Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
5 Easy Steps to Relieve Anxiety
Anxiety is a state of apprehension, uncertainty, and fear resulting from anticipation of a realistic or fantasized threatening event or situation, often impairing physical and psychological functioning, in others words anxiety takes place when we behave or act in an apprehensive manner. Many people suffer from this issue without even realizing it, living their life feeling as if they are living their life on the edge.
By Oksana Kabatoff8 years ago in Psyche
Maureen and Lucia
When Maureen comes to visit, she doesn't knock, she bursts through the doors making her presence known. Her clothes are always bright, her hair and makeup perfect. She comes it and immediately you can feel her, she's warm, confident, beautiful, full of life, happy. So happy it makes you forget that there was ever any sadness. She radiates sunshine, flowers, and every happy memory you have. She is the first warm spring day after a long hard winter. She comes through the house opening all the curtains, to let the light in. She says in the sweetest way that the house needs some fresh air. When she paints she uses the brightest most vivid colors. When she is here, we eat. We eat so much we forget that hunger even exists. When she is here all of our work is done, our house is in pristine condition, our homework done well, not late, not half assed. Effort, time and the desire to do it all is there. Friends visit more, we go out more, we enjoy our days and we laugh until tears are running down our cheeks. We are better friends, better lovers, better sisters, we are just better people when she is here. Sometimes Maureen talks too fast, she says it's like her thoughts are bees searching the give for the queen and can't get them out fast enough. She laughs and changes thoughts again. Maureen doesn't like rules, Maureen doesn't like to listen, follow directions. Maureen says rules are meant to be broken, Maureen says taking our own path is better than following others. Maureen says it's okay to do bad things sometimes. Otherwise we waste our forgiveness. Maureen takes on a lot, and always wants more to do. Maureen talks to men who are emotionally unavailable because she believes she is the exception to all the rules and to all men. And besides, who doesn't like a little one night fun. Maureen makes life fun and exciting again.
By Ashlee Coreson8 years ago in Psyche
Heroin Freak
If you asked me six months ago if I’d ever use hard drugs, my answer would have been no way. I don’t believe in drug use, it’s for the weak minded, the weak willed. It’s for people who want to run away from their problems rather than fix them. Now fast forward to today, and I’d tell you that my drug of choice was possibly the best and worst decision in the world.
By Kierstyn West8 years ago in Psyche
Suicide Is a Permanent Solution to a Temporary Problem
We've all heard the saying before, right? "Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem." I find this particular quote rather debatable. Why, you ask? The leading cause of suicide is depression. People claim that the problem is "temporary" when in reality, depression doesn't go away. It may go away for weeks, for months or even for years. However, it doesn't disappear forever. Depression is a crippling mental illness. It makes it difficult for you to get out of bed every morning. It makes you want to sleep all day and other times, you're up all night and all day with painful thoughts and feelings. You either stop eating altogether or you eat too much and too frequently. You start to lose interest in the things you used to enjoy. You cry all the time. You start to push loved ones away because you think they couldn't possibly understand what you're going through. Some people resort to self-harming.
By Katie Schmidt8 years ago in Psyche
Living with Depression and PTSD
I have thought long and hard regarding writing about my experience with mental health issues. Often, my self-deprecating depression will stay my hand at pressing "publish," or my PTSD will conjure up some crippling flashback to the past. But today, it felt right to talk about it; it felt right to share this with the world. Depression and PTSD take many different forms for many different people, so I don't by any means claim to be an expert. The goal is to show anyone in a dark place, anyone struggling to cope, that they are not alone.
By Catriona Boardman8 years ago in Psyche
The Shower
It's not even 9 AM and I'm sitting here on the cold tile of my bathroom floor, completely naked, bawling my eyes out. The sound of the water and steam from the shower I started but can't bring myself to take are somewhat soothing. The thoughts that are running a marathon through my mind are almost paralyzing. I don't know how to process all of this. We knew this day would someday come, but as it approaches, it's still so hard to believe. "He's really going to die." I say out loud.
By Ginny Dorsey8 years ago in Psyche
