Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Psyche.

A Mental Health Ripple Effect
Recently, I started to have second thoughts about whether or not I should continue to write or talk about mental health online after a negative comment was made regarding the way I discussed a topic that was not only very close to my heart but also extremely important. I was gutted by the fact that something that I had put so much time and effort into could be perceived in such a negative way, especially when all I had wanted to do was educate others and help others understand some of the more complex sides of mental illness. After this happened, I started to become increasingly worried about what people might be thinking about me and my writing whenever I posted something online regarding mental health. Was I being judged negatively or positively? Was I sharing too much? Did I look like an 'attention seeker'? I thought about this for a while until I realised that the good things that come from being open and honest about mental health can outweigh the bad by far.
By Laura .8 years ago in Psyche
The Struggles of a Chronic Dieter
I am 25 years old and I have spent over 15 years of my life worried about my weight. If you want to get technical, that is 60 percent of the time I have spent on this Earth. I know, it sounds like a cliché—a young female worried about her weight? That isn’t something new! But it is the reality for so many people.
By ms_jessica _stewart8 years ago in Psyche
Afraid
Was I born wretched? Were we all born evil? Or were we born into evil? We are all of that and everything in between. We have the ability to be wretched, kind, amazing, evil. Damn. Thinking about it, I didn't realize how fucking terrible I would feel throughout my 23 years of living. You think it's all rainbows and sunshine? Here's a tip, it's NOT. Even when you conquer one obstacle, there's plenty more to follow. Sounds depressing, doesn't it? Well, it's depressing to try and completely be okay and joyous every single day and have life fuck you. You thought you were doing so well. You probably were doing well. Then you kind of just stop caring. I'm not saying being positive is a bad thing but you can't run from suffering—you CAN'T. I've been there, masking all of the things I was going through and I broke, man. It almost came to a point to where I wanted to end my life. I felt like a stuffed animal, with all of this repressed sadness and anger towards life. I was swallowing any outlet that I could find to feel better. I was in this dark, dark place so far deep I couldn't swim or move. Life is fucking crazy and its an every day battle and it's hard to accept it.
By Nicolette Heisler8 years ago in Psyche
The Fear of Death - That Will Never Go Away
Nobody is sure what happens to people when they die, and that is because, despite religious teachings, we still aren’t sure. Movies like Flatliners (1990) attempt to decipher what happens when we die, as the medical students fiddle around with putting themselves close to death but reviving themselves when they manage to come back from the dead. Humans have a history of a fear of death back when we were hunter-gatherers. Life on this planet used to be very simple before agriculture was developed. As agriculture evolved, we messed up our soil leading to the soil degradation of today.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Psyche
Best Teas for Stress and Depression
How does tea calm me down? Whether you're looking for a remedy to soothe your depression or stress, tea can certainly help. This is because tea can relax you in two ways: with the actual ingredients of the tea, and the act of drinking tea.
By Kelsey Lange8 years ago in Psyche
What to Do
This is just a simple rant that every 18-year-old has to go through, and it can be summed up quite nicely: I don't know what the fuck to do.
By Mochi Mirangue8 years ago in Psyche
Irrational Fears: A Survival Guide
When you get to know someone, the conversation often turns to fears and phobias. Most of those fears may seem like they are completely irrational and come out of the blue. A phobia, by definition, is an intense fear of something that poses little-to-no actual danger. These are easily avoidable, or something you will never have to worry about. You can develop a phobia to anything to be honest. Usually, your phobias will appear when you are a child, but there are plenty of adults that develop phobias later in life. Common phobias are small places, heights, flying, snakes, needles, and clowns.
By Lexi S.8 years ago in Psyche
Would It Matter
I've always wondered, would it matter if I was here? Would anyone truly miss me if I ever decided to just end it? This question was always stuck in my mind, did my 'friends' really care about me? Would it matter to them if I were to disappear one day? I tell myself, "Of course they would, Sienna, you're just being over-dramatic again," but there's a problem with that simple answer. The little voices in the back of my head scream, they scream and tell me that it's all a lie. That my simple answer is nothing but a big fat lie, just another little white lie to get me through another day. I've seen the signs, my friends are pushing me away, telling me they don't need me, that they don't want me. That's okay, though, no one has ever wanted me. My parents didn't want me, my siblings didn't want me, only the evil voices that live in the back of my head want me. So, I always ask myself, would it matter?
By Jinx Cipriano8 years ago in Psyche
10 Things People Don’t Tell You About Grief
1. There is no model of grief. Throw everything you’ve read out the window and expect the emotional roller coaster ride of your life. Forget Kubler-Ross, or the dual process, or a nice linear journey of acceptance.
By Vee Gray8 years ago in Psyche
An Introverted Extrovert?
From what I’ve heard, it’s not uncommon to question whether you’re introverted or extroverted. I’ve been struggling with this thought for as long as I’ve known what the words meant.
By Allie Thomas8 years ago in Psyche
The Demi Lovato Relapse Collapse
“I’m sorry I’m not sober...” Demi Lovato sings on her new single. Cynics theorized that the songstress was using addiction to sell more copies of her new CD, while others worried that she was crying out for much-needed help to no avail. In either case, the sobriety drama that surrounds Demi Lovato came to a head before noon on July 24, when emergency personnel were called because she had collapsed due to a suspected overdose on heroin or another opioid such as Meth. The next few hours were chaotic, haunting, and full of the kind of drama that is usually reserved for the silver screen.
By Edward Anderson8 years ago in Psyche
Unless You've Been Where Demi Lovato Is, Stand Down
If I was to be completely honest, I've never been a huge fan of Demi Lovato. Don't get me wrong. The woman's got a serious set of pipes and is an amazing singer. I admire that. What I have admired more in recent months is her outspokenness when it comes to mental health and addiction. She's been honest about the stuff she's dealt with over the last few years, and she's really become someone for young people to admire. She's someone to admire not just for her singing ability - what she's dealt with is something which no one should ever have to deal with, and yet far too many people do.
By Christina St-Jean8 years ago in Psyche