Female Hysteria - a snapshot of women's history

The term "female hysteria" or "wandering womb" was used from 4th Century BC  to the 19th century and declined when psychology became more understood. Today we don't use either term. Thankfully, we have doctors who understand how the female body functions, gynecologists.

Basic Beliefs  On Hysteria

What was considered female hysteria?  It was considered common, chronic, and only applied to women. Here's a list.

Hysteria Symptoms
- anxiety  -shortness of breath  - fainting  -nervousness - sexual desire  -insomnia
 - fluid retention (periods)  -heaviness in the abdomen  - irritability
- loss of food/sexual appetite  -being sexually forward  - being a troublemaker

If you laughed or cringed at that list and pointed out several symptoms had several explanations (including "I don't want to have sex with Mr. X" or pregnancy) you will be glad to know this is no longer a valid diagnosis. Most of these have to do with being female, or human, in general.

It was believed by the Greeks that the womb wandered around the body causing disease and pain for the woman, like a live animal. While some denied this theory, they didn't deny the hysteria. It was also believed by Galen that this was a widow's disease because a female's "seed" turned to venom if "retained in the womb". (In shorter terms, if you didn't get pregnant, you had a period.) Beliefs ranged from the medieval assumption of demonic possession to an 18th to 19th-century mental illness. Some also believed it more commonly affected widows, women with children, women with regular periods, and forward women deprived of sex.

What  Happened To These Women

Sadly and tragically, some of these women ended up in asylums or had a hysterectomy happen to them. Both, in some cases.  

We now come to the cure for this "disease". Here are some nifty guidelines of who did what. 

4th and 5th century:

- Special Fragrances under nose or lady parts  - Sex  - ointment rubbed on lady parts (by a midwife) 

Middle ages to early modern:

- sex  -marriage and pregnancy  - manual stimulation with scents or oils (by a midwife) 

18th Century:

- sanitarium/asylums (considered mental illness, not related to Uterus)

19th Century:

 - Manual stimulation (doctor-given or midwife-given unknown)  - the vibrator (debated)

Treatment within sanitariums/asylums

In the asylums, hysterectomy and other female surgeries became an option. Be aware that some asylums just threw everyone in a dark hole, or through various "treatments" caused the sane to become insane. Some became slaves. Hysteria may have been used as an excuse by some (not all) men to get rid of wives or unconventional, trouble-making women in their lives. *Warning, looking up what went on in old asylums may make it hard to sleep at night.* Do your research on this. If you can't handle dark things, heed my warning.

This has been a basic snapshot the diagnosis of Female Hysteria. It makes me glad we live in a time period where women's medicine and women's status has advanced. Do your research and check my facts, and if you want more on the topic of women's history comment below. 

Pictures:
Talk space
The Scotsman



https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/history/chm/outreach/trade_in_lunacy/research/womenandmadness/
https://www.lib.uwo.ca/archives/virtualexhibits/londonasylum/hysteria.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_hysteria

Writing characters with depression - inside and out

We talk about mental health awareness, but as a writer, how do you write a character with  depression? What does that look like, thought-wise? Let's dive into that.

Depression is defined as a mood disorder causing persistent dark, sad thoughts and loss of interest, according to the Mayo Clinic. That being said, I know several examples of people you would never guess had depression. There is such a thing as "masking" your true thoughts and emotions. It also causes one to isolate and distance themselves from the support they might have. One reason to check in on someone with this disorder is that they may be battling dark thoughts alone. Most successful suicides that were caused by depression happened with no warning or an alarming, sudden peace. 

What Others See

When it comes to character building, be aware some people do talk about their depression and seek help. Some also suffer alone and wear a "mask" until it becomes too terrible to deal with, or both. It's common for them to distance themselves and "disappear" from their social life periodically. What your other characters see depends on how close they are to this individual and whether the individual trusts them. Metaphorically, they play two roles; one for the people they don't trust and one for the people they do trust. Sadly, the same person can be in both categories, depending on their relationship and actions. The trusted characters still see them isolate themselves.

Here are a few guidelines on what your other characters may see:

Trusted friends 

 - honest dialogue  - deep emotion  - vulnerability  - breakdowns  

Not Trusted General Public

- smiles/fake happiness  - "normal" look   - in general, blending in - acting like nothing is wrong

What all this boils down to is that one is only vulnerable in front of trusted people. Acquaintances won't, or rarely, see or hear about the dark sadness attacking a person with depression. 

On the Inside

Depression, for many, comes and goes with no warning and comes back at the worst possible time (much like Murphy's Law). So, suddenly canceling plans to go to a concert done by their favorite musician, then sitting alone with no motivation that evening is a possible scenario and a good example of why depression sucks. 

This is similar to anxiety in some ways, but not all. To be clear, Anxiety is defined by the Mayo Clinic as persistent worry and fear. Depression sometimes happens to people who have anxiety issues already, but depression isn't always anxiety. 

Self-harm and negative thoughts are common for both, as well as suicide and attempts at suicide. Thinking x, y, or z is your fault or being ashamed because of the mental illness "stigma" is also present in both situations. A lot crosses over, so do your research on depression types while writing your character actions and dialogue. 

Depression is like being weighed down and may not be expressed, especially to those who may not understand. Crying for no reason, mental torment causing exhaustion, not wanting to burden others.....all are signs of depression that aren't just mental. It causes self-destruction in someone. 

What Helps

One of the main reasons it remains unspoken is shame due to mental illness stigma, the idea that you are worth less than others because you struggle mentally. Other reasons include not wanting to burden others, being misunderstood, and being accused of wanting attention. 

Just listening and being there helps. Checking in on someone and sending positive messages is also appreciated. Depending on the severity of the situation, psychiatrists, psychologists, and medication may be necessary. A combination of these things can work, or make things worse. You have the power to make your characters suffer or get healthier, or both. You can make them go back and forth and it would be realistic. 

picture:

Robert Sherill

https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/category/blog/depression

toxic masculinity - a break-down of toxic manhood

Toxic masculinity is a term we hear often, especially when connected to mental illness and men. It is created by society and can be damaging to someone's mental health, but what is it?

Today I'm going to break down the idea of toxic masculinity. I've mentioned this idea briefly in previous blogs (PTSD and gender in film). It refers to a particularly harmful concept of what real men should be, including aggressive dominance and not showing emotions (thus, not releasing them).

"The Man Box"

The man box can be best explained as a constricting list of standards for manhood. I'm going to list out some of what these can be before I continue.

1. no vulnerability  2. strong at all times  3. only anger-related emotions can be shown 

 4. no signs of weakness  5. aggressive and powerful are good  

Most of these can be summed up as not being "feminine", emotional, weak, or vulnerable. What happens when someone doesn't conform to this is clear; bullying, being on the social fringes, unnecessary cruelty.

When All This Started

This toxic concept began when the idea of manhood started. Imagine that it's the 17th century and it's a patriarchal society (men on top, if you're confused). You are a man and have been taught from boyhood to be the head of the household, where you control your family's choices, including your wife's choices. Feel powerful yet? At this point, women are dependent on men and are confined to the home. That was only the start. Do you understand how this toxicity started yet?

Abuse of power happens everywhere. Patriarchy is not evil, but abuse of it is. It led to some men abusing their families and wives (not all of them). I don't think I have to explain how bad that is for a 17th-century and 18th-century wife with nowhere to go. So, that's where we pick up the aggression that some people call "confidence".

But where do we pick up the "not feminine" part? Let's look at the views of women way back when. Women, for the most part, had motherhood roles, which was heavily emotional, while men went to work, which was more logical. In some cultures this was not the case, like in Nubia when women became queens and had the power of kings, but that is an exception and not the rule. 

What did men in past years think about women, generally? It depends on who you were and when you were alive. Some churches thought some women were temptation and it was Eve's fault for the fall (even though Adam stood there and let her eat the apple). The term female hysteria is a word that male doctors came up with. Women were seen as overly emotional, especially because of hormones and their bodies (which is also why they were seen as temptation). Thus, we get "not feminine" and "not emotional". 

I don't want anyone to hear "I hate men" when I write this, because that isn't my point and I don't. My point is that these toxic traits were planted early on by people who abused the influence and power that they had. The male gender is not the sole reason this happened and it shouldn't be assumed that they are. Now that I've made that point, I'm moving onto the result of this toxicity. 

Why It's Toxic

Not releasing emotion is a one-way ticket to PTSD and mental issues, especially in military settings. When emotions don't get processed through you don't face issues and reach out for help. The impact of not facing issues and hiding them under a mask is huge, making toxic masculinity part of the reason some men do suicide and suffer in silence. 

Just to make this more toxic, men police other men socially when it comes to gender (same is true of women), making anyone standing outside the "man box" a living target for bullying. This includes sensitive men, stay at home dads, homosexuals, and anyone who doesn't fit the conventional male definition. Nice guys or artists sometimes end up at the bottom of the totem pole of male status, while the wolves are at the top. 

I hope you appreciated the break-down of what toxic masculinity is and please let me know what you want to hear about. I aim to arm you with truth. 

pictures:
noorisms
fine arts america
Knowledge@Wharton - University of Pennsylvania
shutterstock

https://owlcation.com/humanities/Women-Through-History
https://oxfordre.com/americanhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-12
http://mikegwaltney.net/ush2west/?page_id=96
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/toxic-masculinity-definition-what-is-boys-men-gillette-ad-behaviour-attitude-girls-women-a8729336.html

Typical struggles of introverts - writing introverted characters

As an avid reader of introvert blogs, and an introvert, I know that being wired differently isn't easy in a society built by extroverts. I have nothing against extroverts, never have, but the fact remains that being wired differently makes life harder.

What's the difference between an introvert and extrovert? I have a previous blog on that topic if you're confused or don't know the difference. If you click on the archives it will be there.

This post is about writing introverts, specifically from the perspective of an introvert.

Everyday conversations

When it comes to personal friends, we can talk your ear off or be completely comfortable sitting beside someone, but when it comes to people we just met or large crowds we can become bored, lonely, or uncomfortable, which then leads us to be quieter, and instead turn our attention to the dog in the living room or reading people in silence. Comfortable silence is sitting beside a friend reading; uncomfortable silence is looking around the crowded space full of people while trying to decide what to do and who to interact with.

 This concept is wonderfully illustrated by a scene in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Scott is standing awkwardly at a loud, crowded party holding a drink beside Young Neil, who is doing the same. He then goes to pee out of boredom a minute later, after saying the party sucks. This is an uncomfortable introvert with no one to talk to (Scott is definitely an introvert, by my definition). 

Something else to keep in mind when writing introverts is eye contact. In my personal experience, eye contact is reserved for close friends and family. When I listen I make eye contact, but not when I speak. I can't explain why this is. It's just how I'm wired. Other characters may find this strange and try to force your character to look them in the eye (it can happen, especially in a theatre setting and dating relationships). Be aware of this as you write interactions and conversations. 

Communication Preference

Verbal is not my strongest form of communication. It's a common issue for introverts and your introverted character. Your character will be planning interactions ahead of time (in their head) and trying to read someone's possible response. You may need to look up specific personality types to see what your character's issues and strengths are, so be prepared to do that. I am an INFJ, something to keep in mind when you hear my perspective. 

Written, on the other hand, makes me sound far less awkward and bolder than I am in person. Not having to look someone in the eye and being able to plan out responses has a lot to do with that. Also, most writers are introverts, so you can partially thank us for the novels you're reading in your spare time. Your character may text more than call, most times.

One on one or small groups are also preferred by introverts. It takes time to plan a response, so large groups of people interrupting us before we get to our point is extremely annoying, thus one-on-one is much better when we have something important to say or want to connect with someone. Small groups also allow us less interruption and help us voice our thoughts. The more openings to say what we're thinking without having to interrupt, the better!

Recharge time and energy

Introverts have been described as hermits or turtles that need to be "pulled out of our shells" and that we need to "put ourselves out there", but the truth of the matter is that we can't have constant company and forever be mentally "on" because our introvert battery (or tolerance for people in general) would be zapped. We need time alone or time in a quiet environment to recharge our batteries. This would be places like our person homes, our bedrooms, outdoors, libraries, and coffee shops. Everyone has their favorite recharge spaces, so it depends on the environment you place your character in. If another character steps into that space uninvited, it would be more real to show your introvert being annoyed or short with the other character. 

 If your character has no personal space and constantly shares a living space with others, this is going

to end in introvert hangover (extremely low battery and isolating themselves) and bad interactions with whomever they live with (especially when pushed to do something they don't want to). Keep this in mind when you put your introvert in a place or situation with no space to recharge. It will impact your dialogue and character interactions. 

People that give and take energy

What some people don't realize, especially extroverts, is that human interaction costs us energy from our introvert batteries. There are some people who give energy and some people who cost energy. The energy vampires, however, are the worst. I'm going to go through the basics on these three types. 

1. battery chargers - 

These people are bright and cheery every time you see them, always positive, too. Introverts seek these people out because they don't cost us energy to interact with them. They brighten our days and put us in a positive mood. These are the exceptions, not the rule. 

2. average joe -

The general population of people who can read body language and social cues go here. Some both cost and give energy, thus end up neutral. Some cost energy, but only a small amount, and same for giving energy. This is the majority of people your character will run into and interact with. Most of the population does know social cues to varying degrees. 

3. energy vampires - 

This particular type of person is to be avoided like they have the plague if you are an introvert. Energy vampires drain you in less than ten minutes. Generally, these people are toxic to your introverted character for two reasons. One, they are taking advantage of your character, or, two, they are nice with no sense of social cues and when to stop talking. I find it important to say that this doesn't mean they are being intentionally annoying or distractive. Sometimes these individuals are just different, but it is slightly possible someone is being nasty to you in this situation if you feel used. Run (if you can)!

learning by observation

When I take in an environment it is with my eyes and ears, not my mouth. Unless I genuinely can't figure something out, I observe. Your introverted character will do more physically than verbally while adjusting to a new setting, so don't make them spout their thoughts verbally like a fountain. Introverts don't speak all their observations out loud, leading to some people jumping to the conclusion that they didn't understand, only because there was no dynamic reaction to see or hear. It is more realistic to have them observe quietly and ask only the necessary questions. Don't depend on dialogue to reveal their thoughts; that isn't how we're wired. 

common misunderstandings

Misunderstandings are many, especially when you live in a world built for extroverts. Here are some that I have experienced:

-assuming you didn't see/understand because there was no large reaction 

 -assuming anything about your thoughts/personality because someone can't read you

-assuming you aren't participating because you didn't speak or speak well in class/during a presentation

-people thinking you need to be pulled out of your shell

What I have discovered is that assumptions are the most common misunderstanding there is, so please ask us what we're thinking before you assume anything to be true. If you make an effort to understand someone first it is a much better outcome. Keep this in mind for you character development and interactions, whether you cause the best or worst outcome to happen. 

Want to hear about any specific topics next? Comment and let me know! I'd be happy to hear from you. Thank you for reading and God bless!

Pictures:
alamo drafthouse cinema
wanna-joke
teepublic

the magnet - ongig

Abandoned places - a snapshot of the dangers and fun of exploring abandoned buildings

Recently, my boyfriend's family introduced me to several Youtube channels involving people exploring abandoned places. It looked fun, I told my boyfriend. Then he mentioned mold and how you have to do your research on where you are going, that you have to be careful.

Without further ado, I present the dangers and fun of exploring abandoned places. First of all, is it legal? Let's start there.

Do Your Research

When going to do this, you need to ask yourself whether you will be trespassing on someone's property. You can see my blog on self-defense for a glimpse of what can happen when you do (Castle doctrine, they can shoot you in Ohio!). While you can gain rights by trespassing for a long time (squatting is the term), it is extremely frowned upon to do that. So is breaking and entering. No Trespassing sign and padlocks mean one thing: STOP!

In short, you may want to do some legal searching to see if anyone, alive or dead, owns/owned the property, and who it was passed onto (if that applies). If no one does, you may actually be able to walk in and explore, just don't loot it (that's rude). Also, if the city owns it and doesn't enforce its protection(they don't care), you might be good. 

I'm also going to warn you about the homeless. As anyone who sees a homeless person knows, they can and do sleep everywhere they can find shelter. Some are hostile and territorial (ex. you go in only to get chased out and your camera is broken), so be aware of anyone homeless and squatting on the property. Please be careful!

I will also warn you of structures that are too dangerous to explore. There have been documented cases of people getting seriously injured in abandoned buildings. In short, if you go explore, be aware of mold and decay, and don't go alone. 

From what I've found it is seldom legal to explore abandoned buildings. If you can, get permission from the owner of the building. Frankly, I would go for that option before trespassing and breaking in. Also, consider what rights you have as a trespasser, which isn't a lot. If invited in? That's different and you will have far more rights and far less explaining to do, should you get hurt.

Protection from the Building Decay

Most decayed places involve mold. This is why respirators are important, and you should have one for your exploration. One of the source links below talks more in detail about that, in case you plan to get one. 

This should go without saying, but dress for the exploring, in clothes you don't care too much about. Yes, I know...."Thanks Captain Obvious!" Just don't blame me if you wear flip-flops into a decayed shack and scream when a substance of questionable origin gets on your favorite shirt. 

Bring a buddy. You get trapped? Your friend goes for help, instead of a bunch of other explorers finding you dead or barely alive. Be safe and bring whatever you need to stay safe. Be Nancy Drew.  Bring a flashlight and basic survival supplies. Have a charged phone and a way to contact help. 

Know Where You Are Going

Researching where you are going tells you a few things. One, possible dangers, and two, why it was abandoned in the first place. I know you're thinking of ghosts, too, and that is actually possible in some places. That draws people half the time. 

Like I mentioned before, accidents due to decay have happened, and research will also tell you if it is secure and able to be explored. Also, again, if homeless sleep there. People in the neighborhood can tell you that, most times. 

When you get home, clean up and wash your clothes. Don't spread the dust and dirt, not to mention bugs, to your own personal space.

Courtesy and Discretion

Some places have objects and historical documents worth money. Don't take them with you. You are no better than a tomb robber if you do. Also, don't give away the location, so that others don't loot or burn, or ruin the building. If you can trust them, take them or message them where it is in quiet. Don't post the address on public pages. 

I will repeat this, because it is worth repeating, ask permission and see if there are tours of this place first. For some places, you can book a tour and get a guide. Do that before you even consider sneaking in. 

On a final note, be careful. Buddy system, proper supplies, common sense.......Don't end up at the hospital with a broken leg, and a lawsuit against you for being on private property. Be smart about exploration. Don't get in elevators and step on sketchy floors. 

With those last thoughts, I thank you for reading my blog! I appreciate my readers. Please let me know what you want to hear about next. I'm open to suggestions. 

Pictures:

San Antonio Express-News

Gingdu

stuff.co.nz

https://blogs.findlaw.com/blotter/2015/11/is-it-legal-to-go-into-abandoned-buildings.html

https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/urban-sports/legal-to-explore-abandoned-buildings.htm

https://pksafety.com/blog/respiratory-protection-from-mold-spores

https://kentondejong.com/blog/10-tips-exploring-abandoned-places

crimes going to theatres - film portrayals of real crimes

We all know about Ted Bundy being real, but what else in media was based on real-life crimes? I know I said I'd talk about Arsenic and Old Lace, but another blogger already did, so I looked around at some other cases of true-crime-turned-film. Most of what I found was obvious and horror-related, but here is what I found, obvious or not.

Psycho, a film that has terrified many, was based on a real-life crime, which, frankly, terrifies me. Also, the movies The Boston Strangler, American Psycho, and Halloween. Let's start with one I led with.

Psycho

This Alfred Hitchcock film stars Norman Bates, but it was actually based on Ed Gein. Gein was also obsessed with his own mother. Some experts have said he used women's skin to dress like his late mother. Terrified yet? Yeah, me too. 

In 1957 a woman named Bernice Worden went missing, and Gein was last to see her alive. The police later found her and other womens' remains in his farmhouse. This guy also exhumed bodies from cemeteries. Gein spent the rest of his life in a mental hospital, thankfully. This comes with a warning, should you look up Ed Gein. Weak stomach? Don't look up his name. The picture of Ed Gein alone is awful enough, thus you'll notice the film picture of the woman screaming instead. 

Halloween

Here we are, back in the horror genre. The real killer in this crime was Edmund Kemper. This one is unconfirmed by the filmmaker, but is highly suspected to be based on Kemper's crimes. Both men killed family members, stabbed, and strangled. Kemper also was into necrophilia and buried victims' heads in the backyard, but that was the only difference between film and the real crime. If you want details, check my sources at the end of the blog. If you have a weak stomach, DON'T!

American Psycho

The story follows Patrick Bateman while he's managing homicidal tendencies. The author who wrote the novel read up on Ted Bundy, so it's possible it is based on Bundy, also because Bundy, too, murdered prostitutes. Either way, I think about Fallout Boy when I see the title. The actor Christian Bale played up Bundy mannerisms in a way that supports this theory, so this may be one of the movies inspired by Ted Bundy.

The Boston Strangler

This portrays the true story of 11 murders from 1962 to 1964. The criminal, Albert DeSalvo, sexually assaulted and murdered women, not in an alley or the woods, but in their own homes. Strangely there were no signs of breaking and entering. The film showed a personality disorder, but that part was fiction. He was confirmed to be the strangler by DNA. The DNA came from a water bottle from Tim DeSalvo, whose uncle was Albert DeSalvo. They compared the DNA to the fluid that was left on a maroon blanket at one crime scene. That was 50 years later and the case took 50 years to close. 

I picked a few out of a handful of options, so there are more, but I found these to be less mainstream. Check out the links below for more. In some cases, you may not want any more details. Trust me on that one. If I put a warning, heed it. 

As always, comment what you want to hear about. I aim to arm you with truth. 

Pictures:

imdb.com

TVguide.com

nypost.com

thewrap.com

https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/hollywood-serial-killer-movies-based-on-true-crimes.html/

https://abcnews.go.com/US/boston-strangler-case-solved-50-years/story?id=19640699

https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/136059/real-horror-stories-inspired-movies/

Poisons Basic Overview - Writers and poisons

I recently saw a mug on Pinterest that said "this may contain Iocaine powder", but is Iocaine an actual poison? Inconceivable! It is completely fictional.

Fellow writers, pick your poison. This is a basic overview of poisons, some of them we see every day and use in smaller-than-fatal doses. It's all about dosage, frankly, especially in drugs (which can always be a poison). Plenty of suicides have been done by overdosing on drugs. Most of the poisons we hear about in mystery novels are actually natural substances being misused in larger dosages and being used incorrectly. Was it deliberate? Depends on the poison itself. Also, some of these are and were used medicinally, again all about how much you breathe in, consume, and soak into your skin.

I'm going to talk about the most common poisons in mystery genre novels. Those include ricin, arsenic, and Strychnine. The most fatal will be first and least fatal last, but all are fatal. 

Ricin

Ricin comes from a castor bean plant, a natural substance that needs deliberate poisoning attempts to actually kill. There is no cure. It prevents the body from making needed proteins, thus killing cells. Killing cells then kills a person, simply put. Small doses can kill an adult.

When ingested, symptoms appear in less than 10 hours. When inhaled they appear in 4 to 24 hours. To be poisoned you have to inject, ingest, or inhale it deliberately. It can be in the form of powder, mist, pellet, or can be dissolved in water. Be sure to do your research on your fictional situation because there may be a few jobs that could expose you to ricin poisoning. The only way to accidentally poison yourself, according to my research, is to eat castor beans, and even then no promise that you'd die of this poison. 

When inhaled it causes:   - trouble breathing - fever  - cough - nausea  - tight chest -heavy sweating 

 - blue skin - low blood pressure and can't breathe leading to death

When ingested it causes:  -bloody diarrhea and vomiting  - severe dehydration leading to low blood pressure  -seizures -bloody urine - liver, spleen, kidneys disfunction leading to death

In the 1940s it was experimented with as a warfare agent. Terrorists and political assassins have used it. Today it is being experimented with as a way to kill cancer cells, much like another poison I'm going to talk about. 

Strychnine

Strychnine, a white, odorless crystalline powder can cause severe harm in small doses. You ingest, inhale, and inject it into someone. It can also be absorbed into the body.  It comes from a plant, Strychnos nux-vomica. It used to be medicinal in pill form. Now it kills pests and may be found in street drugs, in some cases. 

This poison messes with nerve function, causing severe and painful spasms. The mind is not affected early, but eventually, the body tires and breathing becomes impossible. After swallowing, symptoms appear in 15 minutes to an hour. If severely affected by this you are unlikely to survive. 

Arsenic

Mystery fans have heard about Arsenic and Old Lace (a play and a movie), and if you haven't look it up. It's an excellent one. That play was based on a real-life crime, but I'll save that for another post. Point being, most mystery writers and fans know the word "Arsenic" as a poison. Did you know that this is a natural substance in well water? Like I said, it's all about dosage. It only becomes dangerous when you ingest too much of it, leading to cancer, liver disease, coma, and death. This is currently being used to battle cancer (even though I just said it causes cancer in too high of a dose). 

A person shows symptoms within 30 minutes. Inhaling means they take longer to show up. These include:

-drowsiness  -headaches  -confusion  -severe diarrhea 

Severe symptoms: 

 -metallic taste/garlicky breath  -excess saliva -problems swallowing  - cramps  -hair loss  -convulsions  - excessive sweating  -vomiting   -diarrhea  -(final stage) seizures and shock

A fatal dose kills rapidly. When in smaller amounts over time, serious illness and prolonged death happens. The main cause of this type of poisoning is contaminated well water. (So, worried? Test your well water.) Fellow writers, you could easily have a prolonged death situation caused by a family member, but have it be blamed on well water. 

Can you create immunity to poison?

There is a practice called Mithridatism that has the aim of making yourself immune to poison. One gives themselves nonlethal doses in an effort to do so. It's been said that Rasputin survived being poisoned because of this, but no evidence has been shown of this. Many people who feared being poisoned have attempted this immunity to poison.

The real question is whether it works or not. Apparently, it depends on biology and your original immunity to illness and toxins. My opinion? Don't try it. If you do you could, and probably will, cause your own slow, painful death. 

Writers, whether you want to create a Princess Bride masked man or a murder victim, I hope I helped you. I wrote about the most commonly used poisons in mystery novels, so if you want to know more about another toxin or poison (or drugs, for that matter) comment. 

I aim to provide truth, so if I'm wrong on anything let me know. 

Pictures: sideshow.com 

USA Today

www.chm.bris.ac.uk

wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithridatism

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/241860.php

https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/strychnine/basics/facts.asp

https://www.medicinenet.com/ricin/article.htm