Extraordinary Traits and Abilities – Accelerated Healing Ability

What is found in this entry is one of the “superpowers” that I have described in “A Case Study on Genetic Aberrations and Adaptations as Observed in Individuals with Extraordinary Traits and Abilities.”  I put superpowers in quotations in the previous sentence because in the universe for which this ability exists, as well as all other of the other traits and abilities found in the case study, can be seen as the weaker, distant cousins of the superpowers that we are all familiar with.  In addition to this, I try and base the traits and abilities found in the case study on known and proper science.  So with that said, enjoy.

 

Accelerated Healing Ability
With this ability, it provides the individual with an increased recuperative capability as well as an ability to fight off diseases and infections. This ability is based off of the individual’s natural healing ability. The body, when injured, will do what it can to fix itself and this ability is nothing more than an accelerated version of this natural bodily tendency. As a result, the individual with this ability can repair damage and fight off disease at a faster rate than the average human being.
With the fighting off of disease, the individual’s bone marrow generates a greater level of lymphocytes. With the repairing of damaged tissues, the swelling that accompanies such injuries tends to be reduced, allowing for the healing process to begin earlier, reducing the time it takes for the tissue to repair itself. If the injury is shallow enough, spontaneous regeneration has been noted to occur.
In addition to this, the individual possesses a higher level of metabolism then the average human being accompanied by over activity of the individual’s adult stem cells to help in the healing process. In addition to this, there is a high level of scar control, reducing the visible signs of injury after healing accompanied by the amount of scar tissue produced. And with the autonomic nervous system, it plays a role in the function of healing with the average human being. With those that possess this ability, their autonomic nervous system performs at a level not found in the average human being.
A side effect of this ability is that it retards the aging process of the individual, prolonging the individual’s lifespan. At the time being, there isn’t enough information to determine how long an individual with this ability is able to live. But what is known is that some kind of mutation affects the telomeres, preventing the shortening of the telomeres as compared to others, resulting in less errors and better replication. And in documented cases, individuals with this ability are also prone to suffering from autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune disease is when the immune system attacks healthy issue. With this ability, because it amps up the healing process, it also inadvertently increases the chances that the immune system will attack healthy tissue.

 

Extraordinary Traits and Abilities – Abnormal Bodily Discharge: Tar/Ashalt

What is found in this entry is one of the “superpowers” that I have described in “A Case Study on Genetic Aberrations and Adaptations as Observed in Individuals with Extraordinary Traits and Abilities.”  I put superpowers in quotations in the previous sentence because in the universe for which this ability exists, as well as all other of the other traits and abilities found in the case study, can be seen as the weaker, distant cousins of the superpowers that we are all familiar with.  In addition to this, I try and base the traits and abilities found in the case study on known and proper science.  So with that said, enjoy.

 

Abnormal Bodily Discharge: Tar/Asphalt
With this ability, it allows the individual to secrete tar or asphalt from his or her body. What allows this to occur is polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). What allows PAH to form in the body in the first place, and allow this ability to work, is through the ingestion of certain food stuffs, most commonly in the form of cereals, oils, and fats, though it can be obtained through the consumption of vegetables and cooked meats as well, though in much smaller amounts. Whenever the individual encounters other sources of PAH’s, this ability allows the individual to absorb the material, preferably through ingestion. This is because ingestion is the most effective means of absorbing it, even if the PAH’s source is toxic. Once the PAH is absorbed, it is stored within the body for future use, though it will eventually be expelled from the body if not used by the individual.
When this ability is used, any object that comes into contact with the individual will adhere to the individual wherever it lands or comes into contact. And the thicker that the tar/asphalt is, the harder it is to remove the item from the individual. In addition to this, any object that is light enough can be placed onto the individual without it falling off. This ability can also be used to stick two objects together or to cause a person to become stuck to a particular surface, preventing the person from moving or discarding an item. It can also be used to mucky up firearms and to prevent them from firing or otherwise from working properly.
And when the situation calls for it, this ability can allow the individual to use it as a sealant or to throw globs of tar or asphalt at a target. There’s also the possibility that it can be used to help the individual to climb up a surface. And if the individual is walking barefoot while using this ability, he or she can leave a sticky trail behind them, which the individual is typically immune to. This is because the individual can generate more tar/asphalt on their feet to separate themselves from the surface that he or she is traversing.
This ability also provides partial protection to the individual from the cold and the heat. However, if the cold temperature is great enough, it can cause the tar/asphalt to thicken and harden, reducing the individual’s overall speed and movement. Finally, because of the effects of PAH, this ability can cause the person who possesses it to have a lower level of intelligence then found in the average person. However, further study is needed to be sure about this correlation.

 

Xerek Files: Entry Number Twenty Three – [Next Evolutionary Step]

Evolution is one of many invisible forces that are in existence in the world. It is a natural force that is always in effect and it always marches forward, having its effect upon every species alive as manifested through every generation born. In addition to this, evolution is also an adaptive force that allows for any given species to become better suited to the environment that it lives in. So, whenever the environment changes, so must the species in question in order for it to survive. If it fails to do so, then the species in question will become extinct.
As a result, evolution will select the best traits, abilities, and characteristics present within any given species that will best aide the species to reproduce and best survive in the environment. Because of this, it may give the illusion that it can go into retrograde as represented by the disappearance and then reappearance of certain traits, abilities, and characteristics. This is, however, inaccurate. And with its operation, some think that it works through gradual evolution while others think that it operates through punctuated evolution. With gradual evolution, it is a claim that states that evolution proceeds through slow and gradual change while with punctuated evolution, it is a claim that states that change occurs quickly within a population but it otherwise remains stagnant for the rest of the time. But regardless of the details, evolution still effects all life that exists.
In addition to this, there are those who claim that evolution is directional; that it has a particular goal in mind. With this perspective, even if it is an unstated and unrecognized one, is that Homo sapiens represent the epitome of evolution and what it can produce. However, this perspective is inaccurate because it can be applied to every species that is still in existence because each species is best suited for the conditions that it finds itself in. However, there are still those who hold to the idea that Homo sapiens are at the apex of the evolutionary ladder or are influenced by the concept. Because of this, these individuals also hold on to the perspective that those who possess extraordinary traits and abilities represent the next step in human evolution. This can be due, in part, to the fact that a number of extraordinary traits and abilities can be seen as enhancements of already existing traits and characteristics found within humanity while others can be seen as protective measures that are meant to protect the individual, and thus, his or her continued survival which in turn can be beneficial for the species as a whole.
In regards to the extraordinary traits and abilities that can be seen as enhancements of already existing traits and abilities, they can be seen as natural extensions of what can already be found within the species. This is generally accompanied by the idea that these extraordinary traits and abilities are just the results of evolution ramping up the naturally occurring traits and characteristics already found within the species to levels that are simply above the current norm found within human beings. And in both perspective and in fact, if these extraordinary traits and abilities are allowed to continue to persist, then they will eventually spread to the rest of the population, causing them to become typical traits and characteristics of the species, thus no longer making them extraordinary. In regards to the other extraordinary traits and abilities that have been documented, however, they can be seen as genetic aberrations that manifest due to an odd string of genetic coincidences that don’t provide much of a survival advantage to the individual who possesses them. As a result, they’re not guaranteed to persist within the species beyond that of the occasional genetic aberration.
In regards to the idea that extraordinary traits and abilities provide some form of survival advantage to those who possess them, this concept is correct for the extraordinary traits and abilities that are based off of what are already found within Homo sapiens. Even with some of the extraordinary traits and abilities that are seen as being more exotic in nature or aren’t based off of naturally occurring traits and abilities found within humanity, they have the potential of providing some form of survival advantage to those who possess them. If this is the case, then the question becomes, at what cost? Would the benefits that the particular extraordinary trait or characteristic in question outweigh the potential detriment of possessing it in the first place?
However, the idea that those who possess extraordinary traits and abilities constitute the “next step in evolution” is incorrect. As stated before, evolution is not directional in nature and it doesn’t have any endgame or final objective in mind. If anything, evolution can be perceived as a journey that all species undertake as they adapt to the conditions that they find themselves in as they do what they can to survive. Evolution doesn’t care about the destination. Its only concern is the survival of the species in question, and if a species is incapable of adequately adapting to the situation at hand, or is otherwise incapable of satisfying what evolution is asking of it, then that particular species will die off.
In the end, it is all about perspective. As any given species develops and evolves, new traits and characteristics will form and develop, typically in the form of mutations. Even though most of the mutations that occur will be neutral in nature, not providing any form of benefit or detriment to the individual in question, there will be mutations that occur that will be either positive or negative. If the mutation is positive, then it will provide some level of survival advantage to the individual and will have the possibility of being passed down to the next generation and then propagate throughout the species. But if the mutation is negative, then it will have a detrimental effect upon the individual who possesses it, discouraging that particular individual’s survival, reducing the chances that the mutation in question will be passed on to the next generation. Evolution is just the guiding factor that determines the nature of the mutation in question. As a result, it can cause people to conclude that evolution is heading down a particular path and is aiming for a particular end though this is inaccurate. Evolution just is. As a result, humanity, like every other species in existence, is just along for the ride.

 

Xerek Files: Entry Number Twenty Two – [Psionics and Other Abilities]

With the use of the phrase “extraordinary traits and abilities,” it’s generally used as a broad concept that covers a broad spectrum of traits, characteristics, attributes, and abilities that have been seen in those who possess them. It’s also used as a catchall phrase for such individuals, resulting in people to group those who possess extraordinary traits and abilities into a large, single group. However, despite this general perspective on the matter, those who typically hold to this perspective also have the mindset that those who possess psionic abilities are somehow their own distinct group within this broader classification and typically don’t possess any other extraordinary traits or abilities. They see the situation as that those who possess psionic abilities are set aside from the rest of the group, preventing them from possessing extraordinary traits and abilities other than psionic abilities. This may be due, in part, to the fact that psionic abilities are typically seen as being connected with the brain, and as a result, constitutes a separate and distinct subgroup within the larger category, preventing them from possessing any other extraordinary traits or abilities.
But despite this common misconception on the matter, this separation is inaccurate. There isn’t any measurable distinction between psionics and other individuals who possess other extraordinary traits and abilities other then the traits and abilities that manifest in such individuals. As a result, it is very likely that a person who possesses psionic abilities can also possess other types of extraordinary traits and abilities. This fact will be determined by the genetic makeup of the individual in question. Each extraordinary trait and ability requires a specific set of genes in order for it to manifest, a set that varies in number and complexity depending upon the extraordinary trait or ability in question. If the extraordinary trait or ability is based upon an already existing feature of Homo sapiens, than not too many genes are required and typically aren’t that complex in nature. However, if it’s more of an exotic trait or ability that is going to manifest, then more genes are typically required and the more complex the sequence has to be. At times, there’s even the possibility that, through the genetic sequence that forms in an individual, it opens up the possibility that the individual in question can form a number of different traits and abilities. There’s even the possibility that the individual can have latent traits and abilities that form and develop later in the individual’s life.
Because of this fact, it is possible for an individual to inherit a number of different set of genes that results in the manifestation of a number of different extraordinary traits and abilities. As a result, the genes that are required for the development of psionic abilities are different than the genes that are required for the development of other extraordinary traits and abilities. Because of this, it is possible for an individual who possesses psionic abilities to also possess other types of extraordinary traits and abilities that have been documented. It’s all dependent upon the genes that the individual receives at birth that determines what extraordinary traits and abilities the individual in question will possess. And with all of the different genes and gene combinations available, not all of them documented or understood, it is very possible that the right sequence of genes are able to immerge within a single individual that allows for the manifestation of psionic abilities accompanied by other extraordinary traits and abilities. All that it requires are for the right two individuals to come together and to produce a child.

 

WordPress Breakdown

Dear readers,

         Not that long ago, someone inquired about the nature of my wordpress account.  This inquiry centered on the name of my wordpress account and exactly what it was.  A lot of the recent entries I posted here began with the phrase “Xerek Files,” and this person asked if this was the name of my account.  As I think about the situation, I can understand the confusion.  As a result, in an attempt to clarify the situation, I decided to write this particular entry.  With the phrase “Xerek Files,” it is in fact not the name of my wordpress account but instead the name of a document I use as a means of world building for a collection of stories that I have written and continue to expand upon.  In fact, this world building pertains to an entire fictional universe that I have created known as the Fifth Estate.

          The aim of this wordpress account is to allow me to get my writing out to the world.  Found within these digital pages are a number of different stories and essays.  These cover a wide range of topics and subject matters ranging from religious/supernatural fiction to personal opinions and thoughts on certain issues and topics.  With the longer pieces, those that are typically divided up into chapters, they are posted one chapter at a time.

          The first series of entries belong to my novella Samael.  Samael is a work of religious/supernatural fiction and is my retelling of the Fall of Lucifer.  In this retelling, I essentially say that it was not out of pride, but a broken heart, that led Lucifer to rebel against God.  With the telling of the story, I don’t remember having any real plan or objective with its construction beyond that of retelling the story.  I didn’t have any specific word count or other measure of story length that I was aiming to achieve.  It was nothing more than a story that I wanted to tell.  And in the telling of Samael, I referred to other elements found within the Abrahamic religions.  These included the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, Cain, Adam’s first wife Lilith, Adam and Eve, Job, the Forbidden Fruit, the Garden of Eden, the Serpent, and the use of Satan as a title.  I plan on eventually writing a sequel to this story, taking the form of a full length novel.  In this novel, Lucifer, Cain, and possibly Lilith, will make an appearance in the narrative as well as including Judas in the story.  In the same spirit of retelling a well known narrative, I plan on putting my own spin surrounding the story surrounding Judas.

          Some time after posting this story, I posted my first full length novel, An Enemy Within.  An Enemy Within is a superhero piece where the superpowers in question aren’t as super as what we have come to expect from the genre.  The approach I used in this story is that, if superpowers really existed, how would they work?  As a result, a fair number of powers were dropped, never to be seen again.  With the powers that do exist, they can be seen as the weaker, distant cousins of the superpowers that we are all familiar with.  The story itself follows a woman by the name of Shannon who is a socially minded youth who fights for mutant rights, leading her to join the New World Power.  However, when she first joins the New World Power, she doesn’t fully understand the aim and nature of the organization.  When she does realize what the New World Power is about, it leads to tensions to arise, not only in Shannon, but between her and the New World Power itself.  And it is through this tension that the story is told.  An Enemy Within also acts as the first main story within the universe of the Fifth Estate.

          With the Fifth Estate, it is the larger universe in which An Enemy Within, as well as a number of different stories, takes place.  With the origin of the Fifth Estate name, it comes from the Estate of the Realms, first introduced in medieval France.  With the Estate of the Realms, it consists of three estates which are as follows; the First Estate consists of the clergy, the Second Estate consists of the nobility, and the Third Estate consists of the commoner.  Reinterpreting and expanding upon this concept, I created the Social Estates.  With the Social Estates, the First Estate consists of the clergy, the Second Estate consists of people of prominence, the Third Estate consists of the working class, the Fourth Estate consists of the media, and the Fifth Estate consists of misfits and outcasts.  It is within the Fifth Estate that those who are seen as possessing superpowers are typically found.

          The reason why I posted An Enemy Within here on wordpress is because I lost the flash drive that the story was stored on due to me being attacked.  This attack centered on the fact that a random stranger wanted my laptop and I refused to hand it over.  As a result, he threatened my life followed by grabbing me in an attempt to physically steal my computer.  During the scuffle, though I was able to hold on to my laptop, the very laptop that I used to write this entry, my flash drive broke free of its lanyard and vanished.  Concerned that my attacker took it, accompanied by the fact that no book agent responded to my queries about the manuscript, I decided to post it online as a means of establishing some form of copy right on the material.

          Besides An Enemy Within, other Fifth Estate stories and elements are found within this wordpress account.  These stories include Seeing the Light, The Boy From Upstate, LAX Massacre, National Registration and Regulation Act of Individuals with Gifted or Extraordinary Abilities, a rough Fifth Estate Timeline, and The Xerek Files.  Seeing the Light is a novelette that follows a young boy who possesses a mutant ability that appears to others as if he has turned into a human torch.  As a result of this, it causes family tensions and eventually leads him to a faith healer, an experience that emotionally scars the young boy.  With The Boy From Upstate, it deals with people who are mutants but don’t possess any superpowers.  All that they possess are odd physical characteristics and nothing more.  As a result of this, it leads to a hate crime to be committed against one of these individuals, resulting in the individual’s death.  With LAX Massacre, it takes place not that long after the 9/11attacks and centers around an attack on LAX itself.  With National Registration and Regulation Act of Individuals with Gifted or Extraordinary Abilities, it came out of the Mutant Registration Act that has been mentioned within the Marvel Universe.  Because the Mutant Registration Act was only mentioned within the comics and never really addressed directly, I decided to actually flush out and write an actual bill that is being discussed in front of Congress with the aim of regulating those with superpowers.  The Fifth Estate timeline is meant to give a rough guideline of some world events to help give the audience an idea of when the events of a particular story of the Fifth Estate took place.  Finally, with The Xerek Files, they are notes and entries found within the journal of a geneticist who is specializing in individuals who possess superpowers.

          Finally, there are some random entries and essays found within this wordpress account.  Three of these essays pertain to misanthropy and the others are essentially just random entries.  Of these random entries, they consist of me seeing a UFO, depression, Attributes of a Monster, and the difference between robots, cyborgs, and androids, just to name a few.  There is even a reposting of someone else’s post regarding scale of different things in the universe, ranging from DNA strands all the way up through galaxies.  So it is here that I shall come to an end.  I hope that this has helped clarify the situation and the aim of this wordpress account.  And keep reading, regardless of the story or author involved.

Bradley P. Thomas

 

Xerek Files: Entry Number Twenty One – [Legacy of Cain]

Religion has been around for almost as long as Homo sapiens have existed.  It’s even possible that religion has its origins with the previous species of Homo before modern humans have evolved.  As a result, religion has had an effect upon human evolution and development.  They have even helped to shape civilizations and empires.  In the Western World, the dominate religions are the three Abrahamic religions.  As a result, there are those who turn to these religions and their accompanying holy texts as a means to explain how and why extraordinary traits and abilities form and develop.  Among these individuals, there are those who turn to the Mark of Cain as a means to explain this as well as to explain how extraordinary traits and abilities are unnatural and unholy.

With the Bible, it never explains exactly what this Mark looks like or what it is.  All that it says is that God gave Cain a mark as a means of telling everyone not to kill the oldest son of Adam.  The supporters of the claim that extraordinary traits and abilities are connected with the Mark of Cain never describe what the Mark looks like either, but they do connect extraordinary traits and abilities with Cain in one form or another.  This is because of the fact that, at times, extraordinary traits and abilities manifest themselves with easily visible indicators telling the world that this individual possesses extraordinary traits and abilities.  And since the Mark of Cain was an easily visible sign telling people who laid eyes on Cain not to kill him, it allows these individuals to make the connection between extraordinary traits and abilities with the Mark of Cain.

As a result of this connection, a legend has developed and is going around that says Cain was the first mutant to exist on Earth and that it is from him that all extraordinary traits and abilities originate.  There are some who even think that besides receiving his Mark, a part of Cain’s curse was to become immortal for no one, not even Death itself, would dare strike him down.  With this idea, there are mixed opinions regarding his current physical condition with some claiming that he retains his health and vigor while others claim that over time, he has become decrepit and weak but yet continues to live on.

With this legend, through a number of different relationships, it allowed for Cain’s curse to be passed down from one generation to the next, allowing for the propagation and manifestation of extraordinary traits and abilities in others and to spread among the population.  However, there are some who claim that there were people who actually killed Cain, either deliberately or inadvertently, and as a result, became subject to God’s wrath for violating his decree not to kill Cain.  As a punishment for this, God cursed these individuals by causing them to possess and manifest extraordinary traits and abilities.

But regardless of the details or exactly what story the person subscribes to, proponents of this idea claim that all extraordinary traits and abilities, past, present, and future, stem from Cain as a result of him killing his brother.  As a result of this, in these individuals’ eyes, it makes those who possess extraordinary traits and abilities unholy and unnatural, and thus, must be dealt with using appropriate measures to correct the situation and to help protect humanity as a whole, or at least God’s faithful, from the dangers that these individuals pose.  There are even those who claim that doing so is meant to protect the human soul.  But regardless of the details, some believe that acts of violence, ritual exorcisms, or other such actions are the best means of dealing with the situation.  Otherwise, the threat continues to exist and if allowed to go unabated, will condemn all of humanity to the pits of perdition.

 

Xerek Files: Entry Number Twenty – [Approach]

With the nature of extraordinary traits and abilities, they constitute natural talents for those who possess them.  And like all natural talents, it shapes the individual’s perceptions in regards to them and how to go about using them.  As a result, there are some who use their particular trait or ability without receiving any kind of formal training while others receive some form of training in regards to the use of the extraordinary traits and abilities that they have.  And regardless of how the individual approaches the situation, there are different schools of thought available in the use of the extraordinary traits and abilities that are available in any particular individual.

With the approach of how to use one’s extraordinary traits and abilities, there are basically two broad schools of thought with their use.  These two schools of thought consist of 1) the personal control approach and 2) the wild-man approach.  With the personal control approach to the situation, it is done through some form of training in order to allow the individual in question to use the extraordinary trait or ability that they possess with increased efficiency.  With the wild-man approach, it essentially consists of the individual going about and using their extraordinary trait or ability as they see fit without any training they received from another.

There are differing opinions on which school of thought is the best approach to use and why that school of thought is the most effective approach for the situation.  With the personal control approach, proponents claim that it allows the individual to better tap into the traits and abilities that they possess and to use them with the greatest level of efficiency.  This is because the individual in question might not be fully aware of the extent of the extraordinary trait or ability that they possess and the training that they receive will help them tap into that.

With the wild-man approach, proponents proclaim that with certain talents and skills, they are best used without the influence of any kind of training or such related formal structure.  With those who’s extraordinary traits and abilities come naturally, these individuals regard the use of their traits and abilities as something that doesn’t need to be molded or sculpted and tend to subscribe to the wild-man school of thought because they don’t see much need to improve upon using what they already have.  However, there are those who are just against the idea of any kind of proper training or the idea of a formal education, so they just use their extraordinary traits and abilities without a care, even if doing so is at a detriment and not to the fullest effect of their particular trait or ability.

Of these two schools of thought, from what has been observed, the personal control approach appears to be the best approach on the matter for it allows the individual with the extraordinary trait or ability to best utilize the talents and skills that they have.  Even those with raw talent can benefit from receiving formal training for even the finest of unprocessed skills can benefit and have their skills and talents improved upon with some kind of training.  Much like the raw material that is obtained from nature, they are better used after they are processed in some manner.

But in the end, it’s up to the individual in question on how to go about and approach the situation in regards to the use of their extraordinary traits and abilities.  A person’s mindset is an important factor to consider in regards to any matter, and the use of the person’s extraordinary traits and abilities is no different.  Some people think that the best way to use their extraordinary traits and abilities is to do it without any formal training, relying solely upon their intuition and instinct on how to go about using the traits and abilities that they have while others see that the best way to tap into the extraordinary traits and abilities available is receiving training on the matter to help guide the individual on the best way to conduct themselves in the use of the extraordinary traits and abilities that they possess.  In the end, it is about personal choice.

 

Xerek Files: Entry Number Nineteen – [Psychosomatic Situations]

The human brain is a very powerful thing, for everything that we are as individuals, and everything that occurs within our bodies, is controlled and regulated by the nerve cells that exist within our heads.  Since who we are as individuals is found within the neural pathways of our brains, what we as individuals believe can, at times, have an effect upon our body.  As a result, there are times when we as individuals can have a subconscious effect upon how the body reacts and performs.  One such example is with psychosomatic situations.

A psychosomatic situation is when physical symptoms occur due to mental or emotional causes.  As a result, the individual in question is capable or is no longer able to perform some form of physical task because of some non-physical trigger.  And the nature of the trigger varies between individuals.  But in the end, it doesn’t matter what the exact nature of the trigger is for the result of it is the same.

In regards to those with extraordinary traits and abilities, there are those who are incapable of using their particular trait or ability until some mental or emotional requirement is met while others need to meet a set of circumstances or be placed in just the right set of environmental factors before they are able to use their particular extraordinary traits or abilities.  Some individuals need to experience some form of intense emotional reaction before their particular ability manifests itself such as anger, fear, depression, or other emotional state.  Others have the idea that only when events like a full moon, a meteorological phenomenon occurs, or a certain season arrives before they are able to use their particular trait or ability.  There have even been some documented individuals who need to engage in what has been called a harrier’s dance before they can use their extraordinary traits and abilities.  A harrier’s dance is essentially a series of physical movements that the individual needs to perform in order to meet their particular psychosomatic trigger.  These movements can have a fluidity to them, giving the impression that they are dancing in some manner though this isn’t always the case.  There are also others that need to possess some object before they are able to tap into their extraordinary traits or abilities.  This can range from large objects like a sword to small objects like a necklace or cufflinks.  It doesn’t matter exactly what the object is, but as long as it has some form of special significance for the individual, it allows the individual to tap into their abilities.

However, there are situations where the individual experiences some form of mental block that prevents them from using their abilities freely.  They’ve experienced some form of mental or emotional trauma that prevents them from tapping into their extraordinary trait or ability.  As a result, their particular trait or ability is essentially trapped and cannot be used.  For these individuals, psychiatric treatment is the best course of action in order for them to use their extraordinary traits or abilities.  However, there are situations where this mental block can be so deep and existed for so long that the individual can be completely oblivious to the fact that they actually possess any form of extraordinary trait or ability.

There’s also the possibility that the individual experiences some form of reversal of what has just been described.  They need to meet some requirement before they are no longer able to use their extraordinary trait or ability.  And the triggers for this can be exactly the same as those that cause others to tap into their extraordinary traits and abilities in the first place.  It all depends upon the individual in question.  This is because each individual requires a different set of needs in order to function and operate.  And those with extraordinary traits and abilities are no different.  And with those who are subject to psychosomatic effects, it demonstrates the power that the brain has over the body for everything is controlled and regulated by that vital organ.  Without it, the body cannot operate and we cease to exist as living beings.

 

Xerek Files: Entry Number Eighteen – [Puberty]

With those who possess extraordinary traits and abilities, there are a wide variety of different traits and abilities available that can be manifested in any given individual.  In addition to this, there is a level of variability present on when the individual in question will manifest their specific traits and abilities.  This is due in part to the nature of the extraordinary trait or ability in question.  Some of them are present at birth while others form and manifest themselves later in life as the individual in question grows and develops.  With this latter group, the extraordinary traits and abilities in question tend to develop around the time of puberty.  This is because puberty is a time when the individual’s body goes through both physical and psychological changes.  However, due to the fact that these individuals possess extraordinary traits and abilities, when these extraordinary traits and abilities do manifest themselves, they have the possibility of challenging the social order as well as possibly threatening it.  There is also the possibility that they can threaten any individual that just so happens to be around the individual when the extraordinary trait or ability first manifests itself.

With these extraordinary traits and abilities, when they manifest themselves, they can be compared to that of sex characteristics.  This is because they require certain physiological changes to occur before they are able to fully manifest themselves or to manifest themselves properly.  But if they manifest themselves before this physiological change occurs in the individual, it can cause great harm to the individual in question which can include death of the individual.  However, some extraordinary traits and abilities can already exist within the individual but aren’t fully able to manifest themselves until puberty occurs.  This can be due to the increased level of hormones found in the individual’s system when puberty occurs.  But this isn’t always the case.  Some traits or abilities are just present at birth because they develop and manifest themselves while the individual is still in the womb.

It’s all about how certain genes manifest themselves during an individual’s development and which genes require to be “turned on” as the individual goes through life and matures as an individual.  But besides these chemical and hormonal triggers that occur during puberty, there is also the possibility that extraordinary traits and abilities can be triggered by other chemical changes that occur during an individual’s life.  Such examples can occur during times of stress or in fight or flight situations.  External, environmental factors cause a chemical change to occur with that particular individual that allows the extraordinary traits and abilities that they possess to manifest themselves.  There’s also the possibility that pregnancy can cause extraordinary traits and abilities to manifest themselves in the individual, or affect how they operate.  And if the fetus possesses extraordinary traits and abilities, there is the possibility that its mother’s biochemistry can affect the extraordinary traits and abilities that it possesses or how they manifest and develop.  However, further study is needed before a definite conclusion can be reached on this particular matter.

But regardless of the exact details, the individuals biochemical makeup and how it changes during their life, particularly during their early life, can affect how the extraordinary traits and abilities they possess will manifest themselves and develop over time.  It’s all dependent upon that particular individuals biochemical makeup accompanied by the extraordinary traits and abilities that they possess.  Like our personalities, this matter is a very personal and highly tailored situation that is dependent upon the person in question.  But despite this fact, there are still larger, broader categories and circumstances that can still be used to describe what these individuals are going through.  This fact acts as the groundwork that helps to determine exactly what is going on.

 

The Pain of Depression

Human beings are an emotional species. Love, hate, anger, sadness; these are just some of the emotions that we are capable of experiencing. One such emotion, and what this entry is going to be about, is depression. Depression is an emotional state of extreme sadness that typically saps the light, happiness, and joy a person can experience in their lives. It can become so bad that the individual can actually feel pain because of it. This pain is not a physical one, but an emotional one. But because of how the brain is wired, it doesn’t distinguish between the two. Pain is pain and the brain doesn’t care about what form it takes. And like physical pain, emotional pain can become so bad that the only relief that a person can see to relieve it is through death, typically done through suicide. But even though they see death as the only way of obtaining any kind of relief, they don’t want to die. All that they want is for the pain to stop, that’s all.

With depression, it blinds the sufferer to the world around them, preventing them from seeing the good things that they have in their life. In addition to this, it prevents them from obtaining any kind of enjoyment out of life that just might exist for them. They also feel like they can’t be helped out of the pit that they find themselves in. The only way that they can escape the pain, as stated earlier, is to enter the waiting arms of death. Depression causes this to be the only answer that they see as being readily available for them to use, and thus, the only way out of the situation that they find themselves in. Depression is an all consuming beast that just doesn’t care about the sufferer or those who are in that person’s life.

As a result of this, I see depression as an emotional cancer. With cancer, it is essentially the person’s body turn cannibalistic. The cells of the person’s body divide and spread uncontrollably, impairing function and preventing the body from operating properly. Depression is no different. But in the case of depression, instead of the person’s cells consuming the individual alive, it is their emotional state that is eating them from the inside out. And it is beyond the person’s control. They can’t help it.

With cancer, people can and do die because of it. Some people fight it while others accept it. With those who accept it, it can occur when they first learn of the diagnosis while others accept it after fighting it for as long as they can. However, there are some who fight it all the way. But they are not held morally responsible for what happens to them. However, we do hold those who commit suicide morally responsible for what they do. This may be because suicide victims actively take their own life whereas cancer victims are typically subject to something that is beyond their control. But it’s important to note that depression is a medical condition that is beyond the person’s ability to control. This can be due to factors in the person’s environment, social life, or is a part of a chemical imbalance within their system. The person can be socially isolated from others, experience pressures that they can’t handle, are socially awkward, have some kind of identity crisis, or was physically or sexually assaulted for whatever reason. It can even be a combination of these factors that play into the person’s condition.

But regardless of the reason, it rests beyond the person’s control. They shouldn’t be blamed for their condition or the fallout that results from it. And some of them do seek help and are able to be treated for their depression while others seek help but still follow through on taking their own life. The factors that are in play into this can be quite numerous and be quite complicated. Depression is also a highly individualistic emotional state for it is literally tailored to fit that particular person. As a result, their medical treatment, like any type of medical treatment, needs to be tailored to that particular person. Basic tools and stepping stones act as the groundwork for this treatment, but from there, need to be customized and fit that person’s needs. Emotional injuries and traumas should be treated like any physical injury or trauma. The only difference between emotional and physical traumas is that emotional traumas aren’t visible and readily identifiable whereas physical traumas are. But a part of our physical being is the emotional element that resides in all of us.

And like any physical injury, if a person’s emotional conditions go untreated, it can lead to infection and the wounds will fester. The body has the potential of fighting these things off, but it can take a lot out of the person and can leave a nasty scar behind. However, there are limits to what the body can do and it can’t always fight off every threat it faces, resulting in the death of the individual. With emotional injuries, it can lead to the inevitable result of suicide. People suffering from depression don’t want to experience the pain that accompanies depression. Yes, it’s normal to experience sadness, even great sadness, but it becomes unhealthy and dangerous if it goes on for too long, especially if it goes untreated. But depression can’t be helped. Thus, those who suffer from depression shouldn’t be ostracized because of it and those who commit suicide shouldn’t be condemned. It’s not their fault.

With suicide, there are more people affected then just the person who commits this act. There are friends and family who are left behind who have to deal with the emotional fallout of the situation. They are left wondering what they could have done in order to save the person as well as ask themselves why they didn’t see the signs that the person was going to commit suicide. They can also be left angry and embittered by the situation for they don’t have a way of dealing or resolving it. They are just stuck in the situation with no way of getting out of the predicament they find themselves in. They also need someone or something to blame, and since the person who committed suicide is the only person that is readily available for them to latch on to and lash out at, the victim of suicide becomes the target of this anger and blame. As a result of this, it has become a social taboo in the Western World to commit suicide. This taboo has become so ingrained within Western culture that it has found its way into the holy books of the three Abrahamic religions, thus creating a religious taboo against this act as well.

A result of this is that a lot of ideas and attitudes surrounding suicide have formed. One such idea describes suicide as a permanent solution to a temporary problem. But for those who suffer from depression, have considered suicide, or have attempted or have successfully committed it don’t feel that their condition is temporary. For them, it is quite permanent. As a result, it can require them to receive a lifetimes worth of treatment without it even being fully cured. And those who suffer from depression can engage in acts of self-harm, something that can take on a number of different forms. These can include engaging in physical harm and injury with suicide being on one extreme of the spectrum, becoming socially isolated or withdrawn from others, beating themselves up emotionally, wondering what they could have done in situations where they were hurt in one form or another, fixating on events or situations that are beyond their control, or turning to comfort activities like eating to help fill the void they are feeling.

In addition to this depression, these individuals can feel like their emotional state is their burden to bear and theirs alone. This can be due to the fact that they see it as being unfair to burden others with their pain. As a result, it can cause them to feel that they are all alone, which in turn only exacerbates the situation. They can even appear to be alright on the outside without a care or worry in the world. This can be due to the fact that they just want to turn and hide, not wanting others to feel bad for them or to cause others to suffer because of them. But this doesn’t erase the fact that they can be hurting inside and just burying the pain that they are feeling.

In the end, those suffering from depression or have considered, attempted, or succeeded at committing suicide shouldn’t be the subject of moral judgment. They are victims of something that they can’t help or otherwise control and are suffering because of it. What these people need is help, not ridicule. Like any living thing, they have a sense of self-preservation that causes them to want to live. However, the pain that they are experiencing can override this sense of self-preservation, causing them to seek an end to the pain that they have to endure, something that is typically done through the means of suicide. Suicide, like gangrene, is nothing more than a symptom of something much greater and deeper then what is readily seen and needs to be treated like any physical medical condition. If not, a lot of needless suffering will occur because of it and a lot of people will needlessly die as a result of this.