Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Psyche.

Oh, Internet...
It's a strange and wonderful world we live in. Rather than having to go out and expose ourselves to the anxieties and basic bullshit of dealing with people face to face, we can simply communicate our feelings with some frenzied typing, or even better — the meme and/or gif.
By Kay Deschain8 years ago in Psyche
Self-Help Podcast Everyone Should Listen To
Looking to get into the world of self-help podcasts? Love reading this genre of books, but don't have the time to get to them anymore? These self-help podcasts are perfect for a motivational morning commute or a little reminder of your potential before bed.
By Kelsey Lange8 years ago in Psyche
True Horror Stories From the Psych Ward
Author's Note: The following letter was sent to me with the request that I post it publicly on behalf of the individual who wrote it. The letter-writer prefers to remain anonymous, so all potentially identifying information, no matter how minor, has been removed and replaced with "XXXXX."
By Alice Minguez8 years ago in Psyche
Mental Health — Why Don't We Talk About It?
I have noticed that no one actually talks about mental health. The Mental Health Foundation statistics stated that "two in three people report having experienced a mental health problem in their lifetime." Why is it that so many people suffer but we rarely hear about it? Wouldn't this mean that our mental health issues would disintegrate and get worse if we aren't open about them?
By Jade Dillion8 years ago in Psyche
How To Survive Marriage (and Divorce) with Borderline Personality Disorder
From an outsider's perspective, someone with Borderline Personality Disorder can seem somewhat unstable, mean, spiteful, and childish. Unfortunately, people suffering with the disorder are quite good at masking the symptoms when entering a relationship, whether it be romantic or platonic. Keeping a relationship when you've got BPD can be difficult, as your mood swings and fear of abandonment can be extremely hard to understand, especially if your significant other has never struggled with any type of mental illness before. Once more, the symptoms can really unleash themselves once you reach a point where you are comfortable with your S.O. and can be perceived as borderline abusive (I know I was).
By Anne Rose8 years ago in Psyche
Living With a Schizophrenic
There are seven different types of schizophrenia, and each has its own traits and peculiarities. My father was a paranoid schizophrenic, and he had this affliction in a time when they did not have medications for the disorder. A paranoid schizophrenic is always thinking someone is out to get them, or is spying on them, and living with them is a very different experience.
By Denise Willis8 years ago in Psyche
The Dark Side of My Brain
I'm 26 and I've been dealing with depression, anxiety, and BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) for 20 years. Wrap your head around that for a second. I've been told a million times, "Oh honey you're young, you'll grow out of it," or "Please, you are entirely top young to have that many problems already." Well let me tell you something. Yes I am young, but I'm a 20 year vet of multiple invisible illnesses. Please don't tell me I'm too young for life to be rough. Please don't sit there and undermine my mental illnesses just because you want to be small minded about it.
By Bethany Winters8 years ago in Psyche
Trichotillomania and Me (Pt. 2)
The first article in the series is available here. Please read it before continuing. As I finished middle school and started high school, my trich went through a roller coaster of ups and downs. Sometimes, I didn't pull much at all. Sometimes, I couldn't stop and would pull out substantial sections at a time. I recall one family gathering where I cleared out a section the size of a dime in less than an hour and a half. Despite my times of self-restraint (or lack of interest in pulling), my hair and eyelashes never came back full strength; I never stopped enough to make a real difference.
By Emily Grace Gill8 years ago in Psyche
Struggles People with Depression Know Too Well
Depression is a very difficult disorder to understand. However, there are 350 million people who suffer from depression, and they share similar struggles, though it's a different process for everyone. These are 10 different struggles people with depression know all too well.
By Kelsey Lange8 years ago in Psyche
Crochet for Mental Health
I have been struggling with my mental health for a while. I finished my undergrad degree in Zoology and had no idea where to turn! My whole life I had been within the education system - just keep studying for the next exam. But at least I knew what I was doing!
By louise harper8 years ago in Psyche
Finding a Family
I look around the room. Everyone is laughing, having a good time. I stand there, surrounded, yet feeling so alone. Does anyone want me there? Nobody notices the way I dig my nails into my palms. Nobody notices how I cannot sit still. Does anyone even know I’m there? Someone tells a joke, everyone around me is laughing hysterically. I didn’t hear what the joke was, but I join in the laughter, hoping nobody notices how fake mine really is. They won’t. Nobody notices me. At least that’s how I see it.
By Brittany Lawrence8 years ago in Psyche
You're Making It Up
At two months of age, Garret wouldn’t sleep unless I was holding him. At all. No naps. No crying himself to sleep from exhaustion. It didn’t matter if anyone else was holding him. He just would not sleep. I knew there was something not right in that. Wanting to be held is normal. Not sleeping unless a specific person is doing the holding is not.
By Deanne Horton8 years ago in Psyche