Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
My Brother Died of An Overdose...His Name Was Matty
My brother died of a heroin overdose. His name was Matty. He was beautiful, he was funny, he was courageous and compassionate, he was talented, he was athletic, he was charming-and he was stolen. My baby brother was stolen by a substance, and nothing was done about it. The nurses, the doctors, the therapists-they all said how handsome he was, and how sorry they felt for me. They said they see this all the time, such young lives taken too soon. Some are taken instantly, and some are taken gradually. In my brother’s case, it was gradual. I never got a call saying “he’s overdosed, he’s gone,” something I had always assumed in my gut would happen. I received a call saying he was on a ventilator, but was breathing on his own. No one prepares you for seeing your loved one in that predicament. My brother was alone. He was unconscious. He was brain dead.
By Robyn Zarli8 years ago in Psyche
No One To Save Me - Part 5
No One to Save Me Part 5 There was a remote area our father used to take us; a river under the San Jacinto bridge off hwy 59 towards New Caney. We rarely saw anyone else there. At night it was a haven for the homeless and there were a couple of large barrels used for making a fire. The river flowed swiftly and the drop off was steep. It really was dangerous for anyone to go swimming. A railroad track ran nearby. It is important to note that Walter frequented this spot, considering his pathological behavior.
By Jennifer Reinolds8 years ago in Psyche
How I Got Diagnosed With Bipolar
The first time I ever saw a counsellor I was 8-years-old. My mother and father had recently gotten divorced and she thought it was a good idea for me to work through whatever hidden and not quite understood 8-year-old emotions I had. She, having come from a long line of nut jobs, was never one to ignore possible emotional damage. For me, this is merely what set the scene. I was just a kid. I had only barely developed a sense of self, let alone the ability to quantify my own feelings, and I was still light years away from seeing the far reaching consequences of what I felt moment to moment. Counselling was a great idea, and I’m proud that I have the kind of mother who is open to that sort of thing when so many are not. But, like I have said, my very green youth left me feeling like I was the same as everyone else. Ugly and unpopular, but on the same playing field as everyone else my age.
By Willa White8 years ago in Psyche
Bulimia: The Shame, The Guilt, and the Life-Threatening Damage. Top Story - March 2018.
Bulimia is not proud! It doesn’t care how rich you are, how old you are, or where you live; it doesn’t even care whether you’re married or single, a Uni student, stay-at-home Mum, or in charge of a huge corporation.
By Mari-Louise Speirs8 years ago in Psyche
Emotional Dumping Ground: Identifying Toxic Narcissistic Friendships
Throughout our existence, we tend to have a lot of different types of friendships revolving within our lives. Statistically, if a friendship lasts longer than seven years, then it will more than likely last a lifetime. The best types of friendships are those that reciprocate kindness, fun, love, and support. Having an equal amount of respect and attention towards each other. These are the ingredients to help maintain lifelong healthy friendships with other people. In our darkest times, we can rely on certain people in our lives to be there for us when we really need somebody. Unfortunately, not all friendships follow this simple formula. If you read the first couple of sentences of this article and you already have had an epiphany about certain people in your life, you more than likely have someone in your life that you suspect is a toxic narcissistic personality.
By Cordelia De Milo8 years ago in Psyche
5 Simple Ways to Help Cope with Anxiety
Coping mechanisms vary from person to person. One individual may write in a journal or make time out their day to take a nap. Another may sketch or spend time meditating. Some might not know how to cope, or things that once worked are no longer effective. For those of you that need some new ideas or suggestions, here are five things that help me to cope with my anxiety.
By Katee Selsor8 years ago in Psyche
How to Help a Partner Who Has Anxiety Disorder
From firsthand experience, I can tell you anxiety is not a laughing matter. I used to think that anxiety and depression were all just a state of mind; that you just weren’t trying hard enough to be happy. Not only is that incredibly rude of me to think, but it was incredibly naïve. The first time I had a panic attack I truly thought my heart was going to burst through my chest. It felt like I had just run a marathon while being suffocated at the same time.
By Ashlyn Harper8 years ago in Psyche
Anxiety
Who am I, you might be wondering? Well, let me start off by telling you who I am not. I am not a doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, scientist, or anything of the like. I do not have all of the answers (or probably any, for that matter). If you are looking for a secret or magical solution to your problems, you should probably stop here, because I don’t have that, either. But what I do have is a lot of experience. I am a small-town girl that has been diagnosed with multiple forms of anxiety disorders, and I’ve been through hell and high water. I have a story that, whether you have an anxiety disorder or just that normal, public speaking or test taking anxiety, you can probably relate to in some way.
By Casey DiNicola8 years ago in Psyche
Must Have Apps That Combat Depression and Anxiety
Dealing with depression and anxiety truly is a struggle, especially if you face them everyday. They basically take away your mood, ruin your day, and your productivity to go out there and make positive changes in your life. Numerous people face these mental problems everyday, so you're not alone. And sadly, many of these people cannot find ways to help them defeat the horrible mental conditions; ways to make it easy for them to cope and even conquer their depression and anxiety. But we can give you another way to hopefully guide you in a path without any worries and anxiety.
By C.C. Curtis8 years ago in Psyche
Living With Mia
I was a really happy child. I loved life and never stopped laughing... until I started high school. When I was 14, I constantly got told that I should be happy with my body because everything looked so good on me and it would be this way for a long time so I should treasure it while I had it. I didn't quite understand what that meant. I mean I did have some insecurities but when going through puberty and seeing everyone around you developing, who wouldn't have even some insecurities? I was a late bloomer, I didn't get my period until I was nearly 15, and my body wasn't developing like all of my friends.
By Lilianna Montaño8 years ago in Psyche
Food Addiction
I had been overweight my entire life, well just about. I vividly remember leaving the second-grade school year as a tiny seven-year-old girl and starting the third-grade school year as a fat kid. There was no traumatic event, no major change, I just got fat. I always loved to eat, and I guess I really committed to that love during that particular summer because I gained weight, a lot of weight, especially for a seven-year-old. I used to sneak food, grab a sleeve of saltine crackers from the kitchen cabinet and run to my room and eat the entire sleeve without my mother knowing. I’d grab anything I could find, chips, crackers, cookies, even dry cereal if there was nothing else. It wasn’t necessarily the quality of the food but the quantity. I wanted to eat as much as I possibly could and all at once. I now know this is binge eating, but as a seven-year-old I just thought I liked how food tasted. I loved the feeling of eating, I loved being overstuffed, I loved the actual act of eating food. This continued well into my teens and adulthood. I gained and lost hundreds of pounds in my life. My days were filled with either binging or starving myself until I would inevitably binge again. It was a full-blown addiction. I obsessed about food all day, I thought about what I wanted to eat, what I was going to eat and then when I finally ate it I was wracked with guilt and self-loathing. Something was wrong.
By Meranda Watley8 years ago in Psyche
