this is infantilization

⭐ DISCLAIMER: this is for harm reduction purposes only. if you want to come off a medication, it is best to do so with a trusted professional.

unfortunately, not all professionals know how to properly taper and may put you in danger. some may deny assistance entirely. please advocate for yourself/bring someone with you, or seek better care.

please do NOT rely solely on this post to do a self taper. i am a patient, may be wrong, and do not know you. if you can't access professional assistance, do your own research before doing anything.

- check if your medication has a withdrawal syndrome. learn about the symptoms and watch for them as you taper. if you begin to experience moderate or severe withdrawal, return to the previous dose at next dosing and reassess the tapering schedule.

- start low and go slow. the higher your dose and the longer you've been on the medication, the smaller the dose reductions will be and the less frequently you reduce the dose.

- how your dose was increased does NOT translate to how it should be decreased. tapering depends on the medication, current daily dose, and how long you've been on the medication.

- make a schedule and stick to it. do not rush. depending on your situation, it can take anywhere from days to years to come off a medication. days if you've only been on it for a short time or are on a low dose, years if you've been on it for years, and weeks to months in most other cases.

- instant release is NOT the same as extended release. instant release medications are released into the bloodstream much faster than extended. extended stays in the blood for longer. generally, you will be tapering more slowly on an ER med than an IR one.

- signs you're tapering too fast are: feeling sick, heart rate and blood pressure changes, issues with temperature regulation, distressing mental health symptoms like severe depression or anxiety, erratic mood, hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, severe insomnia

- normal changes as you taper down: mild changes in mood, energy, sleeping habits, appetite; these should fade as your body readjusts to the lower dose. if they do not go away after tapering ceases, contact a professional.

And as for the question of whether or not to taper, here are some reasons people choose to taper down or off:

The meds are causing side effects that cannot be tolerated

The meds are reducing quality of life instead of enhancing it (ex: being overly sedated or stimulated)

The meds are not effective or not effective enough to warrant the risks

To lower the risk of complications from long term medication use (ex: movement disorders from taking antipsychotics)

To avoid the withdrawal syndrome

The meds interact with other medications they are on, or are going on

The meds are too expensive

To learn to cope without medication

Psych meds have helped some, but there are also many more who find them not worth the risks or cost.

While I always hope people can safely taper down with a doctor, I know this is not always possible.

If you need to come off a medication for your health but lack support, self-tapering is an option. But it's risky, and can lead to crisis or hospitalization if done incorrectly.

If you choose to self-taper, if you do nothing else, please take it slow and stay safe! Do your own research!

-calculate decreases based on your new dose, not the original dose. ie a 10% decrease from 1mg is larger than a 10% decrease of .9mg, and so on

-if you have a good psych, ask about using a compounding pharmacy for slow tapering. this way you can take a liquid version of your medication and have more consistent + precise decreases in a syringe vs cutting up tiny pills

Benzodiazepines & Z Drugs: life threatening dysautonomia; seizures; dehydration from vomiting; coma; suicide risk, anxiety, insomnia)

Antidepressant withdrawal (ex: Effexor): High suicide risk, brain zaps, depression, anxiety, mood swings, appetite changes

Beta blockers (may be prescribed for anxiety): elevated blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, anxiety

And for those people who have access to mobility devices but might benefit from a second chair they can abuse without risking expensive damage…

Erik Kondo has made a website, Open Source Innovations, that details plans for DIY wheelchairs. These wheelchairs can be made from common materials like wood, plastic, and pvc. They are lightweight and can be custom fit to the user allowing from the same degree of movement you would get from a custom chair. And they are durable and easily repairable. (he has been stress testing his latest design by dropping it down stairs, dropping it out of a car, launching it across a driveway, and throwing it off a deck). Its 12lbs and I think he said its was in the $200 ish range for parts.

For context: I sometimes watch those videos/compilations that play various storytimes.

I was playing one of those videos and one of the stories was submitted/posted originally by a doctor who worked in phlebotomy. So they (Idk their pronouns) did things such as drawing blood. They spoke specifically about how they hated patients (all adults; this is relevant) who had phobias of needles. Because they made their job harder, which is a valid frustration. However, the OOP expressed thinking that the patients with these fears were irrational or immature and said things along the lines of "How could they not have grown out of it," implying that they believed the fears to be childish and something that are, typically, naturally lost. They also expressed how at times, they wanted to laugh at scared patients because, again, they find the fears immature.

They went on to detail a specific scenario they'd had with a patient who was afraid. They described a situation where they had to draw blood from a woman who was very obviously scared, noting how she was shaking and on the verge of tears. Early on, the patient informed them that she was afraid. They made minimal comment on it.

To summarise and paraphrase this, the patient over time got more and more overwhelmed. And eventually confessed that they struggled badly with the fear their whole life. OOP responded saying that they needed to calm down so they could draw her blood. She tried, and failed, to do so. OOP got annoyed and the patient apologised. She explained that she hadn't meant to upset them and that she told them about her fear so that they would be accommodating, gentle, and comforting.

OOP responded asking if she wasn't ashamed of her fear, said they weren't there mother and that she either needed to calm down and let them do their job or leave. The woman ultimately broke down and left. And OOP only questioned their actions when their coworkers who'd learnt of the situation said they'd been cruel and to hope they weren't reported.

This is neuropsych ableism (specifically phobia discrimination), infantilization, and medical abuse. @this-is-phobia-discrimination @this-is-infantilization

Phobias are not based on "maturity" and they are not something to "grow out of." Some phobias fade with time, but many do not. This is because phobias are a mental illness.

Expecting a person to "grow out" of their phobia is no different than expecting someone to "grow out" of conditions like depression.

Slurs used against intersex people are often taken and reclaimed for perisex trans people who then shut the door on us, telling intersex people these slurs were never "really" for us and that we need to keep our mouth shut on their usage.

Terminology we coin is similarly taken by perisex trans people, and then their usage is twisted and turned around to bludgeon us with in the endless attempt to fit intersex people into the box of agab based 'girl intersex' or 'boy intersex' for the sake of making trans discourse cleaner.

While it may seem harmless on the surface, even things like intersex animals being consistently held up as "trans icons" while their intersex status is ignored, is representative of the larger problem.

We're fetishized, propped up as "transition goals", people gush about what they imagine intersex bodies to be, joke about- or in rare cases, seriously claim- to be "transitioning into being intersex", because to them intersex people are a fetishized aesthetic.

And then, anybody who doesn't fit into their fetishized view of the 'true hermaphrodite' are treated as if they're not intersex at all. How often do perisex people mockingly deride who they view as "just cis women with pcos" for daring to try to have a voice in gendered conversations? As if hormonally intersex people are 'fakers' in some way.

We're used as a talking point, constantly, against transphobes.

"How can transphobia be 'basic biology' when even sex isn't binary?" perisex trans people challenge transphobes, but then, as soon as they're done using us as a gotcha, those same perisex trans people try to push us into a sex binary that doesn't fit us.

There's an envy, almost, to how perisex trans people talk about "cis children" having access to "gender affirming care" like surgeries and hormones, speaking about our medical abuse, the medical mutilation of our children, as if it's a privilege to us as "cis people", rather than a horrible oppression our community faces.

And then there's the argument, on how transmisogynistic laws impact "cis women" (intersex people) as well, as if this is something transphobes are unaware of. Whether they'll say it or not, very few pericis people care to differentiate between a "hermaphrodite" and a "transsexual" in their minds, intersex people are not collateral damage, we are intended targets.

Not to mention how intersex people are also used as weapons in intra-community discourse within the trans community as well, people will tack on the concept of intersexism to an argument to legitimize it while refusing to listen to or engage with our community, at least, beyond the few intersex people with internalized intersexism they can find to boost their points and then drop. We are a talking point, but we ourselves are never given the space to talk, because fundamentally our oppression is seen as lesser, 'collateral' in transphobia, this is why perisex trans people seem to think we're a good debate point to use against transphobes who surely care about us.

This concept of intersex people as "collateral" is also what fuels the concept that trans people can, and should, "just pretend to be intersex" to get out of instances of oppression, as if intersex people don't experience horrible violence regardless, for looking the way we do, for being what we are. Actually talk to almost any intersex person and I'm sure they'll be able to give you countless examples of times "I just have a condition" didn't save them, because intersex people too are active targets of gendered violence and oppression.

Even intersex people who are also trans are frequently given a lesser seat at the table. Because we're "lucky", because surely we have an easier time transitioning, a head start, and surely by virtue of being intersex we- especially intersex people people with an ISIG- can more easily be 'accepted' as another gender anyways, so rather than intersex trans people being treated as more vulnerable, because of how intersexism and transphobia intersect to doubly marginalize us, we're viewed as somehow 'less trans', or at least impacted less significantly by transphobia, and, well, functionally, it seems a lot of trans people do not believe intersexism exists, or if they do believe in it, they view it as a misdirected and lesser form of transphobia.

And I'm tired of it. I'm tired of intersex terminology and oppression and symbols being co-opted by perisex people who then try to claim those things were never ours at all, I'm tired of being a talking point for people to use for their benefit without having a voice of our own, I'm tired of us being rhetorical props to be put back in our boxes when perisex people are done using us, I'm tired of our community being derisively talked over from all sides, I'm tired of the fetishization, the envy, the belittling, and of still having to meekly and respectfully beg for a seat at the table in discussions of gendered oppression!

A little bit about me: my main blog is @privygrid, I am demifamilial, aroace and agender, and I am of legally adult age (thats the closest im getting to revealing my age on here). I go by she/they, and am not a big fan of gendered terms, so please try to avoid using those for me. I am also a university student with a ton of assignments, so apologies if I miss any submissions.

What's afamphobia? Afamphobia is discrimination towards afamilial individuals. What is afamilial? A person who is afamilial/afamspec is someone who experiences little to no familial attraction/love.

Please make sure your submissions are polite and worded clearly. If you wish to make any changes to your submission, you can send a message to @privygrid about it.

Anyways! HERE'S YOUR HANDY GUIDE TO WHAT CAN COUNT AS EYESTRAIN! I'm pulling this straight from the Artfight rules page about what needs to be labeled and filtered as eyestrain because it's VERY helpful and VERY accurate! I also know not everybody has an AF account and might not always have access to this handy guide, and this is an important resource; That's why I'm sharing it here! (under the cut)

PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY!!! THIS IS ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OTHERS!!!

(I tried my hand at an ID, I hope it's good <=) )

I guess that this could be nuanced?? But I think it's ableist (specifically towards those who have food restrictions due to disabilities) for numerous reasons.

1, picky eaters being quotes implies that the OP here doesn't really believe that picky eating is a thing, or not valid. And, in this context, it implies that adults specifically can't be picky eaters.

2, there are so many reasons why someone would not want to eat certain foods, including spicy. I don't think everyone should have to cave to one individual. I do think that instead, the group should try to see what the picky eater in this case could eat at the restaurant. If everyone immediately just gives in to their preference (as the post implies) then you can't blame them for that.

3, Infantilising someone for their food preferences is just rude. Not to mention ableist since disabled folk are so commonly infantilised.

4, judging them for only getting ketchup on a burger is so strange??? So, what if they just get ketchup?? So what if you would've had more ingredients in your burger?? It's not your burger; it's theirs. Out of everything to complain about, it's someone's harmless food choice??? It just seems petty.

5, "It's not cute." Implies that picky eaters, or people who otherwise have dietary restrictions, only have them to seem 'cute' or appealing in someway, which I find just weird. Especially since so many disabled folk are told they're 'faking' or 'doing too much' for attention.

6, How bizarre that someone with food restrictions would want to be accommodated??? It's almost as if disabled folk need accommodations. Woah. (Sarcasm) Also, assuming that the restrictions are wholly due to an 'underdeveloped palate' is crazy. You don't know why they may be picky, and it makes it seem like OP's anger and pettiness is just coming from an assumption that might not even be true.

7, Yayy, making those who are disabled feel bad for being accommodated. (Sarcasm). Yikes.

8, Judging people for having 'childish' food preferences.

9, Some picky eaters, disabled or not, may be able to expand their palates/get better with eating certain foods. But assuming that that is the end-all solution to the problem is wrong. Because not everyone can just 'learn to like new foods.' It's often not that simple.

Sorry for the ranting and breakdown. This post just bothered me and I wanted to explain, in detail, why.

If there was anything I was wrong about, please correct me and let me know.

This is ableism.

Also I’ve never seen situations where someone who has dietary restrictions gets everyone else to go to the place they want, I’ve seen them just eat their own thing before, during, or after the group does.

Also them saying “underdeveloped palate” just brushes me the wrong way, I may be reading too deep but I feel that can be tied to classism..? Stuff like red meats, fish, and general “fancier” foods that many friend of mine are adverse to are very expensive.

there's a lot of people who have recently realized they are intersex, who have variations that aren't considered "traditionally intersex" (partially my doing lol). & many people who realized they had a variation that counts as intersex, have spent much of their life passing as and seeing themselves as perisex, and are very new to the intersex community and intersex activism.

to try to mitigate inter-intersex intersexism, i felt it would be good to write up a list of rights & responsibilities we all have as intersex people, towards each other. i think this format works well bc it reminds us that caring for ourselves & caring for each other are two sides of the same coin. we ask a little more of ourselves, in how we treat other people, so that we can receive a little more from others, bc we are all in this together.

this isn't meant to be a super formal complete thing, but i felt like it would do people some good to explicitly state these values & put them out there to be considered. especially since many ppl on this site (& in general) are autistic/neurodivergent & may benefit a lot from explicit advice on how to engage w others!

all people with sex trait variations outside of what is typical for "males" and "females" have the right to find their place in the intersex community, and use the label without explanation or apology. there is no intersex hierarchy, no "you must suffer This Much to ride," no giving the authority to decide what intersex means to perisex doctors before sex variant people themselves.

we have the responsibility to keep our most vulnerable siblings at the center of our community, like penguins in a huddle. that means people (esp children) who have been or are being targeted by CIMI due to their intersex traits. it also means multiply marginalized intersex people, especially intersex people of color and non-western intersex people. those who intersexism strikes first and hardest deserve the most community support.

we have the right to make sense of our lived experiences through the framework of intersexuality, and to talk about our experiences using that language. we should be able to expect the community to hold space for our stories, our experiences, our needs as intersex people.

we have the responsibility to educate ourselves on other intersex people, to hold space for their stories and experiences and needs. we should educate ourselves on intersex terminology and history, and we should have a basic understanding of other intersex variations and what people with different variations experience.

we have the right to call ourselves intersex, even when people w internalized intersexism or who use the medical model (like doctors) do not believe we have a right to the term. we have a right to use the language & framework of intersexism to make sense of our experiences with discrimination, abuse, pain, alienation, etc.

we have the responsibility to identify & deconstruct our own internalized intersexism. we have a responsibility to educate ourselves on forms of intersexism we do not personally face, and to understand how all forms of intersexism are connected & uphold the same oppressive system. we should treat every act of intersexist violence as if it happened to one of our family members, being outraged and taking action while centering the needs and voice of the actual victims.

we have the right to be frustrated, furious, depressed, anxious, traumatized about our experiences with intersexism and to be deeply affected by those experiences. we have a right to be imperfect, messy, problematic, and to struggle to do better and have that effort recognized.

we have the responsibility to show compassion & understanding to other intersex people when they are affected by their experiences with intersexism, and to put effort into navigating our own intersex pain & trauma consciously. other intersex people being imperfect, hurt people are not our enemies, nor does being an imperfect hurt person give you a free pass to treat others as your enemies.

the most powerful antidote to imposter syndrome is community and connection. so if you are just realizing that your body counts and struggling with doubt? the best thing to do is to practice being in community w those people and recognizing our shared experiences, struggles, and goals. not talking over or develop any kind of complex around more visibly or traditionally intersex people.

let me make this very clear: the expansive definition of what "intersex" means has to come as a result of being dedicated to resisting intersexism. hypospadias is able to be intersex because intersex activists make the choice to reject the perisex medical model and define the word as an umbrella term for sex variance, so people can unite under shared experience without a doctor's scrutiny of if they "count." that cannot be separated from the wider fight against intersexism, especially directed at ambiguous genitalia & "obviously intersex" variations.

i consider my hypospadias/H-VCV intersex not just because it fits my personal experiences (altho it does) but bc I see the direct line between the idea of "intersex traits can be common, they can be minor, they can be mild, it all fits under the umbrella" & the goal of truly dismantling the sex binary and all rules and boxes we draw around how bodies Should Look and Should Act and Should Identify. my indiv identity as intersex is part of a much larger picture & i identify as intersex as an active choice to connect my experiences with my sex variant traits to that goal, that dream. i do this rather than understanding my body the way perinormativity would like me to (as a disordered female), by choosing to create solidarity w other sex variant people in how we've been hurt by the sex binary. to identify as intersex is a personal choice but it's also a deeply social one. once i decide to take it on, that label cannot be separated from the context of community & our shared place in society.

disclaimer: I am east asian. if anyone who is not white sees anything wrong with my phrasing, inaccuracies, or insensitivity, or something I missed, please feel free to add on. I’m just one person with one perspective; none of what I say should be taken as The Singular way to draw an Asian character. if you havent done so already, please take the effort to expand your view of Asian culture outside this one tutorial.

Image description for the original post and my addition are underneath the read more at the end.

Thank you for reading! Once again, image description for my images and OP’s images are under the cut.

Just like OP, I’m only one single person, so if anyone wants to correct me or add something I missed, then go for it. And further disclaimer, there are exceptions to everything I’ve said in this post, and it only applies to East and Southeast asian people who are either not mixed or white-mixed, as those are the hair types I’m most familiar with.

Edit: AUGH I FORGOT TO mention this but @ everyone in the comments talking about blue eyes on biracial asians, here’s another guide I made that goes over color inheritance for biracial people: https://6480n.tumblr.com/post/633074808569069568/making-this-guide-because-i-see-this-question-time

Oh and I wanted to add other stuff I hate about what people are saying about autism

- Butch Hartman(creator of fairly oddparents) thinking he can cure autism by "praying it away"

- People saying autism is caused by tynenol or vaccines

-"I wish I had autism", "Autism isn't a disability it's a different ability"

This is neuropsych ableism and infantilization. @this-is-infantilization

I had very similar experiences due to my own autism. It sucks.

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Saving Al-Geneina / Hope and Haven for Refugees - provides food, medical care, and education to refugees in sudan

Sudanese American Physicians Association's medical aid program - they operate a hospital in khartoum, **the ONLY hospital still delivering babies in sudan**

One Million Sustainable Pads Campaign - distributes reusable pads

FAH Supporting Sudan - financial assistance to sudanese hospitals, backed by the FAH / federation of american hospitals

Community kitchen in Cairo - provides food to refugees who have fled to egypt

Community kitchen in Sudan - provides food for 1200 families

Another community kitchen in Sudan - provides food, only £1,500 raised so far

Sanad Initiative - raises money to keep sudanese medical students in school

Sudan Solidarity Initiative - run by sudanese diaspora, provides direct funds to all kinds of sudanese including farmers unions and low cost clinics, also runs awareness-raising workshops

Two things:

As usual, there’s historical and social context that I need explain! This lesson is not what sexuality is, or ‘how to write being gay while Black’. That’s… not that different from you. What this lesson is, is context on how Blackness plays a role in our presentation and understanding of gender and sexuality (as well as your perception of it), and how that’s something you should consider in your characterization, writing, and character design.

I DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING! The reason this took so long was because I read multiple books and wallowed in my remaining lack of understanding. I cannot join The Tumblr Discourse so do not ask. I tried to be as inclusive as I could, but I learn something new on this app every day, so if I miss something- and I’m bound to- I apologize in advance. Please have grace with me.

TW: Sexual assault mention, homophobia, misogynoir, cannibalism, misgendering