Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Psyche.

Anorexia Through Diary Entries
I would just like to preface that this is my real diary that I have kept for several years. As a person who has experienced many different mental health issues within that time, I find it interesting to go back to where it all started. I've also realized how helpful it is for people to see a glimpse of what certain disorders are actually like—no dramatization included.
By Holly7 years ago in Psyche
You Can't Pour From an Empty Glass
My husband has Crohn's Disease. He was diagnosed in November 2017 after a year-long battle with the illness that left him 60 lbs lighter, missing 14 inches of the small intestine that was taken out—because it was necrotic—following a colostomy, and an ileostomy, both of which have since been taken down. His surgeon described his GI tract as "looking like a bomb went off inside him," and stated that he wouldn't have been alive by Christmas 2017 if they hadn't caught it when they did. We had been dating for two months at this point.
By Lex C.7 years ago in Psyche
Carry On
Pitch Pine High School Alumnus Alex Davao carried a lucky shirt from a thrift store down on San Bernardino Road. It was not a special shirt, but Alex Davao liked to believe it was, so he wrote his name on the breast pocket in black sharpie, and told everyone it was lucky. He was an IB diploma candidate. International Baccalaureate. The most prestigious high school honor you could get, or so they say. He said he needed all the luck he could get.
By Clarisse Guevarra7 years ago in Psyche
Black Men, #YouGoodMan?
The emotional stoicism of Black men is something that few doctors, authors, families or society have talked about. While there are not many published works regarding this topic, the most notable of the few is We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity (2004) by Gloria Jean Watkins, better known by her writing name, bell hooks. The emotional crisis that is created by the lack of love and acceptance that Black men face is a mainstay in hooks' work.
By Markus Tyree7 years ago in Psyche
My Story
My name is Colin Sean VanWyke, my brand CSVW is exactly how it reads: my initials. Born & raised in the Great Lakes State of Michigan in the small town of Mason. Believe it or not, Art has not always been the name of my game. Hockey was, and has always been a crucial part of my life, even before I was able to tie my own skates. Hockey was my sole passion and it became all I wanted to live for. My dream was to one day be the starting goaltender for my home state’s NHL team, the Detroit Red Wings. Hockey prepared me for a lot of things. What it did not prepare me for, was the life I chose to begin following my graduation. I decided to take a year off, a "gap year" as some people know it as, to work, make a little money for myself, and be more independent.
By Colin VanWyke7 years ago in Psyche
My Choice of Disease
I remember the first time I used a drug for something other than it was intended for. I was 15 and I was at home waiting on two of my friends to come over to talk to me about something I had done to upset them. I was nervous about them confronting me about the situation. I hated confrontation, and I didn't know what I had done to make them angry with me. As I waited, I laid on the couch facing the kitchen, looking at the refrigerator, and sitting on the top of the refrigerator was a bottle of Codeine Cough Syrup, and I thought to myself how good that medicine made me feel a couple days ago when I was taking it for my cough. I thought I should take some now to make myself feel better, because I was feeling like hell because of the situation I was in. 15 minutes later I had taken at least five Tablespoons, and I was a new person. I felt happy, relaxed, I had no anxiety, and I felt confident, and self assured. Enough to face my friends and remedy the situation with no worries. I had just found heaven.
By Darci69 Ezinga7 years ago in Psyche
Thought: I Am Not Good Enough
Toxicity—externally—is chugging the bottle of tequila and blacking out at your local bar. It’s numbing out the internal affairs you have with yourself, while explicitly engaging with another empty soul. How is it easier to lay down with temptation while feeling the strokes of regret penetrating? You attempt to fill in empty promises with another human being who is just as lost as you. So, it’s two blind men guiding each other down the yellow brick road, yet not staying in between the lines.
By Alexa Callaway7 years ago in Psyche
"No." Is a Complete Sentence
People pleasing is not just doing someone a favour, or being kind. It's someone who doesn't know how to say NO. People pleasers act out of a place of pain, which can cause them their happiness, health, close relationships, and their right to self-expression. Because they fail to set good boundaries, they have their own preferences or desires suppressed. They also have their own feelings suppressed.
By Sonica M7 years ago in Psyche
Those Left Behind
Today I attended the final chapter in the life of a 40 year old young man, he had a lived a full life, albeit short. Diagnosed with a brain tumour 12 months ago, he stayed positive and underwent two major operations, chemotherapy, and experimental treatment all to no avail. Throughout that time he never complained, moaned or showed any signs of self pity, when friends and family failed to hide their emotions, he would simply say ‘it is, what it is’. A truly remarkable young man.
By FK Hoff7 years ago in Psyche
Remembering Trauma - My Story
Back in 2015, I was asking myself what I was passionate about, as I was already feeling quite stuck in the job I had been doing for five years. After some searching within, I decided I would train to be a psychosexual counsellor. My first step was to enroll in a Foundation Certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapy. For me to be able to continue onto the next part of the course, I had to do 50 hours of counselling for myself.
By Pelagia Pais7 years ago in Psyche
We Can ALL Be Winners Despite Our Diagnosis
"But I don't know WHY I feel this way. Do you think I could be bipolar or something?" That's the first question I asked my counselor when, years ago, my life was full of inexplicable ups and downs. Here's what I took away from that:
By Chuck Hinson7 years ago in Psyche
Nice Days Don't Reach Everyone
I’m the first to admit that I’m a real moaning git when I have anything wrong with me. I hate being ill, even in the slightest way. I always feel like I’m a "malfunctioning human" when I’m ill... "defective"... a thought contributed to by people close to me slagging me down because I can’t work and make money.
By ukconfederate7 years ago in Psyche