Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Nobody Likes Me, But Everyone Likes Me
I have anxiety. And not the kind of anxiety that doctors diagnose you with, because my brother has anxiety. He has anxiety and became suicidal. Because my brother has anxiety and became suicidal, my parents can’t stand the thought that another child of theirs has problems.
By Mikala Mays8 years ago in Psyche
My Mind at the Movies. Top Story - May 2018.
The first movie I can ever recall seeing was Free Willy. I was only 3-years-old and I have this memory of sitting on the carpet, neck craned, staring directly up at the television as the movie played out. I was completely in awe of everything I was looking at. That may have started my life long love of whales, but I believe it also started my stronger obsession with film. I used to watch that movie over and over again on repeat, sometimes getting up at 5 or 6 in the morning to sneak downstairs and put the tape in the VCR. Eventually, the sound became worn out on all three Free Willy VHS tapes I had.
By Sarah Franchi8 years ago in Psyche
Waiting for the Sun to Rise
Watching my best friend at the time getting hit and killed by a drunk driver changed my life forever. Many many years later, I learned to accept it and to change that incident into a positive one but before I had learned to do that, it took over my life in a very negative, self destructive way, to the point of attempting to take my life many times. This is the story of when I felt truly hopeless.
By Alberto Delaney8 years ago in Psyche
Bipolar Disorder vs Depression
Both bipolar disorder and depression are serious mental illnesses that can be crushing and even life-changing. Since many people with bipolar disorder were first diagnosed with depression before they received their correct diagnoses as well as the fact that bipolar disorder was once called bipolar depressive disorder; one can be left to wonder which one is worse.
By Sahra Penumbra8 years ago in Psyche
Speaking My Truth: Living with Mental Illness
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and I am here to share my story of my personal experiences with mental illness. Before I tell my story, I want to share some statistics with everyone. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), mental illness affects tens of millions of people every year and half of them with mental illnesses receive treatment. So here's my personal story of mental illness. It is August 1993: I was five years old and started my first day of Pre-K. Being the new kid was difficult and troublesome. Interacting with the rest of the students was not easy. Growing up in Texas was great, but unfortunately, my parents were not the loving people that I expected them to be. Almost on a daily basis, I was ridiculed by them for numerous things, such as my thin appearance and not being able to communicate with people. My self-esteem went down and I became isolated, withdrawn, and unconnected. Within a week, my teacher noticed that something was not right about me. I was seen by counselors and my parents told me that I was diagnosed with autism. I didn't know what it was at the time, but one of the symptoms of the developmental disorder is having difficulties interacting with others. As a result of my diagnosis, I was put in special education classes from Pre-K through my junior year of high school. During that time, I was constantly bullied and my peers called me the worst names you can think of. It's hard to be upbeat when you're feeling worthless and defeated.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 8 years ago in Psyche
Pain Words Cannot Express
Pain Words Cannot Express “I’m not hungry,” I would say with conviction as I stared at my dinner plate and felt my stomach grumble. This had become my catchphrase when I was a young teenager, and most of the time, I could get away with it. It was easy to skip breakfast on a school day—I could slip out the front door to catch the bus before anyone else was awake and could monitor my eating. During lunch hour I would lie to my friends and say I snacked on my lunch throughout my classes and was no longer hungry. Dinner by far was the hardest to get around, with both my parents and all four sisters carefully observing my dinner plate. If I was lucky, I could serve up my own food in tiny portions. But when my mom finally suggested to me that I might have anorexia nervosa, I was in denial. I felt there was nothing that could set me free of the trial I was being devoured by, especially since I wouldn’t admit my own weaknesses. That was, at least, until I was introduced to art therapy. Finally, through this process of self-expression, I was directed down a path where I accepted my eating disorder and reached out for the help I so desperately needed. Because of this experience, I have since learned the benefits of using art in recovery, and am a strong advocate of it. Art therapy should be used in every anorexia treatment because it easily connects the patients inner-turmoil to verbal expression. I believe this is an exercise than can benefit anyone struggling with an eating disorder.
By Marissa Garner8 years ago in Psyche
Ana
Part 1 I walk along a deserted path. I see nobody near me. I don’t feel anything. There’s nothing to focus on. I don’t know where I’m going. I don’t know how I got here. But that’s when she comes to me. A woman, skeletally thin with deep sunken eyes. I can see no life within her, but her eyes still shine with malicious intent.
By Erika Marie8 years ago in Psyche
