Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Have a Day
"Have a good day!" It's a pretty common phrase, is it not? Something we often say to one another -- something we may call to say to our significant other on the way to work, or shout after our children once they’ve scrambled to gather their book bags and lunch pals in time to make the bus. It’s a nice sentiment, but sometimes the expectation to have a good day is simply too much. Some of us may be struggling with long term depression or battling a treacherous physical disease, grieving the loss of a loved one, or experiencing the heartbreak of a relationship coming to an end. For some of us, from the moment we open our eyes to the sun streaming in through our bedroom window, we are doused with an overwhelmingly heavy blanket of sadness, anger, confusion, or loneliness, leaving us with not even a moment of serenity to bathe in before settling over us. A full day of expectations awaits us, and the mere thought of having to fulfill those expectations is exhausting; having to fulfill them with a cloud of disdain raining down on us seems damn near impossible.
By Abbey Walters8 years ago in Psyche
This Is Why Men & Women Dealing with Mental Illness Don't Talk About It
“Shoot, if it was me, I’d take a vacation instead.” I could not believe my ears when I heard those words, but that is what the CVS Pharmacy tech said to me after I paid $143.60* for one of my monthly prescriptions. Without fail, every month when I pick this up, the tech asks me if I am aware that it costs $143, as if I should reply, “Oh, no thanks- I actually don’t need that medicine after all.”
By Stephanie King8 years ago in Psyche
Gender Dysphoria
“Deep breath, sweetie. Straighten your spine. Bright smile! Think about a happy time in your life.” The words ring empty in my ears. A happy time in my life? Happy? My brain crackled and strained like a record on the brink of making some noise. I don’t know how I was expected to pull a happy expression when here I was, a spy undercover. It was advice a friend had given me yesterday—I heard something that helps people dealing with dysphoria is to act like you’re a spy undercover. I had brainstormed a name minutes earlier, a backstory and everything. Pendleton Schnell was the real name for myself I came up with, the same initials as my actual name. I was an adult with a baby face posing as a high school girl. I had been watching a man, one of the teachers, for months in this faux-investigation—on the brink of some kind of discovery, some evidence against him. Doing homework, projects, and attending class each day was just the name of the game. Taking senior photos was, too.
By Sol Stassi8 years ago in Psyche
5 Things I Use to Help Calm My Anxiety
I know I am not the only person who struggles daily with anxiety and I know it can be extremely hard to handle, especially when you are all out of ideas and are exhausted. So I came up with 5 things I try to help diffuse the situation when it arises with the help from family, friends, the internet, doctors and the world.
By Stormie Jacobson8 years ago in Psyche
How Veganism Is Helping Me To Overcome My Eating Disorder
During the depths of my eating disorder, I was completely controlled by an anorexic voice– a voice that would never leave, looming always over my shoulder. This voice would scream at me for eating, bullying me for every calorie I consumed and telling me I didn’t deserve it.
By Unity Addison8 years ago in Psyche
Our Thoughts Are Talking
Just go ahead and start writing? That's it? What happens after that? Is it the same thing that happens every time I stand up and speak out for mental health? That empty feeling, where I've just laid my entire life on the line again, exhausted every square inch of my physical being, shot every nerve from my head to my toe and completely drained myself mentally and emotionally before 10am again?
By Kelly Warne8 years ago in Psyche
My Mental Health Story
It is so difficult to tell people how I am feeling. Those who are closest to me know that I struggle and always say that I can speak to them, but it's not that simple. There is something in my mind that prevents me from telling them exactly what is wrong. I don't know why this happens, but I do know that I can't stop it. I so badly want to be able to open up to these people. I trust them more than anything, but I'm scared that if I say too much they'll see me differently, or hate me for how I feel, or laugh at me and call me stupid. I can't let that happen.
By Crazy Unicorn8 years ago in Psyche
Being an Extrovert With Anxiety
Yes, it happens. And it's the weirdest thing. Growing up I was such a loud and eccentric child; I was always making jokes and getting told off in class for talking to my friends too much. I always relished the opportunity of a school play or a class presentation. I just loved attention! Until I hit my teenage years, and everything went sideways.
By Katie Rees8 years ago in Psyche
We Must Stop Stigmatizing Mental Health
"She's mentally ill, therefore she is violent." Time and time again through my own long experience of mental health problems, and as a mental health champion, have I heard this. Yes, it is true, there are some mental health problems that can be violent at times, but it is THE 'mental health problem,' not the person, who is violent.
By Carol Ann Townend8 years ago in Psyche
