Lindsay Ayn, MS

Video editor with an obscene resume, decades of experience, and some availability! Hit me up! 😁

You Heal, They Leave But does that make them the bad guy?

🚨 New essay drop! “You Heal, They Leave”

If you follow trauma healing online, you’ve heard this a million times, rephrased in a million ways: “You will lose people when you heal.”

Let’s talk about it.

🔗 Read the full post: open.substack.com/pub/zamdanga...

Quote from Neuroqueer Heresies. "I’d like to propose that instead of rating human beings as “high-functioning” or “low-functioning,” we apply the terms “high-functioning” and “low-functioning” to societies, rating the functioning of a society according to the degree to which it succeeds in supporting and furthering the well-being of all of its members"

Hah. Nice. (Finally reading Neuroqueer Heresies.)

Isn't it crazy how despite knowing we would all benefit from living in a world full of educated people, we don't have the option to take a part time job getting paid to read?

Save Your Punches For Power Can we tell the difference between fighting oppression and fighting each other?

🚨 New essay drop! “Save Your Punches For Power”

The internet doesn’t seem to grasp *power differentials.*

By now, we ought to know the difference between fighting oppression and fighting each other, but I’m not seeing that.

Let’s talk about it.

🔗 open.substack.com/pub/zamdanga...

There's something weirdly empowering about crying while doing dishes. It's like, yes, I'm feeling all the feelings, but I'm still here, I'm still taking care of my life, and I am NOT giving up. 💪

Narcissism, Neurodivergence, and Self-Control If narcissism is about avoiding threats, what’s with the cruelty for sport?

🚨 New essay drop! “Narcissism, Neurodivergence, and Self-Control”

In July, I said the core of narcissism is entitlement to evade anything perceived as threat at all costs.

In that case, what’s with the cruelty for sport?

🔗 open.substack.com/pub/zamdanga...

The Fears Are Real, But Do We Need The Triggers? Are we gaslighting ourselves if we challenge our triggers?

🚨 New essay drop! “The Fears Are Real, But Do We Need The Triggers?”

Are we gaslighting ourselves if we challenge our triggers?

I’m currently binge-reading Dr. Catherine M. Pittman’s work on the amygdala...

🔗 open.substack.com/pub/zamdanga...

Meet Baby Battle Buddy, my cartoon personification of my amygdala. He’s my body guard, but also a baby. I feel like if I picture this character every time I’m triggered, it’ll be easier to have compassion for myself. 😂 (Illustrated in Adobe Fresco, for whoever is curious.)

Quitting smoking is easier than quitting rumination because I can't just decide to stop buying packs of imaginary arguments at the corner store because I'm out of money.

Book - Amelia J. Michael Show Up. Stand Up. Take Action. Inclusion is under attack, and compliance is not the only option. Gender Inclusion at Work is a hands-on guide for leaders, HR teams, and allies who refuse to let trans...

Hello podcasters and bloggers

Does this book look cool to you?
Would you like to talk to the author about it?

Amelia seems like a super cool person on a similar mission as many of us. Check out their book & let me know if you'd like to get in touch & are having trouble

ameliajmichael.com/book/

While rewatching the Fallout Amazon series for the wiki, I noticed this aspirant using a walker to get around.
As someone who has had to use a walker just like that in the past due to medical issues, it was really nice to see included.
Representation matters.

YouTube video by Ninja Sex Party The Power Of Love - NSP

Thank you, NSP, for being a continuing source for joy in my life. 💖 youtu.be/yqVzsXxD_h4?...

I’m really proud of straight women. Y’all have come a long way.
How do I know?
Pedro Pascal.
You picked a good one. Good job.

No one gets to judge me for my response to their lies.

If the trigger wasn’t relevant to reality, neither was my response.

Don’t call me a bad actor when you’re a bad director.

Is Your Best Friend The Devil? 🚩 A List of Red Flags Not sure if your friendship is toxic? Or if you’re the toxic one? This list might help.

When I hurt a person, the person hates me.

When my keeper hurts a person, the person hates themself.

Never forget that anyone you blame for a conflict failed to convince you to blame someone else.

The creepiest among us never fail.

🔗 open.substack.com/pub/zamdanga...

Update: Zamdanga Impact Will Resume in December Focusing on Zamdanga Healing and introspection while I gather strength and wisdom.

🚨 Update from Zamdanga Impact on Substack 🚨

Zamdanga Impact on break—returning December 2025.

Focusing on Zamdanga Healing and introspection while I gather strength and wisdom.

🔗 open.substack.com/pub/zamdanga...

Trying to control your life from inside an abusive relationship is like trying to steer a train from inside the passenger car. You can't even explore your options until you get off.

Well, just smoked my last cigarette. Not for my health—for my wallet. Replacing the habit with meditation. If you need me, I’ll likely be climbing the walls and clawing at my own face.

Adam Conover (@adamconover) on Threads Vivian Wilson gave me a masterclass in bullying

On my Substack I talk about someone I call "my keeper."

This. This. THIS is how she treated me. For 25 goddamn years.

Only she actually DID put me in a psych ward.

www.threads.com/@adamconover...

Demand Avoidant? This Might Change Your Life As it turns out—avoiding demands is demanding.

🚨 New essay drop! “Demand Avoidant? This Might Change Your Life” 🚨

Living with demand avoidance is hard.

But I recently realized that my go-to strategies have stolen years of my life away.

Luckily, I finally found the answer.

Let me break it down for you.

🔗 open.substack.com/pub/zamdanga...

Refusing to waste time wastes time. ⏱️ Refusing to waste time wastes time. ⏱️ Refusing to waste time wastes time.

I just watched Drive-Away Dolls. This lesbian didn't know how much she wanted to see Margaret Qualley cosplaying Shane McCutcheon. 😂 👩‍❤️‍👩

My Silliest ADHD Life Hacks Managing ADHD can be hard. Let’s have fun with it.

🚨 New essay drop! “My Silliest ADHD Life Hacks” 🚨

Neurodivergent trauma healing is hard—we need some levity up in here. So today, I’d like to dazzle you with the silliest ways I manage my ADHD.

🔗 open.substack.com/pub/zamdanga...

Lessons I've learned the hard way #100,824: if you don't let people ask things of you to your face, people will take things from you behind your back. You're a human being in an energy exchange ecosystem, and there's no opting out until you die.

Arrangement of Pilljoy pill cases.

Arrangement of Pilljoy pill cases.

At a street fair here in Portland I saw an adorable local business selling these hand-decorated pill cases. I reach a lot of ND folks who take meds so I thought y'all would enjoy seeing pill cases treated creativity as much as I did. Check out their shop. pilljoy.shop

Behind the Scenes: My Novel Is Gonna Suck Oh well. Finished is better than perfect.

🚨 New essay drop! 🚨

“Behind the Scenes: My Novel Is Gonna Suck”

 Allow me to dazzle you—from behind the security of a paywall—with all the reasons my novel is dragging me into a full-on psychological tailspin.

(Free Preview 💸 Full Access for Paid Subs)

🔗 open.substack.com/pub/zamdanga...

Toxic workplaces leave employees sick, scared, and looking for an exit. Here's how to combat unhealthy conditions
Organizations should build a culture of respect and safety and evaluate leaders on their conformity with those values.
www.apa.org/topics/healt...

Eternal Economic Growth? You’re Too Smart For That Let’s stop eating ourselves alive—and start actually evolving.

🚨 New essay drop! “Eternal Economic Growth? You’re Too Smart For That” 🚨

Capitalism isn't rewarding the fittest—it's selecting for those who can exploit others best. Let’s talk about why cooperation is better than culling.

🔗 open.substack.com/pub/zamdanga...

Thanks for sharing! I love the idea of contrasting certainty and commitment.