Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
How Kickboxing Changed My Life
I have struggled with anxiety and mild depression for as long as I can remember. As a teenager, I thought (or rather hoped) it was just a phase, but there comes a point where you have to admit to yourself something is not quite right. You worry too easily and too much, you have a lack of motivation, you get obsessions and paranoid thoughts, cannot control negative thinking, and you can no longer justify it as you being a kid. Because frankly, you're not a kid anymore. So what do you do about it?
By Arghierenia Kyrimi8 years ago in Psyche
A New Trend: Depression & Anxiety
Everyone wants to be depressed and have anxiety. Teens are now glorifying depression by calling it names such as “beautiful suffering” and they don't seem to understand that this is not beautiful suffering! This is a life-threatening illness; depression is not a trend.
By Melissa Marie8 years ago in Psyche
Abnormal
My knuckles are itchy and my chest is tight. I'm walking up stairs behind a line of people—some friends, and some strangers. It's going to be fine I think as I'm noticing my breathing grow shallow and rapid. I focus on my breathing and make sure that I have three deep breaths every once in a while. This time will be different, and I will be OK—I will be normal tonight.
By Francis Grace8 years ago in Psyche
Don't Be Sad, 'Man'
Did you know 2 in 3 of the 51M adults in the UK have suffered issues in the form of panic attacks or depression? Did you know the biggest killer for males under 45 in the UK is suicide? Did you know that men are 3 times more likely to commit suicide than women? This country is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis and this gap of the unknown can be reduced simply with the gift of awareness.
By Bobby Sandhu8 years ago in Psyche
Loving Someone with Anxiety...
Loving someone with anxiety isn't an easy thing. People with anxiety automatically assume that everyone is going to leave no matter what the circumstances. We are fragile people, even the slightest of things put us off, which could result in us being the ones who ruin everything. People like me and many others are fighting with something that inevitably is out of our control. Insecurity is something that comes along with us, whether it is in relationships, friendships, and even being out amongst people we don't even know. We won't tell you what's wrong no matter how many times you ask because we don't want to bother you with our preposterous thoughts and our foolish worrying. Therefore as a substitute, you're being pushed away before you even get the chance to decide if you want to stay or not.
By Taylor Ryan8 years ago in Psyche
How Anti-Depressants Gave Me Back My Life
I had my first anxiety attack when I was ten-years-old. I had just eaten a piece of cake and gone to bed. My mom wasn’t home, but my dad was downstairs watching television, and both my older siblings were asleep. All of a sudden, my stomach churned, and I felt like I was going to throw up. I immediately sat up, fear and nausea pulsing through me with equal force. Eventually the wave of nausea quieted, but the fear I had experienced with the nausea did not. The act of throwing up had always upset me (as it does many people), but for some reason, on this night, that one wave of nausea triggered something inside of me that would change my relationship to the world forever. I went downstairs to my dad and sat on the couch watching television with him until my mom came home, my whole body paralyzed with fear at the thought of throwing up.
By Katja Alexandra8 years ago in Psyche
Too Skinny, Too Heavy
From a young age society implants an image in our heads of how we should behave, or what we should look like. But the thing about society is that it only portrays one side of things, a side that is often wrong, yet so many people still believe that it is right. Teenagers are flooded with images of models who are paper thin, with long, beautifully flowing hair, but what they don't realize is that this perception of perfection doesn't exist. Beauty is based on perception, and everyone, regardless of what pant size they wear, is beautiful in their own unique way. Just because you may not see it doesn't mean that everyone around doesn't.
By Carina Rose8 years ago in Psyche
'Don't Call Me Crazy'
Approximately one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year, be it depression, anxiety, or otherwise. It's a statistic we have all heard of, and if you think about it, that figure is astounding! The stigma around mental health has been thrust into the limelight in the UK over recent years, and it's being recognised as being just as important as physical health and I couldn't be happier. I have battled depression on and off for most of my life and I finally feel in a place where I can openly discuss my struggles. It's not something you want to admit to people and you almost feel ashamed of yourself for feeling the way you have when there is so much to be thankful for in life. I am writing this open letter so I can stand up for others and let them know that there is nothing to be ashamed of. Your feelings matter and you aren't "crazy."
By Laura McCarthy8 years ago in Psyche
