Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
We Aren't Choosing to Drown, Our Minds Make Us Feel Like We Already Are...
I never once when growing up thought, When I get older, I would love to deal with consistent struggles of the mind. That sure sounds glamorous. And neither did the millions of others who suffer, and I think we tend to forget that. Nothing about this toxicity is beautiful, and you are only making it worse by talking about it as if they chose this life themselves.
By Courtney Joyce8 years ago in Psyche
When Praying Isn't Enough
TRIGGER WARNING* Nearly three years ago, a close friend of mine committed suicide. It wasn’t her first attempt. She had had an ongoing habit of downing an assortment of pills in flagrant attempts to make herself pass out, and finally, she was successful.
By Micky Thinks8 years ago in Psyche
An Open Letter to My Parents Who Don't Understand My Mental Illness
To My Parents Who Don’t Understand My Mental Illness, Ever since I was young, I’ve always been different, you both say this endlessly. I’ve always been different than the rest of the family. Honestly, I’ve always felt like a bit of a black sheep even among you guys and my brother. Something about me has always been off though; I didn’t process things the same way you guys did. I took everything a bit more personally, my moods were more unstable and I lashed out more, I was your “rebel kid,” and I’ve always been impulsive; but at the end of the day, I always seemed like a relatively happy-go-lucky girl as I should have been. I come from a family who can provide for me financially and I have been awarded so many amazing opportunities in my life that I am very thankful for, but still, there was always this emptiness inside of me.
By Londyn Nichole8 years ago in Psyche
5 Things I Wish You Knew About My Anxiety
It's becoming less taboo of a topic, but my mental illnesses (anxiety and depression) are difficult to speak about. For years, only my closest, closest friends knew that I took anti-depressants, and that was only after months, if not years, of being friends.
By Stephanie King8 years ago in Psyche
Photo Analysis
Photo Analysis College is a difficult time for many students. Our whole lives we have been told what to do. From preschool to high school, we have been told how to dress, and when to go to bed. We had to ask permission to go to the bathroom, and had to attend class. If you didn’t do those things, then you would get into big trouble. Sara Shakeel, who is a college student, created the image, "Preparing for Monday," as a metaphor for the freedom students have in college, de-stressing, and hiding behind our sadness. To start, the image depicts a woman outside jumping over pills of Prozac. Prozac is a medication for those who have certain mental disorders. It is prescribed to those who may have depression, bulimia, anxiety, or even obsessive compulsive disorder. The juxtaposition of the happy woman and the pills is quite interesting. It is fascinating because as I said earlier, the pills are used to treat depression and this woman is merry. This comparison is a connection to college. The woman is the freedom college students have. Some may not know how to use it. Students might use it wisely and others may go off onto the deep end. Maybe that is why they would take Prozac.
By Hannah Leonard8 years ago in Psyche
My First Father's Day and Depression
My first father’s day as a father was somewhat bittersweet. I have struggled over how to approach this subject, and the best way I could find is straight forward. As I write this at work, I hope not to break down. Please understand first and foremost that this is no fault of my wife and/or child. Anyone who has dealt with depression can tell you what a motherfucker depression is.
By James Howell8 years ago in Psyche
The Gardener's Guide to Mental Health.
Let’s face it: life can be crazy. It can get so fast paced that you often question the reasons why you’re on this merry-go-round in the first place. It seemed, to me at least, that everyone has this perfect life. Instagram posts of guys with ripped muscles or in stunning locations, all designed to show firstly how perfect their lives are and secondly creating Insta-Validation supposedly making their lives feel more complete while giving them an insta-hit of Dopamine. Now please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not saying everyone is like this. Yes, there are people on Instagram who are proud of their achievements and that’s superb but for everyone of those, there are an abundance seeking approval through your likes to help them navigate their emotional journey and make their lives seem less mundane.
By Chris O'Hanlon8 years ago in Psyche
Folie à Deux
Rebecca pulled up to the house and saw her mother’s car parked in the driveway. She hoped today was a better day for her mother. She parked her car and drew in a deep breath before releasing a heavy sigh and making her way towards the front door. As she reached to unlock the door, she felt a tightening in her thigh, and she could not figure out if it was because she was anxious or itchy.
By Deneane Delaney Brooks8 years ago in Psyche
Depression: Apparently It's All in Your Head...
We all know Nicole Arbour from the Dear Fat People video. To call that controversial would be an understatement. While I do not agree with the radical part of fat-acceptance and faux body-positivity campaign that encourages 350+ pounds worth of people eating at Heart Attack, Nicole misses the goddamn point by miles.
By Maura Dudas8 years ago in Psyche
