Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Circumstance
Step into my world for a moment will you. Living in a place that for all intents and purposes I do not wish to be, yet because of "circumstance," I remain. I arrived in this godforsaken place two years ago and honestly at that time I had no idea what exactly I was getting myself into, truly I did not. Being of unsound mind upon arriving here in the downtown east-side of Vancouver, still in the depth of a full-blown addiction yet sober, I was certainly in no condition to even fully understand where I was or what I was about to embark upon from any reasonable perspective. Hungover and alone in a city I had not been in for twenty years, no friends, no connections, no home, no money. All I literally had to my name was the suitcase I carried and the clothes therein—most of my other personal belongings in a storage locker, unknowingly at that time, never to be seen again. I was starting over. I was in the downtown east-side.
By Joseph Willson6 years ago in Psyche
Overcoming the Mess
I've been a hoarder for as long as I can remember. I keep useless shit, receipts from delis in Quebec, train tickets from France, the list goes on and on. I moved to a small town a little over two years ago, and never had anyone come over to my apartment because of the disaster it has always been in... I'm talking about clothes all over the floor (separate piles of clean and dirty), dishes all over the counters making it impossible for making any sort of actual food, and just mess and garbage everywhere. This is now all starting to change.
By Ginger Curls6 years ago in Psyche
Life
Have you ever wondered why things happen the way they do? Have you ever awoken in the morning and asked yourself, "What really is the point of my continued existence on this planet?" I don't mean to the point of ending that existence, no, no, not at all—just, what the hell is the point of it all? Probably not quite to that extent, but you get my meaning, right? Truly what is life all about? Do I specifically have a purpose or direction; do I have any idea where my life is headed or where the hell I will end up 20 years from now, or even tomorrow? Sometimes I think my purpose is the same as it always has been, yet lately I seemed to have embarked on a new and different path that I am really enjoying with my past knowledge of a great many things keeping me in bread and water, to put it bluntly.
By Joseph Willson6 years ago in Psyche
“How to Stay Sane in a Crazy World”
Hi I’m Laurene Hope. In 2012 I came out of a Therapeutic community without a trace of Bpd after two years, where I learnt, how to sit with my pain and heal my childhood abuse issues with-out medication. Now if I can do it so can others. In the community I was reduced to feeling like a child again, through surrendering to the process. We had a validation bell, which you rang if and when you were triggered. The community and staff would then gather around and offer support. This would enable you to distract from your pain. The support could be a walk in the park or in my case some kind of chore to ground me. Bit by bit you were able to adjust. The community experience was a difficult one for me. I call it my own personal Holacaust as I’m Jewish. Like many others I couldn’t settle, due to my need to fight everything and everyone. I am also an ex war child who grew up in Israel.
By Lauren Ottewill6 years ago in Psyche
7 Signs that You Have an Addictive Personality
Why does one person regularly drink, play games, or have other bad habits all their life but remains moderate, while the other can become addicted even to food? The ability to maintain balance and not allow yourself too much is determined not only by education but also by character traits.
By Amelia Grant6 years ago in Psyche
Friends Without Faces
It was now June of 1999 and the anxiety that was taking over my life was beginning to have more of a profound effect on me. As I have said before, routines are very important to people with Asperger's syndrome. We thrive on routine. It helps us navigate through what can be a very confusing world that we live in. I had a daily routine when it came to doing house chores. I came up with 7 different chores that needed to be done at my little studio apartment and did one a day. Monday was take out the trash, Tuesday was wipe down the tops and so on. When I was doing well, I kept up with the routine. Going to work is the same way. You have a routine. You work the same 5 days a week and get up at the same time and catch the bus at the same time. When I was doing well, I was rarely sick and never missed the bus. If I am distracted or not doing well ,this routine gets affected as well.
By Marc Sander7 years ago in Psyche
The Darkest Day
I didn't like the person I saw in the mirror. My eyes were baggy with dark shadows underneath. The once bright green of my irises had faded to a dull, sickly color. The whites were now yellow, the blood vessels prominent. My skin sagged off my bones and had a yellowish tinge to it. Where I had once had a slim, toned figure, I was now nothing more than a sack of skin stretched taut over a skeleton.
By Damien Wood7 years ago in Psyche
Assist Your Mental Health by Using a Healthy Diet
Can your mental health be utilized? Yes! Be aware that mental health is the biggest cause of illness worldwide. The good news is that with the proper diet, anyone can maintain a healthy lifestyle change no matter if you are young or old. When you want to improve your mental health by utilizing health food and drinks, it not only improves your mood, but your mental health symptoms will be reduced. These include health symptoms for people who have anxiety and depression. What are the best foods for your mental health? There are several food and drinks you can always count on to give you better health.
By Mia Morales7 years ago in Psyche
Drunk
This woman captured here has been drunkenly molded into place through the suffering of active addiction over the course of fifteen years. This joy captured here, on this woman, has been soberly unlocked over the course of just two years, this 8th of August, 2019.
By Katie Burke7 years ago in Psyche
