Understanding yourself

What is said, and what is underneath.

Studies of the sentences people offer long before they can name what is happening. Starting points for reading, never a diagnosis.

10 studies in Emotions and personality · Show every study

Conceptual paper artwork: Two nested porcelain bowls drawn apart by a fine oxblood thread.

N° 01

Personality disorder

“People always leave me in the end.”

Intense emotions, stormy relationships, and the fear of being left. Specific therapies reduce symptoms.

Conceptual paper artwork: Sharp bend in overlapping slate road planes; oxblood strip caught at the turn.

N° 02

Anger

“I’m not an angry person. Usually.”

Anger is a normal emotion. When it explodes, hurts people or frightens a family, it can be understood and managed.

Conceptual paper artwork: Folded cotton sleeve with a seam gently repaired in pale thread, generous ivory space.

N° 03

Self-harm

“It’s the only thing that makes the noise stop.”

Self-harm is a sign of overwhelming pain, not attention-seeking. With understanding and the right help, many people find other ways through.

Conceptual paper artwork: Import ledger grid folds one ruled line back, leaving a clear route to page edge.

N° 04

Paranoid personality disorder

“Everyone wants something from me. I trust no one.”

A long-standing pattern of suspicion that costs people their relationships and work. Careful therapy can loosen it.

Conceptual paper artwork: Small brass award disk low inside oversized paper frame; shadow rises above it.

N° 05

Low self-esteem

“I’m just not good enough. Everyone else is so put-together.”

A harsh inner voice that dismisses every success. Low self-esteem is linked to anxiety and depression, and it can change.

Paper artwork: A Lalmatia fashion studio with a dress form and a fan of changing colour swatches

N° 06

Cyclothymia

“My moods change faster than the Dhaka sky.”

Years of ups and downs that never quite reach mania or major depression, but wear down work and relationships. It has a name, and it can be helped.

Paper artwork: a folded jamdani sari beside an office lanyard

N° 07

Imposter feelings

“Any day now, they’ll find out I don’t belong here.”

The fear of being found out despite every sign of success. Imposter feelings are common, often travel with anxiety, and can be worked on.

Paper artwork: a torch lighting an exam paper among ripe mangoes

N° 08

Perfectionism

“Ninety-eight isn’t a hundred.”

High standards help, until fear of mistakes takes over. How perfectionism links with anxiety and depression in young people, and how CBT can help.

Paper artwork: An unfinished blank manuscript with a red pencil outside a closed Banglabazar print shop

N° 09

Creative block

“Six weeks to the Boi Mela. The page is still blank.”

When the words stop coming, it may be an ordinary pause, or a sign of depression or anxiety. How to tell, and what helps.

Paper artwork: earplugs and a book on a car seat, lights blurred outside the rainy window at night

N° 10

Autism diagnosed in adulthood

“I always felt there was a rule everyone else knew.”

Some autistic people are not diagnosed until adulthood, after years of feeling out of step. A diagnosis can bring understanding and better support.