Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Describing Depression
This picture is of me (on the far left) and my siblings at a family wedding in October 2017. What you won't necessarily be able to tell but will have probably guessed from the time of this post is that I have depression. I was diagnosed with depression at the end of May 2012, about 3 months before I was due to go to university. I was on a college course, not failing, but not meeting my expected grades either, although that statement probably underestimates how badly I was doing within myself. That particular episode was not the worst depressive episode I've had, those came later, but I was far from alright. I now feel it is important to discuss mental health openly, particularly for men and men my age, as suicide is a highly prevalent problem for my age (mid to late 20s).
By Duncan Ainsworth8 years ago in Psyche
BPD & Me
"I suffer from BPD." "What's that?" "Borderline Personality Disorder." "Oh my god, what is that?" I love this conversation. I've had it so many times I've lost count now, and it always brings me the same bittersweet satisfaction. On the surface, even those who have known me for a while sometimes cannot tell that I struggle with serious mental health issues. To them, I seem quirky, hyper, and frequently dramatic. I have been told I am entertaining.
By Kaylie Granoff8 years ago in Psyche
Depression Is a Silent Killer
Suffering from depression myself as an adolescence, I learned that being depressed was one of the worst pains I had ever felt. Compared to physical pain such as cysts in my throat, depression was even worse. Perhaps this was strictly because of the fear of not being able to be cured. Going to the emergency room quickly cured my throat, but nothing could positively make my pain go away with depression. Not even until this day. However, it is not as pronounced as it was three years ago. Some people become depressed after bullying, but mine is said to be hereditary. My mom had it, then it was passed down to my older sister at a young age, and then down to me during my high school years. However, I believe it was a more physical approach that caused me to become depressed. When I was younger, I was involved in an incident which ended with me getting knocked upside my head with a steel baseball hat. It caused me to lose some of my eyesight along with slight hearing loss in one of my ears. Not only that, but I believe it may have been a slight contributor to my mental illness along with the already present trait.
By Deanna Garrett8 years ago in Psyche
Letter to My Friends...
How to write this without sounding immature, needy, or petty is going to be a challenge. How to write this without making you feel bad—oh gosh. If I do, I am sorry, that is not the point of this letter. I just know if I do not let people know where I am mentally I cannot get the help I need.
By Yedzayi Nenjerama8 years ago in Psyche
Depression Is My Lifestyle
I've had depression my whole life and only noticed it at age 13 when suicide awareness was pushed into my book of knowledge by every teacher in junior high. I was constantly told it was wrong to not want to live and I never understood why. Why was I not allowed to want to die?
By Ohnny Sparks8 years ago in Psyche
Diagnosed!
Everyone has a story and everyone's story is different. Everyone goes through hard times in their life, but not everyone deals with it in the same way. Some people bottle it up, other people talk about it. Some people get sad, other people get angry. Some people overthink, other people go out to take their mind off everything. Everyone deals with it differently.
By Kera Lister8 years ago in Psyche
Sensory Overload
Sensory Overload My father throws a drape over my shoulders while tightly fastening the cloth around my neck. Uncomfortable, I re-adjust my bare feet on the stool too small for my 6'5" frame. His aged brown leather suitcase, spun to 9-1-6, unlocked & open, engraved with initials, R.S.K. My father's name, Randy Scott Shannon. He always told me that the K was silent. The hand-sewn burgundy pouches cradle matte black clippers, black plastic combs, clashing blue-orange spray can, stainless steel scissors with a comb on one blade, and roughly torn paper squares with a brief list of friends' preferred haircuts. My bare skin, sensitive to the cool lick that the seat gives off, awakens me. Fresh out of the shower on a Sunday morning. He found the suitcase in a yard sale, of a deceased man back in '84. He bought himself the present when he graduated from Barber School. This was our time. He cut my hair in Trimesters it seemed-we ran a loose schedule.
By Rylan Shannon8 years ago in Psyche
Depression
My depression didn't start out of nowhere. I have problems. I have chronic migraines, as well as acute confusional migraines and that basically means I'm in a state of confusion/disoriented when my head starts to hurt. It can last for days and even weeks. On top of that I have crippling social anxiety, extremely low self esteem and insomnia so I'm just a ticking time bomb. My family is dysfunctional in so many messed up ways. So do you blame me?
By Samantha Berry8 years ago in Psyche
