About this piece: Dysthymia, also known as dysthymic disorder, is a type of affective disorder that often resembles a less severe, yet more chronic form of major depression. The following are the most common symptoms of dysthymia in childhood: feeling hopeless or helpless, hypersensitivity to rejection, low self-esteem, difficulty concentrating, persistent feelings of sadness and intense loneliness.

As a child I was a satellite, tethered and free-floating, connected and disconnected, a member of a family and navigating childhood on my own.