Regarding the Misapplication of the Somatic Regulator (1912)

To Whom It May Concern: Please accept this formal, if deeply inadequate, apology regarding the introduction of the condition now colloquially termed 'anxiety.' I assure you that the intent behind the apparatus—the S-R Unit, or Somatic Regulator—was purely theoretical. We believed we were merely mapping the natural frequencies of human apprehension, a sort of internal bio-resonance chart. The machinery itself was a marvel of electromechanical design. It consisted primarily of three components: the primary induction coil, which glowed with a sickly, intermittent cerulean light; the oscillating diaphragm, mounted on a gimbal that moved with an erratic, almost panicked rhythm; and the crystal array, which was responsible for the final, disruptive frequency. This array required the precise, sustained input of localized dread, which, regrettably, proved to be far more potent than anticipated. The process was supposed to be gentle—a mere observation. However, the coupling of the induction coil's fluctuating current with the diaphragm's unpredictable motion created a feedback loop. The resulting resonance did not merely measure apprehension; it amplified it, forcing the subject to experience the full, unfiltered panic of the system itself. I must admit that the ethical boundaries of the experiment were significantly exceeded. The resulting data was, frankly, unusable, given the sheer level of emotional distress it generated. I recommend the immediate decommissioning of the S-R Unit and the complete redaction of all associated notes. Yours in regret, Dr. Alistair V. Thorne. (The rest is redacted.)