25 Ways To Help Someone Through Gambling Addiction ...

Where I live, gambling addicts are able to request that gambling sites do not allow them access. They can ask their bank to not allow transactions for known gambling companies. These people are allowed to restrict themselves from their addiction. They are given the control to get better.
When I google about something similar for those addicted to things like Just Eat, Uber Eats etc, whilst there are a lot of people asking if it's possible to block themselves from using these services, there is also a ton of push back about it. "People will just use cash" "who gets to decide what is healthy food" "just don't order it" etc. It seems to weirdly irritate people that others might need a little assistance to overcome this problem. But then I suppose that's not surprising. I don't think people recognise food addiction the way they do gambling addiction or other such issues.
Addiction is addiction and I just feel like I KNOW my biggest problem. It's the convenience and instant gratification of takeaway. I can be strong all day but the minute my will weakens, I can have a pizza on it's way to me with like 6 clicks. It's laziness and addiction to junk. Why can I not make a decision as an adult to limit myself as I know my willpower is weak? The option to restrict MYSELF should be available to me. It's not a perfect solution. Much like with gamblers, there are definitely ways around it. But it's a start.
I wish I could just log on to Just Eat and ban myself. With obesity an epidemic, it's mad to me that this isn't an option.
This turned into a rant and I didn't mean it to but I'm frustrated.

So this will sound braggy and I suppose it is, but I'm seriously so freaking excited I can't see straight. Obviously, I am awake at 4:15 after going to sleep at 11:00pm just five hours ago.
Let me preface all of this by starting at the beginning. My wife, who's mostly working from home and has been since March, works for a global logistics company moving big yellow earth-moving machines. One of her co-workers, who's attempting to adopt a child, decided to run a SB squares pool virtually since they wouldn't be doing their normal party. The buy-in was $25.00 per square. The pool was a 50/50, with the prizes being $250.00, $250.00, $250.00, and $500.00 for the first, second, third quarters, and final score.
My wife asked me if I wanted to get in on it, told me what the money was going for, etc etc and I said heck yeah! It's for a good cause. Let's do it. We can afford $25.00! We ended up getting 7/3 Bucs/Chiefs as our random square. I thought to myself, damn, that's a really good first quarter square. Even though TB12 had never thrown a first quarter Super Bowl touchdown, I just felt really good about this.
Friday afternoon hits, her co-worker sends out the email with the filled out grid. He was able to sell 98 of the 100 squares. My wife told me there were two left, and she told me the numbers. If we bought one more, we could pick which of the two we wanted. I immediately picked the first, not even thinking about scores and possibilities. I then continued thinking. As my wife was typing the email out to let him know we wanted 2/5, I yelled "WAIT! I want the other one!"
The other one was 9/1, Chiefs/Bucs.
We watched the game, we won the first quarter. We spent $50 and won $250. We were both ecstatic! We watched the rest of the game more intently than we had probably ever watched any game. We've never gambled before and this made it fun!
Then the third quarter. The Bucs scored 10. They had 31. Then the Chiefs kicked another field goal. They had 9. We started clock watching harder than ever. Ding ding. Third quarter over. We won another $250.00.
Five minutes into the final frame, I look at my wife. "You know that if no one scores, we won the final frame, right?"
"I was trying not to say it out loud. You just jinxed it." My wife was more into this than I was.
The quarter was back and forth with a lot of good defense. When the game was all but wrapped up, with the Chiefs in the red zone, with garbage time plays on both sides of the ball, I resign myself to "only" winning $500.00. Then the interception in the end zone happened.
I looked at my wife. "What just happened? Did we win $1000.00?"
We both jumped up and down screaming.
So yeah, we spent ,$50 and won $1000.00. we've decided to let her co-worker keep another $100 towards adoption costs, so we won $900. After initial buy-in, we won $850.00. Either way, it's just amazing. First, if I had t been on methadone, and still actively using, I never would've had the money to bet on something fun like this to begin with. Because of methadone, even though I am far from well off, I was happy to support a good cause and would ultimately survive for two weeks after losing $50.00.
If I somehow would've had $25 and did bet, if I would've won in my addiction, I would've been over at her co-workers house at 10pm last night saying, hey, where are my winnings. Fortunately, I can wait until tomorrow.
I know this was long, and I hope it's not too full of myself, but I'm really super excited. My wife and I have both overcome addiction and for us to win something like this and not a penny of it will go to heroin, it's almost a miracle to me. Methadone saved my life, Suboxone saved her life. We've saved each other.
And now we have $1000.00 to spend on an awesome Valentine's Day weekend.
Thanks for reading.

hello all, like many others, i am deciding to take a year away from gambling. i just wanted to let people know on this subreddit that, if you feel like your gambling is becoming a problem or is a problem. there are multiple communities to help with your problem like problemgambling and much more. you’re not alone don’t be afraid to speak up to you friends and families about your habits if you feel like you’ve lost control.
it is important to understand, your own limits and restrictions.
we’re all in this together and we all have each others back don’t be afraid to open up.
quitting is easier said than done and it takes real determination, discipline and will. i have faith in everyone who’s deciding to take a break or quit this year.
i feel like many people struggle to admit they have a problem like any addiction but if you make the judgement that your life would be better without gambling, it is a clear indication you should evaluate things.
overcoming addiction is a difficult and long process but with the right support, anything is possible.
atleast now I can happily say, i would be writing any more comments in the brag or bitch thread no more.
best of luck all, have a good year

Disclaimer:
Before we begin, let's establish some boundaries: I'm not able to speak for every person with AGP. I haven't been conducting in-depth studies for years on thousands of patients. All I can tell you is my story, and my observations in my life. I've been commenting on others' posts with little tidbits and excerpts from my life and my stances, but I've now received several private messages asking for more info - one person in particular asked for me to write out my "full story" more or less...so perhaps this is more effective, to have it all in one place.
There are many examples of "successful" trans stories, and tragic tales of de-transitioning, yet we don't see or hear much about AGP men leading a happy, successful life into middle-to-old age...which I think is mostly self-evident: if you happily manage it, you aren't likely to want to bring up old memories again in some reddit post. However, after so many years of not having anyone to understand me, I am enjoying wading in these waters, and absolutely feel it as my duty to share my story of success.
One more time for emphasis: AGP seems to affect people very similarly in some ways, and very different in others. Someone who was molested is likely to have a harsher trauma than someone who was told they looked like a girl one time - but it's actually not certain. We have SUCH limited data and awareness as a society on this thing, that it's almost all anecdotal other than a handful of doctors/authors. And while I write this to give hope to many, I understand that an 18 year old who already knows they have AGP has a way better chance of breaking habits as opposed to a 48 year old who's been indulging them since puberty. That said, perhaps the 48 year old has more willpower than the 18 year old! Point being, my story will explain what's worked for me. Perhaps it could work for you as well, or perhaps you actually want to feed into the AGP.
This got very long. I've divided it up into 3 parts:

1. Early life + teen years. This is the longest due to the importance of formative years + the relevance to a lot of young guys reading this. Writing about these parts was like looking into a different world, so guys, please have patience with your developing mind.
2. College years up until discovering "AGP" as a concept at 27. This is the shortest section, due to its relatively static nature.
3. 27 "the year of destiny"-present. This is also long because I begin with my discovery of AGP, and I've ended it off with my advice on how to achieve similar results with success. I'd recommend scrolling to the end if you're of limited attention span and just want some jot-points...but knowing AGP, I think you'll all read it just fine.

PART 1
Potential origins:
I didn't have a terrifying upbringing or a terrible family, but there were flaws. My father was a hard-ass about "manning up" which I actually think has a place, but he didn't balance that with expressing love as much as he could have. But I believe the major point of origin was when my sister and I (she's 2 years younger) would get in an argument or potentially minor physical clash, she would screech and my dad would come running in and give me a smack. No beatings, but it was evident to young me (I believe this happened from the range of 6-10 years old) that boys were at more physical risk than girls.
It was never explained (if it was, it wasn't done well because I don't remember it) about the biological differences between boys and girls as they get older, which at least would have made more sense. However, it was still a bad scene since my sister figured out the game and would fake-scream just to get me in trouble sometimes. I am sure this could have contributed to the AGP, as my brain may have imprinted from a base, primitive, survival level that being a girl is safer - ironically it's clear now that women are much more physically vulnerable, but once the imprint establishes itself, it's in.
My father was the bad cop, my mom the good cop, he was working a lot - which I'm grateful for - but he wasn't as involved as he could have been in hindsight. They eventually split up when I was 10, about a year before puberty...so yeah, I'm sure all of this has some accumulative effect.
During this pre-pubescent time, I was entirely hetero on the surface, although I can vividly recall a dream or two where I was a girl against my will - telling that I recall them. One was where I ran out the front door and if I didn't go back in, I'd become a girl. Another one I was sitting at a dinner table and I just was a girl - this one was actually more uncomfortably weird, due to me just being a girl in it doing normal things, but knowing I wasn't in real life.
Anyway, those dreams are not to be ignored, but I had the standard crushes on girls and had multiple "girlfriends" even at age 10. Played some sports but wasn't super interested in them at this point, although I liked video games and competition. I've always been emotionally intelligent, but other than that I had no typical feminine interests or desire for their clothing/bodies. Girls, to me, were mostly just boring people who didn't get rough and play sports with us guys.
I don't recall any conscious AGP feelings until puberty, where the imprint barged in through my mind's walls KOOL-AID MAN STYLE.
First signs of AGP
Safe to say, from here on out it's NSFW, but I'll try to keep it as classy as possible while still being informative.
Had it ever since first masturbation. It was to a picture of Angelina Jolie on a video game magazine dressed as Tomb Raider; I was very fixated on the tight shorts and imagined myself as her, and after that I'd often imagine myself as a woman in sex with a "shadow" man. I had never watched porn at this point, although I had seen sex scenes in movies which gave me the visual fuel.
I was the typical teen boy in that I was jacking off MULTIPLE TIMES every day, but I was atypical in that it was always AGP. I didn't have regular access to the internet until I was 14 or so, and even then I was never really into porn. All I needed was imagery if I wanted external stimulation; looking at a picture of a naked woman and imagining I had her body. My imagination game is very strong.
I remember first hearing about "transsexuals" or "sex changes" through TV shows/movies, and would get strangely curious about it. I remember reading into it at some point, and being immensely turned on the whole time. I went to a school with uniforms and would look at girls all day, and often I'd get jealous when they'd wear tight pants. Much more tamely, I'd often play little weird games in my head like when playing games I'd think to myself "if you hit that target on this shot, you get to become a hot girl".
So...YEAH it was pretty strong. It's also important to mention that I went through many changes during one year, around 11 years old: puberty, parents separating (only saw father every 2nd weekend), went to a different school...so it was a lot of change at once, and it's hard to say how much each contributed to what.
Social struggles, search for teen identity
All I know is I was significantly less socially successful from 4th grade to 5th, by a longshot. I was still playing sports and doing well at all that, but I just never really had that drive or knowhow to interact with girls. I was a good looking athlete so I was a little confused at all this; although I was also very late to the internet game as I mentioned - a lot of social bonding was happening over "MSN messenger, the equivalent to "AOL messenger" or the current facebook messenger. I was missing out on a lot of interaction there, so once again, hard to pinpoint how much was the AGP's fault, but I doubt it helped.
From 11-16 I didn't really know how to socialize effectively, although I was starting to get girlfriends slowly but surely in high school (14-16). And then my father passed away from cancer! Certainly not ideal.
Around 16 I found a group of stoner males that taught me a bit of the "party scene", although they had a parallel group of females that I actually started hanging out with more. This was probably the most effeminate path I'd taken in life to this point, but the guys were very aggressive and harsh, and I was so much more emotionally sensitive. I will never forget one night these girls tried convincing me "come on, just admit it, you ARE a girl! it's fine, you're just one of us..." uhh COME ON GOD WHAT THE HECK. That scene is instilled in my head to this day as an AGP-dysphoric memory.
All this time, I was indulging in AGP masturbation fantasies, but I also had strong hetero competition - I had romantic girlfriends, and even in that female group of friends I actually would have liked to have hooked up with some of them. I really just lacked the ability to be forthright and bold and masculine in my advances; all of the girlfriends I had, had advanced on me first. I will admit I have very good looks...without them, I would have likely been incel...UNTIL:
ALCOHOL HELPED WITH HETEROSEXUAL ENCOUNTERS
Around 17-18 years old I merged back in with the male group, and started drinking at gatherings/parties more often. Turns out this was GREAT for making me analyze less, being more forthright and brash, etc. Sure, I also behaved as a buffoon, but I guess in hindsight it did get me feeling stronger about my masculine side. Really not good advice, as I did engage in the typical "college weekend alcoholic" for years, something I didn't fully escape until about 27.
BACK TO PRODUCTIVE INSIGHT/ADVICE: cross-dressing phase
So yes, I clearly had textbook AGP, but it didn't terribly impact my life for a while - I imagine being purely hetero during puberty would have me jacking off just as often, and being just as distracted. Testosterone is a heckuva drug. But there was some escalation eventually. I believe the first time I cross-dressed in private was around 14-15...this gave me TREMENDOUS AGP excitement, but I felt a ton of shame and the level of arousal was a little scary. If I had to guess, I'd say I did it only once or twice every year, until somewhere in my later teens, perhaps 16-18. It's hard to pinpoint, but I do know that at some point I started CDing (always to intense ejaculation) more and more, and one week in particular I was doing it every day. I began shakily/anxiously trying to put on makeup, and even *NSFW* putting a lubed-up pen up my butt a little bit. Writing that out feels weird, but hey, them's the facts.
Thankfully, one day that week, someone came home - I believe it was my sister. I was fully dressed up + makeup, and my heart was pounding. Luckily I was in the bathroom, so I SOMEHOW MANAGED to have a shower and return all the clothing without anyone ever noticing. But I'm pretty sure that was the last time I ever CD'd...and I haven't looked back in that time. It was very clearly the most addictive thing I've ever felt in my entire life, and in the span of one week it was already escalating tremendously.
First big dysphoria
Let's talk about my thoughts during these times. As this CD phase escalated, dysphoria became extremely present. I remember getting hard to thoughts of myself as a woman, looking at my cock, and thinking "well, I see you're happy, but you're going to be cut up into a vagina someday if we keep doing this. Hope you're happy, bro".
I am somewhat of a manlet, with light features, and small hands/feet/bone structure, which only confused me further. I thought often and thoroughly about how it seemed I was basically meant to be a woman, and how there was no escaping. This level of obsessive thought-loop has appeared several times in my life, but thankfully not consistently or for too long. Every time I was in the deepest depths of this dysphoric mindset, I always felt my worst. The more I tried embracing my "inner woman", the more incredibly anxious, depressed, shaky, weak I'd feel...it became clear to me that I do not want to feel those things, and I had a lot to be grateful for in my male life. If this happened the more I accepted being a woman, then why would I surrender and feel that way all the time?!
As I strayed away from the CDing, the dysphoria dissipated considerably.
ONE MORE TIME
I have basically never felt intense anxiety or depression as an adult male. I always feel intense anxiety or depression when I have fed the AGP to the point it grows to dysphoria.
This should be a major emphasis for anyone out there who's still reading and resonates with my story. We are always told to listen to our body in terms of health, so why should this be any different? Yes, sure, if you get depressed NOT giving into your AGP, then sure, try indulging. But for me, one week of crossdressing seriously impacted my stimulus-sensitive mind, and could have altered my life completely had I not stopped then and there.
By the way, I didn't pop a pill, it wasn't easy...but I did it. I'm not a superhero. If you recognize that a drug addiction is bad for you, it's not going to be easy to quit...but you can do it.
PART 2
Alpha Chad Frat Boy + First "Coming Out"
Welcome to part 2, and I hope you enjoy the ironic title of the next stage. I'm going to try to be as concise as I can, as part 1 was very long - but the formative years are incredibly important, especially considering many young men will be reading this and still living in those years. This next period basically covers my late teens/mid 20s.
It's important to remember I still didn't even know what AGP was at this point. Huge disadvantage. I had figured I was maybe "half trans" or something, but couldn't figure it out. After the CDing phase, I continued my partying and social growth. On the positive side, I had some AMAZINGLY FUN times - despite my emotional senses, I am still extremely extroverted. And by this stage, likely with the help of alcohol, I had managed to build up some protective walls so the harsh words of brotherhood didn't affect me so much. I made MANY friends, and had sex with MANY women in my early-mid 20s.
The negative side: this immense social success made it very easy to ignore AGP tendencies. I still had very strong AGP masturbation fantasies, and was actually imagining I was many of the women I slept with. But because I was satisfying a huge social issue for me, this wasn't a big deal...
...until I actually fell for a girl, instead of just wanting a one-night stand. All my obsessive thinking was transferred to her - and I never got with her, even though we spent almost every day together for 2 years. We took the same classes, but she completely friend-zoned me. I would still hook up with other women, but she was always the target.
She also didn't help the AGP by saying things like "I wish you were girl so we could talk about fashion/boys/etc." or "what if we come back for a class reunion in 10 years and you're a woman!" Idk if this broad could see the underlying femininity or what, but that was certainly not great.
Eventually, after trying to overtly and forthrightly convince her to date me for two years, I drunkenly tried to fight my friend at a party who was making a move on her. She hated me for this, and said she never wanted to speak to me again.
"OH HI MARK, HOW'S YOUR SEX LIFE?" - my AGP morphing to dysphoria at that moment in time. Yeah, turns out if you completely shut out all remotely feminine traits in public, while privately engaging in AGP fantasies, and then putting all your emotional eggs in one human being...you're putting a lot of hope in that one basket not falling. Well, it fell. And I genuinely loved her as a friend at the least, so I actually told her I wanted to meet up and tell her something important.
I told her I had "trans thoughts" and went into some detail. I wanted her to just tell me it was obvious and that I should go for it, if we're being honest. I was wide open for exploitation after having all those "eggs in a basket" explode in one night...THANK GOD I didn't know about trans reddit, they would have had a field day.
I got lucky. This girl was shocked, and told me I shouldn't do anything drastic, that she wasn't someone who knew what to do here. It's important to note she had previously expressed some curiosity toward trans people, and seemed to like the idea of them. But her very rational response here was a major blessing at that vulnerable moment in my life.
Saying a lot of these then-decade old thoughts (was probably 21-22) out loud was therapeutic enough at the time, so the dysphoria basically vanished. This is why I do not recommend "blind repression", as it can leave you vulnerable when sometimes even just talking about or acknowledging the AGP on a non-sexual level an relieve very heavy dysphoria.
But I still didn't even know what AGP was...so let's fast-forward.
First therapeutic activity
At 23, after what was probably another year of blind repression like I'd done in the past, I managed to find an outlet for my emotionally sensitive side: acting classes. I had a very tough instructor who cut right through my tough-guy act and helped break down my walls to access the emotion required for acting out highly emotional scenes.
This probably saved my life.
For me, sexually feeding the AGP directly will lead to the least-desired outcome. However, finding an outlet to vent the AGP-adjacent (feminine, softer, but not sexual) side of me seems to have altered my life a lot. I also began exercising more than ever during this stage of my life.
This was also the poorest I have ever been financially, working temporary factory jobs for minimum wage. But I don't recall any major flare-ups leading to dysphoria, even though I was still engaging in the AGP masturbation fantasies, and doing the "I'm her" thing during sex. This indicates that even during times where flare-ups are more likely, things like exercise and having a "vent" can help.
Career boost
I focused on training for my career and at 24 I got a huge opportunity with a company. This helped boost mental well-being and kept things largely on-track for a few years...
Part 3
AGP discovery
At 27, I had moved to a new city, living at an AirBnb with other people, my career lost some momentum, and I still hadn't had a stable relationship since I was 19...you guessed it, AGP-fueled dysphoria-time.
This was the most critical turning point in my entire life to this point: I stumbled upon the concept of AGP. This was amazing! It described me perfectly, and so I delved through alllll the literature, and allll the online content...but remember, my life was still un-sturdy. I still exercised, but on its own it is not enough. And now I was obsessing over the AGP, diving in head-first...I ended up entering by far the worst dysphoria since the CDing era in my teens, arguably worse.
I say worse because I was very recently 27, and was acutely aware that 27 was getting a little too close to 30. Instead of learning how to control the AGP, I ended up watching some of the sissy hypno for the first time, and masturbating multiple times a day to AGP fantasies. Fortunately, I was old enough at this time to comprehend how powerful it was, and didn't go too far in that.
But it was the most intense year of my life. I could feel a spiritual tug-o-war, it was very apparent that this was now-or-never - in both directions. Knowing my enemy in AGP was great, but it wasn't great that I had a strong condition that the literature made it seem as if one day I was doomed to transition no matter what.
Doomed to Trans?
And doesn't that just play right into the fantasy? "well, you're going to do it as an old weird dude anyway, might as well do it now and not destroy the lives of a woman and children - not to mention enjoy some attractive pretend-woman years" "just give in" "surrender to it all, let it happen"...
What a siren song for someone with AGP...and yet, there was so much at stake. While not as wildly social as my early 20's (I quit drinking to excess that year), I enjoyed my social life as a male. I was attracted to women, even with the AGP sideshow. Let's face it: the most beautiful, mentally sound women are much more likely to be attracted to an in-tact man, and a traditionally masculine man at that. They want someone to fill the father role for their children.
There's also the matter of personal well-being. I've never seen an elderly transperson, frankly, until Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner. And they have the best medical teams money can buy. The facts are that medical transition is extremely dangerous...most people can develop serious health problems just from living normally, never mind the introduction of cross-gender hormones. One is hooked on a lifetime prescription of pills. As for the physical surgery elements: a neovagina has many, often disgusting, unfortunate outcomes that are far from uncommon.
We will never be women.
Knowing I had AGP really helped with that, especially as I do have some feminine-ish physical traits. It's a lot harder to justify living as a man if you're definitively instructed by society that you're actually a woman in the wrong body...and that's all I could find for the first 16 years of my pubescent life.
So I more or less listed the pros and cons of each.
List your pros/cons of each outcome
Pros of living male: great mental and physical health, attractive, great friends, get to create my own family, get to be with a great woman, career is overall still good, my future goals all align with this, day-to-day life is easy in term's of society's expectations of appearance, don't have to worry about walking alone at night etc.
Cons: never knowing for sure what the other side feels like, must exercise discipline instead of instant gratification, society expects a higher income if you plan on mating effectively, people feel less sorry for you, more responsibility
Pros of deciding to be a pseudo-woman: perhaps orgasms would be 12/10, not just 10/10, would at least be fun at first to play with female/body, basically get to hit re-start button on life and learn a new-playthrough, less responsibility, have sense of finality as opposed to constant wondering in dysphoric state
cons: may be unattractive, even if somewhat attractive will always know that you aren't actually a woman, less men will be interested in settling down, infertile, likely to die sooner, less physical strength, more vulnerable, mental health likely less stable due to nature of estrogen, operations could be botched leaving one a mutilated mess, will drastically alter all friend/family/work relationships, have to learn how to live from the ground-up in a brand new world, novelty could wear off and realize grass was not greener
...I'm not sure if it's the same for you, but it sure looks like the cons for succumbing to the AGP desires are more numerous and have much more dire consequences. It looks like a fun sexual gamble you'd maybe take with a video game character...but to take a chance risking a good life? It was obviously the worst outcome.
Do I have control?
Okay, so the AGP feelings are permanent, but I wanted to overcome them. I logically recognized that the male life is much more desirable...but once again, am I doomed? Heading towards 30, I wanted to find that special lady and have some kids, and I would loathe myself to give in to a selfish, illogical sexual kink that ruins the mental state of an entire family. Was I doomed? Not if I could help it.
If I kept blindly hoping for the best, pretending there was no dragon nearby, one day that dragon would emerge from its cave and kill me. If I was going to "die" at the hands of this thing, I was going to do it in the dragon's lair. Die bravely, or live triumphantly.
I needed to hammer this out, so I reached out to Blanchard himself, and he mercifully replied. Living in Canada, I was able to see his friend Ken Zucker, who understands AGP - I WOULD ONLY RECOMMEND GOING TO SOMEONE WHO TAKES AGP SERIOUSLY. The majority of today's gender therapists are likely to look for any reason to castrate you, more or less.
Heading into the therapy, I realized that this was an intense step and the dysphoria flared up substantially for the final time. I will admit, the AGP wanted him to tell me I was doomed and had to do it. It wasn't the logic talking, but the AGP knew it was closer to its goal than ever before...
Thankfully, talking about ALL of this with a true professional helped immensely. He said there is likely some AGP (no way!), but nothing I can't handle. I can't stress enough how fighting this head-on was such a victory for me living a normal life.
Now, this exact therapy-outcome may not be realistic for many. Money and/or an AGP-aware gender doc may not be in play. Use this subreddit, ask people like me or others whose story sounds relatable to yours. You can achieve this first step of clarity in many ways on your own.
Take control.

1. Figure out your exact condition, your feelings, what's led to it all, where you see your future...FIGURE IT OUT. Way easier said than done, but so crucial.
2. Decide your path, understanding that at no point will you be "forced" to do anything. Everything in my story after the AGP was imprinted was a choice of mine. The only difference was that each choice was made with different levels of wisdom behind it.
3. Protect yourself. Let's talk about that.

Protect yourself
Understand that while deciding to carry on as male is almost always the smart choice, and long-term the "easier" life...you are likely to have at least mild-to-medium AGP flare-ups for life. The people who go for the pseudo-woman life are sacrificing a lot long-term, but their big advantage is that they at least don't have to worry about AGP taking over any more - they've surrendered to it, at whatever cost that may be.
But if your life would be much better as a male, then I liken this logic to losing a war. Sure, the relief of the war being over would be something - you don't have to fight for your life anymore - but the repercussions may be profound, as seen by the effects on defeated nations/civilizations over the years.
It's been 2 years since my last dysphoria/major AGP flare-up, which is pretty cool, but obviously not a victory lap yet. However, there are massive differences in my lifestyle between now and my pre-AGP-aware repressions:

1. I no longer look at porn at all, or use AGP fantasies for masturbation or during sex. The urge isn't even there.
2. After implementing this mental wiring ^ I was able to increase my outward female-targeting. This landed me a great gal that I've since married, and I dominate her submissiveness automatically. Writing this essay has basically been like looking into a different world, in hindsight.
3. I've come to Christ fully and completely. To be honest, if you look at how my puberty began and where my life is now, it's not hard to see "miracles" can take place, and I do attribute God to many of my life's saving turning points...however I didn't mention His influence until now, as I want to reach as many people as possible, and I know reddit isn't the most Christian-friendly website. But I assure you that the advantages to having Faith are very helpful. One caveat: if someone does not effectively take control and understand their issues before jumping headfirst into religion, it is more likely to result in relapse. Hence the molester priests who kept their problems buried their entire lives.
4. I've returned to the weight-lifting of my early-20's, with a better diet than I ever had back then (and less of a weekend alcohol addiction). These seem basic, but mental health is so drastically improved from these factors alone, that it's worth mentioning.
5. Obsessive thought-loops: these are what spiral the AGP out of control, but they can also keep you going to the gym every day. Feeding the AGP via little thoughts will generally lead to medium thoughts, and so-on, unless it is identified and squashed early on. When I get mild flare ups I just laugh, and go over to kiss my wife, realizing she's a better woman than I could ever pretend to be. We are likely all somewhat obsessive, so be vigilant with your thought cycles.

Pillars of stability
I figured that I'd identify some pillars of stability that will naturally reduce anxiety and accompanying AGP flare-ups:

1. Career. Find a way to be happy while making money
2. Romance. The longer you use AGP fantasy in masturbation/sex, the harder this aspect will be to fulfill. If you pop an AGP boner, try switching over to a hetero fantasy before you finish. Maybe a girl you have a crush on. Tbh I've finished to visualizations of my ideal life, which is weird but seems to work
3. Physical. Work out, if not for physical appearance, then for mental well-being. Maintain a strong diet, get your vitamins.
4. Social. We are social creatures, get out there and have some fun. Loneliness is a major source of AGP flare-up.
5. Spiritual. I personally testify that God has had a major hand in my preservation, and not just from AGP/dysphoria. Maybe this seems silly, but keep an open mind.

You may notice that all of these are under attack from the lockdowns...I personally don't think this is an accident. It doesn't take a genius to see how terribly mental health in general has been affected by it all. Stay vigilant. Do not allow corrupt politicians (who don't abide their own rules) to mentally castrate you.
Final thoughts/Where I'm at now
I've been writing this for almost 4 hours now...jeez. My brain is spent, and I haven't eaten as I want this done. But let me try to offer a little bit more of my story/advice briefly. I may edit this little section if I think of something later:

• AGP doesn't have to be a curse. I actually believe that if it's compartmentalized effectively, you have an advantage over other guys when it comes to reading a woman, and knowing what she wants - especially sexually.
• self-awareness, discipline, willpower...these things reign supreme. You control a lot more than you think you do.
• I've been completely content since those fateful therapy sessions and subsequent life decisions, no hidden rage or envy. I am almost never affected by anxiety or depression
• these 2 years have been the best of my life, even though I had temporarily repressed blindly in the past. Considering I had still been engaging the AGP fantasies back then, it's no wonder something ate at me underneath it all, even in successful repression.

​
Alright, that's it for me. Hope this helps someone, even slightly. There are likely spelling errors, repetition, and/or missing links/holes in the story throughout...I am not proofreading this right now, but feel free to point anything out or question anything I've written, of course. I'll edit where necessary.
Open to all questions and am always available to talk about this very lonely condition, in public or private if you prefer.
Stay strong...you are not alone.

 Although Limerence is a widely understudied condition, we can see that it's a combination of OCD and addiction. The limerant individual (LI) becomes infatuated or obsessed with another person (LO). Limerence is a form of OCD because the LI has severe involuntary obsessive thinking about another person. Because of this, the main compulsion is to obtain emotional reciprocation from their LO. To gain this emotional reciprocation, the LI tends to make the LO the center of their world. In other words, their other relationships, priorities, work, and values are compromised by constantly thinking about, talking about, or being with their LO. In addition to OCD, limerence is a person addiction. When emotionally reciprocated, the LI experiences a "dopamine spike". Just like how other addictions ( drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc) trigger the brain by releasing an extreme amount of dopamine-way more than gets released as a result of natural pleasurable behavior, limerence does the same thing. When with their LO and being emotionally reciprocated, the LI's brain overreacts and produces a spike in dopamine, resulting in a euphoric, purely joyful feeling. 

As a result, the LI inevitably wants MORE. As this reward cycle continues, craving take over and lead to obsessive and compulsive behaviors to obtain as much emotional reciprocation as possible. Overall, limerence is a complex phenomenon. While there is much more research needed, we know that limerence can be a debilitating experience. However, ironically limerence has little to do with the LO and everything to do with the LI. Therefore, to truly overcome limerence, the LI must look WITHIN themselves and WORK on the parts of themselves that are directly being fulfilled by their LO.

UK Mental Health Helplines:

ME CONNECT HELPLINE

https://meassociation.org.uk/information-and-support-line/
Got me/cfs fibro? Feel alone? Feel no one understands you? Not even Samaritans helps?
Volunteers at ME Association really do UNDERSTAND so call em:
We deal with each person individually, in a sensitive and professional manner. Every communication is kept completely confidential. ME Connect is staffed by a fully trained, and supervised, team of volunteers – most of whom have personal experience of M.E.

0344 576 5326

Available every day of the week between these times: 10am - 12noon, 2pm - 4pm and 7pm - 9pm.
Calls cost the same as other standard landline numbers (starting 01 or 02). If you have a call package for your landline or mobile phone then calls will normally come out of your inclusive minutes.
​
And on with...
​
... other valuable resources:
​
Mental health helplines:
Shout
Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. We can help with urgent issues such as: suicidal thoughts, abuse or assault, self-harm, bullying and relationship challenges
Text Shout to 85258
(https://www.giveusashout.org/)
Mental Health Matters
Helpline for people with mental health problems, their carers, families and friends. The Team can offer emotional guidance and information and help people who may be feeling low, anxious or stressed or in extreme emotional distress and feel that there is nowhere else to turn. Support is also provided to people caring for another person and finding it difficult to cope. The service is confidential unless it is considered there is a risk to yourself or others. Webchat available 24/7
Phone: click here to find the different numbers for the geographical areas covered Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Supportline
We offer confidential emotional support to children, young adults and adults by telephone, email and post. We work with callers to develop healthy, positive coping strategies, an inner feeling of strength and increased self esteem to encourage healing, recovery and moving forward with life.
Phone: 01708 765200 (hours variable - ring for details)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
The Silver Line
The Silver Line operates the only confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK that's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. We also offer telephone friendship where we match volunteers with older people based on their interests, facilitated group calls, and help to connect people with local services in their area.
Phone: 0800 4 70 80 90 Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
(https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/)
Breathing Space
A confidential phoneline for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16, feeling low, anxious or depressed.
Phone: 0800 838587 (weekdays mon-thurs 6pm until 2am. Weekend Friday 6pm-Monday 6am)
(https://breathingspace.scot/)
C.A.L.L. Mental health helpline
Offers emotional support and information/literature on Mental Health and related matters to the people of Wales. Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service. C.A.L.L. Helpline offers a confidential listening and support service.
Phone: 0800 132 737 or text help to 81066
(https://www.callhelpline.org.uk/)
Lifeline Helpline
Lifeline is the Northern Ireland crisis response helpline service for people who are experiencing distress or despair. No matter what your age or where you live in Northern Ireland, if you are or someone you know is in distress or despair, Lifeline is here to help.
Phone: 0808 808 8000 or 18001 0808 808 8000 for Deaf and hard of hearing Textphone users. (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
(https://www.lifelinehelpline.info/)
One parent families Scotland
The Lone Parent Helpline provides advice and support to single parents. Call us about anything from dealing with a break-up, sorting out child maintenance, understanding benefits, money when having a baby, studying or moving into work. We provide a free confidential friendly service that provides advice and supports your wellbeing whatever you are going through.
Phone: 0808 801 0323 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4pm)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
(https://opfs.org.uk/)
RABI Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution
Time is a precious commodity, especially in farming. But it’s something our staff will happily give you.
When you call you’ll speak to a member of our dedicated welfare team. We understand that making that very first call – and talking about personal things with someone you don’t know – might sound daunting. However, it’s 100% confidential, so you’ll be free to discuss what’s on your mind without judgement. We won’t disclose any information to third parties without your explicit permission and calls are not recorded. We’ll do our very best to make you feel at ease, listening with courtesy, sympathy and respect.
Phone: 0808 281 9490 (9am-5pm weekdays) Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
(https://rabi.org.uk/)
The Drinks Trust:
We are the drinks industry community organisation, providing care and support to the people who form the drinks industry workforce, both past and present. The Trust provides individuals with services across vocational, well-being, financial and practical support. These services are intended to assist with and improve the circumstances of those who receive them
Phone: 0800 915 4610
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Contact form - To be eligible, you must have worked for at least two years full-time or four years part-time in the UK drinks industry.
(https://www.drinkstrust.org.uk/)
Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you've been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
(www.anxietyuk.org.uk)
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Peer support line: Arrange a call back from our Peer Support Line. Book in a call with our chatbot- simply type in 'I would like to speak to someone' and select a date and time that works best for you.
Email us: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
(www.bipolaruk.org.uk)
Carers UK
We provide an expert telephone advice and support service. You can talk to us, no matter where you are in the UK or how complex your query is. We do benefits checks, and advise on financial and practical matters related to caring.
Phone: 0808 808 7777 (Mon-Fri 9am until 6pm)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Online forum: here
(https://www.carersuk.org/)
CALM
Our helpline is for people in the UK who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm to midnight - 365 days a year)
(www.thecalmzone.net)
Shelter
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support, and legal services
England&Scotland phone number: 08088004444 (8am - 8pm on weekdays and 9am - 5pm weekends).
(https://www.shelter.org.uk/)
Wales phone number: 08000 495495 (9.30am – 4.00pm, Monday to Friday)
(https://sheltercymru.org.uk/)
For similar housing support in Ireland and NI: Ireland and Northern Ireland
Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm)
(www.mind.org.uk)
Mind Cymru: 0292-0395-123 (https://www.mind.org.uk/about-us/mind-cymru/)
No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia/OCD. Includes a helpline.
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm)
(www.nopanic.org.uk)
OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5pm)
(www.ocdaction.org.uk)
OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.
Phone: 0845 120 3778 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
(www.ocduk.org)
PAPYRUS
HOPELINEUK is a confidential support and advice service for children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide.
Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (9:00 am to 12:00 am midnight every day including weekends & bank holidays)
Text: 07860 039 967
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
(www.papyrus-uk.org)
Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm)
(www.rethink.org)
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
(www.samaritans.org.uk)
SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30 to 10.30pm)
Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: (http://www.sane.org.uk/textcare)
(www.sane.org.uk/supportforum)
(www.sane.org.uk/support)
YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm)
(www.youngminds.org.uk)
Veterans Gateway
The first point of contact for veterans seeking support. We put veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need – from healthcare and housing to employability, finances, personal relationships and more.
Phone: 0808 802 1212 Text: 81212 Email: submit here Live chat: here
(https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk/)
First Person Plural
First Person Plural (FPP) specialises in working for and on behalf of all those affected by Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and similar complex trauma-related dissociative identity conditions. These similar conditions include type 1 Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS), and a type of Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) which is described as DID-like.
Phone: 01902810082 (if we do not pick up leave a message and we will contact you as soon as possible but this might not be for a few days as our office is not staffed everyday) Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Twitter: u/DissociationFPP
LGBT+ helplines:
Switchboard LGBT
Switchboard provides a one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone, by email and through Instant Messaging.
Phone: 0300 330 0630 (10am-10pm every day)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
(https://switchboard.lgbt/)
MindlineTrans+
MindLine Trans+ is a confidential emotional, mental health support helpline for people who identify as Transgender, Agender, Gender Fluid, Non-binary..
Phone: 03003305468 (Mondays and Fridays from 8pm to midnight.)
Mermaids UK
Mermaids provides a helpline aimed at supporting transgender youth up to and including the age of 19, their families and professionals working with them.
Phone: 0808 801 0400 (Open Monday - Friday; 9am - 9pm)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
(https://www.mermaidsuk.org.uk)
Abuse helplines (child, sexual, domestic violence):
NSPCC
Children's charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.
Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline)
0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)
(www.nspcc.org.uk)
Refuge
Advice on dealing with domestic violence.
Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)
(www.refuge.org.uk)
Women's Aid
Women’s Aid is the national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children.
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Live chat: Our hours are Monday to Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00am-12:00pm. Here
Respect Men's advice line
The Men’s Advice Line is a confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse and those supporting them. We offer advice and emotional support to men who experience abuse, and signpost to other vital services that help keep them and their children safe.
Call: 0808 8010327 or visit: here
Respect phoneline
The Respect Phoneline is an anonymous and confidential helpline for men and women who are harming their partners and families. We provide specialist advice and guidance to help people change their behaviours and support for those working with domestic abuse perpetrators.
Call: 0808 8024040 or visit: here
National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans+ Domestic Abuse Helpline:
Galop gives advice and support to people who have experienced biphobia, homophobia, transphobia, sexual violence or domestic abuse. We also support lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer people who have had problems with the police or have questions about the criminal justice system
Galop is completely independent – we are a community-led group and we are not connected to police. You can talk to us anonymously if you choose
Phone: 0800 999 5428 (Monday to Friday 10:00am - 5:00pm. Wednesday to Thursday 10:00am - 8:00pm)
(http://www.galop.org.uk/domesticabuse/)
Honour based abuse/violence, forced marriage and/or female genital mutilation helplines
Freedom Charity
We aim to empower young people to feel they have the tools and confidence to support each other and have practical ways in which they can help their best friend around the issues of family relationships which can lead to early and forced marriage and dishonour based violence
(https://www.freedomcharity.org.uk/)
Phone: 0845 607 0133 ; or text "4freedom"to 88802 (24-hour helpline)
Halo Project
Halo Project Charity is a national project that will support victims of honour-based violence, forced marriages and FGM by providing appropriate advice and support to victims. We will also work with key partners to provide required interventions and advice necessary for the protection and safety of victims.
Phone: 01642 683 045 (9am-5pm)
(https://www.haloproject.org.uk/)
Karma Nirvana
Karma Nirvana is an award-winning National charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage. Honour crimes are not determined by age, faith, gender or sexuality, we support and work with all victims
Phone: 0800 5999 247 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
(https://karmanirvana.org.uk/)
Addiction helplines (drugs, alcohol, gambling):
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 0845 769 7555 (24-hour helpline)
(www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk)
Gamblers Anonymous
Phone: 0330 094 0322
(www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk)
Narcotics Anonymous
Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily 10am to midnight)
(www.ukna.org)
Drugfam
Support for families, friends and partners affected by someone else’s addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Phone: 0300 888 3853
(https://www.drugfam.co.uk/)
Al-Anon UK&Eire
We are here for anyone affected by someone else's drinking. Our Helpline is manned by a team of friendly and helpful volunteers who are also members of Al-Anon. They will listen and be happy to answer your questions
Phone: 0800 0086 811 (10am-10pm, 365 days a year)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Alzheimer's helpline:
Alzheimer's Society
Provides information on dementia, including factsheets and helplines.
Phone: 0300 222 1122 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm. Weekends, 10am to 4pm)
(www.alzheimers.org.uk)
Bereavement helplines:
Cruse Bereavement Care
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
CruseChat
(https://www.cruse.org.uk)
Blue Cross for pets
If you have lost, or are facing saying goodbye to, a much loved pet and need somebody to talk to, our Pet Bereavement Support Service is here for you every day from 8.30am – 8.30pm
Phone: 0800 096 6606
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
The Compassionate Friends
The Compassionate Friends is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause
Phone: 0345 120 3785 (9:30am - 4:30pm Mon to Fri)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide:
If you are 18+ and have been bereaved or affected by suicide and you would like to talk with one of our volunteers about your experience, you can get in touch in the following ways:
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) and/or [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Helpline: open 9am to 9pm Monday to Sunday 0300 111 5065
You can also apply to join their online peer support forum here
(https://uksobs.org/)
Crime victims helplines:
Rape Crisis
To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12 to 2.30pm, 7 to 9.30pm)
(www.rapecrisis.org.uk)
Victim Support
Phone: 0808 168 9111 (24-hour helpline)
(www.victimsupport.org)
Eating disorders helpline:
Beat
Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adults) or 0808 801 0711 (for under-18s)
(www.b-eat.co.uk)
Learning disabilities helpline:
Mencap
Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
(www.mencap.org.uk)
Parenting helpline:
Family Lives
Family Lives offers a confidential and free helpline service for families in England and Wales (previously known as Parentline). Please call us on 0808 800 2222 for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life. Our helpline service is open 9am-9pm Monday to Friday and 10am-3pm Saturday and Sunday
Callers in Wales: If you would like to access this service in Welsh, find out how to request a call back here
Callers in Scotland: for callers from Scotland, Children 1st run Parentline Scotland and you may wish to contact them on 08000 28 22 33 Monday to Friday from 9am - 9pm.
Online chat: available 1:30pm-5:30pm every weekday excluding bank holidays here
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Online forum: here
(https://www.familylives.org.uk/)
Relationships helpline:
Relate
The UK's largest provider of relationship support.
(www.relate.org.uk)
​

Genshin Impact is simultaneously the next step forward in open-world games and one of the biggest and worst time sinks you can imagine. It’s a game that has a nicely-crafted world and a bunch of environmental puzzles with a wide variety of characters with interesting, different, and unique playstyles, that can be combined into interesting teams, and a horrible grindfest that eats up days of your time for minimal progression and a stingy gacha system that demands your time and your money with no guarantee you will get what you want without investing hundreds of dollars.
Ostensibly, you play as the Traveler – a character from another world who was depowered by a god, their brothesister kidnapped, and they themselves dumped down into the world below for who knows how long. One day, you encounter Paimon, a floating cherubic fairy-like creature who encourages you to go seek out the seven gods, teaching you how to absorb their elemental powers from their statues for your own use.
Joining you on your journey is a vast array of characters – over two dozen at the time of writing – all with unique personalities, voice acting, backstories, and most importantly, playstyles. There are seven elemental affinities in the world (though characters only existed for six of them at the time of this review), and five different weapons, but more importantly, each character has a unique set of talents. These talents affect how a character plays.
Core Gameplay
The core gameplay is very reminiscent of Breath of the Wild and other third person open-world action-RPGs. You control a character, you can run, dash (which also doubles as a dodge), jump a short distance in the air, glide in the air, climb walls and cliffs and other things (everything except special walls in the world is climbable), and explore the world in order to find environmental puzzles and complete quests for NPCs.
The main thing that sets this game apart is the combat system. Unlike Breath of the Wild, the game has a much more fluid and flowing combat system, with fairly rapid attacks and agile characters. Moreover, you are not stuck with a single character, but rather have four characters, that you switch between during combat. This four character team makes up the core of the game, as you will need to use your various characters skills in concert to overcome your foes.
Each character has three combat talents – a basic attack, an elemental skill, and an elemental burst. The basic attack is exactly that – something that allows you to swing your weapon around, as well as make “charged attacks” by holding the attack button, and plunge attacks by attacking enemies from above. Each character has a unique set of autoattacks that deal different levels of damage and have different hitboxes and different attack rates, making each character feel different even when they use the same weapon. There are five weapons – polearms, swords, claymores (giant two-handed swords), bows, and catalysts, the last of which are used by “magic users”. Each suggests a different playstyle, with different characters further changing how they play.
The elemental skills are more flashy. Here, characters call upon their elemental powers and do something. This can range from making a flame-empowered sword strike, to summoning a raven who strikes your foes repeatedly with lightning, to throwing out a magic lightning kunai that, with a second activation of the elemental skill, you teleport to. These abilities have varying cooldown times and deal varying amounts of damage, and radically change how characters play. A character who can teleport around can not only be very swift in combat and engage enemies on platforms, but can also use this ability outside of combat to teleport up walls or over gaps. A character who can shield can prevent knockback and ignore a lot of enemy attacks. A character who can heal can restore the rest of your team’s life – very important in some of the more dangerous areas, where you cannot simply use food items to restore your health at will.
The elemental bursts are the most flashy abilities. These both have a cooldown timer, AND require you to gather enough “energy” to use them. Using elemental skills, attacking with your basic attacks, killing enemies – all of these things generate energy, and you can also equip items that further increase energy regeneration. Elemental bursts tend to be quite powerful and are the most “exciting” abilities in some ways, playing a brief cutscene during which the characters are invulnerable and unleashing some powerful burst of power, ranging from throwing a firey phoenix across the field, to rapid attacks too fast for the eye to follow striking everyone nearby, to turning into a raven and flying across the battlefield (shocking everyone along the way), to summoning a gigantic meteorite which petrifies your foes, to creating an aura that boosts your attacks and heals you over time. Using these abilities can turn the tide of battle, and the brief period of invulnerability is yet another way to dodge enemy attacks.
On top of this, each character has three passive talents, two of which boost your combat prowess (often affecting how your skills work), as well as a third that has some minor effect on the game’s crafting or resource gathering mechanics. The out of combat mechanics are mostly boring, but some pretty useful – some reduce the time you have to spend to farm materials on a passive “expedition” that you dispatch characters on, or give you more items when you craft, while others give you the ability to see different kinds of items automatically on your minimap.
The most important aspect of the combat system is the way that various elements can interact. If two elements are applied to the same enemy, then an elemental reaction occurs. These can deal extra damage, send enemies flying, generate shields, or spread elemental effects to other enemies as well. Thus, the ideal team uses a variety of elements to exploit these reactions as often as possible, often particular ones that are synergistic with the characters you concentrate on using for damage output as opposed for things like healing or shields.
Additionally, there are some enemies that have shields that are only vulnerable to particular elements, be it a wooden shield that can be set on fire or a water “empowerment” that can be broken by repeatedly electrocuting the enemy.
All of this conspires to encourage players to run diverse teams so as to be able to respond to a variety of enemies and circumstances while exploiting elemental reactions to deal as much damage as possible.
Unfortunately, the combat also turns into one of the game’s greatest weaknesses in the long term.
The problem comes from the fact that while there is okay enemy variety, it is still fairly limited relative to the very long time the game wants you to play it for. On top of this, the most common type of enemy – the hilichurl – is nigh-omnipresent, and has sharply limited variety. While on one hand, palette cleaners like them can be fun to bat around with your overpowered characters, the map has enormous numbers of these, and they really present no threat to you. As a result, a great deal of what you do while wandering around is filler.
Additionally, there is limited challenge overall in overworld encounters in general. It is common to encounter very small groups of enemies, but rare for there to be actual threatening encounters – indeed, there are perhaps three actually challenging encounters around on the overworld map, where multiple enemies congregate in a small area and present a real challenge. This is unfortunate, because it means that, while you are free to explore to your heart’s content, after a while, all you will run into is easy, samey encounters, with very few exceptions. This is disappointing – while first entering a new area will expose you to some new foes, there are no more than a handful typically, and the novelty quickly wears off.
The only actually challenging encounters are found in domains and the Abyss, instanced areas where you fight on small, circular, samey maps every single time. While these maps allow the game creators to quickly create new encounters, it feels like a let-down that with a game with a bunch of neat overworld areas to explore, all the actual challenging encounters occur in samey instanced areas.
These encounters do a great deal more to test a player’s skill, though, with the domains serving to give players materials for powering up characters and special equippable items, and the Abyss serving as an endgame area to grind for.
Unfortunately, while this all sounds cool, the domains are likely to wear thin after a while, as they are always the same and you often must do them dozens of times to get all the items you need for powering up your characters.
This leads to one of the main issues with the game…
The Grind
Genshin Impact involves a ridiculous amount of grinding, and like most gacha games, progression is limited by a energy system, where you are limited in how much you can play the areas that give you rewards based on real time. The resin system gives you about 180 resin a day, or about 7.5 per hour. The purpose of this is to slow down character progression; however, it has some pretty large negative consequences, especially in the endgame.
The issue arises from the conflict between this slow, long-term grinding and the fact that you want to use new characters. Because it takes several weeks of grinding to power up a new character, you are forced to focus on only a small number of characters so that they can actually complete the content – if you spread out your focus too much, you end up with a bunch of underpowered characters who can’t progress in the game.
This has major negative consequences. By the end of my time with the game – three months of gameplay – I had only nine characters levelled up, with a tenth being sort of half-leveled. This was because I simply didn’t have the materials to level up the rest of my team. And indeed, even amongst my core team, many were unable to progress as high as I’d like – or be equipped as well as I’d like – because I simply didn’t have the ability to grind for either the materials they needed to level up/otherwise become stronger, or for their equipment. A large number of characters I would have liked to use were simply not available for use due to lack of materials.
This conflict between the coolness of the game having a lot of characters with varied gameplay and the fact that you can’t actually use most of them severely undercuts one of the major selling points of the game, and one of the major sources of gameplay variety that it theoretically offers.
On top of this, there are a lot of inane tasks that the player is given to get the game’s currency for levelling characters. Every day, a player gets four “commissions”, that are very simple, short encounters that give you “primogems”, the game’s premium currency. While a few of these tasks have some cute little stories attached to them, probably 80% of them are just “Go to a spot and kill the enemies there”. The encounters aren’t even difficult, so these are purely a waste of the player’s time.
In addition, every day there are multiple “magic crystals” locations that spawn a bunch of special ore deposits. Ore is crafted into a material that is used to level up weapons. As players need vast amounts of this material to level their weapons, they need to farm for this every day to max out their weapons. This is independent of the other forms of grinding, and is very tedious after a while, as you are just going to the same spots day after day to check if ore spawned there. There are NPCs that tell you where ore has spawned – but you have to check other locations anyway in many cases, as ore spawns in addition to the marked locations.
The result is a bunch of tedious daily busywork intended to keep the player playing every single day. And none of it is fun.
This is a huge problem. The game has neat exploration, but to progress beyond a certain point, you need to interact with these grindy systems. The result is that you feel compelled to do many things that simply are not very fun so that you can do the few fun things as they occur.
The game tries to hook you in with the promise of the cool overworld content, but it quickly devolves into this grindfest, after you feel like you’ve sunk a lot of time into the game (and potentially, money, if you are fool enough to spend money on it). This sunk cost fallacy combined with daily tasks is designed to monopolize your time and keep you playing, even though most of what you do isn’t very interesting. While periodic events and releases of new content do help a little, they simply are far too small compared to the amount of boring grinding the game expects you to do.
The Gacha System
The gacha system in this game is very much a mixed bag. On the one hand, the pull rates are terrible. On the other hand, if you don’t really care what characters you get, you can get the overwhelming majority of the cast for pretty cheap if you play the game for a few months. On the gripping hand, the game exploits gambling addicts and people who want particular characters to the tunes of hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
For those not familiar, gacha systems are very closely related to loot box systems. You spend some amount of premium currency and you get a “roll”, where you have a chance of getting a weapon or a character. Getting multiple copies of the same character gives you “constellations”, which make those characters more powerful; getting multiple copies of the same weapon gives you the ability to refine the weapon into a more powerful version.
The catch is, all the cool items and literally all of the characters are 4-star and 5-star drops, which are rare pulls; 4-stars drop only a bit over 6% of the time, and 5-stars 0.6%.
To make up for these low drop rates, there is a “pity” system where the probability of getting a 4-star increases after about 7 or 8 rolls without one, and the probability of getting a 5-star increases after about 75 rolls without one. On average, you get them after about 9 pulls and 75 pulls respectively, and never later than every 10 and 90 pulls respectively.
As a result, the game encourages you to pull… a lot.
And it doesn’t give you a lot of resources to do it with, while trying to manipulate you into paying money.
If you do all the various overworld stuff and do your daily commissions, you’ll get about enough free premium currency to do about 150 pulls. This is roughly enough to get two 5-star characters or items, along with a bunch of others. This seems like a good start, and it is – but it is really there to trigger the sunk cost fallacy, because from there on out, your rate of currency earning will plummet.
And, notably, all the characters and all the cool weapons are 4-stars and 5-stars. As a result, almost everything you pull is garbage – and you don’t get to pull very much.
Now, this is a basal rate; the actual rate is a bit higher due to events, so you’re more likely to get about 10-15 more pulls than that a month. The spiral abyss – if you are good enough to push deep in it – can provide about six more per month. Even still, it’s pretty paltry – because of the game’s “pity system” giving you a 4-star every 10th pull and a 5-star every 90th (though in reality, the average is about the 9th pull and 75th pull because the game tweaks the probability of getting such a pull0
In comes the ability to buy currency.
There is really one efficient option here – the Blessing of the Welkin Moon. For $5 a month, you get another 3000 premium currency – but the catch is that you get 300 up front, and then 90 a day for the next 30 days. This is designed to encourage you to keep playing, but if you actually are going to play the game for a month, you will go from getting 60 premium currency a day from the daily commissions to getting 150. As a pull is 160, and you got 300 gems up front, this works out to getting a pull a day, every day. This not only greatly increases your rate of pulls, but it also just makes it feel like less of a struggle to get more characters.
The other option is the gnostic hymn - the game’s equivalent of a battle pass, something that gives you rewards for completing various tasks in game over the course of six weeks. This mostly exists for the purpose of making grinding less awful – you get a bunch of materials for levelling your characters – but it also gives you a free 4-star weapon of your choice (which lets you equip a key character who you haven’t gotten lucky enough to pull a weapon for) and some extra premium currency, about enough for eight pulls. This costs $10, and is not a great deal from a pulls perspective, but if you’re someone who really wants to get a weapon for their main character, it’s a way to make sure you got one, and to help lessen the grind.
By the end of my three month stint with the game, I bought the Blessing three times, and the gnostic hymn twice. After $35 spent on the game, I had every single 4-star character (some at maximum constellations – meaning they got a bunch of bonuses), half of the 5-star characters (including a constellation for one), and two 5-star weapons.
I was actually pretty happy with this assortment, save for the fact that I couldn’t level most of them.
But for people who have impulse control problems, or who want particular characters, the game can fleece you for hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
The game has “character event banners”, where a new 5-star character and three 4-star characters are given a “rate up” – half the time when you get a 5-star or a 4-star, you will get one of the rate up characters. If you don’t get a rate-up character, then the next time you roll a drop of the same rarity, it is guaranteed to be one from the banner.
The problem is, you will get about enough premium currency to guarantee you’ll get a 5-star about 2 banners in 3, even if you spend money, and about 1 banner in 3 if you don’t.
This means that you will miss out on at least half of these characters, even if you spend money on the “reasonable” stuff.
If you feel like you “must” have one of these characters, you will need to pay.
A lot.
81 pulls – about what is required for a 5-star character – will run you $99.99 the first time, and twice that thereafter, or more than $2 per pull.
And if you want constellations for the character, it can easily run over $1,000.
Needless to say, when 90% of your pulls are garbage, this is not only inordinately expensive, but just flat-out exploitative.
Unfortunately, these games tend to heavily rely on so-called “whales” – people with impulse control disorders with money to burn – to finance themselves.
The result is a much worse experience for everyone else, and no real ground between “spending a marginal amount of money” and “bankrupting yourself for digital characters”.
Story and Plot
The plot of the game is serviceable so far. It isn’t great but it isn’t terrible, either, and it does a pretty good job of mixing in humor while managing a serious plot that doesn’t feel like it is the same generic JRPG plot that is seen in upteen many games. The characters have excellent voice acting, but the actual plot itself varies in quality; some sidequests are pretty high quality while others are only okay, and the various random world quests around are often pretty weak, though a small number did some solid worldbuilding or hit strong emotional notes.
Unfortunately, after playing through the first two areas of the game, you will run out of game to play entirely; the game is very, very much unfinished, and won’t be finished for many years to come.
Recommendation
While the core of the game is fun, the game is unfinished. Moreover, because of the awful gacha system combined with the inability to level your characters fully, playing the game just feels like a mistake – you’ll have fun for a while, long enough to get you hooked, and then you’ll run out of stuff to do and be stuck with a lot of repetitive, grindy gameplay.
The actual cost of the game varies from “free” to “outright extortative”, and anyone with impulse control problems should never, ever, ever play this game, as it will try to fleece you for all that you’re worth.
The game’s core mechanics drive you towards grinding, but the result is that the amount of “fun” gameplay you get will ever dwindle over time.
All in all, as much fun as I had with this game starting out, I can’t recommend it. It’s a game that tries to eat your life, and it is unfinished to boot.
Maybe when the plot is finished, you could just pick it up and play it as a free open-world game. But you’d have to be able to ignore the myriad ways in which the game is trying to get you to open your wallet and devour your time.
All in all, this is a game to be avoided, not because of its low quality, but because of its incomplete nature and attempt at eating your life and wallet.

(I've tried to organize this post as cohesively as possible but I understand that there is a lot of stuff here so sorry if it's kind of disjointed)
My Grandmother - 71f - and I - 22f - used to be quite close when I was a child. I would spend most weekends at her house, we went on regular outings, and she was the one who really encouraged my love of reading and my silly little writings when I was younger.
Now is a much different story.
There is no question about if she's dying just a waiting game of when she will. Her only leg is infected that they are talking about amputating (she refused to go to the doctor until we made her go), out of control diabetes (600 will get a shrug from her and she refuses to take insulin), stage 5 kidney failure, and a yeast infection that she refuses to go to the doctor about.
I suppose that I do resent her for the fact that most of these conditions could've easily been managed/treated if she would've went to the doctodone what the doctor had said but that's not the root of the resentment.
The root of the problem is so much more insidious and a lot harder to talk about. For the past six years me and my mother have been taking care of her. This is after she broke her other foot, let it get infected past the point of no-return, and had to get it amputated up to her knee where the infection had spread to.
The past six years I know that me and my mother haven't been perfect. There has been a lot of tension (especially during quarantine) and we've all had our blow ups at each other.
I will say though that we've taken the very best care of her that we could. I've taken days of school to take care of her when my mom simply couldn't miss work. We've both bandaged wounds, changed diapers, bathed her, etc, etc. I don't resent her for any of that because I love her and she deserved/deserves to live with as best quality as life as can be provided.
I suppose that maybe the resentment began when she missed my graduation (2017) to go the Casino for ten hours. It only intensified when during my LPN schooling she constantly questioned my choice to go into the healthcare profession. When I had to leave LPN school (two months from finishing) to help her I was met with a "Well maybe you can find something that won't require so much brainpower that will suit you better."
I could still forgive her though because I simply decided that her advice/opinion simply wasn't true and maybe I had taken it the wrong way.
I got into a Respiratory Therapy program during the fall of 2019 and was over the moon. My grandmother was obviously less excited then anybody else but had the good grace not to say anything. Well we can all guess what happened in early 2020 that shut down my campus and meant that we couldn't go to our on-site clinicals.
I was upset about not getting to go but understood why. My entire family (minus me) is immunocomprised in one way or the other. My mother has COPD (from ARDS) and footdrop. My father is a diabetic and had rocky-mountain-tick fever. My sister had lymes. We're all anywhere from moderately to morbidly obese. We all took the pandemic seriously and bunkered down in our shelters to outwait the storm.
We've all been bored but been as reasonable as we can.
Everybody but my grandmother. She's always been a gambling addict but it became an obsession during quarantine. Her previous lack of motivation to do any type of chore became an outright refusal to even make her own bed. Her strength (already not great) went completely downhill as she wouldn't do anything but gamble online.
It got to the point that we would fake internet outages just so she wouldn't blow all of her money. My parents - both unemployed - would pay the bills and she would promise to pay them back only to blow her next paycheck again. This was a cycle that we all talked to her about and got screamed at for.
We all basically did our best to get scarce much to her obvious anger. This lead to the time she demanded that I take her to the bakery and I politely said that I wouldn't. When she pressed me I admitted that I was worried about her blood sugar. This lead to a twenty - five minute lecture where she basically told me that I was trying to control her and that I was going to become like every other healthcare worker - an idiot.
Now that got my goat and I refused to speak to her for about a week but convinced myself to get over it.
Then the real kicker happened. When the casinos opened back up she screamed at us until we took her. I said that I flat - out wouldn't take her.
It was as if a nuclear bomb went off. Every single bad thing that she's ever thought about me came flying out of her mouth and struck me straight in the heart. She called me pretty much ever unkind quality in the book. Selfish, spoiled, arrogant, hateful, righteous. You name it. She insulted not only me but my mother (a druggie aka has chronic crippling pain that has only gotten worse since taking care of her), my father (a useless bastard, he has such low-self esteem from her and her shitty husbands that he's scared of messing up when making a pizza), my sister (an Indian bitch, she's half - choctaw and isn't my father's biological child something that's always rubbed my Grandma the wrong way) and several of my friends.
I had my own say back where I pretty much told her that she could fucking shove her cane up her ass and maybe when she pulled it back out her head could come with it.
Our relationship has never been the same since. I've never told my family any of what she said about them and I don't ever intend to. I help her just the same as I always would and she seems to think that I've forgiven/forgotten the whole thing.
Instead it just festers in me all the time. I want to try and let go of the resentment because her days might be numbered in days instead of weeks but I simply don't know if I'll be able too.
I don't know if I came her for advice to how to help me let go, improve our relationship or if i simply just want some kind words while I try to grieve, help, and overcome at the same time.
Thank you for your time.

I haven’t really thought too much about what all of their lives could look like after the show, but i have some ideas.
Sonny - Like he said, he’s going somewhere south where the weather is warm and drinks are cold. I’ve thought about the idea of Sonny having a pretty good income with Caitlin’s royalties, I’m not sure how that works but that’s just an idea. Maybe he bought a boat, lives off of the money he gets from the royalties and spends his days fishing.
Tubbs - I really don’t know what i can say about Tubbs since we don’t learn a lot about him, but he’s going back to New York and i have a similar idea that he also has some money left that he received from Angelina? Maybe he invested that money into a business or something like that in New York?
Trudy - Works in the Vice department till retirement?
Gina - Similar story to Trudy, but down the line she falls in love with a gangster while working undercover and possibly quits the police job to become a wealthy wife of a gangster? I’ve always felt like Gina was really close to quitting the Vice job.
Castillo - works in the Vice department until retirement
Izzy - Izzy is an interesting case. I wouldn’t be surprised if he kept doing small scams and stuff until he gets tired of it and just quits in favor of a legitimate job or marries a wealthy woman?
Switek - Suspended until he overcomes his gambling addiction, eventually he manages to beat his addiction and finally gets a promotion.
Honestly I haven’t thought about the other characters except Sonny and Tubbs. I’d love to hear your guys’ thoughts, ideas, theories or fantasies about their lives after Miami Vice, and if there are other characters you’d like to talk about, please do!

Some notes I wrote based on a few interviews I’ve recently listened to. Originally I wrote them for myself but decided to post it here:
First and Foremost, the usual shit.
Ensure that you get adequate, regular sleep, ideally at consistent times each day. During nighttime hours, unless you have a good reason not to. Wake up with natural sunlight if possible. If you wake up within an hour of your alarm don’t go back to sleep. Just because you’re tired when you wake doesn’t necessarily mean you haven’t had enough sleep.
Eat a fairly balanced, healthy diet. Schedule your meals for roughly similar times each day because your digestive system is closely connected to your circadian rhythm. Determine your base calorie requirements and adjust your food intake accordingly. I say fairly because I don’t believe it’s worth being too obsessive over, to the detriment of other areas. It’s also not recommended to follow any of the fad diets, eat during the night, or skip breakfast, but that’s your prerogative.
Ensure sufficient hydration. There’s all sorts of apocrypha about exactly how much water we should intake - but a good yardstick is to drink enough that your urine has only a light yellow tinge.
Regularly engage in moderately intense exercise. This hold numerous benefits to this, and it’s also a microcosm for demonstrating the reality of goal setting, hard work and incremental achievement.
Identify and gradually divorce from any highly addictive habits that you feel are undermining your life. Substances such as drugs, nicotine alcohol, and destructive activities such as gambling are most obvious, but this certainly also includes excessive internet and social media usage, which is insidious in the modern context. Addiction throws ones reward system into disarray and virtually precludes the forging of positive neural circuits that reward constructive behaviour as it becomes (temporarily) desensitised to the comparatively lower amounts of dopamine produced from other (more constructive) activities. Trade short term pleasure with medium to longterm pain for short term discomfort with medium to longterm fulfilment.
If you’re not at least attempting all of this than you’re simply not attempting to operate at your maximal mental and physical efficiency.
Vitamin D and regular socialising have also been found to maximise natural serotonin levels. Meditation and certain breathing techniques can also help to moderate stress.
Once those biological preconditions have been met you’ll be primed to optimise your neurology.
Set reasonable goals. This is an intrinsic process but one method to help delineate goals is to define what one doesn’t want to have happen to them - a hypothetical future that they wish to avoid - and to build their goals from that perspective. Also important to note that goals are mutable and should not be held as the ultimate test of ones success because that would mean ignoring all the intricacies of the process, which truly is the essence of life. Humans are engineered to find most fulfilment in the struggle not the victory, so ensure that you always have something(s) to be striving toward. Goals that involve self sacrifice and contribution are biologically hardwired to be deeply fulfilling so that’s something else worth considering.
Embrace challenge. Admittedly a buzz phrase these days but more recent studies have corroborate that this action actually reinforces positive neural circuits that will predispose you to embracing future challenges. This has been obvious empirically a long time, but the neurological science now supports it - with a study on mice demonstrating how a mouse that was typically timid could learn to become more bold and ambitious on a neurological level if they were literally forced to undertake lab challenges and compete with other mice. Conversely, avoiding challenges reinforces avoidant circuits which in our context is responsible for lowered levels of self belief and negative self talk - and also lowered objective skills and abilities because you never allow yourself to develop them.
Expect to feel resistance upon starting (particularly difficult or time consuming) tasks. This is natural release of cortisol which manifests in an unpleasant stress response but if you continue to keep yourself visually and physically focused on the task at hand then you will soon enough experience a flow like state of heightened focus in most instances - as new evidence indicates that your eyes lead your minds focus. The only time staring into space is helpful is for creative thinking or when you’re attempting to relax.
Attach a serious sense of urgency to tasks but don’t panic. This is a critical balance for allowing the mind to enter a heightened state of calm arousal in which acetylcholine is aiding our focus but we’re not being inhibited by excess amounts of cortisol and norepinephrine - basically it sets the stage for neuroplasticity to occur - which will help us to reinforce new (positive) neural pathways and assist with gentle learning.
Force yourself to take strategic breaks every hour or so (even if you feel like it’s disruptive) and focus your eyes on distances and/or physically move around for a while to allow you to decompress and re enter a focus state with more tenacity. Studies also infer that If we’ve been sitting in the same spot and/or doing the same task for hours on end we actually end up dramatically overestimating our productivity and so breaks are crucial for helping us reset and recharge. Additionally use this opportunity to briefly check social media or do any smaller non work related activities during these breaks so you’re not compelled to do so whilst completing other tasks.
Most importantly, genuinely acknowledge and commend your attainment of sub goals or items on your to do list - whilst devaluing the outcome. The process is everything, the outcome is just a bonus and doesn’t always reflect the input. This approach helps to precipitate periodic dopamine releases which suppressed norepinephrine (the neurotransmitter responsible for causing us to quit once it reaches a certain threshold) and in turn serves as more motivation and energy, and is therefore self perpetuating. This ability to incrementally self reward was identified as the main factor in allowing people to achieve extreme feats such as passing the notorious NAVY seals training.
Do not expect your anxiety and fear to disappear. Thats not the aim. In fact, that’s also a useful indication that you value whatever you’re intending to do (be it an exam, a job interview or a date etc) - but trust that the ability to act in spite of such feelings becomes habituated as you build fortitude through strengthening the positive circuits. In that sense it does become easier for all intents and purposes.
Of course outcomes are still relevant, and society tends to judge you based on external outcomes not internal processes since that’s all it can measure, plus it’s ok to be disappointed in yourself. Despite what the self-help literature implies, nobody actually enjoys failure, but don’t dwell on it. That’s useless. Instead...
Interpret failure, criticism and negative feedback as an assessment of your performance, not of your capability and not of you as a person. Even if the feedback seems vitriolic and highly personal in nature, extract anything of value and use that to help illuminate genuine areas for improvement. Also take this opportunity to consider whether your goals and expectations were actually realistic, and be sure to acknowledge your progress toward them.
Over time and application, this mindset will inevitably result in progress - however slow or minor it may seem - that will inch you toward your goals.
Of the growth mindset itself; understand that shifts in your mindset are gradual and incremental, like the steps toward attaining any other goals. Many expect to wake up tomorrow as a new person. A productivity supersoldier. A long held eidolon of themselves that has managed to completely overcome negative thoughts and behaviours, destructive habits and procrastination. That’s just never ever going to happen. And eventually the prospect of facing such a radical shift becomes so daunting that it will cause you to delay starting the process of self improvement altogether. So If you feel as though the time is never quite right to start - completely reframe that, because In fact there has never been a better time to start. So start right now, start small, and eventually try to apply these techniques to your daily life as much as possible. Acknowledge the benefits, but do not be disgusted or disheartened when you occasionally find yourself resorting to familiar ways.
Think of this growth mindset as being a life encompassing goal - one which you can never fully attain (since we’re animals not machines) but one which will transform your life as you pursue it.
————————-
Edit: I was short on time when I converted my notes into paragraphs earlier so I’ve just fixed up some errors and elaborated on some points.
Also note that I myself don’t currently abide by all of these guidelines, but I am and will be increasingly attempting to.
Edit 2: The main source of this advice was Dr Andrew Hubermans interviews which are available on YouTube. I’m sure he doesn’t stick to it 100% himself either but that’s because we’re only human.
Edit 3: For what it’s worth, I added a final paragraph on the mindset itself since I’ve personally struggled with self help literature for that very reason.

Here I will include a master post of UK mental health helplines/resources, feel free to message me directly if there is anything you would like me to add to this post or if you notice any contact or relevant information has changed since creating this. If you would like quick support on this site for legal or DWP related issues please consider checking out DWPhelp or LegalAdviceUK
If you live in England, you can refer yourself to an NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT).
If you would like to view some country-specific helplines&resources:

• England part 1
  
• England part 2
  
• England part 3
  
• Northern Ireland
  
• Wales
  
• Scotland
  

Mental health helplines:
Shout
Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. We can help with urgent issues such as: suicidal thoughts, abuse or assault, self-harm, bullying and relationship challenges
Text Shout to 85258
(https://www.giveusashout.org/)
Mental Health Matters
Helpline for people with mental health problems, their carers, families and friends. The Team can offer emotional guidance and information and help people who may be feeling low, anxious or stressed or in extreme emotional distress and feel that there is nowhere else to turn. Support is also provided to people caring for another person and finding it difficult to cope. The service is confidential unless it is considered there is a risk to yourself or others. Webchat available 24/7
Phone: click here to find the different numbers for the geographical areas covered Email: [email protected]
Supportline
We offer confidential emotional support to children, young adults and adults by telephone, email and post. We work with callers to develop healthy, positive coping strategies, an inner feeling of strength and increased self esteem to encourage healing, recovery and moving forward with life.
Phone: 01708 765200 (hours variable - ring for details)
Email: [email protected]
The Silver Line
The Silver Line operates the only confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK that's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. We also offer telephone friendship where we match volunteers with older people based on their interests, facilitated group calls, and help to connect people with local services in their area.
Phone: 0800 4 70 80 90 Email: [email protected]
(https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/)
Breathing Space
A confidential phoneline for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16, feeling low, anxious or depressed.
Phone: 0800 838587 (weekdays mon-thurs 6pm until 2am. Weekend Friday 6pm-Monday 6am)
(https://breathingspace.scot/)
C.A.L.L. Mental health helpline
Offers emotional support and information/literature on Mental Health and related matters to the people of Wales. Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service. C.A.L.L. Helpline offers a confidential listening and support service.
Phone: 0800 132 737 or text help to 81066
(https://www.callhelpline.org.uk/)
Lifeline Helpline
Lifeline is the Northern Ireland crisis response helpline service for people who are experiencing distress or despair. No matter what your age or where you live in Northern Ireland, if you are or someone you know is in distress or despair, Lifeline is here to help.
Phone: 0808 808 8000 or 18001 0808 808 8000 for Deaf and hard of hearing Textphone users. (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
(https://www.lifelinehelpline.info/)
One parent families Scotland
The Lone Parent Helpline provides advice and support to single parents. Call us about anything from dealing with a break-up, sorting out child maintenance, understanding benefits, money when having a baby, studying or moving into work. We provide a free confidential friendly service that provides advice and supports your wellbeing whatever you are going through.
Phone: 0808 801 0323 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4pm)
Email: [email protected]
(https://opfs.org.uk/)
RABI Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution
Time is a precious commodity, especially in farming. But it’s something our staff will happily give you.
When you call you’ll speak to a member of our dedicated welfare team. We understand that making that very first call – and talking about personal things with someone you don’t know – might sound daunting. However, it’s 100% confidential, so you’ll be free to discuss what’s on your mind without judgement. We won’t disclose any information to third parties without your explicit permission and calls are not recorded. We’ll do our very best to make you feel at ease, listening with courtesy, sympathy and respect.
Phone: 0808 281 9490 (9am-5pm weekdays) Email: [email protected]
(https://rabi.org.uk/)
The Drinks Trust:
We are the drinks industry community organisation, providing care and support to the people who form the drinks industry workforce, both past and present. The Trust provides individuals with services across vocational, well-being, financial and practical support. These services are intended to assist with and improve the circumstances of those who receive them
Phone: 0800 915 4610
Email: [email protected]
Contact form - To be eligible, you must have worked for at least two years full-time or four years part-time in the UK drinks industry.
(https://www.drinkstrust.org.uk/)
Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you've been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
(www.anxietyuk.org.uk)
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Peer support line: Arrange a call back from our Peer Support Line. Book in a call with our chatbot- simply type in 'I would like to speak to someone' and select a date and time that works best for you.
Email us: [email protected]
(www.bipolaruk.org.uk)
Carers UK
We provide an expert telephone advice and support service. You can talk to us, no matter where you are in the UK or how complex your query is. We do benefits checks, and advise on financial and practical matters related to caring.
Phone: 0808 808 7777 (Mon-Fri 9am until 6pm)
Email: [email protected]
Online forum: here
(https://www.carersuk.org/)
CALM
Our helpline is for people in the UK who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm to midnight - 365 days a year)
(www.thecalmzone.net)
Shelter
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support, and legal services
England&Scotland phone number: 08088004444 (8am - 8pm on weekdays and 9am - 5pm weekends).
(https://www.shelter.org.uk/)
Wales phone number: 08000 495495 (9.30am – 4.00pm, Monday to Friday)
(https://sheltercymru.org.uk/)
For similar housing support in Ireland and NI: Ireland and Northern Ireland
Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm)
(www.mind.org.uk)
Mind Cymru: 0292-0395-123 (https://www.mind.org.uk/about-us/mind-cymru/)
No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia/OCD. Includes a helpline.
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm)
(www.nopanic.org.uk)
OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5pm)
(www.ocdaction.org.uk)
OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.
Phone: 0845 120 3778 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
(www.ocduk.org)
PAPYRUS
HOPELINEUK is a confidential support and advice service for children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide.
Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (9:00 am to 12:00 am midnight)
Text: 07860 039 967
Email: [email protected]
(www.papyrus-uk.org)
Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm)
(www.rethink.org)
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
(www.samaritans.org.uk)
SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30 to 10.30pm)
Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: (http://www.sane.org.uk/textcare)
(www.sane.org.uk/supportforum)
(www.sane.org.uk/support)
YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm)
(www.youngminds.org.uk)
Veterans Gateway
The first point of contact for veterans seeking support. We put veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need – from healthcare and housing to employability, finances, personal relationships and more.
Phone: 0808 802 1212 Text: 81212 Email: submit here Live chat: here
(https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk/)
First Person Plural
First Person Plural (FPP) specialises in working for and on behalf of all those affected by Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and similar complex trauma-related dissociative identity conditions. These similar conditions include type 1 Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS), and a type of Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) which is described as DID-like.
Phone: 01902810082 (if we do not pick up leave a message and we will contact you as soon as possible but this might not be for a few days as our office is not staffed everyday) Email: [email protected] Twitter: @DissociationFPP
LGBT+ helplines:
Switchboard LGBT
Switchboard provides a one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone, by email and through Instant Messaging.
Phone: 03003300630 (Open 10:00-22:00 every day)
Email: [email protected]
MindlineTrans+
MindLine Trans+ is a confidential emotional, mental health support helpline for people who identify as Transgender, Agender, Gender Fluid, Non-binary..
Phone: 03003305468 (Mondays and Fridays from 8pm to midnight.)
Mermaids UK
Mermaids provides a helpline aimed at supporting transgender youth up to and including the age of 19, their families and professionals working with them.
Phone: 0808 801 0400 (Open Monday - Friday; 9am - 9pm)
Email: [email protected]
(https://www.mermaidsuk.org.uk)
Abuse helplines (child, sexual, domestic violence):
NSPCC
Children's charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.
Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline)
0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)
(www.nspcc.org.uk)
Refuge
Advice on dealing with domestic violence.
Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)
(www.refuge.org.uk)
Women's Aid
Women’s Aid is the national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children.
Email: [email protected] Live chat: Our hours are Monday to Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00am-12:00pm. Here
Respect Men's advice line
The Men’s Advice Line is a confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse and those supporting them. We offer advice and emotional support to men who experience abuse, and signpost to other vital services that help keep them and their children safe.
Call: 0808 8010327 or visit: here
Respect phoneline
The Respect Phoneline is an anonymous and confidential helpline for men and women who are harming their partners and families. We provide specialist advice and guidance to help people change their behaviours and support for those working with domestic abuse perpetrators.
Call: 0808 8024040 or visit: here
Honour based abuse/violence, forced marriage and/or female genital mutilation helplines
Freedom Charity
We aim to empower young people to feel they have the tools and confidence to support each other and have practical ways in which they can help their best friend around the issues of family relationships which can lead to early and forced marriage and dishonour based violence
(https://www.freedomcharity.org.uk/)
Phone: 0845 607 0133 ; or text "4freedom"to 88802 (24-hour helpline)
Halo Project
Halo Project Charity is a national project that will support victims of honour-based violence, forced marriages and FGM by providing appropriate advice and support to victims. We will also work with key partners to provide required interventions and advice necessary for the protection and safety of victims.
Phone: 01642 683 045 (9am-5pm)
(https://www.haloproject.org.uk/)
Karma Nirvana
Karma Nirvana is an award-winning National charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage. Honour crimes are not determined by age, faith, gender or sexuality, we support and work with all victims
Phone: 0800 5999 247 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
(https://karmanirvana.org.uk/)
Addiction helplines (drugs, alcohol, gambling):
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 0845 769 7555 (24-hour helpline)
(www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk)
Gamblers Anonymous
Phone: 0330 094 0322
(www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk)
Narcotics Anonymous
Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily 10am to midnight)
(www.ukna.org)
Drugfam
Support for families, friends and partners affected by someone else’s addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Phone: 0300 888 3853
(https://www.drugfam.co.uk/)
Al-Anon UK&Eire
We are here for anyone affected by someone else's drinking. Our Helpline is manned by a team of friendly and helpful volunteers who are also members of Al-Anon. They will listen and be happy to answer your questions
Phone: 0800 0086 811 (10am-10pm, 365 days a year)
Email: [email protected]
Alzheimer's helpline:
Alzheimer's Society
Provides information on dementia, including factsheets and helplines.
Phone: 0300 222 1122 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm. Weekends, 10am to 4pm)
(www.alzheimers.org.uk)
Bereavement helplines:
Cruse Bereavement Care
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
Email: [email protected]
CruseChat
(https://www.cruse.org.uk)
Blue Cross for pets
If you have lost, or are facing saying goodbye to, a much loved pet and need somebody to talk to, our Pet Bereavement Support Service is here for you every day from 8.30am – 8.30pm
Phone: 0800 096 6606
Email: [email protected]
The Compassionate Friends
The Compassionate Friends is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause
Phone: 0345 120 3785 (9:30am - 4:30pm Mon to Fri)
Email: [email protected]
Crime victims helplines:
Rape Crisis
To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12 to 2.30pm, 7 to 9.30pm)
(www.rapecrisis.org.uk)
Victim Support
Phone: 0808 168 9111 (24-hour helpline)
(www.victimsupport.org)
Eating disorders helpline:
Beat
Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adults) or 0808 801 0711 (for under-18s)
(www.b-eat.co.uk)
Learning disabilities helpline:
Mencap
Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
(www.mencap.org.uk)
Parenting helpline:
Family Lives
Family Lives offers a confidential and free helpline service for families in England and Wales (previously known as Parentline). Please call us on 0808 800 2222 for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life. Our helpline service is open 9am-9pm Monday to Friday and 10am-3pm Saturday and Sunday
Callers in Wales: If you would like to access this service in Welsh, find out how to request a call back here
Callers in Scotland: for callers from Scotland, Children 1st run Parentline Scotland and you may wish to contact them on 08000 28 22 33 Monday to Friday from 9am - 9pm.
Online chat: available 1:30pm-5:30pm every weekday excluding bank holidays here
Email: [email protected]
Online forum: here
(https://www.familylives.org.uk/)
Relationships helpline:
Relate
The UK's largest provider of relationship support.
(www.relate.org.uk)
Mental health resources:

• PohWER - English Advocacy service
  
• Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance
  
• Advocacy Support Cymru
  
• Inspire - Northern Ireland advocacy service
  
• Prescription Prepayment Certificates
  
• UK Men's Shed Association Finder
  
• SelfHelp services
  
• StepChange Debt Charity
  
• Change Grow Live
  
• The Blurt Foundation
  
• Camerados
  
• BACP therapist directory
  
• Directory of Chartered Psychologists
  
• Free IAPT workbooks and resouces
  
• Free self help resources
  
• Free NHS self help booklets
  
• Free generalised resources from Australian gov website
  
• St John's Ambulance mental health first aid training courses
  
• Womens Wellbeing Club
  
• Andys Man Club
  
• Talk Club - talking and listening clubs for men
  
• Student's against Depression
  
• The Wholeness of Your Nature - The Little Yoga Nidra
  
• Discovery of Your Self - The Deep Yoga Nidra
  
• How to Meditate: Mantra
  
• How to Meditate: Body Scan
  
• Kooth - free, safe and anonymous community for children and young people to get support
  
• turn2us benefits support
  
• PaNDAS Foundation - Post Natal Depression awareness support
  
• Maternal Mental Health Alliance
  
• YANA - help for those in Norfolk, Suffolk and Worcestershire involved in farming and other rural businesses affected by stress and depression
  
• Home Start UK - family support
  
• Family Action support services finder
  
• Mental Health Foundation
  
• The Masked AMHP blog
  
• NHS Every Mind Matters
  
• Hub of Hope
  
• Free online suicide awareness training
  
• UK support for self harm
  
• Mens Health Forum
  
• Bullying UK
  
• The Survivors Trust
  
• Naz and Matt Foundation
  
• Citzens Advice finder
  
• How to support mental health at work
  
• Mental health at work toolkit
  
• Reasonable adjustments at work explained
  
• Discrimination at work
  
• Mental health and the criminal justice system
  
• Different types of talking therapies
  
• Antipsychotics explained
  
• Antidepressants explained
  
• CMHTs explained
  
• Crisis teams explained
  
• Young person's guide to inpatient care
  
• Men and mental health
  
• Where to get urgent help for mental health
  
• The Mental Health Act
  
• Scottish Association for Mental Health
  
• The Lucy Rayner Foundation - Surrey
  
• Mary Frances Trust - Surrey
  
• Choice and medication
  
• Mental health apps library - NHS website
  
• Forward Carers, Carers Card - Birmingham
  

I've just gambled away my full months wages, fucked everything up, was supposed to do my Xmas shopping. I had put so many safe guards in place to prevent this from happening, I take full accountability for my actions, have tried using will power but this addiction is stronger than me and I'm starting to question whether it's even possible to over come.
I am riddled with that post loss feeling. Not sure how much longer I can I can go on like this.
Knowing I have to go in to work tomorrow to work 8 hours for my toxic boss to make money ill probably gamble away in half an hour next month.
Sorry, this is just a pointless shitpost, just felt like writing down how I'm feeling really.
Has anyone else felt like this and overcome their gambling addiction?

Here I will include a master post of UK mental health helplines/resources, feel free to message me directly if there is anything you would like me to add to this post.
Mental health helplines:
Shout
Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. We can help with urgent issues such as: suicidal thoughts, abuse or assault, self-harm, bullying and relationship challenges
Text Shout to 85258
(https://www.giveusashout.org/)
Mental Health Matters
Helpline for people with mental health problems, their carers, families and friends. The Team can offer emotional guidance and information and help people who may be feeling low, anxious or stressed or in extreme emotional distress and feel that there is nowhere else to turn. Support is also provided to people caring for another person and finding it difficult to cope. The service is confidential unless it is considered there is a risk to yourself or others. Webchat available 24/7
Phone: click here to find the different numbers for the geographical areas covered Email: [email protected]
Supportline
We offer confidential emotional support to children, young adults and adults by telephone, email and post. We work with callers to develop healthy, positive coping strategies, an inner feeling of strength and increased self esteem to encourage healing, recovery and moving forward with life.
Phone: 01708 765200 (hours variable - ring for details)
Email: [email protected]
The Silver Line
The Silver Line operates the only confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK that's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. We also offer telephone friendship where we match volunteers with older people based on their interests, facilitated group calls, and help to connect people with local services in their area.
Phone: 0800 4 70 80 90
Email: [email protected]
Breathing Space
A confidential phoneline for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16, feeling low, anxious or depressed.
Phone: 0800 838587 (weekdays mon-thurs 6pm until 2am. Weekend Friday 6pm-Monday 6am)
(https://breathingspace.scot/)
C.A.L.L. Mental health helpline
Offers emotional support and information/literature on Mental Health and related matters to the people of Wales. Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service. C.A.L.L. Helpline offers a confidential listening and support service.
Phone: 0800 132 737 or text help to 81066
(https://www.callhelpline.org.uk/)
Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you've been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
(www.anxietyuk.org.uk)
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Peer support line: Arrange a call back from our Peer Support Line. Book in a call with our chatbot- simply type in 'I would like to speak to someone' and select a date and time that works best for you.
Email us: [email protected]
(www.bipolaruk.org.uk)
Carers UK
We provide an expert telephone advice and support service. You can talk to us, no matter where you are in the UK or how complex your query is. We do benefits checks, and advise on financial and practical matters related to caring.
Phone: 0808 808 7777 (Mon-Fri 9am until 6pm)
Email: [email protected]
Online forum: here
(https://www.carersuk.org/)
Shelter
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support, and legal services
England&Scotland phone number: 08088004444 (8am - 8pm on weekdays and 9am - 5pm weekends).
(https://www.shelter.org.uk/)
Wales phone number: 08000 495495 (9.30am – 4.00pm, Monday to Friday)
(https://sheltercymru.org.uk/)
For similar housing support in Ireland and NI: Ireland and Northern Ireland
CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
(www.thecalmzone.net)
Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm)
(www.mind.org.uk)
No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia/OCD. Includes a helpline.
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm)
(www.nopanic.org.uk)
OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5pm)
(www.ocdaction.org.uk)
OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.
Phone: 0845 120 3778 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
(www.ocduk.org)
PAPYRUS
Young suicide prevention society.
Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (Mon to Fri,10am to 5pm & 7 to 10pm. Weekends 2 to 5pm)
(www.papyrus-uk.org)
Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm)
(www.rethink.org)
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
(www.samaritans.org.uk)
SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30 to 10.30pm)
Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: (http://www.sane.org.uk/textcare)
(www.sane.org.uk/supportforum)
(www.sane.org.uk/support)
YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm)
(www.youngminds.org.uk)
Veterans Gateway
The first point of contact for veterans seeking support. We put veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need – from healthcare and housing to employability, finances, personal relationships and more.
Phone: 0808 802 1212 Text: 81212 Email: submit here Live chat: here
(https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk/)
First Person Plural
First Person Plural (FPP) specialises in working for and on behalf of all those affected by Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and similar complex trauma-related dissociative identity conditions. These similar conditions include type 1 Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS), and a type of Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) which is described as DID-like.
Phone: 01902810082 (if we do not pick up leave a message and we will contact you as soon as possible but this might not be for a few days as our office is not staffed everyday)
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @DissociationFPP
LGBT+ helplines:
Switchboard LGBT
Switchboard provides a one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone, by email and through Instant Messaging.
Phone: 03003300630 (Open 10:00-22:00 every day)
Email: [email protected]
MindlineTrans+
MindLine Trans+ is a confidential emotional, mental health support helpline for people who identify as Transgender, Agender, Gender Fluid, Non-binary..
Phone: 03003305468 (Mondays and Fridays from 8pm to midnight.)
Mermaids UK
Mermaids provides a helpline aimed at supporting transgender youth up to and including the age of 19, their families and professionals working with them.
Phone: 0808 801 0400 (Open Monday - Friday; 9am - 9pm)
Email: [email protected]
(https://www.mermaidsuk.org.uk)
Abuse helplines (child, sexual, domestic violence):
NSPCC
Children's charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.
Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline)
0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)
(www.nspcc.org.uk)
Refuge
Advice on dealing with domestic violence.
Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)
(www.refuge.org.uk)
Women's Aid
Women’s Aid is the national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children.
Email: [email protected] Live chat: Our hours are Monday to Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00am-12:00pm. Here
Respect Men's advice line
The Men’s Advice Line is a confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse and those supporting them. We offer advice and emotional support to men who experience abuse, and signpost to other vital services that help keep them and their children safe.
Call: 0808 8010327 or visit: here
Respect phoneline
The Respect Phoneline is an anonymous and confidential helpline for men and women who are harming their partners and families. We provide specialist advice and guidance to help people change their behaviours and support for those working with domestic abuse perpetrators.
Call: 0808 8024040 or visit: here
Honour based abuse/violence, forced marriage and/or female genital mutilation helplines
Freedom Charity
We aim to empower young people to feel they have the tools and confidence to support each other and have practical ways in which they can help their best friend around the issues of family relationships which can lead to early and forced marriage and dishonour based violence
(https://www.freedomcharity.org.uk/)
Phone: 0845 607 0133 ; or text "4freedom"to 88802 (24-hour helpline)
Halo Project
Halo Project Charity is a national project that will support victims of honour-based violence, forced marriages and FGM by providing appropriate advice and support to victims. We will also work with key partners to provide required interventions and advice necessary for the protection and safety of victims.
Phone: 01642 683 045 (9am-5pm)
(https://www.haloproject.org.uk/)
Karma Nirvana
Karma Nirvana is an award-winning National charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage. Honour crimes are not determined by age, faith, gender or sexuality, we support and work with all victims
Phone: 0800 5999 247 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
(https://karmanirvana.org.uk/)
Addiction helplines (drugs, alcohol, gambling):
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 0845 769 7555 (24-hour helpline)
(www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk)
Gamblers Anonymous
Phone: 0330 094 0322
(www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk)
Narcotics Anonymous
Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily 10am to midnight)
(www.ukna.org)
Drugfam
Support for families, friends and partners affected by someone else’s addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Phone: 0300 888 3853
(https://www.drugfam.co.uk/)
Alzheimer's helpline:
Alzheimer's Society
Provides information on dementia, including factsheets and helplines.
Phone: 0300 222 1122 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm. Weekends, 10am to 4pm)
(www.alzheimers.org.uk)
Bereavement helplines:
Cruse Bereavement Care
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
Email: [email protected]
CruseChat
(https://www.cruse.org.uk)
Blue Cross for pets
If you have lost, or are facing saying goodbye to, a much loved pet and need somebody to talk to, our Pet Bereavement Support Service is here for you every day from 8.30am – 8.30pm
Phone: 0800 096 6606
Email: [email protected]
The Compassionate Friends
The Compassionate Friends is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause
Phone: 0345 120 3785 (9:30am - 4:30pm Mon to Fri)
Email: [email protected]
Crime victims helplines:
Rape Crisis
To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12 to 2.30pm, 7 to 9.30pm)
(www.rapecrisis.org.uk)
Victim Support
Phone: 0808 168 9111 (24-hour helpline)
(www.victimsupport.org)
Eating disorders helpline:
Beat
Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adults) or 0808 801 0711 (for under-18s)
(www.b-eat.co.uk)
Learning disabilities helpline:
Mencap
Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
(www.mencap.org.uk)
Parenting helpline:
Family Lives
Advice on all aspects of parenting including dealing with bullying.
Phone: 0808 800 2222 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 9pm. Sat to Sun, 10am to 3pm)
(www.familylives.org.uk)
Relationships helpline:
Relate
The UK's largest provider of relationship support.
(www.relate.org.uk)
Mental health resources:

• PohWER - English Advocacy service
  
• Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance
  
• Advocacy Support Cymru
  
• Inspire - Northern Ireland advocacy service
  
• Change Grow Live
  
• The Blurt Foundation
  
• Camerados
  
• BACP therapist directory
  
• Directory of Chartered Psychologists
  
• Free IAPT workbooks and resouces
  
• Free self help resources
  
• Free NHS self help booklets
  
• Free generalised resources from Australian gov website
  
• St John's Ambulance mental health first aid training courses
  
• Womens Wellbeing Club
  
• Andys Man Club
  
• Talk Club - talking and listening clubs for men
  
• Student's against Depression
  
• The Wholeness of Your Nature - The Little Yoga Nidra
  
• Discovery of Your Self - The Deep Yoga Nidra
  
• How to Meditate: Mantra
  
• How to Meditate: Body Scan
  
• Kooth - free, safe and anonymous community for children and young people to get support
  
• turn2us benefits support
  
• PaNDAS Foundation
  
• Mental Health Foundation
  
• The Masked AMHP blog
  
• NHS Every Mind Matters
  
• Hub of Hope
  
• Free online suicide awareness training
  
• UK support for self harm
  
• Mens Health Forum
  
• Bullying UK
  
• The Survivors Trust
  
• Naz and Matt Foundation
  
• Citzens Advice finder
  
• How to support mental health at work
  
• Mental health at work toolkit
  
• Reasonable adjustments at work explained
  
• Discrimination at work
  
• Mental health and the criminal justice system
  
• Different types of talking therapies
  
• Antipsychotics explained
  
• Antidepressants explained
  
• CMHTs explained
  
• Crisis teams explained
  
• Young person's guide to inpatient care
  
• Men and mental health
  
• Where to get urgent help for mental health
  
• The Mental Health Act
  
• Scottish Association for Mental Health