Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Five Things I Learned During One Year of Therapy
In January of 2020, I made the decision to go into therapy for the third time. I had been in therapy two times prior in my life: at 8 years old after my parents divorced, and at 21 when my father died. After losing my dad, I was prescribed anti-anxiety medication. The medicine did help, but it was getting to the point where it wasn’t enough. I took a chance on the counseling center that I found through my new insurance company; not thinking that I would find someone right away that I liked, but I got very lucky. The therapist that I was assigned was incredibly helpful from day one. And I have learned quite a bit throughout these 52+ sessions.
By Allyson Yates5 years ago in Psyche
Titanium Woman
I am Standing in the middle of a maelstrom. A vortex. A tornado. In the stillness of hell that buffets me. I take a breath and remember. I am a cog in a wheel in the circle of life. My time is always Now. I am never too late or too early. I am always perfectly aligned with the machinations of the multiverse. A wheel within a wheel slowly Inexorably locking into place, in time and space.
By Tanya Arons 5 years ago in Psyche
Finding Forever
Prologue~ Being beaten everyday at home and school was hard, but tolerable for Charlie. He had lived with it ever since he had come out with that boy. When it came to his home life, it was his father that would beat him. His mother, on the other hand, was okay with his preference; yet she did not stop her husband from beating their son unconscious, mainly because she was lead to believe that the man would merely ignore and scold the boy. Another reason Charlie's mother did not interfere, or talking sense into her husband, was the chance that he would take his anger out on her; and with the multiple times that he had almost killed the woman, it was understandable why she stayed quite. At school it was continuous name calling, shoving and beatings for Charlie. His teachers' always said he was a joyful child, then one day he closed off. To everyone they saw Charlie as "clumsy" and because he was clumsy that was why he would show up with cuts and bruises. Charlie did not counter the suspicion that he was clumsy, he let people say it, he let them believe it.
By Nenise Mariposa5 years ago in Psyche
Alcohol (Alcoholism)
Alcohol (Alcoholism) Can you stop? Is it worth it? From personal experience it isn’t. Drinking isn’t worth your life or risking the lives of others. It ruins people’s attitude, personality and has them doing stupid things. I’m just as guilty as everyone else. However, I was able to overcome it. Cut it out of my life which has been the best thing. Things have been changing since I've decided to make a change for a better future for myself and children as should we all. Being aware of what alcohol can do is important. It isn’t something that we should mess around with. Our bodies are precious just like everyday is precious. That is why I wanted to share what alcohol (alcoholism) is. Things to look for, what to do and how you can overcome it too. After the past few years of dealing with someone who suffers from it, I know that this can benefit others. Your life is only a struggle when you allow it to be, but you can be better than letting a silly drink control your life.
By MICHELLE SMITH5 years ago in Psyche
An open letter to the woman who birthed me
The thing I hear so often is "nobody deserves that," but I find this naïve as there tends to be a multitude of people, who have done things so absolutely heinous that nothing in the world should bring about forgiveness. As a child, I experienced the feeling of begging for death so often I will never be able to tally them up for all to see. I spent hours, years, decades, counting down for my day of death.
By L.D. Malachite 5 years ago in Psyche
Hope Springs. It’s Vernal.
“Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder subset in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year exhibit depressive symptoms at the same time each year, most commonly in winter. Common symptoms include sleeping too much and having little to no energy, and overeating.” (Wikipedia)
By Ken Fendley5 years ago in Psyche
Why It Matters
One day I am casually scrolling through my Facebook feed and come across an art contest that is asking for submissions dealing with mental health awareness and suicide prevention, and submission could be art work, a short story or poetry. The word poetry sparked my interest even though I hadn’t written any poetry in a long time for this cause was near and dear to my heart, so I am confident that the subject matter would inspire me to place words on the pages of the new little black book journal that I had purchased some time ago but have never used. Now seems like the perfect time to find my favorite pen, and begin letting words spill out of my fingertips onto the pages of this journal. I mean that’s why I bought it, right?
By ReGina Crawford5 years ago in Psyche
