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[terpsichore]

A decade ago, the venerable Ms. Mentor coined the expression "exploding head syndrome" to describe the nuttiness that overcomes many academics in the fall.  

http://chronicle.com/article/Exploding-Head-Syndrome/45695/

Back in those halcyon days Ms. Mentor declared Halloween to be the official end of Exploding Head Syndrome Month.  But here we are in November and there is no end in sight! I don't know whether it's the bad economy, or the endless war, or swine flu, but there seem to be trainwrecks or near misses all over the fora, and nearly everyone I know is stressed to the breaking point.  

Are the rest of you noticing an upswing in the Exploding Head Syndrome Index (EHSI)? What are your tips on how to combat Exploding Head Syndrome?

[elsie]

I make it a point to warn students, both grad and undergrad, about that. A week ago, one told me that he'd been surprised when I warned them how hellacious October can be, but he said that I'd been proved right.

[henry_adams]

In the current lousy economy, many undergrads realize they won't get jobs, so they might as well go to grad/law/you-name-it school.  These people show up at my door or send desperate emails asking for a dozen letters of recommendation and a review of their personal statements.  I've received three or four times as many requests this year as in the past. 

[fiona]

It's also known as Imploding Head Syndrome.

http://books.google.com/books?id=unBFGIG8zBoC&pg=PA115&lpg=PA115&dq=%22imploding+head+syndrome%22&source=bl&ots=QKeYUz7MFn&sig=eIhlmdaBcbXxmn2gA8FpQ4Gb4J8&hl=en&ei=3kMQS8ffN4r8MLuSqDM&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CBgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22imploding%20head%20syndrome%22&f=false

Sorry for long URL. I don't know how to do short ones.

[terpsichore]

These may be two distinct phenomena. An imploding object collapses in on itself, while an explosion involves a messy outward expansion.

I see that some forumites are coping by starting new threads that are guaranteed to attract those with Imploding/Exploding Head Syndrome.