Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Psyche.

Top 10 Things to NOT Do in Rehab. Top Story - August 2018.
10. Don't fight with the doctors, nurses, social workers, or maintenance staff. While on the surface this seems like a rather obvious concept to most of us, most patients—whether it is their maiden voyage into this realm of treatment or they are a well-seasoned traveler—enter such facilities first needing to detox from their substance of choice, and no one does so exactly the same way, from recovery time to adjusting to (possibly) new meds. And, of course, everyone is at a difference level of reality in terms of accepting their situation, and their course of action is usually the default setting of some combination of anger, confusion, depression, indifference, hostility and remorse.
By Daniel McCaffrey7 years ago in Psyche
The Causes of Substance Abuse
Most drugs and alcohol use comes from the genes in the first place. There can also be a history of mental illness since the person who has drug and alcohol problems is self-medicating, like I used to do as an all around addict to caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and second-hand marijuana smoke. Childhood trauma can predispose one to substance abuse since the way to deal with all the C-PTSD flashbacks I used to have is related to how much alcohol I was drinking so that I could cover up my feelings. Peer pressure also causes somebody to fall off the wagon only because the group doesn’t think there is anything wrong with alcohol or drug abuse.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in Psyche
My Friendship with Depression
I want to start this article this with a recommendation, a book that has helped me through tough times: it's called Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig. This book made me cry every time; it was like the writer knew exactly how I felt and knew how I wanted to feel. I strongly recommend it to people who, like me, struggle with depression. It helps to know that you are not alone. I hope that will help anyone who reads it and I hope you will be okay. Be strong, always.
By Antonela7 years ago in Psyche
Woman vs. Food
"If you're going through Hell, keep going" —Winston Churchill My Story There are many reasons why someone could develop an eating disorder (or ED for short). They could fill books with all the reasons, situations, and psychology behind them. (Actually… I’m pretty sure they have… ). And, as much as I would love to explore those reasons, that’s just too much information to cover here. In fact, I’m not even going to dive too deep into why my ED behaviors started (for personal reasons). But, to put it briefly, when I was a kid I always felt as if I wasn’t enough. With anything I did, I always thought that I was going to do something wrong, that, no matter what I did, I was always going to come up short. That feeling of inadequacy mixed with my anxiety and spiraled me into what I now know as ED behaviors. When I felt I had no control in life, I could control what I ate. But there was no specific moment that made me that way. When I look back, I just remember having these thoughts and rules around my body, what I wore, and what I ate. But that’s kind of how an eating disorder feels. You’re going along in life, thinking that everything is fine, and then one day you look in the mirror and don’t recognize yourself anymore.
By Rowan Flores7 years ago in Psyche
Grief
Sitting around a bed with close family quite literally watching a loved one take their last breath is indelible. Long fights with cancer are more common than ever and yet nothing can prepare you for that final breathe, no matter how long you've known it's in the cards.
By Daniel Noble7 years ago in Psyche
Why Are We Still Scared??!!
Sometimes, I can sit and think for a long time before starting a piece of writing. I plan it through carefully and thoughtfully, with a specific structure in mind before I start to type. Sometimes, however, I can simply see something or experience something, and with it there comes a sudden need to write all of my thoughts down with absolutely no structure or plan whatsoever. This particular piece of writing is a product of the latter.
By Laura .7 years ago in Psyche
How to Determine When Your Health Needs to Take Priority
This past weekend I came to a crossroads where I needed to make an extremely difficult decision. I was attending the international convention for the sorority I am a member of and volunteer for. In fact, my roles include Convention Co-Chair and Vice President on our Board of Directors so I was there helping run the convention. The first two days of the convention were great, stressful, exciting, exhilarating, challenging, and anxiety-inducing.
By Rachel Kass7 years ago in Psyche
Driven by Anxiety
Anxiety is a silent emotion that can take even the strongest for a wild ride down a dark road. It does it to me all the time. I feel lost and alone even when I'm surrounded by my most cherished companions.
By Lindsey Cooper7 years ago in Psyche
Dear Anxiety
Dear Anxiety My name is Tatiana, I am 20. You are the worst thing that has happened to me, you have caused damage to my emotion, and attack me in the most inconvenient times. I am so done with you, and it is time for you to leave me alone and never come back.
By Tatiana Stanley7 years ago in Psyche
How Yellow Shoes Almost Cost Me My Life
It was just like any other Saturday in Danville, Kentucky. Still being the only child, I often had a very exciting weekend planned, as a three year old. My parents decided that they were going to take their favorite only child out on the town to the local home and garden center to find new flowers to plant around our mailbox. Little did I know that, 15 years later, that day would still haunt me.
By Emily -7 years ago in Psyche
Embarrassed
My life has been a rollercoaster. A lot of issues happened during my childhood that caused a great deal of pain, but have definitely made me who I am today.
By Elizabeth Grace7 years ago in Psyche
Give Yourself Permission to Be Different
It feels like it’s been a while. It has been a while. I’ve been trying to reconnect and it hasn’t been going well. It’s not that writing feels like work really, but that I’ve kinda become upset with the branding that has come with it. I have lost touch with it. I don’t want to do it. And it kind of sucks to see people who want to see me write become disappointed by the fact that I have given up something real to live this dream life and I have somehow managed to latch on-to a failure mentality before I’ve even started my career.
By cavia oplicus7 years ago in Psyche