Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
How Acupuncture Can Support Recovery After Miscarriage
Introduction Miscarriage is a deeply emotional and physically challenging experience that affects many women and couples. The aftermath can bring feelings of grief, confusion, and isolation, alongside the physical need for recovery. In such vulnerable times, many women seek holistic approaches to support their healing. One such method is acupuncture, a gentle, non-invasive therapy rooted in traditional Chinese medicine that can provide emotional comfort and physical balance during this sensitive period.
By Kerry Rutherford Acupuncture7 months ago in Psyche
The Commander Within
*Title:* *The Commander Within* *Subtitle:* *Mastering the mind to lead the body* In a quiet village nestled between forests and hills, lived a young boy named *Raheel*. He was known for his short temper, restless habits, and impulsive actions. If he was angry, he would yell. If he was scared, he would freeze. If he was bored, he’d fidget endlessly. People liked him, but often said, “Raheel acts before thinking.”
By Ibrahim physicist7 months ago in Psyche
The Importance of Counseling Competencies in the Counseling Profession
The first counseling competency that I believe is extremely crucial to develop for myself is building counselor self-awareness. Taking time to reflect on what my strengths and weaknesses are is very important in order to know what area to grow in. Everyone has some form of biases that they must become cognizant of in order to not be impaired when working in the counseling profession.
By Rowan Finley 7 months ago in Psyche
The Dimming Mind: How Convenience Culture Is Making Us Forget How to Think. AI-Generated.
We live in an age of astonishing ease. With a few taps, we summon dinner, diagnose a rash, translate a foreign text, or generate an entire business plan. Algorithms anticipate our desires before we consciously register them. The idea that technology should do the thinking for us has become not only accepted—but celebrated.
By Ahmet Kıvanç Demirkıran7 months ago in Psyche
“Beneath the Shadows”
Beneath the Shadows A Journey Through Darkness Toward the Light Aisha sat in her dimly lit bedroom, knees pulled close to her chest, surrounded by the quiet hum of evening. Outside the window, the world moved on — cars passing, birds settling into nests, children calling one another home. But for her, the world had grown distant, trapped behind a thick glass of sadness that refused to shatter.
By Taimur Ahmad7 months ago in Psyche
The Voice That Only I Could Hear
When I was eight years old, I started hearing a voice. It wasn’t scary—not like the monsters under my bed or the thunder that shook my windows at night. It was soft. Kind. A whisper that curled around my thoughts like a blanket. At first, I thought it was imaginary. Kids make things up all the time, right?
By AdilKhantkr7 months ago in Psyche
An Invisible Cage
Part 1: "The Tangled Dance of Love and Control" The café was bathed in the soft glow of late afternoon, the kind of light that makes everything feel like a memory even as it’s happening. Sarah sat across from Ethan, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee mug, her eyes catching the way his lips curled into a half-smile as he recounted a story from work. It was always like this with him—moments of charm so potent they made her forget the hours of doubt that came before. They’d been together for two years, and yet, every date felt like a performance she was desperate to perfect.It started innocently enough. Ethan was magnetic, the kind of man who could command a room with a single glance. When they met at a mutual friend’s party, he’d locked eyes with her across the crowded living room, and by the end of the night, she was dizzy with his attention. He texted her the next day, a witty message that made her laugh out loud. Within weeks, they were inseparable. He’d plan elaborate dates—rooftop dinners, weekend getaways—and shower her with compliments that felt like poetry. “You’re different, Sarah,” he’d say, his voice low and deliberate. “You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met.” She’d blush, her heart swelling, unaware that those words were the first threads of a web being spun around her.But as the months passed, the cracks began to show. Ethan’s charm had a shadow side, one that emerged when Sarah didn’t meet his unspoken expectations. If she was late to a date, he’d give her the silent treatment for hours, only to later explain how her “carelessness” made him feel unvalued. If she spent too much time with friends, he’d make offhand comments about how she must not care about him. “I just thought you’d prioritize me,” he’d say, his tone heavy with disappointment. Sarah would apologize, rearrange her plans, and try harder to please him. She didn’t notice how her world was shrinking, how her friends’ names appeared less and less on her phone.The narcissism was subtle at first, cloaked in vulnerability. Ethan would share stories of his past—his difficult childhood, his exes who “never understood him”—and Sarah would feel a surge of empathy, determined to be the one who got it right. But his vulnerability was a trap. When she tried to share her own struggles, he’d listen for a moment before steering the conversation back to himself. “That’s tough,” he’d say, “but you know what’s been really hard for me lately?” Her feelings were always secondary, her role to soothe and support.One evening, after a particularly exhausting week, Sarah tried to talk to Ethan about her stress at work. She was mid-sentence when he interrupted, his voice sharp. “You think you’re the only one with problems? I’ve been dealing with way worse, Sarah.” She froze, her words dissolving. Later, when she tried to bring it up again, he brushed it off with a laugh, pulling her into his arms. “You’re too sensitive, babe. I’m just passionate, you know that.” And just like that, she’d doubt herself, wondering if she was overreacting.The cycle was relentless. Ethan would criticize her—her clothes weren’t “classy” enough, her opinions too “naïve”—and she’d try to change, hoping to win back the man who’d once called her perfect. But no matter how much she adjusted, it was never enough. He’d find new flaws, new ways to make her feel small. Yet, when she hinted at leaving, when the weight of his disapproval became too heavy, he’d shift gears. He’d show up with flowers, write her a long letter about how much she meant to him, or plan a romantic evening that felt like the early days. “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” he’d whisper, his eyes soft and pleading. And Sarah, desperate for the man she fell in love with, would stay.She felt it deep down, though—the gnawing sense that he was fed up with her, that she was a burden he tolerated only because she kept trying. She’d catch him rolling his eyes when she spoke, or notice how he’d check his phone while she poured her heart out. But when she tried to pull away, to reclaim some piece of herself, he’d reel her back in. One night, after a fight where he’d called her “selfish” for wanting to spend a weekend with her family, she told him she needed space. The next morning, her phone lit up with a message: “I was up all night thinking about you. I’m sorry, Sarah. You’re my everything. Let’s fix this.” She met him for dinner, and by the end of the night, she was apologizing again, promising to do better.This was the dance they danced—her chasing his approval, him dangling it just out of reach. She surrendered to it, not because she didn’t see the truth, but because she wanted so badly to believe in the version of Ethan she’d fallen for. She ignored the voice in her head that whispered she was losing herself, that his love was a cage disguised as devotion. She stayed because the moments of sweetness, however fleeting, were enough to keep her hooked. But the cost was her spirit, her confidence, her sense of who she was outside of his gaze. Their relationship became a series of performances. Sarah learned to anticipate Ethan’s moods, to tailor her words and actions to avoid his disapproval. She stopped wearing the bright colors she loved because he’d once said they were “tacky.” She stopped sharing her dreams of starting her own business because he’d laughed and called them “cute but unrealistic.” She became a shadow of herself, always second-guessing, always trying to be the woman he wanted. Yet, no matter how much she gave, he always seemed to want more.One incident stood out. They were at a friend’s wedding, and Sarah, feeling a rare moment of joy, laughed loudly at a joke. Ethan’s face darkened. Later, in the car, he berated her. “You embarrassed me,” he said, his voice cold. “Everyone was staring. You need to act more refined.” She apologized, tears stinging her eyes, but inside, she felt a flicker of defiance. Why was it always her fault? Why was she always the one who needed to change?That flicker grew over time, though it was buried under layers of self-doubt. She began to notice how Ethan never apologized sincerely, how his apologies were always followed by a “but” that shifted the blame back to her. She saw how he’d light up when others admired him, but dim when she needed his support. She started keeping a journal, writing down the moments that made her feel small, and the pages filled up faster than she expected.Still, leaving felt impossible. Every time she considered it, Ethan would sense her withdrawal and pull her back with grand gestures—a surprise trip, a heartfelt letter, a night of intimacy that made her feel seen again. She’d melt, convincing herself that this time, things would be different. But they never were. The cycle continued: criticism, withdrawal, sweet words, repeat. Sarah was trapped, not by chains, but by her own hope that he could change.
By Ahmad Mahsud7 months ago in Psyche
“I Quit Social Media for 30 Days — It Changed My Brain, My Routine, and My Reality”
Introduction: Let me be honest—I didn’t plan on quitting social media. Like most people, I’d scroll through Instagram the second I opened my eyes in the morning, check WhatsApp before I even brushed my teeth, and fall asleep with TikTok sounds in the background. I wasn’t even enjoying it anymore. It was just... a reflex.
By huzaifa Khan7 months ago in Psyche
The Quiet Storm Within
Full Story: The room was silent except for the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Lina sat curled in the corner, knees pulled close to her chest, eyes staring into empty space. To the outside world, she appeared calm, even collected. But inside her mind, a tempest raged — a quiet storm no one could see.
By VoiceWithin7 months ago in Psyche
