Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
S.A.D.
The picture above portrays my deepest struggle in life. The struggle I've been battling for years. In the last four, it's become crippling beyond belief. That picture is of me, lost in the vivid beauty of the light while keeping a safe distance. I can see it right there! A way out of all of this. I am hesitant, my mind and thoughts viciously holding me back to no avail.
By Brooklyn Powell7 years ago in Psyche
Mental Health Awareness
I would like to start out by saying mental health is not something to be taken lightly, it is not a joke or a game, and there is nothing to be ashamed of if you have a mental disorder. People may be unkind or skeptical about what you say and feel, but that does not make your words or emotions any less credible. You are cared about and loved, always, and by no means, are you in this alone, no matter how alone you may feel.
By Sarah Leonelli7 years ago in Psyche
Not Today
I learned a magic trick that day. It was a card trick that the homeless man who I had become friends learned years ago, while on the streets in Tennessee. I was captivated by this particular trick, and it made me laugh because I was completely dumbfounded at how he did it. He said it was just a little card trick, but it brought so much light, and laughter to such a dark and sad place. We sat there doing the same magic trick over and over. I decided after the twentieth time that I should call my husband and update him. I had to give him the news that I wouldn’t be home until Monday at the earliest.
By Rachel Bonneval7 years ago in Psyche
These Weary Hands
David Foster Wallace once wrote: “Everything I’ve ever let go of has claw marks on it.” Though written in a work of fiction, knowing Wallace struggled with deep, paralyzing depression, and that he would go on to take his own life at age 46, these words hold a certain autobiographical sting to them.
By Taylor Church7 years ago in Psyche
Hidden Abuse
Abuse is hidden in different ways. Covering up bruises, hiding the yelling, putting on a smile, pretending as if nothing is happening. No one deserve abuse. No one deserves to get hurt, to be helpless, to be destroyed. I didn't deserve it; my family didn't deserve it.
By Monica Stegall7 years ago in Psyche
Depression
When I was ten, I felt like I was going through a pretty big change mentally and spiritually. I became more aware of a lot of life's bigger questions. My personality was developing more too. And with that all, came the depression. All I could describe it as, was a dark shadow floating over me. A feeling like nothing else, and not something someone my age at the time, should be experiencing.
By Ashly Arbes7 years ago in Psyche
What It's Really like Having Borderline Personality Disorder
At first, I though I was just crazy. From the mood swings to the impulsive behaviors to the distorted self image and excess sensitivity, I thought I was losing my mind. It took many visits to the doctor and therapist, and two inpatient hospitalizations to finally be diagnosed with BPD. The general symptoms of BPD are mood swings, uncertainty in how one sees themselves, viewing things to the extreme, intense anger, and impulsive behavior. I'm just going to go over how each of these symptoms makes me feel and effects my life personally.
By Kimberly Beier7 years ago in Psyche
My History with Food
From Childhood to Childbirth I have always had a tenuous relationship with food. Honestly, as long as I can remember food was one of my biggest sources of anxiety. Many adults have dependent and abusive relationships with food, but mine started way back when I was a kid. I remember going to school as a 5th grader with beautiful packed lunches containing leftovers from my favorite dinners and healthy snacks and delicious treats. And while these were all things that I loved in the safety of my own home, it only took one kid pointing at my tortellini salad, with avocados whose color had changed ever so slightly brownish in the fridge overnight and saying, "What is THAT?! It smells like poo," for me to start "forgetting" my lunches at home. For me to start coveting the lunches all the other kids brought with wonder-bread sandwiches of bologna and American cheese (you know-how kind that comes plastic wrapped in separate slices) and their fruit gushers and Oreos. I even yearned at tines to be "normal" enough to get to eat the cardboard pizza and canned fruit from the cafeteria. Because when you are nine all that you really want is to be the same as the kids around you. Now, as an adult I am so thankful for leftovers from dinner for lunch and healthy snacks to get me through the day and I'm so thankful that some of my mom's message was able to make it through the cloud of little kid nastiness. But my nine year old daughter, she wants to take sandwiches to school in her lunch everyday. She wants chips and fruit roll ups and the piece of fruit that I make her take always come back home with her. And while I would rather she take the leftover tamales (one of her favorite foods) or a thermos of soup that she loved last night, I never want her to come home starving and cranky because she refused to eat her food in front of her friends because someone teased her about her weird looking food.
By Allie Shawe7 years ago in Psyche
My Diagnosis: One Year On
One year ago I wrote a blog post about being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. At the time of my diagnosis, I felt a mixture of emotions. The main ones were a combination of terrified and relieved, which is always difficult to explain. I was devastated after being diagnosed with a chronic, horrible condition, but I was pleased that I had a name to put against the symptoms I had suffered for all my life.
By Laura Holliday7 years ago in Psyche
