Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Psyche.

Inside the Mind of a Suicide Survivor
The world is full of lies. Whether you tell them, or someone else does, that is the one certain truth. Part 1 People walk around every day acting like they know what the hell is going on. We put on a mask as soon as we wake up and we go about our days as if nothing is wrong when there are plenty of things wrong. Or we go about our day thinking everything is wrong when there are still plenty of good things happening. We live from one extreme to the next and we are blind to the grey area in between, and in that grey area is the truth, and once you find that truth, you are able to better navigate this toxic and magnetic world because you are no longer watching through rose-colored glasses or through a black veil. How can you live your best life if you can't even see clearly? How can you heal when you cannot see the wounds for what they are and the environment around you for what it is? Radically accepting your reality allows you to enter this grey area. Radically accepting the trauma you and others have endured is the first step into not only recovery, but in developing a more honest society.
By E M8 years ago in Psyche
O.C.D. Is An Acronym
The acronym O.C.D. stands for obsessive compulsive disorder. It's characterized by unreasonable thoughts or fears and is usually accompanied with anxiety and feelings of guilt. Ritualistic behaviors, such as the meaningless repeating of words or actions, are symptoms of O.C.D. as well as, compulsive hoarding, hyper vigilance, social isolation, agitation and hyperactivity. It's a havoc wreaking and burdening disorder but is often written over as someone's desire for cleanliness or organization.
By Sarah Fennell8 years ago in Psyche
I'm Almost Anxious and This Is My Story
Years ago I had a vision: a world in which people who were like me would never have to live like me. I mean that every person that dealt with a mental illness would never have to experience the stigma, the judgement, and the discouragement that comes with being diagnosed. Everybody that suffer mentally like me would only do just that.
By Kerri8 years ago in Psyche
What Not to Say to Someone Who Is Depressed
I’ve struggled with depression my whole life, and every day it’s a new challenge seemingly more difficult than the last. Because mental illness is still greatly stigmatized, it can be unnerving to even think about opening up to others. When opening up to someone about depression, (on top of the feelings of crippling anxiety) is the usually crushing or straight-up insensitive responses. So here I have compiled some thoughts on things NOT to say to someone with depression.
By Ollie Greene8 years ago in Psyche
'Are You?'
Are you? Those simple words hit me like a brick the other morning. I’m working the annual December Strength to Stand conference, put on by the Scott Dawson Evangelical Association. I know, mouthful, right?
By Catherine Cook8 years ago in Psyche
It Is What It Is
This phrase has been often pointed out as a way of giving up. Unfortunately, I use it a lot. It is hard to not just give up when you have so many voices in your head telling you to. We all have them. But as somebody who has lost people because they just “gave up,” “it was too hard,” “it’s too painful,” “nobody cares”... "it is what it is.”
By Heidi Sunshine8 years ago in Psyche
The Anxiety Elf (Part 3)
It’s over. I am no longer "The Anxiety Elf," although the anxiety bit still stands. It’s been well over a week since my last shift, and I’m so glad to be out of there and back to my simple routine, although to begin with I was missing working. It was making me fidgety not having anything to do—but I would rather be fidgety than anxious about having to go back. The money I earned will run out and eventually I will have to think about getting back into more work.
By TheAdventuresOfRoo8 years ago in Psyche
Living with Bipolar Depression
Bipolar disorder (BD), also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. It’s being as happy as can be one second, then crying yourself to sleep the next. It’s feeling everything and absolutely nothing all at once. You get agitated easily, making it complicated to explain your feelings to others. You’re sad.. over little nothings. And happy for seemingly all the wrong reasons. Basically, it’s bullshit.
By Tessa Wilbanks8 years ago in Psyche
Internal Wars Rage on Quietly
The inside of a mental health battle. Internal Wars Rage on Quietly As I sit in this crammy, overly welcoming office, I notice the colors of the walls; happy colors—yellows and pinks. I notice the inspirational posters— so tacky I want to puke or light them on fire. Then, a bright-eyed, short woman with wavy, shoulder-length hair walks through the door and sets herself down in the chair placed before me. She looks at me for a while, almost as if she’s examining me. She looks at my collar bones and at my wrists, and suddenly I can feel the difference between us. I can feel the concern she contains, but also the understanding that she lacks. Finally, she takes a deep breath and says,
By B 8 years ago in Psyche
Mean People on the Bus
I lived in the Mission-Excelsior district while I was going to school at San Francisco State University. A bus route ran through that neighborhood as a way of getting to school. This incident happened on the 14 however, which went down Mission itself while the school line went to Ingleside. Living off campus was better than living on campus, as way too much drama was happening on campus, save me moving with normal roommates as well as accomplishing my desire to live with a graduate student on top of that. The school wasn’t having me move out of a toxic living environment. On the bus one day, I was going home from somewhere, when this guy puts his arm around my seat, so I leaned forward as not to have him actually touching me. The woman next to him was an elderly woman with extreme jealousy problems toward me.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Psyche
When Depression Becomes a Real Problem, Part 1
If there is anything I've really noticed in past few years, it's that mental health is being discussed more and more. Thanks to platforms like YouTube, you are no longer forced to choose from few canals and few shows on TV. You can find almost anything you want to. Specific documentaries, movies (if you know where to search ;] ), gaming videos, let's plays, vlogs, vines, even InstaStories, videos on Facebook, and Snapchat can entertain you when you need a quick break.
By Micah E Lucanus8 years ago in Psyche
Let’s Talk About Mental Health
As of 2016, the suicide rate in America has peaked drastically. Most of the time, you look at a suicide and think, “Oh, that’s too bad.” But when it hits home, it’s the most unbearable pain to ever be felt.
By Mary Caitlyn8 years ago in Psyche