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Latest Posts by moss-pond

Your Complete Guide to Ayurvedic Treatments: Balancing Mind, Body, and Soul

Introduction: The Holistic Approach of Ayurveda

Ayurveda's Wisdom: Harmonizing the Human Body with its Environment

Ayurveda's outlook is as holistic as it gets. It sees the human body as intricately linked to its surroundings. Any shifts in the environment reflect in our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

The Heart of Ayurvedic Treatments: Harmony and Root-Cause Healing

More Than Skin Deep: Treating the Source, Not Just the Symptoms

Unlike conventional medicine's focus on symptom suppression, Ayurvedic treatments are all about targeting the root cause. This system aims for a perfect symphony between mind, body, and soul, paving the way for a vibrant and ailment-free life.

Demystifying Ayurvedic Treatment/Therapy

Balancing Act: Herbal Remedies and Lifestyle for Optimal Energy

Ayurvedic therapy marries herbs and lifestyle shifts to balance the three key body energies—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These doshas play differently in everyone, and the predominant one defines your unique constitution or Prakriti. Ayurveda believes that diseases stem from vitiated doshas, often triggered by external and internal factors like diet and physical activity.

The Ayurvedic Diagnostic Dance

Pulse and More: Naadi Pariksha and Ashtavidha Pariksha

Two key diagnostic tools in Ayurveda: Naadi Pariksha (pulse checking) and Ashtavidha Pariksha (in-depth examination). Skilled practitioners decode these to understand your physiological and psychological makeup, revealing dosha imbalances.

The Ayurvedic Healing Recipe

Tailored Treatment: Symptomology, Dominant Dosha, and More

Your Ayurvedic practitioner crafts a unique plan—factoring in your symptoms, dominant dosha, and constitution. The prescription blends herbal remedies, dietary tweaks, exercises, and lifestyle shifts. And here's the truth: Ayurveda can complement modern medicine when your doctor gives the nod.

The Ayurvedic Treatment Menu

A Deeper Dive into Ayurvedic Therapies

Discover some captivating Ayurvedic treatments that play in harmony with your doshas, reviving your mind, body, and soul's equilibrium.

Abhyanga Massage: Loving Your Body, Head to Toe

From Crown to Toes: Abhyanga's Stress-Melting Strokes

Abhyanga is the full-body hug you need. Medicated oil, warm and gentle strokes—this self-administered massage says goodbye to stress, spurs circulation, and eases inflammation. Different herbs, different results.

Kati Vasti: Soothe the Lumbar Symphony

Trouble in Your Lower Back? Enter Kati Vasti

For lumbar blues, there's Kati Vasti. Think a doughy well holding warm oil on your lower back. The result? A gentle, soothing treat for those tender areas.

Elakizhi: A Herb-Fueled Perspiration Party

Let's Sweat It: The Elakizhi Induced Glow

Perspiration is golden, and Elakizhi coaxes it out with herb-stuffed muslin and warm oil. Say adieu to stress, soreness, and body aches.

Njavara Kizhi: Rice, Milk, and Muscles Unwind

Rice and Milk for Aching Muscles: Njavara Kizhi

Ayurveda goes grainy with Njavara Kizhi. Cooked rice, milk, and herbal pouches caress your muscles, bringing relief to your aches and strains.

Panchakarma: A Week of Body Magic

Toxin Tryst: Panchakarma's Ancient Detox Ritual

Panchakarma is detox's A-lister. Over a week, it revs up your body's self-cleansing machinery. Five therapies, one goal: a toxin-free, vibrant you.

Varicose Veins Treatment: Vein Voyage with Ayurveda

Varicose veins meet their match in Ayurveda. A blend of herbs and oils could be your ticket to improved vein health.

Psoriasis Treatment: Soothing the Skin Symphony

Psoriasis's no match for Ayurveda's herbal pastes and skilled hands. A natural approach to taming the itchy, flaky beast.

Shirodhara: Oil and Calm for Your Mind's Sea

Heated oil meets your forehead in Shirodhara. This 60-90-minute serenade relieves stress, anxiety, and headaches. Let your cares drift away.

Ayurvedic Treatment's Inner Mechanics

Decoding Ayurvedic Healing: Ancient Wisdom at Work

Ayurveda? It's 'knowledge of life.' With its 3,000-year history, it's your holistic roadmap. Cleanse, diet, herbs, massage, meditation—these are your keys to mastering balance and vitality.

Ayurvedic Healing's Timeframe

Patience Pays: The Slow-and-Steady Success of Ayurveda

Ayurvedic therapies don't snap their fingers for instant fixes. They're about sustainable solutions. Dosha harmony, natural healing, resilience building—it takes time.

Perks of Ayurvedic Treatment: A Life Well-Lived

Ayurveda's Bounty: From Weight to Immunity, It Has You Covered

Ayurveda isn't just ancient—it's wise. From weight balance to stress relief, radiant skin to strong immunity, Ayurveda brings ancient goodness to modern lives.

Conclusion: Balancing Act for a Flourishing Life

Ayurveda's Dance of Harmony: Mind, Body, and Soul in Sync

Ayurveda is your holistic partner, orchestrating your doshas' melody for a harmonious existence. Modern medicine plays its part, too, but with your doctor's nod, these two systems can unite for your well-being.

Remember, Ayurveda isn't just a quick fix—it's a journey to your best self.

Are you on the hunt for top-notch Ayurvedic herbal supplements in India? Look no further – Aadav Ayurveda has got you covered! Let's dive into why Aadav Ayurveda is your ultimate destination for all things Ayurvedic.

Aphrodite Antheia, the friend of flowers moodboard 🌹

All pictures from Pinterest !!

A zine about Lady Aphrodite and transsexualism as an offering for her :)!

How to Make Tarot Spreads

Learn how to make your own tarot spread. This is based on my personal practice so feel free to customize it as needed! 

I've written the steps out in a linear manner but they are not numbered. The reason for this is because the process itself is rarely linear (for me) and I tend to bounce between steps, changing things as I go until I've got the finished product.

On to the creation process!!

Think about a life event that you wish to have guidance on (or wished to have guidance on at the time). Or perhaps a situation that left you with many burning questions time and time again. These will be your main topic for the tarot spread.

You can also choose a topic that's easier and less hard-hitting like a new season, natural phenomenon, or celestial cycle (ie. the new moon in Leo, Taurus season approaching, the last frost, etc.) You can also pull from pop culture to create a tarot spread.

Pick a number, something manageable. I usually go between 3 and 7 cards, personally. Sometimes the number of cards you use will also be relevant to your spread if you hold certain beliefs about numbers. If this is the case then feel free to leverage this when creating cards!

Think about questions that the situation left you with or things you wished you'd thought about while going through the event. You'll use these to create prompts for the cards. 

Choose a pattern, aka how your cards will lay once they've been pulled. This is the "spread".

Put it all together and you've got a spread! You can choose a title or not, I usually choose the title somewhere within the creation process as they just sorta come to me naturally. Sometimes the title comes first and I work from there.

Example:

Topic: I've been dealing with a breakup recently so that will be my topic for the spread. I'll walk you through my process. 

Questions someone has when going through heartbreak are things like: What went wrong? Is this for the best? What did I do wrong? What did I do right? When will I feel ok again? What do I do now? Etc.

Pulling the Cards: Of course, you can choose the tried and true shuffle-and-pull method of pulling cards, but you can also get more creative with it.

I've chosen a "sandwich" method, where you shuffle the deck and find a specific card, then you pull out the card directly in front of and behind the card in question.

What do I think of when I think of tarot and breakups? The three of swords, a card notorious for being about heartbreak.

So, we'll look for the 3 of swords and pull out the card in front of and behind it. I will shuffle again and pull the 3rd card from wherever in the deck it calls to me.

Pattern: I want to keep with the theme of the 3 of swords so I plan on the 3 cards being pulled laying above and slightly angled, similar to the look of the original 3 of swords.

Prompts: Questions someone may have when going through heartbreak are things like, What went wrong? Is this for the best? What did I do wrong? What did I do right? When will I feel ok again? What do I do now? Etc.

Using these questions and emotions, I can come up with the card prompts.

Put it all together. If you're extra, like me, you can create a graphic or draw up a design for your tarot spread! You can find the finished product of my tarot spread here: 

3 of Swords Heartbreak Spread

Enjoy my work? Consider leaving me a tip on my ko-fi!

3-card | t a r o t | spreads |

past / present / future

mind / body / heart

goal / blockage / guidance

in one week / in one month / in one year

true feelings / true intent / potential together

what / why / how

you / me / us

strength / weakness / guidance

you / them / relationship

situation / obstacle / solution

their wants / your wants / potential together

action / reaction / outcome

connection / repeating cycle / havoc

you / current path / potential

start / stop / continue

solution / alternative solution / how to decide

strengths / weaknesses / growth

pain / healing / advice

situation / attitude / advice

idea / manifestation / process

beauty / truth / knowledge

feelings / improve / caution

history / problem / advice

past life / present life / future life

physical / emotional / spiritual

Exploring Aphrodite Kataskepis: The Grieving Goddess of Love

When we think of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty, and desire, we often envision romantic pursuits and joyous celebrations. However, there exists a less explored aspect of her divine persona that delves into the depths of grief and loss: Aphrodite Kataskepis. This epithet of Aphrodite highlights the nuanced interplay between love and sorrow, illuminating the goddess's connection to mourning and the complexities of human emotions.

Who is Aphrodite Kataskepis?

Aphrodite Kataskepis is often translated as "Aphrodite of the Underworld." This title signifies the goddess's role in the realm of grief, death, and the mourning of lost love. While traditionally associated with passions and romantic encounters, this aspect of Aphrodite serves as a reminder that love does not exist in a vacuum; it is intricately woven with the experiences of loss and heartache.

The Dual Nature of Love

The presence of Aphrodite Kataskepis speaks to the duality of love. Love can bring immense joy, but it is also susceptible to pain and sorrow. The essence of Aphrodite in this context acknowledges that loss is an inevitable part of the love experience. In embracing grief as part of love's continuum, Aphrodite embodies the understanding that the bonds we form are often shadowed by the potential for heartbreak.

The Myth of Adonis

One of the most poignant narratives illustrating Aphrodite Kataskepis is the myth of Adonis. Adonis, beloved by Aphrodite, represents the beauty and fleeting nature of life. His tragic death and subsequent descent into the underworld deeply affect Aphrodite, plunging her into a profound grief. Her sorrow over Adonis serves not only as a personal loss but also as a reminder of the impermanence of beauty and love.

As Aphrodite mourns, she captures the essence of human experience—a deep connection to those we love, coupled with the pain of their absence. This myth underscores the notion that love extends beyond the boundaries of life and death, establishing a bridge between the living and the departed.

The Role of Ritual and Mourning

In ancient rituals, Aphrodite Kataskepis was invoked in contexts of mourning and remembrance. Offerings to the goddess were made to seek her favor and comfort during times of grief. By calling upon her during funerals or memorials, people sought solace in the understanding that love persists, even in the face of loss.

Aphrodite's presence in such rituals highlights the belief that love continues to influence our lives, even when intertwined with sorrow. Her association with the grieving process encourages the acknowledgment of emotions we often try to suppress—allowing space for healing through remembrance and connection.

Embracing Loss and Healing

Aphrodite Kataskepis invites us to embrace the full spectrum of love, including its capacity for grief. When we experience loss, it's essential to honor our feelings and understand that mourning is a natural part of the love experience. By acknowledging the connection between love and sorrow, we can find a path toward healing.

In reflecting on the depth of our connections, Aphrodite Kataskepis teaches us that love is both a source of joy and a reminder of what we hold dear. Grieving does not diminish the significance of love; instead, it enriches our understanding of its power.

Aphrodite Kataskepis stands as a poignant reminder of the complexities of love and the inevitability of loss. Through her association with grief, she encourages us to honor the depth of our emotions and embrace the full range of human experience. As we navigate the intertwining pathways of love and sorrow, let us remember Aphrodite as a guiding force—celebrating the beauty of love while acknowledging the heartache that often accompanies it. In doing so, we pay tribute not only to our loved ones but also to the enduring legacy of love that transcends even the darkest of times.

i thinkit would be cool if there was an omegaverse but for salmon instead of wolves. Like when the time comes certain members of society get really juicy musclewise and get yiffy fangs and are suddenly compelled to return to the neighborhood they grew up in and 96 hours later show up barefoot in full starvation mode and ravaged by walking through interstate traffic to fuck whoevwr smells the best in the local burger king. Then afterwards they die and disintegrate to be eaten by seagulls in the parking lot

eating pastries is so humiliating cause you'll be having the time of your life having it and then when you're finished you look down and you're covered in flakes and sugardust like fuuuck now everyone is going to know i'm a messy pastry whore

"immortality sucks because all your friends die" all your friends die anyway. those we do not mourn are those who mourn us.

"immortality sucks because you forget who you are" we always forget who we are. do you remember who you were at four years of age? who you were at fourteen? "who i am" is a shadow cast on the wall.

"immortality sucks because" skill issue. skill issue. skill issue. give me your liver

Cum on some licorice, call that a jizzler

hi ^__^ the san-x website has a lot of cute wallpapers i thought you guys might appreciate them

Monsters & Maw’s ‘Shorter Stories’ Masterlist

Edit which I’m including in all my works after plagiarism and theft has taken place: I do not give my consent for my works to be used, copied, published, or posted anywhere. They are copyrighted and belong to me.

So I figured it was time to create a masterlist of my shorter stories! These were pretty much all done as requests for chunky ten sentence stories, prompts, and ko-fi commissions. Please check my blog’s header for info on whether ko-fi commissions, free requests, and full commissions are open before sending any requests in.

Any content warnings are on the individual stories themselves, at the top of each one. I’ve grouped this list by reader x monster this time. Let me know if any links have broken/lead to the wrong place!

My main masterlist of much longer stories can be found here.

My Patreon masterlist (public/free to browse) can be found here.

My monster stories archive blog is @monstersandmawarchive if you want to turn on notifications or just have my stories with no other posts.

Enjoy! x

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Some stories (particularly older ones) might have funky formatting. Sorry - that’s a tumblr glitch!

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wlw

Female hellhound x female reader (sfw)

Shy female selkie x female extrovert (sfw)

Female deathclaw x female reader (nsfw)

Buff female werecat/rakshasa x female reader (sfw)

Chubby female werewolf x buff female reader (nsfw)

Female sphinx x female reader (nsfw)

Female centaur x female reader (nsfw)

Female orc x female reader (sfw)

Female naga x female reader (nsfw)

Female orc x female reader (sfw)

Female werewolf reader x female human (v. light nsfw)

Female werewolf x female reader (light nsfw)

mlm

Male tentacled monster x chubby male reader (nsfw)

Male werewolf x trans male reader (nsfw)

Male centaur x male reader (nsfw)

Male gargoyle x male reader (nsfw)

Male gorgon x male reader (very light nsfw)

Male tiefling x male reader (angsty, light nsfw)

Male orc x male reader (nsfw)

Male kamaitachi x male reader (light nsfw)

Male demon x male human (nsfw, monster’s pov)

Male mothman x male reader (sfw, fluffy)

{Footsteps in the Snow Masterlist (mlm Skyrim story)}

m/f

Male werewolf x female reader (light nsfw)

Large male demon x female reader (comfort after death of beloved pet, sfw)

Male ‘rabbit’ monster x female reader (sfw)

Big male orc x female reader (nsfw)

Male naga x female reader (sfw)

Male gargoyle x female reader (nsfw) (Alesh’s story Part One (nsfw) Part Two (nsfw))

Male faun x female reader (nsfw)

Male dragon x female reader (sfw)

Male orc x female reader (sfw)

Male werebat x female reader (sfw)

Male jungle troll x tiny elf girlfriend (nsfw)

Big male minotaur x small female reader (nsfw)

Male alien x female reader (nsfw)

Male satyr x female reader (sfw)

Male kelpie x female reader (sfw)

Male naga x female reader (nsfw)

Male shark merman x female reader (nsfw)

Male yautjia x female reader (nsfw)

Male dragon x female reader (sfw)

Male dragon x female reader (light nsfw)

Male naga x female reader (light nsfw)

Male alien x female reader (sfw)

Male fae x female reader (sfw)

Male minotaur x female reader (nsfw)

Male oni x female reader (sfw)

Fluffy male monster x girlfriend (monster pov, nsfw)

Male shadow monster x fem girlfriend (monster pov, light nsfw)

Female dullahan x male reader (nsfw)

Female banshee x male reader (sfw)

Female lamia/naga x male reader (nsfw)

monster x nb/gender-neutral readers

Male kitsune x nb reader (sfw)

Male fae x reader (sfw)

Male orc x reader (sfw) (Garek’s story (nsfw) can be found here - and that one has a female reader)

Female alien x reader (very light nsfw)

Male orc x reader (sfw)

Female naga x nb reader (nsfw)

Sea dragon pirate Captain x human stowaway (nsfw)

NB werewolf x reader (sfw)

Male gargoyle x disabled female presenting nb reader (sfw)

NB insectoid monster x reader (sfw)

Male orc x reader (sfw)

Mothman x reader (nsfw)

Female dragon x nb reader (nsfw)

Male vampire x reader (sfw)

Afab nb reader x afab bat monster (light nsfw)

NB werewolf x reader (angsty, sfw)

Male alien x reader (light sfw) *’smooch’ prompt fill* for Ornorx (nsfw))

Male alien x reader (nsfw, bdsm) *’smooch’ prompt fill* for Ornorx (nsfw))

Scarred male fae x reader (light nsfw) *’smooch’ prompt fill* for Winter from Gnoll boy Brenn’s story - Part One here (nsfw))*

Scarred male fae x reader (light nsfw) *’smooch’ prompt fill* for Winter from Gnoll boy Brenn’s story - Part One here (nsfw))*

Male gargoyle x reader (sfw) *’smooch’ prompt fill*

Female orc x reader (light nsfw) *’smooch’ prompt fill for Bronwyn - Part One here (sfw)*

Female orc x reader (sfw) *’smooch’ prompt fill for Bronwyn - Part One here (sfw)* 

Male gnoll x reader (light nsfw) *’smooch’ prompt fill for Brenn - Part One here (sfw))*

Male gargoyle x reader (light nsfw) *’smooch’ prompt fill for Alesh - Part One (nsfw))*

Male hellhound x reader (light nsfw) *’smooch’ prompt fill for Ranek (nsfw))*

Male naga x reader (light nsfw) *’smooch’ prompt fill for Ascal - Part One (sfw))*

Male centaur x reader (light nsfw) *’smooch’ prompt fill for Iskandar from orc boy Khuruz’ story - Part One (sfw)*

Nb drider x reader (sfw, light angst)

Male rock troll x reader (very light nsfw)

Male dragon x reader (sfw)

Nb gargoyle x reader (sfw)

male naga x male mongoose monster x gn reader (sfw) ‘silly fun in the river’

male orc x gn/male reader (sfw)

female butch tiefling x gn reader (sfw)

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For all early releases, character art and bios, upcoming story info, and much, much more, join me over on Patreon!

You’ll have access to stories before anyone else, and you’ll get instant access Patreon-only content as well, including polls and an exclusive monthly story for those on the Pixies and Goblins tier or higher!

___________________________

| Masterlist | Patreon | Ko-fi | Writing Commissions |

Go ahead and live with your head held high. No matter how devastated you may be by your own weakness or uselessness, set your heart ablaze.

spring flourishes in the valley ✿｡*ﾟ𐐪𐑂°*⭑

flower fields 2 ✿

-

my shop | mobile wallpapers

[id: a light pink userbox with a pastel pink border and pastel pink text that reads “this user has no motivation for even basic activities” on the left is an image of a small pink heart. /end id]

by euphemia.stokefield

hey Jim you didnt really do anything other than shoplift from a convenience store once and im behind on my quota this month. anyway if you look down youll see a bear trap on your scrotum

My Biggest Problem

Miso isn’t my biggest problem anymore. I know you’re gonna be like, 

“Bullh*ck, misophonia is the worst thing that ever happened to me, it’s ruined everything, ect.!!” 

But, my young, young dudes, I have some news. Adulthood is surprising as h*ck and has a lot of bumps and turns and I never anticipated in my whole of angsteenager existence that there would be life after miso.

For example, if anyone’s watched the video (x) I posted a hot while ago, they’d see that I’ve come out as ftm transgender and I’ve left home. I got engaged in December to @living-with-miso, my longtime Tumblr crush and we’re getting married next month.

 My type 3 Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) exploded into wondering each day if I can walk or use my hands. 

My computer broke. I need to buy socks. The milk in the fridge is expired.

And I know that mostly sounds like, 

“Gee, thanks Stephan, so you’re saying everything gets worse?” 

but man, I actually would say I’ve never been happier. 

You see, when you move out, you move away from the people who trigger you the most in the world: your family. You may have new people who trigger you, like a roommate, but eventually, you’re gonna be in a situation where you can more or less have total control over your environment. Make sure you choose a life partner that accepts every inch of you, and don’t settle for anything less.

When you grow up, you’ll be able to manage your life in a way you can control, to an extent. You literally don’t even have to attend classes in person anymore, almost anything is available online! Yeah, you’ll have days where you just want to rip your ears off and replace your hands with chainsaws because you need to attend job training, attend a family BBQ, or hurriedly make an Irish exit to said BBQ, but that’s not going to be the majority of your life anymore.

And that’s where I’m at. I’m out from the influence of more “adult” adults at the age of 22 and am finally the captain of my own life. 

Which is terrifying, but empowering. I decide if I can attend gatherings, I decide if I want to leave, I decide if I want to stay inside and live on the internet, I decide if I can live with my partner, and I decide if I want to eat cookies for breakfast unless Ashley is home and and tells me no cookies for breakfast (#marriage). 

And if anyone (other than my future wife) has a problem with the way I live my life or make decisions, guess what? I can decide to take my Scissors of H*ck You and cut them right the h*ck out of my beautiful rainbow life.

I may not have the power to decide whether or not I have misophonia, whether my hands work on any given day, or whether or not I have sensory meltdowns, but I can decide how I handle these things.

So I guess my point today is that miso life gets better once you’ve grown up. If you can make it that far, you’ll be happier. And god, I wish my teenage self had known how happy I would one day be. Thank god I decided to stick around.

So stick around, guys. Your life may look like shooty macaroni art, but it’s just practice at this point. One day, you’ll be Bob Ross and decide when and where your next happy little tree goes.

Stay Brave Out There, Stephan [soon-to-be] Vomacka

Biological Basis for Misophonia (Explained in Layman’s Terms)

A groundbreaking study about misophonia was released this year by Dr. Sukhbinder Kumar and his team from the Institute of Neuroscience at Newcastle University and the Wellcome Center for NeuroImaging at the University College London and has changed the game when it comes to discussing this misunderstood neurological condition. 

It’s so interesting, so fascinating to people with backgrounds in psychology and neurology, but to the commonperson? Words like “ventromedial prefrontal cortex”, “amygdala”, and “myelination” might as well be in a completely different language. 

And I know that most people with misophonia would absolutely love to be able to understand what’s wrong with them, so that’s why I’m doing this. Strap yourselves in, we’re taking a crash course in miso-psychology!

Some Words You Should Know Before We Get Started So You’re Not Totally Lost:

- Frontal Lobe:

This is the brain part in the very front. It is important because it controls emotions, problem-solving, memory-language, judgement, and the birds and the bees. The control panel, if you will. 

- Cerebral Hemispheres: 

Think of a hemisphere as half of a globe. Your brain is the globe (the word cerebral come from cerebrum, which is your brain), and the hemispheres are the two halves; left and right. 

- Myelin and Myelination: 

Myelin is an insulating substance that covers special nerves in the brain that send information. (Kind of like those chutes at drive-through banks you send your money through.) The more myelin is covering the chutes, the faster and more vroomwhoosh the information can send. More myelin is like high-speed Internet. 

- Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex (vmPFC): 

Don’t panic, this is just a big word that tells us exactly where on the brain this part is. “Ventro-” on the underside of the brain, “-medial” in the middle, “Pre-” before, “-frontal” in the frontal lobe, “cortex” center. So it’s on the underside of the brain, in the middle, and on the very tip of the frontal lobe. It actually sits right above the eye-socket. VmPFC for short, this part of the brain helps keep emotions like fear and empathy in line and helps you make decisions. 

- Salient: Important, or relevant. 

- Stimuli: Sensory information coming into the brain through your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, or skin.

- Anterior Insular Cortex (AIC): 

“Anterior” in the front, not posterior, “insular cortex” the area of the brain in the middle (imagine a baseball in a mitt - the baseball is the insular cortex and the mitt is the rest of the brain). This part of the brain is on the front of the insular cortex and does a lot of things. The AIC decides what stimuli is salient. This part of the brain helps process emotions. It also arranges all the sensory information you’re taking in so that you have a good picture of what’s going on in the world around you. Believe it or not, but how you experience the world is all related to how your senses are processed!

- The Amygdala: 

The area of the brain where the fight-or-flight response is started. Fight-or-flight is what kept humans alive in the caveman days where the rustling in the bushes could be a bunny, but could also be a tiger. 

The amygdala is located in the insular cortex we talked about above and assigns salience to sensory stimuli so you can be ready to run in case it’s not a bunny, but a tiger. 

Now That That’s Settled, What Causes Misophonia?

Okay. So the first thing that Kumar’s team notes through their MRI studies is that people with misophonia have a ton of myelin in their vmPFCs. This means that people with misophonia have vmPFCs that function much faster than the average person. Also, the vmPFC is an area that has a ridiculous amount of information bank-chutes to many other areas of the brain.

 Like the areas which process memories, smells, and most importantly, the amygdala. If the vmPFC and the amygdala are talking more than usual? There can be trouble. And that trouble is spelled M-I-S-O-P-H-O-N-I-A. 

This study also found that people with miso also have greater activation in the AIC when they hear trigger sounds. 

Remember how I mentioned that the AIC is responsible for putting together a picture of your reality based on the sensory information you’re picking up? Imagine if for whatever reason, the AIC decides that grandma chewing gum is important. 

Then the amygdala, for whatever reason, thinks that because grandma’s gum-chewing is important, it must be a tiger in the bushes and you gotta be ready to run. 

Then the vmPFC gets confused and thinks it needs to be angry about it because together with the amygdala, they’re not processing emotions the way that they should be.

 Before you know it, the misophonia sufferer, through no fault of their own, is experiencing the anxiety of being chased by a tiger when they know full well grandma’s gum-chewing sounds aren’t a tiger; and in addition, they’re really freaking angry about it.  

To me, this research is fascinating because it confirms everything I have felt as a misophonia sufferer. I have felt like an idiot because I know full well that my classmate eating chips isn’t going to hurt me. But my body is responding like the noise is actually a threat to my bodily safety. This is because my brain doesn’t see reality as reality, and even though I know that, my brain doesn’t. 

And before anyone tries to say, “Well if you know it’s not going to hurt you, can’t you decide to not be bothered by it?” let me say this: the brain is an organ. It’s part of the body. You can’t just decide to not have cancer because you know you don’t need to grow a tumor right there. Your body thinks it does, but you’re not thinking for your body.

I hope that this post helps to clear up questions about what misophonia is, because it is a very complicated and unbelievable-sounding disorder. And though you may not be a scientist, my hope is that after reading this, you may be able to better understand what’s going on in your body and feel more in the loop with the current research. 

(Original artwork by Stephan Thomas Vomacka not to be independently posted elsewhere without credit being given.)

References:  Brout, J. (2017, February 04). Misophonia Breakthrough Study. Retrieved September 20, 2017, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/noises/201702/misophonia-breakthrough-study-0

Hello!! Want to start off by saying thank you, I hope this isn’t too long, and I love your work! I really enjoyed From Where the Land Meets the Sea and I regularly check The Places You Shouldn’t Be for updates. I’m used to writing long papers for school so sorry if this comes out long! Also I’d like this matchup to be romantic, I’m always so excited and intrigued to hear who others would arrange my marriage to lmao. My Quotev username is Rosemary/SteelOatmeal in case you need it!

Basic info: I’m 19, I use she/her/hers pronouns, and I am bisexual. Astrologically, my big three are pisces, pisces, gemini, and my chart is mostly water and air signs so I’m just a big mess internally :’). I’m an enneagram type 4 and INFP. I’m a big ole introvert but I will let loose and get wild around close friends. I’m a psychology major and I absolutely love learning about how people work; I’m also in marching band bc I’m a big loser /j.

Likes: I like sorting things into categories (as I’ll do with the rest of this essay lol) so I hope that helps you too! I am pagan so I love nature and all that good shit, but I don’t go outside that much bc it’s hot and I’m very lazy. I have a large collection of candles bc I love to set the mood of my space, as well as decorate it with art prints, random shit, and my own paintings. In general, I like my space and clothing to be as comfy and cozy as possible while also being aesthetic and cool. Hand-written notes from loved ones are one of my favorite things and I keep every one I get to look through when I’m sad. I absolutely adore cats, I like to knit/crochet, I consider thrifting a sport (that I do often), I read a lot but only fanfics lmao, my signature look is winged eyeliner, my favorite band is Car Seat Headrest, and I drink large amounts of herbal tea.

Dislikes: Obviously bigots, racists, misogynists, capitalists, and anything-phobes are getting their shit rocked for being scum. I have misophonia so I have to flee my room/put in earbuds often which REALLY sucks and affects my life a lot. I greatly dislike people being judgemental towards others for no good reason (ie cringe culture). When I was younger I was often made fun of for the things I liked and it really did a number on me so it makes me very mad when I see others getting the same treatment. Also raw tomatoes can suck it.

Good traits: I would describe myself as both the funny friend and the cool funky aunt. Also VERY anxious and flighty but sneaky and mischievous; I love some light trespassing and shenanigans. I care a lot about my close relationships and always try to be as helpful as humanly possible for them. I often give people advice and try to be there for them in any way I can (listening, cheering up, encouraging, etc.). It takes me a long time to open up but I consider myself a cool person to talk to and hang out with once you get to know me. I’m very accepting of others, as long as you’re not a bigot or just a dick we’re cool.

Less good traits: I often let my anxiety get in the way of opportunities (social, romantic, events, etc.). It also holds me back from being at all vulnerable with people. I am very paranoid and concerned with safety/not getting caught so I’ve been told I sometimes hold other people back from doing their thing out of my own anxiety. I’m kind of a hermit and incredibly lazy, always have been. I am terrible at confrontation and will avoid it at all costs because I am totally a coward and not afraid (..the irony) to admit it. I can be bossy bc I like having authority, control, and having things done my way.

Fun story!! This is my favorite story to tell, I hope you enjoy! A few years ago I was hanging out with some friends in their neighborhood and we found a storm drain exit hole (??) so we decided to walk in. I’m like 6 feet tall but I only had to crouch a bit to walk the roughly 100 feet into the concrete tube until we reached a small room beneath the manhole/storm drain cover. We all sat in the little room having fun, playing cards, and trying not to be scared of the quiet black tunnels behind us that led further into the drain. A few of the people with us leave to go to the surface. The rest of us are just having a good time when suddenly an extremely loud, thunderous BOOM echoes all around us. I have never felt such immediate, intense, primal fear in my life. I thought either the tunnel was collapsing or pennywise was coming to demolish our stupid teen asses. We briefly share a horrified look before scrambling up and booking it out of the tunnel, me scraping my head and hitting a few spiders on the way out. When we got out, shaking and gasping, we were greeted to the laughs of the guys who left earlier. They had thrown a large rock onto the metal manhole/storm drain cover to scare us. Assholes. Fun to look back on now though lmao.

Thanks again and take care!! :)

Your matchup is… Jane!

In General:

I have said it once, twice and I will say it again, you guys are SO GOOD at making me ??? With who I want to put you with!! And once again, this is just because I find you so interesting and just chef’s kiss with so many different people. SO why did I match you with Jane? Honestly I love Jane and I see her getting along with Pisces and everything about you just vibes with her but I will get into that! I think what genuinely pushed me in that direction over some of the other characters than ran through my head (as in, Hoodie, EJ and maybe,,,,,, just maybe,,,,,,, Toby,,,,,,,) was your hobbies and good traits. but over all sorry I love Jane and I think she would be the best girlfriend ever for you.

Things she likes about you:

Jane has such a sense of justice about her, at least, that’s how I tend to see her. She’s an ambivert leaning towards extroversion and is often the life of the party but I think she genuinely loves how cozy you are because it’s so calming and relaxing to her. She finds everything about you so SO peaceful. She’s also a bit artistic herself so ofc, she loves your artwork. She also finds your personality so admirable because it’s like the perfect balance of doing fun shit and taking it slow. She needs that ngl. The shenanigans like light trespassing? She’s 100% up for that, like literally just going to explore stuff with her if that’s your thing, she’d hold your hand the entire time and probably bust out some history of the place because lowkey, I think she’s into history. I think you also mentioned you’re tall so like she’s into that. I like to think she’s a tall girl too and wears heels just to tower over people lol like Lady D, but make it Jane. She’s here for that. Jane also really likes that you’re helpful/and willing to lend an ear because she has an unhealthy habit of bottling stuff in until it explodes, but I think you’d put her in such a peaceful/safe space that she’ feel willing to let that stuff out healthily and at a good pace rather than waiting until it explodes. Jane doesn’t like cringe culture either - genuinely the only thing she hates is Jeff. Like that’s it. Everything else is just tolerable (but she adores you omfg). She also really likes that your makeup,,,, which leads me to-

General cute stuff:

By the gods let her do your makeup and you do hers. I can just see the two of you sitting on the floor, candles all around, maybe a ring light giggling and doing each other’s makeup. Her hands gently touching your face, caressing you and just telling you how pretty you are like I am weak. Also you mentioned liking cats she likes cats too! At one point she would ask you to knit her something with a cat-- like you two probably have a cat together or something she’s soft. Also, I think she’s the type of girl to send legitimate letters to her GF! Like she would totally just send actual handwritten letters to you, busts out a fountain pen, and then kisses it with her black lipstick with a dash of her perfume and eagerly waits for you to get it. She’s the type of girl to put polaroids too,,,,,, and take an astounding amount of polaroids with you and string them up on her wall or have a “our adventure book” kind of deal. She’s also really perceptive? So, if a situation is ever too much and you need to retreat, she’s got you 100%. If you need your space? That’s totally cool she’s just really understanding of you and everything going on in your orbit. I also like to think she’s that kind of partner that would just exist in a room with you? Like she doesn’t even need to be talking with you to enjoy her time with you (or maybe I really like those pleasant silences lol). She’s also really supportive of everything you do, regardless of what it is because she hates that people hurt you when you were younger. She wants you to absolutely thrive and she will help you do that. Jane also likes,,,,, those nap dates? I mentioned it in another matchup, like "let's take melatonin and sleep together" like that. Just let her hold you while she cuddles you. She likes simple contact. Jane would also join in your hobbies and learn about them if you'd let her. She'd also teach you some things too - mostly protection related because she wants you to stay safe at all times.

You two as a couple:

Thrift dates are a must. No questions asked. Like, she would be so happy to go with you and just do normal stuff and thrifting is just super cute in her opinion? She’s not judgmental at all when it comes to you. Once again, the only person she seems to really dislike and throw any judgment on is Jeff, so like, that might flare up once and again. I also think that in her relationship with you, she’s just really understanding, attentive and willing to go the extra mile to make you feel safe and secure and follow your own guidelines and boundaries when doing so. She’s big on the respect thing. You two are always laughing too? Like, just giggling at everything because it’s always such a fun, wholesome time together. Interestingly enough, Jane can be quite bossy too and likes having total control as well, but she’d work on compromising more just to make you happy (and because compromise is a mostly good thing). Honestly I’m just going to stress communication, but that goes for any relationship really. She also takes a bit to open up in a relationship but that’s because of y’know her history and stuff. But once she does open up? You have a best friend and a solid girlfriend. I also think she’s protective of you. She just wants to make sure you’re safe, happy and healthy on all facets (emotional, physical and mental) and will do whatever she can to make sure you’re in those safe zones. Jane is admittedly a bit of a go getter so sometimes being a hermit won’t mesh entirely well with her, but she gets it. She might encourage you, but let her know if it’s annoying or makes you upset because she will pull back. I think Jane would hope for you to become more open with her as the relationship goes on, but it’s not like she’d actively force you either. Other than that, she’d probably take you to gardens and stuff just to appreciate nature with you. Lil walks out in the woods, looking for fun mushrooms, all that cottagecore stuff lmfao. She would deadass weave flowers into your hair and just bring in pretty flowers because "they remind me of you" y'know? Idk how else to say this woman loves everything about you. She melts in her entirety just by looking at you.

Closing Thoughts/Other Stuff:

I am just here to say I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU. You are a psych major? Me too! Hate raw tomatoes? Absolutely! And your story is SO FUN like omfg I wish I had friends to go into Pennywise’s storm drains with smh. Also a fellow pagan hi!! I always get so excited to see others thriving out here. You wrote me a perfect amount and broke it up for me, that is so thoughtful, like I swear I could cry that’s exactly what I want when y’all send me your essays. And you are SO SWEET like I might legitimately cry lmfao. Im soft. You are such a sweet human being I cannot stress that near enough, I hope for nothing but good things, light, and many blessings to come your way. I just adore you, and Jane ABSOLUTELY does too.

Anyways, I hope this was good and that you like it! Lmk what you think, thank you for sending it in! <3

Imma show off my aggressive pride flags before pride month ends.

send me your best/worst uquizzes

Hi, my housemate just started a medication that has serotonin syndrome as a possible side effect. I remember a while back you talking about foods you had to avoid with medications like that. Could you please remind me of them? They're far back in your blog and I can't find the post.

Wow did this arrive out of order. Sorry it wasn’t answered earlier, @noxnoctisanima

If you’re taking any sort of medication that raises serotonin, avoid like the plague: grapefruit of any sort in any form; bergamot oranges or oil or bergamottin itself (which means no Earl Grey tea, nope, can’t do it, along with lemon peel, lime peel, and certain orange peels because of their bergamottin content), hibiscus (this one is such a fucker and makes zero sense), Rose Hips (same problem as the hibiscus, absolute wtf), and no St. John’s Wort or anything that works in similar fashion. Cut your alcohol intake down to almost nill or completely zero. Oh, and no yerba mate for you. It interferes with neurological meds for neurotransmitters (including ones for dopamine, like Welbutrin), and by “interferes” I mean “stops fucking working.”

These are also troublespots for SSRIs:

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – a common type of painkiller that includes ibuprofen, diclofenac or naproxen

antiplatelets – a type of medication used to prevent blood clots, such as low-dose aspirin and clopidogrel

theophylline – a medication used to treat asthma

clozapine and pimozide – medications used to treat schizophrenia and psychosis

lithium – a medication used to treat severe depression and bipolar disorder

triptans – a type of medication, such as naratriptan, sumatriptan and zolmitriptan, used to treat migraines  

other antidepressants – including tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

Basically, as with any medication, watch your ass, but SSRIs in particular can be dangerous when given to people who also have chronic pain by doctors who don’t stop and fucking *think.* Pain boosts adrenaline, which in turn boosts dopamine, serotonin, and several others. If you’re in pain all the time, your serotonin is often already sky-high. Adding an SSRI on top of that can kill you with one dose.

So if your friend has chronic pain, and their doctor didn’t take this into consideration, they need to go revist this doctor and beat them with a folded metal chair. (Just don’t get caught, and it wasn’t my idea.)

Last thing: if your friend goes from feeling depressed to better with no other difficulties? Great! If your friend’s “better” becomes “completely apathetic” it’s time to adjust doses and/or medications, because apathy is not the result you’re wanting. Also, purple-blue fingernails and toenails = call your doctor right fucking now, and prepare to possibly suffer dropping an SSRI cold turkey.

(Why do I know all this shit? Because one of my previous doctors tried to kill me three fucking times and blew off her own incompetence when I pointed it out. Also every time the intake nurse would put “NO SSRIs” on my file, someone would conveniently go back afterwards and remove that notation…)

Okay, so one more thing: most fucking idiot/useless doctors go right to SSRIs first for patients who come in with depression, most often without actually doing the blood tests that YES, THEY DO EXIST, DON’T LET ANYONE TELL YOU OTHERWISE to see what your primary neurotransmitters that affect mood are actually doing. You should be tested for all 7 of your primaries: acetylcholine (neurotransmitter used by neurons in the control of functions ranging from muscle contraction and heart rate to digestion and memory), norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, GABA, glutamate, and endorphins before you are prescribed *any* sort of anti-depressant, but the 4 most important ones are usually norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, and GABA.

Anyway: Good luck, because getting proper treatment for this shit is a handbasket of fuckin’ Nope.

wait hold up - being on an SSRI means you should never have citrus again? I knew about grapefruit but i figured that was because grapefruit can be fucking weird (my late grandpa had arythmia and some other issues as well as being a stroke survivor, one of the meds he ended up on had the no consuming grapefruit thing). I'm off the SSRI i was on, have been for a year or so. Should I not be drinking my lavender earl gray calm-the-fuck-down tea?! -shocked and sad noises-

Okay, clarifying, since I actually did an entire thesis paper on this for neurobiology/neuropsychology. This is the section specifically about bergamottin, which is the culprit that creates the grapefruit effect. That means bergamot oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, and pomelos? Nope, can’t have them. (Not that I liked grapefruit or pomelos in the first place.)I’ve been off the SSRI since about 2010 and I *still* cannot have these things on a regular basis. Some people don’t react as badly, but a cup of earl grey could potentially fuck me up for days.

I *can* have lemon or lime in small doses, but only if I’m using them to cook with.

Any other citrus is fine, though. I nom on clementines like nobody’s business with no ill effects. (Pun intended.)

Food and Pharmaceutical Interactions (The Grapefruit Effect)

At one time, I was prescribed theSSNRI known as Cymbalta (generic: duloxetine). An SSNRI is part of a group of drugs called selective serotonin andnorepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.  Basically,they keep serotonin and norepinephrine levels raised by preventing these twoneurotransmitters from being reabsorbed, thus making the effects of theirinitial release last longer. Cymbalta istypically considered an anti-depressant, but in my case it was meant as anattempt at treatment for certain painful aspects of fibromyalgia.  

The prescribing physician, an RNwho specialized in fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, gave me a shortdescription of what the drug would do, how I had to take it, and what I couldexpect from the medication.  At no pointdid she mention that there were specific foodsthat could not be combined with Cymbalta.

At the pharmacy, the grapefruitwarning label was applied directly to the pill bottle.  Noproblem, I thought at the time, as I didn’t eat grapefruit anyway.  However, grapefruit was not the only culprit;I quickly discovered that hibiscus tea also interfered with the metabolizing ofCymbalta.  No one had warned me abouttea…or about chocolate, another culprit of pharmaceutical interactions.  Worse, no one mentioned anything abouttryptophan.  While I was not takingtryptophan supplements, I had a diet very high in carbohydrates.  In essence, I was eating the Cymbalta intoineffectiveness.

Grapefruit, the biggest knownoffender for food and drug interactions, prevents the proper metabolisation of manydrugs commonly prescribed.50 Thisis commonly referred to as the Grapefruit Effect. Improper metabolisation is aproblem for any medication, but with neurological medications, particularlySSRIs or SSNRIs, it means that dangerous levels of serotonin can build up inthe brain in short order. Such a build-up can easily turn into Serotonin Syndrome.51  As well as anti-depressants, grapefruit juiceis known to easily interfere with immunosuppressants, antihistamines, calciumchannel blockers, blood pressure treatments, sedatives, anti-anxietymedications, and drugs to treat erectile dysfunction.

Grapefruit’s origin brings theculprit to light. Grapefruit was created when an orange was crossed with theAsian Pomelo fruit.52 Pomelo contains high amounts of bergamottin, 53a type of furanocoumarin, 54 which is an organic chemical compound producedby plants. (Bergamottin is also found in the bergamot orange, the oil of whichis used to make bergamot tea.) 

Bergamottin inhibits the cytochromeP450 enzyme, which performs first-pass oxidative metabolizing of specificdrugs. Without that metabolisation, high levels of the drug in question can buildup in the body.  “Researchers havediscovered that the molecule bergamottin, found in grapefruit juice,inactivates drug-metabolizing enzymes in the liver, allowing drug levels tobuild up in the bloodstream. It can take up to four days for the body to metabolizethe offending chemical, and for the effects of a single glass of grapefruit juice to wear off.” 53 [Emphasismine.] Grapefruit juice causes interactions with so many pharmaceuticalsthat more work is underway to create a further hybridization of grapefruit toremove, or greatly reduce, the amount of bergamottin it contains.  It is hoped that this will reduce the numberof drug interactions caused by grapefruit juice.

There are other culprits, thoughnone are currently as troublesome as grapefruit juice. Hibiscus tea is known tointeract with the body’s metabolizing of acetaminophen, hydrocodone, Vicodin,Caduet, and Darvocet.55  VitaminC and acid-rich fruit juices, along with magnesium, will reduce theeffectiveness of Adderall if consumed within an hour of dosing. Amitriptyline,a tricyclic antidepressant, does not work nearly as well if black leaf tea isconsumed within an hour of taking it. Dangerous interactions with St. John’sWort, a popular herb for treating depression, have been reported when taken incombination with other mood disorder or anti-depressive drugs.56  If you’re having trouble treating yourheadaches, acetaminophen’s pain-killing strength is also greatly reduced bycruciferous vegetables (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli) foods high inpectin (jams and jellies) and carbohydrates.57

Many anti-depressants, MAOinhibitors, SSRIs and SSNRIs advise you never to take tryptophan supplements(also called 5-HTP) while taking them. It might also make sense to advise patientsto make sure their diet is low in tryptophan, as well. A high-carb diet—andthus, a diet high in tryptophan—will hinder the medicine’s ability to work withthe body, and could lead to serotonin excess or, again, serotonin syndrome.

toei what the fuck is this im qhat the hell help what the fucks is this what the fukc