This Is Where In The Episode, Steven Comes In.

Can't seem to stop deep diving into scenes from this episode so here goes another.

LONG RAMBLING AHEAD, MENTION OF SELF INFLICTED VIOLENCE (NOTHING GRAPHIC) AND HEAVY EMOTIONS. PERSONAL NOTES ADDED. Any comments would be very, very much appreciated. ))

This was so difficult to watch. First, it's objectively disturbing/ heartbreaking. But the add-on is that this is MARC. Stoic, no-nonsense, poised Marc. Always confident and calculated movements - Marc. Seeing him get triggered so badly that his control absolutely crashes is a jarring (and very realistic) portrayal.

I see the trigger coming from two levels at the forefront. First the words "your fault" and the second, the person seemingly accusing him is STEVEN. Steven who's supposed to be his anchor and escape. That stress is too much.

I don't know if such reactions have a technical term, but I've had them. The body fills up with energy, your arms and legs have a surge of energy and desperation and you don't want to take that rage out on anything else. Not a conscious decision, almost an involuntary action. You slap and hit yourself, pull your hair, scratch or bite your skin, your own body seemingly out of your control. Until the energy surge disappears as suddenly as it came and you slump with barely any left to keep going.

I don't know what they're called, or why they're so much worse when the trigger comes from a person you trust. But they happen. And they're followed by extreme exhaustion, and if it happened in front of anyone before you could grab onto the last strands of your control....extreme embarrassment. EXTREME embarrassment. Doesn't help if said person looks scared of you, or ashamed of you, or keeps telling you to stop acting this way. Because you literally can't. Your body's not obeying you...rather...your brain's refusing to give any orders. It's on autopilot.

This is where in the episode, Steven comes in.

I can't speak for everyone, but if anyone in front of you has a breakdown like this, Steven's approach might be a good way to deal with it. Take a step back, don't repeat what triggered them, drop the issue for now. Assuring, soothing, compassionate. No mention of how they just acted. Give them personal space. I understand how confusing this would be to someone who's never experienced it, but we can all try a bit harder, right?

Assure them, soothe them, don't question their actions. They're at an incredibly vulnerable state....and the fact that they even allowed themselves to be seen like that to you(even after they tried absolutehardest to stop it) might indicate they trust and care about you a lot.

Your friends and family recovering from abuse need your support, badly. Please be generous with it. It's the least we all can do.