#regressed

LONG POST

+ tiny trigger warning as this post mentions traumas!

mickey is autistic and has cptsd with healing narcissistic/npd traits! lifelong undiagnosed

ian has hyperactive adhd and bipolar 1 disorder and is both properly diagnosed and medicated.

both are flips, finding and incorporating ways to take care of eachother. mickey regresses a lot more occasionally than ian does, but ian finds more satisfaction from and copes better when caregiving than regressing.

mickey has been regressing a lot longer than ian has, ian would figure it out first term wise. (likely during a therapy / psychologist session.)

mickey would be reluctant, confused, and refuse to admit his regression at first. ian didn’t quite understand or believe in regression until he began researching more, convincing mickey to try it once. (it ended up sticking.)

mickey and ian ended up having an incredibly long talk about it, mickey mostly communicating his feelings and needs while regressed.

during the once in a blue moon they both regress, they typically enjoy outdoor (backyard) and tv play dates together. they both yearn for that 1990s - 2000s childhood replica and prefer regression off of online.

fiona would find out first after finding a pair of mickey’s nappies in the laundry, she was wildly & surprisingly supportive (happy the two had some sort of healthy coping skill) though only ever babysat once or twice. then lip would, after catching ian watching cartoons with a stuffed animal, lip took a (long) while to understand but eventually became Ian’s primary caregiver outside of mickey. (babysitting both, both stayed closeted!)

⭐️ trauma (tough as nails) & agesliding padded babyre/toddlere mickey, deer in headlights + bipolar regressor & kidre ian

mickey regresses due to a lot of trauma, he had grown up too fast + exposure, having gender stereotypes and homophobia pushed on him heavily, living with undiagnosed neurodivergence, and dealing with his abusive father.

he typically regresses to age three, but can be fluid from ages one to six. his memories are a blur in this mindstate due to amnesia, c - ptsd and the lack of feeling safe as a child, as he is trying to regain his childhood.

mickey refused to let himself regress for a while after he figured out the proper term and definition for it, starting to catch onto when he feels like he needs to slip. that stopped very quickly with Ian on watch.

mickey was defiant, stubborn and an angry little the first couple of times ian had properly taken care of him. eventually learning to properly release and cope with his emotions during regression. (he learned to be happy while healing.)

he was also very ashamed of his regression at one point, going through spikes of “I’m a big independent boy” and forced suppression, causing him to involuntarily slip into younger and more dependent regression. (ian always catches on immediately, which he would get rlly frustrated about afterward.)

ian helped mickey a lot with harmful stimming / destructive behaviors that mickey could’nt let go (hitting, nail/skin biting and picking, etc) during the early stages of figuring out mickeys regression, now he tends to rely on pacifiers and teethers or easy (baby) stim toys.

mickey has highs and lows in his regression, going through a rollercoaster of emotions. he finds he has a lot of emotional numbness / disconnection outside of regression, making it difficult to cry or release emotions when big.

mickey is very easily entertained & amused, finding simpler play activity fun. easier / children video games, cartoons, coloring, play pretend, imagining, i-spy, simon says, etc

ian regresses due to growing up too fast and being exposed to a lot of things one shouldn’t as a child. he finds this state much more freeing, and finds he doesn’t mask whatsoever.

ian is an entirely voluntary regressor, with occasional involuntary after depressive, self destructive or paranoia episodes.

Ian regresses to ages 8-10, but is primarily in between. ian remembers most of his childhood, though mostly lacked good memories. using his agere to at least regain and heal some missing or empty pieces.

he was actually more supportive of his own regression when he found out, after helping mickey heal and being his primary caregiver. he regresses at least once or twice every month.

ian is actually very well behaved, quite friendly and talkative and very bubbly while small! his agere helps him process his emotions, stress and thoughts properly, allowing him to fully comprehend a negative situation and he finds it easier to cry outside of regression.

ian prefers more handsy and moving activities. action movies, playing outside, running & physical activities, finger painting, immersive play, toys and action figures, parallel play

definitely a potty mouthed regressor, finding self control and impulsivity the most struggling. though he got better with support!

Ian doesn’t really enjoy any regression gear, though it may be due to the lack of and excessive sharing he had to deal with as a child. the most he uses when regressing really young is a teether!

he actually really enjoys being independent, it gives him a sense of positive control over his childhood and emotions, as well he doesn’t feel like he’s obligated to share anything.

mickey is higher in needs, and less functioning when regressed! while ian seems to stay high / mid functioning.

⭐️ protective big bro + 420 caregiver mickey, bandaid + self caregiver ian

mickey is more about actions than words, having finding it difficult to talk to children for the longest time. He does his best, finding giving comfort was the most difficult thing to learn. but, he still refuses to give any other children comfort if it isn’t little Ian.

mickey had a lot of learning to do, Ian teaching him patiently in and out of his regression. mickey eventually learned how to communicate to, caretake and comfort Ian. (which he mastered.)

he adores that Ian regresses a bit older, the two often play fighting (mickey going easy) or playing sports together. though, he once figured out Ian enjoys parallel play, he incorporates more activities they could do together on their own.

mickey does his absolute best not to be like his dad, finding it easier to communicate to little Ian. he’s surprisingly an incredibly good teacher! he’s very cautious with his words, especially ones that hurt him as a child.

mickey is very lenient, allowing Ian to do pretty much everything he wants with like three rules, (no strangers, talk to him when he has self destructive thoughts, and communicate.) though he is also very protective. he knows how to properly discipline Ian without any harm.

Ian 100% spoils mickey, buying him things left and right typically without mickeys knowledge. (mickeys pacifier and stuffed animal collections grew HUGE and very fast, tons of mystery boxes they opened together, much more.)

ian makes tons of dad jokes, both for the cringe and the laugh. though only really ever does it to hear mickey laugh. (mickey says they’re dumb, secretly really enjoys them, sometimes with an occasional giggle!)

— he really enjoys the sound of mickeys laughter, had already been wanting to be a dad… so mickeys regression fulfilled both of their separate needs.

Ian is very lenient too, but is much stricter with mealtimes and screentime. he really tries to be strict with bedtime, but finds himself losing track or staying up late as well.

— he also finds himself more cuddly at night, and adores mickey’s rare affection. Ian really tries to hold mickey as much as he can, showering mickey with so many kisses, holding his hand everywhere they go.

Ian likes to be depended on, without it being a 24/7 job. though… he could never consider mickey a burden, finding it an easier role and dynamic easier to be depended on. (he really likes doing everything for mickey, tying his shoes, setting up his games and play area, filling his sippy cup, etc.)

— he is an incredible caregiver and was already great with kids, even with mickey being considered high needs he still adores his baby. (Ian definitely babies mickey way way too much.)

@pawwboards @pawsflagspam @lilpawpadd