Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Where Are You From? The Question That Triggers an Identity Crisis.
Born in Zimbabwe. Raised in Birmingham, England. Moved for university. Briefly moved countries. Not having stayed still in this wonderful life has meant sometimes, I don’t know how to answer the simple question of where I’m from. The answer I give, may or may not be satisfying enough for the recipient, therefore, I’m forced to give a life story on some occasions or sometimes briefly panic upon hearing the simple phrase, “where are you from?”. It all comes from the concept of identity and the role it plays in our lives. For some it is simpler, then for the remaining lot it is a deep dive into our lives and what makes up our identity.
By Rudo Christine Gwaze6 years ago in Psyche
Relating to Meditation On the Toilet
SATURDAY APRIL 11, 2020 This is how I am earning a living right now. While I am employed, I do not have an income. I am on leave from work, as a lot of you know, under doctor's orders. She doesn't want me anywhere near the Virus risk, even though I am extraordinarily thankful to be healthy so far. So thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has tipped me at the bottom of my posts. Each and every one of you has remained anonymous, which I respect. So I am expressing my gratitude to you here.
By Karen Lichtman6 years ago in Psyche
The hardest ghosts to get rid of are the ones in our conscience
My dad walks towards me, the light is dim and I’m in my friend’s beach house, where we used to spend our summers drinking and playing card games, running into the ocean in the dark like ghouls howling in the night. This house had always been my escape, her grandmother lived a few doors down and when I had run away from home for the first time I had stayed with her; an old Italian lady who insisted on feeding me sweet tea and bread.
By April Shepherd6 years ago in Psyche
More than Enough
There I was, sitting at my kitchen table, blissfully watching a video on fireflies. The sheer brilliance and magic of their performance nearly brought me to tears. With theatrical elegance and choreography to rival that of my city’s renowned Royal Winnipeg Ballet, tiny, winged dancers darted and flickered through each Grande Jeté, each Pirouette, with ethereal perfection across a forest stage of moss and lichens. In my state of revelry I barely noticed that my son had entered the room and stood watching, the fireflies, over my shoulder.
By Christina Perry6 years ago in Psyche
Out Of Focus Puzzle Approach To Dealing With My PTSD Symptoms
PTSD is a mental health challenge that plagues many 1st responders and I was no different. 27 years of firefighting had left me battling it and depression burdening me with many of the common problematic symptoms that tend to come along with PTSD. There were intrusive symptoms, avoidance symptoms, alterations in cognition and mood and arousal and reactivity type symptoms.
By Rob Leathen6 years ago in Psyche
It Takes Time to OverCome an Abusive Past When History Repeats itself.
I went through many different cycles of abuse, during my childhood, at school and in adulthood. Up to the age of 22 I was physically and emotionally abused. I am a friendly person, and very sensitive. It seems my sensitivity was seen as a vulnerability for others to use against me. I went through many different cycles including physical violence, rape , break ins and people took advantage of me left, right and center. Some of it I spoke out about and reached out for help, but that fell on deaf ears, landing me in a very vulnerable position where I almost died, and I have spoken about that in my article 'I found love on a Psychiatric Ward.' This is a follow up from that article, and talks about how these issues affected me in more detail.
By Carol Ann Townend6 years ago in Psyche
