Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
The Lengths I Will Go to JUST to Prove a Point
My life feels like it is in constant turmoil. It is. I'm moving. I'm broke. I'm failing classes. I for some reason keep dating addicts. I could write about all of that. I could even have told you about my first job. I could write about discovering my favorite TV show. I could tell you what it's like to wake up driving a car. None of these events were really shocking. They really didn’t inspire me. They are all after tremors of the only event that has ever saved my life. It isn’t a good thing. It isn’t a complicated thing. I’m not the only person who experienced it. There is absolutely nothing "special” about losing a friend.
By Marissa shook8 years ago in Psyche
Mental Health and Seeking Help
If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you’re struggling. Maybe you’re struggling with an eating disorder or PTSD or depression or any other mental illness that is grabbing hold of your life. So the first thing I’m going to tell you is: please don’t give up.
By Nicole Laskey8 years ago in Psyche
Asking for a Friend, How Do You Learn to Eat?
Every individual has most likely struggled with their body image at one point or another in their life. As sad as it is, this is incredibly common. When overlooked by others, sometimes it can lead a person down a path to something more serious. Eating disorders currently engulf at least 30 million people of all ages and genders in the United States (ANAD).
By Lucy Haney8 years ago in Psyche
Ten Horrific Mental Health Treatments Throughout History
The taboo around mental illnesses is fracturing. People are encouraged to speak openly about their struggles without fear of the repercussions; the world’s stance on mental health is drastically changing.
By Charlotte Williams8 years ago in Psyche
'Depression Is the Inability to Construct a Future' -Jim Rohn
Since, I can remember, I was always the class clown. I loved seeing the other kids laugh with me rather than at me. It gave me a sense of happiness—something I didn’t have. It all started when I was ten. Jess Shetivik was out for me. Everything I did annoyed her, so she ridiculed me for it. She would turn off the bathroom lights while I was on the toilet and make scary noises, she would spread rumours about me, and worst of all, she would make fun of me. Making fun of someone, pointing out their flaws and why no one likes them, does something to a child. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I finally decided to tell the only person I trusted; my older brother. As soon as my mom died, it was just my dad, my brother, and I. But things changed. I guess my dad couldn't take it, so it was just me and brother. He was all I had. When I told him about what was happening at school, he said something that I’ve held with me for the rest of my life: “You are the most loving and strongest person I know. Those kids are testing your patience. Don't cry, don't fight fire with fire, do what you do best. Show them what it means to be able to defend yourself without hurting the other person.” And that's exactly what I did. The next day at school when Jessie came over to give me my daily dose of criticism, I laughed with her and I could see the fury in her eyes. I destroyed her.
By Jessica Rodriguez8 years ago in Psyche
Postpartum Depression
I think about never having another kid after my first, Gabriel—not because of the pain I endured but because I thought I would have so much more help. I thought things would be different and everyday I wake up and things are just the same. I wither away from everything and darkness consumes me. I want my partner Cody to help me more and he agrees to but every morning it’s the same routine. I try to wake him up to get the baby and he threatens me or gets angry. He then proceeds to put me down and say things like, “It’s easy. I could do this with my eyes closed and you act like it’s so hard,” or “stop acting like you never get to sleep.” It is hard though. I’m 19. I am a first time mom and I’m doing this basically alone. Sure, Cody covers the finances and he tries really hard to help; he does everything basically for me and Gabriel. I’m at home dealing with throw up everywhere and a fussy baby fighting sleep with everything he has, shitty diapers that climb up his back and seeps through onto anything he was laying on, trying to nap, and he wakes up for hours instead of laying back down right away. I don’t just sleep and when I do it’s for an hour or two, and when the baby does take a really good long nap, I have to get things done, like clean, call important places, or take care of me because I am still a person who needs to take care of my hygiene and my well being. It all sounds easy, I suppose, but then my depression kicks in and I’m left doing all these things while feeling the way I do. I can’t just take a minute to lay in bed all day and cry. I have to be up and alert taking care of my baby, then I still find myself nodding out because I’m so exhausted. I say “sleep when the baby sleeps,” but I don’t really do that because even when I try to lay down, I sit there awake thinking about everything, thinking about crying again. I guess what I’m feeling is wrong, and it should be easy but for me it isn’t. I keep looking forward though, keep counting down the days until he will start sleeping through the night and things get easier. I love my son to death.
By Journey Sky8 years ago in Psyche
It Sounds Cliché, but It's Not—You Are Not Alone
It sounds cliché to say that, I know. But as tired as you may be of hearing it, and as silly as it might sound, it's true. You. Are. Not. Alone. You are not alone in your struggles. You are not alone in your battles. You are not alone in your pain, your loneliness, your mental health, or your experiences. And this is coming from someone who has been living with perpetual feelings of loneliness her entire life.
By Dani Perez8 years ago in Psyche
Who Am I?
A writer? A journalist? Student? Musician? Friend? Daughter? Am I completely insane? The looming questions that keep me up at night are dominated by the scariest of them all; who am I? The answer seems to change daily. When I was a kid I wanted to be a marine biologist; completely obsessed with sharks. Fascination and passion comes easy to a mind that allows it. See, the thing with mental illnesses is they cause you to question yourself and everything you ever thought you were, like the plot to your favourite film changes overnight and you're left confused because you thought you knew the ending.
By Catherine Mitchell8 years ago in Psyche
I Never Thought It Would Be Me
I never thought it would be me. Not in a million years. Here I am, going to a therapist once a week to talk about my feelings. If you know me personally you would think that I am the happiest person in the world. That was true until I was in high school.
By Casey Edwards8 years ago in Psyche
Becoming a Drug Addict Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me
So at seventeen years old, I had been accepted to college, along with an academic scholarship to go along with it. I went to a private high school and I was held to a high standard. If you were to take a look at me on a piece of paper, one would believe me to be a well-mannered, privileged white boy who was going somewhere in life. What people did not know was that I had a raging heroin addiction at seventeen years old.
By Mike Mestrovich8 years ago in Psyche
