Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Psyche.

Covid-19 and Anxiety
Have you noticed your anxiety increasing as each news clip brings the Covid-19 virus closer to home? I have but I have a problem already with anxiety. I have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder which according to the ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America) affects about 40% of the American population. In the last two weeks or so, I have been feeling more uneasy and nervous.
By Edward Kelly Jr6 years ago in Psyche
Posting everything down to the bone
You open your screen to a blurry photo of an emaciated body from shoulders to knees. You are drawn to the tie of the strings on the little cotton shorts she wears. The strings are tied tight, and yet the shorts still hang below her protruding hips.
By RachelMorgan6 years ago in Psyche
On Death and Dying
Throughout my life I have always found comfort in the fact that one day, I am going to die. Death does not frighten me and I do not think it ever has or will. Non-existence does not bother me and also, never has. The very thought of receiving an eternal rest puts some sort of calm into my bones and almost strikes joy into my blood. I would love nothing more than for this world and all its future generations to go spinning on without me. Some people have found that strange that I take comfort in knowing death will one day come and so, allow me to explain.
By Annie Kapur6 years ago in Psyche
Sometimes it’s Ok to Not Be Ok
I consider myself to be a pretty strong, independent, and resilient woman. I like to accomplish things on my own and find it difficult to ask others for help. Asking someone for help was viewed as a weakness to me for most of my life. It was quite normal for me to say "I'm fine" regardless of the chaos that was occuring in my mind. It took me a long time to realize that pretending to be ok all time was making me sick. It would manifest itself into some very physical ailments due to my constant anxiety that people were going to find out that I wasn't fine at all. For many years I experienced chronic stomach pain, IBS, nausea, rashes, and eczema. I was always tired and wanted to sleep all the time. I was clinically depressed, but I truly believed that I just needed to "suck it up" and take care of my obligations. I felt a great deal of anxiety and shame because I couldn't seem to snap out of it and stop being such a downer. When you are in the midst of a depressive episode, telling yourself to "get over it" is pretty counterproductive as it just seems to pick away at your feelings of self-worth.
By Stacey Broad6 years ago in Psyche
My Secret Addiction
For as long as I can remember I have always felt the need to look after others. It doesn’t matter if it’s a family member, friend, or even someone that I barely know. I have an inherent need to help “fix” the lives of others whether they want me to or not. Now wanting to help others is not a bad thing, unless it begins to be at the cost of your own physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. I am extremely sensitive to the feelings of others, and I find it very difficult to take a step back and remove myself from situations in which I over-empathize with someone else. This is especially true if it is someone I care about. I became almost obsessive in my need to help others, and I would often begin to sacrifice my own mental health and financial stability to support someone who I believed to need my help. When I look back now, I realize that I was providing support to people who hadn’t even asked for my help. I truly believed that they needed me, they just didn’t know it yet. My feelings of self-worth began to “depend” on my ability and need to make things better for those whose lives I believed needed to be fixed.
By Stacey Broad6 years ago in Psyche
Tame Your Squirrel Brain: Conversation Tips for People With ADD
Hey there, you, yeah the one with 14 tabs open in Chrome with Youtube playing in the background and a game going on their phone; this article's for you. I have lived with ADD/ADHD for 33 years now,as well as raising children with it, and throughout that time I've accumulated hundreds of tips and tricks for getting through your day, not annoying people, and functioning almost like a “normal” person without medication. Now to be clear, this article is not to knock medication, I was on Ritalin for almost a decade before I joined the army and that crap works; if you think it will help then talk to a doctor. I also want to say upfront that I am of the opinion that ADD/ADHD is not a terrible condition, but instead simply a different way that your brain operates, and in many cases can actually be beneficial if you can learn how to take advantage of it.
By Doug Hall6 years ago in Psyche
Survive with anxiety
I've been struggling with anxiety since my early adolescence but only in the last few years since I learnt about yoga and meditation did I start utilising philosophy for self-help. At first it seemed nearly impossible to have any control over my own thoughts and feelings but since I became more open towards spiritualism and read enough about different practices that are rooted in eastern philosophies I gained a better insight over mental problems. I had to realise that the negative thinking patterns are the main problem and that they can be changed. There are a number of facts that I had to understand to be able to deal with my issues.
By Imola Q6 years ago in Psyche
"Never Trust a Hippie"
You know, it's funny. I remember way back when I was pushing sixteen and in this stupidly exaggerated bubble of false optimism. Like a hippie would think, I truly believed the world was kind-spirited and generous beyond belief. I didn't believe in lies, unfaithful partners or corrupt politicians. I thought we were all equal; beautiful and entwined. And, honestly, that's all I ever wanted to believe as I progressed through this manic life. But you know how things are; one big dramatic event can change the way you think or act. And, it's that one certain moment I speak of that managed to make me drop the flower and pick up a deep, perplexing anger that would eventually destroy me. It's that moment that made me question myself and speak only one eye-opening line.
By Jord Tury6 years ago in Psyche
Human
HUMAN! (Marilyn Monroe) “I can be selfish, yeah, so impatient…” I used to think that motherhood would change me. That somehow the person growing inside me, could make me a better one. Never taking the time to realize, that the notion of my unborn child absolving me of my shortcomings (selfishness being one), was the very definition of selfishness.
By Alaine Hay6 years ago in Psyche
What is self care!?
seriously though, what is self care? I see so many things on the media and posts that say “self care is self love”, but I am still in the dark about what it means. I see so many big name youtubers and instagram models doing a face mask and drinking tea with the tag line of self care. So I took part and through on a face mask and drank my green tea and waited till I felt better. When I washed my face the bitterness of life had not gone away. It did make my face look good though.
By Ariana Rose6 years ago in Psyche
How to Deal with Your Anxiety Over COVID-19
Yesterday I woke up with a fever, and it slightly terrified me. Normally, I would’ve drank some OJ, eaten some Pho, taken a nap and not thought much else of it. But sh*t is not normal right now.
By Sierra Vandervort 6 years ago in Psyche
Sobering Up from Toxic Feelings
When I was 19 years old, I started exhibiting severe mental health issues that I completely ignored. I remember the exact moment they went from mild to severe too- not a pretty minute for me. I had built up anxiety, depression, un-faced conflicts, confused feelings, and denial of the situation I was in until one day I woke up covered in sweat and tears, with a fever and immediate symptoms of projectile vomiting and body aches. Naturally, I thought I had the flu...
By red6 years ago in Psyche