Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Colour Therapy
The first pigment of colour was invented by artist’s as early as 40,000 years ago, creating a basic palette of five colours: red, yellow, brown, black, and white. The history of colour, has since become a perpetual discovery of exploration and scientific advancement. Novel pigments have accompanied the development of art history’s greatest movements from the Renaissance to Impressionism (Gottesman, 2016). Today colour is accepted as a potent therapeutic agent with therapeutic powers for rapid healing. Recent breakthroughs in the use of visual brain stimulation by colour in the method of Emotional Transformation Therapy report rapid recovery of trauma, depression, physical pain and spiritual blockages (Vazquez, p.192). Furthermore, Chromotherapy exemplifies a significant development of science in the field of electromagnetic radiation/energy (Azeemi & Raza, 2005).
By Shanie Walker5 years ago in Psyche
Dance Movement Therapy (DMT)
Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) encourages movement-based creative expression by a relational and therapeutic use of dance for the treatment of health-related psychological problems (DTAA, 2014-2019). Dance therapy offers benefits to people on medications and people affected by physical problems, depression, and physically or sexually abused (Art Therapy, 2019). Dance movement therapy is effective for enhanced quality of life and reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Positive effects are found on the increase of subjective well-being, positive mood, and body image (Koch, Kunz, Lykou &, Cruz).
By Shanie Walker5 years ago in Psyche
Feeling No Emotions
I used to always try to be empathetic and feel what others felt. I wanted to act appropriately when any situation was brought to me. With that in mind, I would try to feel what it would be like if I had mental illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia, psychotic, etc. There were few things I didn't acknowledge or think about. It wasn't a problem, for situations with those illnesses would rarely pop up. It never came to me, though, that I wouldn’t have to act in order for me to experience what it was like to have an illness.
By Neo Levesque5 years ago in Psyche
Emotional Dependency in Relationships
Emotional dependency creates an inner emptiness where the person abandons themselves and expects their partner to fill their emptiness and make them feel loved and safe. In emotionally dependent relationships, normal ups and downs become artificially steep. The stability of the relationship becomes compromised by one’s dependency traits. The dependent person sets up conditions for pleasure that are impossible to maintain, guaranteeing failure and the distress which accompanies it. The emotionally dependent relationship occurs with significant overlap between the physiological effects of love and addiction. Social addiction nurtures defeatist ideas that cannot be changed because of altered thinking and behaviors, disconcerting dependency. (Jantz, 2015). Factors, both, emotional and physical, contribute to certain behaviors, either within a single relationship or switching relationships. The emotional dependent individual succumbs in relationships both romantic relationships and parent-child relationships. Whereby, the dependent person does not take full responsibility for their own feelings, e.g.; nurturing painful life feelings of loneliness, helplessness over others, heartache, heartbreak, sorrow and grief. Furthermore, the dependent does not define their own inner worth, instead, makes others' approval and attention responsible for their sense of worth. Dependency relationships makes unhealthy relationship situations that causes wounded feelings of anxiety, depression, victim hurt, guilt, shame, anger and jealousy (Paul, 2010).
By Shanie Walker5 years ago in Psyche
Psychiatry and Real Life
Psychiatry is optimistic about antidepressants. The debate has been won, it is said, as more evidence from better trials comes out in support of their use. I’m not so sure. I support their use very reservedly, and have some thoughts about translational problems from clinical trials into real-life prescribing. The gap is larger than us doctors seem to realise.
By Nick Birthday 5 years ago in Psyche
Mindfulness
Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy offers a practical set of evidence-based techniques derived from mindfulness training together with principles of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to address a broad range of psychological disorders and general stress conditions. Valuable mindfulness exercises of both RAIN and STOP embeds central principles and mechanisms of mindfulness to include equanimity and impermanence. Mindfulness involves paying attention to each event experienced in the present moment within our body and mind, with a non-judgmental, non-reactive and accepting attitude (Cayoun and Elbourne, 2019). Depression, anxiety and stress disorders are among the most common illnesses in the community and in primary care. The mental health practitioner is well placed to identify and take a primary role in treatment of these illnesses, to facilitate better mental health outcomes (Zarcone, 2009). In learning to be mindful, through RAIN and STOP, the patient can begin to counter many of their everyday sufferings or symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. Both mindfulness practices aid with peoples doubts, fears or difficult emotions to mitigate negative effects with a healing presence.
By Shanie Walker5 years ago in Psyche
A Year Later
If you said to me this time last year that I'd be in a happier place with myself, I'd have called you a liar and laughed in your face. But, to my surprise, I'm not laughing. I'm not! In fact, I thank the universe for stopping me from trying to end my own life and convincing me in its own way to keep living. Because of the universe, I went against my original plan, and I am still here.
By Starlightify5 years ago in Psyche
Depression and Music
The room is black in the early morning hours while I rise from my bedroom and walk out into the hallway. It is cream white and the hallway (like the rest of the house) has a smell of sage from my wife burning her Sage Incense the night before that has wafted through the rest of the house. As I enter the living room I notice the remaining stick sticking out of the long wooden holder. I open the cabinet where the remaining sage sticks were, I grab and light one. Then, as I turn toward the table across from me, I grab from the bag a handful of Sage and place it in a conch shell, light it and begin to smudge and cleanse my home after smudging myself first.
By William L. Truax III5 years ago in Psyche
When Sexting Becomes an Addiction
For many, sexting or delivering sexually explicit material via electronic devices can turn into an addiction. While sexting addiction isn't a diagnosable mental state condition; many specialists state it could be an element of sexual addiction and an important effect on day-to-day functioning.
By Fahim Chughtai5 years ago in Psyche
