Back in the late summer of 2007, I was diagnosed with a tension-based disorder that can cause great abdominal discomfort. In the weeks leading up to the two months of work that I missed (insert Office Space joke) and ten-day stint in the hospital, I was playing BioShock quite a bit. I enjoyed it a lot, but lacked the skills to process its intensity and the resulting stress. BioShock was simply too much for me.

In the years since, I’ve grown adept at handling this disorder. Pills and dietary restrictions help, but consciously working on improving my view of life and the way in which I react to tense situations is what’s really made the difference. Looking back to four years ago and realizing how much I’d grown, I decided it was time to get back on the horse. I had been BioShock’s bitch for too long; it was time to reclaim myself, even if merely in my own eyes.