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It's Fine She's Fine

Brains: no thanks

It's Fine She's Fine

Comments

I just want to say all of the patrons here are such a good group of humans. So many people opening up and showing real personal vulnerability and not a single mean-spirited comment.

Clifton Royston

[slow clap]

Clifton Royston

@Corvus I hear you. I have been pleasantly surprised the last few years to see more people feeling safe to be "out" as multiple systems in some contexts. Right off the bat I can think of 3 multiples I'm casual friends with on Mastodon, including Irenes who actually wrote a guide on how to come out as multiple at work.

Clifton Royston

So, again, not a professional, just a person who’s been through some stuff and did too much reading? But I thought about it, and that still sounds like fighting to me. You couldn’t fight physically, but you pushed back how you could: by making your feelings known. There are a lot of ways to fight back. But it could have been freezing in a way — you’re the only one who knows what you were experiencing when that happened.

Wednesday

There's also Amber/Amazi Girl over on Dumbing of Age, a system who we have seen go uncooperative and gradually start communicating again. One of the funnier things was AG complaining about Amber's method of getting to sleep and that she (AG) was usually the one left cleaning up the mess.

Opus the Poet

This is the only place on the interwebs we’ve considered as “safe” (such as this exists today) to be a little open. Long time lurker(s) ha Edit to add: solidarity fist bump 💕 Edit 2: because the world Jeph has built is the one we all need and deserve, so those who comment here are the actual good people.

Corvus Cardia

If ever there was a situation where Hanners would break down and give a hug, this should be it!

alphanor

Love to all 3 of you, because I know a little too much of what you’re talking about.

Clifton Royston

Probably TMI but oh well. Seems like lots of people here who know what I’m getting at.

Clifton Royston

Honestly, as someone with a long history of dissociation, it is usually a bad way to deal with things. Once you get the habit it can all too easily become the way you react to anything unpleasant or threatening. But sometimes it’s the only thing you’ve got and you’ve got to use it. (Especially when you are young or stuck in a powerless situation.)

Clifton Royston

It was "fight" when I could actually fight back. Before that, it was "scowl and glare contemptuously because I'm too small to fight back". Is that freezing or fawning?

least_rectangles

There's never an Elliott around when you need him!

ValdVin

Oh, Winslow is such a cinnamon roll! You don’t want his name associated with something like orbital bombardment.

Elf Sternberg

If the rude caller has a Southern accent, be sure to work the phrase "Well, bless your heart" (in an affectionate tone of voice) into the conversation after they say something nasty.

William Burns

Back in my call center days I usually just entertained myself in those situations by silently making rude gestures at the phone. Or non-silently, if you are feeling confident in your mute button skills.

BookBeard

Is dissociating a good way to deal with things? Because sometimes I'm not sure what to do when someone is really rude on the phone. I can't tell them off because I like my job.

Kuragari

Friends/(maybe) family are those at ground zero when these things happen; we’re grateful for the Hanners in our life, for sure.

Corvus Cardia

I wish Willow weren't relatable.

Merle Blue

Take care of yourself ❤️❤️❤️❤️

enchantedsleeper

Ha, I can't remember what I got but it was definitely sus 😅 I can fortunately switch to Reader mode to avoid them but it makes the experience of navigating the site less optimal. I wonder why the site seems to be so afflicted. It can't be a great experience for non-Patreon readers...

enchantedsleeper

It has it's moments.

Yelling Bird

It's partly about tenses and partly about aspect (many languages differentiate completed vs. incomplete actions separately from tense!)

Stephen Wells

Nice of Hanners to demonstrate in practice how to Point Fingers At in panel 2 :)

Stephen Wells

Ah geez, I've been at this level of dissociation before. Someone get Willow a good trauma therapist, stat!

Josh Moberly

Oh god. I missed the last Willow comic and the whole dissociation. Willooooooooow. 😩😩😩

legobil

Been dissociating a lot lately. The flood is real. Thanks, Jeph - QC is an important part of my days. 💜

Melissa

For a DID system, Moonknight, particularly as depicted in the series, is a powerful representation. We’ve since had family watch it to help them understand a bit about us and our world. We’re very fortunate though because we’re (now) aware of each other and have a toolbox of coping mechanisms (yay therapy!).

Corvus Cardia

Oh this one hits a little *too* close. This hurt my feelings a little. Oh no

Dylan T

You too, enchantedsleeper? I love QC, but the pop-ups that are showing are definitely questionable (it's porn, basically).

David Paul

aaa oh no oh love 🥺

Boots McGoot

...You chose your avatar perfectly.

Shannon Woodbury

In my experience: If you feel like you've just woken up (despite the fact you were already awake) and you can't recall anything from the last few minutes, then it's time to call your therapist. (NB: In the Marvel series Moon Knight, the Writers / Director actually got it pretty much spot on....)

Shannon Woodbury

Did NOT see the emotional backlash I'd feel reading through Willow's recent trauma. Seems to be a worrying self-indicator there that I feel a dire need to duck away from for some reason...

Chris Godsey

Cue up the "Flight of the Valkyries / Carmina Burana" play list folks.... cause here comes Iris!! (D-Types can always intuit when their little one's in trouble).

Shannon Woodbury

So, you want the Banner in She-Hulk? Because that's how you get Hulk as a separate personality. Hulk is an alter.

Opus the Poet

That’s how it goes. Sometimes it comes out empty, sometimes it comes out shaky. But if you’re new to it chances are you’ll cry

Maximum Turtle

I forgot that happened xD Also, I'm getting some nasty pop-ups on the QC site...

enchantedsleeper

I like the idea of Willow Chaneling anger. It presumably involves spraying someone in the eyes with expensive perfume while wearing an LBD.

Philip Masters

What should Hanners be doing instead? (As in, what is the 'correct' response in this situation?)

enchantedsleeper

She's doing her best as Willow's friend 😅

enchantedsleeper

My favourite version of fine: Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional.

Carrie

For myself I am not present when I have disassociated so suddenly it's a different time and place and I don't know how or why I am where I am.

Carrie

Look, I’m not saying Iris is right. I’m saying i’d help her hide the bodies.

Hakurei06

I came to comment , I am seeing Iris in a new light that i was not expecting from this angle, this would be carer burnout you could not imagine.

SpookyPenguin

Noooo Willow :( she needs a hug

Krestus

Willoooooooooow! 😭

Katrina Urmson

willow need's a vacation

angrytoast777

How does one stop dissociating and how do i know once I've done it? (Seriously asking)

Davus Otho

Poor Willow. Too pure for this world.

Uniquitous

I wish you had never had to experience that. We currently understand there to be four broad classes of trauma reaction: fight (as you experienced), flight (run! run now! get away!), freeze (stop moving, dissociate, lose executive function, everything slows to a crawl), or fawn (placate, please, bring calm back by folding). Everyone is capable of any of them, but factors such as upbringing and cultural expectations will encourage us to adopt defaults, especially if we learn they’re effective at getting us through incidents which activate those responses in us. Note: I am not a trained medical or mental health professional, and this is an overview from memory.

Wednesday

Lemon is outside the shop, waiting for the perfect ‘slightly too late’ moment.

Andrew

My wife used to have many explications of FINE, including F**ing Insane, Neurotic, and Excitable.

Clifton Royston

Oof.

Clifton Royston

Dissociating the peasants and their THATCHED ROOF COTTAGES!

Grace Kieser

She may not be a therapist, but she's spent most of her life in therapy and has a fair amount of personal experience with emotional abuse.

Grace Kieser

totally not what my first time in therapy was like for me

Minzoku Bokumetsu

oh no

Minzoku Bokumetsu

My ghods, that's heartbreaking.

Maurice Kessler

Release the (v)Iris.

Opus the Poet

That's what they keep telling me.

Opus the Poet

Or the straightjacket and padded cell.

Opus the Poet

It's a weird sort of relatability for me. I've been abused as a kid, but my response was to just get angry and to fight back when I was finally able to. I sympathize with Willow for the most part (because the world needs optimistic, cheerful people who aren't bitter old cynics like me) but part of me felt slightly contemptuous at how... servile her attitude was. It being a coping mechanism makes a bit more sense.

least_rectangles

No, the last thing we need is a vigilante robot telling dad jokes as she kills her targets.

Miyaa

Sounds pretty normal to me. You must have a boring life. I wonder what that's like?

Opus the Poet

I’m not sure if the Coffee of Doom even has paper clips.

Miyaa

BTDT 😢

Opus the Poet

An AI covered in blood and guts startling someone prone to dissociation and causing them to faint? I dunno, that seems like a pretty far-fetched scenario... https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3897

BookBeard

Protect Willow at all costs!

Andrea Andrew

Eh, it’s not like Hanners is some emotional wizard herself. She’s come a long way but it wasn’t so long ago that she’d be the one in the chair.

AlexKorobeiniki

Sorry, that is not the current password.

Dale Nielsen

When that reality wall hits like an hour later....yeah, that's rough.

Anthony Gaglianese

The people that resulted in Willow being hit with a bolster. The latter… I’m not sure if any individual/group could be held accountable for that. While violence — Not strictly physical. Violence takes many forms and varies in degree— is sometimes necessary to protect yourself, I think that is better addressed through community and therapy. Willow, the beacon of positivity and good vibes that she is, has been wounded long before that bolster ever entered the scene. I can only hope that she gets the help she needs to heal. And, a group of friends prepared to support and fight for her might be a start.

Chauncey

Hanners has grown so much <3 I was just reading some of the early strips with her, and she's really blossomed since her earlier issues. I would take life advice from Hanners at this point!

Sean Brannon

Aww Willow :( Ayo, come hug her for Hanners!

Cole Blackblood

I need to hug her like right now

Joel Bateman

But upon whom? The people who threw a pillow at her? Or the people who instilled in her an abject terror of holding others responsible for the wrong they have done to her?

Daryl Sawyer

I feel like Iris would definitely lean more into The Punisher. Batman's core belief is supposed to be that he doesn't want to see any more innocents hurt, and that doesn't feel like Iris' vibe.

JCfromNC

Not sure if I prefer picturing Iris as Batman or The Punisher.

Taigan

Are you suggesting we send Iris to walk the path of vengeance? I could agree with that.

Joseph Bonnar

Droid 06: “I just like to fight.”

Chauncey

Your life sounds a lot more exciting than mine.

Carl

Could we add Droid 06 to the mix? Please?

Joseph Bonnar

I don't know if you have stopped or not. I don't even know if I've stopped dissociating myself!

Joseph Bonnar

Oof, I've been there. You think you're good but 😭😭😭

Jenea Ylinen Fredrickson

I’m looking to send a message, not remove someone from the census. That’s why Bubbles is there to manage the chaos. Iris is the danger. Bubbles is there to manage. Crushbot is there for intimidation/snacks. Elliot is there strictly for himbo vibes. And Faye is there for the mental beat down..

Chauncey

Like many things, you get better at it with practice.

nbarnes

Wait -- have _I_ stopped dissociating?

Ursus Ridens

Dissociation is a powerful defense mechanism

Todd Ellner

I too follow a path of forgiveness. It has it's limits though. Last time I broke from it I had to kick the ass of a coked-up bass player at a party thrown by a dominatrix friend of mine. Trust me, he earned it.

Yelling Bird

Brun and her harpoon seem to be missing from this list.

David Durant

Is it Zen or is she in shock?

Edward Clayton Andrew

I’d invite Yay and Hannelore. But, that would likely leave the block the fight takes place on looking like the aftermath of an Avengers battle.

Chauncey

Why do I feel the need to fight a fictional character? That’s it. I’m assembling a team. Iris, Bubbles, Crushbot, Elliot, and Faye. We must avenge our precious Willow.

Chauncey

In a worse comic, Willow would dissociate a whole different personality that would Chanel all the anger she doesn’t let herself feel. In this one, she has Iris for that.

Taigan

You're saying Willow is Batty?

Sean Kinlin

Thank goodness it wasn’t Lemon or the lesser known Kumquat.

Miyaa

Certainly that is not an ideal approach to someone having a dissociative episode, and I'm sure with the benefit of hindsight Hanners would agree, but in fairness she only fully realized what was happening in the last panel.

BookBeard

I read it that way the first time, but going back and reading the last 2 strips (in this sequence) and then this one, I don't think Hanners is pushing hard. Willow said it was her fault, and that is not something that she should be taking on.

Kenneth Carlile

Hanners is not a therapist and Willow is exhibiting very concerning behavior. I don't think Hanners had the right approach, but I can't blame her for not realizing right away...

Phaine Of Catz

Willow! My heart…

JMK

Nuuu

Miyaa

Someone is dissociating? *wall busts open* "LEMON TO THE RESCUE!" https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=4351

BookBeard

Am I the only one with a sliver of anger at Hanners pushing so hard on this??

Richard

Tomorrow: NOW Iris comes in, bloodied, dented, and happy but then sees Willow crying and just storms out again. Ayo, naturally, faints again.

Miyaa

*Dora runs in* "Cantilever! Cantilever!"

BookBeard

Make it so!

Melissa Wilson

OooOOOoooh…. FINE! Now I see. 💡

Melissa Wilson

"Station. Requesting orbital bombardment. Authorization Winslow two two"

schmod

Feelings In Need of Expression.

Dean Reilly

Dig a grave for that poor man.

Jose Alfredo Villalobos

Oof

djellafine

A tense moment indeed.

BookBeard

Later, Bubbles: "Why is my chair....wet?" Willow: "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. A marriage on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched bolsters glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like my tears in your chair."

Mad Marie

You're supposed to STOP dissociating?!

Ashlyn Crowe

I feel like if this goes much farther, Station might "accidentally" drop something.

Doug DeJulio

One of those moments where tenses are *extremely* helpful

Nilbog Trog

Oh honey child.

Holly Nelson

💔

David Neale-Lorello

Someone give her a hug!!!

SpazzyC

Been there.

A Dark Planet, Lit By No Sun

It's time...

Doc Gumby

Maybe I developed a unique connotation for the word, but I think this is quite possibly the opposite of “fine…”

Melissa Wilson

call Iris!!!!

Logan Nix

Scarily relatable indeed

TheCaptainTrout

Weeping Willow ☹️ 😢

Sean Kinlin

They made Willow cry. NOW we can unleash Iris!

Doc Gumby

Poor Willow! 💖

SilverbackRon

Oh hey, i’ve done that before! Man, she probably should’ve gone home cause there’s prolly gonna be some turbulence upon re-entry

AlexKorobeiniki

I love you Jeph for writing something so fine and personal. I dislike you strongly for being so accurate about trauma and delayed stress responses that it's reminding me of my past. Thank you for making this comic.

Darth Hypno

Willow... D:

Armcannon Productions

disassociating the countryside

Brendan Luster

…relatable.

Wednesday


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