I'm Saskia. I currently live in South Wales but I'm orginally from Scotland / London (yeah I totally missed the middle of the UK growing up).
I recently quit a PhD and am in the process of starting work in the Civil Service. However, the security clearance has been very upsetting for me as they require a lot of personal information and have now requested to see my medical records I believe this is because I reported having mental health issues.
I was excited to start a new job but I am now concerned that I'm going to start off on the wrong foot as I have been so upset by the process. I am in a low income household and the extreme delay (at least 4 months) has put a lot of pressure on my partner to financially support us.
Other than that I find it difficult to get on with people and I tend to be a bit of a hermit despite enjoying being around people. Last year I attended a weekly art class which allowed me to be around with people without the pressure of conversation and I found it very rewarding. I love doing art and I believe I have some talent but I find it hard to actually get up and do it. I also enjoy reading academic textbooks on social science / psychology research methods and statistics (this was the area of my PhD).
I am excited to join this forum as I feel it is somewhere I can be myself.