Identity conflict

Breath Flow.
An element capable of sharing senses. But also memories.
Sometimes aggressively in short strong bursts, which you absolutely notice.
Sometimes slowly, persistently, over time.
  Which do you think is worse?

 

Description

Absorbing pieces of another being comes at the risk of losing parts of yourself. Some strong-willed people with a great sense of themselves successfully embrace this and even intentionally seek such opportunities. The weak-willed ones who are still developing themselves on the other hand risk puzzling together a completely different picture.    

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Cause

Some animals and beasts that utilize the Breath Flow can occasionally generate numerous tiny crystals instead of one larger singular deposit. Cooking meat of such specimens does not get rid of Breath crystals that form inside their bodies.
These crystals can be exceptionally small and barely if at all noticeable. And can easily be misinterpreted as seasoning,   These crystals can stay in meat that was not properly prepared, running the risk of being chewed on.
Swallowing the tiny crystals does not pose harm by itself.
It is the chewing that crushes the crystals and releases the Breath Flow inside them which starts the condition.   The memories of the animals or beasts stored within the Breath Flow get absorbed by the person. The speed of development of this ailment depends purely on the quantity of Breath Flow absorbed    

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Phases

While there are benefits to be gained from undergoing this ailment willingly, the poor people who find themselves suffering from this against their will have a safe opportunity to recover from it without harm.   Integration/Rejection
During the first phase, which occurs after the first consumption of the meat, the person will have feverish sleep.
During this sleep, the person's psyche either absorbs or rejects the memories and personality of the animal or beast contained within the absorbed Breath Flow. In case of Rejection, the entire ailment ends and does not progress further. However, repeated consumption starts this phase again with the possibility of different results.   Intensification
After the memories and personality get absorbed, it will start nudging the affected person to seek more meat from the same species to strengthen its influence.
Weaker individuals in this phase can become erratic and dangerous to others if deprived of access if there is an opportunity.
Strong-willed individuals are usually capable of controlling this invasive urge and can either decide to progress or let the ailment dissipate.   Impersonification
After absorbing a larger amount of Breath Flow from meat of the same species, the affected person starts showing new traits.
This will show not only as new accessories or clothing options. But even temperament changes to mimic the absorbed specimen
  Further development in this phase starts negatively affecting the diet of the person. This dietary change is however purely psychological, leading affected person down a dietary path that may not sustain their bodies in the long run.
People who intentionally seek out this ailment luckily know about this danger, and force themselves to maintain a healthy diet, until they are done absorbing the traits they sought.    

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Symptoms

Some symptoms appear as soon as after first consumption, while others signalize a critical danger to one's long-term well-being.   Changes in personality.
The temperament changes and instinctual reactions of absorbed species will be the first signs that something is happening.    Seeking further consumption of the same kind of badly prepared meat.
Intentionally seeking a meat that originally caused a feverish sleep is often considered unwise.
External interference and restraining is often used when the afflicted starts seeking and eating the meat even in its raw form, or when they start targeting Breath crystals.   Developing and increasing affinity towards certain animals and their traits.
Bordering with obsession, the afflicted people show interest in specific species beyond simple curiosity.   Embracing and integrating such traits into a choice of clothing
After absorbing enough, the afflicted person starts assimilating physical traits and behavioral patterns.
Recorded was even occasional development of increased senses and sharper instincts. Showing that even though the changes are on a psychological level, they can show in body adaptation as well.   Developing a preferable diet matching the diet of the assimilated animal.
Psychological change in what the person seeks to consume to satiate their hunger. Even though the nutritions are not helping the body.
This results in malnutrition combined with overconsumption. Starving to death even though they are eating more than before.    

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Treatment & Prevention

Propper meat preparation is often enough to prevent accidental absorption of the Breath Flow.   Should any small crystals make their way into a meal, to avoid identity conflict and corrosion, the affected person should refrain from further consumption.
Letting their psyche properly absorb the memories and personality in an amount that has no long-lasting nor intense effect on them.   Worse is the treatment of broken personality in people who let this ailment consume them instead.
Immediately ceasing any sort of further meat consumption is a must.
But unless a person had a diary or other collection of strong sentimental values that would help them rebuild themselves, such a procedure may even require a professional application of Veil Flow to forcibly separate the now stronger psyche of the consumed animal.
  Should the treatment fail, the weak-willed, or people with unstable personal roots may find themselves completely lost. Leaving behind an animal or a beast in a human body.    

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Discovery

An unknown cook created a recipe that used different methods of meat preparation than the others.
This new method did not cause any problems by itself, but in combination with a specific method some animals and beasts store Flow crystals in their bodies the resulting meat contained some amount of these crystals.
  At first, the fevers were attributed to food poisoning or some unknown parasite. The meat was then cooked more thoroughly to rule out the parasite after it was deemed too fresh to cause the poisoning.
This ailment would go completely unnoticed were it not for the overpopulation of specific long-extinct animal species. The Atocite that managed to counter this overpopulation got so much meat, that the next phases of this ailment suddenly appeared all around their population.
This sudden change in behavior of the entire population finally raised enough attention to properly investigate what was happening.