@david.washington

[hardwearing]

Have any of you ever dealt with a difficult to control power? Either here or back home. Something that affects your cognition, so you don't recognize what's happening to stop it.

Any advice appreciated.

Comments

@kylo.ren

[warfares]

Yes.
Can you be more specific as to how it affects you? Or how you came to know it was happening?

[hardwearing]

It's for a friend so I'm light on those details but it's a violence thing -- seeing people as threats to be eliminated. It's triggered by strong emotions, mostly anger and fear it seems like.

[warfares]

That's fairly typical of these abilities.
How long does it last, typically?

[hardwearing]

So far it's lasted until it's broken -- the last time was by a memory share that I suspect shocked them out of it. That's not ideal as a solution, I want to help them find a way to snap themselves out of it.

[warfares]

The empathy bond might be able to help with jarring them out of the rage, but that relies on someone both willing and capable enough to get close to them.
The powers develop through use. Gaining control of it will likely require them to make use of it more rather than less.

@marcos.diaz

[heliophilous]

Mine doesn't affect my cognition but it's invasive in very personal ways. It's not something I've really been using because I don't want to freak people out.

This power you're talking about, there's no tell to know when it's about to happen?

[hardwearing]

No, it's very sudden and has just been activating in the presence of strong emotions, I think.

It's not me, that's part of the problem, but I want to help.

Can I ask what your power is?

[heliophilous]

Fear manipulation.

( and he knows he's to blame for not doing to control it or himself. )

To put it simply, if I touch, I could tell your what your greatest fear is.

( there's other things too but that's the big one and the one that he doesn't want to use on anyone. )

Not something people really want a random stranger to know.

[hardwearing]

And it happens against your will?

[heliophilous]

Sometimes. I haven't really tried to learn how to control it.

( so, he just tries to stay away from people. )

My fault there.

@silena.beauregard

[chocolateries]

Maybe they could benefit from a tether. Like some kind of talisman to anchor them in reality.

[hardwearing]

A tether. That's actually a good idea, but I don't know what one could be. They took everything that might be important to us when we wound up here.

[chocolateries]

Yeah, that is tricky. Maybe something new that reminds them of home or a gift from a friend? It doesn't have to be a physical thing either, it could be a mantra, but physical objects can be very grounding.

[hardwearing]

I think I have an idea... thank you. It'd be dependent on them feeling it coming on and being able to reach for the object, but with some practice it might work.

Any advice on getting someone to accept help when that might put me in danger?

[chocolateries]

Practice really does make perfect.

Sounds like my best friend. Be stubborn about it and make sure you have a first aid kit if you do get hurt. Sometimes knowing you're prepared for it can go a long way. Eventually they'll realize not accepting help could hurt you anyway.

@daenerys.targaryen | private

[dragonwarder]

I have experience.
I do not share it lightly.

Who is your friend?

private

[hardwearing]

The one condition of being allowed to ask for help publicly is that I not use anything identifying. They're not okay with what's happening. Won't even see me in person, because they're worried they're dangerous.

[dragonwarder]

They are dangerous.

But the only way to gain control over the power is to make use of it.
Preferably against those who can withstand the danger that comes along.
There are some who will offer their services in this regard.

And it is better to manage it sooner, lest they risk harming the native population.

[hardwearing]

Thank you, that's exactly what I said. But they won't let anyone help without a plan, so I'm trying to come up with something better than 'trigger the power and hope we don't get killed.'

Do you have any ideas about how they could... retain more awareness? To fight it.

[dragonwarder]

Just one.

The bond that the Displaced have with one another.
The physical contact that allows us to share emotions with one another.

If someone is able to establish that trust, the bond may serve to balance your friend.
But you must be wary.
Since activating it causes our chests to glow, it can mark you as a powered individual.
And there are some natives in this world who are not fond of us.

@eugene.hicks

[preseance]

Can't say as I have experience of that especial nature, but having served along a lot of people who were affected in their lives by shell shock — y'all might call it PTSD now, I reckon — leading to outbursts in violence later, I reckon I've got some relative know-how.

( it's nothin' he'd've spoke up about back home. he lives with al precisely so's no one else has to know that secret, his brother's drunken, violent rages that just about consume him like some fire from the inside. but newly come now to literacy well an' past what he's accustomed to at home an' workin' with the volunteer sector here has given him a chance to do a little research. suss out the particulars. combat stress has a name now. things what can help. lord, if nothin' else, he hopes he can take that all back with him so's he can help his brother heal from what wounds the pacific put down in him. )

Mostly, I think they'd benefit greatly from something that grounds 'em. They need to find a way back to themselves when the power upticks. Can't say rightly what that thing might be without knowing the person themselves, but they might have an inkling of what all might work.

If that ain't an option... Lord, maybe that therapy thing? I ain't had cause to know much of it yet myself, but if it's something that starts in the brain then maybe it needs to be approached the same.

PS: How's your two-step coming along, pal?

[hardwearing]

I'm familiar with PTSD. Maybe working on processing the trigger emotions might help, but I'm pretty sure I won't be able to talk them into therapy.

[ Sorry if you're seeing this, bud, but you can barely talk to your actual friends. And refuse the bond. And basically anything that would be described as sharing your feelings. ]

Someone suggested a tether, a grounding item, and I think that's a good start.

PS: Hey Gene. I'm terrible and haven't practiced, I probably need another lesson.

[preseance]

( Who Might He Be Talking About, a drama in three acts. )

Since they're acting through you as proxy I'm guessing they ain't a social sort, but feel free to direct them my way if'n you think they'd be amenable having someone to talk to.

PS: Seems like it's one thing after another here, don't it? That old simulation was bad enough, and now a whole-ass natural disaster.

Idle hands, I guess.

Happy to help you brush up on your skills, though, when things are a little less fraught.

[hardwearing]

I had to get permission to ask for help, they refused to seek it out at all. I don't know if they'd talk to you but I can try. A fellow Displaced who's familiar with the phenomenon (even without special powers involved) would be helpful.

But they're not even seeing me in person right now, so don't hold your breath waiting for a message. Thanks for offering, Gene.

PS: I'll come by soon.

Wait, you were in the simulation too? Are you okay?

@carolina.church

[leaderboards]

[ carolina may be watching this post for ways to try to get through to their friend, as the person who's been on the other side of the power in question, but this opportunity is too good to pass up. ]

If things calm down and he brushes you off for dance lessons, please contact me and I'll make sure he finds time.