Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
How Not to Get Brainwashed
That expression, “when something is too good to be true, it usually is,” has actually been real in my life. Because of my current set of medications including Lamictal, I find myself harder to brainwash in the immediate present since I started Lamictal until now. The way brainwashing works is that the brainwasher starts off by making you feel really good. If you struggle with self-esteem like I do, then they make a huge effort to make you feel really good. This is why I’ve stared therapy at a local college yet again. I have stuff I need to sort through, skills I need to learn, and in general, I have to get my head together. Brainwashing is a repetitive phenomenon in which you are told the same things over and over again until you believe it. Some people are so used to it, they walk around unaware that they’ve been brainwashed to put up with abuse.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez6 years ago in Psyche
Over Time, the Narcissist Exposes Himself and Is Publicly Seen for Who He/She Is
Narcissists and psychopaths lie. They are reliant on the reactions of others to feel alive, be relevant, to exist—they talk continuously. When they are not interacting and getting reactions (supply) from others, they are irrelevant. Think of a phone without a battery in it. That is how they feel. A sense of nothingness.
By narcissistic whisperer, Andrea B. Wainer6 years ago in Psyche
Forgetting the Unforgettable
I don’t need to tell you that it is the seventh biggest killer in the world for you to know that it is one you would never want to get. I shouldn’t need to get into details for you to decide that any possible fate or death would be more merciful than living with this. Death is scary, but when your life is flooded by the anguish caused by dementia, many would rather choose death. I don’t blame them. Anyone that has a disease which causes the irreversible deterioration of the neurons within their brain until everything they ever loved or cared about is gone has a right to choose how long their suffering should last. Sadly, life isn't that simple.
By Libby Furminger6 years ago in Psyche
To Be or Not to Be? That Is Not Really a Question. Top Story - October 2019.
The physical health of Europeans is improving, yet the same cannot be said for mental health. Whereas public health has been a priority, it is mostly focused on physical health and disease prevention, with mental health being secondary. Nonetheless, suicide accounts for 1.4 percent of deaths worldwide and is the second most prominent cause of death amongst young people. The act of suicide should not be considered an individual issue, but rather one that affects that person’s family, their surroundings and society in general.
By Mariam Pagava6 years ago in Psyche
Gray/Grey Areas
Grey or Gray areas... Nothing in life is EVER black and white. It's funny how the universe works and as of late, I have been tapping in and tuning into what the universe is saying to me. What I have gotten so far, outside of little coincidences, is that I have had a concrete mindset in viewing everything. From the powers to be all the way down to the pregnant teen, my mindset will not waver when it comes down to my beliefs. In a way, it has worked well for me, allowing myself to expand my horizons and thought processes when presented a situation since open-mindedness is something I find great strength in having. In having that belief, I have also been on the end where I would sit frustrated or angry in the way that my mind actually thinks. Exhausting most of the time, My mind is left in a "thought" mess and no matter what I do, I can't see the "Grey/Gray area."
By Jay Williams6 years ago in Psyche
My Disability Isn't Your Scapegoat
There are few things that are more frustrating than when I hear someone toss, “Oh my god I am so ADD right now” around like it's the next big thing, when really it’s just your excuse for why you weren’t paying attention. And quite frankly, as someone who has struggled with the ups and downs of ADD/ADHD, it’s pretty insulting. And don't even get me started on the whole "your friend’s, sister’s, cousin’s, dog’s owner has ADD/ADHD which gives you a free pass to use it" mentality.
By Emily Christyson6 years ago in Psyche
DBT and Me
*Trigger warning—Talk of Suicidal Ideation I was sitting on the hardwood floor of my bedroom. I felt the room spinning. No, not the room. It was me, spiraling out of control into the blackness of my depression. It felt like mental quicksand, because the more I struggled against the despair the faster I was pulled under, until all I could feel was the overwhelming need to end my suffering.
By Becca Willson6 years ago in Psyche
5 Things I Wish I Knew in Early Recovery
The first year of my sobriety seemed like a constant battle with my disease of addiction. It would tell me I wasn’t good enough or that I wouldn’t be able to stay sober. There were days that felt hopeless, but, in retrospect, those experiences all taught me important lessons that I am now grateful for. Sobriety isn’t all happiness—its difficult and its painful. On the other hand, all of those difficulties and all of that pain is 100% worth the life I have today
By Cassidy Webb6 years ago in Psyche
