Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Crossing the Threshold
It’s not agoraphobia, whatever it is. I have no fear of open spaces, or of crowds. There’s nothing fearful about actually being outside—it’s the process of getting there that I struggle with. I can’t tell you exactly what it is, but it’s some form of invisible barrier keeping me indoors, or keeping me in my bed.
By Katy Preen8 years ago in Psyche
Best Weighted Blankets for Stress, Anxiety, and Sleep Disorders
If you haven't heard about weighted blankets yet, you're behind on the trend. These blankets can be very heavy, weighing anywhere from four to 25 pounds. They are made heavier usually by having glass beads or plastic pellets inside. Weighted blankets have actually been around for years with the special needs community, but they are starting to become more mainstream as all people realize that they can benefit from a weighted blanket, especially people with anxiety issues. They can be simple and soft like a regular blanket, or if you need something with even more sensory input, they can be a minky dotted blanket. Whatever your needs, if you feel like you might benefit from burrito-ing yourself in one of these, check out the best weighted blankets on the market right now.
By Katie Marchbank8 years ago in Psyche
OCD vs. OCPD: Maybe It's Just Your Personality
Everyone has a friend that’s absurdly organized. With them, there’s a place for everything and everything’s in said place. They’re the type of person that’s got their closet organized by color, their shoes in order of height, and a to-do list is always within arm’s reach. Many people would look at them and refer to their sort of behavior as very OCD, but the question to ask is are they really afflicted with obsessive-compulsive disorder?
By Heather Terese8 years ago in Psyche
Keep Calm and Carry On
KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON. Anxiety...let's find a cure, not another pill. Did you know that anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting more than 40 million adults every year. That is 18.1 percent of our entire population! But, there is good news! Anxiety is highly treatable, although only 36.9 percent of people suffering receive treatment. Anxiety could develop from a number of things, such as; genetics, brain chemistry, life events, and personality. Anxiety is also usually self diagnosable (thanks WebMD!).
By Sarah Unger8 years ago in Psyche
Seized
I was walking, just down the street when suddenly I feel cold arms slither around my waist. They clawed and pulled at me painfully until I was forced backwards into a state of unknowing. I couldn’t see their face but I felt their icy stare burn into me like a flame, branding my soul as theirs for the taking. I thrashed and cried out but the world seemed so black and lifeless in my eyes I’m certain no one heard me. My aggressor’s rough grip kept my body stiff; I was like a ball in their hands, being tossed around with no control over which way I am thrown. The world was spinning and I could feel the air being sucked from my lungs, leaving me gasping for every breath. I have to force myself to concentrate on slowly sucking in air but my mind constantly travels back to the feeling of a fist tangled around my neck and every time I do, my breath leaves me again.
By Christina Holmes8 years ago in Psyche
Mental Illnesses: They're Not Just All in Your Head, They're in Your Head
All too often those who struggle with mental illness hear the words “It’s all in your head,” a phrase that implies mental illness is just a figment of our imagination that can be sent away just as quickly as it came. Those with depression may hear “Just cheer up!” Those with anxiety “Just calm down!” Those with bipolar disorder “Just grow up!” And those with ADD/ADHD “Just focus!” Phrases like this indicate it’s a common belief that those with mental illnesses have complete and total control over their disorders. Is it really so simple?
By Heather Terese8 years ago in Psyche
