April 4th Is Auditory Processing Disorder Awareness Day!

As much as I want to support ethical farming practices I will be buying the cheapest bag of frozen chicken thighs as much as the next frugal/poor person which is why animal welfare needs to be legislated, not left up to the invisible hand of the free market or some bullshit. Invisible hand of the free market finds itself around a lot of throats.

Portal is a horror game.

It posits itself as this fun, quirky puzzle game, but that's so clearly not what it is even 5 minutes in. This supposedly bustling science facility is completely silent. No one is watching through the observation windows, the test chambers are visibly dirtied and worn, and the only voice you hear throughout the entire game is the "Pre-Recorded" GLaDOS, who is consistently glitching and saying things that are slightly ominous. This feeling is only amplified by Kelly Bailey's masterful soundtrack, which similarly to Half-Life 2, creates this feeling of loneliness and abandonment. It all comes to a head in Chamber 16 when you finally see Doug Rattman's writings for the first time and realize "Something is VERY wrong here." Afterwards, you learn more and more about how fucked Aperture really is, like how the water in the test chambers is actually a result of flooding, how the Turrets are very much NOT a testing element, and how the Iconic Cake is in fact, a lie. This all comes to a head in the final chamber when the illusion completely falls away and GLaDOS is revealed as a killer, leading into the game's final act. However, even after the Reveal, Portal still manages to keep its horror elements, as GLaDOS slowly hunts you throughout the facility. Stalking, waiting. It's still quiet, still lonely. But now the danger is real, and it's coming for you.

sam & bucky are just a better duo than steve & bucky ever were. you either get it or you don’t

Tips when talking with someone who has auditory processing issues!

(Brought to you by someone with auditory processing issues because the thought of making this post popped into my head and now I can’t fall asleep! Be aware these may not apply to everyone and are just things that I find helpful or would like people to be considerate of with me)

First and foremost! PLEASE be patient with us. I know it can be annoying having to repeat yourself multiple times but we literally can’t help it. Sometimes someone says something to me and it literally sounds like another language. I promise it is just as frustrating for us as it is for you.

Things to do if we ask you to repeat yourself:

Speak slightly slower

Annunciate your words a little more

Most of the time this is all I need to be able to process something I couldn’t before. My issues are often that the person was speaking too quickly or slurring words together, both of which make my native language sound like a different language to me.

Things not to do if we ask you to repeat yourself:

Say the same thing at the exact same speed (doing this is just going to cause me to not process it again and have to ask for it to be repeated again, causing lots of frustration on both sides)

Say the same thing but louder (this might be different for other people, but for me this does not help. I can hear you just fine. Hearing you is not the problem)

Repeat it like you’re talking to a child that doesn’t understand you. (Yes, people do this. Yes, it always ends up being condescending and rude. This is often done by drastically slowing down what you’re saying, saying it louder, and drastically over annunciating. I stated earlier that what helps is speaking slightly slower and annunciating a little more, and those are the key words: slightly, and a little. You don’t need to talk to us like we’re children that don’t understand you. (Plus you really shouldn’t talk to kids like that either))

This one goes along with number 3: Dumbing it down. You don’t need to change what you’re saying! It’s not that you’re saying something too complicated for us to understand, we literally just are not processing the words you are saying as actual words. Again, you don’t need to speak to us like children and change what you said to be easier to understand. You just need to speak more clearly. This one is also always rude and condescending.

If we ask you to repeat yourself, please repeat the whole sentence and sometimes even a sentence or two before that as well. Don’t just assume that we only didn’t process the last half of the sentence or the last word. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve asked someone to repeat and they just give me the very last thing they said. E.g.: what I heard “shkhdtivc arthzjk after styjkufbjjssfjjcsukg house?”, I ask them to repeat. What they repeat “at my house?” What they needed to repeat “Do you want to hang out after school at my house?”

If you ask us something and we say “huh?” or “what?” so you start to repeat yourself but then we cut you off with the answer before you’ve finished repeating yourself, please don’t get upset. We’re not trying to be rude or ask you to repeat yourself for no reason, or cut you off for fun! Sometimes we just needed an extra second or two to process what you said before responding and didn’t actually need you to repeat it, though we’re very grateful that you were willing to repeat it for us. And sometimes we did need you to repeat it, but had only not processed one of the words and as soon as you said that word we were able to understand and respond.

Please don’t give up and say never mind! It can be very frustrating for us when we just needed it repeated once more, but you give up on the entire conversation instead.

Some helpful tips for the people with auditory processing issues!

Instead of asking “what?”, “huh?”, or “can you repeat that?” when I don’t process something, I instead get more specific and ask things like “sorry, could you repeat that a little slower?”. I find that asking them to specifically repeat it in the way you need can help a lot and leads to not having to ask them to repeat it multiple times.

This also applies to asking what you specifically need repeated, like “could you repeat the beginning of that sentence?” or “could you go back a few sentences?” or sometimes I’ll even repeat what I heard back to them and leave it open for them to repeat the word I didn’t process like “sorry, I only caught: do you want to…” and most of the time I’m met with a response similar to “oh! Sorry! Go to the mall?”

With people that I am close to that are aware of my auditory processing issues, I tend to say things like “I didn’t process that” or “my brain isn’t working” because they no longer need more specific instructions and know to repeat it a bit slower and more clearly when I say that. (Though oftentimes I do still need to specify just how much I didn’t process, like if they need to repeat the last couple sentences they said or just a word)

That’s all I can think of for now, but feel free to add on what helps you or if you have anything you want clarified!

you do not have to be functional to be worthy of love and existence as an autistic person. if you need assistance, you are worthy. if you don’t have a job, you are worthy. if you are not social, you are worthy.

you exist. you are a person. you are inherently worthy of life and love

chell in the post freedom fit

she is the most anti ai person out there after all the crap she’s put up with

The Stigma Surrounding Mental Health in the Black Community: A Garveyite Perspective

Introduction: The Silent Epidemic of Mental Health in the Black Community

Mental health is one of the most neglected and stigmatized issues in the Black community. Despite the historical and present-day traumas that Black people have endured—enslavement, colonialism, systemic racism, economic oppression, mass incarceration, police brutality, and generational poverty—discussions about mental health remain taboo in many African and Black Diasporic societies.

From a Garveyite perspective, the stigma surrounding mental health is not just a personal or cultural issue—it is the result of colonial brainwashing, systemic neglect, and economic oppression. The deliberate destruction of Black self-determination has left Black people vulnerable to psychological suffering, while mainstream society has conditioned them to ignore, suppress, or dismiss their pain.

If Black people do not address mental health with the same urgency as physical health, political struggle, and economic empowerment, the community will remain vulnerable to self-destruction, division, and continued oppression.

1. The Historical Origins of Mental Health Stigma in the Black Community

A. The Psychological Impact of Slavery and Colonialism

The Transatlantic Slave Trade and European Colonialism inflicted deep psychological wounds on Black people, yet mental health was never addressed—only survival was prioritized.

During slavery, enslaved Africans who displayed signs of trauma, depression, or rebellion were labelled as “mentally ill” and either punished, killed, or used for cruel medical experiments.

Colonial systems dehumanized Black people, making any discussion of emotional well-being seem irrelevant or weak.

Example: The racist medical diagnosis “Drapetomania” claimed that enslaved Africans who tried to escape captivity were mentally ill, rather than recognizing their desire for freedom.

Key Takeaway: From the beginning, white supremacist systems pathologized Black struggle while ignoring legitimate Black suffering.

B. The Role of Religion in Suppressing Mental Health Discussions

Black communities have historically turned to spirituality, Christianity, Islam, and African traditional religions as coping mechanisms for pain.

While faith has provided strength, it has also led to mental health being overly “spiritualized” rather than clinically addressed.

Many Black people are told:

“Just pray about it.”

“God wouldn’t give you more than you can handle.”

“You don’t need therapy—you need church.”

Example: Instead of seeking therapy, many Black people suffering from depression, anxiety, or PTSD are told to rely only on prayer or fasting, often worsening their condition.

Key Takeaway: Faith is powerful, but mental illness must be treated with both spiritual and medical solutions.

C. Colonial Masculinity and the “Strong Black Woman” Myth

Colonial and white supremacist ideologies have conditioned Black men to believe that showing emotions is a weakness.

Black men are expected to be “strong,” “tough,” and “unbreakable”, leading them to suppress trauma and avoid therapy.

Black women, in turn, are expected to be “superwomen”, handling endless burdens without acknowledging their emotional exhaustion.

Example: The “Strong Black Woman” stereotype leads many Black women to ignore their own depression and anxiety, prioritizing others while suffering in silence.

Key Takeaway: Black strength should not mean suffering in silence—healing is a revolutionary act.

2. The Present-Day Consequences of Ignoring Mental Health

A. High Rates of Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD in the Black Community

The daily realities of racism, poverty, and violence have created widespread mental health crises among Black people, yet few receive proper treatment.

Studies show that Black people are more likely to experience PTSD, anxiety, and depression than white populations, yet are less likely to receive therapy or medication.

Many Black men and women self-medicate with drugs, alcohol, and reckless behaviors instead of seeking professional help.

Example: The high rates of substance abuse and violent crime in some Black communities are often direct results of untreated trauma and mental illness.

Key Takeaway: Ignoring mental health does not make the problem disappear—it worsens generational cycles of pain.

B. Suicide Rates and the Mental Health Crisis Among Black Youth

Suicide rates among Black children and teenagers have skyrocketed in recent years, yet the crisis is rarely discussed in the community.

Many young Black people struggle with racism, bullying, identity confusion, and hopelessness, but feel they can not talk about it without being shamed.

Social media, police violence, and economic instability have further contributed to mental health deterioration among Black youth.

Example: Suicide rates among Black teenagers have risen by 73% over the past 30 years, yet Black parents often dismiss mental health struggles as “just a phase.”

Key Takeaway: The Black community must take mental health seriously—especially for the younger generation, who are suffering in silence.

3. The Systemic Barriers to Black Mental Health Care

A. Lack of Access to Affordable and Culturally Competent Therapy

Many Black people do not seek therapy because mental health care is expensive and inaccessible, especially in low-income communities.

When therapy is available, most therapists are white and lack cultural understanding, making Black patients feel unheard or misunderstood.

Many Black people fear being misdiagnosed, criminalized, or overmedicated due to racist medical systems.

Example: Many Black men with undiagnosed PTSD are labelled as “angry” or “violent” rather than victims of trauma.

Key Takeaway: Black people need access to culturally competent Black therapists who understand their experiences.

B. The Overcriminalization of Black Mental Illness

Black people suffering from mental health crises are more likely to be arrested or killed by police instead of receiving proper care.

White people in distress are taken to mental health facilities, while Black people are taken to jail or shot on sight.

Many Black men with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression end up in prisons instead of hospitals.

Example: Police killed Daniel Prude in 2020 while he was having a mental health crisis, showing how Black people are treated as threats rather than human beings in need of help.

Key Takeaway: The criminalization of Black mental illness must end—Black people need care, not police violence.

4. The Garveyite Solution: Reclaiming Black Mental Health as a Revolutionary Act

A. Normalizing Therapy and Emotional Healing

Black communities must create safe spaces where mental health discussions are encouraged, not shamed.

Black leaders, celebrities, and activists must speak openly about mental health struggles to break the stigma.

Black families must stop dismissing therapy and instead see it as a form of self-preservation and strength.

Example: Schools, churches, and community centres should offer free therapy and mental health workshops tailored for Black people.

Key Takeaway: Therapy and mental health care are revolutionary acts of self-determination.

B. Training and Funding Black Mental Health Professionals

More Black people must be trained as therapists, psychologists, and counsellors to provide culturally competent care.

Black investors and philanthropists must fund Black-led mental health initiatives to ensure accessibility.

Schools must integrate Black-centered emotional intelligence training to teach children how to process trauma.

Example: The rise of Black-led mental health organizations like Therapy for Black Girls is a step toward self-sufficient healing.

Key Takeaway: Black people must control their own mental health institutions—just as Garvey advocated for economic independence.

Conclusion: Will We Prioritize Black Mental Health?

Marcus Garvey said:

“Take advantage of every opportunity; where there is none, make it for yourself.”

Will Black people continue to ignore mental health, or take control of their own healing?

Will we train our own therapists, create safe spaces, and support those in crisis?

Will we treat mental health as a political issue and demand change?

The Choice is Ours. The Time is Now.

You hate that your favorite bands are exercising their free speech.

Me at work (grocery stores are sensory hell)