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
All In My HeadIs This Normal? “I Imagine Friendships With Fictional Characters” Perhaps it was emotional connection and comfort that I was seeking in my friendships with fictional characters. By Devrupa Rakshit
Party Of OneIs This Normal? “I Hate Parties” Parties are often a cocktail of social anxiety, sensory overload, and a debilitating pressure to "fit in" for many people. By Devrupa Rakshit
"I'm So Sorry"Is This Normal? “I Apologize To Inanimate Objects” My over-apologetic nature and my tendency to attribute human traits to objects contribute to why I say "Sorry!" to inanimate things. By Devrupa Rakshit
Eating Paper? No Papa.Is This Normal? “I Like Eating Paper” Xylophagia, a condition that makes people want to ingest paper, is a form of pica A.K.A an appetite for non-food items. By Devrupa Rakshit
Silence Please?Is This Normal? “I Hate Music” While some people can't derive pleasure from music, others with hypersensitive hearing even find musical beats painful. By Devrupa Rakshit