#finding the untreated mental health problem or physical pain or unaddressed trauma that a service user is self-medicating for

[chuthulhu-reads]

[ID: Five panels from Trigun Maximum. The first shows Milly and Meryl looking up at something, startled. The second shows Wolfwood hovering around a corner, peering out from behind it. The third shows a closer up image of Wolfwood peering around the corner, a serious look on his face as he says, "Booze? Him? First thing in the mornin'? Ya gotta be kiddin'..." The fourth panel shows Vash crouching on the ground, a really awkward face smile on his face as he looks down on his coat, which has been splashed with whisky from a broken bottle. He's sort of laughing, the speech bubbles saying "Ha... heh heh..." but he doesn't really look happy. The fifth panel is a close-up of Vash's face as he slurps some of the spilled whisky off of his glove. Despite being close up, his face is so heavily shaded that it's almost impossible to make anything out. His left eye is sort of visible, closed and curved as if he might be smiling, but that's really not the vibe. End ID.]

I know I yell a lot about Nightow ruining my health and happiness but Colourless Expression really is such an INTENSELY impactful character chapter about SUFFERING. These people drink a lot for fun (can't blame 'em, given where they live) but in the aftermath of remembering about July Vash is day drinking to cope--and his friends don't even know he's been drinking until now. FUCKING OUCH

#Trigun #alcoholism #btw I work in a rehab-adjacent service #and drinking alone isn't exactly a flag that you should seek help for alcoholism #but if you're drinking alone more often than you drink socially #or find yourself hiding your drinking from people who care about you #or even actively avoiding the company of others (including those you'd usually drink socially with) #in favour of drinking alone #plz reach out for help #the people who actually care about you don't want to be suffering alone #addiction does have genetic and chemical components but most of what our service provides is addressing the psychological addiction #finding the untreated mental health problem or physical pain or unaddressed trauma that a service user is self-medicating for #Though I don't know HOW we'd handle Vash's July trauma #I'm not one of the therapists but how do you even BEGIN with a guilt complex like that #You'd probably have to untangle his relationship with Knives first #And maybe some of Vash's own discomfort with/fear of his own nonhuman nature #I mean it hurts to see but can you blame the guy for drinking