- Jun 18, 2015
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To say the least, therapy was not a field that was better to learn in practice. People often assumed that because they'd been through a lot of trauma, they'd be good at therapy, but inevitably it often was more of a burden than a benefit. Feeling too much was a downside when it came to therapy, and what worked for you might not work for a patient.
Valli hmmmed gently, and then shook his head.
"Generally speaking, even if we're concerned, we won't approach someone we feel might be in need of mental health services in that way. If we know them personally, we'll encourage them to seek help, but it's a serious danger of coming on too strong otherwise. People tend to respond poorly when they feel a therapist is trying to push them into therapy, the same way people often assume that a therapist is analyzing them during normal conversation."
That happened a lot, unfortunately.
Valli stopped abruptly when Trent did, the hair on the back of his neck going up. Something was happening, and Valli had lived long enough on Manta Carlos to know better than to try and stick his nose in where it wasn't wanted.
"Everything alright?" He asked. He wasn't entirely clear on what Trent was, but 'not completely human' was a fairly safe bet.
Valli hmmmed gently, and then shook his head.
"Generally speaking, even if we're concerned, we won't approach someone we feel might be in need of mental health services in that way. If we know them personally, we'll encourage them to seek help, but it's a serious danger of coming on too strong otherwise. People tend to respond poorly when they feel a therapist is trying to push them into therapy, the same way people often assume that a therapist is analyzing them during normal conversation."
That happened a lot, unfortunately.
Valli stopped abruptly when Trent did, the hair on the back of his neck going up. Something was happening, and Valli had lived long enough on Manta Carlos to know better than to try and stick his nose in where it wasn't wanted.
"Everything alright?" He asked. He wasn't entirely clear on what Trent was, but 'not completely human' was a fairly safe bet.
- Apr 2, 2015
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"It.... it was nothing..." Trent said as he tried to compose himself again. But looking over to the young man he felt an impulse to speak. Thinking about why he would want to speak of his perdicament Trent looked up and down the hall almost conspiratorially. His gaze lingered in the middle distance in each direction for but a moment and he nodded his head as if he came to a desicion. With a sigh that carried the wait of fallen empires, long forgotten histories, and the dust of time Trent looked over to the young man. "I don't think I can lie to myself any longer."
Trent straightened up and took another breath before continuing. "I get... panic attacks, it is the closest thing I can think of to what they are. I am not Human Mr. Valli as you could probably surmise. But not many know what I truely am, I've tried to keep it that way. But I think if I am to get your advise I think I must tell you. I am a Dragon, ancient beyond the civilizations of this world. In the Past few years I've begun to feel these...attacks. It is as if my Titanic draconian form is compressing in and crushing this human form I choose to take to teach. But I am unsure as to why this is happening to me and it seems to only be getting worse." Trent realized this would be rather sudden but it was something he needed answers to. Even if he could not find them out himself from the study of the body. In all his years he had not found any dragons as old as he was nor who had his ailment.
Trent straightened up and took another breath before continuing. "I get... panic attacks, it is the closest thing I can think of to what they are. I am not Human Mr. Valli as you could probably surmise. But not many know what I truely am, I've tried to keep it that way. But I think if I am to get your advise I think I must tell you. I am a Dragon, ancient beyond the civilizations of this world. In the Past few years I've begun to feel these...attacks. It is as if my Titanic draconian form is compressing in and crushing this human form I choose to take to teach. But I am unsure as to why this is happening to me and it seems to only be getting worse." Trent realized this would be rather sudden but it was something he needed answers to. Even if he could not find them out himself from the study of the body. In all his years he had not found any dragons as old as he was nor who had his ailment.
- Jun 18, 2015
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It wasn't the first time Valli had received an unsolicited confession, and it was unlikely to be the last. When Trent glanced around the hall like he was checking if anyone was listening, Valli braced for the absolute worst.
When Trent said I don't think I can lie to myself any longer Valli somehow braced himself harder.
Panic attacks were not what Valli was expecting, and he actually relaxed when he heard it.
"I got that," Valli admitted at the mention that he wasn't human. He couldn't say for sure what he was, but it was a pretty safe bet.
Even so, having listened fully, Valli wasn't sure how helpful he could be. The problem sounded physical in nature.
"Panic attacks can be psychological, but there's a lot of physical things that can be mistaken for them. I'm really not an expert in dragons, but off the top of my head my first thought is that you likely haven't been spending enough time in your original form."
A pretty safe bet. It was common for those with massive forms to spend a huge amount of time in their humans forms, since their normal ones were so bulky and unsuited for day to day life.
"Maybe reach out to some other dragons and see if any of them have felt similarly...?"
When Trent said I don't think I can lie to myself any longer Valli somehow braced himself harder.
Panic attacks were not what Valli was expecting, and he actually relaxed when he heard it.
"I got that," Valli admitted at the mention that he wasn't human. He couldn't say for sure what he was, but it was a pretty safe bet.
Even so, having listened fully, Valli wasn't sure how helpful he could be. The problem sounded physical in nature.
"Panic attacks can be psychological, but there's a lot of physical things that can be mistaken for them. I'm really not an expert in dragons, but off the top of my head my first thought is that you likely haven't been spending enough time in your original form."
A pretty safe bet. It was common for those with massive forms to spend a huge amount of time in their humans forms, since their normal ones were so bulky and unsuited for day to day life.
"Maybe reach out to some other dragons and see if any of them have felt similarly...?"
- Apr 2, 2015
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Trent had kept himself up for now by keeping his hand on the wall. He was taking deep breaths that kept him calm as he listened to the young Therapist. "I wish it was just a matter of being in my normal form more often but I spend every waking hour outside of the school in my lair being my normal size. And as far as I have encountered I am the oldest Dragon that's ever been around. So far I'm the only one that's had this problem." After a moment to finally finish composing the rest of his thoughts and blinking he let out a sigh.
"I was just hopping it might be something you could have heard about. Maybe something mental I could get help finding. I just fear that I might give in to the impulse to let myself transform back and in the process destroy the Academy and harm a great many people I've come to view as family." Trent shook his head and began to walk at a slow pace once more.
"I was just hopping it might be something you could have heard about. Maybe something mental I could get help finding. I just fear that I might give in to the impulse to let myself transform back and in the process destroy the Academy and harm a great many people I've come to view as family." Trent shook his head and began to walk at a slow pace once more.
- Jun 18, 2015
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Valli could only shake his head when Trent asked if he'd heard of anything like it.
"I know there are some therapists who focus specifically on shapeshifters. If you'd like, I could get a referral to one for you. I know one in particular who is a werewolf--he might have some insight on the how and why of what you're going through."
Valli couldn't really help in that regard, and one of the best things he could do was refer to someone who could.
"There are a lot of good resources for things like that, thankfully. Are you feeling a bit better now...? I can find the fireproofing myself if you'd prefer to sit down."
"I know there are some therapists who focus specifically on shapeshifters. If you'd like, I could get a referral to one for you. I know one in particular who is a werewolf--he might have some insight on the how and why of what you're going through."
Valli couldn't really help in that regard, and one of the best things he could do was refer to someone who could.
"There are a lot of good resources for things like that, thankfully. Are you feeling a bit better now...? I can find the fireproofing myself if you'd prefer to sit down."
- Apr 2, 2015
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Taking a deep breath Trent was able to look more professional. "I think that should be the last of them for today, but I'm not sure. If you could give me that therapist's contact information that would be much appreciated." It felt like he was being weak, for a dragon that could be a death sentence. Trent however knew that this was going to be necessary.
"I should be okay to continue." Trent waved his hand so they could continue walking. "But yes, anything else you can think of that you might need after getting the fire proofing spells?" Trent asked as they walked down the halls towards where they needed to go. Hopefully after this Trent might find a reason behind why he had these attacks.
((OOC: End?))
"I should be okay to continue." Trent waved his hand so they could continue walking. "But yes, anything else you can think of that you might need after getting the fire proofing spells?" Trent asked as they walked down the halls towards where they needed to go. Hopefully after this Trent might find a reason behind why he had these attacks.
((OOC: End?))
- Jun 18, 2015
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"Of course," Valli said. "I'd have to look it up, but I'll make sure it gets to your desk." He meant it. It would be easy enough to pass a letter through the school system, and Trent would find it on his desk the following morning.
"No, I don't think I'll need anything else," Valli said, shaking off the concern for him. "But thank you for all your help."
There were no further issues, and Valli said his goodbyes to Trent at the door.
"No, I don't think I'll need anything else," Valli said, shaking off the concern for him. "But thank you for all your help."
There were no further issues, and Valli said his goodbyes to Trent at the door.
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