Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Is This Reasonable? This Stopped Me Killing Myself.
March 2020. Covid had just hit Ireland and it was announced we would be going into lockdown (our first of many as it turns out). I had just managed to make an appointment with the local Pieta House (a suicidal prevention and mental health support centre). I was probably one of the last people they had in face to face. From then on my counsellor (Amanda) would contact me through bi-weekly phone calls. I should explain that I was not suicidal and depressed because of Covid. It didn't help but rather my low state was due to my situation in life.
By Conor Matthews5 years ago in Psyche
Impressions of Death
All trials are trials for one’s life, just as all sentences are sentences of death. Oscar Wilde It has been said that psychology has a long past but a short history. When it comes to death, its history is short indeed. Although death has been occupying the human mind in numerous fields for many centuries, psychology only began to seriously explore it in the past few decades. While Freud gave death a prominent place in the spectrum of drives and anxieties, most psychologists chose, perhaps unconsciously, to disregard it. Death only entered mainstream psychology when the study of adulthood started to give notice to the elderly and gerontology was born. The idea of death has somewhat developed psychologically, but it seems to be stuck in its latent stage.
By Patrick M. Ohana5 years ago in Psyche
Consciousness Bound
We tend to regard ourselves, most of us, that is, as the species par excellence. Everything was created by God, so many of us believe, and this greatest being conceivable designed us to be special. It gave each one of us a brain that could think of itself and of myriad other things in extraordinary ways. Apparently, other animals were not awarded with such phenomenal aptitudes. We were the chosen ones, capable of practically infinite development that would lead us back to our Creator. But these brains inside our heads had to be more than just a mixture of organic substances. Thought and all that it entails had to originate from somewhere immaterial, a place where our consciousness could be relatively tranquil, away from the strains of existence. We therefore determined quite intuitively that our brains were separate from our minds. Dualism in terms of body and mind was widely adopted until the timely advent of brains like Hobbes, Darwin, Crick, and Dennett, just to name a few.
By Patrick M. Ohana5 years ago in Psyche
Vices
A fierce hurricane trapped two writers within the confines of a cabin in the middle of the woods. What was meant to be a weekend retreat spiraled into seven days of Hell. The rains have yet to cease. The winds howled while the thunder pounded the walls of their feeble sanctuary. Productivity wasn’t even an option, deadlines weren’t the slightest thought.
By Vincent Cotroneo5 years ago in Psyche
Drowning my sorrows in Chocolate
No matter how happy or fulfilling your life is we all have off days. We all have times when we are down in the dumps. We feel like things fall out of place from time to time. We go through; break ups, job changes, loss of loved ones and the list of things that get us down goes on and on. When life seems to continuously through us curve balls we look for ways to deal with the stress. Things to make us feel better about ourselves and lift us up. We all have different ways of dealing with life’s problems. Some of us turn to drinking or drugs. Some turn to more physical healthier stress relievers such as; boxing, crafts, rock climbing and what ever else. Many of us turn to food. A big one in particular with the ladies (and now my self) is chocolate.
By Paul whiddon 5 years ago in Psyche
Pandemic Affected Mentally?
How did the how pandemic affected your health? You probably already know that the recent Asian flu and Middle East swine flu outbreaks are being felt right now in the Western world. This is the first of seasonal flu viruses to hit us since the middle of the last century. And the question on many peoples' lips is, "How did it affect your health?" Here are some thoughts to help you figure out the answer.How did the recent health crisis affect you? One big change was in the number of people with anxiety disorders. These people were either excessively stressed, suffering from depression, or both. Stress and depression are often related to poor immune system function. People who are depressed or stressed are more susceptible to getting the flu.
By aryavansh malik5 years ago in Psyche
The Cherry, the Ice Cube, and the Straw
Abstract Over the past few decades, numerous studies have shown that a great number of adults (mostly women) have trouble with various versions of Piaget’s Water-Level Task. They seem to fail to realize that liquids remain invariantly horizontal despite the orientation of their containers. Theoretical interpretations of this curious fact and of the gender differences have focused around biological, sociocultural, and interactional hypotheses. In the present study, 120 female and 120 male university students were assessed for their performance on the Water-Level Task, which included the addition of three cues (i.e., a cherry, an ice cube, or a straw). It was hypothesized that gender differences will decrease and that performance will increase. While the latter hypothesis was definitely supported, the former hypothesis was not.
By Patrick M. Ohana5 years ago in Psyche
Chrysalis
Chelsea sat on the worn carpet of the master bedroom, a smooth drumstick in her hand. Years of traffic had matted the beige surface to little, scratchy nubs beneath her bare legs. Afternoon light filtered in through the open blinds. She sat cross legged with her children around her. Ashton, seventeen, with his jaw length hair, parted in the middle, patted a drum beat on the practice pad that lay on the floor between them. Chloe and Stella, fourteen and ten, respectively, also banged on the black, octagonal surface with long sticks.
By Chelsea Walker5 years ago in Psyche
Reasons To Avail The Services Of Psychologists
Many people find it quite difficult and uncomfortable to reach out to a professional psychologist. People usually avoid seeking help due to the fear that others might make fun of them, or it can be shameful. However, it is essential to overcome such social stigmas and avail the services of psychologists in Calgary for better mental health.
By John Smith5 years ago in Psyche
Childhood Trauma
”why didn’t you report them” is the question I always got but when you were abused by the woman who raised you the woman you saw as a mother and sadly love you just can’t go though with it. This is called Stockholm syndrome not many are familiar with the word but means that the victim formed a bond with the abuser. I am now 18 and free from my abuser I am telling my story so that people are more aware of abuse going on in children’s lives and for the people who are still going through it.
By Breanna Zuniga5 years ago in Psyche
