#decompress

do you notice the headache that occurs when you are overstimulated? you know, the one where the headache does not fully develop, but the onset of it is truly present.

like the edges of your brain are pulsating with too much energy to contain.

at least, that's what it feels like to me.

i don't have adhd, but still get sensory overload at times. this frequently occurs after too many hours on my phone [ yeah i really should do something about this ], a long day at work or after consuming too many media sources (the news, for example).

i have found a way for myself to deal with this that i would love to share, it might help someone else out too.

i do a 30 min "de-stimulating" pause.

i make myself a nice warm drink. i lay in bed or sit on the couch. i set a 30 min timer. and i have 3 rules:

no screens. no phone no laptop no tv no tablet no nothing.

no words. no paper no book no ereader no nothing.

no sounds. no podcast no audiobook no music no nothing.

i take these 30 minutes to just. exist. let my mind wander. look and listen at the world around me. i don't practice mindfulness during this time. i don't intend on fixing any issues or answering any questions i might have. i just continue existing. when the timer is up, i carry on with my day.

If the character you want to cosplay appears in a book, a manga, a comic or a graphic novel AND if you need to decompress a bit at events, here is a very simple and sort of meta idea:

Bring a copy of the book, the manga or else with you to the event. When you need to decompress (for instance because of sensory overload) look for a quiet corner where you can sit down and start reading.

You could also hold the book or manga etc. in a way that others can see what you are reading. And maybe some would recognize the character and the book, and this might lead to a nice conversation.

Or if you feel like you'd rather be left alone for a while, hold the book or comic in a way that others cannot see what it is.

(GIF just for attention.)

When I clock out from my shift, I don’t just walk away from the weight of the job. It lingers. The noise, the tension, the faces—they don’t vanish when the doors close. For me, that’s where gaming steps in.Just like roll call starts my day, gaming starts my reset.When I throw on the headset, it’s not about escaping reality—it’s about reclaiming it. It’s structure after chaos, connection after…

manifesting

watching the good girl