Eating in public By Cassie (Idyllic.) For people who suffer from eating disorders or anxiety, eating in public isn’t exactly a walk in the park. A fear of eating in public or in front of others is a specific phobia that is a lot more common in people than it is perceived to be. A specific phobia is defined as "a lasting and unreasonable fear caused by the presence or thought of a specific object or situation that usually poses little or no actual danger" source]. Signs of specific phobias...

Applying for university in the UK By Cara (Deadpool) All applications to universities in the UK, regardless of whether they're home (domestic) or international students, are processed through an online system known as the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). This system allows an applicant to enter all of their data (such as personal details and exam results) and will also keep track of the current exams an applicant is taking, updating automatically when results are...

The Troubles in Northern Ireland By Gareth (Catharsis.) Northern Ireland has endured a history of political and social instability. As a disputed constituent country of the United Kingdom, ordinary residents of Ulster have long lived in everyday fear. The worst stretch of violence that ever occurred in Ulster is known as "The Troubles". Two factions decided that enough was enough, and took to violent measures to profess their loyalty to either the Crown, or the Irish freedom fight. Widely...

Quick Review - Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide By Nat (Natsumi) Since the second in what is set to be a thrilling trilogy was released recently I thought everyone should get their teeth into the first of these amazing books; Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide. Jake Harker is a relatively normal teenage boy who knows everything there is to know about horror. You name it, he's memorised it; vampires, witches, werewolves, zombies, ghouls, everything. But what happens when his obsession...

Quick Review - 10 O'clock Live By Rob In late January 2011 the UK's Channel 4 launched a weekly news show based on the format of its widely popular "Alternative Election Night Live" (circa May 2010). The basic premise is to combine comedy with genuine current events, enabling it to be both entertaining and educational. Aimed predominantly at younger viewers, 10 O'Clock Live successfully makes news far more accessible to its target audience. Despite its value in this regard, it is concerning...

What is autism spectrum disorder? By Cassie (Idyllic.) Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a mental condition that usually presents itself within the first two or three years of one’s life. ASD reduces brain development and functioning. For someone with this condition, communication and other social interaction can be extremely challenging. ASD is normally diagnosed at two or three years old; however, new research is allowing children to be diagnosed at as young as six months old. Although...

Understanding the effects of sexual abuse on your partner By Kyra (Radioactive.) Trying to walk in the shoes of a victim of abuse or assault is understandably difficult. Sometimes it may feel like attempts to comfort, help, or sympathize with a victim of trauma can go unnoticed or unappreciated. The victim may be going through significant stress in multiple areas of their lives, and the trauma and stress cannot be fixed or forgotten overnight, even if it happened years before. This article...

The Armenian Genocide By Jenna (.:BreakingBeautifully:.) In April of 1915 the Ottoman Empire launched a methodical attack on its Armenian population which resulted in the death of a million and a half Armenians. These persecutions would continue with varying levels of intensity until 1923 when the Ottoman Empire came to an end and was replaced by the Republic of Turkey. The Ottoman Empire was ruled by Turks who practiced Islam; the Armenians were Christian which made them a minority. Due to...

Virtually You: The Dangerous Powers of the E-Personality by Elias Aboujaoude, MD By Robin (PSY) There are many books that discuss the dangers of an "internet addiction," which can occur when people fall victim to obsessions over online video games, compulsive shopping, and pathological gambling, among other things. Society as a whole understands that spending too much time on the internet can have a variety of consequences, including loss of sleep or insomnia, increased distractibility or...

How to make lucky stars By Hollie (James Moriarty) Chances are many of you have tried out some form of origami in your lifetime, perhaps in school or on your own. This could be by creating something as simple as a chatterbox or, for some people, practicing a more advanced level of origami. Either way, this can be an extremely beneficial and fulfilling activity to take up. The problem for many people, however, is that many designs can look extremely complex, and for beginners, may often...

Asexuality: myths and misconceptions By Chess (Syzygy.) Although most people have heard the term 'asexual', there is some confusion surrounding what exactly this means. Some people, for example, regard asexuality as a choice much like abstinence. Others mistakenly believe that sexual and romantic attraction are one and the same, attributing asexuality to a lack of romantic attraction to other people. Many of these myths have developed as a result of a simple lack of awareness, and with...

Debunking myths of self harm By Jenny (coolkid98) This article describes elements of self harm that may be triggering for some members; therefore, it is encouraged to utilise the Alternatives to Self Harm thread before reading further. There are many myths about self harm and why people self harm. The majority of these views are false and lead to stereotypical views of self harm, which is why it is important to debunk these myths. Some of the myths prevent self harmers from telling...

The role of dogs in society By Chess (Syzygy.) Since their domestication, dogs have proven to be invaluable to human society, from hunting to guarding to providing companionship. They have definitely earned their name as 'man's best friend’, as they are great companions, and they can also be trained to assist people in many different ways. Although the concept of guide dogs is not new, there has been a recent branching out as people have come to understand more about how useful dogs can be....

Through distorted lenses By Casey (Casey.) Stereotypes. We all hold some form of them in our minds. Everyone stereotypes others, even those who claim they do not. Sometimes these stereotypes influence how we see the world and how we react to things that do not fit these stereotypes. Recently, in the news, there was a child whose parents refuse to tell anyone whether the child was a boy or a girl. They decided to let the child grow without being forced into the molds of gender roles and...

The Single Life, Part Two By Dave (dr2005) and Katrina Questions and Answers Thus far, we have conjoined our thoughts and views on each of the above issues presented. However, to give readers a more comprehensive look, we have chosen to answer each of the following questions separately. In doing this, readers are given a male perspective as well as a female perspective, each from different countries, backgrounds, and upbringings. Question #1: “I’ve been single forever. Where do I...