Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Top Tips for Dealing with an Anxiety Disorder
I know it's scary. I'm in the same position you are right now. Living with an anxiety disorder is not easy. It makes even the simplest of tasks a struggle. I had it for years before I got a diagnosis. For me, at first, putting a name to it seemed scarier than ever before. Even though I knew what I was up against, I felt like it was over powering me and I wasn't able to handle it as well as before. Well that ends now. I will win this battle against my mental health condition. I will beat anxiety. And you can too!
By Sirius Black7 years ago in Psyche
Demi Lovato's OD: Discussion Part 1
On July 24th is was announced that Demi Lovato had been rushed to the hospital after being found unconscious in her home due to a suspected overdose. Lovatics and celebrities expressed their support and best wishes for Demi, who has been vocal about her struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. Unfortunately, the devastating news was also met with a large amount of negativity, stereotyping of drug abuse, and even memes making a joke of the overdose.
By Lovatic Love7 years ago in Psyche
What Depression Looks Like
Her face fills up with a smile which you could tell is genuine from her eyes. When you talk she listens. She goes that extra mile to make you feel good and validated. No, she doesn’t say what you do is stupid. Because she knows what it feels like when someone hints the least negative thing.
By Blessed Night7 years ago in Psyche
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a blood curling scream inside your brain that does not give up and does not quit when you are tired. Anxiety is a constant itch on the back of your brain you can never scratch. Anxiety is eyes darting back and forth assessing the situation, wondering when our darkest fears are going to be realized. Cowering in your mind because someone else is around or because of the .2% possibility that this or that could happen. Anxiety is what happens when you ask me how my day has been, and I take a split second to respond with “ok” but inside my mind is going a million miles an hour wondering why, just why you would want to know this information and why you are gathering it? Anxiety is feeling like you cannot breathe, and your eyes are going to pop out of your skull any second because the pressure in the room just went up to a million pounds per square inch. Anxiety is walking into a room full of people and feeling like suicide would be an appropriate response to other’s hello’s.
By william lugo7 years ago in Psyche
3 Lies About PTSD
1. You will be stigmatized. People will assume you have been to war, or you were involved in such a horrendous attack that you can’t possibly function as a human being. While this IS true and valid, this may not be the case for everyone. Some individuals living with PTSD may have been assaulted sexually or physically, or may have been mentally or physically abused, or have faced a mass shooting, as is unfortunately becoming so prevalent as of lately. Any diagnosis of PTSD is valid. One seemingly “greater” traumatic experience does not invalidate the way your brain processes the traumatic experience you have faced. Do not believe the lie that because what you faced “was not as bad” as someone else, that your experience cannot warrant you a survivor. It’s ok to have the feelings you have. You never have to answer to another person. Every person is different. There are no two people exactly identical, and the same can be said for the experiences people go through in their lifetime.
By River Garman7 years ago in Psyche
A Way to Sum up My Depression
When people hear the word depression... it's often associated with sadness. This is one of the biggest misconceptions ever. Sadness is a common human emotion. It's something we feel when something goes wrong, like when you lose a loved one or when you go through a break up or divorce. Now depression is different. It's different because depression is being sad when everything in your life goes right.
By Shanelle Mahadew7 years ago in Psyche
Good Enough? - The Metaphorical Mountain
I. The Metaphorical Mountain When we are young, we lack the life experiences we will later acquire. As teenagers we have only lived less than a quarter of our lives. Therefore we do not have much to hold in comparison, and it is difficult to gain perspective. So as teenagers all problems and all joys seem to be—and feel to us—a very big deal. I think this is why as youngsters we always have big reactions, where everything is part of this huge drama called life. We don’t yet have the life experience to compare our current circumstances against anything and say, "Well at least it’s not as bad as that one time when…." Or "This is up there with the best days of my life, along with …. and …."
By Ruth Esca Bowmer7 years ago in Psyche
Quit Your Anti-Medication Stigma
I have to say that I’m floored every time I deal with an anti-medication/anti-vaxxer New Ager. That’s nuts. I mean, I need to use Western medicine to stay alive at all. If I’m irresponsible even once, it could kill me. Yes, it is true. One lapse of responsibility and I’m a goner. This is why I need to be responsible for taking my medication, something some of you cannot hope to grasp. So this is why whenever I do any kind of psychic training classes in the Bay Area, I need to be on the same page with you people.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in Psyche
I Owe My Life to the Forest
I got lost somewhere between dropping out of high school and living on the streets of Vancouver. I mean I was lost in life: a compass with no directions. I was addicted to the soft stuff (cigarettes and weed). The real problem, though, was my aimlessness. I was letting go of all my power, and why was I this way? There is no one answer except that, for whatever the reasons, I didn’t believe I was worthy of a prosperous life, a stable life, a life of abundance. I was creative and talented, but without a purpose—what good are those?
By Dunnigan Smyth7 years ago in Psyche
Personal Essay: Brain on Repeat
“Our ability to handle life's challenges is a measure of our strength of character”—Les Brown. I can barely remember my life without the number nine coming up on a daily basis like there was a tape recorder on repeat in my brain. I was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder early in 2014. I would wash my hands nine times and a nightly and morning routine that needed to be repeated nine times. It wasn’t until the Christmas holidays in late December, however, when things really became unbearable. That was when I started having the disconcerting feeling that nothing was real. Everything was in my head. I felt like I could reach through my stomach and feel my intestines through my skin. In my head, my parents, my friends, my life wasn’t real. I thought that strange occurrence was just a one-time thing, but it wasn’t the end; it was merely just the beginning. Months later, I would be diagnosed with a “derealization disorder.” It was bearable until it wasn’t. Once I felt I had completely lost control, I realized the longest journey I would ever travel would be within myself. So the journey began.
By Nikola Roumeliotis7 years ago in Psyche
The Controversy Behind '13 Reasons Why'
Warning: This paper contains strong and harsh topics from the show, mainly speaking over the subject of suicide. -- Tragic. Triggering. Glorified. Inspiring. Those are only a few words that describe the intensely controversial show from Netflix, 13 Reasons Why. This show has no censorship when it comes to the tragic tale of Hannah Baker, the teenage protagonist who killed herself in a seemingly perpetual scene in the final episode of the show’s first season. In fact, the effect of this was even more impacting than people may have imagined; a study was made recently after the first season’s release, showing that internet searches over suicide ideation rose in a short period of time. Clearly, a very negative impact on viewers. Even still, the show has been able to conjure up what have been the most acute topics, including the main subject in the spotlight, suicide. Thanks to this, viewers have had the courage to speak to others about their issues, or even help others that are in need. The biggest issue that goes around with the show is the fact that it does not censor these strong matters, leading to worry, triggering, and discussions over the idea of mitigating those scenes. One thing is certain though. This discussion will be going on for a while, but the show won’t disappear. People are saying that 13 Reasons Why glorifies suicide, due to how Hannah made 13 tapes for each person that caused her death, as well as it being harshly triggering, due to intense harassment, bullying, an uncensored suicide scene, and more. But the show has brought courage to viewers who are now able to speak their mind, help others, and be more open about this subject with the knowledge that this show will clearly not go away, and that this a good change for society if precautions are taken. This show is very open and, in fact, very helpful for people who can relate. It has already created world-wide discussion within people impacted by the show, sharing their stories and relating to characters. This has brought an immense amount of support within society. It surpasses the groups of people that find the show to be too harsh and brings up the fact that suicide is happening and there’s no reason to push it away. There may just be a need for support from others to make the show less harsh for audiences and create conversation within each other.
By Reuben Genevieve7 years ago in Psyche
