Is It Your First?Is This Normal? ‘I Struggle to Fall Asleep in New Places’ An evolutionary instinct called the 'first night effect' makes us prone to staying alert in new places -- in order to keep safe. By Devrupa Rakshit
Too White!Is This Normal? ‘White Lights Make Me Anxious’ White light's higher blue content can evoke feelings of alertness, exacerbating the stress and anxiety that one might already be feeling. By Devrupa Rakshit
Kalle Hi NachnaIs This Normal? ‘Dancing Alone At Home Makes Me Happy’ Dancing alone in the safe space of one's home affords one with a unique opportunity for self-expression, away from the public gaze, By Devrupa Rakshit
Can't Catch A BreakIs This Normal? ‘I Feel Guilty For Enjoying My Time Off Work’ Perfectionist tendencies can further amplify the impact of societal pressures that induce a fear of falling behind. By Devrupa Rakshit
Do You Really Mean It?Is This Normal? ‘I Get Really Awkward When Someone Compliments Me’ Our inability to swiftly conjure a response that's respectful, proportionate, modest, and also, acceptable, can make compliments awkward. By Devrupa Rakshit
No In-BetweensIs This Normal? ‘I Can’t Do Anything in Moderation’ Dubbed as extreme behavior, being unable to function in moderation is considered a form of cognitive distortion in the brain. By Devrupa Rakshit
What Was I Saying?Is This Normal? “I Lose My Train of Thought When I Look People in the Eye” Making eye contact can hijack people's brains in a way that makes it difficult for them think and process -- making it difficult to talk. By Devrupa Rakshit
Food Separation MovementIs This Normal: ‘I Can’t Stand Different Foods Touching Each Other on My Plate’ There's a name for the driving factor behind food separatism: brumotactillophobia, or the fear of different food items touching each other. By Devrupa Rakshit
Incoming Word VomitIs This Normal? ‘I Always Wake Up Embarrassed About Oversharing Every Time I Socialize’ Anxiety and loneliness are, more often than not, strong driving forces behind oversharing at social gatherings. By Devrupa Rakshit
Under ObservationIs This Normal? “I Can’t Do Anything Right While I’m Being Observed” "It's as though the awareness of having someone's eyes on me, prevents me from exercising control over my limbs." By Devrupa Rakshit
Take Me Back HomeIs This Normal? “New Places Make Me Anxious” An anxiety disorder appears to be at the root of this "fear" of new places. It has a name too: agoraphobia. By Devrupa Rakshit
I Am A MirrorIs This Normal? “I Adopt the Accents of People I Spend Time With” Code-switching stems from the human instinct to 'fit in' better with our immediate company, and feel more 'in tune' with them By Devrupa Rakshit
Sleepless At NightIs This Normal? “I Can’t Make Myself Go To Bed on Time” Differences in circadian rhythms determine our chronotype -- determining whether we’re "morning larks" or "night owls." By Devrupa Rakshit
Happier With My HeadphonesIs This Normal? “I Hate Concerts” Heightened sensitivity to stimuli can make concerts and live music unenjoyable and even painful for many. By Devrupa Rakshit
Contagious TearsIs This Normal? “I Tear Up Every Time I Try to Pacify Someone Who’s Crying” "[E]motions can really be contagious. It’s called emotional contagion, and sharing emotions can happen easier than you’d think." By Devrupa Rakshit
I'll Take It In My RoomIs This Normal? ‘I Don’t Like to Eat in Front of Other People’ The greater the negativity one associates with experiences of communal dining, the more stressful the experience can become. By Devrupa Rakshit
Not A Quitter!Is This Normal? “I Can’t Quit a Book Even After I’ve Lost Interest in It” We struggle to quit things we've already invested time, energy, and money into even if the present cost of sustaining it outweighs the benefits we derive from it. By Devrupa Rakshit
Living In A MovieIs This Normal? “I Experience Life As if I’m Watching Myself in a Movie” When you're literally acting for an invisible audience every day, it's easy to get caught up in observing yourself rather than experiencing life. By Devrupa Rakshit