In medieval Germany, the gates to cities were closed and locked at nightfall. Those that had not yet returned were forced to spend the night outside the safety of the city walls, exposed to predators, thieves, and potential death. The fear of this was known as torschlusspanik; literally, “gate-shut-panic”. In modern English, the word has … Continue reading Torschlusspanik
Category: Personal
Overcoming Dyslexia
It is time I made an embarrassing confession: I have dyslexia. I was recently looking through some old reports taken as a child, and my learning difficulty was quite damning. When I was twelve years old, I had the spelling capability of a six-year-old. My vocabulary was in the 3rd percentile. In other words, 97% … Continue reading Overcoming Dyslexia
Keep a Journal
On this exact date, over three years ago, I arrived at university. I can still recall the overwhelming loneliness and self-doubt. I called my sister and told her it felt as if everyone I knew and cared about had suddenly died, and I was alone in the world. I decided that night to keep a … Continue reading Keep a Journal
How To Write When Depressed
Without downplaying it, I have depression. I was diagnosed at sixteen, and though I’m able to hide it most of the time, it has only got worse as the years have passed. Those who have this debilitating illness know that, sometimes, life is just too much, and even things you might otherwise enjoy provide no satisfaction. … Continue reading How To Write When Depressed
