Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Psyche.

How It Feels to Be Feared
How it feels to be told your parents and others are afraid of you: not good. I’ve never even raised a hand to either of my mother’s nurses, but they’re scared of me. I’ve pushed my mother to the floor, but that was after she pushed me and I hadn’t anticipated she’d fall. I’ve raised an envelope opener to my father, but he’d pissed me off enough to do so. I’m not proud of any of this. I’d love to always be in control rather than in the throes of anger.
By Alexandra F8 years ago in Psyche
My Life with Mental Illness
I’ve said before, I’ll say it again and again: I am lucky. Of course I am. My life is not as bad as the majority of the world, and my mental well-being is not as bad as some in the world. However, while some are quick to disagree, my fight is as crucial as every other fight against mental illness.
By SKetch Media8 years ago in Psyche
Lies My Anxiety Tells Me
It feels like you’re at the top of a roller coaster. You know the drop is coming, sometime that is. Sometimes it’s a few seconds, other times, minutes. Swirling upside down and right-side up. Whipping you left and right with your adrenaline pumping through your thin bluish-green veins. Your breath becomes heavy; it feels as though you are breathing through a green Starbucks straw. The pumping of your heart can be felt through your temples—pulsing, racing, scaring you. Deep breaths. In and out. In that moment the only thing you need is pain, something to distract you. And then it’s over.
By Michaela Switzer8 years ago in Psyche
4 Things You Should Know About Eating Disorders but Probably Don't
For decades, we’ve been fed a specific storyline about eating disorders and it goes something like this. They’re diseases centered around weight and body insecurity, triggered by a society with unrealistic beauty standards, mainly effecting young, white females. And for those who have no real experience with them, it’s very easy to think that is what it’s all about.
By Holly J Baptiste8 years ago in Psyche
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD. When you hear the word, what do you think of? 90 percent of people will say "army" or "military." Some might say "childhood abuse" or "rape victims." No. Not always.
By Max Campbell8 years ago in Psyche
Am I Addicted to Depression?
I realised very recently that I seem to have a subconscious desire for sadness and self-destruction. I am finally at a point in my life where my mental health has little reason to flare up. I know that’s not exactly an appropriate thing to say since depression isn’t always triggered by something; often you can just get sad for no reason. But what I mean is, I recently moved to the other end of the country, to an amazingly unique city that has no personal triggers for me. I moved away from everyone I know and moved in with my partner, who just happens to be very good for my mental health. She is incredibly understanding and supportive. I also got really lucky with a great job that I actually enjoy quite a lot that just happens to pay really well and has allowed me to progress to management in a matter of months. Everything is so different and so much better than it ever has been for me but it’s as if my subconscious isn’t responding well to my newly calm and comfortable life. The thing is, I have never had a comfortable life; there has always been something for me to deal with. As a child in a broken home, a suicidal teen, and a troubled and disappointing young adult, and dealing with forms of abuse during all of those periods, perhaps I can’t handle a comfortable life because I never learned how to; perhaps I won’t let myself be happy because that is not what I’m supposed to be, according to my past. To escape the depression is all I’ve ever wanted to do, or at least I thought it was, but I just can’t seem to allow it to happen.
By D Burton8 years ago in Psyche
Say Goodbye to Antidepressants...
You're feeling low, depressed, in despair and you just can't shake it off so you turn to your GP and the majority of them will offer to put you on anti-anxiety or antidepressant medication. This is what they are trained to do. According to an article in The Guardian, 64.7 million prescription items for antidepressants were prescribed in 2016 to patients which is an increase of 3.7 million issued in 2015. Why is this? It is seen as a way of getting you out of that difficult time that you are having but what if that difficult time is with you for a long time? What if these tiny, white but deadly pills are destined to be your little friend that you have to visit on a daily basis and if you for some reason, forget to visit your trusted friend, then you really do start to wish you had never met your new companion.
By KC8 years ago in Psyche
I Lived to Tell
I am 12 years old, and I am struggling with my desire to live. You see, I have been bullied for the last year. My mom doesn't know because I am afraid that if I tell, the bullying will get worse, so I remain silent. As time wears on, the words cut deeper. "Retard." "Stupid." "Ugly." "Weird." And that's only the beginning.
By Dawn Marie8 years ago in Psyche
Finding Someone to Love Me and My Schizophrenia
In my youth I always knew that some day I would want to find my prince charming, marry, and raise a family. The older I got the more I realized how important it was for me to be absolutely sure I was ready to settle down before I committed to marriage. There were boyfriends that were simply not husband material, and were kept around for the sake of having company. I only dated to have a bestie who was always down to do things and hangout. None of them did I even consider marrying or raising a family with.
By Jocelynn Schmalzer8 years ago in Psyche
I Believe That Recovery from an Eating Disorder Is Possible
“When we were five, they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. Our answers were things like, astronaut, president or in my case, a princess. When we were ten, they asked us again. We answered rock star, cowboy or in my case, a gold medalist. But now that we’ve grown up, they wanted a serious answer.” - Anna Kendrick
By Michaela Switzer8 years ago in Psyche
Most Appropriate Gifts for Your Therapist
It took me a long time to find the right therapist for me. In fact, for a while, I gave up trying because I didn't think that there was one out there who could truly understand and help me. But when I reached an all-time low, I decided to start the hunt again, and wound up with someone I would have a decade-long connection with.
By Taylor Markarian8 years ago in Psyche
What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is many things, depending on how you look at it. Neuroscientists and others who study the brain see a phenomenon. This illness has no known cause. They see an illness that eats away at the brain and causes unusual, potentially dangerous behavior. For those who don't know anyone with this disease or much about it, they think of it as a mental illness and nothing more, something that only affects the sufferer. For those who know a little more, it is seen as a "zombie" disease that eats the brain and makes people crazy.
By Sierra I8 years ago in Psyche