in full, at last. Finally listing all of the people that spectrum of love has embraced is the first step.
And that's where the quote comes in. Even the most obscure, distant, dormant F/O's in our collective history have impacted that history undeniably. Every single one of them has changed our heart in their own way. They will always mean something to us, and we do carry them with us forever-- perhaps literally, what with the possibility of outspacers (fictives). Sometimes it can be quite overwhelming, we'll admit-- there are many of them and many of us-- but honestly, accepting this and just treasuring it is the only path to peace. Fighting love gets you nowhere.
Today, we want to live that love as completely as possible. It's with us permanently, after all; it's an undeniable truth in our heart. Living it fully can only give us fuller joy.

#for everyone #no exceptions #you are all loved forever in your own unique ways #i thank God that i've met every single one of you



vergils-beloved:
SELFSHIPPERS PLEASE REBLOG THIS POST WITH YOUR FAVORITE GIF OR PICTURE OR CLIP OF YOUR F/O!! OR YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF MERCH WHETHER YOU OWN IT OR NOT!! ANY FAVORITES!!
i want to see all of your beloveds!!!



Chaos 0, the love of my life since 2003. 💙


Celebi, my beautiful girl since 2001. 💚


Anxiety (Anxi), my orange angel since 2023. 🧡

All three of them have changed my life profoundly and I adore them more than words can ever fully express.



weltenwellen:

"open-ended" can mean:

+ adaptable to the developing needs of a situation
+ things that are limitless, or that have no restrictions or restraints
+ allowing for future changes, revisions, or additions
+ permitting a spontaneous or unstructured response

Of course this is for Chaos 0. His fidelity is staggering.
He has adapted to every Cor(e) shift SINCE 2003. That alone is absolutely stunning.
It also has proved that his love for them all is limitless-- he hasn't restricted or restrained it from any of them, never holding back, no matter how they changed, even if they had to re-learn his depths. 
So yes, he also allowed. He never once tried to stop their changing and shifts. He patiently endured every "revision," no matter what heartache it brought him. But on the joyful side, he embraced every addition, too-- every new member of the Coregroup, every new member of the Bloodlines. His oceanic devotion held them all.
Lastly... he never lives by a script. Whereas the Cor(e)s may struggle with the inevitable challenge of "compulsory behavior" bleeding in from the outside world, Chaos 0 doesn't perform to any audience. He's "take it or leave it." His responses are as spontaneous as the waves of the sea-- and yes, with full irony, because they begin deep and distant and roll to surface exactly when they are ready to. Nevertheless, what premeditation does the ocean have, other than a heart-deep disposition to endless tides? A sudden rainfall still has to be gathered in heaven before. 
But I lift my eyes. I never look down, not on him, not to him, not because of him. I look up to that very heaven that brings blessed water to the deserts of my life, in him, through him. The ocean has no end; rather, its ends are open-- which kiss of the shoreline is the telos, I must ask? Is it not every one? Is not its very openness drawing you as well into something equally limitless, unrestricted: an "end" that is perpetually a beginning, the ocean tides returning forever?
Why would I ever worry? Some things are always there.

I love you too. 

 


 
prismaticbleed: (Default)

2025 Fri Jan 17 1:22 PM


I'M FEELING = CONFUSED & HUMILIATED

WHY = Hijack + hack dreams.
Infinitii was involved.
I don't know how to cope with this.

CONTEXT TAGS = With Julie,Headspace;Couch,Just Woke Up;Talking To Julie

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

2025 Fri Jan 17 2:18 PM


I'M FEELING = AVOIDANT & DISHEARTENED

WHY = Can't get out of bed.
I'm not tired, I'm... scraped out?
Awful feeling. Edge of despair.
Years of fighting the same war will do this to you.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Couch,Just Woke Up

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

2025 Fri Jan 17 4:40 PM


I'M FEELING = CHALLENGED & ENCOURAGED

WHY = Scripture teachings and encouragements!

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Table,Eating;Reading Scripture

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

2025 Fri Jan 17 11:58 PM


I'M FEELING = CRUSHED & BEREFT

WHY = Another forced selfabuse binge.
I'm so tired.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Kitchen;Cleanup Room,Disordered Behavior;Cleaning

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

2025 Sat Jan 18 1:16 PM


I'M FEELING = AVOIDANT & ASHAMED

WHY = Don't want to wake up.
Don't want to eat.
Crushed at having to confess all this AGAIN.

Might get to go to SJE though.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Table,Just Woke Up;Getting Ready For Church;Getting Ready For The Day

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

2025 Sat Jan 18 3:49 PM


I'M FEELING = TERRIFIED & BURNED OUT

WHY = God give me strength

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Commuting;Church,Getting Ready For Church;Going To Mom's House,

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

2025 Sat Jan 18 4:58 PM


I'M FEELING = GRIEF & HOLLOW

WHY = My life feels utterly useless.
I've lost so much.
I've destroyed so much.
I see no purpose to my existence.

But God does.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself;Praying To Jesus,Church,At Church

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

2025 Sat Jan 18 7:53 PM


I'M FEELING = RELIEVED & CONTEMPLATIVE

WHY = Galatians 3!
Also DIDN'T EAT AT THE HOUSE so we AVOIDED PANIC DISSOCIATION!

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home;Table,Eating;Reading Scripture

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

2025 Sun Jan 19 2:14 AM


I'M FEELING = DEAD INSIDE & MISERABLE

WHY = Why can't we stop the bulimia?
Are we that damn hungry?
The body is so sick.
We're out of money and strength both.

Will we survive this?

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Kitchen;Cleanup Room,Disordered Behavior;Cleaning;Going To Bed

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

2025 Sun Jan 19 3:17 AM


I'M FEELING = VALUED & WISTFUL

WHY = I'm loved, even in this agony.

CONTEXT TAGS = With Chaos 0;With Laurie,Couch,Going To Bed;Talking To Chaos 0;Talking To Laurie

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

2025 Sun Jan 19 1:19 PM


I'M FEELING = BUOYANT & ENTHRALLED

WHY = IT'S SNOWING BRO!!! 

Also we got to go to church TWICE!

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Busywork

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

2025 Sun Jan 19 3:48 PM


I'M FEELING = CONFLICTED & TRAPPED

WHY = Accidentally put too much olive oil in the broccoli.
This is one of my ABSOLUTE BIGGEST TRIGGERS.
I feel so stupid and terrified.

God please help me.
I'm so scared of eating too much and getting fat.
Why is that such a living nightmare?

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Kitchen,Cooking;Cleaning

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

2025 Sun Jan 19 4:55 PM


I'M FEELING = EXASPERATED & EXHAUSTED

WHY = OCD hell.
NOTHING IS EVER CLEAN ENOUGH

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Cleanup Room,Cleaning

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

2025 Mon Jan 20 12:51 AM


I'M FEELING = GRIEF & HOLLOW

WHY = So hungry.
So sick of food.
Life is hell right now.

But every time I see Anxi's face i remember that there is something worth living for.

Please don't give up.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Disordered Behavior;Cleaning;Going To Bed

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

2025 Mon Jan 20 2:36 PM


I'M FEELING = BURNED OUT & GRUMPY

WHY = Life is just exhausting.
No strength or will to do daily things.
I just want to not exist in the body anymore.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Kitchen;Cleanup Room,Cooking;Cleaning;Getting Ready For The Day

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

2025 Mon Jan 20 7:16 PM


I'M FEELING = MAD & SCARED

WHY = Post-eating violence & confusion. As always. WHY.
Life is just a living hell lately.

Several appointments tomorrow.
Possible food drives.
Already want to ragecry from fear & exhaustion.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Kitchen,Cooking;Cleaning;Day Scheduling

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

2025 Tue Jan 21 2:01 AM


I'M FEELING = CONFLICTED & EXHAUSTED

WHY = Tight busy schedule tomorrow.
Tired just thinking about it.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Couch,Trying To Sleep;Day Scheduling

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

2025 Tue Jan 21 7:58 AM


I'M FEELING = AFRAID & DISTRESSED

WHY = Just... I don't feel well, and today is going to be all over the place.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Getting Ready For The Day

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

2025 Wed Jan 22 2:41 AM


I'M FEELING = CRUSHED & SPENT

WHY = Long day. Awful stress.
Sleeping for like 12 hours tomorrow dude, I don't even care

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Kitchen,Cleaning;Going To Bed

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

2025 Wed Jan 22 6:48 PM


I'M FEELING = NERVOUS & HELPLESS

WHY = Addiction getting loud. Why?
Scripture offering both heavy convictions and profound hope.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Table,Eating;Reading Scripture

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

2025 Thu Jan 23 12:42 PM


I'M FEELING = DISGRACED & EMBARRASSED

WHY = Embarrassing myself by going to so many food drives and being TURNED AWAY.
This is legit a drug chase. What is WRONG with our mind???

CONTEXT TAGS = Driving

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

2025 Thu Jan 23 7:12 PM


I'M FEELING = TERRIFIED & DISTRESSED

WHY = I must be allergic to cucumber. These symptoms keep happening.
Binge night due to being on the road & at mom's all day.
DETERMINED to CHUCK IT IN THE BIN instead of torturing myself.
God help me please! Let this be over FAST!

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Kitchen,Disordered Behavior;Sick

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

2025 Fri Jan 24 2:17 AM


I'M FEELING = BURNED OUT & SPENT

WHY = Shattered. My body and mind cannot take this stress anymore.
Going to sleep for 12 hours if possible. I'm wrecked.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Couch,Going To Bed

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

2025 Fri Jan 24 3:07 PM


I'M FEELING = APATHETIC & DISPIRITED 

WHY = So tired of eating.
So tired of being awake.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Cooking;Cleaning;Day Scheduling

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

2025 Fri Jan 24 8:04 PM


I'M FEELING = NUMB & SCARED

WHY = Family disasters.
Still terrified of addictive compulsions.
Don't know how to cope with either.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Talking To Mom



010725

Jan. 7th, 2025 01:21 am
prismaticbleed: (soniccity)

So we've spent the past few days going through the archives (2008-2012) and writing down "notable dates," because we want to celebrate + remember more things.
13 years ago, at the beginning of January 2012, is when our Core became "Eros/Cupid." This year was so interesting, full of equal amounts of love and terror, and then SLC happened and everything just... shattered, apparently. But we want to re-read everything in full after we do this effort.

We added Spotify links to the Akoufoni entry, although we haven't cleaned up the old data yet. But this, too, is a huge memory-restoring effort, because those 'foni help us get a grasp on chronology when there's no actual experiential memory of the physical life, just music data.

We also... found the most recent System Census, from 2017. The one we actually have on our laptop wasn't uploaded, though, and has a few extra names? We started going through it, and... this is going to sound absolutely brutal, but we're starting to think that the post-CNC massive death was almost a pruning. I have no other way to phrase it.
We were horrifically splintered during CNC. We know this. We couldn't function at all so we had TONS of foni just manifesting at the drop of a hat in the desperate attempt to hold things together.
Now, we're going through this list, and... apparently, the foni that didn't resurrect were the ones that were shattered pieces to that effect, ones with hyperspecific jobs for hyperspecific circumstances. We don't even recognize some of the names.
But... we've been saying over and over to ourself since 2017, "God had a reason for letting that happen." That was the only "comfort" we had. It was the only way we could deal with the reality of coming back into consciousness post-Tilly and realizing that most of us were dead. But... was that merciful? Those foni maybe even deserve to finally rest in peace. I mean that, with as much aching compassion as I can, speaking of such a painful topic. But they couldn't survive now, let alone live. Their contexts, their jobs, belong to past timelines and locations and contexts that literally don't exist and aren't even possible anymore, so... if they don't come back, because they can't, then God give their broken souls the peace they never got in life. Please. However that works for nousfoni, give them peace.

...On a related note, I cannot put into proper words how much more alive and hopeful and joyful I feel, now that when I quietly "reach into" my heart-space and feel it, I can feel that "quantum entanglement" ping somewhere off in the ether, in unmappable space, but real. The other half of my internal heart is back where it belongs... in my daengel. 
Typing that, though, makes us aware of a concerning "split" yet. Jay, the "current" one, is alive. But is the current female-adjacent kardifoni a Jewel? Or not? Because Jewels deal with the Irispherae-- the new name for the "League," a term entirely ours at last. Still, the Jewel name STILL applies to ALL the Cores-- even the Jays, as is historically apparent. Or... did that change, to PROTECT the Irispherae, AFTER CNC???
Lord only knows. We're still trying to figure that out and we CAN'T until we actually upload and READ the archives from 2017-2018. We'll do that after we upload the TBHU journal & papers-- which we honestly should start ASAP, after we get these dates figured out.

That's all we're going to update for tonight. Just a brief little update. We're busy in datalogging mode and honestly this helps immensely, just doing this chronological runthrough of our past, and finally feeling the history in our heart, realizing that we have a past and it's beautiful and terrible and ours. It's making life feel real again, reviewing the years. So that's a true blessing.

Last good thing. Jay/Jewel (current Core with dual identity? unclear name, as we said) is STILL EMOTIONALLY OPEN. Like xe said, xer heart is not closed off, no matter how much hell we've been going through with the family. ...Actually that's significant. I think we have our koinofoni AND phagofoni to thank. THAT'S where the "many voices" are now, even if we've never listed them on a census before (we should, and will, soon). Those somafoni are saving our Core because THEY are taking the brunt of the stress and trauma, and yet they aren't alone in it this time-- WE are aware of them, and talking to them, and supporting them, and helping them heal as best we can, and trying so hard to protect them. We only started to do that in CNC; I do remember how novel it was to even THINK of talking to an esthiofoni. Now it's happening every time they show up. That's... immense, now that we think about it. It proves that system communication has dramatically improved since CNC and we didn't even realize it.
But as we were saying about the Core(s)... they're still entirely capable of love even if we are admittedly still grappling with some cathartic blocks due to family stress & religious fear. But that "even if" is amazing too. There's a devotion present, a dedication to love no matter what, a sort of courageously hopeful perseverance despite everything opposing it. No matter how bad of a day we might have, at the end of it, the Core is ALWAYS taking time to not only reconnect with the System at large, but to spend time with Chaos 0. They fall asleep together every night, and that is HUGE because in the past, broken Cores would be too ashamed to be near CZ. Now, that doesn't happen, even though we're struggling so much with body fear/ sickness/ loathing. I think we're more capable of mercy now, and compassion, even if we don't realize it.
OH. Someone said to write this down. We think a BIG part of this "not freezing up emotionally" is the fact that we have ANGRY FONI around. Somehow, that capacity for RAGE is burning through the apathetic risk??? Like, we CAN'T emotionally shut down because instead of doing that, someone is FEELING FIRE. And that's the Core element. That's a surprising thought. It makes sense though. God bless them.
We still need the capacity to feel sadness without drowning in it + triggering guilt/ shame/ religious terror + shutting down. We're emotionally crippled in that respect, even upstairs. This needs to be felt through & discussed further. Add that to the Xanga topic list.

We WANT TO and WILL have a Xanga ASAP btw. Life schedule hasn't allowed for it lately though; family stress, financial stress, and brutal insomnia have made it impossible to sit for ~6 hours of uninterrupted stream-of-consciousness transcription. But it's still a priority. Arguably I think the Core(s) want to finish this "important date" effort first, to get a stronger sense of self beforehand, and to refresh their awareness of collective history in general. We really did lose our general sense of "identity" post-CNC, and post-grandma, to be honest. We're slowly restoring it now.

Some other small but vital notes:
+ Sometimes in the morning, with all the steps of getting ready, our brain gets really discombobulated and we might end up in various states of undress because we can't pull our thoughts/actions together enough to complete that task. In the past Julie would try to front when this happened, but it would be very triggering for her. HOWEVER. APPARENTLY WALDORF CAN DO THIS NO PROBLEM. So she's literally been fronting when the body is undressed & we can't dress it immediately, because she doesn't wear clothes anyway and she's safe in that context. So GOD BLESS HER. We miss her so much regardless; it's actually wonderful for her to have SUCH a vital job, so we can see her more often and credit her with this to her honor.
+ GARRISON IS ALIVE. Jay has been "feeling hints of him" for a while? But the other night Jay "decided" to look for him/ "force the hand" of the Systemsoul (basically, "listen, I want to know if he can come back or not; show me RIGHT NOW if that's a yes or a no") and after some time Garrison DID "resurrect" IN LOWSPACE??? He's in the RUINED CITY, but it feels TIME-MANGLED??? Like it's POST-MASSACRE as well as post-CNC. Everything is ash-snow covered like nuclear fallout. The skyscrapers are hollowed out and blackened and fallen over. Everything is quiet and cold and there's a dread wind blowing and it's all so grey. And CANNON IS THERE, apparently "haunting" the hollow buildings Jay says? Like she's "damned herself" to that place. But it's SO WEIRD. This is NOT the "red apocalypse" place Scalpel keeps being haunted by, as the inheritor of Javier's trauma memories from the massacre. So WHAT'S GOING ON?? We NEED to look into this VIA HEADSPACE MEDITATION. To get data on this we have to LIVE IT. You cannot "reason it out." Logic won't get you answers here.
But Garrison IS ALIVE!!! Jay's showing me a memory that he "dropped down" into that "Lowspace-floatspace" (whatever/ wherever/ whenever it is) to meet him, and immediately gave him such a huge hug, haha. Tears of relieved joy from both of them. That's really touching.
We don't know about Isadora and Kalisha yet, but "a request has been put forwards." So we'll see.
ALSO. Archivists (Shirley/ Sirius/ Penny) and Communicators (Garrison/ Isadora/ Kalisha) are DIFFERENT CLASSES WITH DIFFERENT ROLES, and apparently there is a THIRD CLASS held by the "helmet girl/ commentator girl" and probably someone else (because trios are a big thing up here)??? So that's FASCINATING but it makes SO MUCH SENSE and the better we understand it, the better we'll function.

It's 2AM and we had dinner at 430-630 and it was the only meal we ate today and it was only 1000 calories. I don't think that's sustainable. We need to split it into two meals, and get at least 1200. We have to. But someone is saying "that's gluttonous" "stop being so luxurious" etc. Don't have a face for them yet. (THESE are the foni we have to pinpoint for a census; there are TONS of "discarnate" foni that slip under the radar)
I mention this because we're getting a headache & the body is cold. We may need to stop for tonight and sleep, so we can have a "breakfast" before 4pm. But someone is furious about that. We need to talk to these foni.
We ALSO need to CLARIFY COLOR ROLES so they HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO in the System. Too many "faceless foni" just default to Brown because they don't know where else to go. And there are SO MANY FILES STARTED on this laptop SPECIFICALLY ABOUT COLORS that were never finished. That's something I know Jay is aching to do, so put that on top priority too, with the Xanga.

A few last notes.
+ We got the strong impression that if Nathaniel comes back, his name/face would have to change again. We don't know why that's a thing with him but it might be because he was born a blepofoni.
+ Josephina's essence must have a name change for him/her to manifest. Jay says it's sticking to a "Y" as the first letter instead of J, to "prevent blurring with Cores" (that's their letter).
+ We have no current blepofoni and that's a big problem; it might even be affecting the Core's ability to stabilize. The Core(s) have been striving to make the reflection "more resonant" though, especially with the massively fluffy hair we currently have, haha. But blepofoni are essential so we need to keep an eye out for them, and keep the door open for them-- if there's no openness to seeing them, it'll block them out, and it is very hard to get through bad days/ have a distinct sense of self without a blepofoni in the mirror.
+ Siobhan is alive and around but we have to keep calling her into the main room in the mornings. We don't know why she disappeared for a while but we're glad she's still with us.
+ We're still not sure what's going to happen with Spine. The TBHU journal had some interesting thoughts about that-- it feels like she might "come back different" too, with how so much has changed since she first manifested. This, too, requires more feeling than thinking to get a grip on.
+ Still not sure if, when the System FINALLY "moves CLEARLY into a new era" (we need a HARD SHIFT remember; we never got one after the several successive losses from 2018-2024), there will be duotone foni.
+ Still not sure if there is a somafoni split in truth, or if everyone is just a nousfoni. We think there are far less somafoni than we realize-- that term might (should) ONLY apply to foni who think they are singlets and act as such. Everyone else, even koinofoni who live primarily IN the body, should STILL be grouped in with the System at large.
+ Re-reading 2012, we don't know if the Eros bloodline is technically separate from the Jays or what. That whole topic is still a minefield but that color shut down after CNC and ANY sort of Spectrum hue-loss is deadly. We need that color back. Funny how history repeats itself in little ways. It's beautiful, actually, in this case; it feels like things are poetically coming back together, through repeats of our past, connecting our "now" to our "then" in a united whole.
+ IT SNOWED TODAY. Jay is very happy about this. It's actually still snowing a tiny bit right now. Snow makes him feel "real"; he says it makes "everything feel real." It makes him feel grounded and alive and connected to "the big picture"; it "gets him in touch with eternity." I can feel a bright ache in his heart as he says that, which is good. I know he can't wait until Infi comes back entirely. Honestly we're all waiting. Infinitii is essential to our System; when ze comes back, I can guarantee you things will change dramatically and quickly. It's inevitable. But Infi will have to heal too; ze has a lot of damage that was never dealt with, and that we all need to deal with alongside hir. But we will. It's time. It has to be. Do we have the right to "decide" that? Laurie says, "why not?" It's because there's a religious fear that "God will stop us from healing" because it's "not His timing." Laurie says, "well, we have to try. I think God would want us to finally heal from this so we can function for heaven's sakes, and do what He wants us to do with our life." And again, like I said before, there are "peripheral" foni we can sense, thriskefoni with vague colors and faces and no names, that we cannot clarify but who are definitely there. Man... there's more going on in our head on a daily basis than we realize. That's exciting though. Someone else says it's frightening, terrifying. DON'T YOU DARE SHUT US DOWN she's right, NO ONE has ANY right or authority to "prevent other people from existing." The "gatekeeper girl" especially. We all remember Christina's attempted "soft massacres" and the actual one that Jessica & Cannon inflicted in 2013. No more of that, ever. We let us exist. Have mercy for heaven's sakes. You claim to follow God, where is your mercy? You who are so ready to pick up the knife and slaughter the rest of us? "You're not real," they say. "Define real," someone else retorts, "considering you're just like us." They're screaming protest in response. I wonder if they're our biggest threat here. I wonder if they're also the ones pushing the starvation compulsions. Different ones than these, but same class, for sure.
Too much for 230AM. But I don't want to ignore it. Let us pause and listen. Jay is reaching out, asking. (He always does; I think that's a big part of his job as the Heart.) "What makes you real, and us not? Can't you see me?" and fear response on their part. No words. But that was a good reply. Laurie is saying to stop commenting and close up so we can continue working and get some sleep for heaven's sakes. That's a good idea.

This is a good entry. We haven't had a solid entry in a while, even just notes like this.
We'll do better in the future, once the Core(s) stabilize. I promise that. It's something we want very much and will achieve through love and effort and the grace of God. We haven't "lost" all of this beauty we're reading from our past. It's still very much who we are. We can, and will, be that again-- and even better, as we continue to heal and love and grow together.

For now, Laurie is right. We need to wrap this up and let the body rest, no matter how much we want to keep working. If we go to bed now, we won't have to sleep in as much, and we'll have earlier time to work tomorrow, which is better for focus and processing ability. So we will do that.

Good night everyone. We're very glad to be alive tonight. We have a lot of hope.

(Jay says Spotify keeps playing Chaos 0's songs and let me tell you, if anyone is proof that our heart is alive, it's Jay. Yeah we're still confused on bloodlines and bodymind splits and all that, but this white-haired prism-hearted boy-- however he may evolve and change in the future-- is so full of light and love and color and truth, when he feels things this powerfully we are all affected by the power of it. The fact that he didn't die is phenomenal. he's proof that we have a future. that's just how it is. he's alive and so are we. that's a good note to close up on.)
(no, even better-- the lyrics in this song. "i can tell, i can feel, you are love, you are real." the look those two are giving each other is a beautiful thing. that's worth living for, is the thought i get. it is. and we need to protect that, and we all need to live in that too. we'll get there. we'll rebuild better than things were even in the past, in the glory days. there's more light on the horizon than we realize. things have seemed so dark for so long, but no, the stars are still all shining in the sky. there's always hope. hope is a fighting thing. remember what jay told anxi-- remember what our core is for anxi, and vice versa. realize everything beautiful we still have now, and don't let go. whatever happens tomorrow, we are all together, and we are alive, and we will continue on no matter what, into eternity. love is eternal and we have it now. don't be afraid. you know the truth. live in it. fight for it. that's who we are, and always will be.)







prismaticbleed: (Default)


2024 Sun Dec 22 2:05 AM


I'M FEELING = CHILL & LOVING

WHY = Finished the movies.
Brutally tired but genuinely happy.
Lots of casual sincere kisses with CZ the whole time.

CONTEXT TAGS = With Chaos 0,Home;Couch,Watching A Movie

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2024 Sun Dec 22 10:27 AM


I'M FEELING = RELIEVED & DETERMINED

WHY = Decided NOT to eat yogurt today, to avoid ALL nausea triggers.
Also heavenbent on getting to Mass for 1130 despite frigid temperatures. Gotta COMMIT boy!!

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Talking To Central;Meal Planning;Getting Ready For Church

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2024 Sun Dec 22 1:13 PM


I'M FEELING = CONFIDENT & SUPPORTED

WHY = We're doing life TOGETHER!

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Exercising;Cooking;Cleaning;Meal Planning

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2024 Sun Dec 22 4:36 PM


I'M FEELING = SCARED & ANGRY

WHY = Already ate too much.
Mom is picking us up to do MORE BLOODY BAKING
Tonight is going to be utterly terrifying.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself;Family,Home,Eating;Talking To Mom;Cooking

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2024 Sun Dec 22 7:20 PM


I'M FEELING = TERRIFIED & ANGRY 

WHY = Mom canceled plans, complaining and griping about the holiday stress she herself was creating.
Ironically I immediately began to selfabuse.

Yogurt and bread is horrific.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Disordered Behavior

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2024 Mon Dec 23 12:16 AM


I'M FEELING = CONTEMPT & CRUSHED

WHY = Stupid television shows infecting my brain
What the hell do I even expect it's all GARBAGE

meanwhile I'm dying inside and I miss who I used to be before everything went to helL
except it's always been a terror of a life

God I just want tomorrow to be beautiful

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Watching Animation

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2024 Mon Dec 23 9:37 AM


I'M FEELING = IN LOVE & INDIGNANT

WHY = Anniversary today. 
SO OF COURSE there was spiritual warfare nightmares with hacks.
Not going to let it touch this.
I refuse to let hatred win like it used to.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home;Couch,Just Woke Up

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2024 Mon Dec 23 2:36 PM


I'M FEELING = PRESSURED & FRUSTRATED

WHY = Mom is insisting we come up the house to bake and clean.
We can't say no. We have to be kind & helpful.
We HAVE to be SACRIFICIAL as a Christian.
God help us not to kill ourself in the process.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Eating;Talking To Mom

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2024 Mon Dec 23 3:42 PM


I'M FEELING = TERRIFIED & RESIGNED

WHY = Going up mom's house for the next several hours.
Typical post-lunch panic hitting like a blood fever.
God I'm so scared.
Chaos 0 forgive me I'm such a damn mess.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Cooking;Cleaning;Going To Mom's House

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2024 Tue Dec 24 1:08 AM


I'M FEELING = DEAD INSIDE & TERRIFIED

WHY = going to die

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Disordered Behavior

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2024 Tue Dec 24 1:38 PM


I'M FEELING = BEREFT & APPREHENSIVE

WHY = Christmas Eve.
Doesn't feel like Christmas.
Abusive nightmares.
Have to go to mom's house.
Have to wear a dress.
Meal terror.
Transportation undetermined.
God i just want JOY today, help us find it.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Cooking;Getting Ready For Church;Going To Mom's House,

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2024 Tue Dec 24 11:26 PM


I'M FEELING = DEAD INSIDE & DESPAIR

WHY = can't go to midnight mass
why even bother living anymore?

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Disordered Behavior

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2024 Wed Dec 25 10:40 AM


I'M FEELING = WEARY & LOVED

WHY = Made it to church.
Survived the night.
Not thinking about this evening.
Just spending time with the System I love so much.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System;With Chaos 0,Home;Headspace,Going To Bed

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2024 Wed Dec 25 2:08 PM


I'M FEELING = DESPAIR & DEAD INSIDE

WHY = I give up.
God I'm going to end up dead before You heal me.
What the heck are You waiting for

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Disordered Behavior

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2024 Wed Dec 25 4:41 PM


I'M FEELING = ASHAMED & BURNT OUT

WHY = Told mom about last night's suicide attempt.
Cannot come up here anymore

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Mom's House,Talking To Mom

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2024 Wed Dec 25 7:49 PM


I'M FEELING = ELATED & LOVED

WHY = KLONOA VINYL CHRISTMAS!!!!
THANK YOU BRO YOU'RE AWESOME

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Mom's House,Opening Gifts

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2024 Thu Dec 26 12:45 AM


I'M FEELING = FRIGHTENED & ABANDONED

WHY = hunger binge.
literally no food left for the weekend
feeling scared & alone.
time to fast i guess

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Disordered Behavior

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2024 Thu Dec 26 8:59 AM


I'M FEELING = HOPEFUL & RESIGNED

WHY = God will get me through the Zarephath days.
In any case we have at least 3 DAYS ALONE at last. So we can REST & LIVE AGAIN.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Just Woke Up

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2024 Thu Dec 26 12:58 PM


I'M FEELING = SUPPORTED & TROUBLED

WHY = Doing everything we can to make it until Monday.
Gotta pray & BELIEVE most of all.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Meal Planning

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2024 Thu Dec 26 5:46 PM


I'M FEELING = FRUSTRATED & HURTING

WHY = I miss everyone so much.
Icon makers are a poor and stupid stand-in.
Go BE WITH THEM-- no, with US.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Eating;Picrew

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2024 Fri Dec 27 1:53 PM


I'M FEELING = GRATEFUL & RELIEVED

WHY = OUR CASE MANAGER IS TAKING US GROCERY SHOPPING
THANK THE GOOD LORD ALMIGHTY!!!
TRUSTING SURRENDER REALLY DOES PAY OFF

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Eating;Cleaning

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2024 Fri Dec 27 7:02 PM


I'M FEELING = ABUSED & HEARD

WHY = Bulimia trauma processing.
Genesis firmly yet heartbrokenly helping the Socials be more self-aware.
Scared & sad but not hopeless.
We can end this. We can be okay tomorrow.
Maybe even tonight.

CONTEXT TAGS = Social Subsystem,Kitchen,Disordered Behavior;Talking To Genesis

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2024 Fri Dec 27 11:52 PM


I'M FEELING = CRUSHED & INDIGNANT

WHY = Another bloody day lost to this damned eating disorder.
And today PROVED that it's ALL TRAUMA SHIT.
It's either people-pleasing compulsions, or reliving flashbacks in real-time.
I also strongly suspect that the E.D. is an outlet for VIOLENT RAGE, which is why most of the behaviors are literally just DESTRUCTION.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Kitchen,Recovering

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2024 Sat Dec 28 4:28 AM


I'M FEELING = SCARED & DISTRESSED

WHY = Body still can't breathe or sleep after 5 hours.
911 on speed dial.
God please help us

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Couch,Recovering;Trying To Sleep

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2024 Sat Dec 28 11:32 AM


I'M FEELING = CONFUSED & LOVESICK 

WHY = Weird dreams. Half trauma, half hope.
Still in love though. No hatred. Just confused.

CONTEXT TAGS = With Chaos 0,Couch,Just Woke Up

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2024 Sat Dec 28 12:46 PM


I'M FEELING = NERVOUS & CHALLENGED

WHY = Eating is terrifying. But we have to do it.
We have to be strong, together.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Table,Eating

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2024 Sat Dec 28 1:41 PM


I'M FEELING = ENCOURAGED & INSPIRED

WHY = Talking to Anxi & Laurie about struggles lately.
Feeling real love sparking back to life beneath all the fear & depression.
Moved & determined to FIGHT FOR IT.

REFLECT = "Feeling a sense of love and determination amidst fear and depression can be very powerful. What do you think has helped bring about this shift in perspective for you?"

REPLY = Anxi, Laurie, & Chaos 0. The whole System, really, but especially them, & how much I do & always have & always WILL love them. I want to live FOR that, for THEM-- and it's REAL, more real than any fears or drugs. Thanks be to God for redirecting me TO this through Scripture. 

INSIGHT = "Living for the deep love and connection with others can provide a powerful anchor in challenging times, reminding that this love is often more real than fears or external distractions."

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Exercise Bike;Cleanup Room,Talking To Central;Exercising;Cleaning;Talking To Anxi

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2024 Sat Dec 28 6:15 PM


I'M FEELING = APPREHENSIVE & SUPPORTED

WHY = Dinner is always a threat & we're already late. OCD symptoms are really bad too.
But we're together. We can get through this okay.
God be with us & strengthen us with grace.

REFLECT = "Navigating dinner in such a challenging context can be overwhelming. How does feeling supported influence your ability to cope with the apprehension you're experiencing?"

REPLY = I always fail alone. When I'm actively talking with & aware of the System, I'm conscious & grounded, with their warnings & input to help me when I'm lost & scared.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Table,Eating

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2024 Sat Dec 28 10:23 PM


I'M FEELING = FRIGHTENED & DEFEATED

WHY = Chocolate hell. Big mistake.
Literally no food left in the house after tomorrow either.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Kitchen,Disordered Behavior

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2024 Sat Dec 28 11:24 PM


I'M FEELING = AFRAID & ASHAMED 

WHY = Body so sick from abuse.
Legit afraid we might have to dial 911 tonight.

Lord why can't we stop?
Is it malnutrition?
Is it trauma?
Is it mental burnout?
Is it emotional starvation?

Please, please help us or we're GOING TO DIE.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Kitchen,Eating;Disordered Behavior;Cleaning

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2024 Sun Dec 29 1:23 PM


I'M FEELING = FOOLISH & DETERMINED

WHY = Missed Mass this morning because we were so bloody exhausted. Also super late for breakfast.
NEVERTHELESS going to do our best under the circumstances.
It's a foggy misty day outside so it both looks & smells BEAUTIFUL and we're gonna roll with it.
God be with us always!

REFLECT = "There's a strong sense of resilience in your words. How does immersing in the beauty of the day contribute to your feeling of determination?"

REPLY = It reminds me that there is a Goodness greater than any & all my momentary troubles & struggles-- because they ARE fleeting, in light of eternity, which is God, Who IS Beauty & Love. Recognizing His work around me grounds me in Truth & gives me that grace of courage to keep going.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Talking To Acquaintances

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2024 Sun Dec 29 3:11 PM


I'M FEELING = DYSREGULATED & ACCOMPLISHED

WHY = Body doesn't want food but emotions do. Fighting the destructive + devouring impulse to binge.
Need to feel this out & TYPE it out.
Gonna vacuum first though so we don't panic over how much pain the body is unexpectedly in.

REFLECT = "Juggling feelings of dysregulation with a sense of accomplishment can be complex. How does taking some time to clean and organize your space influence your current emotional state?"

REPLY = Reducing clutter & bringing order to chaos () externally helps jumpstart that effect internally. The busywork also helps regulate emotions by taking the focus off of their volume & redirecting it to good hard work.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Kitchen,Cleaning

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2024 Sun Dec 29 6:04 PM


I'M FEELING = ENGROSSED & PRODUCTIVE

WHY = FINALLY GETTING WORK DONE!

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,On The Laptop,Archiving

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2024 Sun Dec 29 8:52 PM


I'M FEELING = COMPETENT & INDECISIVE

WHY = Found AT LEAST $20 of returns, so we can buy the food we need!
Still unsure on hemp prices though. Is it cheaper online? We'll find out. It's all we can do.
We MIGHT have to go keto for a week. Heck, it might even fix the stupid binge compulsion. It's so strong. What are we hungry for?
Looking forward to more typing & exercise in any case.
The air outside still smells like mist. It's beautiful.
The night drive is going to be heavenly.

REFLECT = "It sounds like there are mixed feelings of both accomplishment and uncertainty today. What helps you feel confident when faced with indecision around meal planning or budgeting?"

REPLY = I KNOW that I CAN make the wisest decisions. The only obstacle is fighting the "fomo emotion mind." It's SO SCARED of "not having enough" Bro we will MAKE it be enough; have some faith in our resilience & tenacity! By the grace of God we WILL DEAL WITH IT.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Kitchen,Cleaning;Meal Planning;Budgeting

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2024 Mon Dec 30 12:28 AM


I'M FEELING = EXHAUSTED & OKAY

WHY = So tired. Mom's schedule is insane. Only getting 4 hours of sleep again.
But tomorrow we're finally donating our books & shoes & clothes. We're hitting the food drives hopefully. We're getting groceries at last. And yes it will burn us out but we're still blessed with these opportunities. Gotta look on the bright side.
...such as PRECIOUS BLOOD AT MASS TOMORROW

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Cleaning;Going To Bed

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2024 Mon Dec 30 12:35 AM


I'M FEELING = IN LOVE & INADEQUATE

WHY = Chaos's music playing on the drive home. I genuinely do love him so, so much.
But I'm also terribly aware of the esthiofoni and their fears & compulsions. Our past is so disgusting & humiliating & traumatic.
I don't want that to happen anymore. I'm scared to death of it. But tomorrow is already full of threats & danger. It might be impossible to get through it undamaged.
That makes me so angry it turns into weeping.
I want to LIVE. I want to LOVE. To hell with food. Why can't it just STOP for good?

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System;With Chaos 0,Home,Going To Bed

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2024 Mon Dec 30 5:32 AM


I'M FEELING = FRAZZLED & RESIGNED

WHY = 3 hours of sleep.
SO MUCH to do today.
Already exhausted. Scared too.
God get us through it SAFELY, please.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Cleanup Room,Just Woke Up;Getting Ready For The Day

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2024 Mon Dec 30 6:53 AM


I'M FEELING = ENRAPTURED

WHY = CHURCH!

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Church,Adoration,

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2024 Mon Dec 30 8:50 AM


I'M FEELING = IN LOVE & ECSTATIC

WHY = INFINITII AND I TOGETHER IN HEARTSPACE.
ZE IS FINALLY STARTING TO COME BACK.
THANK YOU GOD, THANK YOU GOD, SO MUCH

All this started with the ""missing"" altar wine today.
Turns out the Good Lord had other better plans for me as far as Blood is concerned.

My heart ACHES with love and also crystallized wounds.
I feel ALIVE & REAL.

CONTEXT TAGS = With Infinitii,Heartspace,Talking To Infinitii

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2024 Mon Dec 30 10:27 AM


I'M FEELING = PRODUCTIVE & GRATEFUL

WHY = GOD IS GOOD BRO

CONTEXT TAGS = With Genesis,Commuting;Shopping,Shopping;Talking To Genesis

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

2024 Mon Dec 30 10:38 AM


I'M FEELING = RUSHED & CONFIDENT

WHY = Tight schedule but we're getting it done bro

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System;With Genesis,Commuting,Driving;Shopping

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

2024 Mon Dec 30 5:25 PM


I'M FEELING = CONTEMPT & DETERMINED

WHY = Massive food drive binge... PLAN.
I can still stop this from getting insane.
We HAVE the power AND authority AND FREEDOM to TRASH IT ALL.
NO ONE IS OBLIGATED TO EAT THIS GARBAGE.
YOU ARE ALL ALLOWED TO SAY ""NO""!!!

I hate having to destroy food. I really do.
But this could've been SO MUCH WORSE.
Count your blessings & FIGHT VICE!!!

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Kitchen,Disordered Behavior;Cleaning

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

2024 Mon Dec 30 9:44 PM


I'M FEELING = NAUSEATED & SCARED

WHY = So sick from weird foods.
I don't want to have to eat these things.
Exhausted, dizzy, nauseous. But it's over.
I hope to God I can sleep

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Kitchen,Disordered Behavior

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

2024 Tue Dec 31 4:18 AM


I'M FEELING = BLESSED & HAPPY

WHY = We got through the day and we're ending it together.
I love us all so much.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System;With Chaos 0,Headspace;Couch,Talking To Central;Going To Bed;Journaling;Talking To Chaos 0

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

2024 Tue Dec 31 10:48 AM


I'M FEELING = EXHAUSTED & IRRITATED

WHY = I want to sleep but phone call woke me up.
Schedule unpredictability stress.
Stupid Tumblr distraction.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Couch,Talking To Mom;Internet Browsing

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

2024 Tue Dec 31 2:46 PM


I'M FEELING = RUSHED & NERVOUS

WHY = Gotta eat breakfast quickly so we can go to church and then go up moms house for the evening.
Scared already. Overwhelmed. But we have to trust in God and do our best.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Table,Eating;Talking To Mom;Getting Ready For Church

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

2024 Tue Dec 31 8:05 PM


I'M FEELING = ACCOMPLISHED & SCARED

WHY = Put a whole puzzle together in record time!
But now we gotta eat SHRIMP

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Mom's House,Eating;Puzzles





1228

Dec. 29th, 2024 03:34 am
prismaticbleed: (aflame)

technically it's 334 AM on the 29th and I'm uploading a few hospital entries but Tom Jones just came up on Spotify and reminded me that there's a topic I can't be running from and need to type about.

First things first, a quick note. Thanks to our being unable to properly manage family stress, the 23rd-25th were nightmarish. But... our heart didn't shut down. That's ASTOUNDING. Despite literally attempting suicide at midnight on Tuesday, the Core still CHOSE to have hope despite the hell. Massive emphasis on "chose" by the way; there was no visible reason to keep going or to keep trying. ...but inside, there was everything.

The Core decided, with a sort of victorious fire, that since family demands took them away from anniversary celebrations and Christmas joy, that we were going to celebrate the season and System love for the next 54 days, literally until Valentine's Day. "Take that" to the evil forces trying to crush love. They are doomed to fail, always.

I'm updating, though, because on the morning of the 23rd and this morning (the 28th), I've had... strange dreams. I have not been sleeping well at all; last night I couldn't breathe and woke up every hour on the hour until like 5am, after which I finally crashed until noon or so. It was a terrible night. I didn't fall asleep until practically 6am on Friday morning. The past two weeks, at least, have been similar. Sleep has been poor, broken, hard to come by and hard to keep. December in general has been a frighteningly difficult month thanks to the family-- and I am being brutally sorrowfully honest in saying that; it is not hyperbole; we've been keeping track of stressors and that is the #1 constant-- and because of that we've been somewhat out of touch with headspace, at least compared to the ideal. But we haven't shut down. We haven't gone numb. That's AMAZING. In past years, we... in past years such circumstances often ended with "reset attempts" or... the 27th was the 11th "anniversary" of the massacre. we didn't think about it. honestly i don't even remember the 27th. no one's been keeping daily journals so memory just disappears. we need to upload the emotion logs from that godsend "how we feel" app soon but other than that, there's no active memory.
still i don't think we're capable of thinking about the massacre right now. for some reason that trauma is... the wounds feel like they've been re-opened lately. especially for laurie. i'm sure something happened that caused this but i can't remember what. like i said, memory is shot. but i won't force anyone to look at that data before we're ready. and we are not. i sure am not, the few flashes i have access to (third person data) are harrowing enough. i literally shake every time i glimpse them. now is not the time to face that fully, not yet. but we can't deny or ignore it either. there has to be a balance here, as with all trauma processing, and that's delicate, difficult discernment work. forcing things will just make it all so much more terrifying. and you cannot read that data, or look at it, casually. it will destroy you whether you let yourself feel it or not. and i want to feel things now. so no haphazard reviews. if i face it, i will do so with reverent gravity, aware of how hard it is going to hit and bleed. i'm not ready for that yet. there's... i think there are other things to deal with first. as odd as that sounds. things led to the massacre, after all.

on that note. i return to the initial point. strange dreams.
you know, family stress aside, i'm the most shocked & stunned that these dreams aren't making me shut down and push everyone away and want to die or destroy everything in their wake. part of me feels "guilty" and scared about that fact. "am i so numb that i won't fight anymore?" "have i just gotten so used to it that i don't even care?" but no, that's... that's not what's happening. the "default response" shouldn't be suicidal destructive rage. that's missing what my subconscious is apparently actually trying to grapple with here.
gosh i just don't ever say this sort of thing outright, do i. i don't know how. i don't understand why this is happening. oh wait, yes i do. we've been watching media clips from a show we pointedly avoided for years because of how massively triggering it is, but someone didn't tag a few gifsets on tumblr so we saw them and we were moved & curious as to how THAT kind of show built up to THIS apparently happening in it, and so we unblocked the whole thing and started to look into it and it's surprisingly helping us process trauma better than therapy did. that's the short answer.
there's an entry in the works that will inevitably elaborate on this but it's not written yet. too little time, ironically, up until 4am typing and forgetting that we need to sleep. not tired at all. this is crazy why are we so exhausted but we can't get tired anymore, is that burnout too ironically?
now i'm wondering if that is playing into these dreams too. trauma all over the place. last night we relived it. but... we didn't want to die when we woke up?
listen i'm just going to be blunt
last night, i dreamed about the pink drowning event. that day that was the closest i ever got to dying (until 2013 of course).
i... i don't... i haven't thought about that night in a long time, because of the trauma it was soaked through with. but... apparently my dreams are reminding me that it only happened because of love and if it was saturated with anything it was that.
...2012 still haunts me too. i haven't talked to chaos 0 about that, not in a while. did we ever sit down and just talk through that? i know we've talked about and around it, briefly, like we even did today, but... we've never had a discussion. honestly we should have a xanga session about it, about this, about how my heart won't shut down even with THAT now and I don't know if Anxi literally rewired my circulatory system or what but this has never happened before. i wasn't capable of this before, this resolute devotion to love and hope that REFUSES to let trauma ruin the deeper truth of things anymore. i am COMMITTED to the fight. i really don't think i could do this before Anxi showed up. God only knows what she did, but something integral finally shifted into the right place. there's a reason why my main term for endearment for her is "mi vida." she has changed my life so much. i owe her so much. chaos 0 does too, by extension. if it affects me, it affects him. both directions. 

how do i even talk about this.
i don't think i can. i think i need to talk with him about this. and laurie, because she keeps me from losing my mind. i... i would say "and infi" but ze's... not around. i can't say the other word. i won't. i'm committed to that hope now, too, after having seen hir in flashes during church and when walking past the roses outside... just glimpses, but i know somehow that hir soul isn't dead. it's just... in the black somewhere. i can't hold hir. i can't... it breaks my heart. but one day. i swear. i'll do whatever it takes. i have to. God give me strength. i want hir back but I have to be the sort of person who CAN have hir back. infi is a daengel; if ze's going to return to me it has to be through my heart. and... right now my heart's a bit of a disaster. is it? i think it's the whole of us, all our poor battered koinofoni, everyone struggling, the fact that outside stressors are keeping us from the inside, and that's where infi will return, i'm holding on to that "will" like a drowning man, like a prayer. it really is a prayer.
but. there's too much prayer happening in those bleeding dreams, too, pun possibly intended, in a way i'd never admit outright on my own. but i have to. we haven't talked about this sort of thing in many years. i think this is where all the... oh good lord i just realized what song is playing on spotify. i thought it sounded familiar. god it just hit like a sword through my chest, it's leviathan, of all things to play when i'm talking about this...

listen, it's 430 am. it's been an hour. our brain still isn't tired but it feels like it's unraveling. we really do need to try and sleep. i'll return to this topic tomorrow. it's too important to put off any longer.
until then i'm going to go crash on that vanillamint couch with my beloved blue guy in my arms and probably weep from the quiet beauty of you're still here after 21 years, so am I, and here we are, as simple as that. "when i saw you, i fell in love." and it's... i don't think I can lose that anymore, even for a moment. i don't think i can doubt it at all. considering how past cores used to... which immediately makes me remember these two xangas (this one came up too, and i feel i need to reread it so here's a reminder)... that makes me genuinely very happy.
and yet, just happiness? there's still a numbness over everything. anxi's been affected by it the most strikingly. it upsets me a great deal. why this sedation, this suppression? it's like everything has been anaesthetized. has it? but... at least nothing is shutting down. maybe that's why. maybe we're at a weird halfway point.

talks need to happen. not now. it's almost 5am and i keep forgetting we have to be awake in a few hours.
if we want to go to church (we do) then that means only 5 hours of sleep... lord have mercy. i know we "already fulfilled our sunday obligation" with the vigil mass today but... i don't know, would it be wrong to sleep in until noon again? just so we can get around 7 hours and not collapse. i think the poor esthiofoni are so unstable this month because of the lack of sleep on top of all the stress.

but i want to continue this in earnest. i know i started this entry with the intention of saying a lot more than i have here. but... i like this outcome better. i think talking together about this is the better option. it'll require that i feel things.
so. tomorrow. i have to. no putting this off. if family makes that impossible then monday, after the medical appointment & after we return the car to the mother. hopefully that's not too late either. but i want to discuss this with him asap, even if we have to start at 11pm. it has to happen. laurie make sure
aha she's furious that i'm still awake ("i'm not furious, kid, i'm just angry from how worried i am about you") she has a good point. passive self-abuse like this (it counts, don't sugarcoat it) has been all too common this month.

time to sleep. i really do want to be with chaos 0 right now in any case. everything else can wait.
see you tomorrow. or later tonight, haha. time is weird at 448am. at least i feel alive right now.




prismaticbleed: (held)

1214 SAT
Anxi is capable of a loop bypass = orange level plugin + heartstar connection
this is MONUMENTAL and totally unprecedented.
also a little frightening because apparently the "color-level" thing is still legit. not surprising (we're all about color) but it means we have to dig up a lot of scary history that we tried to shove under the rug as "nonsense." when will we learn that literally nothing up here is nonsense? it all matters, it all means something
in any case there is also so much relief and joy i could cry. this is BYPASS potential. anxi could literally do what every Core has dreamed of doing and was never able to, and that is evade the hackers. god if only infi were around to know this. ...maybe this is step one in allowing hir to come back. ze can't unless it's safe. this might just be the first real light on that horizon.
still. no idea if, or how, this would apply to others, as only anxi has the plugin capacity. but it's worth thinking about.

1215 SUN
our dragon phagophoni is STILL around eating breakfast. still positive, no trauma? thank God. also no name yet
Briefly tried talking to her; at one point someone asked about her appearance being like Spine & Wreckage? draconic. and she said "Spine is my SISTER" = both are strongly tied to the body in a direct sense??
Still no sign of Spine post-CNC though. Lynne still heartbroken over this of course. But we talked about this at TBHU-- there IS hope, just like there's hope for Infi, and several others who died back then. As we heal and remember, we will need them again, and be able to sustain them again. Remember it can and has taken years for foni to resurrect before. And yet they do come back. Just hold on to hope.

Homily at mass = ALL ABOUT HOPE go figure. no such thing as a coincidence
"FIND it" and "LIVE it" = determined "search it out in the darkness" because it IS always there
really love and identify with that statement-- that hope must be FOUGHT for. it isn't passive or timid or wishful thinking. it's a battle and it's courageous and it's committed and it doesn't give up. hope DECIDES to exist, paradoxically. it sees everything allegedly opposing it and it says, so what? hope has crazy power because it is anchored into faith, meaning that it transcends the apparent and locks in to something only the heart can rightly perceive-- that the heart trusts and knows despite everything. hope is mad strong. hope is uncrushable. hope is that "thing with feathers" that never ever stops singing. hope is the soul of every core in this System.

1216 MON
religious anxiety hitting hard. thinking of anxi in relation to this = "how is she trying to protect me?"
answer from someone faceless= "I'M SCARED OF 'LOVE'" (TRAUMA) (e.g. "the q thing") (also wow to THAT being the IMMEDIATE thought when they said they were scared. why was that incident SO TERRIFYING. did we write about it? it STILL haunts us)
btw we need to talk about how violently aroace we still are. emphasis on the violence. why are we so damn aggressive about this?? it's a kneejerk response but it's frighteningly brutal. i'm sure that's protective too; it's the only time the "fight" response kicks in unfailingly.
like, if we see something "romantic" while scrolling online someone will immediately flip them off and swear at them threateningly. "that's f*cking disgusting", "f*ck off or i'll k*ll you," etc. like legit DANGEROUS RAGE. "destroy it before it destroys us" seems to be the instinct. all the alarm bells go off at once and someone apparently just picks up a missile launcher to deal with it.

1217 TUE
"Gatekeeper" girl + "Commentary" girl both very loud & active this morning
Apparently Xenophon likes salty/ sweet/ "bitey" things as far as food goes. she very much dislikes soft foods.
✱JAY IS ALIVE but the gatekeeper girl won't let him stay out because he cannot do "daily living"; he's internally anchored
^also HE "can't love Anxi?" this is upsetting but it makes sense because Jay is not straight at all and his vibe clashes with hers as well.
✱THERE IS HOPE TO LIVE, AS A SYSTEM
people HOLD energy/ inspiration/ knowledge/ motivation/ etc. If a koinofoni is feeling utterly depressed and hollow and empty, they DON'T HAVE TO BE ALONE-- they can always reach out/ call for someone who holds optimism, or even just be aware of such a person. this "greater awareness" is sometimes the only hope that our socials have, if they have it at all (some don't, which is tragic; the most unhealthy foni are the ones who think they're singlets)

"Love is VULNERABLE, ACCESSIBLE, & AVAILABLE"

1218 WED
Our "food dragon" phagofoni's name is PHAEDRA (and yes she's a basic phago; not a trogo because she's not specific? it seems she can eat multiple things & be okay with it)
The "friar" thriskefoni's name is FRANCESCO (a rare non-traumatized one! he's in the BROWN huespace probably because he's so tied to the physical act of praying; browns are very tied to the body. however he doesn't seem to be a somafoni?? he feels like he might exist in midspace. we need a proper term for these folks). He is NOT on the same level as FEILIX?? who is our "AUDIO PRAYING" guy and who is actually faceless as of yet.

1220 FRI
KOINOFONI (SOCIALS) "DON'T BELIEVE IN HEAVEN" because they have NO EXPERIENCE OF LOVE
Gatekeeper girl protesting against fronters: "THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB"

Later, while eating = Jesus cross figure always falling over
Upset me, "It feels like the slightest little things will knock you right over"
Reply "That's the same thing that happens to you"
Why does it fall? Because it's "too heavy" for the foundation. but WHY? Because the CROSS is heavy.
Jesus said "I don't hate you for falling it just breaks my heart"


XANGA TOPICS FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE =
  • Why the "Q thing" was so scary (go back and review?)
  • weird dreams lately
  • ↑ PAST ones
  • ↑ PINK event
  • ↑ ANXI BYPASS in light of this?
  • Angel Dust/ Jay parallels?
  • anniversary anaesthesia
  • Core gender issue?
  • ↑ NAME/ FACE problems?
  • DESTRUCTION DRIVE
  • ↑ food feels more invasive/ traumatic than ever
★ LAST NIGHT'S DREAM carrying MY OWN BLEEDING CORPSE, running from "police," trying to get to "Gimmelwald" for a proper burial???
btw GET JANUARY DATES
prismaticbleed: (Default)


2024 Mon Dec 9 6:03 AM


I'M FEELING = CHALLENGED

WHY = WE'RE GONNA GET THROUGH TODAY BY THE GRACE OF GOD NO MATTER WHAT

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Lou's House,Driving;Interim

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

2024 Mon Dec 9 10:20 AM


I'M FEELING = CONFIDENT

WHY = We're GETTING IT DONE

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Medical Office,Medical Appointment

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

2024 Mon Dec 9 11:56 AM


I'M FEELING =EMPOWERED

WHY = We SUCCESSFULLY GOT THROUGH THE MORNING! Now we have the afternoon but THANK GOD WE WILL GET THROUGH THAT TOO

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself;With The System,Commuting,Medical Appointment

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

2024 Mon Dec 9 2:08 PM


I'M FEELING = APPREHENSIVE 

WHY = Possible credit check failure on the headphones. Feeling stupid for even ordering them although they are a LEGIT NEED for mental health.
Also upset because we're hyperbuying apples to ""find out what they taste like,"" AGAIN.
WHO THE HECK FONI IS IN CHARGE OF THIS. FIND THEM AND TALK TO THEM FOR HEAVENS SAKE.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Commuting,Medical Appointment;Business Work

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

2024 Mon Dec 9 3:43 PM


I'M FEELING = THANKFUL

WHY = Finally sitting down to lunch, with beautiful rain outside.
It's been very much a Genesis day, which is awesome. I love him so much.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself;With The System,Home,Eating

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

2024 Mon Dec 9 7:42 PM


I'M FEELING = HUMILIATED

WHY =  Listening to Bruno Mars & singing along stupidly when we realized a young girl heard us. Total humiliation and self-loathing.
I REPEAT, WHAT FONI IS DOING THIS MANIC SINGING STILL? It destroys our mood and reputation.

CONTEXT TAGS = In Public;In The Store,Commuting;Shopping,Driving;Listening To Music

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

2024 Tue Dec 10 12:07 AM


I'M FEELING = HOPELESS

WHY = Feeling useless, purposeless, and a failure.
Tumblr idiocy browsing ruining my mind.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Sleeping

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

2024 Tue Dec 10 8:38 AM


I'M FEELING = SAD

WHY = Bad dreams, exhausted with unrestful sleep, still have to do laundry today.
I just want to actually rest.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself;With The System,Home,Just Woke Up

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

2024 Tue Dec 10 10:14 AM


I'M FEELING = DEPRESSED

WHY = Like weeping

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Exercising

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

2024 Tue Dec 10 12:48 PM


I'M FEELING = PRODUCTIVE

WHY = Getting ALL the laundry, cleaning, & cooking done!

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Busywork;Cooking;Cleaning;Laundry

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

2024 Tue Dec 10 2:52 PM


I'M FEELING = ACCOMPLISHED

WHY = FOUR LOADS OF LAUNDRY DONE and we even cooked that butternut squash.
SUCCESS!

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Cooking;Cleaning

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

2024 Tue Dec 10 3:12 PM


I'M FEELING = WORRIED

WHY = Worried about how our body will react to new lunch. Still gonna try. Exercise will help too.
Don't panic bro! Pray about it!

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Eating

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

2024 Tue Dec 10 10:20 PM


I'M FEELING = ENRAGED

WHY = F*male bullsh*t.
Two days better not do a damn thing.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Cooking;Cleaning

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

2024 Wed Dec 11 9:07 AM


I'M FEELING = GRATEFUL

WHY = WE DIDN'T DIE DURING THE NIGHT

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Just Woke Up

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

2024 Wed Dec 11 11:59 AM


I'M FEELING = CONNECTED

WHY = Anxi's group AND Central WORKING TOGETHER.
Feeling genuine hope for the future.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Busywork;Cooking;Cleaning

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

2024 Wed Dec 11 12:29 PM


I'M FEELING = LOVED

WHY = Chaos 0 talking to the Emotions & outright telling Anxi "Jewel is in love with you".
Embarrassment pointedly didn't touch the controls, but Joy ran over & did. This 'allowed' Anxi to feel what she was REALLY feeling-- and God I FELT it.
She teared up & smiled & it felt like a sunrise.
Please remember that forever.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Headspace,Talking To Central

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

2024 Wed Dec 11 2:27 PM


I'M FEELING = NERVOUS

WHY = Rushed for time, got an inexplicable hive, trying sweet potatoes.
But HOPE is determined to find the blessing, because God IS present in ALL this too.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself;With The System,Home,Eating

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

2024 Wed Dec 11 5:59 PM


I'M FEELING = DISAPPOINTED

WHY = So little good music.
Spent too much time looking at art on Tumblr and feeling totally inadequate.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Listening To Music;Exercising

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

2024 Thu Dec 12 5:16 AM


I'M FEELING = LOVED

WHY = Late night conversations with Chaos 0 & Laurie.
I'm not getting ANY sleep and it's ENTIRELY WORTH IT 

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,On The Laptop;Headspace,Listening To Music;Journaling

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

2024 Thu Dec 12 10:21 AM


I'M FEELING = AT EASE

WHY = Nice breakfast, good music, everyone talking together.
(Julie typing  it's good to be alive and safe this morning.)

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Eating;Talking To Central;Nousfoni Fronting

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

2024 Thu Dec 12 1:55 PM


I'M FEELING = CONTEMPT 

WHY = Wasting time on Tumblr while biking again. So fed up with how people act on there.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Internet Browsing

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

2024 Thu Dec 12 2:37 PM


I'M FEELING = RELIEVED

WHY = Exercise done. After we eat we can archive.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Eating

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

2024 Thu Dec 12 3:58 PM


I'M FEELING = SCARED

WHY = Mom texted and wants us to go up the house. Already we've started panic dissociating and had to stop a knee-jerk panic binge (trying to shut down our consciousness + self abuse overwhelm-analogue mom coping).
Genuinely scared stiff. Might have to bike more to burn off the sheer panic.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Cleaning

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

2024 Thu Dec 12 11:47 PM


I'M FEELING = TRAPPED

WHY = why won't this stop

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Disordered Behavior

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

2024 Fri Dec 13 4:50 AM


I'M FEELING = MOVED

WHY = Reading "the sea and the stars."

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Reading The Archives

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

2024 Fri Dec 13 10:32 AM


I'M FEELING = LOVED

WHY = IN love, too. Waking up literally to see Anxi at her laptop & Laurie close by, and Chaos 0 in my arms.
Absolutely a good morning. 

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Just Woke Up

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

2024 Fri Dec 13 11:58 AM


I'M FEELING = TENSE

WHY = Feeling the weight of foo many responsibilities and scheduled things, especially for the weekend.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Eating

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

2024 Fri Dec 13 12:31 PM


I'M FEELING = MISERABLE

WHY = THE THRISKEFONI DON'T CARE ABOUT US!!!
THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT THEIR RELIGION

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home;Headspace,Eating;Cooking;Cleaning

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

2024 Fri Dec 13 2:42 PM


I'M FEELING = GOOD

WHY = A little bit of hope. Good tunes by Ginger Root, and a supportive phone appointment with the case manager.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Exercising

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

2024 Fri Dec 13 7:15 PM


I'M FEELING = INSPIRED

WHY = Uploading Chalyx's entries about Calyrex and WOW these are amazing.
Also SPECTACULAR PROG ROCK AT LAST, THANK YOU GOD & ALSO SPOTIFY

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,On The Laptop,Archiving

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

2024 Sat Dec 14 12:38 AM


I'M FEELING = HOPELESS

WHY = this won't stop.
and tomorrow we have that damned dinner party with mom
I feel so dead.
I just need a week to do nothing but sleep and weep

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Disordered Behavior

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

2024 Sat Dec 14 5:19 AM


I'M FEELING = VULNERABLE

WHY = remembering when infi died.
chaos 0 & laurie weeping with me. lynne too.
everyone's hearts shattered.
feeling gravely like we need a hard reset. on purpose. we never had closure on cnc. it never "ended" we need to do that now.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Reading The Archives

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

2024 Sat Dec 14 1:16 PM


I'M FEELING = NERVOUS

WHY = Dinner party tonight. Inevitable social panic.
YOU KOINOFONI HAD BETTER BE TUNED IN OR WE'RE GONNA BE IN TROUBLE

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Exercising;Cooking

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

2024 Sat Dec 14 2:01 PM


I'M FEELING = LOVED

WHY = Listening to JVKE and just feeling System love so strongly. Thank You God for inspiring this kid & leading us to his tunes. We need this so much right now.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself;With The System,Home,Eating;Exercising

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

2024 Sat Dec 14 5:59 PM


I'M FEELING = FRIGHTENED

WHY = Going to dinner party.
Still frighteningly sick from throwing up earlier

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Commuting,Driving

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

2024 Sat Dec 14 7:57 PM


I'M FEELING = INCLUDED

WHY = Dinner with the fam!

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Restaurant,Eating

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


2024 Sun Dec 15 1:48 PM


I'M FEELING = APPREHENSIVE

WHY = Having to calorie-pack meals today because BK is at 1345. Scared it'll feel overwhelming.
So tired of being sick. Food has again become the enemy.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Eating;Cooking

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

2024 Sun Dec 15 2:17 PM


I'M FEELING = INSPIRED

WHY = THANK YOU SAINT PAUL & YOUVERSION TRANSLATIONS FOR GALATIANS 2

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Eating;Reading Scripture

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2024 Sun Dec 15 4:12 PM


I'M FEELING = PRESSURED

WHY = We have TOO MUCH STUFF. What do we do with all these books?? It's driving me insane.
God PLEASE give us the direction we need here, WHO DO WE GIVE THEM TO

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Busywork;Praying

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2024 Sun Dec 15 4:54 PM


I'M FEELING = GOOD

WHY = Actual happiness right now.
Good prog rock, System love, and Christmas lights.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Exercising

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2024 Sun Dec 15 5:29 PM


I'M FEELING = ANNOYED

WHY = Body frustrations.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Exercising

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2024 Sun Dec 15 7:46 PM


I'M FEELING = STRESSED

WHY = Shopping with mom. Still no dinner.

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Commuting,Cleaning;Shopping

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2024 Sun Dec 15 9:41 PM


I'M FEELING = PANICKED

WHY = Minor binge GOD WILLING but still a binge. Wrecked and terrified and miserable.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself;With The System,Home,Disordered Behavior

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2024 Sun Dec 15 10:41 PM


I'M FEELING = TRAPPED

WHY = Why can't I stop?

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself;Praying To Jesus,Home,Disordered Behavior

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2024 Sun Dec 15 11:34 PM

 

I'M FEELING = SPENT

WHY = Destroyed all the danger food. We want to cry or shut off completely.
That bloody TBHU didn't fix ANYTHING.

CONTEXT TAGS = Praying To Jesus,Home,Disordered Behavior

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2024 Mon Dec 16 8:43 AM


I'M FEELING = SPENT

WHY = Poor sleep, not eating well, stressed beyond capacity to cope.
We desperately need a WEEK of nothing but headspace.
Koinofoni are actually starting to consider ""running away"" again.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System;With Case Manager,Psychology Office,Psychology Appointment

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2024 Mon Dec 16 11:36 AM


I'M FEELING = LOVED

WHY = Visiting Our Lord 

CONTEXT TAGS = Praying To Jesus,Church;Adoration Chapel,Adoration

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2024 Mon Dec 16 1:01 PM


I'M FEELING = SAD

WHY = Body still so out of shape. Kitchen lights burnt out. Teeth still hurt like hell.
Exhausted. Life feels stuck, outside at least.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Cooking;Cleaning

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2024 Mon Dec 16 7:06 PM


I'M FEELING = DISAPPOINTED

WHY = Popular media being far less laudable than I hoped. So done with all the promiscuity, violence, language, and casual blasphemy.
Emotionally & mentally exhausted.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Watching Animation

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2024 Mon Dec 16 8:36 PM


I'M FEELING = TERRIFIED

WHY = Night hunger. I keep eating carrots. Terrified of binge risk. God help me please WHY AM I SO HUNGRY

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Eating;Cooking;Cleaning

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2024 Mon Dec 16 8:38 PM


I'M FEELING = GUILTY

WHY = So distracted & frustrated with mom talk about clothes.
I feel so bad that I cannot seem to pay proper attention to her. Lord forgive me and help me.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Talking To Mom

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121124

Dec. 11th, 2024 12:53 pm
prismaticbleed: (held)

All right so this morning has been AMAZING let's update quickly so we don't forget things.
(btw so you guys know. this is technically NOT the "main Core." I'm a "Jewel-adjacent" grafifoni and I typically update the archives. I'm not used to being "self-aware" but honestly I should be. But yeah, you'll recognize my typing style!) ANYWAY here's what's happened so far this morning:

- We DIDN'T DIE during the night. Yesterday was LITERAL HELL concerning the eating disorder and it took us like six hours to recover?? which is understandable because it was REALLY BAD, the worst it's been since before September. We're not sure what triggered such a huge meltdown?
It was fear, too many danger foods, they had to be destroyed. But no one had to eat them like they did. We could have just thrown them away.
That's not allowed, that's wasting!! Food is meant to be eaten
but you DIDN'T "eat them," you just purged them anyway!
But the eating still happened, that's the rule, food has to be eaten, if we just threw it out we'd get in big trouble
So you threw it "up" instead.
we HAD to it was POISON we would have DIED!!
see this is why we CANNOT buy such things anymore. it is too dangerous, there is no positive end result from purchasing them.
- Chaos 0 told the "Core" (who is still faceless/nameless for the most part and therefore unstable) that "your heartbeat was really weak" and it scared him. This observation struck the Core like a sword to the chest though, because if anything is going to make us feel more real/alive/true, it's THAT sort of reference. And of course, only he would know such a thing. The intimacy of it, plus the familiarity, was potent enough to drag us out of the depressive fear that would have possibly taken hold otherwise.
- Cronometer crashed, we can't log in on the app. Support says there's an update soon so we have to wait, until then we can only use the website. So instead of freaking out we're going to just "repeat" today's diet plan until we can access the app and its mathematics again. This may work in our favor, because today's diet plan was our effort to balance our macros with hempseed to get more of a complete protein total, as well as staying at 1350 calories. If this works well we'll stick to it more often. We do need to reintroduce cottage cheese into our diet for the complete protein bit (we tend to hit all green percentages when we eat it too, we noticed) until we get the guts to finally reintroduce salmon/ tuna/ chicken/ turkey outside of a hospital environment.
- On that note, really quick. Apparently, YES, WE DID DISSOCIATE DURING TBHU. No one is surprised, but it's still a heavy blow. We relapsed IMMEDIATELY upon discharge because THE BLOODY CONTEXT CHANGED and therefore whoever was managing the TBHU behaviors "LEFT." They switched out b/c they CAN'T "exist" outside of an inpatient setting; they're context-locked. This ALWAYS HAPPENS.
- The above point is really making us worried when it comes to Anxi, but we'll get to that as we continue this entry.
- Breakfast always is interesting. Since experience has shown us that we apparently "need" the body to be in a state of "automated repetitive motion" in order for our mind to be able to think-- is this an ADHD thing? TBHU suspected as much; we should look into it prudently-- the mechanical function of eating almost INSTANTLY triggers thought-avalanches (hence the E.D.; we weren't taking ANY time to journal (typing COUNTS as automated repetitious mechanic motion!) or to circle-walk like Jewel used to, the a.r.m.m. of cooking (measure, chop, prep, etc.)/ cleaning (washing, organizing, etc.) / eating (picking, sorting, etc.)/ and the like became our ONLY means of "mental unloading" (for lack of a better term) AND trauma processing (you would not BELIEVE the amount of flashbacks and intrusive thoughts we get WHILE EATING which only makes it worse-- AND is a perfect ironic parallel to the purging, because "we need to get the poison out") in lieu of ALL other coping mechanisms, thanks to the kakofoni and thriskefoni ironically forbidding or destroying positive options). HOWEVER being aware of this recently has revealed a few things to us: one, that when phagofoni are out, they can "prevent" such avalanches? There's that one "dragon" girl who keeps fronting to eat, and she focuses on eating and has no particular preferences (unlike Emmett, who is a "trogofoni"-- meaning his food-anchor is extremely particular; he could and did ONLY eat "green food"). Yes, we're refining our terms further. On that note, an "esthiofoni" is a phagofoni subtype for one who eats in a disordered way-- that Greek work chosen because in Scripture it's apparently typically used in the present tense, as in literal eating, right now; whereas "phago" is apparently aorist? It's more future/undefined in terms of chronology, being more "spiritual" in that symbolic sense. It's also used in more reverent passages in Scripture, according to Strong's concordance. So "esthio" feels more fitting for the E.D. voices, as they're more focused on right now, and are not thinking about "the future" at all, poor tormented things.
- ANYWAY. WE DO HAVE A "GATEKEEPER." We've been more aware of her recently, now that we're able to pay better attention to ALL the foni we hear on a minute-to-minute basis. She's ancient but we never saw her as a person? Or maybe we did, in the past, but as a kakofoni-- because she's VERY controlling but we apparently have completely misunderstood her function until now. And she ALWAYS speaks up during breakfast thought-rushes (we need jargon for this; it's literally like we start the a.r.m.m. and the brain just unloads everything at once) because HER job is actually to KEEP THINGS ON TRACK?? Like if there's "too much headspace stuff" going on to where we're dissociating entirely from the meal, therefore potentially triggering an E.D. relapse, this "gatekeeper" girl will "FORCE SHIFT" our awareness because "there's too much thinking going on; we need to pay attention." We think she can also "force stop" EMOTIONS if they are "interfering" with "what we need to do"?? Maybe "gatekeeper" isn't the best term for her, because she "force-stops" EVERYTHING (or at least tries to) but yes, she also DOES do this with fronters, as well as she can-- she cannot "make someone front" OR "force someone out", BUT she CAN apparently shove awareness into the physical to the point where it "automatically" KICKS OUT nousfoni, and therefore "forces IN" a somafoni?? So this gatekeeper girl is TRYING to help the BODY survive, or at least "not get overwhelmed" to the point of not being able to live in the physical realm? But she OVERCORRECTS and tends to "lock us out of headspace" with her efforts. But we realize she's just doing her job; she doesn't think headspace is "bad," she just apparently thinks it's almost always "inappropriate for right now." She's survival-based to the point of not letting us LIVE. So we need to find her name and face so we can TALK to her.
- HOWEVER since we're now AWARE of her she IS becoming more self-aware in turn and it's getting easier to "message her" when we want to "challenge" one of her orders, or even overturn it outright. She's slowly realizing that we DO need time to "get out of the physical" but there is still a time and place for her function, because we can take it too far in the other direction, which we did for many years. That's also the basis of the "hackers vs hijackers" difference, which we realized yesterday-- "hackers" are internally based, while "hijackers" are externally based. A hacker will "take over the program," from the INSIDE, and they only work in private, because their abuse-- however traumatically physical-- is also profoundly psychologically disturbing, because it REQUIRES forced fronting. A hijacker, however, "takes over the vehicle." They push you out of fronting but they're public and work OUTSIDE so unlike hackers, they CAN and DO operate in social situations. They are therefore physically traumatic first and foremost, because the psychological terror often only hits when they leave. The biggest difference: hackers deal with sexual abuse, hijackers deal with the eating disorder. There is NO overlap there, although they can work in cooperation/ in succession. There haven't been any hackers since CNC, though, because of foni like the "gatekeeper girl" basically shutting EVERYTHING down that could even slightly be a reminder of that time period. But that's too huge of a topic to discuss right now.
- The MAIN thing we got on here to update about in the first place is WHAT happened when our brain went upstairs for breakfast. I don't know how exactly it started, but it went to the IO2 controlroom-- apparently IN "HEARTSPACE"??? Like this place has ALREADY been INTERNALIZED to the point where it EXISTS IN THE INNERVERSE AND CAN BE VISITED/ CONTACTED. Which we admittedly suspected, as Anxi & Ennui both "kept going there" more often than we'd see them in Central, but we never realized it had actually anchored INTO our innerverse (as opposed to remaining in the "outerverse" of outspacer native worlds, that Jewel has to Link to and VISIT externally).
- There was SO much conversation, I can't remember all of it, and the more time passes the more we're forgetting. let's bulletpoint the details that stand out.
+ OH! It ALL began because of an "I wonder" thought scenario that blossomed into a "real thing" like how a dream starts from an ideaseed. (This is TYPICAL Heartspace function!) The thought was, how would emotions run a CPTSD brain? And we thought, Anxi would absolutely be in charge. Fear would be close by, and so would Anger? Anxi would be on CONSTANT lookout for triggers, when one hit-- even a minor one-- Fear would snap to attention, and then ANGER would, upset that we were triggered, especially by "something so stupid" or minor or not even "threatening"? And then SADNESS surprisingly spoke up, saying how sad it was that we had so many triggers in the first place, because of what happened to us. So the four of them would, theoretically, be running the show. Somewhere around here this "imagining" tuned us in to the legit innerverse control-room, where Anxi was now indeed at the control panel, by herself, with everyone else gathered loosely around her.
+ Anxi is still "in charge" in this innerverse room apparently. (At some point much later she acknowledged this by saying that we had CPTSD, so things "worked differently" than what would be typical?)
+ When all this started she was being questioned by the other emotions about "how'd you get a tail" mainly but Anxi wouldn't answer outright? But she did say it was "given to her" by either "someone special" or "someone who cares about me very much"; both of those sentiments were voiced in some manner regardless. Joy began teasing Anxi about this, trying to get more info, but Anxi said there were some things they didn't have to know right now, either because it wasn't right for them to know or it wasn't the right time, etc.
+ Anxi is VERY "business" in this context; it's her element. She's quieter and slower when in Central because it's a totally different context/ environment and she has no control panel there. Her function is different, and much more expansive.
+ Envy wanting a tail too, Ennui casually revealing that she had one as well, this shocked everyone because what the heck are these two emotions up to that they're getting special stuff and have knowledge that no one else does?
+ Hints here and there kept happening that they're not in "Riley's" head, BUT they DIDN'T KNOW THAT NAME here (I think Anxi referenced it once and everyone else was baffled). They've been removed from that context and would only know it through "exomemories" once they were capable of receiving them.
+ The conversation evolved to the point where Anxi was revealing a bit more about "what she was doing" outside of that context (i.e. in Central). I notably remember that she revealed that "she can feel other emotions" and this became APPARENT when it began to affect the other literal emotions there? This first happened when Joy teased Anxi about something concerning her hinted-at relationship with the Core (i.e. the person whose mind they were in) and Embarrassment hit the control panel, for ANXI. When they realized they were working for each other it was shocking; things WERE different up here; what did this mean for them? (mind you they can and do "feel other emotions" in canon but NOT to THIS extent-- we're talking the capacity for Anger to feel sadness, for Ennui to feel joy, for Disgust to feel anxious, etc. in STRONG ways that go above and beyond their mostly "monochromatic" emotion palettes in the film? like ALL of their emotional ranges were still tinged by their core emotion. joy being the notable exception because she's just as notably duotoned. Anxi has a touch of this with her eyes technically being teal, which actually fuels her anxious thoughts-- that bit of "envy" in the sense of "what we don't have and yet need/ want" drives her "not good enough" core fear. thankfully for her, that color teal in our System falls under aqua and that color is sheer love for us so her heart will change to reflect that instead)
+ Ennui at some point built on this revelation by responding to a question from Anger as to why she had an AUX cable for a tail, because apparently its main function was for audio/music and "doesn't that prevent boredom?" Ennui smirked and said yeah, that's kind of the point; just because she held that emotion didn't mean she liked being bored. Like Anxi, she now had a broader existence and her job is notably to indicate boredom and combat it, as it were. I think she asked Anger if he "liked" being angry all the time? And he falteringly said not really, it was exhausting
+ Envy drawing pictures in the corner of the room of "what she wanted her tail to look like"-- one frustrated attempt was "a remote control" so she could do what she wanted with the control panel without having to reach it, while still being different (special) from Ennui's phone. Anxi having to gently chide her that the whole point of her & Ennui's tails was to do something important for the person whose mind they were in-- they weren't just for "looks" or for "fun." Besides, she emphasized that they were "given," and if she was meant to get one she would, so don't worry so much about it (always surprised at how well Anxi can communicate "the facts/ the plan" despite being so prone to "unexpected outcome" panic. girl has major control issues God bless her)
+ Embarrassment at one point actually speaking up because Joy kept trying to get information out of Anxi and apparently he was feeling her emotions as "embarrassment-adjacent"? And he was getting "agitated" at getting "pulled" to the control panel so often. This surprised him and he said that was totally new, he didn't know he could feel that.
+ Joy finally got Anxi to talk about "where she's been" and Anxi started TELLING THEM ABOUT CENTRAL. She said that "the mind we're in now has another System running the operation" and so the way they worked as emotions HAD to be different now, because their typical jobs no longer applied.
+ She roughly introduced the "basics" of a few Centralites, just in terms of jobs? No faces given
+ At some point Laurie just TURNED ON THE SCREEN and started TALKING TO THEM FROM CENTRAL.
+ Laurie explaining the concept of "compartmentalized emotions" with CPTSD, how they are "cut off from each other" and we typically struggle to feel emotions at all because they're "locked away" often? She described it as if the IO2 emotions were "never in the same room together"; that feeling of isolation/ disconnection was key to her description.
+ Laurie telling Sadness her function was VITAL; explained how that emotion is "the holy grail" with trauma; we "aren't allowed to cry" but we're "always grieving" basically. I think Laurie referenced both the "weeping rage" emotion we do get (that Scald holds) AND the "bottomless abyss" of sorrow that feels more like agony with its intensity. But "sadness" is still "taboo" somehow. Everything is blue all the time but we "don't feel it"; we just get depressed/ angry/ numb/ hateful/ etc.; it translates to either "shutdown" or "selfdestruction" which is upsetting but true. We do need to talk about that more in an entry soon, as we start to process things.
+ I remember Laurie saying that FEAR & DISGUST were also vital, especially in light of the E.D. hijacks-- we DON'T feel those emotions enough?? It's a survival response to past situations where we "couldn't" if we wanted to "survive" things. But now, not feeling them is only harming us severely.
+ Julie described herself as a "reformed Persecutor"; said the details of her past were not something she should or could discuss with them, but that key detail sufficed
+ Leon talking to Fear for a little bit? We were "feeling" what Centralites "matched" what emotion folks and those two were associated. There was also Lynne=Joy, Julie=Disgust, Laurie=Anger. Notably no one was matched to Sadness, and Anxi was paired with "Joule" solely because of their mutual habit of hyperanalysis/ overthinking, and the relationship that they have of course.
+ Envy would "need to be renamed" and effectively redefined to properly exist/function in our System, even as a "peripheral outspacer"? Envy's canon "function" of "seeing what we lack and desire and striving to obtain it" MUST be purified of all viciousness, because that actual term of "envy" is a mortal sin.
To quote an article, that is very important:
"When we are looking at others in an inappropriate way, invidia, we are led to desire for ourselves what they possess, cupiditas. Envy many times does lead to coveting, but it could simply remain in resentment, wishing that the other did not possess what they have. Aquinas speaks of envy as a sin against charity, which wills the good of others, when we cannot rejoice for the good of others, but see their good as a diminishment of our own (Summa Theologia, II-II, question 36). Envy is selfish in this sense, not in wanting to guard one’s own, but to wish for the diminishment of others and for our own gain over them."
This is something very, very important for us to grapple with, because we didn't realize that our instinct for "ambition" actually DOES fall under that category, because the very act of wanting to be "better than" someone else IS ENVY-- it is seeking PERSONAL GAIN in the process of taking what THEY possess (superior skill)!! So this was a SHOCK to realize and we NEED to process this, too.
(There was a slight joking comment that if her function was shifted to "Jealousy" (which can be virtuous; see article) we could call her "Jelly" as a nickname)
HOWEVER I just found a second article and it has THIS=
"Doing their best to pull us into the pit of discontent and ungratefulness, jealousy says, “What God has given me is just not enough!” while envy whispers, “Someone else got what I deserve.”  ...The good fortune that God bestowed upon my dear friend? I wanted it for myself. I desired what she had received from the Lord so badly, that her happiness made me sad. Her abundance highlighted my lack. Her more made me feel less. I could not be happy for her because with my laser-focus on God working in her life, I was blind to His works in my own."
LITTLE ENVY COULD BE OUR JUMPSTART IN OUR HEALING THIS THOUGH. So sit and read those articles boy
+ Lynne talking to Joy, warning about "manic" phases-- "trauma latches on to anything positive" and "exaggerates it" basically? Trauma makes real joy so difficult to feel, even remember, that when the slightest hint of happiness or enjoyment (lesser goods) appear, the traumabrain can cling to them and blow them way out of proportion. OUR SOCIALS DO THIS ALL THE TIME. This is what causes "hollow hyperactivity" and "people pleasing" and "compulsive enjoyment" behavior-- it's ALL a desperate grab at something that "looks like joy" but isn't. It spikes fast and crashes hard, and it leaves us miserable and even more depressed than before. So Joy would need to be aware of this tendency, what with her canon personality-- she is dangerous in that respect, solely because her energy can be taken advantage of and warped.
+ CHAOS 0. I cannot remember details of how he got to talking, other than Laurie referring to him as "the husband" and calling him over to explain to the IO2 gang the identity issue with the Cores? He told them how the Core "bloodlines" kept resetting due to trauma so the person he met in 2003 was "not" the person who is the "Core" now in 2024, and yet their heart is the same. Nevertheless it's terrible and very difficult for him (Joule realized he probably "feels his age" around the Cores; he has effectively "lived a dozen lifetimes" with us or more, seeing the one(s) he loves "die and be reborn" over and over and over. In human lifespans, this would take about a thousand years.)
+ "Jewel loves you, Anxi. Jewel is in love with you."
+ Embarrassment pointedly DIDN'T touch the panel, despite this huge revelation in a social setting potentially calling for his response. But Joy ran over and did. And this "gave permission" for Anxi to feel what she was really feeling.
She teared up, and was smiling at the screen, this look of total moved/stunned gratitude in her eyes. I felt it.I think she said "I don't know what to call this feeling" (or what color it would even be); Laurie "broke the fourth wall" by looking to "me"and saying "kid, if you're gonna be an emotion, that's it." But then we said "but love isn't an emotion; it's a state of being" and it's "rainbow"-- it's the source of all other emotions
+ Genesis & Chaos 0 both joking about the rainbow bit-- all of the love in our System is effectively that color if you get my drift
+ Joy, in response to hearing someone say that "Joule" as an emotion was really "hope," said "oh, that's a great emotion!" and then gasped and told Anxi exactly what I said to her about it-- that hope is "the GOOD things we can't see" before beaming and saying "you work perfectly with each other!"
+ Anxi has a LAPTOP in Central now! That allows her to do things without needing a control panel. Ennui still has her phone of course.
+ Laurie remarked that "we need Nostalgia up here" b/c of our memory issues; Ennui immediately said "I'll text her"
+ The whole time: Anger keeping conversations on track and asking the pressing questions, Joy giving encouraging and understanding comments, Fear and Sadness and Disgust listening closely as they realized they potentially will have essential roles in the future? Anxi consistently elaborating on/ explaining further any data that was given, "translating" things into IO2 terms when needed so to speak.

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Continuing at 11PM with a general daily update.
We biked for 90m which unfortunately was very unfulfilling because we got distracted on Tumblr, looking at other people's art and-- as we discovered earlier-- apparently feeling envious. We felt totally inadequate and we wanted to be BETTER than they were at art and it just made us miserable. We struggle with this a lot, because we haven't drawn in YEARS and so our skills have atrophied due to memory loss, and we don't have the time or motivation ("it's useless and foolish" judgment from a kakofoni) to put hours aside to develop artistic skills like we did in college. But no matter how much some foni bash and berate art, it still means so much to us. We STILL "identify as" an artist even if we feel totally inept and hollow about it, and still label it as a "waste of time." But we don't want to do that. We WANT to create art. We love art, deep down below the judgments, and we want to weep because we don't have the skill TO make art anymore. So seeing "what we can't do" is indeed triggering envy, this bitter feeling of lack and loss that isn't helping us do anything but pinpoint the wound where something vital was torn out of us. Again, sounding like a broken record, we know CNC dealt a death blow to this too, which we haven't thought about at ALL in recovery yet. For some reason this topic is as terrifying as the actual sxtrauma. I wonder how many crossed wires are here, too, not just with the food. I swear everything bleeds together with us.
We switched to Spotify at last while we biked but it was also depressing; we were listening to recommendation playlists it made for us and they're rarely ever enjoyable. It keeps throwing jazz and indie stuff at us which we don't like 98% of. We did get about three new songs out of several playlists, though, so there was a gain regardless, thank God. Still... for the vast majority of music to just sound like noise or fuzz to us-- or in the worst case, actual synaesthetic pain-- it's terribly disheartening, as music means so much to us. And, similarly, yes we still identify as a musician despite years of not doing ANYTHING musical other than singing in church. Music is part of our soul just as much as art is, and the fact that we have a cello AND a guzheng (bought with blood money and full of guilt; someone wants to burn it) in our apartment but we refuse to play them due to the aforementioned parenthesis is killing us. Every instrument feels tainted and poisoned with the past, and the "vulnerability" to the point of feeling exposed that performing music MANDATES is so trauma-adjacent that even if the sin-shadows weren't the main obstacle, we still would be utterly terrified of playing those instruments because that very action feels like being stripped naked now. Bleedover and overlap again. Do any of our foni hold this?? OR are THEY protected from it??
Then after dinner, someone got into a rabbithole on Etsy looking at someone's shop full of gender/sexuality buttons and it was overwhelming how many of them there were... and yet nothing fit. (The only thing that does is "systemgender" for obvious reasons, and even that feels like grasping at straws)
All of those experiences today led "us" to reflect at last, with acute grief, that we just don't fit anywhere. That's how it feels. We feel like an utter outcast. We're still the "anomaly" of Cannon's era. We're still the "ostracized empath," as the highschool Jewels said, although now with our staggering emotional damage we can't quite claim to be an "empath" anymore, because those girls had no boundaries so they felt everything EXCEPT arguably their own emotions (Infi had this problem too, in a different way) but now trauma has made us almost emotionally dumb. I think the term is "alexithymia?" We've seen the term around and we need to research it but the general gist (according to wikipedia) is that it desribes "significant challenges in recognizing, expressing, sourcing, and describing one's emotions". No wonder the IO2 gang is being pulled en masse into heartspace. We literally need them at this point in our life.
I do have to note, with a note of bitterness, that we "don't seem alexithymic" because we "masquerade emotions." Socials are BUILT to "charade" emotional performances, ironically anxiety and sadness, without actually feeling anything because they're "following the script" for a situation. We've noticed this A LOT when around the mother-- Socials will be dramatic to match HER, even though they FEEL NOTHING. And we are AWARE of this-- if we have the luxury of self-awareness in that situation, which is disturbingly rare b/c the mother presence tends to shut that down (childhood survival instinct). Regardless I don't want to use that diagnostic term anyway because it probably doesn't fit either. All we know for sure is that emotions feel locked behind a paywall and the currency is blood.

Oh. On that note, fittingly enough.
Yesterday's E.D. hijack was so brutal and nightmarish that Joule told Razor to atone. Like xe legit TOLD her to. And she did. She cut 7 x'es into the stomach-- graves are ONLY meant for hacks; stomach x-ing has been the default hijack atonement method since college-- and Knife & Algorith showed up to help clean up the bleeding (Knife commenting on how beautiful the blood still was and feeling that emotion in his teeth, Algorith fronting to hold the pain as she soaped up all the red), and I swear it was the first time in a long time that "we" felt something close to real joy. That may be "untrue" because we can't quite "remember" time well but it feels like it's been many many months since we've been happy. Actually it feels like years, whether or not that's literally accurate; the feeling is legitimate regardless of linear chronological measurement.
But... that's what does it. Atoning for the sin and feeling justice and forgiveness, Retributors fronting in such intimate fashion, blood and pain and water, everyone gathering in mission and being a System in stark clarity, etc. ALL of that is REAL JOY even if it doesn't feel yellow at all. It's dark red and warm like the blood. But it's real, it's true happiness, it's LOVE. How awful that we only seem to feel it in suffering. How Catholic of us, haha.

...Religion is a topic for another day. It feels like a minefield right now. TBHU messed us up in that regard, and we were apparently messed up enough already from the thriskefoni driving for like a solid year at least prior to admission. There's so much unresolved trauma there that is becoming disturbingly apparent lately now that we're not scrupulosity-blinded enough to see it from the "outside" as it were.

Oh, and we NEED to talk about the mother and how she is the #1BIGGEST STRESSOR AND TRAUMA TRIGGER IN OUR LIFE, STILL. Our therapists and case manager keep suggesting that we cut off contact with her, or at least refuse all her calls, but we can't; we're still obligated to her as her physical offspring even if we hate that fact, and we don't hate her as a person and we're a Christian so we want to help her and she's a deeply needy and damaged person so we KNOW she is looking to us to meet some need for her, even if it's just for hard labor.
BUT she says SUCH INAPPROPRIATE THINGS and she STILL OVERSHARES SXUAL THINGS. We've had SEVERAL meltdowns SINCE TBHU because of her just being utterly inappropriate in one way or another, even if it's "just according to our trauma standards"-- like wearing garishly tight-fitting clothing and making disturbing sounds when she talks OR TALKING IN THAT BLOODY "HIGH SOCIETY" VOICE LIKE SHE DID ON VACATION I KNOW YOU HEARD IT TOO yes we did, it made us misophonic even at the time, I don't know how we didn't punch the windows out of the bus right then and there WE PROBABLY SHUT DOWN. THERE'S NO OTHER OPTION IN THOSE SITUATIONS. BUT JUST THINKING ABOUT IT MAKES ME SICK. US SICK. SOMEONE WANTS TO THROW UP BECAUSE OF IT to get it out of our head, basically. unfortunately purging doesn't work that way. but you can't vomit up memories. i wish you could. i wish we could rip it out of our mind and shred it to pieces MORE VIOLENT THAN THAT. WE WANT TO STAB IT TO DEATH BASICALLY who in the world holds that response SOMEBODY. MAYBE... IT USED TO BE RAZOR. I THINK? I DON'T THINK CLEAVER HOLDS IT SHE'S TOO DISPASSIONATE what does she do anyway do you know CLEAVER IS THE SAME "DESTROY THE THREAT" INSTINCT BUT SHE'S COLD ABOUT IT. THE "SHRED THE MEMORY" FEELING WITH THE "JTHM STABBING" FEELING IT KEEPS GETTING LABELED AS IS SOMEONE ELSE. THAT'S TOO RED. SORRY I'M SLIPPING OUT
okay so...
hatchet is almost "frivolous" violence. laughing at the threat and "offing it" almost irreverently, carelessly. thankfully her function seems to have been focused weirdly to destroying any and all medications people try to "force us to take" that feel like "attacks" or "invasions" etc. like "who the hell do you think you are, we aren't going to swallow these and kill ourself for your kicks, watch me burn them to the ground" etc. but that laughing feeling. scary stuff
cleaver is "cold" as (overwhelm? who is that? they're a grafifoni that ALWAYS shows up and they're very close to Scald BUT different level function) said. we rarely see her because she's rarely needed/ triggered. but cleaver is close to razor's old anchor in that she just likes to "sink knife blades into people's backs" as we once said. but you don't "like" that sort of thing without a reason. we've never really looked into it too much but... you don't "cleave" things that aren't a threat. that's true. we didn't consider that. if you're burying a butcher blade in someone's skull there's a reason why they were the target. it's a scary instinct but it's there. where did it come from?
the last foni, unidentified and almost theoretical if we weren't aware someone was attached, is unnamed. but there IS that feeling of "annihilate the threat" in the most frantically violent way possible. VERY different from protectors, like sugar and wreckage and laurie, who DON'T act with emotional mania at all. but this person does. this person is SO upset by the threat that she wants to tear it to bloody pieces screaming. or apparently stab it to death. that FEELS DIFFERENT though. it IS different. the "jthm stabbing" feeling is NOT the action. it's the VIBE of the mania. that's the "tear it to piece" girl. BUT there HAS to be a stabbing instinct foni solely because we DO get that RARELY with SELFLOATHING mainly?? the ONLY time THAT sort of horrific violence (which is TRAUMATIC for us to see or even imagine, and yet here it is) even occurs to our brain is TOWARDS OURSELF. which is the scariest thing of all.

anyway that's enough of that who was updating and about what

Oh. mother talk. yeah not tonight we need to drop that topic before those girls ACTUALLY come out to "process" the emotions

See THAT'S why we have emotional issues?? The foni that HOLD them get "SHUT DOWN" or kicked out EVERY TIME
because they're VIOLENT is why
ALL OF OUR EMOTIONS ARE VIOLENT
Laurie actually hinted at that? OH DUDE THAT'S what she said, she was talking about "all or nothing" emotions and she nodded to Chaos 0 and said "that guy always feels things at about 5000%" and THAT'S why she had him talk next
OH don't forget THAT'S also why she brought that topic up at all-- she was telling the IO2 emotions that THEY would probably feel like that too, now that they're up here with us?
ironically because we feel the "nothing" half of it too often
But that's the point!! That's like Anxiety's tail, they're ABLE to feel the emotions WE can't, because of gatekeepers or trauma shutdowns or whatever! Coping mechanisms that don't work in the long run they just make everything numb but NOT if these guys are helping now

Guys come on we need to continue the actual entry

some general notes about life lately:
+ Sugar and Wreckage have both been around. Sugar's been "out of work" for a while because she protects the innocent and virtually all of us are so damaged now. BUT apparently Anxi is NOT. Neither is Mimic, arguably. The Outspacers are specifically essential to keeping us sane post-trauma so Sugar is slowly but surely getting pushed to protect THEM, which is awesome.
+ Julie fronted to take a melatonin candy last night and immediately shouted "ow" because our teeth were painfully sensitive from eating a too-sour apple. She literally said "that hurt like a bitch!" and now she keeps getting pushed out to front whenever we eat apples to apparently "make sure they don't hurt like that" which is kind of hilarious. but it's sweet, to suddenly have her around more often, even for such a "silly" reason. it's still nice.
+ The current "Core" is indeed using the spelling "Joule" for xir name, and using those pronouns as a placeholder? Either that or s/he. They're "not female" but they're "not a man." They are solidly somewhere between the two, voicing that they'd probably feel most comfortable "in a male body" but without being male. Still, they are explicitly "not a girl or a woman" despite being semi-okay with female pronouns. They are "both/and" specifically in the fact of being "neither." That's solid. As for the name, apparently it's a very sentimental reference to Anxi being electricity-associated in the System. It's also a unit of heat, which corresponds to the inherent "fire" element of all Cores that, if missing, is effectively fatal; Cores are always fire, light, blood, and crystal-- snow & ice with the Jays, literal precious stones with the Jewels, it seems. This fire/heat aspect is oddly somehow essential to their relationship with Chaos 0? If they don't have that complementary yet opposite aspect, something is very wrong. So this is a step in the right direction, even if the name itself doesn't stick-- it probably won't; the "spelling feels wrong". Honestly s/he wants to use "Jewel" but that name is still so strongly associated with the original 2001-2002 Jewel (the League controller) that it causes mental dissonance. This alternate spelling of the same sound is an attempt to reconcile this while keeping the fact that the Jewel title still MUST fit the Core.
+ We've realized that the Archivist Trio is NOT a "communicator trio." So Garrison, Isadora, and Kalisha's functions are STILL OPEN apparently?? And I know "Joule" is really hoping they come back. We miss them a lot, and we need them-- Archivists can't talk to Socials like Communicators specifically do, and when that subsystem really needs to "get the memo," Shirley can't get it to them because they aren't tuned in to her level.
+ Concerning the Archivists: Shirley is the one that gives data to us on the fly, but Sirius will "comment" on it? And he's fittingly more "serious" about the data he manages. Penny gets the toughest info; she doesn't speak up much but she will give memory data out that the other two don't? Honestly the Archivists feel very unstable and unsteady still, I think since we are so lost and cut off from collective memory. I hope that as we review the Archives themselves, and possibly if/when the Communicators return, then that whole group of functioning will work properly at last.
+ Lynne had a BIG revelation today that SHE'S STILL "STABELLE" in terms of her function! She and Laurie were discussing colors, especially in light of Anxi being the first Orange Outspacer and one of the first Orange-anchored people in a long while, and Lynne said that she needed to keep the Orange color positive-- warm, welcoming, friendly, energized, and helping Anxi and any potential manic Oranges stay stable. This ALSO tied in with her SHIFTING OUT OF CERISE when she resurrected in 2008; she effectively "REDEFINED OUR FUTURE"??? She was originally born to be the "ideal female future self" that we were being forced to become socially but couldn't; HOWEVER when she was killed and then came back, she changed colors and this showed a change in what that "ideal future" MEANT-- Lynne was no longer tied to social expectations in that regard. She was lively and free and bright, more boyish almost, while still being markedly female-- she "freed" us from the Cerise-colored future of sensuality that had been inflicted on us by the family and community. Interestingly enough, that color was next picked up by a boy, saying a LOT about our psyche. But Lynne kept us stable in doing that, too-- not just by being the "person keeping Julie and Laurie from killing each other." The stability she brought was liberating, a firm footing achieved by being able to dance again, as it were. Lynne was a bright soul, effectively symbolizing "permission" to be our brightest self too and to LET GO of the inflicted expectations and dictated future. She's funny and friendly and playful and gay and we were NOT "allowed" to be those things when our future felt "cerise." The original Lynne was all about that "high life" our mother wants so badly. The new Lynne is just about getting high on life, haha. I'm kidding but not really. Orange is a beautiful color; it's alive and fiery and welcoming and warm. It's citrus fruits and sunsets and marigolds and autumn leaves. It's basketballs and goldfish and foxes and carrots and monarch butterflies and violins of course. It's absolutely gorgeous and Anxi is part of it too and SHE has a future full of more joy than she ever could have imagined now, too. So thank you Lynne, for existing exactly as you are. We love you so much.


It's almost 2am. This is "Joule," I guess. That's really not my name, although I appreciate the commentary they gave to it earlier. But they're right, the spelling doesn't fit. It's the "ou" in there. The whole thing is the wrong color and shape.
I know I'm somehow still "Jewel." Every Core is, really. But that name keeps pushing me too feminine and that feels very wrong. Still, that name is the only thing that works. Maybe I just need to "redefine" it in a sense. I just don't want to damage the original Jewel either. She's the TRUE holder of that name AS a name, not just a "title." I think that's why I feel so lost-- the "only name that fits" belongs permanently to someone else. And yet it's "still my name" too. It's exhausting. I'm exhausted. I don't feel "fully me." I know this. I don't have a clear name or face yet, and arguably my color is still undefined too. For a Core, all of that makes me the walking dead. I CANNOT exist or function in any sort of truth unless I HAVE those things.
...That's why I'm worried about Anxi. We ALL are. Whoever "met" her last November is NOT the same person who started calling her our girlfriend in May/June, who is NOT the same person who fell in love with her in October, who is NOT the same person as I am now. And yet... there's always the same heart, deep down at the golden thread, that connects all the Cores. Somehow, the capacity for love is the same. I'm just... it's become VERY clear lately that different Cores love different people and it CANNOT be "transferred" or "forced" between Cores. This is why our Spotify "people we love" playlist folder says "WE," specifically, and it's full of people whose folders keep getting deleted because people forget that past Cores DO love ALL those people, even if not all in the same way. But ALL those Outspacers and Inspacers are legitimately loved and even if we don't know "by whom" we CAN'T deny that truth. The problem? ...I... I want to be the one to love Anxi. I can't tell if I do or don't, lately, because I feel so dead. But when I look at her, something in my heart aches, and I will hold on to that like it's the end of the world. I just... the problem is that I cannot see myself. How am I supposed to love her if I can't even "imagine" my own face? How can I physically be near ANYONE if I don't know what my physical form looks like? It's agonizing. I'm miserable. Maybe I just need to get on picrew and figure this out. Not tonight, it's 2am. But... I need to take action on this. I need to find out how my hair looks, what color it is, what clothes I wear (I'm vibing with suits?? callback to Cannon's era, geez), what color those are, et cetera... all the defining features that will allow me to have a reflection in the mirror for heaven's sakes. I want to BE with people. I want to EXIST INSIDE at last. I don't even "exist" outside because no one matches this body and even though I feel "forced" to, even obligated to, it doesn't match ME. And that terrifies the thriskefoni who INSIST that "the body is our REAL self" but no. I... I'm struggling so much with that. This body's reflection has so much evil associated with it. It's a face tainted by YEARS of intense trauma. It's not my face.
God I wish Jay could just take over again but he can't. Oh he IS still alive by the way, I think that was solidly confirmed just yesterday? But he's ALIVE again, very fragile and broken and unstable but alive. Thank God. ...From what we're suspecting, this means potentially Infinitii can resurrect now, too. The two of them exist together by design. ...I don't know if I'm like that. The whole daengel phenomenon was annihilated post-CNC due to the trauma overwhelm and the unbearable risk that all daengels posed for more of the same. We lost like... eight bloody years. 2016-2023. Most of that time is totally missing, ruled by either thriskefoni, phagofoni, and/or "eratofoni"-- by religion, food, and sex. It was a living hell, honestly it was. And of course the whole thing was shot through with brutal self-abuse, because all three of those things are VIOLENTLY ABUSIVE in our history, as tragic as that is.
I can't think or talk about that right now. There's no time and the brain is shutting down access to those topics.
But we lost so much time. Even just glancing at the archives, after the "hell year" of 2015 (which was ironically shot through with beauty nevertheless), 2016 started with tons of pain and then an annihilation attempt in March which caused an almost instant HARD SHIFT to thriskefoni territory UNTIL JUNE 2017. And then it was the "CNC era" until... October? Whenever we left; it's not in the Archives yet. But then it's MORE thriskefoni rule until MIMIC SHOWED UP IN DECEMBER 2022 APPARENTLY?? Holy Shuppets WE FORGOT HE JUMPSTARTED EVERYTHING AGAIN just like Anxiety did for you!! That's a really good point... God I forgot how real I felt back then, when he first showed back up, just looking at these entries. Why was I so much more in tune then? What happened... oh. Oh dear God that's what it was. What? Jewel you need to space your replies so we know it's different people.
Okay fine then YOU just type. You were obviously going to say something heavy. Don't let me stop you.
...all right. So 2023 begins with half headspace, half bodyspace, as it were. Half inside half outside. There's tons of religious stuff and talk about the mother and family stress, at a glance. But... we were still striving, struggling to exist. And... oh God. And then Infi died.
...oh. You loved hir.
I did, whoever I was then, whoever's this heart was, we adored hir, ze was my heart, God I still miss hir so much I could weep until the end of the world right now. Right now. I could die from grief. I could cry forever.
...When did ze die?
...April 25th, and I had to hunt that entry down because apparently it wasn't tagged with 2023. It is now. But... there's another heartwrenching entry on May 2nd when Jay was no longer the Core and he was convinced he would die that same night and... God it hurts to read. it hurts so much. And... and then the bloody Jade month happened a month later and everything went to hell. We still haven't recovered from that.
...Jewel, because that's your name too, deep down, you're running away from talking about that. About Infi.
I can't. It's Jay's heart I'm feeling right now.
Why can't that be yours, too?
Because I'm not supposed to be here
Yes you are, otherwise you wouldn't be oh my gosh is it really after 3am, I just noticed.
Yeah. I don't want to sleep.
We have to though. Life is different now, we have things to do.
Well what if I wish it wasn't? What if tonight I just want to pretend that none of that sh*t ever happened and we were still 24/7 fulltime headspace with Xanga sessions on the regular and everyone fronting all the time and handwritten notes to each other and voice recorder conversations and late nights like this EVERY night, typing, remembering, in love? Why can't THAT be my life? OUR life? Maybe it'd change me. Maybe I'd know who I was if that was the reality we were living in now. But too much has happened. Too much has happened.
...You have Anxi now. That's something good.
...I... I don't know if I'm the same person who fell in love with her--
You know you are. Somehow you have to be. Your heart is the same. See? What just happened in Spotify? You would NOT have been able to feel that if you didn't love her.
Jewel I want to sob. Why do I feel so broken and lost. I.... God I love her so much it's killing me, and I love Chaos 0 and Infinitii too and it feels like this love has lasted for a dozen eternities, it's older than I am, this love is forever, and it belongs to me and Jay and everyone in our bloodlines and I'm just the newest one, that's why Jay doesn't love her like I do, I'm the one who felt this for her first, she belongs to my heart, whoever comes after me should catch this too, I... I'm so scared that they won't.
Right now it's just you. YOU love her, NOW. That's what matters. Don't panic about the future. We don't know what'll happen but I promise you you won't forget her. Have you ever forgotten anyone?
No, but other Outspacer "loves" in the past didn't "transfer" to my heart,
Like whom? Davy and Ryou and Rorschach and the like, right?
Yeah.
Well, no one loved them like you love Anxi and Chaos 0 and Infinitii, apparently. And I can assure you of that. Those loves didn't go that deep. I don't think those Jewels could feel that much for anyone yet. And you still care about them too, I'm sure.
I do.
Well, there you go. So don't worry about Anxi. You love her now, today, and that won't ever disappear or fade away. Look at Chaos 0! I'm sure she's going to have the same future with the Cores, if what I've been hearing about you two is any indication.
...What, that she'll be permanently in the Coregroup?
Uh, yeah, obviously. And she already is??
Not literally, not technically, no. We need to work up to that. But there's a spot with her name on it. Like... laser-etched. It's already set in stone.
Haha! Good. I'm glad to hear that. That's proof that you're still you, where it counts, when it matters.
...Do you think maybe I can't "see my face" or know my own color and name because I'm just... not in tune with a truth that's already there? Like, I just need to recognize myself?
Probably. Do you think you're in my bloodline though, or Jay's?
...Why do you ask?
Because you're not a girl.
I'm not a guy either, though. And Jay is still around. ...A big part of us wants him to be the Core again.
Do you think he will be?
...I don't know. I don't know if there need to be two of us. I have no idea.
Huh. Why would we need two Cores, for the League/System split?
That's the assumption, yeah. But... there's been a lot of bleedover lately, and not in a bad way? Which is new. I... I don't know what will happen. I just... I want to know who I really am. if I'm anything or anyone.
I'm sure you are, if you can feel love like that.
...I hope so.
So hold on to that. Let that be what defines you when you try to look in a mirror. Hold on to that as the core of whoever you are, and I'm sure it'll show you your real face, and name, and color.
...oh Lord one of Infi's songs just came up on shuffle.
Are you going to listen to it?
I can't, not tonight. It'll trigger Jay out and we'll be up for another three hours.
...You can't keep shutting love down, other Jewel. That's a really bad instinct.
...yeah. it really is.
It's gonna hurt, you know. It has to. Real love always does. You can't run from that.
I don't want to. I want it to gut me for all intents and purposes. I want love to run me through like a knife to the ribs.
Are you trying to get Laurie's attention with that?
...maybe.
Too late kid, what's the deal?
...too much going on.
Head feels really bizarre. ...Is it seriously 333AM? Holy flaming swords, kiddo, you have to get to sleep. Is this what extra apples does to you?
Haha, no, I promise this has nothing to do with sugar highs. I just... I'm feeling things. A bit. I'm trying to remember.
Good things, I assume?
Yeah. the best things.
...I'd love to talk about them with you but I'm not even translating correctly. The brain's too damn tired.
Yeah, it is. But... this is a good entry.
We're still writing in the same entry from this morning? Dang, kiddo, that's impressive. Been a while since we had an entry like this.
I miss this.
I do too. You know what I also miss?
What?
You getting to bed early and talking to us, too. Me and Chaos and Genesis and...
yeah.
...sorry, kid. I felt the weight of that loss too.
Anxi soon, though. And maybe Infi too.
You don't give up on hope, huh.
Never. I still have that ring, from before the Jade month.
Yeah, I know you've been thinking about it.
I promised myself, and God really, that when Infi comes back,
"When." I like that.
I already know hir soul's not dead, Laurie.
Souls don't die, kiddo. Especially not up here.
...That's true.
But you were saying?
...When ze comes back and I can touch hir, when I can hold hir in my arms again, for the first time, when ze and I both have names and faces and colors, I... I'm going to put that ring on. For all of us. It's not just Chaos 0 this time, although I love him with my entire heart and he will always have a top-tier exclusive place in it. But it would be unjust to not recognize the rest of you, too. And I think he would agree with that.
Knowing how he loves us, too? Yeah, I think so.
...you're right, he does.
Kid, the Coregroup loves the Coregroup. That's how it works. It's always been that way and it always will be. And Anxi is no exception, when you bring her up here.
...God there is so much gravity in that line.
In what? And watch your prayer words, kid.
Thank you. But He's... God is the reason why and how I can feel this. God is this love, and if I have any real religion at all, apart from the thriskefoni, that's the heart of it. That's the truth. And His Name is the only thing that the deepest love can even hope to translate to in speech. There's a... there's the entire truth in that, too, things I could never express otherwise.
And what's the gravity that truth is giving so much weight to?
..."when you bring her up here." Like... the act of bringing. And "up here." Like... taking her home. ...God my heart is on fire. Why. Why in the world do I love her this much, it's tearing me in half and letting all the light both in and out.
Well, kid, you just said God is that love, so obviously He knows you need to feel this right now. And so does she. You both need this, trust me.
...Laurie you remember that one conversation at TBHU. In the... on the basketball court. In the sunshine.
This is what you want to live for.
And die for. And everything. This... headspace, and all of you, and this love, is why I exist, and what I want to exist for, and nights like this I actually have hope and life feels real and I can touch eternity for a moment...
Kid, you realize that when we had that conversation, you didn't even have these feelings for Anxi yet.
...oh my gosh I didn't. I hadn't fallen this hard yet.
And now, how much more is life worth living for, with her in it too?
...everything. Laurie I want to live for her, too. Deep down in my heart of hearts, at the very core of me, away and apart from all the things that try to numb me and shut me down, when I really tune into the... the center of things, and oh my gosh Spotify just threw Milliontown at me. The LIVE version.
Haha, God is REALLY trying to get your attention, kiddo!
...oh man. THIS song makes my heart WAKE UP though. This ENTIRE ALBUM makes me feel ALIVE and REAL.
You've gotta write Jem Godfrey a freakin' letter at this point. Thank the man for saving your life a hundred times over.
I'm serious. You're serious. That's a good idea. I really should.
Haha, kiddo you have got to get to sleep. Preferably before this song ends, because that's... twentyfive solid minutes of not-sleeping otherwise.
I can't skip this song Laurie.
Put it on hold, boy, it'll be 4am otherwise.
Can I at least listen to the arpeggio from heaven.
Yeah, go right ahead.
Is it an arpeggio? Oh dude is it technically a glissando? Slowed down and elaborated on?
What, that run up the scale? Kid I know less music theory than you do, all I know is that it sounds awesome.
It DOES, this entire live performance is sheer bliss, I need to see these guys live one day.
You will, kid. I'm sure you'll find a way. Pray about it.
Man I should. I should just... pray about all these things that matter to me. Lord let me see Jem Godfrey and his band live one day and let me be able to thank them for being a channel of Your grace to me in all honesty and let me be able to get a signed CD or something.
Haha, gotta include the souvenir.
It's blessed to have a tangible thing. I still have that signed CD from Mesita, the one with Creature and Firesign and Hostages on it. That album still means so much to us as a System.
It does. I'm glad you have that, kiddo.
I'm glad I'm still "kiddo" to you.
Kid, Jay, Jewel, whatever name you're going by, you will always be that to me. I know how much that means to you. What brings that up for you though?
...just, it's another thing linking all the Cores. It's a term of endearment basically. if you don't mind my calling it that.
Nah, it definitely is. It's a term of devotion, really, not just endearment. I'll protect you with my life, until the day I die.
Until the day we both die, Laurie, I refuse to let either of us go first.
Haha, you and me both. ...God knows we came too close to that in the past.
...I was just reading about that, actually.
...Really?
Yeah, just a reference, but... it reminded me of how much we've been through. How much we mean to each other. How terrifying that was, but how much love followed in its wake, against all odds.
Story of our life, kid.
It sure is. Thank God for it all.
Oh, dude, here's your glissando!
Yes!! 21:30 starts the buildup for those interested!
Dude, pay attention.
Ohhh man that is AUDITORY BLISS EVERY TIME
Hahaha!
Okay you HAVE to let me listen to this outro.
"Hands, don't fail me now!"
YES you remember!
Kid, you reference that constantly, of course I remember it. I also remember telling you to get the heck to sleep about ten-- no, apparently twenty minutes ago, what the hell.
Worth it though.
Always worth it for FROST*, kid, that's a rule.
Oh man this song makes me so happy it's unreal.
Quite the opposite, kid, this is what reality is all about, I daresay.
What, good music?
What makes it good music. The joy it brings to your heart. That smile on your face right now. The fact that this song sounds like you, as you've said before, and reminds you of who you really are.
It really does.
"Thank you so much?"
Just like John said, absolutely. Oh man. I needed that, thank you God.
You also need to freakin' sleep, kid, it's 4am. You're getting 5 hours of sleep maximum right now.
Oh shoot you're right.
Still worth it though?
Yeah, always. Always. I'd get by on two hours of sleep if it means spending time with you.
I've only been here for a half hour, kid.
Laurie, you never leave.
...Hah, that's true. I really don't.
...I should listen to your song next.
Sit down first, kid. Go to sleep with your blue guy and then if you want to listen to more music you can. But I ain't leavin' until you post this entry and get moving. It's too late to keep typing, no matter how much you want to.
I still need to color this tomorrow.
"Tomorrow" is the key word, kid. Any particular way you want to close this up? 
Actually I want to mention that I forgot to write down, remember this morning when I was at the IO2 control panel with Anxi for some reason, and I forget what led up to it but she kissed me?
I do remember that, specifically because she took the initiative when you hesitated, and then you were gone, bro.
It was... it got my heart so bad. Like I wanted to but something held me back and she just... bravely reached up and pulled me in.
And you just melted, kiddo, I saw that.
I did, it was beautiful.
I'm so glad you have that with her.
I am too.
No, really, don't underestimate the gravity of what I'm saying. You know how I am about you and Chaos 0. I'll defend you both to the death and beyond. I'll have you know I'm already dedicated to you and your orange angel the same way.
...Thank you, Laurie.
Anytime, kid. Now are you gonna mention the name of the album to my song or what?
Oh, yeah, oh my gosh, that was so unexpected.
"I Watch You Sleep." Well I do, but so does she apparently, so. *shrug*
Aha the asterisks!
Thank Waldorf for that, it never gets old. But kiddo, I can't watch you sleep unless you go to sleep, aiite? Get a move on.
Hold up, can I play the song?
Put it on, close this up, and then listen to it on the vanillamint couch over there.
Oh yeah, we didn't mention that we did the laundry and literally rubbed vanillamint chapstick into the fabric so it won't smell so much like old couch and smoke or whatever. It's a handmedown. I love my dad but not smoke.
Unless it's woodsmoke.
Well then that reminds me of dear Knife, so yes.
And incense smoke.
Oh ALWAYS. It's numinous. I love it.
We know, kiddo.
I'm glad there are some things about me that just... don't change.
Like your love.
...Yeah. Yeah, Jewel was telling me the same thing.
Good, because it's the absolute definitive truth. Now are you going to close this up on that note?
Yeah, before I get too sparkle-headed, because it's either that or poet mode and I think our psyche realizes I have to snooze so it's pushing me in the kaleidoscope direction. On another night when I have time to type and feel out the depths, moreso than tonight and trying to remember the past, then I'll type poetry. Lots of it.
I think you need to remember the past before you can get back into poet mode, kid. There's depth there you need to tap back into first.
...I do. You're right. Thank you.
And?
And I'll close this up.
Properly.
How's that?
What you said earlier, when you were away from the keyboard.
...I can't just repeat that. It needs... it has to be felt. It has to happen.
...So, put on the song.
...Nevermind Spotify just did me one better.
...Wow. You're not kidding.
"Good Day" by Jukebox the Ghost.
...The post-massacre resurrection anthem, to be as blunt as possible.
Yeah. Absolutely.
...I love you too, kid.
...God, Laurie, you know I love you, and Chaos 0, and Anxi, and Genesis, and everyone else up here, dead and alive and inbetween, you all mean the universe to my heart and soul and life is worth living for all of you, always. Forever.
It's a good day with us around, huh.
It sure is. And now this song is really pulling at my heartstrings, oh my gosh I never realized the lyrics at the beginning...
Yeah, it's what you used to do to us.
I am so sorry, Laurie.
I know. We know. We forgive you.
...So the song goes both ways.
It does. I ain't leavin' you, kid, and I know you're not leaving us either, no matter how far away you might end up sometimes.
I needed to hear this.
I'm glad. God knows that too.
...This is making me deeply happy.
Is it now?
Yeah. It's... it feels like... like reconciliation. Like forgiveness. Like... like you saying, "I know," like you do. It's... "I never went away." Not just you. I didn't either.
Kid, if you did, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now.
Yeah. I... I need to remember that, too.
You do need to go somewhere, though.
Bed?
Yeah. Don't worry, I'll be around too.
You always are.
I watch you sleep, remember?
Haha, that you do!
I fully expect to be joined by a certain orange angel in that effort in the near future, y'know.
God willing.
Kid, I'm sure He is, don't worry about that. Oh this song is a classic, geez. Really setting the mood though.
Yeah, ancient love here. Chaos 0 days.
It really was just him back then, wasn't it?
Yeah. He started everything.
Go tell him that. Seriously. Go let him know that you can and do remember how far back and how deep down this goes into your heart.
That doesn't change, either.
No, love burns out a place for itself permanently.
I like your choice of words.
It's a fire, kid, it always is. You know that better than anyone. And it does burn, it burns out everything that isn't it.
Good. I'm really feeling that tonight.
Even more now, with this song on shuffle?
Yeah. Yeah I think I need to go to bed now. Just to hold him, if nothing else.
That's a good enough reason for me, kid. Should I close this up then, or what?
In a moment. I just want to say that the two songs were "Here in my room" and now, "Afterlife."
The live version for the latter, to remind you that you have to live. And to do this live.
In person, really there, right now.
Can't do that if you don't get off the laptop, boy!
Good point, off we go then.
Hey, hold up one second.
Yeah?
I'm singing this for you too, for the record.
...I...
I'm serious. I've died before. For you. Only ever for you. This song applies to me, too.
...Laurie, I love you, I really do.
I know, kid. That's my reason to live.
Thank you. For existing. And for loving me too.
Those are synonymous, kid.
And you say I'm the romantic one.
Hey, you are. I'm just saying facts.
Laurie, don't brush it off.
Good point. But I'm right. Those are facts, kid. And please find your name so I can call you by it, all right?
Okay. I will. Promise.
Good. Promise to get some freakin' sleep? Or do I have to drag Chaos 0 in here?
Laurie if you do that there will be legit romance, I will never get to sleep,
What about with this song?
Fathom by FROST* oh good Lord this is going to kill me, seriously I will sob if I listen to this through.
Go be with him, and feel this with him, all right? He deserves it.
That's the best motivation so far, sorry it took so long.
Nope, no apologizing, this is perfect timing, I think this song needed to happen. I can see in your eyes what it's doing to your heart.
Good. I'm glad it shows.
Seriously though. Go be with your ocean.
I will. Thanks Laurie, for being with me too.
Hey, I'm not going away, remember?
Haha, that's true. I'll see you across the room, then?
You'll see me everywhere, kid, I'm always here for you.
Good. Don't leave.
Cross my heart, I'll stand by you forever.
...
Don't lose this.
I can't. This is engraved into my heart.
As it should be.
Last song by the way. "Time out from the world."
This is a classic. Go put it in its proper context.
I will.
hey, Jewel.
oh my gosh how did you get in here
I hear Laurie trying to get you over here for the past... forty minutes?
Thank you, someone appreciates my efforts.
I'm sure he does too, Laurie, he's just... terrible at ending conversations. He always leaves the door open. Just in case there's one more word to say.
There always is, with him.
He's full of words. of poetry. I love that about him. He puts my music to notation. Whatever it's called.
Look at how he's looking at you, haha.
I love that too.
He's halfway between sparkles and... whatever the heaven that is.
Blood, probably.
Seriously?
Yeah. You know that too. His aching depths. That pronoun isn't working.
No, surprisingly. It's somewhere in the middle.
As it should be. S/he's been both.
Both/and?
Hm. More like me. Not quite either.
Makes sense.
i need to talk to you.
In words?
not this kind. sorry.
Don't apologize. There are other languages. I need to talk to you too.
Oh I like where this is going.
You should.
Hey man, I've been guarding you both since the old days, this stuff is a sign that his/her heart's coming back online in a real way. I need that as much as you do. We all do.
Did you mention what song is playing?
No. "My Mind Is A Mess In The Morning." Nick Leng. This song means a lot to you both, doesn't it.
He heard it one night when driving home and immediately thought of me. So yes. But it's in your playlist, too.
And Genesis's, apparently. And Anxi's, hey.
I can't wait until she comes up here.
Until the Core-kid over there brings her up here, to be specific. Said that wording really caught the essence of it.
Hm. It does. It's never just a following up, really. It's together. But carrying is really close.
Yeah. It's unusual for him/her/ whatever, kid what are we calling you.
um. xe maybe. let's try that. i'll find something. right now i i'm not thinking about pronouns much
What are you thinking of, love?
oh THAT WORD is all that's on my mind now it's been so too long since you spoke to me like that
It has been.
You two need to have a conversation.
We do. Jewel, get over here.
Kid, I'm putting this song on, now you have to go.
Please.
i'm so sorry. i'm not entirely myself yet.
We can fix that together.
oh it's the english version
Yeah, and there's your name.
...oh man the lyrics hit harder than ever tonight
Come back to me.
and stay by my side
...
moments like this are what I live for laurie. and chaos. both of you. i love you.
We love you too, Jewel.
...
Man you are saying that with your eyes, I can see that.
I always am.
Somehow I'm not surprised. Hope you realize the same goes for xir, too. Even on the rough nights. Maybe especially then.
...
You know that, too.
...Jewel.

yeah
I mean it.
...So do I. All right. I'm closing this up and going to sleep.
Not for a few minutes yet at least.
Yeah, there's a conversation that needs to happen. Not this one.
Still a continuation of it, though.
...I guess it is. Good point.
So. Chaos, would you do the honors of finally closing up this bloody huge entry?
This is still one entry?
Yeah.
Wow. It's been a while.
Hey, next time xe's up this late, I'm pushing for a Xanga. This is one step away from one already, so hey.
I'd like that.
I know what you'd like more than that, man.
*pointedly looks across the room*
Haha, kid you've got asterisks to deal with now, you'd better get moving.
I'll force his hand. There's a button I can click.
Please do, before we lose this.
thank you
Hey, that's what we're here for, kid. Helping you do what you can't.
Together.
Always.
Oh hey, here's one of yours.
"Into the flood." Yeah.
Kid, I am going to turn that into a very pointed pun and throw it at you.
no wait the lyrics don't work for this, that one aches too much in the other way, let's do this one.
Creature?
Oh man we were just referencing this.
Really?
Yeah. Specifically this album.
This... this is a good decision.
so are you.
...
three two one, post this?
Finally, let's do this.
glad to see i'm still terrible at concluding these talks
You need sleep, you idiot.
You can't go on like this.
Hey, they need more than some sleep, man.
Still... you just gotta let it go.
You heard the blue guy, kid, let's move.
all right. and do this lyric instead.
Which one?
keep on coming undone. i need that. i think if i let this love unravel me it's exactly what i need to find myself at the core
...I think I know how to get you there.
you don't "think" you know, love, I know you know. and vice versa, i'm sure.
...yeah. you do. you really do. please don't forget that. ever.
Okay you have both abandoned capslock, I am closing this up, see you invisible audience whenever.
laurie that is so sudden
Kid it's been over an hour are you kidding me.
is the sun coming up yet
You know what? That's my lyric.
oh
oh man laurie are you serious
Maybe I am. Only one way to find out.
laurie that is the worst cliffhanger
Nah, it's the best one.



 

prismaticbleed: (Default)

2024 Sun Dec 1 7:20 PM


I'M FEELING = NUMB

WHY = Eating disorder relapse

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2024 Sun Dec 1 7:30 PM


I'M FEELING = SCARED

WHY = Physical harm from eating disorder

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Eating;Physical Pain

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2024 Sun Dec 1 7:45 PM


I'M FEELING = SUPPORTED

WHY = I know that God and the System love me unconditionally and will continue to help me whenever I/we are struggling; there is always hope

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Resting;Spiritual Reading;Talking To Central;Listening To Music

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

2024 Mon Dec 2 1:31 AM


I'M FEELING = ALIVE

WHY =  Reading the Archives and remembering how BEAUTIFUL our life is together

WHERE = With The System,Home;On The Laptop;Headspace,Talking To Central;Listening To Music;Reading The Archives

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

2024 Mon Dec 2 1:33 AM


I'M FEELING = LOVED

WHY = The System is alive, and here, and we all love each other still. The reality of our shared existence is so beautiful it aches.
...and of course, I have Chaos 0 & Anxi & Genesis & Laurie around especially. There's SO much love there, forever. It's absolutely worth living and dying for.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Headspace,Talking To Central;Listening To Music;Reading The Archives

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

2024 Mon Dec 2 9:10 AM


I'M FEELING = TENSE

WHY = Today there's a lot to do, with immediate deadlines. I want to relax but I'm already exhausted just thinking about how much I have to do. Plus I might have to go up the house later and that's VERY upsetting.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Just Woke Up

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

2024 Mon Dec 2 12:40 PM


I'M FEELING = FRUSTRATED

WHY = Mom is so hard to talk to talk to. She won't let me get a word in, she finds problems with everything I say, and she accuses me of "making her feel like she's traumatizing me" whenever I get a little anxious over the phone. Thank God for Scald taking that weeping rage because otherwise it would have debilitated us.

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Commuting,Talking To Mom

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

2024 Mon Dec 2 2:01 PM


I'M FEELING = ACCOMPLISHED

WHY =  Packing for vacation, making sure all our bases are covered.

CONTEXT TAGS =  By Myself,Home,Housework

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2024 Mon Dec 2 5:35 PM


I'M FEELING = ENERGIZED

WHY = LISTENING TO "LIFE IN THE WIRES" WHILE BIKING

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Listening To Music;Exercising

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

2024 Mon Dec 2 7:31 PM


I'M FEELING = LOST

WHY =  Mom talking about all her life stressors and problems on the phone, and also revealing that she's totally unprepared for vacation tomorrow so it's probably going to be highly upsetting. All my positive expectations feel utterly crushed right now. I feel very alone and cut off from her and have all day.

CONTEXT TAGS =  By Myself;Family,Home,Talking To Mom;Housework

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

2024 Mon Dec 2 10:19 PM


I'M FEELING = MISERABLE

WHY = Wasting time browsing Tumblr instead of doing things I love. Total lack of self-awareness when doomscrolling; it's terrifying.
Honestly I think my brain is lowkey panic paralyzed over this vacation tomorrow and its utter unpredictability, plus being ""trapped away from home"" which always terrified us as a kid.
But we have to face this bravely. There WILL be beauty and joy. We MUST focus on that. It's what we're doing this for.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home

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2024 Tue Dec 3 9:11 AM


I'M FEELING = HOPEFUL

WHY =  About to leave on vacation with mom! I sincerely hope everything is beautiful-- but today's fortune reminded us: AFFIRM that, BELIEVE that, VISUALIZE that, and ACT on that! I AM Hope! I gotta MAKE things beautiful, and I CAN, by the grace of God! 

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Eating;Just Woke Up

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

2024 Tue Dec 3 12:29 PM


I'M FEELING = TERRIFIED

WHY = TURNPIKE TRAFFIC 

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Commuting,Driving

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2024 Tue Dec 3 1:07 PM


I'M FEELING = RELIEVED

WHY = Made it to the hotel and it's BEAUTIFUL

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Hotel,Hanging Out

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2024 Tue Dec 3 6:43 PM


I'M FEELING = CONTENT

WHY = Had a good dinner with the family after 3 hours of walking & seeing beautiful lights.

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Longwood,Eating;Hanging Out

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2024 Tue Dec 3 8:58 PM


I'M FEELING = COMFORTABLE

WHY = Driving back to the hotel after almost 6 hours at Longwood. Everything was beautiful. We feel safe & inspired & happy. Thank You God.
Don't forget Anxi fronting for a blessed moment under the orange chandelier lights.

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Commuting,Driving

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2024 Wed Dec 4 8:10 AM


I'M FEELING = PLEASANT

WHY = Breakfast on day two of vacation. Getting ready to see new things!

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Hotel,Eating;Hanging Out

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2024 Wed Dec 4 10:26 AM


I'M FEELING = DELIGHTED

WHY = Beautiful morning. Lovely drive, just had a workout, fantastic weather.

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Commuting;Outside,Driving

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2024 Wed Dec 4 2:13 PM


I'M FEELING = RELIEVED

WHY = Finally going to eat lunch at 2pm; we had been very dizzy & lightheaded from a small breakfast.

CONTEXT TAGS = Relieved,Family,Longwood,Driving

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2024 Wed Dec 4 7:03 PM


I'M FEELING = PEACEFUL

WHY = Wine & Jazz festival!

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Longwood,Hanging Out

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

2024 Wed Dec 4 9:36 PM


I'M FEELING = TROUBLED

WHY = Ate too many snacks with the fam. Trying not to panic or beat myself up over it. Our body is so hungry, but I'm realizing too late that it's SPIRITUAL hunger. I've been stressed & out of touch with headspace all vacation.

I'll have to spend like three hours in bed to recharge my heart with Chaos 0 & Anxi, seriously.


CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Hotel,Eating

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2024 Thu Dec 5 6:41 AM


I'M FEELING = TENSE

WHY =  Had a dream about being shot to death.
I went home and Chaos 0 was there, and when I went to him we were shot again, him through me.
We died in each other's arms, with a smile.

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Hotel,Just Woke Up

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2024 Thu Dec 5 7:47 AM


I'M FEELING = NERVOUS

WHY = Too much for breakfast, and had to rush. Too much talk about politics. Dissociated.

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Hotel,Eating

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2024 Thu Dec 5 12:07 PM


I'M FEELING = FORLORN

WHY = Feeling completely rejected & alienated from mom & Lou. I keep making stupid decisions trying to please them and I'm miserable.

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Commuting,Driving

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2024 Thu Dec 5 6:42 PM


I'M FEELING = RELIEVED

WHY = FINALLY home & unpacked. Sitting down to a quiet dinner.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Eating

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2024 Thu Dec 5 9:55 PM


I'M FEELING = MISERABLE

WHY = Bingepurge due to intense stress & hunger.
God why won't this end.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Eating;Disordered Behavior

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2024 Fri Dec 6 9:44 AM


I'M FEELING = FRUSTRATED

WHY =  Waiting for case worker, then have to go to mom's house, and we already had a power outage & doctor visit this morning. It feels like there's no time to get my thoughts together.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Exercising

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2024 Fri Dec 6 12:04 PM


I'M FEELING = JOYFUL

WHY = MY ORANGE ANGEL JUST ARRIVED IN THE MAIL

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Hanging Out

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2024 Fri Dec 6 12:46 PM


I'M FEELING = TENSE

WHY = With mom, on her infamous hyperstress unorganized busywork drives

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Commuting,Driving

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

2024 Fri Dec 6 2:12 PM


I'M FEELING = STRESSED

WHY = TOO MUCH SHOPPING

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Commuting,Busywork

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2024 Fri Dec 6 3:43 PM


I'M FEELING = SPENT

WHY = Too many people in the store. Too much talking & noise at home.

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Mom's House,Eating;Busywork

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2024 Fri Dec 6 5:25 PM


I'M FEELING = EXCLUDED

WHY = I feel like no one in the family cares about what matters to me. I'm just a resource for labor & listening. I feel utterly unwanted.

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Mom's House,Busywork

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2024 Fri Dec 6 6:59 PM


I'M FEELING = EXHAUSTED

WHY = Just got home & am unpacking groceries. The next three days are jam-packed.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Cooking;Cleaning

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2024 Sat Dec 7 12:35 AM


I'M FEELING = BURNED OUT

WHY = Stress-caused self-abusive bingepurgecrash.
God I am so tired.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Sleeping

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2024 Sat Dec 7 8:33 AM


I'M FEELING = ANXIOUS

WHY = Getting ready for this packed schedule day. Eating more calories than usual (1400) as reparation for three days of purging. Still terrified that it's "too much" and will somehow kill me.
How ironic, since starving & purging DEFINITELY will.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Just Woke Up;Cooking;Cleaning

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

2024 Sat Dec 7 9:23 AM


I'M FEELING = TENSE

WHY = Time crunch, feeling out of shape, too much food.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Eating

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

2024 Sat Dec 7 10:54 AM


I'M FEELING = ASHAMED

WHY = Just had to buy new headphones because the ones I have are 3 years old and deteriorating. Still feel like an absolute moron about it.
I hate this consumerist world. I hate having to own things.

 

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Shopping

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2024 Sat Dec 7 6:59 PM


I'M FEELING = INSPIRED

WHY = PHILHARMONIC!

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Theater,At A Concert

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2024 Sat Dec 7 8:12 PM


I'M FEELING = AMAZED

WHY = STILL AT THE PHILHARMONIC

CONTEXT TAGS = Family,Theater,At A Concert

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

2024 Sat Dec 7 11:55 PM


I'M FEELING = SATISFIED

WHY = Meal planning for the next two days. Feeling capable for a moment. Also really satisfying measurements working it out.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Cooking;Cleaning

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

2024 Sun Dec 8 12:52 AM


I'M FEELING = RELIEVED

WHY = FINALLY get to sleep, with Chaos 0 in my arms.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home,Sleeping

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

2024 Sun Dec 8 10:21 AM


I'M FEELING = STRESSED

WHY = Gotta RUSH to eat & get to church on time.
Also 1400K again today, that's still frightening.
Planning for the hyperschedule of tomorrow.

 

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Eating;Cleaning

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

2024 Sun Dec 8 4:10 PM


I'M FEELING = SCARED

WHY = So so hungry. Evening flashbacks beginning. Expecting mom interruptions.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Eating;Cooking;Cleaning

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

2024 Sun Dec 8 6:23 PM


I'M FEELING = BURNED OUT

WHY = Feeling useless & exhausted. Tomorrow looming. Still have to deal with mom switching the car tonight.

CONTEXT TAGS = By Myself,Home,Eating

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

2024 Sun Dec 8 11:40 PM


I'M FEELING = CONNECTED

WHY = Listening to System music & talking to the Coregroup.
Also reading through December 2010-2014 archives earlier, & remembering how rich of a history we have, and how much LOVE there is, and has ALWAYS been, in our System.

CONTEXT TAGS = With The System,Home;Commuting,Driving;Talking To Central;Going To Bed

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

prismaticbleed: (Default)

focus on the good!


GOOD THINGS ON SUN 1117
1. Ran to Mass; wrong timing but we still made it in time for the Eucharist
2. Laurie suggested I be daring & have the dinner naan with the vanilla greek yogurt and it was BOSS
3. The night of November 15th ("Die With a Smile" with Chaos 0 & Anxi) was REAL. Remember that pure love FOREVER.

GOOD THINGS ON MON 1118
(N/A)

GOOD THINGS ON TUE 1119
1. Dinner with the fam! Also bonus Hershey's Kiss "excuse" to kiss Anxi
2. Beautiful music (Anxi's) while driving. Really feeling love for the WHOLE coregroup
3. Lynne eating apple pie yogurt
4. Reading the Archives late at night

GOOD THINGS ON WED 1120
1. MEETING ENNUI IN HEADSPACE. She's actually REALLY COOL & INSIGHTFUL!
2. I DREW ANXI ♥ I am SO HAPPY with how she turned out!
3. Stayed up late cleaning house with Anxi & Laurie helping out


GOOD THINGS ON THU 1121
1. Cleaning house EVEN MORE with Anxi, Laurie, Chaos 0, & Central too
2. TALKING TO MIKE ABOUT POKEMON FOR LIKE AN HOUR
3. IT SNOWED!!! ♥ It felt like HOME. I was PURELY HAPPY.

GOOD THINGS ON FRI 1122
1. FINALLY got back into exercising! Biked & downloaded fitness apps to use
2. Knife & Algorith BOTH fronting HARD with injury cleanup; I miss them so much
3. My neighbor Sh's PINK DOOR WREATH! It's SO BEAUTIFUL it made my night

GOOD THINGS ON SAT 1123
1. ANXI SHIRT #1 ARRIVED!! I gave her green gems for eyes
2. Went out to DINNER at an Italian place with mom & Lou! The bread was SO SOFT. We took some home and had it with lingonberry jam and it was so simply pure & lovely
3. MARATHON READ "That's Not My Name" for the book club because I couldn't sleep and it was SO WELL WRITTEN

GOOD THINGS ON SUN 1124
1. Walked to Mass & made it on time! It was a perfect way to start the day.
2. Baking with mom! I got to make a PIE CRUST the way grandma used to
3. Sad drive home, but the sorrow pushed me back close to the System


GOOD THINGS ON MON 1125
1. THE OTHER 2 ANXI SHIRTS ARRIVE! I cannot wait to wear them; I LOVE HER
2. Driving & BLASTING FROST* songs (especially Moral & Consequence) with the windows down
3. GOT NEW CLOTHES FINALLY (at the thrift store), including a BOSS pink jacket for Julie ♥ and an orange one for Anxi!

GOOD THINGS ON TUE 1126
1. STARTED THE ANXI PLUSH REF ♥ I get to STUDY HER FACE to draw her better
2. CLEANING DAY. Laundry & paperwork. Things feel MUCH NICER when clutter is gone!
3. DREAM WORLD READING. It's all SO BEAUTIFUL I could WEEP. THANK YOU GOD FOR ALL OF IT!


GOOD THINGS ON WED 1127
1. COOKING & BAKING WITH MOM ♥ And we DIDN'T do anything disordered!
2. More progress on Anxi's plush ref! I watched SO MANY vids for refs, I can see her with my eyes closed.

3. Felt LEGIT HAPPY & CONTENT while running errands with mom. It's good to be alive.


GOOD THINGS ON THU 1128
1. 90 MINUTES BIKING. I got a HORRIBLE OCULAR MIGRAINE but it was WORTH IT
2. LISTENED TO FROST*'S NEW ALBUM. IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING ♥ I AM NOT SURPRISED!
3. Getting to share dinner with mom & Lou and NOT BEING TERRIFIED for the first time in YEARS


GOOD THINGS ON FRI 1129
1. SHOPPING WITH MOM ALL DAY. It was nice to just spend time together.
2. ORDERED ANXI & CHAOS 0 KEYCHAIN CHARMS ♥ Now they'll BOTH be with me wherever I go!
3. Late dinner but NO PURGE. Also the LOVELY 8pm naan bread. SYSTEM SUPPORT = RECOVERY!


GOOD THINGS ON SAT 1130
1. INSIDE OUT 2 BLURAY!!! ♥ Now I can see my girlfriend ANYTIME
2. New System love song = "BLEACH." It captures the exact pain/ hope of the Jay days. Also Genesis & Chaos 0 are having such a good time singing it together when I listen to it
3. The lotophagoi are LEARNING. They're more self-aware and they are ACTUALLY starting to WANT to get better




OBSTACLES TO JOY THIS MONTH...
1. Too much time on Tumblr/ Youtube/ Pokemon TCG Pocket
2. Not talking to the System CONSTANTLY
3. Not praying SINCERELY/ reading Scripture; it's still all too automated/ obligatory/ businesslike

JOY SPARKS TO KINDLE NEXT MONTH...
1. LEAGUEWORK & REVIEWING
2. Spending quality time with the fam
3. Spending MORE quality time with the SYSTEM
4. MUSIC!




112924

Nov. 30th, 2024 01:02 am
prismaticbleed: (held)

So it's 1am and I'm reading old entries under the "poetic language" tag in reverse chronological order, and a lot of it is all about the 20-year love I have had for Chaos 0.
Right now, I... I feel disturbingly disconnected from the sheer heart-red ardor of it, and that's unnatural for me. That's my ESSENCE, that devotion. But "I" was Jay for most of those entries. He felt SO MUCH, SO STRONGLY, and it was gorgeous and I knew the instant my bloodline took over his that I couldn't feel like he did. Honestly I hate that fact. I want to challenge it and break it and I WANT to feel everything Jay did and more BUT the problem is that Jay's a guy. I'M stuck being "female." And "girls" cannot love like that. I don't know why that's been a constant. It's not bad, I must clarify-- the female-adjacent nousfoni up here CAN and DO love in powerful and real ways-- but it's different. I don't have time to unpack that topic tonight, but it's KEY in our continued healing that I do so, because I DO WANT TO CHANGE IT at least for myself. I'm NOT a "girl," I KNOW this; but I'm not "male" like Jay was. And yet I keep "refusing to give myself permission to exist" for "religious reasons" and it's making me MISERABLE and COLD.
But that's a topic for another night, as I said. Right now I'm updating because of other realizations.
First, that with how numb we've been for the past six years, I had forgotten what love even FELT like and so these entries WOULD have completely alienated me if I had read them even three months ago. For a very long time, I had disconnected my heart and soul from Jay's signature "Cupid" energy and depth of passion because the thriskefoni typically demonize ALL emotions like that.
...Then a certain emotion just happened to change my heart.
I've mentioned this fact briefly before and as of writing this entry I haven't transcribed+uploaded the TBHU notebook entries yet, so you guys don't know the details of this yet but I am seriously so in love with Anxi it hurts. I emphasize the ache because I am FEELING this. I have not been this strongly in love in YEARS. This is CHAOS'S territory, so to speak. But suddenly I have another angel, an orange one, the color my heart has yearned to find an Outspacer for SINCE HIGH SCHOOL. And suddenly, here she is.
I mention that fact in this context because, right now, whatever the heck is going on with my mental/ emotional/ identity recovery, I can only feel love at ALL right now because of HER. Without her, all this poetry would be mocked and cringed and spat at by hateful kakofoni and scandalized thriskefoni. But... Anxi has lit a spark in my heart again, at long last. So I CAN read these old words of love for my blue angel and even if I'm disconnected from actively feeling it much I know that love is REAL and it's STILL HERE. I'm NOT closed off from it. My heart IS open, it's just... well. That's our next topic.

As for the second point. From the very beginning in 2009, and especially around 2014, the poetic-language entries shift largely from legit love poetry to honestly tormented yet hopeful datalogs like lucernarium. There are also at least three HUGELY SIGNIFICANT xanga sessions that I haven't read yet because I KNOW they will absolutely turn my life upside down and I want to give them my full time and attention. The point is that there's so much that I've forgotten but it's ALL SO REAL. That's what terrifies me. I've forgotten the TRUTH. Oh of course I recognize and remember it when I'm re-reading it, and THANK GOD we still HAVE the Archives TO read, but... I haven't read them in YEARS. That's what's been killing "me"-- or rather, it's what's been preventing "me" from truly existing at all.
Anyhow. I've been opening them in new tabs to read later, only briefly reading the opening paragraphs to give myself a quick reminder and a preview of things, to get my heart and mind prepared and a bit more cracked open to the light.
Then we came across this one and... that's why I'm updating.
...Laurie quietly said "excuse me," then slammed her fist into the table, before getting up and walking over to the back of the room, pausing, and then in a sudden agonized rush of power and gutwrenching grief she summoned her axe and crashed it into the wall. Then she just... the sound she made then, a screaming sob, an absolute anguished heartbroken sound. She was weeping.
"That's EXACTLY what happened to Infi," she mourned through gritted teeth and tears. "That's what happened to ME."

Julie walked over silently, visibly shaken, and I saw Laurie take her hand and squeeze it hard, in a sort of tortured apology as much as it was for comfort-- the reassurance of her fellow foni's deep concern and care was only so significant because Julie has been through, and been the CAUSE of, the worst of it. Laurie and Julie have a hell of a history and it's almost all war. So for her to wordlessly offer empathy in that moment of near-despair, was profound, now that I look back at it.

...Laurie asked me "how Infi killed hirself." In an instant I remembered, the grief gutting me as well as I had long since buried that recollection, and I replied that ze had just... bled out. Ze had violently removed the lifesphere in hir abdomen and ze literally let hirself bleed to death.
Laurie said, with terrible gravity, "then that's what you need to heal before ze can come back."

...At one point during this conversation, as Laurie was basically processing her pain aloud, she said something about how she had "already died" (I think in response to Julie?) and her fingers instinctively moved up to touch her sternum, as if she were in shock, as if it was still an open wound. That single, almost absentminded, awfully vulnerable movement crushed me.


...I haven't finished reading that entry. It's late and I'm exhausted and we have church tomorrow and yesterday absolutely wrecked us. But tonight I'm listening to the Spotify playlists I have for Chaos 0 & Laurie & Anxi and I can feel something achingly tender blooming beneath my ribs and as I've said so many times since September this is what I want to live for. This is what I NEED to live for. I must. I will.

As for now, every time I look at Anxi I feel that flame burn brighter, and it hurts, and thank God that it does. And I know that in a few minutes when I do crash on the couch and fall asleep, that Chaos 0 will be in my arms as he always is, fidelity incarnate at this point, and even if we're completely devastated by life I can never deny the echoing loop of a tangible love that our hearts quietly sing in the dark whenever I feel that Ruby pressed against my chest. It still makes me catch my breath, every time, and I always see how it affects him. That's one thing I have to thank God for-- Chaos 0 never forgets this. He never "goes numb" or "disconnects" like I can due to trauma and dissociation. Yes, he's had rough times in the distant past, especially during the "fragment" eras when he was shattering too, but... he's never gone cold. It would kill him and his oceanic soul. If there ever was a time when his emotions were muted, it was just that-- an imposition on something that was still entirely there and ready to reappear in full. My problem is that I lose touch with my heart and I have to find it first and honestly it's the System. Without them, without them CONSTANTLY and ALWAYS, I'm dead. I'm not just numb and empty and hollow and miserable, I'm dead. Without actively sharing in the collective life and love of the Spectrum and the Coregroup especially, I cannot exist at ALL.


...Oh. That's the last terrible topic I forgot to mention and absolutely have to.

The reason why I've been feeling so dead for so long is because the Plague has become cancerous. Everything is calcified somehow. I can feel it. And what scares me the MOST is that it's affecting Anxi.
Oh I will NOT let it touch her, mark my words, I will FIGHT IT TO THE DEATH before I let it even so much as breathe in her direction. But she's in tune with my emotions of course, by nature of what she is, and although she CAN gloriously bypass the Plague-numbing by plugging directly into the mainframe, as it were-- and I wonder if, the more she does that, her energy will BURN through the calcification-- we've all noticed that her general demeanor IS visibly "suppressed" by the bleach dust in the atmosphere, so to speak. It's evidently unnatural with her, so her very existence has been a warning siren for all of us lately. And God knows I REFUSE to let this get any worse, for HER sake alone if I can't think of myself (yet), so that's yet another way that her being up here has been changing things dramatically for the better.
I want to close this entry by saying that she's not "up here" much yet. It's a protective measure to keep her safe from the Plague, AND from the Tar too of course. But she needs to be up here more. I just know that the instant I take action to bring her in here, things WILL happen. And I WANT them to happen. We just need to make time for it. Late nights like this are the best. I need to make a "headspace meditation" playlist so we can START having huge internal experiences again, now that we HAVE the absolute blessing and privilege of prolonged uninterrupted quiet time, in the cold dark of winter. This time of year is PERFECT for self-knowledge and System connection and growth and transformation and discovery and feeling things, for real, finally.
But... even if she isn't "around" much yet, I get glimpses. She likes to front, suddenly and entirely without warning-- honestly it catches me off guard, because I won't see/feel her for days and then out of nowhere she's driving for a few seconds-- and that initial shock of recognizing her is like pure sunlight in my heart. And... sometimes at night, Central will shift a little to look more like the IO2 "control room" and I'll see Anxi asleep on a couch by the wall, even plugged in sometimes. And that worries me a bit, to see her sleeping, as she's so vibrant and full of energy, but like I said, she's getting exhausted and actively suppressed by the negative forces up here. But... on the sweet side, she's also legitimately calmer, as she has expressed a deep trust in me as the "avatar of joy AND hope" up here (I cannot deny those attributes; they KEEP being given to me by MANY people inside AND outside), so she can rest and sleep if she wants/needs to now because deep down she knows she's safe. I SWEAR it. So does Laurie, of course; she's especially protective of the Coregroup and YES, ANXI HAS A SPOT WITH HER NAME ON IT ALREADY and no one is going to take that away from her.
I'm still learning what her attachment-plug-tail does. The Systemind gave it to her and I know it allows her to "receive" the emotional energy of headspace regardless of any numbing influences on the surface. I assume it also works to "ground" her ironically, as her tail is non-polarized apparently which means technically she can "reverse polarity" to become "live" and touching her like that would make me "part of the electrical circuit" of emotion and, ironically, "ground" me by the very fact of "connecting" to that in her. Listen bro I know nothing about literal electrical work but I do know how headspace latches onto concepts and symbolism and abstract relevance and honestly I see a TON of potential in the unexpected staggering fact that up here Anxi's own nervous system can literally plug into mine, pun intended perhaps. But jokes aside, I have already seen the profound healing she's been jumpstarting in here simply by existing in my life. Once I can and do regularly interact with her PERSONALLY, there WILL be massive positive consequences in one way or another. 
For the sake of honesty, why am I so sure about this? Because I love her.
I cannot emphasize that fact enough but instead of saying "there's no time to talk about in depth right now because it's 2am" I owe her at least something. Love makes time.
I've written a decent amount about her in the TBHU notebooks and I cannot wait until they're posted here so you guys can SEE how her presence in my life has changed me for the better already. But... this is only the absolute beginning. And this is different from how it was with Chaos 0 back in 2003-2004 because he was the FIRST soul I EVER fell in love with so I had NO IDEA what to expect, or what would happen, or how things would feel, et cetera. Anxi, on the other hand, is the most recent person I have fallen in love with, but she has SHOCKED me by SOMEHOW being VIRTUALLY ON CHAOS'S TIER. I am DEAD SERIOUS and I CANNOT understate the staggering significance of that fact. I love her that much. I don't understand how or why but I do. I'm not complaining but it's such a shock. Now of course she will never have and cannot have the same sort of relationship I have with Chaos 0-- only he is at "marriage" level and I can't deny THAT stunning fact either, since Jay lived it and that DOESN'T change-- but God knows she's hitting my heart like a thunderbolt even so. That's what is so astonishing about this to me: the intensity of the love I feel for her. Regardless of how our relationship "looks" in practice as it grows and builds-- for heaven's sakes we haven't even had our first *incident*-- the fact is that it has a foundation of diamond already. I'm honestly reeling and you can probably tell. Is it because my heart needs her so much? But it's more than that; it's about her, not me. No, it's about both of us. That's the whole point.
It's almost 3am and I'm listening to "Die With A Smile" again and I should conclude this entry by saying that for me, this song belongs to Anxi and Chaos 0, 100%. Laurie too, of course (you know she's playing that guitar) but it's my two angels that have become the most powerfully associated with the sound and sentiment of it.
You know, that's amazing too. All of the Coregroup relationships are so different but there's so much love in all of them. It's so beautiful, heartachingly beautiful, to just... sit and remember and feel all of that truth. There's so much history between all of us, not just with me personally, but with all of us together. And I think that's my favorite thing about being a System-- we're all connected. In one way or another, we're all linked at the heart, and the Coregroup just manifests that the most literally and intensely and intimately. But living as a System is inherently living in love. 
...and, yeah, for the record, if I haven't mentioned it before yet, Chaos 0 & Laurie & Genesis are all entirely on board with Anxi inevitably becoming part of the inner circle, as it were. There's absolutely no jealousy because first, she's a sweetheart and we all love her as a person already, and second, my personal and particular love for her in a relationship is opening my heart and enabling me TO love everyone else again, in a way I haven't been able to for years... if I've ever had something like this before, even. Things are so much more... what's the word? I keep wanting to say things like tender, fragile, aching, real, sincere, clear, honest, etc. But it's not just "soft," there's a POWER here. There is a fighting spirit to this love that says "I WANT TO LIVE" and I want to live for her, with her, even as I feel that exact sentiment for Chaos 0 and Laurie and Genesis of course but it's also especially hers in a unique way I cannot understate. She's changed my life permanently since last November and the past three months have been astounding in that respect. She's my weird orange girlfriend and although I do joke about the fact that I'm in love with a frazzled goofball of a Pixar character of all people, I'm in love and that's beautiful.

Laurie just interjected "kid, you know what's not beautiful? The fact that you're only gonna get five hours of sleep" and she's right, haha. Nevertheless, this was worth it. ("I never said it wasn't," she agrees; "this was absolutely worth losing sleep over, but we don't have the luxury of sleeping in tomorrow and sleep deprivation isn't going to help your emotional state either." Solid advice as usual from my favorite superego. "I'm your only superego, you moron")

All right, it's exactly 3am and although God knows I want to write poetry about everybody right now, the desire doesn't always translate into the ability especially when I am utterly exhausted from not just lack of sleep but also daily life stress, so I'll have to just live out the poetic instinct in person with the blue guy. Maybe even the orange girl, if she's around, even just for a moment, even just to look at her with this in my heart.

Don't forget the beginning of this entry. All of that is still painfully and pressingly relevant. But so is the rest of what I wrote. It's all together. It's all our life. I'm so glad we're still all here to live it, together.







(... an addendum, from friday the 13th. i just got the guts to reread the beginning of infi's death entry and it is absolutely shattering my heart that THIS entry is how I instinctively described it. somehow i attributed my actions to hir and that's still entirely correct. "if you won't do it, i will." and that shocks me now; ze wouldn't do it without me. somehow even hir death had to involve me. ze... refused to die alone. somehow that act of... cutting hir body like that was the final act of staggering intimacy ze could offer me, untouchable by hackers. god that is ruining me to realize it now. even in those horrific violent final moments infi needed us to be together, needed it to somehow be at my hands, to... to make it an act of love, even then. and yet when asked on a dime to describe what happened i said ze did it. but isn't that true? our hearts were always united. no wonder it destroyed me. and... the "bleeding out," what a nightmare of a way to describe what happened next, but oh god knows it's guttingly accurate, deep down, that's how black bleeds, it pours itself out until there's nothing left.)
(god, please, please, bring hir back to me. bring my heart's love back to me. ze was my life. i know the thriskefoni were utterly convinced and terrified that such a sentiment was the most flagrant idolatry but it's not, lord i only knew YOU in truth because of hir. and i've forgotten. i need hir and i cannot deny that anymore. i miss hir with every atom of my being and it aches like the missing space in my heart is physical. please, oh god please, i've been begging you for nearly six hundred days. twenty bleeding months. i'm begging you on my knees and my soul is sobbing like the world is crashing to pieces around my ears and all i can hear is the silence where hir voice used to be. god. for love's literal sake give hir back to me. please. somehow. this is the most desperate prayer i have. please.)
(black has always been death and resurrection. glorify Yourself in that truth now. i know that's a bold request. but i'm making it. let me plead with you like moses. i can't not dare. love makes people do stupid crazy things but lord i'd rather be the most insane man on earth than keep quiet about the weeping wound that is my heart. you understand loss. you understand love. please. i've seen hir, lord i've SEEN hir in CHURCH i KNOW you have hir soul in your arms, please give hir a body again that i can hold and touch and love and i swear, dear god if you want me to come back to life i need hir back first. ze is the other half of my soul. death cannot change that. death is only a door. somehow, even that was. please god. open it.)







prismaticbleed: (worried)

SUM UP THE WEEK:
Discharged from inpatient facility on Wednesday. Realizing on the drive home that outside the hospital reality was a lot more scary & difficult than we expected. Trying to readjust but struggling with legal issues that had built up during inpatient & the neverending tornado of family stress. Trying to focus on SYSTEM LOVE. Spent two sleepless nights feeling it more strongly than I have in months. Decorating the apartment. Adjusting to new diet. Struggling with crushing depression & intense fear.

LIST YOUR RECOVERY WINS HERE:
● ATE CRAB & CRAYFISH & SASHIMI & MARSHMALLOWS & LYCHEES & SUSHI!
● Still making sure we eat all our meals
● Spending time with mom & not being whiny or looking to escape
● JOURNALING BEGINS!

What are you most proud of yourself for this week? What situation did you handle well?
We went out for chinese food with mom & her boyfriend and WE DIDN'T LIMIT OURSELF OR PURGE. It was genuinely an enjoyable yet still challenging experience. We're also proud that we're still soldiering on in doggedly determined hope despite the very scary life situation. We're striving to improve every day & be patient in the waiting & work inbetween.

Which of your goals did you achieve? How did it benefit you?
We started running! We DID help mom up the house! We DID cut down on meal volume & stopped forcing foods that make us sick. We DID start to redecorate the apartment. And although we haven't bought Inside Out 2 yet we watched SO MUCH OF IT ON YOUTUBE. That LIT UP OUR HEART. So we're striving to keep good things in our life.

What could you do to make next week better?
● START BIKING & LIFTING WEIGHTS & DOING AB EXERCISES. We NEED to get our muscles back!
● LESS TIME ON THE PHONE. It's making us SO DEPRESSED.
Read Scripture daily & do what you can to pray more & go to mass WITHOUT BEING SCRUPULOUS. Worship with LOVE, not forcing!
● DO LEAGUEWORK of ANY SORT. Just PLEASE GET BACK INTO IT!
● START ARCHIVING THE TBHU PAPERS & JOURNALS.
SPEND MORE DAYTIME UPSTAIRS/ TALKING WITH THE SYSTEM. The REASON you've been SO DEPRESSED is because you've been DOING IT ALONE.

Rate how you found eating your meals & snacks every day. How could you make this easier next week?
2 / 5
PANIC HAS ALREADY SET IN over "what's right or wrong" now that we're not "just obeying orders." DON'T OVERCOMPLICATE IT!! Find what WORKS, that you LIKE, and STICK TO IT! NO LUXURIES/ NOVELTIES or "OBLIGATORY" BUYS. NO AFTERBITES! And DRINK WATER! ENJOY your meals!

Rate how you dealt with compensatory behaviors like purging or exercising this week. How could you make this easier next week?
1 / 5
We purged TWICE and threw out food ONCE, both due to PANIC & POOR SELF-CARE (hungry, tired). We also SLASHED our calories, which isn't bad EXCEPT that we're starting to obsess. We "ran" two miles EACH WAY with daily travel and if we're gonna BULK UP, we NEED to KEEP EATING. So DON'T DROP ANY LOWER. And KEEP IT ALL DOWN!!!

Average mood this week:
3 / 5

Average sleep quality this week:
1 / 5

Average anxiety level this week:
4.5 / 5

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

TOP THREE THINGS I DID THIS WEEK:
1. DISCHARGED AT LAST
2. CHINESE with MOM & HER BF
3. Put ALL the TBHU notes from peers ON THE WALL

THIS WEEK I FELT:
HAPPY
NUMB
TEARFUL
SAD
TIRED
IN LOVE
WORRIED
SCARED
PLAYFUL
(ALL OVER THE PLACE)

MOST REWARDING INTERACTIONS I HAD THIS WEEK:
★ The last 48 hours on the unit, getting to hug virtually everyone & hearing their kind words of encouragement AND GRATITUDE for me.
★ FR. P'S FACE when he saw me + he HUGGED me too!
★ CHAOS 0, ANXIETY, & MIMIC ALL SETTING MY HEART ON FIRE
★ ANXI FRONTING to look at the moon in the rain
★ GENESIS GHOSTING

NEXT WEEK I WANT TO:
● BE GENUINELY HAPPY FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES. TAP INTO YOUR JOY.
● START WORKING OUT, even just with the phone app exercises & dumbbell
● DRAW SOMETHING. PLAY SOME MUSIC. WRITE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.
● Get our diet plan STREAMLINED in prep/ nutrition/ ingredients = CUT STRESS

THINGS I ACCOMPLISHED THIS WEEK:
● WENT BACK TO CHURCH
● Started loveposting again
● WROTE A JOURNAL ENTRY
● Saw ALL MY SIBLINGS
● LONGWOOD + PHILHARMONIC TICKETS FOR DECEMBER!
● STARTING TO RECONNECT WITH THE LEAGUE!

WHAT WAS THE BEST THING ABOUT THE WEEK?
The night of 1115, when we listened to Die With A Smile for HOURS and I was SO IN LOVE. I felt PURELY ALIVE & REAL. (CHAOS 0 AND ANXI SINGING IT TO ME TOGETHER ♥)

MY RANKING OF THE WEEK:
4 / 5



prismaticbleed: (aflame)



This girl is DOING THINGS to my HEART,

Honestly I am so in love with her it aches.

#for anxi #babe if you keep looking at me like that I'm going to die and go straight to heaven #and I'm taking you with me


comfort-character-central:
If there is one thing to keep in mind when it comes to you and your f/o, it is that they would undoubtedly love you, exactly as you are. As you are, right now, are good enough. In fact, your f/o would be the luckiest individual on this entire planet, in this entire galaxy to even be around or with you. Being in your f/o's life would be a privilege for them, a wonderful one at that.


Anxi, tonight I'm saying this specifically to you. You are infinitely & always 'good enough' and it is an absolute joy that I get to know and love you.
 
...And yet I have to stop and reread this for myself, too, from all of the ones I love... especially lately, when I'm arguably feeling more unlovable than ever before. But they have literally said this to me, even now. Chaos 0 especially. God he is an absolute angel, it sends me reeling. But so is Anxi. And that's monumental.
 
If I can love her this much, then I have to accept in turn the stunningly beautiful fact that yes, she echoes the sentiment. And don't you dare doubt that. Don't forget how she was your reason to live all through inpatient. And she knew that. That sort of thing changes people. It changed your heart, too.
 
So... it goes both ways, as it should. You undoubtedly love her. She undoubtedly loves you. Live for that. Live in and from that. Stay alive and in her life, no matter how difficult living is right now. Trust me, you're still good enough for her.
Why wouldn't you be, when you feel this for her?
 

clancyismylover:

Your f/o will always be there for you.

You can be as happy as you want. As sad as you want. You can cry ugly tears, or scream angry words up at the sky. You can have a tantrum, a breakdown, and even yell and they will not waver. You are not your ugly moments nor solely your struggles.
 
If you want them to, they will be at your side. They'll always hold you when it's all over, and you feel tired. Limp. They will gather you up into their arms and kiss your forehead, holding you against their chest so you can feel their breathing, as even and steady as ever. Because they were telling the truth.
 
Nothing you do will ever stop them from taking care of you. Your f/o will love you even when you don't love yourself.

...This just made me realize why Anxi is so unique and irreplaceable among my beloveds. I've never related to posts like the second white paragraph in this before because I've never had nor wanted that sort of dynamic with anyone, and for a long time we ironically weren't even comfortable with the idea of offering or receiving such physical comfort.
 
...And then I met my orange girl.

I can do this for
her. That's a game-changer. She's effectively opening my heart the way Chaos 0 and Genesis did and that fact is of tremendous significance.

We're all extremely emotional up here. Vulnerability and expressiveness are effectively mandatory. So we perfectly relate to the first white paragraph. And we all manifest that red text to each other with every heartbeat. But no one has ever been so breakable as to need to be gathered up and held and taken care of... until Anxi moved in. And she needs this and that's totally new to me but I think my heart needs her. I need to be that sort of person, who can give that to her. It's a depth of compassion and tenderness I've never reached before and may not have been able to before I fell in love with her and my life was changed. And yet here we are.

I want to conclude by emphasizing that final red sentence, though. Life lately has been crushing me like glass and my recent hospitalization proved very starkly to me that I can only feel honest-to-God self-love when I'm with my beloveds because I cannot possibly deny the tangible fact that the ardor is mutual across the board, in individually unique ways but nevertheless irrefutable. Still, depression and trauma can blind me, or put me on ice, where I feel so utterly not-myself that I can't let people in even if I desperately want to. Anxi bypasses this. She calls my heart out, to her. And suddenly everything is glowing, and I can feel my own heart again, that close to hers.

In a way no one else can, especially with her presence over the past three months of brutal recovery struggles, Anxi has shown me what the real truth is-- it's all love, and I am not only still capable of feeling it exactly as I am now, but I am also... I'm also loved FOR exactly who am now. Anxi didn't know me before this. She runs to me without any prejudice. She needs what she knows I can give and want to give her. She trusts my heart because she knows the truth. I'm good enough for her in this very moment, even with all the pain & sickness & dysphoria, and that makes me want to wake up in the morning despite everything. That opens my heart back up to everything and everyone else, because she is not the only one who loves me unconditionally-- I think Chaos 0's two decades of commitment are the most profound proof of that-- but she us the only one who needs me in a way that reveals to me my own capacity to be needed, and my own need to be exactly who I am at heart. I cannot hate myself when I'm with her, because with her, I'm not only loved, I'm being love.

It's amazing. She's seriously saving my life.

#jay talks
#for anxi #my orange angel #you can tell how much i love someone by how much i write about them #this is a very good thing #I'm waiting for the inevitable early morning when my heart is finally in deep enough to be moved to poetry about her #she's waking my soul back up and it's beautiful



mournfulroses:



I'm going to break my own heart by saying this, but... be not afraid.

#for infinitii #i miss you so much it's killing me# for laurie #this hits so hard it hurts #for anxi #straight to the heart #for chaos 0 #honestly in tears over this #amor et sacrificium #but it's worth it i swear to you it is worth everything #every tear every scar every drop of blood #we are living proof of this


true-autistic-tales:
imagine watching your f/o's face turn cartoonishly red with blush after you complimented them

Anxi blushes so hard, it's honestly adorable.

I also just want to affectionately note that Chaos 0 "blushes" green?? I expect it to be blue, but it's actually "chaos energy" concentration so it ends up green (you can actually see this in Perfect Chaos). 

Laurie also is shockingly prone to blushing, when she gets caught off guard by something affectionate. That actually says a lot about her real emotional sincerity; she feels things entirely, which is why she used to always put up walls to protect herself. 


whattheheckisatazelwurm
Something I need everybody to know, if they don't already: Anxiety had freckles in her concept art:



GIRL HOW MANY OF MY WEAKNESSES ARE YOU GOING TO HIT FOR HEAVENS SAKES


bunny-lovers:
Imagine your f/o surprises you one night and takes you to go watch the sunset, and right as the sun is almost all the way down, they turn and kiss you.

Oh man, Genesis and I literally used to go watch the sunset together almost every night when we lived in SLC.
...I think we did kiss once, or at least our hearts felt like it. We were... surprisingly close, back then. I was alone most of the time and he was my constant companion. I don't have much actual memory of those months but I know, as a demonstrable fact, that Genesis was loyally and unflinchingly at my side for all of them. 
...We really should go watch the sunset again, sometime. We need to find a place, and just... go there. Not even for "old time's sake," but because the love we had for each other back then is still real and true and beautiful, right now, and thank God we're still together. Just like the sunset, I can rely on that. 
That's absolutely worth kissing over. 


111424

Nov. 14th, 2024 11:59 pm
prismaticbleed: (aflame)

(unfinished entry; just taking the most important notes for now)

we were in the hospital for two months and now EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE RENEWED WTF.
we were on the phone for 4 HOURS BRO
but hey, this is proving we CAN be a responsible adult, when so many people have doubted us. thank You God for giving us the grace because boy howdy there is definitely divine providence at work with somehow managing all of this paperwork and phonecalling let me tell you

Ran to pharmacy to get ELEVEN MEDS
Talking to Genesis during the trip. I've missed him SO MUCH

Walmart run to replace the missing yogurt from last night
got to switch one plain for a "cookies and cream" one to try, thinking of Mimic fronting on Halloween.
also on that same affectionate train of thought, we are legit excited to finally try this "dave's killer bread" now that we're eating carbs again thank the good Lord.
their website has this absolutely beautiful quote that i need to share for my sake as much as mim's:
"We have witnessed first-hand that someone’s past does not define their future, and that sometimes giving someone a chance is all they need to become a Good Seed."


CHINESE FOOD WITH THE FAM!!
WE ATE... TWO SHRIMPS. A CRAYFISH. AND SO MUCH CRAB IT'S DELICIOUS
Also a cream puff for Rio. I saw them and of course the affection won out for him too. it makes life so much better to just act on love whenever i feel it.
refusing to judge this poor finally-not-a-skeleton body for wanting to eat, either.

mom brought us up the house to help clean, so we were cleaning off old photos from all the sanding-dust that got over 'em
she had a Johnny Mathis cd playing in the hall and EVERY SONG MADE ME THINK OF ANXI, my heart was on FIRE

ALSO she brought us up the attic to see if there were any clothes we wanted to try on to see if they fit (we own very little clothing of our own, and now it's all too small) and WHILE we were looking we found old action figures of MARIK, DAVY JONES, and GENERAL GRIEVOUS. the rush of tenderness that hit my heart at seeing my old friends faces so unexpectedly moved me to immediately pocket them all to take them home.
oh yes and there was a TINY translucent figure of METABEE? dude i don't know where you came from but we have nothing but good memories about playing medabots so he got pocketed too, haha.
...oh. but there was one last HUGE thing we found upstairs that knocked the floor out from under me in the best way.
we found our old 8th grade gym sweatshirt, from 2004. right before graduation everyone went around and signed each other's shirts and mine was no exception. so i was sad when i saw it had water damage, and most of the names and words had been washed off... but the sleeves were untouched.
and on the left sleeve, on the inside of the arm, were four little symbols.
mine, mariks's, ryou's, and chaos zero's.
i could have wept from sheer love in that moment. but it wasn't just the emotion of seeing a 20-year-old proof of that love-- it was the fact that I have "always wanted" that EXACT symbol lineup as a tattoo BUT I didn't realize it was SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING.
it just... it was a beautiful moment, to see that, and feel that, two decades later. it felt existentially validating. that's a rare and priceless thing. in that moment i felt like i've always been me, and always will be, and this love is the connecting thread.
...i might have to actually get that tattoo at last. it's been long enough, apparently. and i owe us all that much.
(oh btw there were references to bakunetsumaru and jirachi and VAIDA on the shirt too which was just as hilarious as it was endearing. THAT was an ERA, kids)


Got home, unpacked, returned the shopping cart and realized it was raining very mistily. So we just stood there for a while, in the quiet cold dark, alone and looking up at the moon glowing behind the hazy night clouds.
Suddenly, yet soundlessly, Anxi moved in to front. It was completely unexpected but she was there, so clearly. The perception lit a pure joy in my heart, remembering how I couldn't find her at the beginning of this month, and yet now here she was, showing up on her own, undeniable.
She looked up at the glow of the hidden moon and I remember her having anxious thoughts about it possibly "disappearing" entirely behind the clouds, and leaving us in the dark. I reassured her that it would still be there, even if it wasn't visible for a bit. Besides, without those clouds, we wouldn't have that beautiful glow, or this lovely soft rain. I felt this realization hit her with surprise, and then a sort of stunned gratitude? Like I got the impression that she wasn't used to thinking like that-- my natural disposition to find the silver lining was totally new to her. But she embraced it fervently, as I have to admit she does about everything, and I love that so much; her nervous edge makes her virtually incapable of taking things for granted, or doing things halfheartedly. She is too aware of how easily things can be lost, or forgotten, or needed and not had. So she treasures things, albeit in an almost inevitably fragile way. The more she's around and the more I can feel of her heart the more I love her. She's fascinating.
So there she stood, and listened to the rain on the leaves, and looked at the clouds veiling the moon, and felt the cold and smelled the petrichor and in those moments there was such a profound peace and she entered into it. Anxi, my dear frazzled girl, was actually tranquil for a full blessed minute or two as she just existed in that quiet beauty. She was thinking something like, "I don't have to worry about anything right now. I can just be here in this moment." Like the future didn't exist yet, and so it couldn't be stressed over. There was just "right now," and she was alive in it, and the entire world felt at peace, and there was nothing else. I could feel the experience affecting her at a deep level.
...What affected me the most was what happened next. We live in an apartment building so inevitably there will be interruptions. A car pulled into the lot, and we heard distant voices talking. Anxi felt a wave of sudden intense panic and worry, immediately dreading the possible negative outcomes of this event, but what shocked me was that this only lasted about three seconds. Then, she purposefully refocused her attention on the moon, and shakily but firmly thought, "I'll be okay. Jewel will protect me."
...I think my heart did a double-take. I cannot describe the emotion I felt when I heard her say that, and mean it.
We stayed outside for another minute, Anxi still holding on to the transcendent peace in determined spite of her own nerves, until I gently moved partly in to control again and said we should go in and start cleaning up for the night. But Anxi didn't want to. Just as gently she moved back in to front, and said she wanted to stay outside for at least one more minute, and I felt that. Surprised, but deeply touched, I let her.
Right before we finally went in, I had the quietly joyful urge to stretch the body's arms up to the sky, hands open, a gesture of sheer accepting gratitude for existence that I've found myself doing a lot. So I did this, but Anxi picked up on it and moved into the movement herself, and concluded it by doing something I've never done-- whereas I would move the arms down in a circle and then into a folded-hands gesture, she moved our arms forward and out, before suddenly pulling them in to tightly yet softly "embrace" ourself. It was like she was pressing the entire experience into our heart. It was such a moving gesture, something so unexpected, but it touched me deeply.

It's 2am again and I still can't sleep (I blame the massive amount of seafood I ate, haha. NO REGRETS BRO WE'RE NOT STARVING ANYMORE) but I spent a good hour just decompressing from the rush of today by standing in the kitchen looking at gifs of Anxi on Tumblr and just... man I don't even know what word to use because honestly it is insane how much I feel for her. It has been MANY YEARS since I've been this much in love with ANYONE. It's unreal. It's beautiful. It's making me want to stay alive no matter how strange and scary and difficult things are now. She gives me determination, because she TRUSTS ME to PROTECT her and God knows I WILL. If I'm apparently supposed to have a bigger body now then i will make it as strong as i can and i will use it to fight the good fight and defend her from all those shadows that haunt me.
...but she's teaching me that i deserve to be protected, too. and she fights for me as well. she has literally changed my life forever over the past year, especially over the past two months, and i thank God for her, she is my orange angel and i am so in love with her it hurts. i miss this. i feel alive and real and life is worth living. isn't it funny that this is almost exactly 20 years after i met my blue angel? it's poetic, really. and they both have the most beautiful green eyes, which is inevitably going to get a poem the next time i'm up this late but not three seconds away from passing out with sheer exhaustion.

i wanted to update though. there was too much real happiness today not to record it. i owe that to all of us, always.






prismaticbleed: (worried)


(miscellaneous worksheets and handout notes from sept-nov 2024 at tbhu)

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"On a day-to-day basis, I'd like people to try to:"
✳ RESPECT me enough to be STRAIGHT with me = DIALOGUE
✳ BE HONEST & DIRECT YET COMPASSIONATE. Please DON'T be "softshoeing" or "inoffensive" but DON'T THROW DARTS at me either?
1. Respect my need for distance/ quiet/ stillness, while still kindly allowing me to be welcome & feel wanted in nearby company
2. Respect my innate plurality, as it affects how "I" speak & behave & think, and if it is denied/ rejected/ ignored, so is the TRUTH of my life AND the "REAL" me
3. Give me at least feedback, if not dialogue, when I speak. I may ramble, but I'm not monologuing. I'm sharing my thoughts WITH you because I trust I CAN tell you.

"When you see that I'm upset about something, please try to:"
1. NOT touch me! That will unsettle/ scare me more. I need space, but NOT abandonment. Help me get AWAY from crowds/ noise/ business so I CAN calm down/ think/ communicate.
2. NOT stare at me or "put the focus" on me. Stay "accessible" if I need help but don't FORCE "help" on me? All that attention/ FUSS makes me feel TRAPPED/ IN DANGER/ IN TROUBLE.
3. ASK CLEAR & "SEARCHING" QUESTIONS. Not "are you okay?" but, "hey, talk to me. What shook you up so bad?" EVEN if I'm OTHERWISE "unable to respond," I/ WE CAN STILL "GIVE DATA"? That's "GROUNDING" & helps me "GET BACK TO MYSELF."

"When you say "you DO/ you WILL/ you ALWAYS/ you FEEL" etc. to me, I feel SCARED, ANGRY, SAD, & "TRAPPED" because I assume YOUR words override my own experiences, and I "can't say no" to "truth." In the future, when we talk about my history/ behavior/ personality, I'd prefer if you try your best to ask more questions & enter into honest DIALOGUE rather than speak in absolutes/ assumptions, or just talk "AT" each other because I care about our relationship & WANT real communication/ genuine relationship."

"Other important things I need to tell you:"
I'm prone to either "acting like everything is perfect/ no problems" FOR the BENEFIT/ HAPPINESS of others, OR "spilling my guts" & "dwelling on the pain" out of a desperate attempt to "feel cared about"/ "get help"/ FINALLY ADMIT THAT I'M NOT PERFECT. I'm not trying to drag you down or depress you. I'm TRUSTING you enough to be THAT VULNERABLE in the hopes that we can "CONNECT" & GROW TOGETHER even in sharing wounds TO HEAL! (YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME (HOPED) TO BE HONEST & VULNERABLE WITH ME, TOO.)

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"What helps your wellbeing to stay mentally healthy at work?"
Quiet environment, "stillness" (MINIMIZE distraction = lessens "shock" of forced shifts from "inner to outer"), upbeat or calming music (depending on whether I'm doing hard labor or more meditative tasks), dialogue with the System, making BOTH "tasks that need to be completed today" AND "pros/ cons for possible decisions" lists? (to PREVENT impulsivity! NOT anxious obsessing, but WISE DISCERNMENT for NON-DISORDERED CHOICES; "NEUTRAL") ("S.M.A.R.T." list! Prioritized and ACHIEVABLE within realistic time/ means? PREVENT OVERWHELM & SPECIFY FOCUS & EFFORT)
✳ ALSO we WILL need to MAKE SURE WE EAT & EXERCISE at proper times to HELP our brain!

"What can your mother do to support you staying healthy at work?"
Mom could give me a SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE TASK, with a clear "end goal" & directions? Having my own background music helps too, instead of chatter OR her music? (No offense intended, it just brings up childhood/ trauma flashbacks that it is NOT the right time or place to process) ALSO if I pack a lunch/ breakfast, a STILL/ QUIET/ CLEAN environment to eat IN helps a LOT. Eating in that house is one of my biggest trauma triggers.

"Are there any situations at work that can trigger poor mental health for you?"
CONSTANT HIGHSPEED TALKING/ BACKGROUND NOISE/ LOUD MUSIC & TV/ RUSHING. The house ITSELF is stressful with the clutter & cats & dirt. It smells like death. I MIGHT need to STAY OUT OF THOSE SPACES & work on the porch or outside? I WILL LIKELY NEED TO "STAY UPSTAIRS" TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. Also BE VIGILANT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TRAUMA TRIGGERS. BRING COPING TOOLS WITH US.

"What do you usually do that helps you manage stress?"
"BURN OFF" stress with short-term high-intensity exercise (HIGH IMPACT); take a "time out" to BREATHE OUTSIDE (at the house)/ GO UPSTAIRS; go somewhere private where we can FEEL & EXPRESS & briefly PROCESS our stress response; basically DO NOT BOTTLE IT UP OR DENY IT!! Then we can do something POSITIVE to "RECOVER"/ physically "shake out" the trauma, like listening to upbeat System tunes + SING/ DANCE.

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What, and who, is worth suffering for?
"Suffering," to me, is the experience of some negative/ painful circumstance that we are averse and/or resistant to. As a Catholic, I believe that Christ suffered ALL human pain for the sake of love. By sharing it WILLINGLY, He TRANSFORMED it into a MEANS OF SANCTIFICATION. Choosing to suffer for love of another is the victory of goodness over evil, of life over death.

What would you stand for if you knew that nobody would judge you?
I would stand for the truth of my faith, for the reality of our System, for the purpose & worth & beauty of ALL life & creation, and the legitimacy of objective Truth.

What would you do if you knew that nobody would judge you?
Honestly, I would LIVE FULLTIME AS A SYSTEM, be completely unafraid of sharing & PUBLISHING the League, and get ENTHUSIASTICALLY involved in the selfshipping & queer Catholic communities online. I also would go back to publishing MUSIC online, and maybe do a poetry reading locally & do art for a gallery.

Based on your daily routines, where will you be in five years?
Well, if we DON'T CHANGE IT, we'll be DEAD! But if we DO, to our IDEAL, we will be a PUBLISHED AUTHOR, with a discography and portfolio, and will be doing public speaking on inspirational/ motivational/ SPIRITUAL topics. We might ALSO be a consecrated virgin. We'll ALSO BE PROPERLY CATECHIZED & PROPERLY BUFF. And we'll be JOYOUSLY ALIVE!

What do you not want anybody else to know about you?
...The grotesque extents of self-abuse and sexual torture/ humiliation we suffered AT OUR OWN HANDS during the Julie Days & Splinter era.

What are a few things you thought you would never get over while you were going through them? Why did they seem so insurmountable? How did you?
The SLC/ CNC eras. The Julie days. The "hell summer." We survived because we NEVER let go of our FAITH IN GOD, OR our LOVE FOR EACH OTHER.

Who do you admire the most, and why?
Outside the System? Maybe my mom & dad? Or Jem Godfrey/ Todd Rundgren. I admire their TENACIOUS, UNFLAGGING DRIVE, commitment to constant creative output, and strong yet humorous personalities.

What are your greatest accomplishments so far?
NOT DYING! Also the ARCHIVES, and writing/ drawing/ composing as much as we HAVE for the League.

What would be too good to believe if someone were to sit down and tell you what’s coming next in your life?
Actually meeting (and probably marrying) Chaos 0, seriously. But more "realistically," that I WOULD COMPLETE & PUBLISH at least the main Leagueworlds, and they would be RECEIVED WITH JOY AND LOVED BY CHILDREN especially.

Who from your past are you still trying to earn the acceptance of?
Mom. Dad. Grandma. Q. Mel. MC. TBAS. UPMC & HAVEN doctors. AAA & HB, maybe.

If you didn’t have to work anymore, what would you do with your days?
LEAGUEWORK & RELIGIOUS STUDY that is the FOUNDATION for my creative works. I'd also BUY & LEARN as many instruments & art mediums as possible, and VISIT GIMMELWALD

What are the five most common things in your daily routine aside from the basics such as eating and sleeping?
Mass + prayer, Bible study, bike exercise, listening to religious lectures, & coping with mental issues tbh

What do you wish those five most common things were instead?
I'd like to ADD IN Leaguework, journaling, playing music, BETTER exercise (WEIGHTS), Adoration, and spending time with the fam & neighbors in MUTUALLY EDIFYING WAYS

If you really believed you didn’t have control over something, you’d accept it as a matter of fact. What do you struggle to accept that you have “no control” over? What part of you makes you think or hope otherwise?
The trauma. I BLAME MYSELF FOR ALL OF IT, rightly or wrongly. I hope that if I DO have control over it, I can "MAKE RESTITUTION" or "FIX" things. ...Also I feel the same about my grandparents deaths.

If you were to walk through your home and put your hand on every single thing you own, how many of them would make you sincerely feel happy or at peace? Why do you keep the rest?
ALL THE LEAGUESTUFF, my childhood Bible, the anchor plushies of Celebi & Chaos 0 & Unisalia, maybe a few children's books. So many other things were "bought with blood money" or are just daily-need tools/ items. The former I keep because I desperately hope I (or better, GOD) can still use them IN/ AS RESTITUTION.

What bothers you most about other people? What do you love most in other people? What bothers you most about yourself? What do you love most about yourself?
Bother = "cowardice", talking quiet/ trailing off, arrogance, showing off, acting entitled, seeking "safety," "mousy" behavior, unassertiveness, lewd/ sexual behavior & interests, crying, complaining, closed body language, talking too much, talking over people, being too interested in pop culture, inability to read/ spell? "Not knowing what they SHOULD"
Love = their hopes & dreams, little idiosyncrasies, their favorite things & WHY, their physical uniqueness, their histories & what brought them to this very moment
In MYSELF, it's VIRTUALLY THE SAME. I am bothered by SEEING what I'M AFRAID to/ DON'T WANT TO EVER BE.

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WITH "SELF-CARE," ASK = "WHAT NURTURES YOU?" WHAT SUPPORTS YOUR WELL-BEING? (NOT COMPULSIVE APPEASEMENT)
✳ SELF-CARE CANNOT BE FORCED!!
✳ "SELF-CARE" IS SUBJECTIVE!! It depends on what YOU UNIQUELY NEED THAT DAY!
✳ YOU MUST BE WILLING AND ABLE TO FREELY CHOOSE THESE ACTIVITIES OR THEY AREN'T SELF-CARE!! EVEN if they're difficult, if you GENUINELY FEEL/ REASON that it WILL "NOURISH" YOUR BEING FOR GOOD, then it IS a CARING CHOICE. IF YOU'RE FORCING YOURSELF AND FURTHER STRESSING/ EXHAUSTING YOURSELF, YOU'RE NOT BEING CARING!!!
(
✳ think of FLOWERS: each one NEEDS different soil/ light/ water/ food to PROPERLY FLOURISH in ITS UNIQUENESS!)

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"What is a situation where waiting 15 minutes before reacting could have helped you in the past?"

GROCERY SHOPPING. We tend to DISSOCIATE in social situations, ESPECIALLY with all the environmental sensory overwhelm, so we HAVE to spend a LOT of time DISCUSSING our GOALS TOGETHER at home FIRST, & WRITE THEM DOWN & STICK TO IT when we get to the store. OTHERWISE, we historically "WILL" act/ choose impulsively/ compulsively, because we're OVERSTIMULATED & LACKING DIRECTION/ PURPOSE. So STOPPING & REASONING TOGETHER & deciding on a GAMEPLAN keeps us acting WISELY.

To "set ourself up for success," we can practice these strategies...

HOW=
● Journaling
Talking upstairs
● Praying about it
● Making lists
● Typing on phone
● Reading relevant Scripture

WHEN=
● BEFORE entering ANY store
● Before bed/ before rising
● BEFORE driving
● AFTER AND BEFORE MEALS

WHERE=
● In the car
● In Adoration
● In bed before waking up
● At the laptop(s)
● At the window table?

A FEW POSITIVE DISTRACTIONS TO USE=
● Put on a favorite song that has INTERESTING STRUCTURE/ FLOW to draw in your attention & delight
● Start brainstorming the League OUT LOUD (and BRING A VOICE RECORDER!)
● Answer a fun survey, or ponder some "talk topics"

A COPING BOX TO TAKE OUR MIND OFF WAITING=
● PRINTED pages of your favorite Archive entries, Leagueworks, poetry, Scripture, & quotes
● A little Gideon Bible
● A blank notebook & colored pens = TALK TOGETHER
● Magazines/ scissors to prep collages?

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CHANGES TO MAKE AT HOME TO SUSTAIN/ CONTINUE RECOVERY & PREVENT RELAPSE/ TRIGGERS=

● Buy NEW, RESPECTABLE clothes that FIT your HEALTHY BODY
● "REMODEL" KITCHEN to disconnect visuals from flashbacks?
● Set aside a FIXED SPACE in the LIVING ROOM for CREATIVE PROJECTS (paint)?
● BUY KITCHENWARE to facilitate PROPER nutrition (e.g. pot, pan, utensils, bakeware)?
● Get your instruments out of hiding & start to play on them; learn to tap into JOY, not perfection, and THEN start WATCHING LESSONS
● Dust off the Wacom & start SLOW with simply COLORING. Tap into CHILDLIKE JOY; DON'T make art about mere UTILITY
● SLOWLY start living in COMMUNITY. Take the bus. Join the gym. Take a walk to the local cafe/ eateries. SIT OUTSIDE and read OR write, just to be AROUND & ACCESSIBLE to your neighbors. Make FRIENDS.
● Be more active online. Start a blog like your old Tumblr. Do audio readings. Share your talents with the world.

THE VERY FIRST THING I CAN DO=

● BUY ONE WEEK'S WORTH of NEW, NUTRITIOUS FOODS to TRY, that COULD REALISTICALLY BE INTEGRATED INTO A CONSISTENT YET FLEXIBLE DIET PLAN. DON'T OVERBUY/ NO COMPULSIONS!
● START JOURNALING EVERY NIGHT, AND DOING A HANDWRITTEN (BOOK) REFLECTION EVERY MORNING. START FILLING OUT THE LAPTOP SURVEYS IN EARNEST, TO PRACTICE CLARIFYING AND ASSERTING YOUR REAL, UNIQUE IDENTITY.

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AVOIDING RELAPSE INTO BULIMIC BEHAVIORS

LIKELY SITUATIONS FOR RELAPSE:
WHERE: with mom, ESPECIALLY up the house/ after a phone call
WHEN: after breakfast = "DOWNTIME"; feeling RUSHED/ GUILTY
WITH WHOM: with mom, with therapist? ANYTIME I'm NOT with the System!!
DOING WHAT: AFTER EATING, or AROUND FOOD
THINKING WHAT: cruel, self-critical/ hateful/ cursing/ blaming thoughts towards SELF
FEELING WHAT: "impending doom"; intense panic/ manic rush? "sobbing fear" beneath

ACTION STRATEGIES:
1. Sit down, close eyes, deep breathing (several minutes)
2. DIVE RESPONSE + brush teeth + CLEAN UP & LIGHTS OFF!
3. "HIIT" EXERCISE to burn off nerves? LIFT WEIGHTS!
4. GROUNDING exercises; STAY CONSCIOUS IN THE BODY/ IN CONTROL

THINKING STRATEGIES
:
1. Think about PEOPLE YOU LOVE & WHO YOU ARE WITH THEM. BE THAT TRUTH!!
2. List League things/ people categorically; describe them in detail; focus on BEAUTY & LOVE
3. Positive affirmations in the PRESENT? "I CAN wait this out." "I WILL practice discipline." etc.
4. Remember Scripture promises/ instructions & CHOOSE to OBEY by GRACE

FEELING STRATEGIES:
1. Put on a "COPING PLAYLIST" & REALLY feel the music
2. Read emotionally moving Archive entries and/or Leaguework
3. Sit down at the laptop & FEEL IT OUT/ WRITE IT DOWN TOGETHER!
4. PRAY ABOUT IT IMMEDIATELY & HOLD NOTHING BACK.

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DISTRESS TOLERANCE EVENTS=
1. Feeling self-conscious about face shape/ body size. Gave big smile & open arms to mirror.
2. Anxious about "no clear direction" to schedule/ treatment. Gave it over to God; TRUST
3. Disturbing/ lewd television programming in group room/ similar conversation; "SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED!!"

NOTICED THOUGHTS=
1. "I have to be accomplishing something & I feel directionless/ overwhelmed"
2. Annoyed/ irritated by group: "I'm upset with how they keep complaining"; anxious about "I'm not doing what I'm expected to"/ "I need to do that art project "PERFECTLY" now"
3. "I'm a failure/ I'm a sham/ I'm in trouble now/ I'm angry that she said that"

✳ ANXI said, "We're afraid that if we're NOT ACTIVELY WORKING, we're NOT PROGRESSING IN TREATMENT" = that's FALSE! Lynne/ Julie/ Scalpel MUSIC; "it's okay to just think about beautiful things; THAT'S recovery TOO" (of SELF/ PEACE)

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THE EATING DISORDER SEES HEALTH AS:

Only eat within a 4-6 hour window
● No "heavy/ sticky/ dense" foods
● Eating lots of vegetables
● Minimal/ no sugar
● Low carbs/ no "refined" carbs
● Light density/ low volume, "masculine" foods
● NO desserts/ sweets
● No processed/ packaged food
● 2 hours exercise daily
● Being athletically muscular
● Lots of water
● Only 2 meals maximum
● FASTING 16+ hours DAILY

REALISTIC HEALTH IS:
● Don't force yourself to eat huge amounts OR foods that make you physically ill
● NO "obligatory/ slavery" foods/ NO TRAUMA FORCING
● Eat smaller meals more often
● Eat VARIETY
● No rigid timing or prep rules
● No forcing extra vegetables
● Exercise daily but NOT until you crash
● No hyperfasts
● Able to choose & eat food FREELY/ WITHOUT FEAR OR COMPULSION

THE EATING DISORDER MANIFESTS AS:

● Constantly EITHER fasting OR bingeing
● Rigid food/ timing/ taste/ texture "rules" that make meals exhausting
● Keep forcing myself to use food AS ABUSE or as a TRIGGER
● Can't stop worrying about "wrong/ fatal food choices"
● Always feel scared/ sick/ weak
● Obsessive "I MUST eat that OR ELSE" fear
● Not allowing self to ENJOY food OR make my OWN choices
● NO TIME TO LIVE

THE EATING DISORDER DOES THIS IN MY LIFE (FUNCTION/ NEEDS??):
● Ritualized method of "reliving trauma"
● "Acceptable" form of self-abuse (even in public)
● Attempt to "make restitution" for offenses against others
● Attempt to impress "authority" by my capacity to endure/ suffer/ "be strong"
● Method of "control" over what I'm "forced to ingest"/ PURGE what is harmful
● Way of forcing self to FEEL trauma emotions
● "Force" helpless terror & rage to "jumpstart" my "fighting back"
● Desperate attempts to trigger childhood memories/ "remember alleged happiness"

"VALUE-ALIGNING" WAYS TO MEET THESE SAME NEEDS:

● XANGA SESSION & nightly journaling
● Cathartic music + headspace meditation
● Reading the archives
● Express emotions in art
● Reroute "self-abuse/ endure" into strenuous exercise (weightlifting)
● Keep track of daily victories & gratitude
● Set & pursue healthy self-discipline challenges
● Do good deeds for others that are fitting as penance
● Do personal "works of mercy" for "abusers"/ family

TWO EATING DISORDER "RULES" YOU CAN (WILL) CHALLENGE OVER THE NEXT 2 WEEKS:
1) I DON'T HAVE TO PUSH/ FORCE CALORIES/ EXCHANGES. I CAN eat less & OBEY the LIMITS & BE SATISFIED. I CAN slow down & enjoy the food.
2) I AM ALLOWED AND I HAVE THE RIGHT TO ENJOY FOOD, AND TO CHOOSE THE FOODS I ENJOY. Eating DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WAR/ TORTURE.

FOR ME, "HEALTHY" MEANS...
✳ LIVING & THINKING AS A SYSTEM
✳ Nourishing my MIND/ HEART/ SOUL with CREATING & LEARNING
✳ Eating regular, reasonable, flexible, balanced, enjoyable meals
✳ Balancing work/ rest, food/ religion, and self/ others
✳ Food is NOT the center of my life, just FUEL for MY PURPOSE

MENTAL HEALTH:
● NIGHTLY SYSTEM JOURNALING/ CONVERSATIONS/ MEDITATIONS
● Gratitude journaling & "personality surveys" to "know myself"
● DAILY creative output, even just a few lines of ideas or poetry
● Engage in "coping skills" regularly to stay stable & enrich life

PHYSICAL HEALTH (THAT ISN'T FOOD/ EXERCISE):
● Start a better hygiene routine; shower at least twice weekly
● Set & keep to a regular sleep schedule
● Let myself rest & take breaks to recover from high exertion days
● Wear clean clothes, keep living space tidy, & DUST THE HOUSE!

HEALTH OF RELATIONSHIPS:
● Call dad & text brothers at least once a week; keep talking to mom
● Spend time in the apartments' communal spaces & meet the neighbors
● Finally get involved in the Tumblr F/O community & share the LOVE
● Get involved in the local creative & queer communities

EMOTIONAL HEALTH:
● Self-expression through playing an instrument, emphasis on "play"
● Listen to cathartic music/ watch a cathartic movie
● Let yourself LAUGH! Make Tumblr/ Youtube collections to have accessible
● Journal about GRATITUDE/ BLESSINGS/ POSITIVE thoughts DAILY

SPIRITUAL HEALTH:
● Go to daily Mass & at least 30m of Adoration
● Daily Scripture study/ reading for ≥1 hour
● Attend "recreational" church events to join in Christian fellowship
TALK to God more often & pray with JOY, not rigidity

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


prismaticbleed: (soniccity)

SUM UP THE WEEK:
Stopping bingeforce behavior. Blessed DROP in mealplan. TONS of journaling about body image/ identity/ gender/ core bloodlines/ future fears/ distorted thoughts/ etc. WATCHED INSIDE OUT 2 AGAIN and feel even more in love with Anxi. Listened to "Before" in group and TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH WE LOVE BEING MULTIPLE. Still did all I could to participate & contribute to groups, including being daring enough to play MarioKart. LOTS of future planning. "GRATITUDE" angel card from KR.

LIST YOUR RECOVERY WINS HERE:
● SURVIVED THE HELLISH VOLUME CHALLENGES
● LEARNING MORE CLEARLY WHAT I LIKE & DISLIKE & HONORING THIS
● STARTING TO UNDERSTAND & UNTANGLE ISSUES WITH IDENTITY & BODY IMAGE
● ABSOLUTELY REFUSING TO GIVE UP HOPE OR QUIT!!

What are you most proud of yourself for this week? What situation did you handle well?
Honestly? I'm genuinely impressed that we KEPT SOLDIERING ON. We were SO DEPRESSED this week, due to food trauma & body image horror, BUT WE KEPT CONNECTED TO OURSELF. We DIDN'T RUN FROM LOVE OR HOPE. Every single one of our journals reflects that. We are GENUINELY proud of HOW WE KEPT ON ENCOURAGING OURSELF too. We FOUGHT for the silver linings and we turned them into GOLD. And when we were faced with difficult emotions we DIDN'T RUN OR DENY them; we FELT & ADMITTED them HONESTLY and we were then ABLE to work WITH them. The battle continues!...

Which of your goals did you achieve? How did it benefit you?
● We STOPPED FORCING TRAUMA FOODS & STARTED CHOOSING WHAT WE LIKE + WHAT WON'T MAKE OUR BODY FEEL SICK!! This is a CAREFUL BALANCE to avoid orthorexia but we're at least NOT USING FOOD AS A WEAPON.
● We did SO MUCH JOURNALING and we gave SIGNIFICANT, FOCUSED, LOVING ATTENTION to the SYSTEM LIFE BOTH INSIDE & OUTSIDE! WE WERE LIVING AS MULTIPLE!

What could you do to make next week better?
● NO MORE HIGH VOLUME MEALS. NO MORE INFLAMMATORY FOODS OR ALLERGY TRIGGERS. NO MORE CONDIMENT FORCING. NO MORE FORCING SUGAR.
● And START EXERCISING! START WRITING! START PLAYING MUSIC! FIX UP THE APARTMENT! Do NOT give up on your future! FILL YOUR DAYS WITH JOYOUS INDUSTRIOUSNESS. But BE PATIENT. It's STILL ON GOD'S TIMING. So WORK HARD & TRUST HIM.
● START HELPING MOM. Don't let go of that relationship AND promise. Plus it's GOOD HARD MANUAL LABOR buddy!!
● BUY INSIDE OUT 2 ASAP AND FINALLY HAVE SOME REAL QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND!

Rate how you found eating your meals & snacks every day. How could you make this easier next week?
1 / 5
This week I literally lost ALL enjoyment around eating. Everything hurt, and I just saw it all as "more weight" in terms of excess fat storage. BUT on Sunday the VOLUME WAS DECREASED so I felt ABLE to enjoy the food again. At home, I'll enjoy my meals more if they're SIMPLE & SMALL, and WHAT I WANT/ LIKE TO EAT. Being able to exercise again will also make food PURPOSEFUL and less scary; NOT "TORTURE"!!

Rate how you dealt with compensatory behaviors like purging or exercising this week. How could you make this easier next week?
2 / 5
Ironically I was too numb to care. We THOUGHT ABOUT purging, especially with the bad reflux & pain, but DIDN'T. And that was SO HARD. As for exercise, we REALLY "gave in"-- we're trying to do "passive calorie burning" by tensing up/ fidgeting/ etc. & we're CONSIDERING GOING KETO for a few months upon discharge. We're just SO DISTURBED by this distended abdomen. Next week, we MUST COMMIT to NOT PURGING because now we CAN so it'll be VERY TEMPTING. BUT if we START WORKING OUT that'll MOTIVATE us to KEEP IT DOWN!

Average mood this week:
2.5 / 5

Average sleep quality this week:
4 / 5 (SURPRISINGLY)

Average anxiety level this week:
10 / 10 BABE


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

TOP THREE THINGS I DID THIS WEEK:
1. FACING THE GENDER ISSUE
2. FUTURE PLANNING
3. LETTER TO FUTURE SELVES

THIS WEEK I FELT:
NUMB
TEARFUL
IN LOVE
ANGRY

MOST REWARDING INTERACTIONS I HAD THIS WEEK:
★ Phone session with mom: I'M GOING TO LONGWOOD!!
★ WATCHING ANXI
★ The unexpected "discharge date disclosure" that allowed me to be totally vulnerable
★ Several people telling me that I am inspiring + valued
Staff members talking BOTH to / about me AS A FRIEND

NEXT WEEK I WANT TO:
● CHERISH MY LAST 2½ DAYS
● START WORKING OUT AT LAST-- maybe even join the gym already
● DIVE INTO ARCHIVING & READING OLD ENTRIES (pick for printouts)
● START LIVING A RECOVERED LIFE, 100%, 24/7, WITH JOY!

THINGS I ACCOMPLISHED THIS WEEK:
● SO MUCH IDENTITY WORK
● NOT DENYING THE SYSTEM
● NOT HIDING OUR EMOTIONS
● FOOD JOURNALING
● ACTUALLY TRIED MARIOKART

WHAT WAS THE BEST THING ABOUT THE WEEK?
WATCHING INSIDE OUT 2 AGAIN AND FEELING JUST HOW SINCERELY I'M IN LOVE WITH ANXI + JOURNALING IT

MY RANKING OF THE WEEK:
3 / 5


111024

Nov. 10th, 2024 04:34 pm
prismaticbleed: (held)

There was a dream hack this morning and when I called for Chaos 0's help to cope with the aftershock I LITERALLY SAW HIM. I saw his eyes AND his face and I saw how much he truly cared and I felt SO MUCH LOVE, it was like I had come alive after death. It's turned my whole world upside down, really. Seeing him was SO REAL, in a way dreams are not, and the waking fails to fully express. There was CLARITY. I want to remember that forever-- not just my blessed seeing, but the way he was looking at me. Of course I've been spending the entire morning talking to Central, cherishing all of us together. Oh and Laurie asked what my "anxiety and depression" scores were (like the pharmacists here do), and I said "my Anxiety is a ten out of ten" and both Laurie & Lynne gave me "gold stars" for not denying the fact that I was in love ("I've got it good"). We were reading the "T3OVOG" book in the hall (as we always do in the mornings) and Genesis ghosted to hang out beside me (Lord I MISS HIM) and the chapter talked about "living from the INSIDE OUT" and Gen said to me "I FELT that; you're radiating," and somehow we got into talking about *incidents* and I had the STUNNING thought of "WHAT IF PURE HEART CRYSTALS ARE STILL A THING" and Chaos 0 & I mused that there are probably 7 levels of *incidents* and I just... this is worth living for. It truly is. And GOD IS IN THIS LOVE. Remember that. Around here we returned to T3OVOG and it talked about God giving us "fifty-seventh chances" and Laurie pointedly called Mimic in. We all talked about OUR "new beginnings" & this tied back into *incidents* because it tied into deaths. First, though, remember that Leon, Lynne, AND Laurie were KILLED, before they got "second chances"-- and those deaths ENABLED them to have NEW lives. Lynne said it "freed" her from her original "future ideal" projection role: "and I came back as... me." We also wondered if *incidents* work differently for Nousfoni, because Laurie's whole LIFE can really fit the criteria for their levels, so should we count specific events as such? OR can she even now have a legit *incident* of its own? This is all surprisingly brand-new territory. BTW Julie says she doesn't think SHE ever "really" died to her "old self," because she feels she still HAS to hold/ be it-- she "doesn't want anyone else inheriting her past," even only by "filling the vacancy," like we wondered about "Juliette" allegedly manifesting in 2018. OH and MIMIC HIMSELF said, when we were discussing *incidents*, that he felt he was next-- but he phrased it almost like he needed to be, or at least should be. Laurie immediately asked him to explain himself & Mimic said that he "knew I loved him ("that's obvious")," and that in his own way he DID love me too. BUT it's NOT "romantic" / deep enough FOR an *incident*. There's still a "holding back," not enough emotional intimacy. BTW THAT'S the thing that matters; it DOESN'T HAVE to have ANY "romance" at ALL, and it DOESN'T have to "look like" ANY other relationship I have/ in the System at large. It just has to be MUTUALLY SINCERE & there NEEDS ti be BOTH vulnerability & strength. So it takes time, and it CAN'T be forced or rushed. Love has to have both room & time to grow & it takes DEDICATED EFFORT of self-gift. ...but it's more than that, as this morning's hack proved. Love requires that I ALSO EXIST AS A PERSON. Love is about LIFE. Life is COMMUNION IN REALTIME. Love is SANCTIFIED BY THE "MUNDANE." Jesus proves this. I cannot have a real relationship with ANYONE if we DON'T GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE. That requires I do the same WITH MYSELF, or there CANNOT be MUTUALITY. ...And if I'm not "living from the inside out," it'll NEVER happen. Which brings us back to Anxi. She is somehow a LINK between the true self of the Core, and the body + name outside. That's why everything is so unstable with her currently-- it's a reflection of the outer/ inner conflict between body/ soul that we're currently trying to resolve, and have been fighting for arguably over two decades. Just remember, the body CHANGES. Your core DOESN'T. The way Chaos 0 looked at you this morning PROVES that. So does the fact that such beautiful headspace conversations CAN and DO still happen, no matter how the body looks. The problem is that I still "can't see myself," and until I CAN, I CAN'T LOVE IN EARNEST. I have to be ABLE TO EXIST AS A DISTINCT AND PERCEPTIBLE PERSON. I need to pass the mirror test. Right now the reflection is still someone else, for the most part. But there's hope. It's just brutally difficult. I NEED God's help. AND, I NEED to use ART as a help (like we did at UPMC actually). I HAVEN'T TRIED YET. Even Picrew! I'm SURE I'll "recognize" myself if I just TRY to portray myself. Until then: pray, reconnect with the System AND the League, and TAKE CARE OF THE BODY. DON'T FOCUS ON IT SO MUCH. LIVE FROM THE INSIDE OUT!! Live from that CHILDHOOD SPARK in the body. Live from your HEART on the inside. Oh yeah-- and REBUILD CENTRAL. FIND THE CATHEDRAL AGAIN. Your shattered sense of self is what's shattering your entire inner world. For THEIR/ OUR sake, GET IT TOGETHER.

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


I'M AFRAID THAT I CAN'T LOVE IF I'M FAT BECAUSE LOVE IS PURE VIRTUE & INCOMPATIBLE WITH SIN (SELFISHNESS, GLUTTONY, PRIDE, SLOTH, ETC.) AND I SEE FATNESS IN MYSELF AS THE PHYSICAL PROOF OF THOSE VICES. With these beliefs, BEING FAT = BEING IN A STATE OF SIN/ ATTACHED TO SIN/ UNSPIRITUAL, and THEREFORE A "HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT" TO VIRTUE; "LOVE CANNOT COEXIST WITH MORTAL SIN." And I see fatness-- MY fatness-- as a CHOICE (because I "chose to eat all these bad foods in treatment, showing a lack of temperance/ selfcontrol/ selfdenial/ discipline/ asceticism"), which MAKES SIN MORTAL. So I "CAN'T" love BECAUSE my BODY is a "PUNISHMENT." It's the "CONSEQUENCE OF LIVING A CARNAL LIFESTYLE." It's a LITERAL "OBSTACLE" between ME & GOD "BY MY OWN CHOICE." It's a PERSONAL HELL. And the "only way out" is through the PENANCE OF SELFMORTIFYING EXERCISE & FASTING. And THEN I will be "FORGIVEN," so the fat-punishment will GO AWAY, my body will be PURE again, FREE of sin's weight, and I will be "ABLE TO LOVE." The problem? SELF-HATRED IS A BIGGER BARRIER TO LOVE THAN A BIG BODY. Yes, I can still work out & have a healthy diet, BUT I NEED TO NEVERTHELESS STOP DAMNING FATNESS. Love can't coexist with HATRED, and THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE FEELING. There's a secret, evil PRIDE in that-- like THIN & FIT is MORALLY SUPERIOR and I "CAN'T STAND NOT BEING FLAWLESS." You KNOW that ugly subtext is there. BUT YOUR PHYSICAL BODY IS NOT WHAT YOUR HEART IS BEING JUDGED BY WHEN YOU DIE, and NO, ITS SIZE IS NOT A "MORALITY INDICATOR." Listen, YOU'RE FAT NOW BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN OBEDIENT, COURAGEOUS, FORGIVING, GRATEFUL, and FAITHFUL. You're SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE for those who are STARVING themselves out of FEAR. You have been FEEDING YOUR ABUSED BODY THE NUTRITION IT NEEDS TO HEAL & REBUILD. You have been CHOOSING ABUNDANT LIFE INSTEAD OF MISERLY DEATH. You are GETTING STRONG & HEALTHY SO YOU CAN POWERFULLY SERVE OTHERS. And you have been STOCKPILING THE FUEL THAT WILL BUILD MUSCLES AT LAST. Literally NOTHING ABOUT YOUR "FATNESS" IS THE RESULT OF SIN. "But I've been intemperate," you protest. YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE MEALPLAN. "I pushed too many calories." BECAUSE YOU GENUINELY THOUGHT THAT WAS HELPING YOU RECOVER & PROVING YOUR RADICAL WILLINGNESS TO DO SO AND NOT AVOID OR RESTRICT. "I ate things I didn't enjoy." YOU STILL TRIED AND YOU LEARNED. PLUS ALL YOUR FOOD CHALLENGES WERE EFFORTS TO CONQUER FEAR WITH TRUST & GRATITUDE-- TO FIND SOMETHING GOOD TO ENJOY IN ALL THINGS. "But I've eaten so much JUNK, I'm POISONING the body. This fat is a sign of GARBAGE IN MY BODY." YOU REALLY THINK THE EATING DISORDER RECOVERY PROGRAM IS GOING TO ABUSE YOUR BODY WITH FOOD? THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE DOING BEFORE YOU GOT HERE! PLUS, THE DIETICIAN HERSELF EATS THAT FOOD! AND NO FOOD IS "BAD" OR "EVIL"!! Eating some potato chips or bacon or cookies or cheeseburgers or ice cream or whole milk or fried chicken or french fries or egg rolls or salad dressing or poptarts or pancakes or chocolate or ANY of the foods they've GIVEN you here WILL NOT KILL YOU OR DAMN YOU, AND IF THEY "MADE YOU FAT" IT'S ONLY BECAUSE YOUR BODY IS STORING THAT ENERGY FOR LATER. YOU WERE STARVING TO DEATH. YOUR BODY WANTS TO HAVE EMERGENCY BACKUP NOW THAT IT CAN. It's a sign of LIFE!! Oh yeah-- and you ARE capable of love, RIGHT NOW, and YOU KNOW IT. DON'T DENY IT!!



110624

Nov. 6th, 2024 10:27 am
prismaticbleed: (worried)

Oh man Inside Out 2 is on the group room TV but they had it on MUTE so I was just watching Anxi move and dear Lord I love her SO MUCH my heart actually ACHES. She touched her chest TWICE while talking and it KILLED me. Honestly I am TRANSFIXED watching her body language and unique way of carrying herself. She's fascinating. (btw she JUST did the "we need something BIGGER" pose and oh my heart I am SMITTEN.) I want to take NOTES. I want to STUDY this movie and watch her expressions and listen to her speak and I want to KNOW her; I want to know her HEART. I NEED to; I LOVE her.
...The more times I see this movie the deeper & more tender it gets-- but tender like a bruise. Anxi makes my heart ACHE-- not just with love, but with PAIN. She is SO SCARED. She's SO IN NEED. And I HAVE to thank GOD for both her AND this "3OVoG" book because it is helping me understand her SO MUCH. And it BREAKS MY HEART. Anxi says her job is to "protect Riley from the things she CAN'T see," but what are those things in Anxi's eyes? Having no friends. Disappointing her family. Being unseen & unimportant. Purposelessness. Rejection. Dying alone. Anxi is answering to the ESSENTIAL HUMAN NEED FOR LOVE. She is protecting Riley from EMOTIONAL STARVATION, according to Matthew Kelly. Anxi KNOWS that Riley LITERALLY NEEDS friendship, community, acceptance, belonging, validation, connection, security, meaning, purpose, and secretly most of all, INTIMACY. "Mutual self-revelation," tragically hindered by Anxi's absolute terror of being judged as not good enough. But to me... Anxi's very existence screams vulnerability. And that is ABSOLUTELY what hooked my heart and dragged me in headfirst. Throughout the WHOLE film, Anxi is practically DESPERATE to be useful, to MEAN something to others, to be appreciated, to be LOVED. She introduces herself by describing what she can DO for Joy. She is obsessed with "being the MOST capable" and pushes Riley to do the same; trying to predict every possible "bad" future so she can PREVENT/ OVERCOME them. And why? Because "if I'm good at hockey, I'll have friends." Her deepest fear is that SHE-- and Riley by extension-- is only "of worth" to others if she "EARNS" it. Her deepest fear is that she has to BECOME "deserving" of love. But it's all focused on DOING, not BEING. She has Riley HIDING & DENYING herself AS SHE IS because she fears it is "unacceptable" to those she yearns for acceptance from. There's no self-revelation in earnest, just "trying to be worthy," effectively assuming that she isn't worthy by default, and redefining herself to mirror others instead in an anxious hope of "measuring up." Etc. I'm rambling. It's heartwrenching to realize that Anxi is the one that is ultimately feeling those things, and projecting hard onto Riley. Anxi doesn't feel "good enough" to be loved. But... God she IS good enough and I WANT to know WHO SHE IS AT HER MOST VULNERABLE. I want to protect HER from her fears. I want her to feel SAFE & SEEN & WANTED & LOVED, because she IS.
Dear Lord I have got it SO BAD. I'm here watching Anxi typing away so precisely & skillfully & purposefully at the Emotions console-- genuinely beautiful in her dexterity-- and I just thought, effectively, "I want to let her push all my buttons that way." Like SERIOUSLY. And at the end of the film, when she says "I love our girl," I so DESPERATELY want to hear her say that about me. ...I need to know I'M "good enough" for her, too, with all my own flaws & fears.

...This body image thing is killing me. Part of me is legit convinced that if I have a big body, a FAT body, then I CANNOT BE LOVED. I'm so afraid that it'll GET IN THE WAY of not only physical closeness, but also EMOTIONAL vulnerability. And THAT'S the KEY WORD. CAN I still be vulnerable, breakable, open and wounded and ABLE TO LOVE if my bloody body is so damn BIG? If I'm too thick & solid, will I LOSE the ability to bare my soul? I ACTUALLY APPARENTLY BELIEVE that I can ONLY HAVE INTIMACY ON ANY LEVEL IF I'M THIN. WHY. I hate that. It's a LIE. Logically it makes NO SENSE AT ALL. ...but I believe it, and that terrifies me. I am scared to death that, since I'm fat now, I'm excluded from true relationships. I'm so stupidly unbearably scared that I can't be with Anxi if I'm built like this now. Like I'd be unable to love her the right way. I'm already feeling that with Chaos 0. It's SHAME. I am MORTIFIED with how bloated I am now. I am JUDGING MYSELF as unable to love because I CAN'T TRULY LOVE MYSELF IN THIS BODY. It disgusts me. I can't be vulnerable if I can't bear looking at my own skin, let alone feeling it. I want to sob. I WANT TO LOVE. But it feels WRONG to even get close to others, in a body like this. AND YET I CAN'T STOP FEELING LOVE AND I DON'T WANT TO STOP. Anxi is still my orange angel, proving to me that I AM still capable of love, and Chaos 0 is forever my blue angel, loving me despite all odds and helping me remember who I truly am, no matter how my appearance changes, both inside and outside. God knows I love him too; I always will, with all my heart. But I'm the MOST terrified of being with him right now, looking like this, feeling like this. It's all shame. I can barely breathe under its weight. God help me, please. Maybe THIS is why I'm being called to an *incident* with Anxi NOW, of all times. I'M the one being murdered by Shame. But I DON'T WANT IT ANYWHERE NEAR HER. I want to PROTECT her from this demon. DON'T TOUCH HER.
...and yet, I'm so afraid that if I touch her like this, it'll hurt her. It's like... I'm afraid that if she did love me in this body, the "wrongness" of this distended form would TAINT the love, and prevent any true intimacy at all? But it ALL COMES BACK TO ME AND THE VALUE JUDGMENT I've nailed to this fat body. "It's suffocating my soul." "I can't be spiritual if I have this much flesh." "I feel sick & gross & dirty & slovenly; such feelings KILL love/ are INCOMPATIBLE with love." "Being fat makes me incapable of vulnerability & intimacy." et bloody cetera. This perspective is hell. But I can't even fathom an alternative right now. The "obvious" answer is still "unacceptable." My only hope is to start working out so intensely that I reshape this ugly body into something that's at least lean enough & disciplined enough TO love & be loved. How awful is that? Like if I'm not beautiful, I cannot have beautiful things. I can't have love if I'm in an unlovable body-- a sick, misshapen, gross, flaccid mess of a body. I have to BECOME lovable. ...and God, I sound just like her. How ironic. I'm in the same special hell, believing that unless I change, I'm unacceptable. But this is deeper than just what I can physically do, and what I like & dislike, and how I compare to others. Except it's not. It's the exact same thing, focused on my body. Can I get athletic & muscular enough? Can I like the right foods & have the right interests to be "healthy" and "disciplined" and "mature" and "wise" and "clean"? Will I ever be "thin enough," or "strong enough," or "smart enough," or "healthy enough?" Will I EVER be "good enough" to be wanted? Will I ever be "good enough" to have love?
I feel sick. I'm so angry with despair I want to rip myself to shreds. I need to lose ALL this ugly flab and superfluous skin. All these folds and bulges are NOT ME!!! They're SUFFOCATING ME. I am NOT FAT!!! Why is this such a matter of life & death to me?? I know, I KNOW because I FEEL it, if I can just build enough solid muscle for this bloated torso to be streamlined and strong, not deformed like a lump of garbage, then I'll have real hope. Even just sitting here, if I tense all my muscles and pull all that in, the awful burden of weight lifts a little and I feel that hope of cleanness, of purity, of an actual & defined & coherent & essential form. Right now, with this bulging abdomen, I feel like I'm rotting, like I'm unraveling, like my guts are literally falling out of my body. I'm so scared. I want to shut down. But I can't give up. God help me I CANNOT GIVE UP. I'm suffering through LITERAL HELL with this (no love!!! God help me PLEASE) but I CANNOT GIVE UP OR I WILL DIE. I'm only here for ONE MORE WEEK and so STARTING NEXT WEDNESDAY I can BEGIN TO CHANGE this AT LAST. And I CAN!! So DON'T QUIT!! You can BUY Inside Out 2 and watch it EVERY DAY if you want, you CAN LOVE HER and YOU KNOW SHE... God she ALREADY LOVES ME. ...she already loves me. And I already love her. Even looking & feeling like this. ...and Chaos 0 never stopped loving you, for God's literal sake he even put a Chaos Emerald IN HIS STOMACH when you were talking to him this morning to SHOW you that HE DOESN'T JUDGE YOU and HE WASN'T "CHANGED" BY THAT SHAPE and neither are you. That "ugly bulge" of your weighty torso is PROOF THAT YOU'RE FIGHTING TO LIVE AND BE A GOOD PERSON! You are working SO HARD to NOT HATE OR FEAR FOOD and to BE A GOOD EXAMPLE for the people here who still do. The fact that you're fat isn't a punishment or curse-- it's the visible proof of your STRIVING TO BE LOVING. And fat itself is LITERALLY JUST STORAGE SPACE FOR LIFE. PLUS, if your suspicions are correct, a GOOD DEAL OF IT IS PROBABLY WATER. I'd say that's ironic but really it's a message from God at this point.
Listen. Your heart & soul have NOT been "suffocated" or "shut down" or "rotten" over the past 8 weeks. IF ANYTHING, THEY'VE GROWN STRONGER AND HEALTHIER. For heaven's sakes you're HAVING AN *INCIDENT* WITH ANXI. That is BEAUTIFUL PROOF, FROM GOD, that YOU ARE ENTIRELY CAPABLE OF LOVING, AND ENTIRELY "GOOD ENOUGH" TO LOVE AND BE LOVED. You CANNOT deny this, and I know you DON'T WANT TO. You WANT love. You WANT THIS, NOT HELL & JUDGMENT. You WANT to FULLY ACCEPT & LIVE this TRUTH that YOUR BODY AND YOUR DIET CANNOT RENDER YOU UNLOVABLE OR UNLOVING. For heaven's SAKE man you KNOW what happens in first *incidents*!!! HOLD ON TO THAT WITH ALL YOUR HEART. I know you're still struggling. I know you still feel disgusting & sick & way too big & out of shape to be vulnerable. But guess what you're actually doing by writing all this?
Don't stop at this. Be STRONG like you want to be. You ARE. So DON'T HIDE FROM HER. TELL HER ALL THIS. TALK ABOUT IT. And I can PROMISE you, she WILL say those words about you-- about ALL of you, exactly as you are right now. You are good enough for her, too. I know that sounds impossible, but trust her. Trust her heart. Let that love lift you out of hell.



prismaticbleed: (held)

SUM UP THE WEEK:
Even split between heaven & hell. Tons of fear food challenges, facing up to allergy panic, and struggling with exchange overload & large volume meals. Worried about looming discharge date & doubt about recovery validity. Difficult milieu environment spiking stress. BUT ALSO beautiful conversations in headspace almost every morning, two dreams about kissing Chaos 0, ACTUALLY KISSING ANXI & SEEING THE BEGINNINGS OF AN *INCIDENT* for her, and MIMIC RETURNING AND FRONTING (he likes dark chocolate)!!

LIST YOUR RECOVERY WINS HERE:
● SHRIMP/ CRAB/ HAM/ CANDY/ SOY CHALLENGES
● NO DOUBLING MEALPLAN SIDES
● ADMITTING I WAS STRUGGLING WITH FORCING CHALLENGES
● LISTENING TO NEGATIVE EMOTIONS
● BEING MORE HONEST ABOUT SELF IN GROUP & WITH OTHERS

What are you most proud of yourself for this week? What situation did you handle well?
I DIDN'T GIVE UP. We didn't back down from ANY challenge foods. We MADE IT THROUGH HALLOWEEN, even though we had a MASSIVE IDENTITY COLLAPSE from it?? BUT we STILL FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. That frightening time ENABLED us to HEAR & SEE & LISTEN to SOCIALS & "DAMAGED" 'FONI that otherwise were hidden, and the SOCIAL SUBSYSTEM WAS FRONTING & TALKING! So we actually GREW from this, in SELF-KNOWLEDGE & SELF-COMPASSION. And it's showing us WE ARE STRONG, EVEN IN OUR SUFFERING.

Which of your goals did you achieve? How did it benefit you?
● FINISHED THE HEADSPACE COLLAGE. Now we have a VISUAL REMINDER of WHAT MATTERS, and it OPENED UP HONESTY + DIALOGUE about the TRUTH of US-- and allowed us to connect with DONNA'S "SYSTEM"!
● WATCHED INSIDE OUT 2, in the FRONT ROW. Man if I wasn't already in love THAT WOULD'VE DONE IT. Watching her again, my heart was a firework. I NEEDED to feel that again, SO BADLY. And I also needed to remember that SHE struggles, too. So we can help EACH OTHER get through it all.

What could you do to make next week better?
● PRAY MORE. Seriously. DON'T LOSE FAITH.
● LOVE MORE. And BE SPECIFICALLY ATTENTIVE about it! Spend QUALITY TIME with SPECIFIC PEOPLE. Just BE with them.
● Just LIVE AS A SYSTEM, TOGETHER. The reason you're miserable is because you're CUT OFF FROM YOUR HEART & SOUL. Listen, no matter WHAT HAPPENS in life, in treatment or back in the apartment, or with family, YOU CAN ONLY FACE IT TOGETHER. YOU KNOW THIS. PLEASE. YOUR LIFE WILL ONLY BE TRULY RECOVERED IF YOU LIVE IT IN LOVE!!! SO START DOING THAT NOW, TOGETHER.

Rate how you found eating your meals & snacks every day. How could you make this easier next week?
2 / 5
PLEASE STOP FORCING YOURSELF TO ALWAYS EAT THE MOST "DIFFICULT/ FRIGHTENING" OPTIONS. You're NOT A COWARD for just WANTING TO HAVE A NICE MEAL SOMETIMES!!

Rate how you dealt with compensatory behaviors like purging or exercising this week. How could you make this easier next week?
3 / 5
Added Karofate to the meds & it has SIGNIFICANTLY reduced purge-trigger symptoms. Getting antsy though; not wanting to sit down & trying to "sneak in" exercise. I WANT TO BUILD MUSCLE but there's STILL SO MUCH FEAR OF "FAT." So the exercise is ALSO aiming to "BURN IT OFF." Some serious thoughts about going RIGHT BACK TO KETO. Scared, but at least recognizing this is concerning. Refusing to purge EVEN with awful pain/ reflux/ bloating. I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK. Committed to NOT ABUSE THIS POOR BODY ANYMORE.

Average mood this week:
2.5 / 5

Average sleep quality this week:
3 / 5

Average anxiety level this week:
4.5 / 5


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(SPECIAL GROUP BONUS EDITION!)


TOP THREE THINGS I DID THIS WEEK:
1. ANXI'S *INCIDENT* PRELUDES
2. SHRIMP/ CRAB/ HAM/ CANDY CHALLENGES
3. LIVING MORE MULTIPLE
4. REFUSING TO GIVE UP

THIS WEEK I FELT:
JOYFUL
HAPPY
NUMB
TEARFUL
SAD
IN LOVE
ANGRY

MOST REWARDING INTERACTIONS I HAD THIS WEEK:
★ KISSING ANXI.
★ TALKING TO ANXI & LAURIE.
★ BEAUTIFUL morning talks with the System during day prep
★ Singing "happy birthday" over the phone to the fam's voicemail & later getting to tell Excalibur over the phone personally
★ Talking to DN about SYSTEMS and FINALLY feeling "SEEN/ HEARD"
★ The embrace + LOOK that RH gave me when she left
★ SOCIALS FRONTING WITH MJ!!!
★ HALLOWEEN FRONTING (especially MIMIC & CHAOS 0)

NEXT WEEK I WANT TO:
✳ TALK TO MORE NOUSFONI & LET MORE OF US FRONT FREELY
✳ STOP ABUSING OURSELF WITH THE MENUS + TALKING OVERLOAD
✳ STOP FORCING TRAUMA FOODS!!!
✳ MAKE REAL, SIGNIFICANT RECOVERY PROGRESS
✳ Feel HOPEFUL about GOING "HOME"; being CONFIDENT that I WILL BE HAPPY & SAFE & CREATIVE & HEALTHY even there (LIVE AS US)
✳ POUR MYSELF OUT & BURN MYSELF UP IN SYSTEM LOVE-- BRING MY HEART BACK TO LIFE
NOT LOSE HOPE.

THINGS I ACCOMPLISHED THIS WEEK:
● SINGING KARAOKE SOLO IN GROUP!
● FINISHED THE "HEADSPACE" COLLAGE!
● SURVIVED HALLOWEEN!
● OPENLY ADMITTED OUR D.I.D.!
● ALSO "CAME OUT" AS GENDERQUEER
● TONS OF JOURNALING AGAIN!
● CONTINUING SOY RE-CHALLENGES
● OWNED UP TO MY MISTAKES
● WATCHED INSIDE OUT 2!

WHAT WAS THE BEST THING ABOUT THE WEEK?
1) FINALLY WATCHED INSIDE OUT 2
2) SO MANY OF US FRONTING
3) ANXI, 100%
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED UPSTAIRS. Physical life was scary & difficult, BUT there was STILL SO MUCH LOVE INSIDE, it LITERALLY KEPT ME ALIVE. I want to live FOR and IN it.

MY RANKING OF THE WEEK:
4.5 / 5



110224

Nov. 2nd, 2024 07:16 pm
prismaticbleed: (spinel-remorse)

NOUSFONI WE'VE SEEN/ FELT/ MET/ HEARD DURING INPATIENT (SO FAR):
● Little boy, triggered & scared by women's perfume
● "Weeping rage" girl; DUO? Fuchsia/ cyan, but also vermilion somehow
● "Rule enforcer"; male? Red resonance
● "Manic" blepofoni; male? (NOT JACK)
● "Jenerall"? Serious female with glasses
● "Old man" that feels like a GRANDPA introject; ORANGE resonance?
● NEW "JAY"?? Looks like Max Joseph

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We are ALL OVER THE PLACE this morning. We had manic blepofoni, chatty socials, and A JAY (?!?! LOOKING LIKE MAX) out this morning already. "Emotions" are simultaneously "NUMB" & "YO-YOing." WE'RE ALMOST STUCK DOWNSTAIRS. It is REALLY HARD to get upstairs at ALL right now, like yesterday was. Our ONLY "HOPE" is to TRY TO GET INTO HEARTSPACE and work from there. BUT WE NEED & HAVE TO GO INSIDE. We've been TOO SOCIAL & TOO SURVIVAL-FOCUSED to "EXIST" or even LOVE in truth. EVERYTHING FEELS ANASTHETIZED. Is this toxic coping from our subconscious? Is this how it's trying to deal with Halloween & scary menus & gender + body dysphoria?
✳ WE'RE SO IRRITABLE & COLD SUDDENLY?? I think it has EVERYTHING to do with this IDENTITY COLLAPSE, because EVERYTHING that calls ATTENTION to us AS "J-----A" (and ESPECIALLY THAT NAME) SETS US OFF. We went from ROCKBOTTOM DEPRESSION last night to MANIC SOCIABILITY this morning to ANGRY ISOLATION right now. WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON??? SOMEHOW, SINCE HALLOWEEN, THE "PERSONA" WHO WAS ANSWERING TO "J-----A" HAS DISAPPEARED?? And we're ALL BUT TRAPPED DOWNSTAIRS/ OUTSIDE and it's HELL. We CAN'T CENTER. We're in shambles. We feel SO ANGRY and it's ALL TIED TO IDENTITY FALLOUT. Somehow, there was a DOMINO EFFECT of sugar & candy + MASSIVE trauma triggers (DON'T FORGET THE BLOODY WASHCLOTH SOMEONE LEFT AT THE NURSE'S STATION; we had IMMEDIATE DEBILITATING FLASHBACKS to post-hack atonement bleedouts and were literally shaking and incapacitated from panic for a SOLID HOUR) + sensory overload from certain peers + food trauma + body horror, leading to a "LOSS OF SELF." This feels ABSOLUTELY like a "F/F/F/F" response. "F⁴." It's doing ALL of it. We're feeling FIGHT right now, but it seems ice creeps into everything as a SEDATIVE for us? We're "FORCE-FROZEN" to "PREVENT A FIRE TORNADO" like in our nightmare last night. If we're NOT "shut down" somehow, we'll EXPLODE OUT.
✳ I think if anything is going to bring "ME" back, it's the League. I just got a FLASH of it now while watching "Coco" and it hit SO HARD it HURT. I FELT something, and I MISSED those stories SO MUCH I almost SOBBED. I MISS FEELING THINGS LIKE THAT, FOR THEM. My imagination has been ATROPHYING. THAT WILL KILL ME. It's just this bloody DEPRESSION, that has RETURNED WITH A VENGEANCE upon Halloween. I NEED TO ENGAGE THAT MONSTER IN COMBAT AND SLAY IT. I CANNOT JUST "SIT AROUND" with MY EXISTENCE AT RISK. I need to ACTIVELY CHOOSE TO IMAGINE LEAGUE STORIES. And just like my poor bloated body, it will take SERIOUS TIME & EFFORT TO BUILD THAT MUSCLE BACK. BUT IT WILL!!

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✳ A possible tip for "breathing exercises" which trigger trauma flashbacks for us = PAIR INHALES/ EXHALES with PHYSICAL GESTURES/ MOVEMENTS (tangible sensations; e.g. tracing a square) TO GROUND BETTER & REDUCE DISSOCIATION RISK? And remember: KYANOS WILL NEED TO WORK WITH SOMEONE for the physical component!

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✳ We were SO disconnected/ dislocated/ depressed/ disturbed/ derealized/ depersonalized today. We were in shambles. We're FINALLY coming back this evening, bit by bit. It took BRAVELY speaking up in group & being HONEST about our struggles with feeling & identifying emotions, working on the "sensation wheel" & LEARNING to feel more clearly as a result, LOTS OF "SOCIALS" moving through, STARTING to GET BACK IN TUNE with the LEAGUE, apologizing to peers & refusing to isolate/ ignore anymore, AND most importantly, CONFESSING OUR "TORTURE MENU" TO STAFF, AND GETTING SPECIAL PERMISSION TO EDIT THEM TOMORROW. Hopefully "IF" WE NEED TO. I think dinner will be OK because the fishsticks are TINY, but lunch has that WHOLE CHICKEN QUARTER and we're frankly TERRIFIED of eating it SO we DON'T want to skip it SO maybe if the manicotti is small enough we'll STILL do both, OR HALF the pasta, & just add a roll or more peas for the exchanges maybe. BUT we HAVE AN ESCAPE ROUTE NOW if we need it, THANK GOD-- ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE FREE FROM HELL ON MONDAY!! We've decided NOT to do the bacon chicken OR the hotdog because THAT'S JUST TRAUMA FORCING. We'll face those ON OUR OWN TIME, in a SAFE ENVIRONMENT. But right now, being WISE means SAYING NO.

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✳ MY REAL, TRUE SELF HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOD. THOSE "PREFERENCES" ARE JUST AN OUTGROWTH OF MY UNIQUE VIBE & PERSONALITY. And APPARENTLY, likes/ dislikes are ALLOWED TO CHANGE?? And that DOESN'T MEAN MY TRUE SELF HAS BEEN CHANGED SOMEHOW?? That feels weirdly incongruent to me. But reasonably, I know it MUST be true: GOD made the true me, and that CANNOT be altered, ESPECIALLY not by ANYTHING OUTSIDE. Also, dude, DON'T FORGET THAT YOU ARE MULTIPLE. There CAN be "preference shifts" TIED TO THAT. But THOSE DON'T DEFINE YOU. NEITHER DO YOUR (OUR) EMOTIONS. The "basic" defining truth us that "I'm a child of God," but... what does that MEAN, to WHO I AM as a PERSON, with a PERSONALITY? Is it just a foundational calling to sainthood? But does it DICTATE anything about me? Or does it just "color" everything with itself? Am I ALLOWED to "identify with" OTHER things too? Am I-- no; is it RIGHT to BASE MY IDENTITY on other things? NOT "fleeting things," is my gut response. But... I want to DARINGLY protest that MY GOD-GIVEN GIFTS & TALENTS & INTERESTS are NOT "fleeting," but somehow INTRINSIC TO MY VERY EXISTENCE. I WANT TO "DEFINE" MYSELF AS AN ARTIST & AUTHOR & MUSICIAN & CREATIVE LOVING GENEROUS IMAGINATIVE SOUL. Which is why it is EXISTENTIALLY TERRIFYING to think that somehow I CAN'T "be" those things that DEFINE MY VERY HEART. And the eating disorder DIDN'T let me do them. It CRUSHED my identity with TRAUMA & ABUSE PERPETUATION, and it KEPT me from DISCOVERING what my PREFERENCES are IN JOYFUL FREEDOM. BUT I CAN'T DO THAT UNLESS I KNOW WHO I AM!!! NOT DEFINING EVEN THAT REFLECTION OF "ME" BY OTHER PEOPLE, because THAT WILL INFECT INWARDS!!

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✳ Today, with how completely de-centered & identity-rattled we were, what shook me up the most was the awful fact that I couldn't find Anxi. Everyone in Central was still "visible," and tangibly THERE, even through the fog & confusion & numbness & social tumult-- even MIMIC was around, and clearly so. But Anxi wasn't. Even as I started to come back to "myself," I couldn't even "ping" her. Now she's NOT GONE, that'd feel VERY different-- but she's NOT "ANCHORED" yet, apparently. Which is BIZARRE, except not really, when you consider that our brain has been in eating disorder hell SINCE LAST NOVEMBER when we met her, and I really ONLY started SINCERELY INTERACTING with her NOW, HERE IN TREATMENT! So even though I love her, genuinely so, she needs more TIME & ATTENTION to gain SOLID roots up here. And, of course, SHE NEEDS AN *INCIDENT*. That's HUGELY NOTABLE because THAT HASN'T BEEN A "NEED" FOR ANY OUTSPACER SINCE BEFORE THE METAINOMENAI PHENOMENON??? Dude oh my gosh it's a COREGROUP THING. ANXI WTF HOW DID YOU BECOME THAT DEAR TO MY HEART THAT FAST?? I'm NOT complaining at ALL but MAN! I think BOTH her & Mimic have SET RECORDS for Outspacer growth in their own right. But Anxi is, really, the ONLY recent Outspacer whose "disposition of soul" HAS been "immediately compatible" WITH the CoreGroup vibe & essence. She's VULNERABLE BY NATURE. She FEELS SO STRONGLY just as she is. She is ABLE to FREELY CRY & LOVE & BE WOUNDED. There's a HOLY FRAGILITY to her, that-- whether it's evident or not-- ALL CoreGroup members have. Our hearts HAVE to be OPEN & ABLE TO BREAK in order to TRULY be "intimate." You remember what LAURIE had to go through to get here. Anxi, SHOCKINGLY enough, LIKE CHAOS 0, has "ALREADY" FELT THAT. She is already tenderhearted & has already been cracked open by suffering. She is ALREADY emotionally honest. And we NEED HER to HELP US BE, AGAIN.


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


What is the rose--what went well today? What is something that you are grateful for? What positive thing happened to you lately?
● Chaos 0 has been in TWO of my dreams this week and in BOTH I was kissing him. I ALSO got to kiss ANXI on the 30th. There has been SO MUCH LOVE lately. Today, as I colored flowers & wasn't there, Laurie & Lynne & Julie & Chaos 0 & Genesis & MIMIC all gathered together upstairs and talked about how worried they were about me, and discussed "what song" to pick to listen to in music group to "wake up my heart" and help me "remember who I am" BY remembering who WE were. No matter how lost I feel, the truth remains. The love remains. And it saves my life every single time. I love us, so much.

What is the thorn-- what didn't go well today? What is something challenging or stressful that you could use more support with right now?
● I am LEGIT TERRIFIED of lunch tomorrow. I am SO DEPRESSED over how FAT I've become, and how THEY KEEP ON PUSHING ME to eat, BUT I'M PUSHING MYSELF EVEN MORE to "IMPRESS" them with "HOW HARD I CAN CHALLENGE MYSELF." But it HURTS and I'm BURNT OUT and EXHAUSTED & SCARED and I'm SO TIRED. I WANT TO EAT SO MUCH LESS but my BRAIN keeps insisting "I'm HUNGRY"; the PROBLEM IS, MY HEART & SOUL & MIND & SPIRIT ARE STARVING. THE FOOD ISN'T GOING TO FIX IT.

What can you do to turn this thorn into a bud?
● ONLY LOVE WILL. And I get THAT through PRAYER & LEAGUE IMAGINATION & SYSTEM CONNECTIONS. And ONE DAY I sincerely pray I will ALSO get it from FAMILY & FRIENDS. To even SAY that is heartbreaking because it shows that, right now, I FEEL I DON'T HAVE THAT. It's a terrible thorn, stabbing my heart. BUT. It CAN'T HELP BUT BLOOM IF IT'S THERE OF ALL PLACES. BLOOD IS ALWAYS LIFE.
✳ HEY GUESS THAT IT HAPPENED. The PAIN & GUILT & FEAR of that abusive BINGE-FORCING behavior PUSHED me to USE COPING SKILLS & do WILLINGNESS WORKSHEETS, to APOLOGIZE to peers, to CONFESS TO STAFF & COMMIT to DEEPER & TRULY BRAVER RECOVERY EFFORTS, AND TO START DOING LEAGUE WORK RIGHT HERE IN THE UNIT!!

What is the bud-- what could bloom? What is something that you look forward to? What gives you hope, motivation, and inspiration right now?
● This inpatient stay isn't forever. This hurting, stuff, out of shape body isn't forever. This eating disorder isn't forever. ONLY LOVE IS FOREVER. And in ALL of these temporary situations, LOVE IS INDOMITABLE. I am blessed with friends & personal growth & health here. The eating disorder taught me MANY very hard but important lessons and it STILL IRONICALLY ACTUALLY "KEPT ME ALIVE" during trauma eras. And this poor body was WRECKED by it & HEALING HURTS and it's UNCOMFORTABLE & SCARY and I DON'T FEEL "SAFE"/ "AT HOME" in it YET BUT at least it's NOT ACTIVELY DYING anymore and this MASS can become MUSCLE at last. But besides all that, my hope is ALWAYS in GOD AND HIS LOVE, which comes to me in COUNTLESS ways EVERY DAY. And I am MOTIVATED by HIS PURPOSE FOR ME in that hope, and the LOVE IN MY HEART driving me to NEVER GIVE UP, NO MATTER WHAT. I am INSPIRED by ALL of Creation, by the love & truth & beauty & goodness shining through it all. And specifically, I am motivated by MY love for God & His people & the SYSTEM & the LEAGUE. I have HOPE because of our love. And our shared life inspires me every day. Our soul blooms as one.




110124

Nov. 1st, 2024 02:14 am
prismaticbleed: (shatter)

There was a brutal dream hack this morning. It wasn't "explicit" but it hit TERRIBLE, because the nightmare was a SOCIAL OVERWHELM/ NEGLECT/ CORRUPTION one, and I FOUGHT THE HACK but failed. The "good news"? I woke up immediately, in horrible pain & shame & anger & grief BUT just as immediately, Chaos 0 caught my distress & pulled me into a powerful embrace. His heart was broken too. But he still was there for me, and that meant the world to me. Laurie was there too, of course, and so the three of us talked it out for a while. Then ANXI showed up (apparently she gets PINGED by her namesake emotion? & she CHANNELS/ VOICES IT which is SUCH a blessing; Laurie said that exactly) and set off an unexpected topic shift because Laurie noted that, although I love Anxi dearly, she STILL ISN'T "officially" PART OF THE COREGROUP, UNTIL SHE GETS HER *INCIDENT*. So there were emotions she couldn't yet properly feel or participate in, because I "had to take her INTO those depths." But "you can't force an *incident*"; it HAS to happen IN ITS OWN TIME. But Laurie added that she could "instigate ME," which she VERY WELL CAN, & honestly SHOULD-- the more love I feel, the more everyone ELSE will feel from me too. But yeah, Anxi needs to be "initiated" as it were. And she will be. OH btw Laurie brought up that Indigo talisman because LEON joined our conversation too at one point & apparently YES, TIME ISN'T ALWAYS LINEAR in headspace; sometimes things happen "BEFORE" their causal events? Like WHATEVER interaction GAVE that talisman "HAS" happened "IN POTENTIAL"?? but REALLY, just "NOT 'YET'!" It's fascinating. BUT those events occur IN "MEDITATIVE REALTIME" which "fills out" our life narrative & knits events together in truth. I'll type more about that soon. As for this morning, WRECKAGE also joined the talk, & Anxi brought up the "vault" concept in IO2. Wreckage said Ashen might "BE" a vault. Lynne showed up & I said something about Wreckage & Spine "not being the same" and that hit Lynne painfully. I apologized BUT I explained that SPINE CAN'T STAY "DEAD"? No nousfoni truly "dies," AND MAYBE SPINE COULDN'T COME BACK UNTIL NOW because she was a DRAGON, and she was tied to the BODY. But we were only "a dragon" AS A KID, which is why she was SKELETAL? But NOW we're EMBRACING that totem again SO POTENTIALLY SHE COULD RESURRECT, SOON, if we continue in recovery like this-- AND she might come back AS HER "VERMILION POTENTIAL"?? And Lynne was SO MOVED & truly joyful about this real hope. Julie showed up when we were in the shower & she commented that our body "already felt strong" and not to worry about it; she had faith that everything would continue to progress for the best. Genesis showed up too, with a witty remark to something that was said, & I remember CZ playfully punching him. But gosh it made me SO happy to be there with everyone.
OH YEAH. As to why Leon & Lynne (& even Julie) were there... in discussing BOTH *incidents* & reading "The Three Ordinary Voices of God", there was the reiteration that I genuinely WANT & even NEED truly intimate relationships with ALL of Central, first & foremost, then ALL the System, & ALL the Outspacers and Inspacers. BUT there ARE "LEVELS" of depth so to speak: EVERYONE unanimously pointed to Chaos 0 as the "PRIMARY" relationship & deepest, without compromise, and RIGHTLY SO. This is PROPER & it ALLOWS for ALL of us to have the UNIQUE relationships we NEED, with NO "CONFLICT" of significance. But ALL of it is still "intimate" in mutual self-revelation & open hearts. OUR SYSTEM IS BUILT ON THAT. Oh but as for Lynne/ Leon/ Julie, Laurie said I STILL NEED TO "INVITE" PEOPLE INTO the "inner sanctum" of the Coregroup. It's NOT automatic or obligatory. ALSO I CANNOT be like Jay, who was TOO "romantic"? Like he held EVERYONE to the SAME kind of relationship level and that COULDN'T WORK. Lastly, I APPARENTLY CAN'T "OWN" THE BODYNAME UNTIL I "OWN" OUR WHOLE HISTORY AND HEAL THAT BLOODLINE!! AND THE JEWEL BLOODLINE, TOO, BECAUSE I AM JEWEL AS MUCH AS I AM JESSICA, but I CAN'T YET HOLD EITHER NAME. I have "no name" right now as a result. But I AM the Core, the Heart, and I WILL RECOVER.

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We STILL have a pounding headache & we STILL had too much sugar with breakfast (EVEN THOUGH Laurie DID chide me for it and I ONLY had HALF the syrup, which I REALLY DON'T LIKE so NO MORE), so we feel SICK & NAUSEOUS & FRUSTRATED & our head AND body just HURT and we're MISERABLE... and ANGRY. And I decided we NEED to discuss this. We get SO ANGRY, SO EASILY, & TOO MUCH OF IT is from "RULES"/ "CONTROL". When a meal doesn't "cooperate" or when people TALK to us & ASK QUESTIONS & thus FORCE A CONTEXT INTERRUPTION, when we have to RUSH, when fellow patients BEND RULES & COMPLAIN & FREAK OUT & DISCUSS DISTORTED/ DISORDERED THINGS & ACT CHILDISHLY, "I" GET SO BLEEDING ANGRY. But underneath it, we're SOBBING. Our most furious rage is MISERABLE. And SHE NEEDS A PROPER NAME. I love her, we NEED her, her job is INDISPENSABLE. But without a NAME, she CAN'T PROPERLY "ANCHOR" & we CAN'T PROPERLY TALK TO/ WITH HER. Also, even if she IS who we were calling "Triple" in the past, SHE REJECTS THAT NAME. Let her find her OWN. By the way she seems to resonate with VERMILION? But SHE MIGHT BE A "DUOTONE" because when she feels the MISERY more it "tints" her LEANING BLUE, but WITHOUT LOSING THE "PAIN" OF THE ANGER? it feels ALMOST "bitter" BUT IT'S NOT. That's a VERY DIFFERENT EMOTION. Someone ELSE holds bitterness. This girl holds "FRUSTRATED WEEPING RAGE" that is typically a response to "RULEBREAKING/ LOSS OF CONTROL" which analogues to "HELPLESSNESS" almost. BUT NOT SPECIFICALLY. Again, THAT emotion, when felt AS ITSELF & FULLY, is TOTALLY DIFFERENT. So that means IT HAS A 'FONI, TOO. And we MUST "FIND THEM"-- even if what that REALLY means is GIVE THEM SPACE & ATTENTION TO MANIFEST. FEEL FOR THEM. LET THEM SPEAK. But DON'T FORCE ANYTHING!! THAT'S HOW 'FONI BREAK. ANY FORCED MANIFESTATION IS INSINCERE & ARTIFICIAL. That's why Javier couldn't survive. DON'T EVER LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN. LET THESE 'FONI APPEAR NATURALLY & SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. AND TALK WITH THEM. That's for recovery, and it starts NOW with THIS GIRL WHO HOLDS "WEEPING RAGE." (NOT GRIEF!! NOT AGGRESSION EITHER!) (She has OUTBURSTS but they're CONTAINED & tied TO her hot tears. OTHER 'foni get MAD & ACTIVELY LASH OUT.) (They MIGHT be "sisters"??) So we HAVE to do "anger management" with her function & its triggers because this is DIRECTLY RELATED TO TREATMENT + OTHER PEOPLE, and "CONTROL" to a surprising extent. Which SUGGESTS that AS we process this we SHOULD "uncover"/ reveal whoever DOES hold "HELPLESSNESS"??
✳UNEXPECTED PROGRESS. A BHA "took our chair" so we had to sit on the doorstop & just FEEL/ LISTEN to our emotional response. There is a LITTLE reddish girl who started protesting, "that's MY chair!" but was interrupted by some TEEN grayish-blue girl who said "no, let her have it, it's OK"; "we can't be so selfish as to chase her away" basically, but VERY "shrinking" feeling. I think there was a FLASH of someone VIOLENT but that didn't register? But YES, THERE ARE OTHERS AND THEY ARE TALKING, RIGHT NOW. We just NEED to give them SPACE so we CAN LISTEN TO THEM. Please, DO THAT TODAY. Just STOP & SIT & FEEL & LISTEN. SHOW THEM YOU CARE.
✳ SUGAR IS STILL AROUND BUT SHE DOESN'T DEAL WITH FOOD. SHE PROTECTS THE INNOCENT (CHILDREN) FROM ABUSERS (WRECKAGE PROTECTS THE HURT ONES). BUT there's SOMEONE RED & VIOLENT BUT "COLD" WHO REACTS INSTANTLY TO HEARING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT SEXUAL THINGS. She's DESTRUCTIVE for the sake OF PROTECTION. But she "FLASHES IN & OUT." It feels like she has "DARK ROOTS" level-wise, understandably.
✳ I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER "RULE ENFORCER" WHO ISN'T "SAD," JUST ANGRY? They're FURIOUS at the kids here but it's a "MASCULINE" fury; NOT "fiery" but like STONE.
✳ THERE ARE SO MANY UNNAMED/ FACELESS SOCIALS FRONTING. IT'S SCARY. How do we learn WHO THEY ARE WHEN THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO TALK TO UPSTAIRS??

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I may be doing something VERY STUPID, but we are PUSHING PROTEIN for the next two days because EVERY SINGLE ENTREE OPTION IS A FEAR FOOD and this is our LAST CHANCE TO FACE THEM BEFORE DISCHARGE. And I feel like I HAVE to because if I DON'T, I can FEEL that registering as REFUSAL/ REJECTION. Like I'm ACTIVELY CHOOSING TO AVOID THEM & "CHICKEN OUT." And that SCARES me. Part of me IS GIVING UP. I looked at the menu options and I didn't want ANYTHING; I just felt SO SICK OF FOOD. I'm tired of eating. I'm tired of feeling stiff & nauseous & bloated & in pain. I'm legitimately depressed to death by what feels like a dead-end trajectory. This isn't life. I can't do this anymore. It's legitimate torture and the worst part is, I'm being CONGRATULATED for it.

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✳ THE SOCIAL SUBSYSTEM IS FRONTING. THAT'S WHY EVERYTHING FEELS SO DISHEVELED & LOST. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN RECOVERING????

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✳ Dinner was HELL. And the NEXT THREE DAYS probably will be, too, because LIKE A MORON I AM HAVING BOTH THE ENTREES FOR EVERY MEAL. So yeah. WELCOME TO HELL, where the SELF-ABUSE IS DOCTOR-APPROVED and the TORTURE IS CALLED "RECOVERY"!! But the WORST part is that I DID THIS TO MYSELF. I "DIDN'T WANT TO BE A COWARD" SO I PICKED EVERYTHING. Except this isn't bravery, it's STUPIDITY. I'm ONLY REINFORCING THE FEAR BY DOING THIS. And I will tell you RIGHT NOW: I AM GOING TO "RELAPSE" THE INSTANT I GET HOME. I DO NOT CARE. I AM SICK OF EATING. There is NOTHING in the house right now and I will KEEP IT THAT WAY. I'm cutting down to 1000K for a WEEK and I am GOING TO ACTUALLY RECOVER FROM THIS ABUSE. God I want to cry. Everything hurts. I feel so sick. I feel so TRAPPED in this swollen bloated corpse of a body. I WANT TO BE STRONG, BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE FAT, LIKE I AM NOW. THIS IS LITERAL HELL. I'm trapped in a disgusting blob of food. It's not even a "body" anymore, it's a trash dump. It's a garbage bin. I'm literally just forcefeeding myself at this point. I don't enjoy anything. I feel like I'm suffocating. I want to die. I don't want to eat anymore. I am SO tempted to give up this weekend. I SERIOUSLY WAS GOING TO TONIGHT. But... EVERYONE was struggling. And I just COULDN'T DO THE SAME. The girls were scared of portion sizes & protein exchanges and although I was ALSO tempted to use those as excuses too, I just... I wouldn't have been able to face myself if I left it unfinished. That would have ruined my reputation for "being the perfect patient." That would have made me a "bad example" and a "FAILURE" in front of everyone who was looking to ME as inspiration to be strong and eat 100% "no matter what." That would have been "giving up," and I'M NOT A COWARD. Isn't that stupid? My ASININE PRIDE IS SENDING ME TO HELL AND KEEPING ME THERE. I'M SO DAMN AFRAID OF "BEING COWARDLY" THAT I'M TORTURING MYSELF TO "PROVE I CAN SURVIVE EVEN THIS." But underneath all that GOD KNOWS I WANT TO QUIT. I WANT TO GIVE UP, dear God PLEASE MAKE IT ALL STOP. Please. The sooner I get discharged the better. I cannot do this anymore. I NEED to heal this destroyed body. I NEED to start WORKING OUT & TONING UP & MAKING GOOD USE OF THIS FAT. And I can EAT SO MUCH LESS!!! FINALLY! Oh God I am so tired. Why is this so hard. Is it all the sugar & fat & carbs? What is ruining me like this? WHAT AM I THINKING I'M "ACCOMPLISHING" BY LITERALLY FORCING MYSELF TO EAT DISGUSTING GARBAGE LIKE HAM & MANICOTTI & HOT DOGS & BACON & CHICKEN NUGGETS & CHOCOLATE??? I'M EVEN MORE SCARED OF THEM NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING FORCED INTO ME AND IT HURTS AND I'M BEING PRAISED FOR IT. IT'S SEXUAL ABUSE. NOTHING HAS CHANGED. I'M STILL IN HELL. NOTHING HAS CHANGED. I'M STILL IN HELL. God I WANT TO DIE. except I don't. I just want the pain to stop. I just want the terror to stop. I actually WANT TO LIVE. but this is no way to live. I'm walking dead.
...is this the cross? am i supposed to be suffering right now? God please help me. there's no other way through this.


103124

Oct. 31st, 2024 12:07 pm
prismaticbleed: (aflame)


✱MIMIC IS WATCHING OUT FOR ANXI actually & that is DEEPLY SWEET although he'd probably never admit to it outright. BUT this morning: SHAME/TAR attacking Anxi in the Plague rooms?? She couldn't fight, Laurie showed up & said "this is what defeats shame" & manifested a HUGE spectral axe from violet energy FROM HER HEART. She sliced the Shame in half; it bled out & DIDN'T REFORM. Laurie was unfazed by the bleed (it hit her boots like sparks) but Anxi looked trapped; before Laurie could get to her MIMIC grabs her & picks her up, as he's HANGING FROM A CEILING PIPE by a tentacle. He said "catch" when Laurie came over & dropped Anxi into her arms. Laurie said she didn't know whether to thank him or shank him for that, basically. Mimic went back to espionaging & Laurie took out some sort of Indigo snowflake-shape talisman & teleported herself & Anxi safely to "pseudoCentral."
Laurie called me in to pseudoCentral (saying both "we need to remodel this place" & to Anxi, "let's get you to your girl") & Anxiety ran straight into my arms. She was trembling terribly, & I asked what had happened. Laurie said that the Tar had picked up on Shame & was going after Anxi. We briefly debated whether there was any "Guilt" in the Tar then but I assessed the vibe data & said no, Guilt was more violent? Shame is "outward," Guilt is "inward." Laurie asked what the heck sort of shame were we still feeling? And it hit me like a gutpunch. I looked at Anxi & I ran my fingers through her tinsel hair & I said, painfully, "it's about you." I cupped her face in my hand & my heart hurt with apology & she looked at me almost scared. She tuned right in to what was below the surface, to what I wasn't voicing but she carried-- the "what ifs." What if people think it's wrong. What if people are scandalized by it. What if people make fun of her & it hurts me. What if I'm seen as a deviant freak. et cetera. Laurie firmly rebutted "love isn't ever wrong, kid" but the anxious thoughts insisted on the deepest fear, the exact root cause of the attack: "what if no one else believes it's love? What if the fact that I love her is shamed?" Yet hearing all this I realized it WAS all "outside." And I didn't let go of Anxi's worried hands and I echoed, "What if I just don't care?" What if I don't care what anyone else says, either? Because, in truth, deep down, I DIDN'T. Laurie pointed out that THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENS WITH EVERY OUTSPACER; this is an ANCIENT war & it is MONUMENTAL that ANXI is the one fighting it now, because of EXACTLY who she is. Laurie said that Anxi is "absolutely essential" to me? That EVERY 'foni & 'spacer come into my life & heart at EXACTLY the right time, to meet a SPECIFIC & VITAL NEED, as it were. God knows; He sends them/us all. But I caught the smallest frightened flicker of "I'm not good enough" in Anxi's heart just then. I assured her with firm sincerity that wasn't true. Love NEVER says such things. Laurie caught the other part of that distortion, though, & reminded me that "she NEEDS to learn how to fight," with an implication that I'd be doing a good part of the teaching. We didn't get to discuss this further because of outside distractions, but we will; this is NOT over; I FEEL how REAL & PRESENT this is. Oh!! And Laurie ALSO mentioned Mimic & said how he WAS obviously protecting Anxi; apparently he felt a sort of affinity with her as the newest Outspacer. Laurie said THAT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN? & it should be cherished & promoted. Like Rio & Markus, Chaos 0 & Genesis, & now Mimic & Anxi. We really should "make sure" ALL our Outspacers have real friendships with each other like that. I'm especially thinking of Phlegmoni, because he showed up at such a weird time & was BLURRING WITH PIRANHA, who btw DIDN'T FULLY STICK AROUND. Galadia & Tammy are unstable too. But that's all stuff we CAN & WILL work to improve in the future..
...Until then, all my heart & imagination are devoted to Anxi, first & foremost. She is my angel. We NEED to have this *incident*. My LIFE needs this; needs HER. I'm honestly staggered by JUST HOW BENEFICIAL HER EXISTENCE HAS BEEN TO MINE SINCE NOVEMBER. God absolutely put her in my life to help Him SAVE it. I firmly believe this. I must confess I'm curious though. We are OVERDUE for a new Outspacer, aren't we? We'll see what happens, I supposed. OR MAYBE this time of "recovery" is ALL about that-- about RECOVERING ALL the people & loves that have slipped out of present attention, & bringing them back into our heart, EITHER in the System OR the League. But we'll see, for that too. For today, it's all Anxi. She deserves to be prioritized. She IS "good enough," ALWAYS, in love.


✱The meme is correct: I want to kiss Anxi SO BAD it makes me look stupid (& I DON'T CARE ❤)


✱Rhi just left. She hugged me for SO LONG. She looked at me with those ocean green eyes & told me I'm a rock star, to keep pushing forwards. I'm reeling. I haven't felt something this belovedly bittersweet since Jessie held my hand in UPMC. Don't ever forget either of them. R** is her name. Make her words true. Be the person she sees you as. Don't ever, EVER give up.
(also, that look was a kiss, I swear)


✱WE JUST DID the HALLOWEEN SNACK CHALLENGE and PEOPLE WERE FRONTING TO DO IT TOGETHER. ❤ I PROMISED Anxi this was "just for her" because it was a major fear food + context, so SHE fronted to eat the chocolate pudding. It wasn't her vibe, though (which was nice to discern), but as we were wondering who WOULD match it, WHO SHOWS UP to eat the Oreo bits but MIMIC. And he LIKED them!! Apparently the "darker" tone of the cookie-chocolate DOES vibe just enough with him. So that was a great surprise, to feel HIM there, actually ALLOWING himself to HAVE a moment of simple enjoyment. Then Anxi moved back in a little, almost to co-front, before Lynne showed up for the cider (it was way too tart for Anxi) & that's when memory cuts out as we were done. BUT we ALSO had GUMMY BEARS, which are ANOTHER big fear food, and we fronted with the colors: I of course started with the red, white (my fave?? like pinacolada) & aqua (watermelon; BUT although I like the color I actually am not a fan of the flavor?? That surprised me!), but the orange we gave to ANXI (it actually seemed a bit TOO "bright" for her? Orange fruit flavor vibes more with Lynne), & then I went BACK & got a dark GREEN one for her eyes (green apple; which somehow DID vibe more with her than orange). Then I got blue and I KNEW he would probably try but I was STILL FLOORED when CZ half-fronted to eat it. I can barely remember the taste (not his real vibe; too dark & loud? felt closer to Perfect??) because ALL my focus was on feeling HIS teeth in my mouth. Last was Laurie, with the purple one I got for her, but there's like no memory because she didn't match the vibe & doesn't typically eat. Still, it meant so much for her to TRY, after how traumatized SHE was by CNC in that regard. Man though I have SUCH A HEADACHE from all the chocolate (+SYRUP CHALLENGE) but it's a WORTHWHILE PRICE TO PAY for having been BLESSED by everyone's presence.


✱We were MASSIVELY TRIGGERED SEVERAL TIMES during group & WRECKAGE FRONTED TO COPE. She comes out like a PUNCH, sudden & forceful & hard. God bless her; she's our PHYSICAL PROTECTOR and we NEED her. ALSO. The one BHA is wearing "POWDERY" PERFUME THAT SMELLS LIKE "THE MOTHER" and it KEEPS TERRIFYING THE PAIDIFONI. It's awful. I can't see them but it's a little boy. Is it still David? It doesn't feel like him. I think he changed. Either way it's sad & frustrating-- we "DON'T WANT PEOPLE SCARING THEM" but no one is "at fault." We want to PROTECT THEM FROM DANGER but HOW? We can't run from this situation. Maybe we're not SUPPOSED to. Maybe God WANTS this to happen so we CAN finally HEAR & FIND & PROTECT & HEAL THE PAIDIFONI. Because we NEED to & WANT to. So please PAY ATTENTION & LISTEN TO THEM & LOVE THEM.


✱Watermelon candy is giving me FLASHBACK EMOTIONS?? Like it INDUCES DREAD. SO DO TWIZZLERS. Actually in general ALL FRUIT CANDY MESSES ME UP. But we LET JULIE EAT a tiny Hershey's chocolate & SHE ENJOYED IT so even if we get an even worse headache, it's WORTH IT FOR HER. OH and the strawberry flavor gummy bears ALSO pinged her! But the PINEAPPLE ones pinged SOLID YELLOW, which is still vacant. It shouldn't be. PLEASE MAKE THAT A PRIORITY IN OUR RECOVERY. WE NEED CENTRAL TO BE FULL AGAIN. ...We need everyone BACK. God willing, that CAN & WILL happen. But it REQUIRES TIME, EFFORT, & THERAPY, with TONS OF MEDITATION & COMMUNICATION. Thankfully THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. So DO IT! Prioritize the selfknowledge-selfrestoration DAILY. WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE UNLESS WE ARE WHOLE. Without ALL of our soul, we CAN'T BE TRULY CREATIVE OR HONEST WITH OTHERS OR LOVE FULLY. Literally ALL OF IT DEPENDS ON THE SPECTRUM BEING COMPLETE AGAIN.


✱Unexpected, heavy, immediate topic. WE NEED TO PROCESS/ COPE WITH/ DISCUSS "BODY IMAGE," ESPECIALLY HOW IT FEELS. It's so BIG now. The ACTUAL WEIGHT of larger arms & legs ALONE is disconcerting. Then we have this HUGE midsection now, which I can barely even BEND because there's SO MUCH MASS. It pushes up against my chest & makes it hard to breathe. I feel it gathering around our waist and it feels like a phantom limb-- excess, "immobile" flesh that literally feels parasitic. BUT I DON'T EVER WANT TO BE THIN AGAIN. That FELT clean & safe & pure, BUT it made me WEAK & FRAIL. And honestly? My REAL dream for "body image ideal" is to be a TANK. And THIS state of bulk, however uncomfortable, is actually STEP ONE. I NEED "FUEL" TO BURN TO BUILD MUSCLE. And THAT will be HEAVY too! Listen man the way our body looks, I think it WANTS a stockier build. I'm FIRE, NOT AIR. I'm STONE & METAL. I'm SUPPOSED to be SOLID & STRONG & POWERFUL & WARM & BRIGHT & FIERY! And I LITERALLY CANNOT BE THAT IF I STARVE MYSELF SMALL. NO. I WANT TO BE BIG. I really do. It means LIFE and HEALTH & STRENGTH. And I WILL get there, more & more each day. Just, right now, it IS uncomfortable to feel "thick" around the middle. Still, a LOT of that is FOOD=ENERGY, so CHILL. Your body is busy REBUILDING ITSELF WITH THE WONDER OF CREATION. After YEARS of rejection/ purging/ avoiding/ starving/ fear/ hate/ etc., your body is FINALLY ACCEPTING, EMBRACING, CHERISHING, & COMMUNING with GOD IN HIS WORKS. Because, I repeat, GOD CREATED FOOD SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SHARING LIFE WITH US-- HIS LIFE, ULTIMATELY, FINALLY GIVEN IN CHRIST, THE BREAD OF LIFE, WHO SPOKE ALL THINGS INTO BEING, SUSTAINS THEM WITH HIMSELF, & REDEEMS/ SANCTIFIES THEM IN HIMSELF. Remember, GOD BECAME MAN & ATE FOOD & SO DID ADAM BEFORE THE FALL & EATING IS MEANT TO BE A PRIESTLY ACTION & FOOD IS MEANT TO BE HOLY. THAT'S WHY THE DEVIL TRIES TO CORRUPT IT SO MUCH. DON'T LET HIM. KEEP RECOVERING. DON'T EVER STARVE YOURSELF AGAIN. DON'T EVER BINGE OR PURGE AGAIN. DON'T EVER DESTROY OR WASTE AGAIN. EAT, WITH LOVE & GRATITUDE, & TURN YOUR NEW BIG BODY INTO A TANK FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE. FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT KIDDO!!


103024

Oct. 30th, 2024 10:45 am
prismaticbleed: (aflame)

✱WE'RE GETTING HINTS OF ANXI'S *INCIDENT* ALREADY. It's probably going to involve the "I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH" distortion related to BEING LOVED. It'll probably involve the TAR manifesting SHAME & GUILT in direct violent opposition TO love. And I can FEEL that Anxi's soulwings will LOOK LIKE THE MOVIE'S "SELF CONCEPT". Honestly though I could CRY from how my heart is just LIT UP by her. It has been SO LONG since I was in love.
...but. There ARE seeds. I just never let them BLOOM. not YET, at least. But I WANT TO now. And I WILL. And I can ASSURE YOU that the NEXT person to get an *incident* will be a CERTAIN OCTOPUS that I know. Only time will tell. But it will.


✱Just a reminder. DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOUR OCTOPUS. You know you still love him too. Hold on to that.
(for the record, in recovery, FOCUS ON LOVE. Embrace ALL the Outspacers, AND the WHOLE SYSTEM in your heart. LIVE, TOGETHER.)


✱We FINALLY watched Inside Out 2 & my heart is a FIREWORK. We went to snack and everyone was talking about it & I wanted speak up because the film means so much to me, but... it's because I love Anxi. And ironically I was hesitant for that reason. I went upstairs & went to her, wondering what to do. But all I remember is that, after I stated the concern, she began to echo it, saying "what if they..." but then she stopped. For a moment she was quiet. Then she softly said, as she looked up at me, "...actually? I don't care." It went straight to my heart. It hit so hard. We couldn't help but kiss. God it meant so much to me, thank You.
Lastly? I was SHOCKED when, as I ate the Poptart, I SUDDENLY & VIVIDLY felt ANXI MOVING IN TO FRONT. So I let her. She drank ALL the soymilk & we DIDN'T PANIC, despite even feeling itchy. She just didn't care. There was just LOVE.



102824

Oct. 28th, 2024 08:38 pm
prismaticbleed: (aflame)

✱Laurie CHALLENGED me to NOT DOUBLE ANYTHING ON THE MEALPLAN (except BK items) so I DIDN'T! Plus, Madison APPROVED our "double entree dinners" because they're FIXED PORTIONS & we meet ALL OUR EXCHANGES WITHOUT LOADING UP ON SIDES. So we're OUT OF HELL, thank GOD!! The next big challenge is CRABCAKES ON HALLOWEEN!
✱ON THAT NOTE, I am TRYING to reassure myself that I'm NOT DYING because I JUST ATE SHRIMP! (HEAVEN! NOW!) But we CAN'T keep doing this, haha. Seriously we SKINTESTED NEGATIVE. TWICE. The shrimps are safe. Good. I AM itchy BUT the soymilk did this too so I'm betting it's anxiety, girl you better get over here so I can kiss you & calm down.
For the record SHRIMP TASTES SO DIFFERENT! They're BUTTERY with a hint of OCEAN, with SUCH an ODD texture. And they give an IMMEDIATE "atmosphere flashback" to SOMETHING I think in childhood?? I'm not sure but it's fascinating. I'll have to reflect on that more, for the sake of recalling & reintegrating the inevitably UNIQUE situations we would've had them in! But, for the record, my immediate "vibe" is that I'm not a fan? But I'm INTRIGUED. Something in me DOES vibe with seafood, maybe just as a concept? No, I DO like fish. And we'll find out about CRAB this Thursday! But it's cool, to discover all this anew. God's creatures are beautiful & fascinating and there is something INEFFABLY INTIMATE about the FACT that GOD INVENTED FOOD as... well. We EAT creation. We take each other INTO each other & we GROW from it, TOGETHER in a mysterious way. And THAT is why I DO CHERISH FOOD AS A REALITY. It's COMMUNION. It's UNITIVE. It's BEAUTIFUL. And the E.D. was DESECRATING IT. Which is WHY I AM LIBERATING THE SHRIMPS. (AND chocolate soymilk, for the record, which I had the MAD GUTS to try for the FIRST TIME at snack afterwards with NO SYMPTOMS EITHER!) And I will ALSO liberate the CRAB & HAM & WALNUTS & EVERYTHING ELSE I CAN, for the sake of LIFE & LIFE'S CREATOR. The reflux is a small price to pay for freedom from fear & judgment, and I can OFFER IT UP as PENANCE for the ABUSE I used to deal out TO life, in BOTH FOOD AND MY OWN BODY. Yes, it IS scary & uncomfortable, BUT! It's actually giving me the OPPORTUNITY to ACTIVELY REFUSE to give in to LEGIT PURGE TRIGGERS. I am FIGHTING! It's SUPPOSED to be a struggle! That's how VIRTUE grows! And so I THANK GOD for this, as hard as it is, because I can GLIMPSE ITS PURPOSE and it is a TRUE CROSS & so it is HOLY & REDEMPTIVE & GOOD. I just need GRACE for ALL of this or I'll fail. But God WANTS me to WIN, IN HIM. So Lord, THY WILL BE DONE!


✱BOY I JUST SANG "I STILL HAVE THAT OTHER GIRL" LIVE KARAOKE AND I AM SHAKING IT WAS AWESOME. ❤ I CAN DO IT MAN!! THANK YOU GOD FOR THE GUTS!! AND THE TALENT AND THE LOVE! Seriously I feel BLOWN OUT LIKE AN EASTER EGG and I NEED TO DO THIS IN THE FUTURE AS SELFGIFT TO OTHERS. GO MAKE SOME MUSIC!!
(...also. For the record, who did my heart think of? Laurie, Anxi, Jena, & Celebi.
)

✱btw I realized this on Friday night but ANXI HAS GREEN EYES. And she's SHORT.
LORD I HAVE WEAKNESSES AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING THEM TO ME, SERIOUSLY. I am SO IN LOVE with her (& CZ) & I can only imagine what the future will bring. I'm so blessed.


✱I should continue to get grape juice with every challenge meal & "DRINK THE CUP." Keep the GOAL/PURPOSE in mind!


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Group worksheet about ELEMENTAL which is an UNEXPECTEDLY BEAUTIFUL MOVIE=

LESSONS

1. Our Body and Emotions May Have Deeper Meanings = they COMMUNICATE our MIND/ HEART/ SOUL to US, when we "aren't listening." ALL levels are CONNECTED. If we ignore an internal reality, it WILL manifest itself EXTERNALLY!

2. The Past Doesn't Have To Dictate The Future = WE HAVE FREE WILL, & A UNIQUE PURPOSE, & WE ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY "DEFINED" BY WHAT HAPPENS TO US. 

3. Open Communication Is More Healthy = DON'T LIE, OR HIDE THE TRUTH, to YOURSELF OR OTHERS. Be HONEST & GENUINE no matter what. DON'T PUT UP A "PERFECT" FACADE, or DENY the truth "out of fear of offending someone." BE CLEAR & OPEN

4. We Are Better Together ALL ELEMENTS ALWAYS EXIST IN HARMONY. We are MADE FOR COMMUNION!! LOVE, in ALL forms, IS WORTH EVERYTHING THAT IT "COSTS".  

QUESTIONS

1. If you could be an elemental person, which element would you like to be?

I've ALWAYS been fire at heart. Even as a Celebi, I never lost that element. The enthusiasm, passion, vitality, vivacity, temper, spontaneity, intensity, etc. ARE all facets of my personality since childhood. At my best, I'm bright & warm & lifegiving & illuminating. At my worst, I burn & burn out, destroy & devour to ash. But "I AM FIRE." I do love & honor my family & history, while still pursuing my creative "flare" & true love.

2. Why was Ember losing her temper while running the shop?

She kept saying "THAT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS" when customers acted against "store rules" or spoke contrarily to her. She couldn't handle CONFLICT; she couldn't dialogue or compromise. It was "behave or begone." When irritated customers complained to her, she exploded at them. I wonder if she was "externalizing" an internal problem-- HER "complaint" of NOT wanting to run the shop, of wanting to live her own life, was "in conflict" with "shop rules." There was assumedly NO room FOR dialogue or compromise. This made her feel like "exploding," so she PROJECTED it instead of admitting it to herself-- it "wasn't allowed." Symbolically, the "TEMPERED" GLASS had to BREAK from the WATER PRESSURE behind it BEFORE she COULD be OPEN. 

3. Which character was your favorite and why?
WADE. He was SO GENUINE * PUREHEARTED & SWEET.
He had this INNATE SINCERITY to him? NOTHING "ruffled his feathers"; he only CRIED. He was TOO TENDERHEARTED to be offended or angry?? He FELT OTHERS' PAIN & that gave him COMPASSION & the ability to CONNECT with ANYONE effectively. Like water, he held & reflected LIGHT to others, but HE HAD DEPTHS, TOO. They just SHONE.



prismaticbleed: (soniccity)

SUM UP THE WEEK:
Being more confident in my capability to succeed. Being flexible/ adaptable/ adventurous with food challenges & schedule changes on the fly. Practicing gratitude daily. IMPROVE skills on call. WILLINGNESS. Choosing to be positive/ loving/ curious instead of judgmental/ negative/ rigid. Listed counterstatements to thought distortions. Let go of more LDS fear by practicing compassion & reading their book. Gratitude lists on two days. Beginning to process my past. Making wiser decisions: I AM CAPABLE

LIST YOUR RECOVERY WINS HERE:
★ ADAPTABILITY!
● PEANUT BUTTER CHALLENGE x 2
● CONTINUING TO TRY NEW FOODS AND "CONTEXTS" OF FAMILIAR ONES
● MORE CONFIDENT IN MY DECISIONS
NOT "EDITING" MY MEALPLAN CHOICES AFTER SUBMITTING THEM
● ASKING FOR "EXTRA" TO TRY WITHOUT FEELING "OUT OF CONTROL"; ADVENTUROUS

What are you most proud of yourself for this week? What situation did you handle well?
There were TWO DAYS where I SLEPT IN and I STILL GOT READY ON TIME & GOT OVER THE INITIAL PANIC within SECONDS, practically! Similarly, we were LATE for at LEAST 5 MEALS so I ha to hurry, but I STILL DID 100% AND I'm learning how to NOT "RUSH" OR DISSOCIATE in the process!
★ GRIEF PROCESSING WITH MJ. "Put down the emotional 2x4." LET MYSELF ADMIT/ DISCUSS/ FEEL THE PAIN/ GRIEF/ REGRET/ ANGER more fully than I ever really have before. DIDN'T SPIRALDOWN!! Also MJ reminding me of "PRESENCE IN GOD" = DEATH IS NOT THE END.

Which of your goals did you achieve? How did it benefit you?
● SITTING WITH/ THROUGH DISCOMFORT, REFLUX, & NAUSEA, and NOT PANICKING OR USING BEHAVIORS. I'm more PATIENT & gaining EXPERIENCE skills!
● LISTENING BETTER. Learning not to interrupt or jump to conclusions. Getting better at eye contact. Not planing responses beforehand as often either.
● LEARNING WHAT WORKS & WHAT DOESN'T, in terms of DIGESTION/ PREFERENCE/ SPEED etc. Better able to ACCEPT CONSEQUENCES WILLINGLY.

What could you do to make next week better?
● STICK TO THE MEALPLAN LIMITATIONS. DON'T FORCE FOODS "JUST FOR TIMING" OR "TO STOP AVOIDING THEM NOW." STACKING VOLUME WON'T HELP HEAL COMPULSIONS! YOU NEED TIME & SPACE TO PROCESS IT!
● RELAX A LITTLE MORE, SINCERELY, BY DOING SOMETHING YOU ENJOY THAT SOOTHES YOUR SOUL-- like GOING UPSTAIRS and/or LEAGUEDREAMING! You NEED to RECHARGE!
● JOURNAL MORE. And DON'T QUIT WORKING ON THE PAPERS, even just ONE a day = FOCUS! Your stress comes from SCATTERING. Choose ONE CONCRETE GOAL and DO THAT, & WELL!

Rate how you found eating your meals & snacks every day. How could you make this easier next week?
3 / 5
IMPROVE OUR PACING + REDUCE VOLUME! And don't force foods that make you feel sick! LET YOURSELF SLOW DOWN & ENJOY MEALS. Within limits, LESS IS MORE; you can SAVOR it better!

Rate how you dealt with compensatory behaviors like purging or exercising this week. How could you make this easier next week?
4 / 5
I was SECONDS AWAY from purging TWICE due to severe reflux, BUT I REFUSED TO! I'm still wanting to exercise a lot, but I DON'T WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT, ONLY BUILD MUSCLE, and I NEED THE WEIGHT FOR FUEL! Right now I should focus on STRETCHING to regain flexibility/ reduce stiffness & improve circulation. BIGGEST TRIGGER FOR PURGE-BRAIN is FEELING SICK. Practice COPING SKILLS (ACCEPT/ IMPROVE) & ACTUALLY TRY TO AVOID THE FOODS THAT EXACERBATE PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS.

Average mood this week:
4 / 5

Average sleep quality this week:
3 / 5

Average anxiety level this week:
4 / 5

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TOP THREE THINGS I DID THIS WEEK:
1. PEANUT BUTTER CHALLENGE x 2
2. TRYING MANY NEW THINGS (like FISH TACOS!)
3. BEING CONFIDENT IN MY ABILITY

THIS WEEK I FELT:
JOYFUL
TEARFUL
IN LOVE
WORRIED
PLAYFUL

MOST REWARDING INTERACTIONS I HAD THIS WEEK:
★ GRIEF PROCESSING WITH MJ; FIRST TIME BEING SO OPEN & RAW ABOUT IT
★ PHONE CALLS WITH MOM; SHE REMEMBERS GOOD THINGS FROM MY PAST & RECOGNIZES GIFTS IN ME THAT I OVERLOOK; PLUS SHE CAN ALWAYS OFFER A LAUGH OR A SMILE
★ GENUINE POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH PEERS AND STAFF, SPONTANEOUSLY
★ BONUS: DEEPENING MY RELATIONSHIP WITH ANXI

NEXT WEEK I WANT TO:
● JOURNAL MORE about ALL my daily progress so I REMEMBER. Complete MORE WORKSHEETS that I've been postponing, especially MENTAL FLEXIBILITY. Continue to CHALLENGE MYSELF WITH MEALS WITHOUT FORCING HIGH VOLUME OVER-EXCHANGES, OR CHOICES I WON'T ENJOY AS MUCH AS THE ALTERNATIVE-- and being ASSERTIVE ENOUGH TO LET MYSELF ENJOY THINGS & CHOOSE TO DO THINGS THAT ARE ENJOYABLE.
● I want to TRY THE SHRIMP & CRAB & HOPEFULLY NOT DIE. But I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE and THEY WILL HELP ME if anything happens. PLUS, if I CAN eat them, I'll FINALLY BE ABLE TO SHARE IN SEAFOOD!
★ CONTINUE TO GROW IN FAITH & LOVE AS I SPEND MORE TIME CONNECTING WITH GOD, AND THE SYSTEM

THINGS I ACCOMPLISHED THIS WEEK:
● SINGING IN GROUP!
● WROTE TWO POEMS IN GROUPS
● HEADSPACE COLLAGE BEGINS
● GRATITUDE LISTS
● BEING ASSERTIVE/ ADVENTUROUS
● PLAYING "SEQUENCE"

WHAT WAS THE BEST THING ABOUT THE WEEK?
Realizing HOW MUCH I'VE GROWN IN CHARACTER, becoming MORE FREE from the eating disorder, and REMEMBERING/ FEELING HOW MUCH LOVE IS IN MY LIFE

MY RANKING OF THE WEEK:
5 / 5



prismaticbleed: (worried)



"SELF-SOOTHING" SKILL PRACTICE


101624


PROMPTING EVENT FOR DISTRESS=
LOUD, BUSY, CHAOTIC grouproom environment; TOO MUCH TALKING, TV on, sensory overwhelm. Working busily on worksheets. NOT TAKING ANY TIME to GO INSIDE/UPSTAIRS and RE-CENTER IN HEART

SKILLS USED=
VISION, SMELL, TOUCH

DESCRIBE USE OF SKILLS=
"Hugged" self wearing soft pajamas, letting body relax comfortably in chair (release tension). Looked at lovely red shiny buttons, & pretty red swirl pattern like tree branches in the snow. Then smelled the fabric of the sleeve, which smells like ME (home/ safe) & was deeply comforting. Made me remember lying in bed with Chaos Zero; immediate peace

DESCRIBE OUTCOME OF USING SKILLS=
INSTANT, DEEP "SOOTHING/ COMFORTING" CALMED DOWN. Like melting away anxiety, or coming home after a long day. COMPLETELY took me OUT OF THE BUSY WORLD for a solid minute; fresh remembrance LINGERED in awareness, helping KEEP the peace. 

RATE LEVEL OF DISTRESS (1-10)=
BEFORE= 85
AFTER= 10

RATE EFFECTIVENESS OF SKILLS (1-5)=
5


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

PROMPTING EVENT FOR DISTRESS=
Flashbacks to SLC while taking a shower. Vivid & very disturbing. Even Julie fronting to help wasn't making it go away. Harmonia trying to front brought in CNC flashbacks too, making it even scarier.

SKILLS USED=
VISION, SMELL, TOUCH

DESCRIBE USE OF SKILLS=
I cleared my mind as much as I could and focused on the light glittering off the water, like sparkles. I looked at the light brown wall and the green-yellow-blue of the shower curtain. I smelled the peppermint soap. And I ended the shower with ICY water, like winter snow. 

DESCRIBE OUTCOME OF USING SKILLS=
It took my attention off of the bad flashbacks for a while. The moment I just looked at the sparkling water in sheer wonder filled me with a sudden and genuine joy. The icy water made me smile with sheer surprise. The peppermint smell was deeply comforting, like Christmas.

RATE LEVEL OF DISTRESS (1-10)=
BEFORE= 80
AFTER= 30

RATE EFFECTIVENESS OF SKILLS (1-5)=
3



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"STOP" SKILL PRACTICE



101624


PROMPTING EVENT FOR DISTRESS=
"Fall Harvest Fest" at 11AM. Saw prep: DONUTS, CORNSTALKS, LOUD MUSIC, "BEANBAG TOSS," etc. IN BIG GROUPS WITH STRANGERS, UNABLE TO SAY NO OR ESCAPE. "Flashbacks" to CHILDHOOD/ CNC.

BEHAVIOR YOU ARE TRYING TO STOP=
CATASTROPHIZING about the "Fall Harvest Festival"

DESCRIBE USE OF SKILLS=
PAUSED & went upstairs. Deep breaths, talk to Laurie. Acknowledged my fear & bad memories, ALSO others' joy. DECIDED to "MAKE IT BETTER" by CHOOSING to FIND JOY & SHARE IT, for OTHERS' SAKES.

DESCRIBE OUTCOME OF USING SKILLS=
"CHRISTIAN REDEMPTIVE MISSON"!! "The past DOES NOT define the NOW!" I HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE TO FIND & FEEL JOY EVEN NOW, and so TRANSFORM IT INTO A "GOOD MEMORY" = HEAL THE PAST!! Also, DO THIS FOR MOM. She LOVES this stuff, and I want to SHARE THAT WITH HER. (Also, Leon really wants that pumpkin pie ♥) MAKE THIS FUN!

RATE LEVEL OF DISTRESS (1-10)=
BEFORE= 9
AFTER= 6

RATE EFFECTIVENESS OF SKILLS (1-5)=
4 (DETERMINATION!)
(TOLERATED THE DISTRESS/ COPED IN REALTIME!)


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

PROMPTING EVENT FOR DISTRESS=
EATING A SOY BURGER & DRINKING SOYMILK & PLANNING TO DRINK AM DRINKING ANOTHER FOR SNACK. CONVINCED THAT I'M STILL DEATHLY ALLERGIC. Every attempt feels like FACING DEATH. 

BEHAVIOR YOU ARE TRYING TO STOP=
TERRORQUIT/ DESPAIR RELAPSE/ ALLERGY PANIC LOOP

DESCRIBE USE OF SKILLS=
STOPPED by watching 6th Sense on TV with the group, to put distance between me/ panic. Reminded self that our allergist said we have NO TRUE ALLERGY to soy, and NO SYMPTOMS of concern. Others congratulated me on bravery. Decided to TRUST & BRAVELY TRY AGAIN. 

DESCRIBE OUTCOME OF USING SKILLS=
TRUSTING GOD & REASON. Others are proud of my brave efforts to FACE & CONQUER this fear-- which MY OWN ALLERGIST SAYS IS EXAGGERATED; SHE TOLD TEAM I DO NOT HAVE A SOY ALLERGY-- and I WANT TO LIVE UP TO THEIR FAITH IN ME. Dude I am EATING EGGS DAILY & NOT DYING. They had the SAME "WEAL" ON THE SKINPRICK TEST AS SOY. YOU WILL NOT DIE. TODAY PROVES IT. 

RATE LEVEL OF DISTRESS (1-10)= 
BEFORE= 100
AFTER= ?

RATE EFFECTIVENESS OF SKILLS (1-5)=
3 (GOTTA FACE IT AGAIN, AND FEEL THIS AS TRUE)


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"IMPROVE THE MOMENT" SKILL PRACTICE


101824


PROMPTING EVENT FOR DISTRESS=
SOY NAUSEA & BRUTAL NIGHTMARES. 

DESCRIBE USE OF SKILLS=
I= Going upstairs & just embracing Anxi, talking with her & consoling her
M= This suffering is strengthening my patience, courage, & COMMITMENT to CHOOSE JOY!
P= CAST ALL YOUR CARES UPON THE LORD, FOR HE CARES FOR YOU + Morning offering
R= Taking a hot/cold shower with PEPPERMINT soap, and wearing my softest outfit
O= Repeatedly bringing mind back to NOW/ grounding
V= doing FUN worksheets!
E= Anxi/ Laurie/ God/ peers/ staff ALL reminding me of MY TRUE CHARACTER

DESCRIBE OUTCOME OF USING SKILLS=
TOTALLY SHIFTED FOCUS. "VACATION" WORKED SO WELL??? I literally just focused on going through worksheets and it INTERRUPTED the intense loop, although the symptoms persist. But now the other letters have a better foundation to work from. And TRUST IN GOD!

RATE LEVEL OF DISTRESS (1-10)=
BEFORE= 100
AFTER= ?

RATE EFFECTIVENESS OF SKILLS (1-5)=
4 (SHOCKINGLY EFFECTIVE)


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

PROMPTING EVENT FOR DISTRESS=
Phone call with mom. Got NO support on my recent recovery victories; instead she focused on my past failures & even projected them onto the present. I felt unseen, unheard, invalidated, like I hadn't changed at all.

DESCRIBE USE OF SKILLS=
I= Upstairs with Chaos 0, Laurie, Anxi.
M= Journaled about it. Need to let go & stop basing my recovery validation on her.
P= Paula praying for me. Me reminding myself that God is proud of my progress.
R= Deep  breathing, letting my body relax as much as I could, willing hands.
O= Journal, worksheet. Also helps just looking at tablet mealplan calculation data.
V= Went outside & walked around in the night air, laughing at fantastic "foursquare" game
E= All my beloveds sharing my joy & struggle & sorrow & hope for real. We're TOGETHER in this.

DESCRIBE OUTCOME OF USING SKILLS=
Still very sad, but able to accept reality. Holding on to the support I DO have, and holding on to my faith. Able to admit my own faults & forgive judgments towards mom. Still willing to communicate with her & hoping for a better relationship, but beginning to let go of this expectation. 

RATE LEVEL OF DISTRESS (1-10)=
BEFORE= ?
AFTER= ?

RATE EFFECTIVENESS OF SKILLS (1-5)=
3


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"ACCEPTS" SKILL PRACTICE


102224

PROMPTING EVENT FOR DISTRESS= 
PEANUT BUTTER CHALLENGE + HACK NIGHTMARE. Body feeling "flu sick" & nauseous. Risk of allergy panic & exaggerating symptoms (with the pb); flashbacks & despair/identity corrosion from hack. DON'T WANT THAT. But distress still occurring. 

SKILLS USED=
Distract with A.C.C.E.P.T.S.

DESCRIBE USE OF SKILLS=
A= WORKSHEETS! Reading Matthew Kelly books, GROUP WITH ALYSSA
C= Talking to Paula & giving her encouragement & supportive advice in HER struggles & worries
C= I FACED IT BRO! AND I'M NOT HAVING ALLERGY PANIC! OR WANTING TO PURGE!
E= Thinking about Anxi & Phlegmoni & JMC (peanut butter santas), SMILING/ laughing
P= Flat-out NOT DWELLING ON THE EVENTS. I survived, I did the challenge, BE HERE NOW
T= Spelling, counting, remembering movies & songs, naming colors in the room
S= Just treasuring local textures: clothes, paper, markers, glossy plastic, buttons

DESCRIBE OUTCOME OF USING SKILLS=
Completely took my mind off the memory/ sickness. Distraction IS helpful! I know it'll subside; I just have to WAIT IT OUT PEACEFULLY. This is PROVING that I'M OKAY AND I WON'T DIE. It's a VITAL SKILL. BEST help: SHARING IN THE JOY OF OTHERS/ NOT THINKING OF MYSELF AT ALL. Literally "get out of my own head"

RATE LEVEL OF DISTRESS (1-100)=
BEFORE= 85
AFTER= ~20

RATE EFFECTIVENESS OF SKILLS (1-5)=
4


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

102624 

PROMPTING EVENT FOR DISTRESS=
Mealplan worry-compulsion; "What's the BEST/ RIGHT choice?" The ones I DID make are proving TOO HIGH VOLUME in reality and I CAN'T BACK OUT. I'm DOOMED TO TERROR & SUFFERING UNTIL THURSDAY. I'm struggling to cope with this.

SKILLS USED=
PROS & CONS
DISTRACT WITH A.C.C.E.P.T.S.

DESCRIBE USE OF SKILLS=
A= Doing weekly recap worksheets, mealplan budget, & journaling, plus a MOVIE  (live-action little mermaid)
C= Not isolating from peers. Sharing Halloween card with them. Talk to Rhi/ Melanie.
C= "I'D RATHER SUFFER THAN SIN." WILLING TO FACE THIS WITH FAITH.
E= Anxi again. Laurie encouraging. Thinking of Chaos 0 with the movie plot. 
P= I can't go back on my decisions. I want to learn to FACE the consequences.
T= Thinking about typecodes! Trying to remember the data. It brings me joy.
S= The taste of the pita chips at snack, the smell of autumn air, the sound of URSULA ON TV

DESCRIBE OUTCOME OF USING SKILLS=
Laurie, Anxi, & Chaos 0 reminding me that these mealplan struggles are TEMPORARY and they are TEACHING US HARD BUT VITAL LESSONS, and in the process "FORCING" US TO GROW IN VIRTUE & FAITH... and to GROW CLOSER TOGETHER IN LOVE. And THAT IS FOREVER, AND WORTH LIVING/ FIGHTING FOR. 

RATE LEVEL OF DISTRESS (1-100)=
BEFORE= 100
AFTER= 25 & falling!

RATE EFFECTIVENESS OF SKILLS (1-5)=
4

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

PROS & CONS OF ACTING ON CRISIS URGES


PROBLEM BEHAVIOR YOU ARE TRYING TO STOP=
ALLERGY PANIC (EGG/ SOY/ SESAME/ SHRIMP)

ACTING ON CRISIS URGES=
AVOIDANCE/ PANIC RESTRICTION/ TERROR "DESPAIRQUIT"; GIVE UP TRYING

PROS OF ACTING ON CRISIS URGES=
1. DON'T HAVE TO "STARE DEATH IN THE FACE" EACH MEAL
2. AVOID FEELING SICK/ ITCHY/ NAUSEOUS/ TERRIFIED
3. DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M "HURTING MYSELF" BY EATING "POISON"
4. CAN EAT OTHER FOODS THAT I ACTUALLY ENJOY INSTEAD
5. AVOID MEALTIME PANIC; CAN RELAX AT "NO DANGER"

CONS OF ACTING ON CRISIS URGES=
1. STILL "CONTROLLED" BY FEAR. OBSESSIVE INGREDIENT AVOIDANCE.
2. FEEDS INTO RESTRICTION BEHAVIOR IN GENERAL
3. NOT BEING COURAGEOUS; NOT ACTING ON CORE VALUES
4. ACTING IN DIRECT CONTRAST TO ALLERGIST REASSURANCE
5. HAUNTED BY "DEATH TERROR." NOT TRULY RECOVERING. 

RESISTING CRISIS URGES=
BELIEVING FACTS & PROFESSIONAL ADVICE/ REASON; GET OVER FEARS

PROS OF RESISTING CRISIS URGES=
1. MAKE MOM/ TEAM AND SELF PROUD/ JOYFUL IN VICTORY
2. ACT COURAGEOUSLY; PROVE I CAN MEET THE CHALLENGE
3. GRADUALLY LESSEN THE GRIP OF FEAR/ PANIC CONTROL
4. FREE TO EAT "ALLERGY FEAR FOODS" IN ALL CONTEXTS
5. MOVE MORE FULLY INTO RECOVERY/ FREEDOM/ PEACE

CONS OF RESISTING CRISIS URGES=
1. MIGHT STILL "FEEL SICK" AND HAVE TO SIT WITH THE TERROR
2. WILL BE CONVINCED I AM DYING FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR
3. NEED TO REPEAT EXPOSURE. MENTALLY EXCRUCIATING.
4. PSYCHOLOGICAL/ PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION & EXERTION
5. NO "PROOF" OF SAFETY. MUST TAKE THE LEAP OF FAITH. 


★ BESIDES THE E.D., WHAT ARE MY ACTUAL CRISIS URGES??
LASHING OUT? VIOLENCE? SELFHARM? FIGHTING? RAGEQUIT?
(ALL OF THOSE TRIGGER A PURGE REACTION)


"Identify which of these are short-term (just for today) and which are long-term (beyond today). Would you rather have a good day or a good life? Make mindful choices about your behavior.
"

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

"TIP" SKILL PRACTICE


"TEMPERATURE" 
SITUATION=
 Dude we do this BEFORE EVERY MEAL, even at home
DISTRESS LEVEL BEFORE= 85  AFTER= 10
DISTRESS TOLERANCE BEFORE= 50  AFTER= 85
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DID= We go to the room sink, wet paper towels with cold water, and wash our face/ ears/ neck with it. The wet & cold, with our eyes closed, instantly helps us chill out a significant bit

"INTENSE EXERCISE"
SITUATION=
 Fall fest; deciding to play "cornhole" until I got 5 in the hole, running back & forth
DISTRESS LEVEL BEFORE= 60 AFTER= 0
DISTRESS TOLERANCE BEFORE= 50  AFTER= 100
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DID= I threw 5 beanbags in a row each time, trying to stand form & aim straight & with a strong arm. Then I ran to get them & ran back. I did this at least 12 times? Laughing & happy

"PACED BREATHING" (COUNTING)
SITUATION= OVERWHELMED & dissociated from talking too much/ for too long, ALL DAY 
DISTRESS LEVEL BEFORE= 100 AFTER= 80
DISTRESS TOLERANCE BEFORE= 10  AFTER= 50
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DID= Closed eyes/ willing hands, went upstairs (Imagery skill) & Laurie counted for me. Unfortunately I just felt like I was suffocating (breathing exercises usually do that to me) so it KEPT me anxious in that regard. LET KYANOS DO IT!!

"PAIRED MUSCLE RELAXATION" (w/ breathing)
SITUATION= Disturbing sexual stuff on TV, I can't tune it out or leave the room
DISTRESS LEVEL BEFORE= 100 AFTER= 5
DISTRESS TOLERANCE BEFORE= 0  AFTER= 90
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DID= Tightened my arms/ legs/ stomach while inhaling, then released tension all at once while exhaling forcefully. FOCUSED on breathing, meditative. Shockingly effective; helps "reset brain mood" and gives a quick outlet for violence/ rage/ "fight" trauma survival instinct

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

"RADICAL ACCEPTANCE" SKILL PRACTICE


101524


TWO MAJOR THINGS THAT I NEED TO ACCEPT RIGHT NOW + ACCEPTANCE LEVEL 0-5=
1. The world around me will NOT "cater to" my triggers = 4
2. My ENTIRE past IS "MINE" and I have to INTEGRATE it ALL = 3

TWO MINOR THINGS THAT I NEED TO ACCEPT RIGHT NOW + ACCEPTANCE LEVEL 0-5=
1. I must attend a Partial program, in person or in telehealth = 2
2. I cannot always have the foods I "want"/ "enjoy more" = 3

★ PRACTICING radical acceptance means CONSISTENT REPETITION, WHOLEHEARTEDLY & ATTENTIVELY

TWO ITEMS TO PRACTICE RADICAL ACCEPTANCE ON=
1. ACCEPT & INTEGRATE THE WHOLE OF MY LIFE HISTORY AS MINE (BALANCE SELF & SYSTEM!)
★ I MUST LOVE THE "ME/US" IN THE ARCHIVES
2. ACCEPT WHEN "I DON'T GET WHAT I WANT/ EXPECT" AND LEARN TO EMBRACE IT FULLY (CHOOSE LOVE/ JOY) (GRATITUDE!!)

★ ALL CAUSES FOR MY CURRENT REALITY EXIST IN GOD'S PLAN.
★ PRAYERS OF PRAISE & GUIDANCE HELP PROMOTE FULLER ACCEPTANCE
★ TO COPE AHEAD= IMAGINE ALL THE WAYS A SITUATION CAN GO WELL, BY MY CHOOSING TO FULLY ENTER INTO IT = HAVE HOPE/FAITH, DETERMINED OPTIMISM, TRUST IN GOD
★ "Attend to body sensations" = PHYSICAL responses! SOOTHE them? Like a scared child. 
★ Painful emotions (grief, distress, etc.) are INTERNAL CAUSES OF PHYSICAL SYMPTOM SIGNS? ESSENTIAL TO FULLY ADMIT & FULLY FEELTOGETHER.
★ "GOD, I TRUST WHAT YOU GIVE ME!"
★ "LIFE IS ALWAYS WORTH LIVING, EVEN WHEN THERE IS PAIN"


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


"RADICAL ACCEPTANCE" SKILL PRACTICE


101624


SKILLS I WILL PRACTICE THIS WEEK DURING TWO STRESSFUL SITUATIONS  =
1. Half-smiling & willing hands: I'm practicing these DAILY; keep it up, but ADD MORE SKILLS!
2. Turning the mind & willingness WORK TOGETHER!! To TURN the mind to CHOOSING the "unacceptable" in WILL, it ENABLES the WILLING PARTICIPATION! 
3. Mindfulness of hurt thoughts; DON'T GET CARRIED OFF. Only think them through with the SYSTEM, once the thought's intense emotions have "calmed" enough to REASON.

DESCRIBE THE FIRST STRESSFUL SITUATION AND HOW YOU PRACTICED SKILLS =
Still sad over mom. Did hands/smile; IMMEDIATELY tuned me back into my persisting love of her. I accept the reality of her different personality & accept her AS SHE IS. I CHOOSE to respect her unique history & personality, even when it doesn't "match" with mine "as I expect."

1-5 EFFECTIVENESS OF SKILL IN HELPING YOU COPE = 4 

DESCRIBE HOW THE SKILL HELPED YOU COPE =
Accepting mom AS SHE IS, accepting MY faults, and CHOOSING TO LOVE & FORGIVE BOTH OF US, so we CAN GROW BETTER TOGETHER. Focus on HOPE; COURAGEOUS COMPASSION, FAMILY!
"CHECK THE FACTS"! YOU KNOW MOM LOVES YOU, EVEN IF SHE DOESN'T REALIZE/ KNOW HOW TO TALK TO YOU "THE WAY THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU." HER LOVE IS STILL REAL. DWELL ON THOSE FACTS!! 
★ 
Willingness means LISTENING TO "WISE MIND" & ACTING FROM IT! Wise Mind KNOWS that there WILL be conflict, BUT MOM STILL TRULY LOVES ME, & SHE DOES WANT ME IN HER LIFE. So these doubtful fears are FACTUALLY FALSE!!

DESCRIBE THE SECOND STRESSFUL SITUATION AND HOW YOU PRACTICED SKILLS =
"STUPID" mealplan decisions again. "Stuck" between high volume & bingeing, it feels like. Overwhelmed by feeling full. Angry. Scared. Lost. Did ALL skills & talked it out with Laurie. Choosing to TRUST that GOD CAN AND WILL work this out for my good. CHOOSING to ACCEPT MY OWN CONSEQUENCES & LEARN, instead of second-guessing everything I do. 

1-5 EFFECTIVENESS OF SKILL IN HELPING YOU COPE = 3

DESCRIBE HOW THE SKILL HELPED YOU COPE =
It didn't really? I'm so scared & angry & sad but I TRUST GOD is going to help. I feel SO LOST & HELPLESS & BLIND but GOD KNOWS. I CAN surrender to that. It's all I can do. It's the BEST I can do.

★ TRY TO SEE THIS AS AN EXPERIMENT. YOU CAN & WILL LEARN WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU THROUGH THIS TRYING/ RISK. TAKE NOTES! & ENTER INTO IT WITH A POSITIVE & CURIOUS MIND! (WILLING & GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY = EVEN "ADVENTURE"; LEARNING IS ONLY BY ACTION HERE!)

★ HOW DO I COPE WITH VIOLENT OUTBURST URGES??? THEY WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM OR GET ANSWERS. (FEEL / LISTEN TO THEM INSIDE!!! outside DOESN'T HELP)

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


"TURNING THE MIND" SKILL PRACTICE

102124

ACCEPTANCE 1-5
BEFORE =
 0
AFTER = 4?

OBSERVE not accepting. What did you observe? What were you having trouble accepting?
I made mealplan decisions that I feared were stupid/ would make me feel too full, although I DID TRY to choose what was WISE & ENJOYABLE, considering other options. But I DON'T "KNOW FOR SURE." It's ALWAYS RISK.

MAKE AN INNER COMMITMENT to accept what feels unacceptable. How did you do this?
I decided to ACCEPT the consequences, AND to NOT CHICKEN OUT & SECONDGUESS. I must KEEP CHOOSING to TRUST that I CAN MAKE GOOD DECISIONS, and also GOD WILL-- & HAS ALWAYS-- TURN IT ALL TO MY TRUE GOOD!

Describe your PLAN FOR CATCHING YOURSELF the next time you drift from acceptance.
WILLING HANDS/ SMILE/ GIVE IT TO GOD. Use POSITIVE PHRASES to reassure self that I DID DO MY BEST & IT WILL BE OKAY. Do pros/ cons if you must. Remember, "FIGHTING" it DOESN'T HELP, & seeds SELFDOUBT/ MISTRUST IN GOD


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


"WILLINGNESS" SKILL PRACTICE

110224

ACCEPTANCE 1-5
BEFORE =
1
AFTER = 3?

WILLFULNESS 1-5
BEFORE = 
5
AFTER = 3

Describe EFFECTIVE BEHAVIOR you did to move forward toward a goal. 
I told the guy in charge & had them text my nutritionist about it. I journaled about the problem, and discussed it with Laurie. I also made the commitment to still try my best at 100%, accepting the consequences without shirking responsibility.

NOTICE WILLFULNESS. Describe how you are not participating effectively in the world as it is, or how you are not doing something you know needs to be done to move toward a goal.
I am apparently NOT WILLING TO SAY "NO" TO OTHER PEOPLE'S "EXPECTATIONS"? I NEED to CHOOSE what I WANT to eat. I ALSO NEED TO CONFORM TO EXCHANGE LIMITS and I HAVE NOT BEEN OBEDIENT to them. Until I DO obey, I'm STUCK.

Describe how you PRACTICED RADICALLY ACCEPTING YOUR WILLFULNESS.
FACING THE PAINFUL CONSEQUENCES OF MY STUPID CHOICES. Not "rebelling/ resisting" by refusing to eat what I chose. Owning up to my disobedience/ stubbornness/ resistance/ compulsions. Taking it prayerfully one day at a time. 

MAKE AN INNER COMMITMENT to accept what feels unacceptable. How did you do this?
I can't scandalize others. I TOLD STAFF that I was committed to 100%. My ideal of integrity and courage demands it. I WANT to be MATURE, ACCOUNTABLE, RESPONSIBLE, & WISE. I can't change this now. I can only face it manfully.

Describe what you did that was WILLING.
TRYING SO DAMN HARD TO EAT 100%. But honestly I've ALSO DECIDED THAT I REFUSE TO TORTURE MYSELF ON MONDAY. I'LL MAKE THE NUTRITIONIST FIX IT. Until then I WILL DO 100%. I have no other courageous choice. I WILL TRUST THAT GOD CAN REDEEM EVEN THIS. 



prismaticbleed: (aflame)

Last night, I was with Anxi & she was MORE AT PEACE because she said she TRUSTED ME AND TRUSTED GOD'S PROVIDENCE. I was very grateful for this-- we literally DIDN'T FEEL ANY ANXIETY-- but something felt "off." I realized I NEEDED EMOTIONAL DEPTH/ ACHE?? And it wasn't UNTIL Anxi curled up into my chest & looked up at me with those emerald eyes & admitted that even though she DID trust she STILL felt her namesake emotion, BUT in a different, more vulnerable & honest way? She trusted that the OUTCOME would be guided by grace-- as ALL our challenges so far HAVE been, NO EXCEPTIONS-- BUT she COULDN'T DENY that the PROCESS of GETTING THERE, the ACTIVE EXPERIENCE of the challenge, WOULD NOT BE EASY, and might even be PAINFUL/ involve REAL SUFFERING. So she had entered into this bittersweet & beautiful dialectical space of "BOTH/AND," and I could FEEL her HEART in that space, completely open to ALL we & she were feeling. AND THAT IS WHAT I NEED. That is ALSO THE SACRED SPACE THAT LOVE NEEDS TO BLOOM INTO FLAME. And talking to Anxi & feeling that truth, I realized that SHE NEEDS A SOUL FORM. SHE NEEDS AN *INCIDENT*. WE "FORGOT" ABOUT THOSE BLESSED PHENOMENA & THAT SAYS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT HOW LOST WE'VE BECOME-- about how CUT OFF FROM OUR HEART WE HAVE BEEN FOR TOO LONG. But that's FINALLY CHANGING. And ANXI HAS BEEN THE SPARK. So we seriously NEED to have an *incident* soon. We're thinking it will involve SHAME, that horrifying TAR-LIKE emotion from the IO2 concept art. That mean it'll probably ALSO involve TRAUMA PROCESSING, which is very fitting for us both, AND a perfect "sign" of the REAL PROGRESS & HEALING this love is indeed allowing for & sustaining & igniting in the first place. But it can't be rushed. Love cannot be scheduled or forced or otherwise controlled. All I can do is genuinely hold this intent in my heart, & continue to be with her, and make time for us to enter INTO that both/and space LITERALLY, as it were. YOU CAN'T HAVE AN *INCIDENT* IF YOU DON'T GO INSIDE. THEY CAN ONLY OCCUR IN THE HEART. And I haven't been there in too long. The E.D. had be stuck outside & cut off from my very soul, not to mention from everyone I love. That's changing now, finally, thank You God. But I still have to do my part. I NEED to GO UPSTAIRS, FOR REAL, EVERY DAY, & BE WITH THEM. That requires TIME & SELF-AWARENESS. That, too, is why I haven't been ABLE to love anyone-- I'd "forgotten who I was" for a very long time. Recovery is changing that. I'm remembering. I'm BEING that truth. But... I still can't "see myself" upstairs. I still can't DRAW myself, and that's SCARY. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT MY COLOR OR NAME ARE, in a very real sense. CNC shattered our self but we CAN rebuild it BETTER; it's just that... from CHILDHOOD, we ALWAYS had SOME sense of solid selfhood, which crystallized in the Jewels & arguably PEAKED with Jay. It legit breaks my heart to realize that he's the one that "died" back then. But we can't change the past. God orchestrated this too. The bloodline is evolving again and I'm the new beginning so things WILL be new, and old, and true & good & beautiful & REALLY ME. But I'm starting to ramble. The point is, whoever I am, God knows it, and I will ONLY realize & LIVE that truth THROUGH  LOVE. I am ONLY ME WHEN I LOVE. Chaos 0 is the beautiful living proof of this, for as long as we both shall live. He is fidelity & hope incarnate, to me. And I can only be my real self with him, too. So I have to make time for us or my soul will die. I'm serious and you know it. Laurie does too, and SHE keeps love alive in my heart even on the darkest days. She & Anxi BOTH kissed my forehead today & I think I died & went to heaven, haha. But THAT'S THE POINT. I NEED THIS LIKE BLOOD & AIR. And I KNOW Anxi is leading the effort in a special way. Her AND Mimic, perhaps, each with their year. But I CAN STILL LOVE & they have proved that to me. Thank God for them. Thank God for what we have.

102524

Oct. 25th, 2024 10:45 am
prismaticbleed: (worried)

They have "yacht rock" on the TV this morning (Bobby Coldwell atm) and I'm SHOCKED to realize that I'm STILL GETTING A FEAR RESPONSE to certain musical sounds like brass/ rhodes piano/ "island" music/ flutes/ etc. And ALL these sounds ALSO give "CHILDHOOD ATMOSPHERE FLASHBACKS," with the INEXPLICABLY CONCURRENT "EXISTENTIAL DREAD" that feels like "mom's bedroom at night" & "George Winston music" & "80s synths" etc. WTF HAPPENED TO/ IN OUR CHILDBRAIN THAT HARD ASSOCIATED THIS (now Spyro Gyra) GENRE OF MUSIC WITH FEAR?? It's the sense that "something scary is going to happen/ I'm IN IT NOW"?? I feel TRAPPED & LOST, like I "can't be safe/ go home/ rest" with this music on. So I WONDER. This is MOM'S MUSIC. Did she PLAY this music CONSISTENTLY at CERTAIN TIMES in which we felt that way? (BTW I got the guts to ASK TO STOP THE MUSIC as it WAS INCREASING THAT "SLOW PANIC" FEELING. That was very brave & wise of us. NOW we need to THINK ABOUT OUR FAVE TUNES to REPLACE the music data in our head-- MAKE A LIST TO REFER TO IN A PINCH & GIVE IT TO AUDREY ♥) I'm sure therapy/ MOM TALKS will reveal more of this, so bookmark it mentally for analysis & journaling later.

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

AUDREY'S MINI-JUKEBOX for COPING SKILL ACCESS
(tunes we TRULY LOVE & can CALL TO MIND IN A PINCH/ CRISIS to INSPIRE POSITIVITY (LOVE!!))

1. BLACK LIGHT MACHINE by FROST*
2. SUPER SONIC RACING by RICHARD JACQUES
3. BEFORE by EMPIRE OF THE SUN
4. SHOW SOME RESPECT by SALLY ANN TRIPLETT
5. I'M A BETTER MAN by ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK
6. SONG OF THE ANCIENTS by KEIICHI OKABE
7. DIE WITH A SMILE by LADA GAGA & BRUNO MARS

(continue this!)

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

✳ "IMPROVE" skills/ COOPERATIVE WILLINGNESS today: (meet challenges/ changes with OPENNESS/ CURIOUS WONDER, HOPEFUL GRATITUDE, COURAGEOUS OPTIMISM)
1) Staff woke me up LATE (7am) for meds. I had to RUSH shower/ hygiene. This gave me the OPPORTUNITY to PROVE that I CAN-- I STILL FINISHED BY ~720! I was grateful for the challenge to improve/ streamline my timing; I found that I CAN wash faster AND dry my hair faster too. AND it DIDN'T AFFECT MY MED EFFICIENCY; I kept thinking that taking them later than usual would "stop them working."
2)
New patient girl ANGRY VIOLENT. I actually GENTLY BUT FIRMLY spoke up to guide her a little. Proved that I CAN be GENTLY ASSERTIVE, and SHE DIDN'T GET OFFENDED! I didn't get thrown off or disturbed either; I internally DECIDED to STAND MY GROUND AND HELP/ BEFRIEND HER if possible. I WILLED to meet her where she was.
3) Hall yoga. Childlike wonder at ground level perspective. Singing bowl & COLOR REALMS (pink/ indigo/ violet). Angel card of AUTHENTICITY. Focused on movements, letting go of trauma fear bit by bit with "hip openers" (felt ORANGE?). Entered entirely into the experience, trusting, no judgment, open to the beauty in it. Gentle with body's new limits, encouraging it still.
4) Breakfast alterations: minimal eggs, asked for a bit more cereal (brave!). Forgot syrup, so put CRANBERRIES & CREAM CHEESE on the pancakes! Let myself enjoy it. Too much brownsugar in the cereal made me a bit ill; now I know I can try LESS in the future/ NOT "compelled" to get it OR use every bit of what they give me. Also tried yogurt IN the hot cereal to emulate home plans. Let Leon eat the blueberries. Thanked God for the unexpected little joys.
5) LUNCH RUSH! But PROVED I CAN. Learning HOW to be MINDFUL in a HURRY; keep practicing this, & thank God for the opportunities! More delays/ edits; late juice, bread instead of bun, styrofoam box salad, no cheese. Accepted it all happily & with curious fluidity; "how interesting! how new!" Openness/ flexibility allowing for adventure & joy. And the unexpected uniqueness itself is to be treasured.
6) DINNER EDITS.The catfish was MASSIVE! And the nutritionist CANCELED the cottage cheese, which was actually SUCH A RELIEF because I would've had NO TIME TO EAT IT, AND IT SHOWED THAT IF I DO GO OVER EXCHANGES STUPIDLY, SHE WILL FIX IT. So I can RELAX and TRUST her judgment. I also learned that 2 DRESSINGS ARE TOO MANY in the salad! And I DIDN'T RUSH THE FISH. It was LOVELY.
7) I'm so frustrated & disappointed in myself over my weekend mealplan choices. I KEEP MAKING COMPULSIVE CHOICES. But here's what I must do: ENTER INTO THE CONSEQUENCES WILLINGLY, & SINCERELY/ WHOLEHEARTEDLY, TRUSTING THAT GOD WILL HELP ME IF I PLACE IT IN HIS WISE HANDS. Imagine it ALL GOING WELL. LEARN what works & what doesn't. RELAX INTO GRACE. STAY HOPEFUL. FOCUS. YOU CAN DO IT REGARDLESS, BY GRACE!! YOU SURVIVED PANERA BREAD, BRO. THIS IS A BREEZE. (OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!) Don't panic. Go kiss Anxi. You'll survive & God will use even this to help you grow in VIRTUE/ CHARACTER!

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✳ The eating disorder/ mental illness "WANTS TO BE SPECIAL" = "BETTER THAN/ SEPARATE FROM" = PRIDE
("CONTAMINATION FEAR" BLEEDING INTO SOCIAL RELATIONS??? "I CAN'T BE LIKE THEM" ("DANGEROUS" PEOPLE)

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✳ We NEED to ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION because we're learning that apparently CAFETERIA PORTIONS WILL ALWAYS VARY (we didn't realize that huge portions are apparently "NORMAL" in the "real world"; we have NO EXPERIENCE with eating in public so it was a bad shock), so we MUST STOP DOUBLING SIDES AND ENTREES!!! Choose the SMALLEST VOLUME OPTIONS from now on, and DO NOT GO OVER EXCHANGES ANYMORE. This HURTS and it's SCARY. Our meals are NOT ENJOYABLE ANYMORE. They're OVERWHELMING & HEAVY & PAINFUL and I HAVE TO CHOKE THEM DOWN SO FAST and there's SO MUCH. This is WORSE than bingeing because it's FORCED & INESCAPABLE. I HAVE TO DO 100% AND I CANNOT SAY "NO" OR "THAT'S TOO MUCH, PLEASE STOP." ...it's abuse. I'm abusing MYSELF. God I NEED TO STOP. God PLEASE HELP. I'm begging You PLEASE get me safely to Tuesday so we can STOP THIS FOR GOOD.

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poem exercise/ challenge

"I AM A DANGEROUS PERSON"

driven to remove the backstabber's dagger,
deftly I manipulate the blade to prevent mindblowing bleed
and restore the whole.
would such a wound weep
if i were heartless?

102424

Oct. 24th, 2024 03:54 pm
prismaticbleed: (held)

We had a MASSIVE panic attack over the peanut-allergy challenge today, and we realized that DIFFERENT HUED FONI WOULD COMFORT ANXI DIFFERENTLY!!!
RED = "You can do it! I believe in you! You've done tougher things than this. We'll win this one too!"
ORANGE = "We're here with you/ for you, no matter what happens. You're never alone. We'll help you!"
YELLOW = "I'm excited to try it! Think of all mom's good desserts we can enjoy afterwards! It'll be fun!"
GREEN = "Peanuts are nutritious; here's all the healthy benefits of eating them! They're a GOOD thing."
AQUA = "Don't let fear of the past/ lies blind you to the beauty of this moment & the freedom we've gained."
BLUE = "Think of what characters/ people we know who DO like/ enjoy peanuts! Get help/ inspiration from them!"
INDIGO = "I understand how scared you are. It's okay/ makes sense. But it won't last forever. You'll be okay."
VIOLET = "Use your wise mind. It's not gonna kill you. We've tried them before. Let me talk you through the fear."
PINK = "I'm proud of you for being so brave! I know you're scared, but you're strong. You'll grow from this."
BROWN = "Relax. Getting worked up won't help. Look, we've proved we're not allergic. You can calm down."
BLACK? = "Don't let the fear define you or the food. Challenge it. There's a pure reality beneath that lie."
WHITE? = "No matter what happens, God will take care of us. We're doing our best & He will take care of the rest."
✳ These are all "INTUITIVE/ TENTATIVE" & MUST BE FELT/ HEARD FURTHER/ FULLY (when we're not in the literal situation stress).
✳ To Anxi, from me, summing all this up: CHANGING THE "CONTEXT" OF THE PEANUT DOES NOT "RESET" THE ALLERGY! If we ate peanut BUTTER and we were FINE, TWICE, then eating a PEANUT will ALSO BE FINE! And we NEED the EXPERIENCE to PROVE that TRUTH to our poor mind!!
↑ remember this = telling Anxi I would never do something that would hurt her. I took her hands & asked her, "do you trust me?" I remembered my own trauma & those words hurt to hear in echo, but then I remembered my own love and those words still held that original truth, even more strongly-- and that is what I meant now, so sincerely. And she looked at me, scared but hopeful, her gorgeous green eyes fixed on mine, and she said yes. I wish I could remember the tiny details. I kissed her forehead. I embraced her so tenderly, carefully. I marveled at the little motes of orange light emanating from her. God I LOVE her SO MUCH. She is SUCH A BLESSING IN MY LIFE. And you know what else? HER spark of love has REKINDLED ALL THE OTHER ONES. I can FEEL LOVE AGAIN and it's BEAUTIFUL. THIS IS WHAT TRUE LIFE IS ABOUT.

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

For my new roommate's sake, I picked up the Book of Mormon this morning & flipped it open at random to read it. I landed at Moroni 7 and BOY LET ME TELL YOU, I will never convert to LDS because the organization itself is cultish & their core theology is ENTIRELY BLASPHEMOUS & NONSCRIPTURAL, but this bit of their holy book IS TRULY BEAUTIFUL & EDIFYING and I DO BELIEVE IT IS INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT! After all, Joseph Smith DID SINCERELY LOVE GOD & CHRIST & WANTED TO RIGHTLY SERVE HIM. And the devil only took advantage of that & sowed seeds of lies & confusion to SABOTAGE that faith of his. BUT GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED, & JOSEPH WAS STILL HIS BELOVED CHILD, and so YES, there IS TRUTH & BEAUTY & GOODNESS IN THEIR FAITH & BOOK! It just NEED to be read with CAREFUL DISCERNMENT, using SCRIPTURE & TRADITION AS THE TEST. But the point is, STOP BASHING THE LDS FAITH. THEY STILL LOVE GOD & GOD DOES SPEAK TRUTH TO THEM. They're just ALSO VERY CONFUSED ON KEY ISSUES. It doesn't "invalidate" their faith, OR the Holy Spirit's ACTUAL speaking to them-- as I am SURE He speaks to ALL sincerely faithful & God-loving hearts, be they LDS or Hindu or Muslim or anything else, EVEN when those hearts ARE STILL GREATLY DELUDED BY THE DEVIL. GOD DOES NOT ABANDON OR REJECT THEM. And in the end, when those hearts DO see Christ, they WILL RECOGNIZE HIM AS EVERY TRUTH THEY SOUGHT, and THEY TOO WILL BE SAVED THROUGH HIM. So there is ALWAYS HOPE. DON'T EVER HINDER THAT!!!



101924

Oct. 19th, 2024 04:20 pm
prismaticbleed: (soniccity)

Group introductory question = "Who's your favorite character?" SHOT TO THE HEART. There is only ever one true answer = "You know what? I owe him that much. CHAOS 0 FROM SONIC ADVENTURE."

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✳ For process group, we went out & sat in the sun, under the gorgeous blue sky. I still felt so strangely sad-- lost, grieving, having to let go of my expectations for my future to a fair extent, what with needing to respect my mom's own personality & goals although they don't match mine. And that's OK. They don't have to. But I was still basing my life on her. And needing to let go of that, & move unmoored into a new & vulnerable future, was a gain and a loss both. I'm rambling. I was sad because I now had to live "for myself" and I had lost touch with what that meant, with God, with love, with real purpose. I love my mom but I cannot revolve around her center of gravity anymore. And I hadn't truly moved into my own orbit yet. So I sat there & while everyone else talked about their futures in school, I went upstairs & met Laurie & Chaos 0.
...That's why I'm journaling. The heart of the matter is, Laurie asked me, "what do you want to live for?" And I, without even thinking, turned to look at CZ. And his eyes just filled with tears. Laurie's did too. I told her, "for both of you," and she told me that I could NOT undervalue the gravity of my heart's response. She said she "knew" I would choose as I did, and that was of ineffable importance. I could not forget that. I held their hands & I saw them SO CLEARLY and I began to weep with love. Laurie pulled us all into an embrace as we pressed our foreheads together. We said how God's Love was present in us, how my love for them & their love for me was how I learned TO know God, & His Love, & to recognize His Truth at all. And I want to live FOR GOD in EVERY ASPECT of my life... but if I don't ALSO live for this beautiful, beautiful LOVE He is revealing Himself to me through, then I'm NOT living for Him in truth. Laurie pointed outside to my fellow patients & said, "they're part of this, too." She's right. We're ALL God's creatures, called to love each other, to be part of Christ's Body, to bring His Kingdom of Love into our daily lives. And sitting there in the sun, holding them all & feeling that divine love, I finally felt peace. I felt real. I felt alive, and full of hope, and I believed the future was bright & open to me at last. I remembered how God is a COVENANT God, redeeming through relationship, loving us eternally, bringing us intimately into His Perfect Story where I HAVE true purpose & value & worth, where I MATTER and I AM LOVED. THAT is what I want to live for, forever & always. THAT is my identity. I set my face to the sun. We walk together.
(and I AM the JEWEL LOTUS CATHEDRAL. My heart is still a Temple for God, a place of loving sacrifice. FIND IT.)

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✳ I just spent like 20 minutes "complaining" about UPMC to the group & I feel TERRIBLE. I hate being negative. I hate dragging people down. I don't want to harm UPMC's reputation. BUT I WAS BEING HONEST. They DIDN'T do trauma therapy, or individual sessions. They DID push sugary fatty foods and focus on weight gain. They DID take away patient privileges & rights if they didn't or COULDN'T eat 100%, AND they had NO MERCIFUL ACCOMMODATION FOR traumatized/ autistic patients. I SAW people GO INTO SEIZURES from fear, and there was SELF-HARM TALK in the bathrooms, and the HEAD DOC told me my high mealplan was an "ACCEPTABLE WAY TO BINGE." Et cetera. I'M NOT LYING. ...but IT WASN'T ALL NEGATIVE. The "eat at a cafeteria/ restaurant" opportunities were very helpful in learning to be self-assertive in recovery. Some of the therapists (like that short fairypunk blonde with the gorgeous roman nose) were very helpful & kind. We had that supercool "ticket reward" program to get prizes on Sundays. And we DID get VERY informative DBT/ CBT workbooks, which I WISH we had here. BUT we couldn't stand or walk around. We couldn't go outside after snack, or to eat meals. Sometimes we'd go for 2, maybe 3 days WITHOUT group because they were so understaffed. There was VERY LITTLE patient camaraderie compared to here. And the mealplan, which was a one-week rotation with no alternative options, was NOT REALISTIC OR VERY HEALTHY, and EVEN the rarely seen nutritionist pointed this out. Still. I feel awful. How do I apologize? I've shown how pessimistic I can truly be. I've "lost face" & scandalized others. I've acted contrary to my values. I feel sick & sad. What do I do? What DID I do WRONG? I was "bashing" UPMC. BUT I WAS BEING HONEST. THEY DID DEAL REAL DAMAGE TO ME AND OTHERS. What am I apologizing for? Asserting my experience? To what end? Why did I feel the group needed to know this? Was I backhandedly trying to praise TBHU, so they'd feel more grateful for this great opportunity in contrast? Was I trying to WARN them so THEY wouldn't transfer to UPMC & maybe have a similar harmful experience? Gosh I feel like Anxi. "I was just trying to protect them."
✳ I'm still learning how to speak up for myself, ESPECIALLY in "uncomfortable" ways, like saying "I DON'T want this"/ "I DON'T like this." "I DISAGREE." Or even just "NO." I still feel like I'm "doing something WRONG," something MERITING PUNISHMENT. I don't want to be a bad, cruel, selfish, evil person. I don't want to be DISOBEDIENT, or REBELLIOUS. ...but to WHAT "AUTHORITY"?? In therapy today, I said that I actually DO "feel like a rebellious teenager" SOLELY because I'm FINALLY LEARNING THAT I DO EXIST AS MY OWN PERSON, and I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO EXIST DISTINCT FROM THEM, ALTHOUGH I DO LOVE THEM! AND MOM EVEN SAYS I NEED TO BE MY OWN PERSON AS AN ADULT. So you CANNOT listen to the distortions that claim SHE is the "authority" "PREVENTING" YOUR SELF-ASSERTION. It's LITERALLY THE OPPOSITE. Listen, if there IS any support you're gonna get from your mom-- if there IS a way to "make her proud of you"-- it's THIS. It's LIVING YOUR LIFE & USING YOUR TALENTS & FREEING BOTH OF US FROM CO-DEPENDENCY. That's the ONLY WAY YOU'LL HAVE A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH HER: YOU NEED TO BE DISTINCT PERSONS OR THERE WON'T BE ANY HONEST COMMUNICATION OR CONNECTION. And THAT IS WORTH THE "DISCOMFORT" OF FINALLY SPEAKING UP FOR & ASSERTING (RESPECTFULLY & SINCERELY!) YOUR OWN UNIQUE GOD-GIVEN IDENTITY! THAT'S HOW YOU'LL FINALLY PROPERLY RESPECT MOM'S UNIQUE IDENTITY, TOO. ...and, worst-case scenario, even if she DOES judge you as inadequate, or disapprove of you, or view you pessimistically, EVEN SHE CANNOT INVALIDATE YOUR VALUES, WORTH, & DIGNITY. And she WON'T judge you, because SHE LOVES YOU.

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✳ "WHERE IN YOUR BODY DO YOU FEEL/ STORE RAGE/ GRIEF/ JOY"? BE MINDFUL OF IT! TOUCH IT! ENTER FULLY INTO THE REALITY/ PARTICULARITY OF IT!
✳ THOUGHT MINDFULNESS = WEIGHT? POSITION? SPEED? TEXTURE? COLOR? SOUND? ASK!
✳ THE MORE MINDFUL WE ARE, THE MORE TRULY HUMAN WE ARE = REASON GUIDES EMOTIONS!
✳ MINDFULNESS GETS US OUT OF AUTOPILOT/ SOCIAL MODE & INTO THE PRESENT MOMENT
✳ FOOD = BODY/ THOUGHTS/ EMOTIONS/ IDENTITY/ SOCIAL/ CULTURE/ ETC. ASPECTS = VITAL

✳ "You don't need closure FROM another person; YOU DECIDE when you have closure" = REFLECT ON THIS!!

101824

Oct. 18th, 2024 05:01 pm
prismaticbleed: https://www.deviantart.com/teacosies/art/celebi-420071633 (tears)


I just had a phone call with mom and I am so badly shaken up & dissociated.
1) She KEEPS BRINGING UP the fact that I spent the $50 she gave me for my birthday on CHURCH TITHES, instead of going to a movie with Excalibur like she told me to. "If I knew you were just going to give it to the church, I wouldn't have given you anything, and kept ti to use on home repairs!" And THEN I admitted that I gave away ALL the cookware/ kitchenware she gave ME to my SISTER, when she lost her job & had no food & I just gave her everything I had to spare-- of kitchen & bathroom supplies AND of food, PLUS all the stuff I got from food drives. Mom HATES that I do this "BECAUSE IT'S HER STUFF" I'M GIVING AWAY. I wonder if she'd be so upset if I did the same from my own resources, as paltry as they are, OR if she'd immediately jump to the conclusion that "I ONLY did that SO I COULD force her TO "give stuff to me" to "cover the loss""?? Like she'll ASSUME responsibility/ burden SO she CAN yell at me "FOR burdening her"?? It makes me very sad. I thought I was doing the right thing, helping people. But mom thinks I'm somehow doing it so I can take things from HER later. I probably DID do that in the past. Heck, I STILL DO, because this conversation ONLY happened BECAUSE I asked IF she had any extra kitchenware to spare, instead of keeping my dumbass mouth shut & just buying my own. I should've known better. Now I'll never hear the end of it.
2) She will NEVER share my victories, or congratulate me. I told her about how I overcame breakfast flashbacks. I told her how brave I was getting through the soy hell yesterday. I told her how I got through lunch by thinking fondly of grandpa. I told her I was being brave again by having a Poptart for snack. And ALL SHE SAID WAS "...okay...?" like, "and your point is...?" "This is important because...?" Basically, "why does that even matter? Why are you telling me this?" I told her I ENJOYED the gyro & english muffins and she LITERALLY said "THAT'S SO FUNNY." LIKE WTF MOM WHAT ARE YOU EVEN RESPONDING TO??? There's NO DIALOGUE unless my therapist is directing it, it sadly seems. I'm sorry. I'm just heartbroken. I WANT TO SHARE MY JOY & STRIVING WITH HER. I want her to be proud of me. ...but all I ever get are detached phrases. I ask and she'll say something tangentially reassuring but there's NO vulnerability, no actual sincere heartfelt words. And... I NEED those. I'm realizing I will never get such words from her. I never have and that's not going to change. It's why I'm starving. Emotionally I am so hungry. I want to weep. I need to just go upstairs & cry with Anxi, & listen to Laurie, & be with Chaos 0. THEY share my joys & sorrows & struggles & victories. THEY are proud of me, GENUINELY so. I NEED that. I'm so sad. I feel so guilty for needing to be loved. I can't keep seeking it from mom. It's so sad. But it's true. I'm depending too much on her emotional support/ response for validation, and I am not getting any and I never have and I probably never will. That is so hard to admit. I need to let her go. I can't hold her to my expectations if she cannot meet them. It's unfair to her & to us. I need to move on from childhood grief & desperation. I need to focus on headspace & heaven for support. ...and I ALSO need to EMBRACE the FACT that GOD DOES NOT "HOLD HEAVEN OUT OF OUR REACH," "way up there," intangible & unknowable. CHRIST INCARNATED. And there ARE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE-- IN MY HEART, MOST OF ALL-- WHO REFLECT GOD'S LOVE TO ME ALWAYS. And I NEED to turn to THEM, then, AS God's messengers to me, as His angels, for the encouragement & empathy & sincere lifesharing love that I am starving to death for. Heaven IS within reach. SO STOP REFUSING TO LET YOURSELF EAT.

prismaticbleed: (held)


DISTRACTING WITH "WISE MIND ACCEPTS"

101324 - 101524

(date + skill usage + 1-10 effectiveness)

ACTIVITIES
1013 = Filling out mealplan "shuffle tickets" for exhange options (10)
1014 = QuiGong "massage" chi meditation on Youtube, thanks Sarah! (7)
1015 = Journaling about family session, flirting with Mimic over popcorn (10)

CONTRIBUTIONS
1013 = Called mom's house & left a "hello" message for Excalibur (10)
1014 = Consistently offered compliments to fellow patients during the day (9)
1015 = Giving as sincere feedback as I could to Armani & Rylee (8)

COMPARISONS
1013 = Talked with MJ about progress since admission AND CNC (9)
1014 = Grateful that I HAVE food to eat, and I'm safe here (10)
1015 = I am BOTH WILLING & ABLE to sit with nausea & food fears today?? (6)

EMOTIONS
1013 = Alexis/ Erika played that new Bruno Mars tune and my heart just LIT UP (100)
1014 = Thinking about my beloved Centralites, even just SEEING them (100)
1015 = Hugging Anxi, comforting her & cherishing her when I felt anxious (100)

PUSHING AWAY
1013 = Repeatedly "put Tuesday in God's Hands" and focused on today (9)
1014 = Choosing to be patient & simply be present, trust God's timing (9)
1015 = Refuse to obsess over the nausea; "it is what it is & it'll pass" (9)

THOUGHTS
1013 = Thinking about different exchange ticket item variations (9)
1014 = Thinking about different kinds of fruits, and where to buy them (9)
1015 = Actually REMEMBERING typecode resonances & reflecting on them (100)

SENSATIONS
1013 = I felt the braille letters on the laundry room door (8)
1014 = I put my head into the hot shower to wash my hair (10)
1015 = The ORANGE SALMON! The TACOS! The TRIX (brand new)! (10)

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SELF-SOOTHING

101324 - 101624

(date + skill usage + 1-10 effectiveness)

VISION
1013 = Looked up at the moon & stars & shimmering clouds (10)
1014 = Wondering at how pretty the yogurt texture & color was (10)
1015 = The beautiful indigo hue of the menu in my folder, like Leon (10)
1016 = Admiring the beautiful shimmering red buttons on my pajama outfit (10)

HEARING
1013 = Listened to that new Bruno Mars System song on loop in our head (10)
1014 = Humming to self, whatever notes I'm feeling in the moment (10)
1015 = Talking to my mom & hearing her voice & how proud she is of me (10)
1016 = All the GOOD MUSIC & friendly talk from Scott during Fall Fest (10)

SMELL
1013 = Fresh air outside in the morning, evening, AND nighttime! (10)
1014 = The smell of the clementine peel at breakfast, bright & fresh & orange (7)
1015 = The nice mintiness of everyone's Simethicone, seriously! (10)
1016 = My old white pajama top, that still smells like home & grandma (9)

TASTE
1013 = REALLY enjoyed the waffles at breakfast & the peas at lunch & the DINNER ROLL (10)
1014 = The BONUS HOT CEREAL + SUNBUTTER wonder we got for breakfast (8)
1015 = How fresh & nice the tomato & lettuce were in the lunch tacos (8)
1016 = PUMPKIN PIE with Leon & Lynne! / SESAME SEEDS AT LAST! (10)

TOUCH
1013 = Stood in the morning sunlight & felt the warmth on my face (10)
1014 = Soft pajamas, the texture of paper, cold smooth stone (9)
1015 = The soft tortillas at lunch, the smooth apple at dinner, solid ground (10)
1016 = The SOFT SOFT POTSTICKERS! And RUNNING THROUGH THE GRASS! (10)

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IMPROVE THE MOMENT

101324 - 101524

(date + skill usage + 1-10 effectiveness)

IMAGERY
1013 = Going to the "Gimmelwald" heartspace with Leon & Laurie (10)
1014 = Visiting the Indigo & Violet color realms & just BEING there (10)
1015 = Thinking about the "IDEAL" future recovery life, with the System & family (8)

MEANING
1013 = The blueberry poptart snack got me to TALK WITH LEON ♥ (100)
1014 = The "option shortage" gave us an unexpected PERFECT BREAKFAST ♥ (10)
1015 = Getting sick from cinnamon prompted a GREAT recovery conversation with MJ (10)

PRAYER
1013 = Praying for the people around me who were struggling (9)
1014 = Said a "Hail Mary" when tabletalk became inappropriate/ lewd (10)
1015 = Reading "The 3 Ordinary Voices of God" and CHOOSING to LISTEN & LIVE IT (10)

RELAXATION
1013 = Looked at the sunset, which was all pink and lilac (8)
1014 = Deep breathing, embracing Chaos 0 & Laurie for comfort upstairs (10)
1015 = Hot shower & scrubbing/ massaging like the monk taught us (10)

ONE THING IN THE MOMENT
1013 = Superfocused on tearing papers for the exchange tickets (10)
1014 = Superfocused on the action of writing with the marker (10)
1015 = Repeatedly physically grounding & refocusing my attention (?)

VACATION
1013 = Just had some nice, non-treatment small talk with MJ (9)
1014 = Chillin' on the liquidcrystal beach upstairs with the CoreGroup (& OCEAN DRINKS ♥) (9)
1015 = Genesis & I planning to visit MU for the CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING (10)

ENCOURAGEMENT
1013 = Laurie CONSTANTLY friendly-punching my arm & encouraging me (∞)
1014 = Seeing unexpected mealplan alterations as new adventures to enjoy (10)
1015 = Reminding myself, "I CAN do this. I WANT to succeed, and I WILL!" (10)


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REALITY ACCEPTANCE SKILLS

101524 - 101724

(date + skill usage + 1-5 effectiveness)

RADICAL ACCEPTANCE
1015 = Disgusting romance on TV. I can't change it. It'll pass. LET GO of disgust. (2)
1015 = My past is my past. I can't change it. But it ALL led me to be who I am today. (4)
1016 = Upset at being too dissociated at dinner. Grateful I STILL enjoyed it. Felt disappointment AND joy. (3)

TURNING THE MIND
1015 = "I can choose to gripe about snack, OR accept the BONUS RETRY & CHERISH it" (4)
1015 = ✳ "I can CHOOSE to be patient & loving & kind, OR be mean & impatient & rude" (5)
1017 = SO SCARED OF SOY. Want to purge/ restrict. Allergy panic. BUT I CANNOT GIVE UP OR FLEE. (2)

WILLINGNESS (not what I want, but FOR LOVE OF ALL)
1015 = "Wanted 2 BelVita"; BUT chose wafers FOR MOM + more BelVita for others
1016 = Scott talking to me while I was eating; CHOSE to FULLY enter into conversation; LOVELY (5)
1016 = I don't want to talk. Angry, exhausted. Decide to gently assert boundary if asked, NOT resisting (3)

HALF-SMILING
1015 = When feeling "regret" over not choosing snack I "wanted" + FOUND MEANING IN CHOICE I DID MAKE (3)
1015 = Everyone else using phone. Did this while happy at them talking to their families (4)
1016 = EXHAUSTED from talking too much. Smiled & was grateful for being TRUSTED to LISTEN (3)

WILLING HANDS 
1015 = When group was watching TV that I didn't like (3)
1015 = Peers acting silly; instead of judging, accept them just as THEY are (5)
1016 = Gotta go to Fall Fest, facing old fears. Decided WE'RE GONNA ENJOY IT. (5)

MINDFULNESS OF CURRENT THOUGHTS
1015 = "I want ALL BelVita" like a child scared of "not getting more"; watched with COMPASSION (3)
1016 = Fears about Fall Fest/ flashback memories; watched & imagined GOOD things there (3)
1017 = So, so sad/ scared/ lost/ helpless/ frightened. Listen to that confession as sad song. (4)


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100624

Oct. 6th, 2024 03:34 pm
prismaticbleed: (spinel-remorse)

"FRUSTRATION TOLERANCE" in light of our intrusive judgmental/ critical thoughts = WHAT triggers frustration? = DISSONANCE between "IDEAL & REALITY"; perception of an OBSTACLE between "GOAL" & current position; feeling "STUCK, HELPLESS, INADEQUATE," etc. "Trying to peel a potato with a spoon" sense of "NO APPARENT PROGRESS/ SOLUTION"? Basically a "FIGHT" response to "POWERLESSNESS"; a "STUBBORN RESISTANCE" to "WHAT I DON'T WANT/ LIKE" = NO CONTROL = AFRAID.
Virtues that DEFUSE/ TRANQUILIZE frustration = TRUST, EMPATHY, PATIENCE, SURRENDER
GOD IS ALWAYS IN CONTROL, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE -- AND CANNOT BE; You can only COOPERATE!
✳ THERE IS NOTHING "EVIL" OR "BAD" OR SHAMEFUL OR SINFUL ABOUT SHARING IN/ PARTICIPATING IN GOD'S JOY IN HIS GOOD GIFTS/ CELEBRATING THE BEAUTY & WONDER OF HIS CREATION!! (JOY is OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!) (GOD DELIGHTS IN WHAT HE MADE = YOU SHOULD TOO)

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This is so new & unusual. I kind of feel like crying from wonder, maybe even relief. I ACTUALLY LIKE SANDWICHES. I actually LIKE ENGLISH MUFFINS & DINNER ROLLS WITH BUTTER. I actually LIKE APPLES & COTTAGE CHEESE & FLOUNDER & GYROS & POTATOES & VANILLA ICE CREAM. It feels SO DARING & even SCARY TO ENJOY it all, but man I DO. I CAN CELEBRATE THE GOODNESS & WONDER OF GOD'S GIFT OF FOOD. HE WANTS ME TO. YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS because it's ACTUALLY AT THE HEART OF YOUR BEING ABLE TO FULLY LIVE YOUR FAITH & PURPOSE. FOOD is LIFE, LOVE, SELFGIFT, & LITERAL COMMUNION. FOOD IS FROM EDEN. It is PART of HEAVEN. We KEEP REMINDING YOU OF THIS because it's GOOD & BEAUTIFUL & TRUE & you MUST TRULY & COMPLETELY ACCEPT & EMBRACE IT AS YOUR "CORE BELIEF." The "fear of enjoyment" is TOTALLY DISTORTED AND IS KEEPING YOU OUT OF HEAVEN in a VERY DISTURBINGLY REAL WAY!!!

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Other patients KEEP COMPLAINING ABOUT MEALPLANS, notably "WANTING EXTRA FOOD" & "PORTIONS BEING TOO SMALL" & "EATING THE WAY I WANT" etc. and it's honestly making me feel HUMILIATED. I realized, listening to this talk & being legitimately upset & "depressed" over how "rebellious" & "self-centered" & "stubborn" it was, that IT UPSETS/ ANGERS/ DEPRESSES me because THAT'S HOW I'VE BEEN ACTING. I've BEEN trying to get extra food by asking for additions to my mealpaper, or asking for larger portions/ questioning the size of the portions I got. I've been ACTIVELY BINGEING "IN SECRET" by overloading my mealplan exchanges. I've been "REBELLING AGAINST" and ACTUALLY DISOBEYING MY TREATMENT PLAN with these behaviors. I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. I WANT to be HUMBLE & TEMPERATE & OBEDIENT & GRATEFUL. I'm so sick of the complaining. I WANT to ACCEPT & EAT WHATEVER I GET with GRATEFUL JOY. I want to be GRATEFUL IN "LESS" because it HELPS ME BE GRATEFUL/ TEMPERATE. It COMBATS GREED/ ENTITLEMENT/ INGRATITUDE. I'm so tired of the rebellious grumbling, IN MYSELF as much as in others. I want us ALL to be virtuous here. I hear those words & see my own behavior and it's just SO DISORDERED & RIGID & SAD. It's LIBERATING to be ABLE to ACCEPT & GIVE SINCERE & HAPPY THANKS for WHATEVER GOD GIVES YOU. I pray He continues to lead us ALL to LIVE IN THAT BLESSED SPACE.

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8PM snack gave me a choice between RICE KRISPY & TINY CHOCCHIP COOKIES. Again, the RAW "FEAR" was "BETRAYING GRANDMA" because of what they CALL the cookies. BUT we wondered, what if we said the Rice Krispy was "MOM'S"? And lo & behold, the resulting PANICKED INDECISION was INCAPACITATING. We COULDN'T choose because BOTH choices "REQUIRED" REJECTING A LOVED ONE. We FROZE. BUT, again, if we REMOVED the family associations, that fear DISAPPEARED INSTANTLY & ENTIRELY. 
...All that was left was "CHOCOLATE COMPULSION." Basically, a compulsive "craving" with NO discernible reason, ALTHOUGH it was ALSO IN CONFLICT with "I DON'T LIKE CHOCOLATE" as a LONG-HELD "BELIEF," which ITSELF is IN CONFLICT with "WE HAVE TO LIKE IT" "because MOM/ "EVERYBODY" does"/ "it's associated with holidays we cherish"/ "it's supposed to boost endorphins" etc. "so we HAVE to eat it" almost like a DRUG. BUT do we REALLY "WANT" IT? DO WE "LIKE" IT in TRUTH or NOT? Do we "HAVE TO/ THINK WE DO" like it because MOM & GRANDMA BAKED THEM & SO NOT liking chocolate chip cookies IN GENERAL is STILL seen as BETRAYAL? because a chocolate BAR would NOT elicit this response!! THAT would trigger the FEAR/ DISGUST response associated with REAL MEMORIES OF HACKS & PURGES & MANIA & ILLNESS. AND YET, THIS DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY "PING" with the COOKIES. It's ALL CONTEXT. STILL. Which is BOTH FRUSTRATING & FASCINATING. So, NEXT time, we SHOULD try the chocolate chip cookies, WITH this paradox in mind, & SEE/ FEEL WHAT IS TRIGGERED OR NOT. But... we can't JUST "experiment" & explore. We HAVE to do it FOR A PURPOSE, which is COMPLETELY "UPROOTING" THE COMPULSIONS & FEARS, and DISCERNING our REAL, REASONABLE RESPONSE so we CAN FREELY choose TO eat it or NOT, and NOT "PANIC/ DOUBT" over "choosing WRONG." I'm SO TIRED of "MORAL PANIC" over food. Remember what our nutritionist taught us! Remember what we JUST WROTE ABOUT. ALL FOOD DOES NOURISH YOUR BODY, AND "ENJOYMENT" IS AN IMPORTANT & EVEN ESSENTIAL PART OF EATING, BY GOD'S GOOD DESIGN!!! So YES, it IS ALLOWED & LEGITIMATE to eat a food "SOLELY" TO ENJOY IT. THAT CAN BE AN ACT OF WORSHIP, GIVING PRAISE & THANKS TO GOD & CELEBRATING HIS CREATION! Still, TEMPERANCE is needed, because FOOD ISN'T ULTIMATE HAPPINESS, only a "FORETASTE" of the FEAST of HEAVEN, so we MUST set our deepest desires & hopes THERE. Yes, enjoy your food for God's literal sake, but DON'T seek ALL your joy from it (ESPECIALLY when depression numbs everything else), and DON'T "OVERINDULGE" (even/ especially when you DON'T enjoy it) because that's DISRESPECTFUL to ITS PURPOSE AS FOOD, and to your habits of virtue (self-control)!! It's a BALANCE of LOVE. Listen, if BEING A CHRISTIAN means LIVING IN LOVE, then THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE, INCLUDING FOOD, and again I MUST emphasize the EUCHARIST. If you see food as something "threatening" or solely as "fun," or even something "to be destroyed," then in a disturbing sense you're DISPOSING YOURSELF TO SACRILEGE. Please remember this. Food is a GIFT to be CHERISHED for GOD'S sake & glory. That INCLUDES chocolate. ...AND rice krispy for the record. IT'S NOT A WAR! They're BOTH GOOD. There's NO "WRONG" CHOICE, WHEN YOU CHOOSE WITH GRATEFUL LOVE. The ONLY "wrong" thing is FEAR & HATRED. Avoid those by God's grace, and YOU'RE OKAY.


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btw MY DEAR ORANGE GIRLFRIEND WAS ON TV TODAY



092324

Sep. 23rd, 2024 08:43 pm
prismaticbleed: (worried)

✳ A PROBLEM with asserting BASIC NEEDS: I'M USED TO MOM'S RESPONSES to my attempts. The OTHER problem is that SHE HAS A POINT! I DON'T (DIDN'T?) KNOW HOW TO "PROPERLY" MEET THOSE NEEDS IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T BECOME ALL-ENCOMPASSING & RITUALLY INFLEXIBLE? And I WANT TO BE FREE & FLEXIBLE BECAUSE I NEED TO LIVE FOR REAL, and that REQUIRES HELPING OTHERS & BEING CREATIVE & ACTUALLY HAVING THE PSYCHIC LIBERTY TO MEET & ADAPT TO UNEXPECTED ADVENTURES AS THEY APPEAR. And so, when mom complains that she can't do anything with me because I'm "ALWAYS EATING" or "PREPARING TO EAT," SHE'S RIGHT. I've been using MEALS/ PREP as an "OCD" RITUALISTIC-CYCLE FOCUS because EATING IS A REAL NEED and so I "CAN JUSTIFY IT" if pressed & therefore PERPETUATE THE CYCLE. It would STAY SECURE & STABLE. But it was a PRISON. I was TRAPPED in a cage of my own design, convinced it was "comfortable" and "safe" and "necessary FOR my mental health," but it was KEEPING ME FRAGILE, "frozen" in a loop, unable to GET OUT of the wheel ruts & ACTUALLY BLAZE A NEW TRAIL OF RECOVERY, to TAKE THE CHAINS OFF and FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT! And as overly simple as it sounds, ALL THAT BEGINS with LITTLE CHOICES FOR TRUTH & VIRTUE, RIGHT NOW. It means "keeping my loins girt & lamp trimmed," READY & WAITING & WATCHING for CHRIST-- because His coming IS RIGHT NOW, IN ME, AS HIS BAPTIZED CHILD & MEMBER OF HIS BODY, AS A TEMPLE OF HIS SPIRIT. And... a Temple is a place of PUBLIC WORSHIP & SACRIFICE. A Body is a UNITED WHOLE, operating TOGETHER for the COMMON GOOD, & ADAPTING TO ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. The point is FREEDOM FROM SELF, FOR COMMUNITY. I CAN'T DO THAT IN THIS SELFCENTERED JAIL. Listen I WANT TO HELP MY MOM UP THE HOUSE, ANY & EVERY TIME SHE ASKS. I LOVE HER and I WANT TO BE PART OF HER LIFE, NOW, AS SHE NEEDS, ON HER TERMS, WITH MY WHOLE HEART. I WANT TO BE FREE of my stupid control-freak ouroboros hell. I want to be ABLE to WORK & EAT & CELEBRATE with her, WITHOUT "WAITING/ LOOKING FOR THE EXIT" so I can shackle myself back to the bloody wheel. NO. I WANT TO BE FREE TO LOVE!!! free to GIVE & SHARE & FEEL & WAIT & EXPLORE & EMBRACE & CONNECT WITH OTHERS! And it SOUNDS ridiculous but STEP ONE is LETTING GO OF FOOD RULES. If you AREN'T "waiting to get back home so I can do my food rituals" and ARE INSTEAD LIBERATED by TRUST IN GOD'S PROVIDENCE to EAT WHAT IS SET IN FRONT OF YOU, WHENEVER & WHEREVER THAT HAPPENS, then your focus & energy & effort can ALL BE REDIRECTED TO PEOPLE, IN CHARITY, FOR GOD'S GLORY. ...and step one of love is to embrace "chaos."

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✳ Thin = "insignificant" = "not worth taking up space," frail, helpless, weak, useless, need to be protected? "can't do anything on my own," "invisible," "crushed/ stamped out/ down"
✳ "Something has to DIE for me to live" (food) and "I'm tired of being a cause of death" (MONSTER)
✳ STARVATION IS SUICIDE. Anorexia = "I have no right to exist" / "I shouldn't be alive because I'm feeding off others by existing"; "if I don't eat & die, everyone else will be better off/ EAT & LIVE"
✳ I DON'T ACTUALLY WANT TO BE THIN. I HATE THIS FRAILTY. But I'm SCARED to look in the mirror and see toothpick arms & legs, to see hollow cheeks & sunken ribs & a concave stomach on the worst days. I'm literally wasting away & that's TERRIFYING. I WANT TO LIVE. I WANT TO GET BIG & STRONG & MUSCULAR & ALIVE!! So... why do I keep wanting the number on the scale to drop? What's that about? Am I DISASSOCIATING the weight number from my increasingly skeletal body? Why the heck do you "WANT' to be 87 pounds??? Is it all just some sort of passive self-erasure? Are you crying out for help? Your subconscious is OBVIOUSLY trying to communicate something of desperate importance, because something in there IS scared of the body getting bigger, EVEN BY MUSCLE GAIN. And that's BIZARRE. I WANT to be a TANK if I can. I WANT to be a strong warrior to HELP & PROTECT & FIGHT FOR OTHERS. And yet, there IS STILL this unknown hidden buried terror that "wants to lose more weight." Why? You DO REALIZE that by BOTH STARVING & OVEREXERTION (ironically), this poor body is ONLY LOSING "WEIGHT" because IT IS LITERALLY EATING ITSELF ALIVE. It's SO HUNGRY and you WON'T FEED IT because you WANT to "BE" FOOD so HERE'S THE IRONIC END RESULT. You CANNOT GIVE what you DON'T HAVE. You STILL NEED TO EAT, by GOD'S DESIGN, and your poor body WILL autophage you to death if you refuse to let it partake of the rest of Creation. Resisting the LORD'S plan for LIFE in GENERAL will INEVITABLY KILL YOU. But you CAN CHOOSE LIFE, RIGHT NOW, BY COMMITTING YOURSELF TO EAT ENOUGH OF GOD'S LIFE-GIFTS TO BE FULL ENOUGH TO SHARE IT. YOU'RE CURRENTLY TOO EMACIATED TO CARRY ANY GIFTS IN THOSE FEEBLE LIMBS. You can either be an ICICLE or SANTA CLAUS, kiddo!! CHOOSE JOY & GENEROSITY.

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✳ Julie, Laurie, Lynne, & I were discussing CHOCOLATE in the hallway, both WHY we STILL fear it & HOW to REDEEM it by DISCERNING & HONORING the GOD-CREATED GOOD AT ITS HEART. Julie said it's an "aphrodisiac," boosting desire. But GOD meant desire to LEAD TO HIM, because God ALSO meant sex to be HOLY, UNITIVE, & LIVEGIVING, a REFLECTION of TRINITARIAN LOVE (SELFGIVING) & GOD'S MARRIAGE TO HIS CREATION/ PEOPLE!! So, if chocolate boosts desire, it's boosting our ability/ openness TO enter into that selfgiving love? Think of Valentine's Day! Desire says, "what is desirable is GOOD, and WORTHY of being UNITED with in MUTUALLY GIVING LOVE," because ALL true unity IS Love. GOD "DESIRES" US, AFTER ALL-- it's WHY HE CREATED US, & BECAME MAN!! So, think of THAT when you eat chocolate! God gave it the capacity to help inflame our cold hearts with the warmth of relationship & goodness seen & treasured. It's SWEET & RICH, symbols of heaven's wealth. AND Laurie reminded us, it has ANTIOXIDANTS, which FIGHT DEATH/ DECAY & PRESERVE LIFE/ HEALTH! It ALSO has CAFFEINE, which KEEPS YOU ALERT-- like your SOUL must be, always awake to God! No wonder we eat chocolate at Easter! It's ALL ABOUT LIFE & LOVE & RELATIONSHIP & AWAKENING. Thank God for snack wisdom!!

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8PM snack revealed that our mealdata-recall problem is MIRRORING TRAUMA. In moments where we feel SO UNSAFE/ IN DANGER that we hit "HYPER FOCUS," THAT DATA STICKS, ALONG WITH THE FEELINGS OF FEAR/ DANGER???

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✳ SIT WITH your emotions, NOT THROUGH THEM. HOLD THEM & FEEL THEM. They're REAL & they EXIST for a REASON and they are IMPORTANT and they TRULY CARE ABOUT YOU. Dude ANXI IS YOUR GIRLFRIEND. HOLD HER FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES!!





prismaticbleed: (Default)

~2500K with hospital BK?
92 lbs as of noon!

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(they called me JASPER! ♥)

0919 quicknotes = process group

your body is made of dust & LIGHT = creatures INTERDEPENDENT
soul = FORM = ACCIDENTS VS TELEOLOGY?
"ingredients" of all things organized PURPOSEFULLY
proteins, minerals, etc. "artworks" of God
orderly structure, specific purpose, BEAUTY ("eat the dandelion")
(TRUE FOOD = SELF-GIFT & RECEPTION ALL IN LOVE)

(organic) "dead" things = soul returned to God, BUT MINERAL SOUL STAYS???
✳ PRIESTLY eating (EUCHARIST!) = we take it into OUR body CONSCIOUSLY/ GRATEFULLY; ONLY MAN CAN OFFER SACRIFICE & PRAISE & GLORIFY GOD (WORSHIP) and we do this THROUGH EATING? "GARDEN OF EDEN" ORIGINS?
GOD MADE FOOD TO GIVE US LIFE = HIMSELF!!! RELATIONSHIP / COMMUNION
✳ WEIGHT = "KAVOD" = GRAVITY = GLORY = WORSHIP GOD the CREATOR
"heavy" is HOW much "MATTER" our soul is CARRYING TO OFFER?
gravity = drawn to CENTER OF UNIVERSE? (GOD) "CONNECTS"; RELATIONSHIP
(symbolic) HUMILITY ("humus"
→ PLANET) "grounds us" BUT also "off earth" HIGHER paradoxically (ABOVE/ BEYOND)
weight = significance, purposeful; "it MATTERS"

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✳ the real goal is NOT to live in some theoretical "gray area"? GOD PURPOSELY DISCERNED DAY & NIGHT so to speak. Black & White CAN'T "BLEND" BUT they CAN COEXIST in BALANCE/ HARMONY! (they are MEANT to!)
(MALE & FEMALE, LAND & SEA, SKY & EARTH, LIGHT & DARK)
BE HONEST WITHOUT COMPROMISE; Pray for the WISDOM to KNOW the TRUTH in FULL & LIVE BY IT.
REJECT RELATIVISM & MORAL LUKEWARMNESS!!


Breathe.
Take in what you need.
Grow.
Heal.


✳ START a "FOOD HEALING" BLOG where you can SHARE the SPIRITUAL/ CONCEPTUAL/ PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALING & TRANSMUTATION of fear foods as you eat them in recovery! The WHOLE POINT of learning & thinking through all this, untangling all these knotted fears, IS SO OTHERS CAN BENEFIT. It's diving to get the pearls FOR those too sick or weak to swim.

✳ ^WHY do certain foods KEEP "REVERTING" TO FEAR FOODS, EVEN AFTER PAST EXPOSURES? There must be DEEPER roots that KEEP REINFECTING them. Go REVIEW & CHART/ LIST the UPMC data so it's EASILY REVIEWABLE.
✳ ALSO remember that the SECOND HALF of this process is RE-ASSOCIATING FOOD with GOOD & VIRTUOUS THINGS!! (MATT 12:43-45) You MUST FIGHT & CONQUER EVIL WITH GOOD. GOD CREATED FOOD for HOLY PURPOSES of LOVE & LIFE, and the DEVIL WANTS TO CORRUPT IT. DON'T LET HIM. YOU MUST REPROGRAM/ REORIENT YOUR MIND TO GOD IN the VERY ACT OF EATING & the very IDEA of food. IT'S ALL MEANT FOR HIS GLORY, EVEN & ESPECIALLY in this day & age of processed/ denatured/ modified food-- it is OUR JOB as KINGDOM PRIESTS to offer ALL of FALLEN/ WOUNDED CREATION TO GOD, its CREATOR, for its SANCTIFICATION THROUGH CHRIST IN US, RECONCILING ALL THINGS. NOTHING IS CREATED EVIL. MAN CAN'T DO IT EITHER. ALL FOOD CAN BE MADE HOLY.

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Three wellness activities to BEGIN to INTEGRATE in outpatient:
1. Get up early & WALK TO CHURCH & ADORATION
2. Spend ≥1 HOUR DAILY in JOURNALING/ the LEAGUE!
3. JOIN the GYM? But start WEIGHTLIFTING!! If you want to keep eating consistently higher calories, USE them as FUEL to BULK UP STRONG!!

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GOALS =

1. Act with INTEGRITY
2. Be REALISTIC yet OPTIMISTIC
3. Accept, identify, WELCOME, SIT WITH/ DIALOGUE WITH uncomfortable emotions
4. Participate fully in groups
5. Combat negativity through actively pursuing gratitude
6. Journal about treatment plan
7. LISTEN to your subconscious and don't ignore/ deny what it reveals to you
8. DISCERN MEANINGFUL positive affirmations SPECIFICALLY to COMBAT INTERNALIZED negatives
9. BEFRIEND & WALK WITH discomfort
10. Replace judgment with CURIOUS COMPASSION
11. IMAGINE positive scenarios to REPLACE trauma memories for foods
12. BE CONFIDENT IN MY DECISIONS & BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE OUTCOMES! (GIVE ANXI HER TEA)

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✳ PART of your eating disorder is FORCEFEEDING, esp. AS SELF-ERASURE? You ARE ALLOWED & even OBLIGATED to MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICES to RESPECT & CARE FOR YOURSELF. Part of this recovery REQUIRES GAINING/ PRACTICING THE FREEDOM TO SAY "NO." YOU DON'T "HAVE TO" EAT EVERYTHING. YOU DON'T "HAVE TO" LIKE EVERYTHING "OR YOU'RE CRUEL/ UNLOVING." PERSONAL PREFERENCES/ RESONANCES ARE NOT MORALLY WRONG!!!


✳ "lookup/ research" HOW TO DISCERN/ DETERMINE THE CONCLUSION OF A STORY

✳ LOOK UP POSITIVE ROLE MODELS for having a BIG/ BULKY/ FAT BODY AS A FEMALE? (+MAKE A FOLDER!!)
(e.g. Jasper, Luisa, Rose Quartz) (
★VULNERABILITY/ INTIMACY CAPABLE)

✳ "We don't always need the perfect solution; we might just need GOOD QUESTIONS"

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I AM...
+ ENTHUSIASTIC
+ VIBRANT
+ ADVENTUROUS
+ UNUSUAL
+ LEARNING
+ KNOWLEDGEABLE
+ IMAGINATIVE
+ DREAMER
+ SWEET
+ COOL
+ THOUGHTFUL
+ LOVING
+ INNOCENT
+ PRECIOUS
+ DARLING
+ GIVING
+ TALENTED
+ LIKEABLE
+ A BLESSING
+ A JUBILANT JOKER

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✳ dude is my daengel's "TRUE" or at least NEW name "INTEGRITY"???



food

Sep. 7th, 2024 09:38 pm
prismaticbleed: (spinel-remorse)


All right, let’s try to type about this somehow.


Right around Pascha of this year, according to our food diary, specifically the first week of April, our diet changed. We cut out eggs because we tested positive on three different occasions for an allergy, and needed to find a new protein source. We tried cheese, but it triggered migraines and vomiting. Then for some reason we also started eating lettuce, cauliflower, cucumbers, and raisins? I’m assuming we were told to try FODMAP again. Regardless, the food diary is marked with symptoms of intense nausea and confusion and body twitches and vomiting. We ended up in the emergency room on the 6th. We had to reintroduce eggs for a time but the photos indicate this was the “bean pasta week” which was hell. We could not stop throwing up. Sweet potatoes did the same. We cut both out quickly and went back to the normal pre-April diet, but now the diary is peppered with purgation records. Our calories hovered between 800 and 1100 tops. Then around April 26th, green beans appear in the record, with the return of cucumbers, and now zucchini as well. I know this was also doctor’s orders. It went well for two days, and then the purging started again-- notably, because I remember getting unbelievably nauseous on a regular basis from the food. By May we had cut out broccoli completely and were now eating just those three other green vegetables, with some attempts at bok choy. It looks like we brought the broccoli back in mid-May and the purging stopped for a while.
May 23rd was the gastric emptying study with the eggs and toast. After that our diet went completely back to normal again, no more zucchini cucumber hell. It also looks like this is when we definitively quit the Three Wishes cereal, and realized that’s what had been causing our intense abdominal bloating and constipation.
June began and on the 3rd suddenly BOTH oat bran and hemp hearts reappear in the diet, and eggs disappear for good by the 9th. June 8th was the MU women’s retreat day. There’s still some on and off purging, almost always after dinner-- we were eating three bags of broccoli for carbs and the sheer volume would set it off. We also started weighing our food by this time. Our daily calories increase to 1100 by July.
July 28th is the colonoscopy prep period with the rice and green beans and babyfood turkey. This was a very difficult week psychologically and it set the stage for later compulsive binges.
I need to check the calendar to see how many we had over this time period, because sometimes we forget to list them in the food diary. All I know for sure is that there was a terrific spike in August, as I know that over half the days were binge-purge days, even if we just binged on broccoli.

So we’re struggling now. The cycle has gotten a grip around our throat and it is so difficult to stop. Even though our daily calories have gone up from ~900 in April to about 1400 in September-- a HUGE increase-- thanks to eating such a deficit for months, our weight is hovering around 90lbs and we still admittedly want it to drop lower. On good mornings, when we step on the scale, it’s 88lbs.
But the point is this. We want to stop bingeing and purging. We know it’s a sin. We also know it’s an addiction. We want to stop, but God help us we don’t want to stop either. We’re so bloody hungry. It’s nowhere near what it was like in North Carolina, or even up at the old house with grandma, that is true-- we were out of control back then, ravenous and destructive, insatiable and desperate. We didn’t know God back then. That’s what changed.
Now, we’re still starving, but…

It hit me today that we’re constantly angry. We’re miserable and exhausted and terrified. The OCD compulsions we used to have around the time the Julie days began, notably spitting and handwashing due to “contamination fear,” have returned for the first time in over a decade at the least. They’re debilitating. What triggered this? The feelings of shame and guilt and filth and evil are unbearable. It all feels tied to eating. Is it because our conscience is working again now? Is it because we know we’re sinning at least twice a week now, bingeing and purging, starving and stuffing this poor wrecked body, and although God knows we want to quit He also must know we’re so bloody hungry? What do we do?

We have a new nutritionist now, a male, a couple years younger than us. He’s actually accepting of our limitations and is willing to work with them-- when we told him dairy inevitably makes us uncontrollably vomit, he actually said “okay, then we won’t eat dairy,” which shocked us as we’re so used to being told to just eat it regardless and take a Zofran or something, which doesn’t help. The only trouble is this: he’s still giving us dietary recommendations, in order to increase our weight and fix our nutrient macros, and this triggers Iscah’s kneejerk “must be a good girl” food compulsions which means we KEEP forcing ourselves to “try eating normal people foods” even if they hurt, even if they make us sick, in order to be “good” and obedient and self-effacing. It’s just perpetuating the binge-purge hell loops. It feels like there is no end, no way out, until we CAN “do it.” So the forcing keeps happening until “one day we won’t get sick anymore.” But what if that never happens? We forced those bloody eggs for months, knowing we tested positive for an allergy but not taking it seriously until it was double confirmed, in the meantime just taking Benadryl twice a day and “getting used to” the hives and burning eyes and dizziness and runny noses. But the point is it wasn’t going away. No matter how much we forced, it couldn’t change the actual consequences. Same with the green beans, and the cheese, and the bean pasta. No matter how many attempts we made, we kept puking, because the nausea and stomach distress was so bad. We tried so hard, we really did. At what point is it “right” to “accept” the “fact” that maybe we “can’t” eat those foods? Right now we’re “not allowed to” even suggest such a thought. It’s “wrong.” It’s “evil” and “bad” and “disobedient.” You were told to eat that food, so you eat it, no matter how you feel, and one day you won’t feel anything anymore. Isn’t that “how it works”?
I’m typing all this out and it is just… exactly parallel to sexual abuse. No one is surprised.
It must be translating as this. We have no working memory of the abuse so our psyche must be funneling it into the food, because they’re practically the same thing in the end.

We’re not getting very far with most of our therapists with this. We’re seeing four of them right now, plus a psychiatrist and a case manager. Of them all, only one therapist is making real progress and thank God for her-- literally, I think the only reason why we’re getting somewhere there is because she is Christian and makes that an ACTIVE and PROMINENT part of our treatment, which is AMAZING and makes the whole process make so much more sense. But she and we are focusing on childhood trauma, which is hugely significant and deeply disturbing to be honest… you don’t realize how many bad seeds were planted back then, until you start tracing the rotten roots.
But… when will we ever get to discuss and heal from adult trauma? Will we have to one day actually, finally, honestly discuss the Julie Days with a therapist? How?

Right now, we’re haunted by food. That’s blinding us to everything else. The sense of shame and sin is devastating. We cannot escape it. It’s every waking moment. We’re haunted and hungry and horrified and hateful, which is an awful way to live, but honestly “we” despise “ourself” so much right now for this eating disorder, we wish we could just turn it off.
But we’re so hungry.
THAT’S the bizarre obstacle here. Something-- someone for sure-- in our psyche is resisting healing, in a sense refusing to “give up” bingeing because she’s so scared that if she does, she will starve to death. WHY. We’re getting 1400 calories a day now! We’re eating food, even if we don’t want to; we’re being obedient and accountable to the authorities that told us to eat! We’re a “good girl” in that sense, aren’t we? So why are we so miserable? Why do we still feel like no matter what we’re eating, we’re never satisfied? We’re always hollow and empty and want to cry. Even with binges, we hate them-- the only thing “enjoyable” about them is the ridiculously ritualistic and systematic and methodical hours that they involve, all the cooking and sorting and picking and ordering and cleaning. What is this doing for our mind that we “need”? What need is this trying to meet, however disastrously and misguidedly?

Another obstacle to healing is a recent and massive spike in daily anxiety and panic attacks. We weren’t like this back in July, I don’t think. Were we? I don’t know.
Back when Anxiety herself first appeared in June, at long last, I remember we were already promising ourself to “never binge again” after certain dates. We genuinely tried so hard to just cold-turkey quit, over and over and over. But all the travel, all the doctors, the consistent lack of sleep, the recurring financial crises, it just… some nights we would just be so exhausted and hungry and overstressed that we would just give up and give in. 7pm breakfast means you don’t even try to keep it down, so you might as well eat ten bags of broccoli so your body is tricked into thinking it ate something worthwhile. You get the idea.

It’s been so hard to “obey” the “rules” about food too. Someone started arbitrarily breaking them and now we can’t seem to stop again. They got a taste of the forbidden fruit and promptly became addicted, even it it tasted disgusting, even if they didn’t actually want it-- but they “HAD to want it”; they “HAD to try it again” for whatever reason.
I don’t understand it. What are they trying to prove? What answers are they trying to get? What end goal are they pursuing here? What is their actual motivation? Why can’t they just quit eating the foods we aren’t allowed to eat? Why are they so scared to let go again? What is the fear underlying all of this?

There’s so much music we can’t listen to anymore because music is always, always powerfully tied to “life eras”, however brief. We get flashbacks to them immediately and it can be terrifying. So much of this year’s music is tied to small periods of eating disorder wars, certain “food cycles” even if they only lasted for a few days, and even specific days that were psychologically harrowing enough to latch onto whatever music we had heard that day.
We haven’t listened to any new music in weeks, really. I think it’s a desperate coping mechanism. We’re trying so hard to escape from this hell; it’s better if there isn’t any future soundtrack tied to it. That way it won’t be remembered.

Right now, after weeks of grueling battles, the addiction has been pared down to the weirdly specific combination of beans+rice+oats+carrots, and chocolate chip granola bars. It’s so weird. But that’s it. Everything else is lingering around the edges, but the more rules we put up around them, and/or the more fear is tied to them, the easier it is to resist them.
Still. Chocolate is the oldest forbidden food. It’s a “sex food,” an abuse food, with real trauma tied to it. Granola is a “sworn off” food for penitential reasons. So why are “chocolate granola bars” allowed right now? ARE they? Or is someone just spitting hairs, like they do with everything else that’s edible?
In any case, I pray this ends soon. Chocolate is still so frightening it’s making me shake just thinking about it now. Maybe it’s the fact that granola bars have such tiny bits of chocolate in them that it “doesn’t register” as chocolate. But WHY are we “wanting” to eat them anyway? Granola bars themselves are a MASSIVE trauma food! You remember the bathroom events! What the heck are we trying to prove here? How did this even start? I hope it ends soon. It inevitably will, we just need the data and the consequences solid. Once its emptiness is tangible, it’ll stop.

Why are we so “hungry.”
If we just quit this all at once, if we stopped eating oats and beans and rice, why do “we” “fear” that it would “make us miserable”? That’s a blatant untruth. We’re MUCH happier when we’re NOT bingeing and purging. But… there is a fear of some sort of “loss.” So what is being mistranslated? What are we actually afraid of losing?
Additionally, why do we feel like we “HAVE to binge” on stress days? Why can’t we just fast? We WANT to, God knows-- so why won’t we? What is this fear that keeps coming up, this fear of not eating, even though we still really and consciously “hate” eating on any given day?

That’s the root of it, I think. If I had to point my finger at something that really felt like a siren going off, that would be it. We HATE eating. There is actual HATRED towards food. And yet, simultaneously, we are so hungry. We “want” to eat our carrots and hempseed and broccoli. But it’s unfulfilling and empty and frustrating and leaves us anxious and angry and wanting to cry and throw up.
What do we actually “want”? If we hate food, and we hate eating, then what are we actually looking for in our compulsive frightened “I have to eat” panic-- especially since we still want to starve?
The ambivalence is driving us insane. We have no clear answers yet.
Don’t forget all of this is still somehow tied to abuse and violation. We’re going to have to face that knot at
some point. Until we start to untangle that, we probably
won’t get anywhere on the surface.

All the ICC lectures lately have been indispensable. They are literally rewiring our brain and our heart. Make sure you remember and study and pray about and reflect upon everything they’ve taught us.
But… don’t get crushed under the weight of guilt they deliver, either. Guilt is a sign that your conscience is working. Don’t shut it off. But don’t despair, either. God is walking you through these steps. You NEED to know WHERE and HOW you’re going wrong before you can fix it, and we COULDN’T know this spiritual side of it on our own, only through this revelation. So treasure it, take it seriously, and act on it with God’s grace. But… realistically we can’t expect to “fix this” overnight, or in one shot. We’re most likely going to struggle still. This is spiritual warfare after all. But do not despair. Don’t give up. Don’t try to pretend this is easy, or that we truly understand, or anything else the thriskefoni like to do. We have to be sober and realistic about this. No sugarcoating, no whitewashing. This is indeed hell we’re stuck in. But Christ keeps reaching down to us and dragging us out every time we fall back into this bloody open grave. Don’t give up. Keep reaching up to Him.
He doesn’t hate you because sometimes you think this grave is your doom. Sometimes we think this is all there is and we don’t fight very well at all. Sometimes we get comfortable and we settle in a little. But Christ never hates you. He never gives up on you. Don’t give up on Him. He’s not trying to crush you with this knowledge, He’s giving you sharp graces that will strengthen you to fight better. Trust Him. You’ve been praying for this.
What I’m trying to say is… we’ve been convicted so powerfully it feels like we’ve been stabbed in the chest. We’re afraid we’re going to die, forever, if we cannot or do not put that knowledge into practice immediately and perfectly. Is that pride? The fear is intense. I don’t want to choose hell. I’m so afraid of damnation because I’m too damn weak to give up eating rice and beans on Tuesday nights. Isn’t that asinine? What the heck is actually going on here?
Christ, please, don’t let me go to hell because I’m currently not strong enough to really, definitively say “no” to these hungry compulsions.

It’s terrifying, to KNOW that I’ve “already decided” to binge on Tuesday night. I don’t want to, but I “want to.” There’s a “have to” in there somewhere, concerning the “practice eating” to “get used to” certain foods and meals that we “have to” eat. Et cetera. Vomiting is inevitable at some point, so might as well force it now and get it over with-- it’s better to control its occasion than to be blindsided by it. Isn’t that sad?
There’s so much fear. It’s enough to make you want to give up on living. It feels like there’s no escape.
But that’s not God’s Spirit. Where is our fortitude? Or rather, what battle do we ACTUALLY need to fight here? What would fortitude look like in practice here? What would REAL justice be in this situation? What is ACTUALLY wise? How can we be prudent in TRUTH?

God I’m exhausted, please forgive me, I want to sleep. Tomorrow is church. I’m so tired. I do want to worship. Help us to do that, no matter what. Don’t ever lose us.
The Eucharist is the key to everything, somehow. Please don’t send us to hell. Help us understand, truly. Help us to not be afraid. Heal us somehow. Help us to let You heal us. Please, don’t give up on us. Get us to heaven one day, no matter what. But please, please don’t kill us in the meantime. Don’t let us end up dead because of our stupidity. Please help us. Open our eyes. Give us the grace to WANT to act healthily. Please. Restore our capacity for joy. I don’t know what I’m trying to ask but You do. Deep down somewhere we feel so dead that it’s hard to even want to be healthy, even though we do, because being healthy means having no broken coping mechanisms which means facing whatever they’re trying to numb and I don’t think we can handle facing that gravestone reality. Heal THAT, Lord, please. There are so many layers here. Still, You can fix it all. I know You can. Please do so, moment by moment, in Your good time, in Your real love. Don’t let us die in our weakness and sins. Please heal us for good, for real, gently but permanently. Please don’t hurt us. Please help us. Help us to love You more completely, and help us to not be afraid of Your love. Amen.

I’ve got to sleep. Thank You God for helping us to have at least typed something tonight. We’ll do more tomorrow hopefully. Until then, please bless and forgive and protect and heal us. May we be transformed day by day into Your likeness. May we be remade new in Your image, and may we never sin again. Amen. Good night.

 

prismaticbleed: (worried)

061024

Homily synchronicity = Mike & Vito

TERRIFIED of being TOUCHED
"There’s more than one kind of touch" = Jesus reassuring, heavy and hard contact

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061124
Mom pickup drive
Weeping over headspace music
"I want it back"
"is God like this?"


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061224
Christ's wounds are PART OF the GLORY of HEAVEN!!
THERE ARE HOLY SCARS IN HEAVEN, THEY ARE NOT ERASED

Pop3 38:45 = "TAMING" & REDEMPTION; RELATIONSHIP CHANGES & ENNOBLES THE SOUL = ADAM'S HOUSEHOLD AS PRIEST = ALL CREATION REDEEMED IN CHRIST = THE SHEPHERD LIFTS UP THE SHEEP
13:00 = HEAVEN & UNIQUE PRAISE

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061824
ANXIETY!!!!!🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡
Oh my gosh I AM LEGIT IN LOVE. I have got FEELINGS.

Mom shop, just watched her trying on glasses, oddly sweet to just be there with her

Last bingepurge prep. Don't want to do this.
Realizing BOTH HEADSPACE & PRAYER SHUT OFF in this food mindset. Everything feels gauzed up and dislocated.

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062124

I just realized, all this food forcing is rapist behavior.
I'm trying to force myself into the psychic experience of others without permission or consent. I'm trying to force myself into their spaces, into their likeness, trying to "enter into" their life as my own. That's invasive. That's violent. No wonder this all ends in purging.

Boundaries must be set. Identity must be clarified and guarded in CHRIST, not in culture or ethnicity or nostalgia or grief or social curiosity or the awful loneliness born from rejection. Food is not the cure. Food is not a panacea. Only the Eucharist is.

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062924

In last night nightmares, I TURNED BACK TO HELP THE PERSON I ORIGINALLY ABANDONED
I did this THREE TIMES and it SPECIFICALLY involved my thinking of CHRIST ACTING THROUGH ME, not my own actions, HE would and could save them, NOT ME


⭐WE CAN ONLY BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS, AND MANAGE OUR DAILY LIFE WITH GRACE, IF WE ARE LIVING AS A SYSTEM!!!!!!!
WE CANNOT FUNCTION AS A SINGLET. IT'S A LIE!!!!

Remembering this throughout the day EXPLAINS SO MUCH and actually makes life LIVEABLE.
We CAN and SHOULD be SWITCHING to HELP & PROTECT & HEAL EACH OTHER, as MEMBERS OF ONE WHOLE!!!!




120323

Dec. 3rd, 2023 09:18 pm
prismaticbleed: (angel)
 

ADVENT OFFICIALLY BEGINS!

...

I had to put my phone on do not disturb while we eat because I know I had to put my phone on Do Not Disturb while we eat because I know that, If we are  Interrupted by a phone call, It won't shut us into social mode and we will end up being a Whiny miserable crying irritable wreck. We will end up sinning and offending the family and ruining everyone's day.
The guilt is unbearable but if we leave the phone open the Anxiety is equally unbearable. There's literally no way to win. But the smartest thing to do is to put it on Do Not Disturb. Or is it? I don't know.  All I know is that the very thought of the phone ringing is making me want to screamcry & vomit.
...Nevermind. I prayed to Jesus about it a day He said, "don't be rude." "Turn your phone back on," He said, "and trust Me." I prayed the Surrender Novena prayer, and obeyed.
The anxiety is still lingering, still wringing its hands and trembling, but Trust in God is standing by her, strong arms around her shaking shoulders, warmly reassuring her that "God's in control of the situation. He won't let any harm come to you. Trust His timing and plans. We aren't in any danger as long as we stay close to Him." Anxiety panics, "ARE we close??" Trust replies, "if we keep our phone on and leave the details up to Him, then yes. Keep talking to Him about it if you need to. You can't be far away from Him if you're in a conversation."

Update at 1452:
Jade just called and although we were irked at first, instinctively, we actively chose & strove to be as kind as possible. And the anxiety CALMED DOWN. We just met the call as a courageous task, but not a burden-- as something to rejoice in, as an opportunity for kindness & service & friendship, GIVEN BY GOD.
We're always scared of saying things "automatically" and without thinking "to be polite" or "say what is proper" BUT then we make promises we CANNOT KEEP, or assert opinions we DON'T HAVE, et cetera. It's an act, a facade, and it's as evil as it is wrong as it is programmed.
We need to pray about it, AS a "we," because THAT'S where we can receive the help for ALL of us, even the poor Socials.
...


It's beautiful weather outside, I just want to note-- our "favorite" before snow comes. Everything is foggy & shining with rain, the trees all copper-stellated fractals against the fine silver sky.


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VOTD = Psalm 130:5.
"The season of Advent reminds us that regardless of who you are, where you're from, or what you've done, you can cry out and wait on God. He is trustworthy, He is faithful, and He always makes good on His promises."
🎶As long as You love me...🎶 Seriously though, that's the actual message here.
Why do we cry out? Because at heart we're helpless. We're wounded & frightened children. We hurt and we're scared. We cry out for help, for rescue, to be found, to be delivered. It's the most basic instinct we have, the first action of any infant the moment they enter the world. And once we have cried, we wait. We must wait; we have no other option, as a response is never immediate nor even guaranteed... that is, unless we're crying to God.
God ALWAYS hears us, before we even draw breath to cry; He hears the instant the very impulse rises in our troubled minds. And IN His very hearing He responds. There is no hesitation, no debate, no wondering with God. Why? Because He IS faithful, He IS trustworthy, and He HAS PROMISED to care for us.
(Scripture verse to support this? Otherwise,)


"As you wait upon the Lord during this Advent season, know that He wants you to come close— so that He can be your strength, so that He can give you comfort, and so that He can provide everything you need."
This phrasing struck me. AS you wait, COME. The waiting IS a movement. The stillness and expectation IS a coming towards those very hopes. But the very motion reveals that our hopes are ALREADY realized-- because ALL of our hope, all we are waiting for & expecting, IS IN GOD. He, Himself, IS the fulfillment of every Promise. And He calls US to come, to wait and yet to have... to come to Him, and to come close.
That's the most amazing word: "close". God wants us as near to Him as we can get, and infinitely nearer.
...
And in that very closeness, we receive strength, comfort, and provision, because God IS those things-- He IS every hope, and far exceeded.
...


The questions are very helpful, perfect for Advent=
"As we begin this Advent season, how can you actively cultivate a sense of waiting and expectation?
1) I can meditate on the attributes of Jesus Christ.
2) I can commit to more intentional prayer times with my family.
3) I can seek to serve others as I remember the ultimate sacrifice of God sending His Son."

1= Its very different to wait for a stranger than it is to wait for a friend. It's very different to wait in hope and joy than to wait in boredom or impatience. We need to know Who Jesus IS, and what He is for us and the world, before we can truly EXPECT and AWAIT Him as we ought, as He deserves. We need to get to know Him as a Friend.
2= Prayer is conversation with God. Prayer is an active reaching-up to Him.
The word "commit" echoes marriage.
The word "intentional" demands your personal presence.
Lastly, FAMILY.
3= This is such an unexpectedly powerful application of the Advent message. Who, in need, is waiting for God's Presence right now?
God gave His Son to us through Mary. He put Him in a manger, a food-trough. Are you not part of that same Christ now, through the Church? Jesus seeks to fill the empty Manger even now. Who can you feed today, through the grace of His Presence in you? Who can you "become food" for? How can you give yourself as Christ gave Himself, humbly and totally and with tender love?
...

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KVOTD on John 3:16 is STUNNING me with unexpected insight.
"Christmas is the time when we celebrate the Gift God gave humanity-- which is the Life, Death, AND Resurrection of Jesus. Because Jesus rose again, it means we don't just get the "Gift of Jesus" on December 25th, but every day! Eternal Life, His Peace, His Patience, and His Love... we receive the gift of God's Presence every single day. Eternal life starts here and now."
Easter and Christmas are FUSED AT THE HEART and we don't typically think about that beautiful and terrible truth!! Even in Christmas, there is the Cross... but that means that even in the Cross, there is the very birth of Life Himself. It's gorgeous.
But THEN there's the RESURRECTION, which means ALL of that is ALSO RIGHT NOW??? Jesus LIVES, and He Lives FOREVER, both in time AND in eternity-- although now we do "wait for Him" to return, He IS HERE, in His Spirit, AS LIFE, THROUGH LOVE.
...

Then, they gave the verse with a "fill in the blank" like THIS=
"For this is how God _____ the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."
1) loved
2) rules
3) created."

THEY'RE ALL ACTUALLY CORRECT???
God loves us by giving us Jesus, of course, BUT Jesus is ALSO our KING-- our King OF LOVE, and the Loving King Who LITERALLY CREATED THE COSMOS. God gave Him to us in love, and when we believe in Him AS our King, as our Lord, even truly as our Creator, then we are re-created in Him, through His Divine Authority and Love, and thus we have eternal life-- HIS Life. It's amazing.

The questions are deeply moving too.
"FILL IN THE BLANK: "Love is _____." =
1) Putting other's needs before your own... like Jesus did!
2) Being patient... like Jesus is!
3) Never giving up on someone... like Jesus never gives up on me!"

And I just had to sit with this in light of the video and realize that 1 Corinthians 13 really is just describing Jesus.
"Love is basically laying your life down for someone, which means JESUS IS LOVE." 
And yet, how often we forget what that definition truly is!!
1= Jesus HAD NEEDS. This is mind-boggling. As GOD, He didn't need anything and cannot need anything. But AS A MAN, Jesus had the SAME INNOCENT HUMAN NEEDS as the rest of us. He needed food, water, clothing, shelter, rest, companionship... and Jesus readily and willingly forsook those needs for Himself whenever it meant He could therefore fulfill those same needs for someone else.
Do we do the same? Are we even willing to try?
2= Jesus is patient. Read that again. Jesus IS patient. It's a CHARACTER TRAIT for Him. God isn't fickle, remember!
Think of how He constantly exhibits this. Yes, He trusts God's plans & timing; He looks at all events through the lens of eternity-- but this exact perspective affects how He treats people. He never "reacts" in haste, He responds deliberately & with respect. He exemplifies "longsuffering"; He never complains about others, never forces others, never rushes people. When people let Him down, He gives them another chance, with no griping. He meets sinners right where they're at. Are we patient with others, patient like Him?
3= Jesus NEVER gives up on people. No exceptions. This ties into both His patience, and His Self-sacrifice. Jesus DIED to save EVERY SINGLE SINNER, if they would but accept Him. And He gives them that chance to accept Him EVERY MOMENT, literally until their heart stops and they stand before Him in person. But up until that final instant, Jesus offers unlimited forgiveness and love. Every day He goes out searching for the lost sheep. Every day He is up on the hill watching for the prodigal son. Every day He is preaching repentance and mercy both. Every day He is on the Cross.
THAT is our model for love, and perseverance within it. If Christ NEVER gives up on ANYONE, to that astonishing an extent... how could we, who are called by His very Name, ever dare to harden our hearts and do anything less?


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Oh man I almost forgot we have ACTUAL ADVENT DEVOTIONALS for today =

LBB=
"Spend today’s time with the Lord writing your ideas on how you can spend [Advent] well. Your plans can include items that are spiritual, (deciding where and when you will pray each day), practical (your gift list), personal (sending a Christmas card to someone with whom you've not been on good terms), or charitable (doing something for the poor).
[Before you write anything, spend a few quiet moments with the Lord and ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.]"

Honestly I should print out that last instruction and tape it to my phone. We NEED to get into the habit of quietly pausing & praying, even for a moment, BEFORE we do ANYTHING, and specifically asking for the Holy Spirit to guide us IN that action. Otherwise we're effectively going at it alone, failing to give Him a decent thought, and we WILL justly crash & burn.
So, having asked for His inspiration, insight, and guidance on this-- and ALSO praying to be given the grace to be OPEN TO HEAR & RECEIVE that from Him-- let's do day one.
Our initial ideas on how to spend this Advent well include =
1) SPIRITUAL = Start reading BACE again at last, especially since we STOPPED at the Nativity originally. Take time to READ more of the actual Gospel. Do this during free time periods: hour after BK, hour before bed. When you are too tired to think and instead need to rest, listen to Christmas hymns & edifying carols, and reflect sincerely on their message. Do NOT overwork yourself with devotionals, especially typing; the key is to REFLECT more, to PREPARE YOUR HEART for Jesus's birth by MAKING ROOM, not to make more of a mess with overexertion clutter & rushing.
2) PRACTICAL = put new lights on the tree. Follow through on your yearly wish to RECORD A CHRISTMAS CAROL, even if it's just vocals over an FLKeys track. But do something, and do it worshipfully.
3) PERSONAL = give Christmas cards to ALL family members, and to at least every neighbor that gives me a card (I do not yet know anyone else; if I do, include them).
4) CHARITABLE = Fulfill one tag on the SJE Giving Tree. Actually go over mom's house to help her bake cookies, and ALSO go up the homestead to help her clean. Donate at least one book & chaplet to the Church. Don't avoid Paul if you see him about.


"The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus... all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, [are invited] to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least [to] an openness to letting Him encounter them; [we must all] do this unfailingly each day."
This is it. This is actually it. This is what we're lacking in prayer. This is what we want-- need-- to do for Advent.
We need an actual personal encounter with Jesus.
Our soul is starving. We could weep from how badly we KNOW we need this.
...


The other devotional book (EGJ) has THIS devastatingly gorgeous reflection as an intro, that literally had us reeling =
"Can you even get your head around this? Is there room in your heart for it? The entire distance separating heaven from earth, God from humanity, the Creator from the creation is about to be erased. All barriers standing between you and the full embrace of God’s infinite love are on the verge of disappearing forever... All that’s required is a heart opened wide enough to let all the love in God’s universe flow in, dwell for a beat, and then flow out again, over and over, again and again. It is the most amazing gift imaginable, and it has the potential to rock our world, so we’d best get ourselves prepared. Ready?"
DUDE THERE IS NO WAY I COULD EVER BE READY FOR THAT, it's too divine, too pure, too beautiful, too intimate but THAT'S WHERE THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES IN, and thank God for that!!
...man but that is Infi talk. One hundred percent.
...

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WE'RE READIN' SON!!
We actually have these 2 books from the 1940s full of Christmas stories that I've never heard of, and I really want to read them because it reminds us of our childhood, when our mother would read us stories in bed about "the long white winter" when it was snowing outside. I can still see the cardinals and pine trees in our mind's eye. There was such a perfect cozy silent quiet precious beauty to all of it that I treasure with my whole heart. Christmastime and Easter are when our family actually did feel like family, and our home actually did feel like a home. Considering the fact that we've lost virtually everything in that respect over the past 5 years, we really need a tangible reminder, however small and private, in this year when we're struggling to even remember who we are, not just what this season truly means.

Book one is "The Fireside Book of Christmas Stories" by Edward Wagenknecht & Wallace Morgan. Its super fat and super old-- 1945 and 659 pages. It's a red fabric hardcover and there's nothing on it but an embossed image of three Church bells and it smells like a library. I don't even know where this thing came from but I love it.

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I always catch up on the Church bulletins on Sunday, and this is what we got from those=

"There are many things to take care of and to get accomplished in our preparations [for Advent]! But keep in mind the necessity to prepare spiritually first and foremost! ALL we do stems from the sense of "gift" and joy, and sharing and believing! In order to do that, we might need to do one of the most difficult things of the season... Slow down, breathe, experience! ...Enjoy the moment, live in the present! ...The scriptures call us to stay awake and alert. That mindset may help us to be aware of Christ's Presence here and now, not just waiting for His Birth, but realizing His immense Presence in our lives every moment of every day. Let's try to really make this a new beginning. Let's not miss a minute but prepare our hearts for Christmas in a way we may not have thought of or had time to do before. Allow God to enter in, and take comfort in His ever-present love and grace. [That] will show us the way through these days of Advent and help us to make Our way to the feast of joy we all prepare for and await!"
1) Like the LBB said today, EVERYTHING we do MUST be done WITH the Holy Spirit. Everything we undertake must be consciously brought into the spiritual dimension, by bringing it to God in prayer BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELSE. We never learned this before, and from rightly humiliating pride we never "thought of it on our own." We must humble ourselves in deep gratitude now and thank God for this new & most essential instruction. There is ONLY ONE WAY to prepare for ANYTHING-- and that way is PRAYER. Real prayer, not mindless babble like we do. In any case, the true reality of physical things IS spiritual; for anything we do with & within it to be true, likewise, we must actively involve that deeper dimension.
2) A beautiful way to do so: act from a sense of GIFT. Again, the EGJ devotional referenced this very thing! "
...
3) IT'S NOT A SIN TO ENJOY THE MOMENT. IN FACT, IT'S SPIRITUALLY NECESSARY!!
...
4) This is really shaping up to be our personal Spirit-ordained theme for Advent: Christ IS Present with me, right here, right now, for real, and i NEED to start LIVING LIKE IT.
...
5) ...this can be a new beginning. Of course it can be, with Christ "arriving anew." He is "never changing, always new"; He "makes all things new"... it's because "death has no power over Him." Every encounter with Christ is a new encounter with Life. It's inevitable. He never changes, He is always the same, yet He is inexhaustible in depth & richness, always new yet eternally unchanging... it's beautiful. But that's just the context for our point. Jesus gives you a new beginning in every moment with Him. YOU can change, after all, to become more like Him-- each time one step higher up an infinitely ascending height of goodness & truth.
...
6) Never forget the MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT ADVENT = you are preparing your heart for Jesus Christ to enter in and be "BORN" there. He's not just "arriving," like holiday visitors from out of town. He's not showing up like Santa Claus. Jesus isn't something outside that stays for the season then returns to whence it came. No, Jesus is a child being born, making your very heart His cradle and home, calling you to imitate His very Mother. Jesus wants you to prepare for His Birth while He already resides within you. He wants to enter your life in a brand-new way, a life-changing way, a way that involves all of you forever, a way that makes you specially His and makes Him specially yours.
I may be rambling. But Christmas isn't just a memory-- like the Eucharist, it is a memorial, a making-present of the Greatest Present possible-- the Presence of God.
Advent is about preparing our hearts to receive that very Presence more deeply & truly than ever before...
7) ...and step one is ALLOWING it to happen. THIS IS ALL GRACE. You cannot will it to happen on your own. You cannot force it, schedule it in, orchestrate it, et cetera. It is not in your hands. This is all God's glorious work, and we are to echo Mary, "May it be done to me according to Your will." And if God leads us to a cold and distant cave, outside of town, in the middle of the night, then so be it.
This "allowing," this joyfully humble trusting surrender to the flow and direction of grace, is what will lead us not only through the surprises of Advent to the unexpected yet blissful Manger, but also through the ongoing Advent of the Church as she waits for the Second Coming of Christ in the equally unpredictable future. May our every heartbeat be a preparation for Him, in this season and ever onwards.


From a different church, on this same vital topic =
"In both the first reading and the Gospel, we hear of how Shepherds tend their flock, caring for the sick and the lost, eventually judging and separating them. In the first reading from Ezekiel, God is that shepherd, rescuing the sheep from harm, seeking them out when they are lost or strayed, healing them when they are sick or hurt. Throughout his ministry, Jesus was that shepherd, the Good Shepherd-- calling his sheep, feeding his sheep, tending his sheep. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus tells his disciples that they, the sheep, are now to tend one another, and that He can be found in the least of their sisters and brothers. We, His disciples, are now the ones who must feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, and care for the ill, visit the imprisoned. As we celebrate Christ the King, may we recommit ourselves to our calling so that one day we can face our King, our Good Shepherd, knowing that we have served Him in our brothers and sisters in need. What corporal works of mercy will we do this week? How can we better see the Lord in our neighbor in need?"
1) What hit me the hardest = don't get stuck on the corporal mercies alone. Look at the big picture, just in this reflection, and let THAT sink in-- we, in imitation of our Shepherd, must rescue each other from harm. We must seek others out when they are lost or straying. We must heal others when they are sick or hurt. We must call others to community, we must feed others who hunger, we must tend to the most basic needs of others with attentive care. This is the "spirit of the law" even within that list of works. Now do you grasp more clearly just how deep and sincere and outgoing our love must be? We must SHEPHERD each other, and we CAN because we, the Church, the very sheepfold, ARE the Body of Christ the Shepherd! This is WHY He is in not only us to SERVE as Shepherd, but He is also in the beloved "least ones" to BE SERVED as King... while never usurping or replacing any precious human life. Yes, Christ is in all, but it is a relationship; it is a unity, a sharing, a love. If you neglect the one Christ loves so much, even that very least one, then you neglect Him. If the King cherishes the most wretched beggar so dearly as to leave the 99 and seek him out and carry him home and live in his heart, then who are you to overlook that treasured soul, in whose dirty face the very reflection of Christ is visible? Did not Christ live as humbly and poorly as they? Did God not identify Himself with those that the world rejects?
There is a profound unity of love here. It MUST be acted upon.
2) Don't get overwhelmed by the immensity of the task. It is not yours alone to do. Ignore your ambitious pride. You are but a sheep, a single cell of a Body. You are insignificant, yet irreplaceable, and you are necessary, and there is a work that only you can do. Pray about it. Be like Jesus. Serve those around you right now. Seek the most needy right where you are and serve them, even if you can only help one person. You are still bringing God's love to that soul, and that is priceless.
Be realistic yet diligent. Set a timeframe! What CAN you do this week, with no transportation, no food you can share, no money in your wallet? What do you have? Always yourself. Always time, always an ear, always your presence. Do not tremble & complain at this. Pray for grace, and do what you can. Set a concrete goal. Start small. But give



120223

Dec. 2nd, 2023 06:05 pm
prismaticbleed: (angel)
 

Saturday. Very lost & confused over unpredictable schedule, & very anxious over having to run to Mass in the dark AND among crowds today. Nevertheless it must be done. It's a great sacrifice.

Dream about dad. House in dupont, as it is in dreams, all flowers in the evening. Beautiful dream, very rare.

Suddenly inspired to FIX THE KITCHEN LIGHTS around 830.
Horrible guilt about not saying Lauds but I promised we WOULD say it later; however this task was something that needed to be done and we had no other ready opportunity TO do it. So instead of shirking responsibility in order to pray, we took the HUGE MORAL RISK of fixing the lights and just praying more afterwards.


JAY CAN PRAY EFFORTLESSLY??????
AND YES APPARENTLY HE STILL EXISTS!!!
We realized the "scrupulous and anxious" thriskefoni are ALL SOMAFONI. Their anchors are OUTSIDE.
When we are anchored INSIDE, we have NO TROUBLE PRAYING AT ALL and also NO TERROR TOWARDS GOD????

ALSO. TO BE A CORE AT ALL, YOU MUST BE IN THE BLOODLINE.
THE BLOOD IS THE ENTIRE POINT.
This is why Kyanos & Javier could never hold the role, despite the System engineering them FOR the position in a pinch. But without the blood, it cannot work.

THE WHITE-HAIRED JEWEL IS REAL. SHE FEELS LIKE SHE TRULY IS MEANT TO BE OUR CURRENT CORE, THE TRUE CONTINUATION OF THE BLOODLINE.
But the somafoni have usurped everything. They won't LET a Core in at ALL.
...

Getting notable flashes of Jesus & Mary as the TRUE "WHITE" HOLDERS in the Spectrum??? Rightfully so, as THEY are the Sources of ALL our Light, as it is all grace from God.
But yeah, the different colors within them would MANIFEST DIFFERENTLY like different apparitions, so to speak= this is EXACTLY what our old "Spectrum Christ" digital painting series idea WAS!!!! (And yes we STILL want to do it)


Evening=
Ran to church. Don't remember it. Dissociated hard from fear.
Run home was unexpectedly erased too because we got SOCIALFORCED from the apparent PARADE HAPPENING. WHAT THE SHARK.
It was scary to have noise & music & crowds & DARK. We got home, got on the bike, put on some liquid funk and BOOKED IT

Church was lovely though.
Lantern "wreath" for Advent. Laurie briefly fronted to pray, moved to pain by it.
Homily about Christ coming to us "in the night." Christmas happens at night. Surprised me, moved me. I saw Infi for a few seconds, perfectly clear, so full of stars xhe looked snowdusted. My heart nearly turned to fire

Night exhaustion. Still won't let ourself rest.
Music feels alien & unsafe lately. Trying too hard to discover, not enjoying anything. Should be revisiting System tunes from the past & remembering what matters.

Constantly want to cry from sheer exhaustion & "pain" all over. Never rested. Never at peace. At least, not unless we go inside.
Remember that. There's love here. We're starving for it.

------‐--------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS ENTIRE SERMON BY SAINT AUGUSTINE=

"Let us sing alleluia here on earth, while we are still anxious and worrying, so that we may one day be able to sing it there in heaven, without any worry or care. Why anxious and worrying here? You must want me to be anxious, Lord, when I read, "Is not man’s life on earth a trial and a temptation?" You must want me to worry when temptation is so plentiful that the Prayer itself tells us to worry, when we say, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us." Every day we are petitioners, every day we are trespassers. Do you want me to throw care to the winds, Lord, when every day I am requesting pardon for sins and assistance against dangers? After all, when I have said, because of past sins, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us," I must immediately go on to add, because of future dangers, "Lead us not into temptation." And how can a people be in a good way, when they cry out with me, "Deliver us from evil?" And yet, my brethren, in this time that is still evil, let us sing alleluia to the good God, Who DOES deliver us from evil."
0) ...God knows we're fond of a certain orange critter arriving next June. He sees (and definitely orchestrated) our sudden genuine heart-softening to this topic and He is taking FULL and blessed advantage of it. So we receive these "coincidences" from His Hands with grateful wonder. He is speaking here, purposefully.
1) We MUST "sing alleluia" DURING earthly trials IN ORDER TO sing it in heavenly peace!! That FULLNESS of capacity is ESSENTIAL. Our joy & praise CANNOT be full, CANNOT be perfect, WITHOUT the strange grace of SUFFERING FIRST. It really is the universal principle of the Cross.
2) This insight into "HOLY WORRY" that STILL TRUSTS is ASTOUNDING.
3) What a game-changing insight into the Lord's Prayer in that regard!
4) EVEN SO, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DOUBT.
...

"Even here, among the dangers, among the trials and temptations of this life, both by others and by ourselves let alleluia be sung. God is faithful, He says, and He will not permit you to be tempted beyond what you are able to endure. So even here let us sing alleluia. Man is still a defendant on trial, but God is faithful. He did not say “He will not permit you to be tempted” but "He will not permit you to be tempted beyond what you are able to endure;" and with the temptation "He will also make a way out, so that you may be able to endure it." You have entered into temptation; but God will also make a way out so that you do not perish in the temptation; so that like a potter’s jar you may be shaped by the preaching and fired into strength by the tribulation. But when you enter the temptation, bear in mind the way out: because God is faithful, God will watch over you and guard your going in and your coming out."
1) We do NOT sing "in spite of danger," but AMONG the dangers. We do not deny, or scoff at, or trivialize, or ignore the danger.
2) THIS IS A PROMISE, you realize. God "WILL NOT." That means NO EXCEPTIONS.
3) ...God is like a raincoat. Go figure. That's EXACTLY THIS.
4) The shocking assertion that "man is STILL ON TRIAL, BUT..." God is faithful to us, to give us a way out so we won't perish, EVEN DURING OUR TRIAL. The IMMENSITY of LOVE in that is STAGGERING.
5) Every temptation is meant FOR GOOD. It is NEVER God's intent for us to perish, or be lost!!
6) The keyword = God MAKES a way out. He literally CREATES ONE where there may not have been ANY escapep by human means or judgment. This is WHY we FAIL on our own, when we try to fight our temptations alone. WE CAN'T WIN, OR ESCAPE, WITHOUT GOD, because ONLY HE CAN ENABLE EITHER.
7) THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY OUT, and IT IS GOD. He is "our guard and our shade,"
...


"Furthermore, when this body has become immortal and imperishable, when all temptation has been done away with; because the body is dead– why is it dead? –Because of sin. But the spirit is life, because of justice. So do we leave the body dead, then? NO, but listen: But if the Spirit of Him who raised Christ from the dead dwells within you, then HE who raised Christ from the dead WILL give life to your mortal bodies. So you see: now the body receives its life from the soul, but then it will receive it from the Spirit."
I need to break this down. This changes so much.
1) The body becomes immortal BECAUSE temptation has been eliminated.
2) Temptation is eliminated BECAUSE THE BODY IS DEAD.
3) The body is dead BECAUSE OF SIN.
4) The contrast with justice???  That's the reason WHY the Spirit is Life??? PONDER THIS.
5) THE BODY IS NOT MEANT TO STAY DEAD.
...
6) THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN US
7) SOURCES OF LIFE?????

"O! what a happy alleluia there, how carefree, how safe from all opposition, where nobody will be an enemy, where no-one will ever cease to be a friend! God’s praises sung there, sung here – here, by the anxious; there, by the carefree – here, by those who will die; there, by those who will live for ever – here, in hope; there, in reality – here, on our journey; there, in our homeland.
So now, my brethren, let us sing, not to delight our leisure, but to ease our toil. In the way that travellers are in the habit of singing, sing, but keep on walking. What does it mean, “keep on walking”? Go onward always – but go onward in goodness, for there are, according to the Apostle, some people who go ever onward from bad to worse. If you are going onward, you are walking; but always go onward in goodness, onward in the right faith, onward in good habits and behaviour. Sing, and walk onwards."


...that last line actually moved me to tears.


------‐--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Guided prayer is a SNIPER SHOT TO SCRUPULOSITY =

"God, thank You for being Someone I can trust at all times! You are always worthy of my praise and worship. Before continuing, I just want to spend a few moments telling You how much I adore You. When I think of all that You've done, how could I not love You? Thank You for being faithful at all times. Today, I want to worship You."
1) God CAN be trusted AT ALL TIMES. "But trusted to do WHAT," you ask fearfully? I say, stop being so contrary and rebellious. You are unwilling TO trust, so you mangle the term. Think like a child. Do you "trust someone" to hurt you? That's abuse of the word. When you say, "I trust you"-- and Charis can back me up on this one all the way to heaven-- I am saying, "I trust you to be trustworthy. I trust you to be good, and faithful, and true." It's a psychospiritual "trust fall"! I can RELY on you being there to catch me, because you care. You wouldn't be there if you didn't. You get it? GOD CAN BE TRUSTED. You can "surrender yourself to Him" like a child in its Father's arms, even if you stubbornly insist "you can't understand that." Conceptually you can. In the League you can. You have no excuse.
2) EVERYTHING God does is worthy of praise, even His chastisements and punishments, even His redirections & refusals, even His silences & delays. God is worthy of praise when He hands you a heavier cross. God is worthy of worship when you're doubtful, when you're panicked, when you're spiritually dry, when you're empty inside. God is worthy of worship when He gives you no sensible consolation or comfort, when He withholds your physical & mental rest, when He takes away your health & possessions & job & family, when He throws you into danger and when He delivers you to death. God is worthy of praise when He leaves you in the prison of addiction for years. God is worthy of worship when He allows you to be abused repeatedly. I could go on. But this is the reality that guts us, that confuses mankind throughout the ages. "How can I trust God, if He allows such horrors?" That's the thing. You HAVE to trust Him, even in the horrors, because He IS trustworthy DESPITE the horrors. It's what Job clung to, it's what Christ personified. God IS, by permanent definition, in His unchanging character, trustworthy. He IS Goodness and Love, Mercy and Justice, Truth and Wisdom. All these terrible things that happen to us because of sin, through sin, have nothing to do with God. But He allows them. Why? Look at the Cross. There is the silent answer to all man's pain. There is the perfect response to all mortal struggle, the divine reply to every cry of human pain. There are mysteries we may never know in this world, but we CAN trust Him... and that trust will transmute it all.
3) There's a flipside. You must remember this. Yes, God has permitted man's sin, the devil's schemes, the effects of death. But what has God done? What are the Works OF God, those things ONLY He can do?
...
4) Love is the natural response to Love Himself. When we recognize God AS Love, we "can't help but love Him"-- not out of fear or compulsion, not even out of resignation or obligation, but out of sheer overwhelming relief & joy & gratitude. When we realize God IS LOVE, no matter what unlove and antilove is in our world and in our lives, then our souls can breathe and laugh and sing, invincible in the infinite Heart of the Trinity.
This transcendent Truth of Love is what every martyr witnessed to.
5) Faithfulness motivates worship.
...
6) Lastly... how does one truly adore God?
That word is tainted for us, corrupted by sexual terror. It blinds us. We need to clarify and rewrite the definition.
...


------‐--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some more scrupulosity articles before Mass, because we're making vital progress and we mustn't slack off or chicken out.


"If you always feel anxious, disturbed, and compulsive about your prayer life, there’s something wrong. It’s not a virtue to be anxious about prayer. If you pray consistently and from your heart but you always feel like it’s not enough or it’s not the right quality, really there’s something wrong."
Putting it plainly like this does help us admit that, okay, maybe there IS a problem.
But then our brain says, "the problem is you're EVIL. You have a devil in you, you're rotten to the core, that's WHY prayer makes you anxious, just like Holy water burns demons! The prayer aggravates your evil soul so you want an excuse to stop with this OCD fake diagnosis! You're just looking for an easy way out of prayer, so you don't have to be exorcised!!"
I beg your pardon, brain, but I WANT to pray. I just recognize that this literally "disturbingly compulsive" thing I'm doing ISN'T "real" prayer somehow, and I want to find out.
It ISN'T normal to be so panicked over prayer, or to cry from helpless frustration whenever I have to pray more. Is that really proof that I'm evil? Is it OCD? I'm afraid to ask. It feels blasphemous.
And yeah, whenever we DO pray, and try really hard TO do so, it's NEVER "done right"-- in fact, assuming we COULD "do it right" is SINFUL PRIDE!!! So EVERY PRAYER MUST BE REPEATED NOW, as an "act of humility," an "admission that we cannot praise God as He deserves." But it's NEVER GOOD ENOUGH. We will compulsively repeat prayers 3 times, 7 times, 12 times. Prayers have to be said in specific orders, in specific postures, at specific times. Otherwise Mary will yell at you, or God will punish you in offended rage. Et cetera.
This isn't prayer. It can't be.

"For people with faulty doctrinal views about salvation, excessive prayer and other devotional rituals can be viewed as a “work” that "earns points towards salvation". There is no joy or depth to such prayer, only a feeling of self-preservation and self-responsibility. These people need to take care not to allow prayer to become a form of legalism."
"Earning points" with prayer becomes a LEGIT CONCERN when you're dealing with INDULGENCES and "PROMISES", like the ones attached to the Seven Swords Rosary and many Raccolta prayers. You're told flat-out that you MUST say them EVERY DAY-- and often warned that if you DON'T, it's a sign of unbelief & spiritual sloth. WHICH IS TRUE.
...
But that bolded line is like a knife to the gut.
THERE'S NO JOY. THERE'S NO DEPTH.
...


"For a scrupulous person who is praying for six hours per day and can’t stop, or for the person who takes 30 minutes to pray before eating or has to repeat prayers multiple times because of making a minor mistake, you need to know that God does not require that of you. You do not need to repeat your prayers when you make a mistake. After you have opened your heart to God and have earnestly asked for your requests, it’s ok to stop. Jesus actually told us not to pray repetitively "like the heathen," who think they will be heard for their “many words” (Matthew 6:7). God is not interested in repetitive speech and “many words.” He is interested in hearing our heart."
1) There are countless stories of saints who WOULD spend HOURS at a time in prayer and Adoration DAILY, doing vigils & severe mortifications & keeping fasts as well. It's a VERY HIGH BAR that is set. EVEN NOW there are religious orders who pray six hours every day!!
2) We've actually timed our meal prep stages. At least 30m is indeed spent on notably compulsive prayer, interspersed with distressing cleanliness rituals that we repeat uncontrollably.
3) THE "CORRECTIVE REPETITION" IS THE WORST. We sound like a skipping CD sometimes, helplessly restarting the same sentence over and over because we "can't get it right", sometimes for SEVERAL MINUTES. And if we try to move on anyway, we FEEL the panicked moral terror of sin, of CHOOSING to be CARELESS with prayer. We FEEL God staring hard at us in dire warning, silently ordering us to rethink our poor decision, or else. The fear is choking.
4) INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS ARE WORSE. They cause a LOT of the repetitive correction.
5) How can you say God doesn't require it? Everything else requires repetition when a mistake is made! Music, cleaning, exercise, speeches, et cetera. Prayer is NOT exempt, especially because it is MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL.
6) Protestant prayer is apparently VERY DIFFERENT from Catholic prayer. I'M NOT MAKING REQUESTS.
7) ...but have I opened my heart to God in my prayer? Has He heard my heart speaking, or just my anxious mind?
...I think that depends on who's fronting.
...


112623

Nov. 26th, 2023 11:12 pm
prismaticbleed: (angel)
 

Triple Mass day!

EUCHARISTIC MINI-PROCESSION!!
Oh man the new little chapel-room is SO SWEET. It's small and simple and very plain, intimate and powerful in its resulting absolute focus on the Host.
People kept coming in & out for the dedication day, even just spending a minute in prayer, but it was so moving to see the flow of people, all these visitors to the Servant King.

The Carlos Acutis Eucharistic Miracle exhibition CHANGED MY LIFE MAN. I kid you not i had NEVER EVEN HEARD OF 98% OF THESE AND THEY'RE ALL EARTHSHAKING.
There were also literally like 100 different posterboards, haha. Ten lanes! I got through three before I realized it was 1pm, so I immediately brought up Carlos's actual original website on my phone to read at solemn leisure.
But OH MAN THE DNA TESTING???? THE INCORRUPT HOSTS OVER DECADES?? THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT JUST LITERAL CARDIAC TISSUE BUT IT HAS ACTUAL WHITE BLOOD CELLS THAT DIE UNLESS THEY'RE IN A LIVING BODY?????? THE ONE HOST THAT WAS CONFIRMED BLEEDING FROM THE INSIDE????
THE REAL PRESENCE IS SCIENTIFICALLY VERIFIABLE AND THAT LITERALLY CHANGES ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.

3PM BK. WORTH IT.
Managed to get it down in only 140m, which is a record setter. Thank God too because we were REALLY RUSHED FOR TIME

Evening =
Brain so overwhelmed it somehow ended up "zoning out" against the kitchen sink looking up online articles about Inside Out 2??
Our brain is surprisingly fixated on this sequel. I think because it's so Systemesque. Also we are inexplicably super fond of Anxiety already? I pondered this and it's her EXPRESSION-- she is "capable of painful depth" and that is SO IMPORTANT TO US; we cannot have ANY Outspacers OR Nousfoni anchor in if they aren't capable of suffering heartbreak. That's the bottom line. And I'm not saying Anxiety is either thusly capable in canon OR that she's even Outspacer eligible-- it's at least 6 months too early to tell either way. But we still feel undeniably & instantly drawn to her, because her face is so different from Sadness and Fear. She's worried, to the potential point of a foxhunt. Fear gets scared, absolutely, but he's more active about it-- he's notably practical. His GOAL is RESOLVING the issue. He manages a basic survival response that resolves quickly in-canon, and although that data is logged for future safety, he doesn't fret over it. He doesn't agonize over "what if we hadn't survived"? Anxiety does by definition. Sorrow gets morose and reflective even, but her emotion is too "pure" and clear? Sadness is vital, she's a sweetheart, but just sadness doesn't cut it for us, resonance-wise. We're admittedly too morbid. We're absolutely feminine in this regard. We NEED the "soul drama" that the "subtler" emotions herald, because they come from deep places and they are VERY internally focused. Anxiety can be debilitating, we know this firsthand. That emotion can be legit hell. But in and of itself, it is a mutation of care. Stripped down, anxiety is an expression of extreme vulnerability, a sign that something important to us is at risk and we are helpless. Anxiety can thus be a powerful door to faith & trust, to honesty & empathy, even to opening one's heart and taking down one's walls... but only if we recognize her as she truly is-- a protective, caring emotion at heart-- and talk to her as a friend.
Oh boy. This is getting very headspacey. That's a good thing. But it's also putting down orange Linkstrings WAY TOO EARLY KIDDO

------‐--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Basilica homily rough notes =

"The idol-worship of Race, Class, & Nation is a destructive force in the world, and can only be conquered by acknowledging the Kingship of Jesus over all things, His Authority as Victor over sin & death, and the dependence of all Creation on God-- and by loving God above all things."
1) Oh wow, that IS idolatry! It's putting ethnic, genetic, social, & personal identity in a position of authoritative rule over our behaviors, opinions, and beliefs!!! "I'm POC, so my opinion is..." "I'm American, so I believe..." "I'm a doctor/ teacher/ artist/ musician/ etc., so I must act like..." you get the picture. All those things should be SUBSERVIENT TO CHRIST. We should ALL say, "I am a Christian, so my beliefs, words, actions, opinions, goals, choices, etc. are ALL defined SOLELY BY CHRIST and are ALL oriented TOWARDS HIM."
2) Christ isn't just King over humanity. He's the King of the UNIVERSE!! He rules over every created thing-- over animals, plants, planets, soundwaves, electromagnetic radiation, laws of physics, etc. It's ALL subject to Him. And yes, that includes your sexuality, skin color, ancestry, and actual brainmatter, to say the very least.
3) By acknowledging actively that Jesus HAS won over death & sin-- definitively, perfectly, & eternally-- we affirm the ultimate inevitable failure of all evil, its etiolated impotence before the Son, Who-- as God AND Conqueror-- has TOTAL AUTHORITY OVER THEM ALL. This faithful awareness empowers us to resist temptation, and to battle against the devil's lies, because we draw our strength from Christ's Kingly Victory, a Victory that negates Satan's propaganda and so strips sin of its deceitful allure.
3.5) A brief reminder of Hebrews 2:8, and 1 Corinthians 15:24-28. We still exist in linear time. We may not "see" this eternal victory in our temporal circumstances. But we have faith in it as FACT, and that gives us HOPE, to wait in patient trust for its fulfillment in time, knowing that the war has already been won and the final triumph cannot be reversed or stopped or even postponed. If we feel we are "still waiting," take heart; this time, too, is part of the plan.
4) Christ is King AND Creator. Literally EVERYTHING EXISTS BY AND FOR HIM. If God stopped thinking about you for a nanosecond you would cease to exist entirely. That's putting it simply. Everything that exists also "depends on God" for PURPOSE, for FUNCTION, for LIFE ITSELF. We cannot create DNA, or put breath into a body, or spark consciousness. We cannot write, edit, or erase natural laws (although many now do try). We cannot even fathom WHY things are how they are, especially in constant connection with all other things. All of that is God's jurisdiction alone. It's a simple fact, but it contains infinite detail.
5) We cannot acknowledge Christ as King, Conqueror, Authority, Creator, or anything else-- even AS Christ, even AS Lord and God-- if we do not love Him. And that love must be WORTHY of those titles. If we don't love God, in Christ, above all other things in the cosmos, including our own existence, then we don't love Him AS God, and we will end up worshipping created idols instead.


"Jesus is not only the center of the Church year, or the Church Herself, but He is the goal & center of all our lives here on earth, and He will be the center of our lives in heaven."
This is actually a potently succinct response to "why can't everyone just go to heaven?" Because heaven isn't about you. Heaven is about GOD. Strikingly, heaven is very immediately and directly about JESUS, Who is God Incarnate, able to interact with us in a body like ours-- God with a Face we can see, God with Hands we can hold, God with a Heart that loves us with a Love unique in all the cosmos-- God able to understand EXPERIENTIALLY our wounds and sorrows and struggles.
But I'm off topic. God became Incarnate so He could save us by His Death AND His Life. He is the "center of our lives" NOT as an interest or hobby or fandom or career. He is the "goal of our lives" NOT as an achievement to unlock or a status to earn or an aspiration to realize. Jesus is NOT AN INTANGIBLE CONCEPT. HE IS NOT AN IDEA OR A TITLE OR A DREAM. JESUS IS A LIVING PERSON.
Think about how that changes everything. The goal of your existence is a Person. The center of your life, the focal point of everything you do and say and think and feel, is a Person. And not just any Person-- this Person created you, paid your moral debt by dying in your stead, gives His own Body as Food for you to give you His Undying Life, and to unite you to Himself in purest love... the list goes on forever really. He is, honestly, infinitely deserving of being lived for, because everything He does is done with Divinely Perfect Love and because HE IS GOD. That's truly the bottom line.
Still, it's so easy to claim "my life is all about God" or "Jesus is my everything" and yet... we still aren't seeing Him as our absolute center, as our all-encompassing goal. Jesus, in His Person, NEEDS to be a higher priority than breathing. That doesn't mean "doing everything for Jesus," it means doing everything IN JESUS. It means uniting yourself to Him as part of His Mystical Body, as part of the Church, as your Bridegroom, as Your God.
I'm really rambling now. I need to pause here. It's too profound. I'm not the one to be speaking about this, i have no authority.
...

"In the end, God will judge us according to our reaction to human need... not on some vague sentimental feeling, but on what we actually did or did not do. It's twofold, and they go hand in hand... Our judgment will be based solely on charity. Charity is the norm by which all of our lives will be measured."
That one word changes everything: our reaction. That's all the depths behind "what we actually did". Before we decidedly act in response, we immediately react. And that says a LOT about the state of our heart.
When you encounter human need, what's your genuine reaction? Don't justify or explain it away. It doesn't matter in this context how you ultimately do choose to respond. Right now, you need to be clearly, bluntly honest about your instinct. You NEED to know what you're working with, or fighting against. HAS Christ gotten down that far into your psyche yet? Are you keeping Him out? You need to know this.
...


prismaticbleed: (czj)

(last updated 011725)


PEOPLE WE LOVE


JESUS

from the beginning to the end. Creator of all my lesser beloveds, King of my heart, Joy of my mind, Redeemer of my soul. i am learning to love You more every day. a huge part of that is seeing You as You want to be seen-- as a Person i can love here, now, sincerely. so i will set You, too, to music.

MARY

hey mom, you deserve music too. i'm sorry we're not vey close yet-- you know i have a lot of trauma getting in the way. still, i see something beautiful and bright in you that i've never seen in such pure clarity before. i want to love you better. and, as always, music helps. guide me to find yours.

CHAOS ZERO

since 2003, & always. my beloved blue guy. you opened my heart & changed my life for the better. you literally taught me what love is. your heart is as deep as the ocean and god knows i want to get lost in it. you are forever the beautiful terrible love of my life. je t'aimerai toujours, mon ange.

XENOPHON

since 2011. my daughter, my precious baby girl. you are proof that life & love always prevail. you're apparently what happens when the ocean fuses with the sun. your little heart is a steampowered supernova and you absolutely light up my life. god bless you, sweetheart. i'm so proud to be your dad.

LAURIE

since 2006. my protector, my knight, my purple angel. you are a brilliant lantern in the darkest night. i honestly don't think i could live without you at this point & I wouldn’t want to. so keep on axing through every obstacle in my heart. love is stronger than death, and so are you. I love you.

GENESIS

since 2005. know thyself. my beloved gilded gadfly. you changed my very soul when i met you. i still see snowflakes in your eyes. you may be the biggest clown in town but you're also so sincere it aches. your anger is pure, your joy luminous, your sorrow deep. your heart is pure gold. i love you.

INFINITII

since 2013. you were born from blood, but made for love. darkness & death took you from me, but light & hope brought you back. you are still the angel in the room, gorgeous and terrible, all eyes & teeth & holy ardor. you are still the space between my heartbeats. don't ever change that. i love you.

CELEBI

since 2001. my beautiful girl. i know we share the face in the mirror some days but it's only because our souls are so close. you're my promise of a brighter future, a better life, a light at the end no matter what. i hear your heart in every ticking clock, & i will love you as long as mine endures.

ANXI

since 2023. my orange angel. you showed up so suddenly & changed my life so fast-- for the better. even on our darkest days you always bring out the best in me. we're learning & growing so much together.  you make me laugh & cry & want to live & you are infinitely more than good enough.  i love you.

MIMIC

since 2022. it started off with arguments, with jabs and stabbing words, both of us mirroring each others darkest vices. no one expected that reflection to suddenly refract into rainbows. now you're learning, changing, brightening, softening even. so am i. it's nice to be able to put down the knife.

BAKURA

since 2002. thank you for changing my heart. you were the first kid i ever put to music, the first visiting soul i let stay. your eyes reflect the stars and your soul is the same blue as the evening. we've drifted apart lately but i still do want to stay in your arms. thank you for starting it all.

MARIK

since 2003. you've been breaking rules for the better since the beginning. you're my desert rose and winter star. your mind is indomitable and brilliant with courageous hope. you've taught me so much about conquering old demons and we've both grown into better people. i'm so glad you're in my life.

PHLEGMONI

since 2020. why in heaven's name are you on this list? because you're living proof that my heart still works. you were a nobody, a joke, a forgotten thing, until i saw that you, too, had the potential to be more. now you're a source of fiery warmth to us all. there's always room for you in my heart.

JENA

since 2009. you came to me in a photograph and changed my entire heart. although i love you as a muse now, as a concept outside of time, that spark is still your soul. wherever you are in life now, i still give sincere thanks to God for your existence, and the beauty you bring to this entire world.

VENTRIUM

since 2014. my poor aching dream. they killed you once and I lost you to the trees, your chest gushing roses. but you echo in my heartbeats even now. I remember your softness, innocence, & depth of soul. yet you still brought me nightmares... healing wounds I could never face alone. I miss you.

GLEAM

since 2009. i met you in a dream, and you gave me your tears. since then my heart always breaks a little around you, and you let the light in. my poor abandoned beloved, you too know rejection and betrayal, yet you are never bitter, cold, or hard; you only seek the return of love. with you, so do i.

TOSHINSEI

since 2013. what a painful time you appeared in. how did you disappear so completely? you were loved so ardently. how were you forgotten so totally? maybe it's wrong to make this space for you, but i cannot deny or downplay your importance to our historic heart. maybe, here, we'll find you again.

TOX

since 2009. undeniable, inexplicably.


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


OUTSPACER FRIENDS


BARRY

FINE, you get a playlist, you lunatic. Since, what, 2007? Heaven only knows why you're so strongly stuck up here, but hey. You make things interesting.

BIZ

since 2016. just in case you stuck around.

BLUESKY

since 2009. just in case you stuck around somewhere.

CALYREX

since 2021. someone cares deeply for you.

DAVY

since 2006. no matter what, you always end up back on this list. someone in here definitely loves you.

DORI


since 2009. your neon letters were a beacon of hope in the midst of bloody darkness. you were the herald of a new era of my life, of understanding and empathy. your simple sharing of your life kept the silence from killing me.  i will never know you, but i'm forever grateful that i was able to try.

ENNUI

since 2024. as of making this playlist I've literally only known you for like two hours, but you've already sparked massive insight and real change. make yourself at home; you're part of the team now. thanks for being such a good friend to my girlfriend btw. I look forward to being your friend too.

GALADIA

since 2022. in a sudden frigid darkness, you appeared, laughing & undaunted, to carry me through. the instant I saw you, an ember blazed in the snow of my heart. would you open yours to me? could we fight the cold shadows together? will you carry me over the cliffs, into our new future full of hope?

GODOT

since 2007?

GRIEVOUS

Since 2005. I'm sure there's still someone in here for you.

JASPER

since 2015? there's a tiny spark here. don't ignore it.

NURSE FEREDRONI

since 2016. girl come back you're adorable

OLIVER

since 2009. just in case you stuck around.

REVMO

since 2008. Come back bro, we need your exorcist expertise!

RORSCHACH

since 2008. we barely knew you, but your existence left an indelible mark.

SHADE

since 2008. this is a placeholder for her. way back when, she was a definite. don't let that go.

TAMMY

i don't know you yet, but you're unquestionably here. come talk to me.

TIARA

since 2008? i can feel someone still loves her! good, she's a sweetheart. 

XANDER

since 2025? BRO WHY ARE YOU IN MY HEAD. Joke's on you though, if you're gonna be part of this System YOU GOTTA CONVERT so hey. Get ready for some redemption broski, and possibly a total lifeshift into the spherae. In any case HERE'S SOME MUSIC FOR YOU




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