Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
My Black Dog
Are you here yet? It’s the house just three down from the carpark. The one with the brown door. Come straight in. It’s open. Don’t hover by the door – come on through. Do you like the lounge? It’s been decorated recently. A lovely colour isn’t it! Yes, we do have a movie subscription. I’ll let you have a watch later if you want. I can see you looking towards the games console too. Whatever you want to do is fine – my home is your home.
By Lily Bloss8 years ago in Psyche
Dear Africans, Mental Health is a Thing
Dear Africans, I write this with a heavy heart and as much as I know that mental health is a global issue, I write specifically to Africans because I am one and because I am familiar with the root cause of our issues considering the fact that most African nations tend to go through the same issues. Rwanda being my mother and father's home land, a country that has genocide tied to its history it is inevitable that there are numerous people living with wounds, nightmares, and places in their minds and hearts that have never been fully visited because of the sharp pain that resides there. However, it does not even need to take something as tragic as a genocide for one to be emotionally and mentally misplaced, it can be anything and it can happen to anyone.
By Winnie Rugamba8 years ago in Psyche
"No, I Want the 'Cool' Kind of Crazy!"
Let's go window shopping for a little while, readers. So, we're walking around your favorite mall. Not the one that only has a few pizza places here and there, and a SHIT ton of places that sell fake gold jewelry. No, we're talking about the mall that has enough variety to make your head spin and wonder what you were looking for in the first place.
By Moods Reflective8 years ago in Psyche
Getting Better: The Realities
For me, writing has always been a coping mechanism; to see your thoughts materialised is something of a relief. I've never been one to bottle things up - in my personal experience, the weight of withheld worries often becomes overbearing and in turn leads to the likes of emotional breakdowns. That's why I have decided to document my journey with my mental health; recently, I've been struggling more than usual, despite the fact that I am arguably "better" than I was this time a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, fluctuation is one of the realities of mental illness; the path to wellness never runs smooth. There will always be bumps in the road and times of despair during which you worry that "better" is a mythical idea that will never be truly realised. However, better does not equate to perfection, and nothing in this existence is permanent, most certainly not despair. For every down there is an up, no matter how distant that up may seem, and congratulating yourself on even the smallest of ups is so incredibly important.
By Tabitha Green8 years ago in Psyche
When is it Time to Say Enough is Enough?
For the past week, I have felt like the lowest of the low; stressed out, depressed and anxious. By the end of the week I ended up feeling ill physically as well, getting headaches and other ailments that had started to kick in to the point that I wasn't able to cope with it. The initial fear began with people coming too close to my liking in my bubble; when I’m in that state of mind and I'm struggling to cope with it, more symptoms kick in.
By Lizzy Arrow8 years ago in Psyche
From Suicidal Thoughts to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue . Top Story - August 2017.
For the first time in the history of the iconic magazine, Sports Illustrated recently hosted an open casting call for their next big swimsuit model. Women submitted videos on Instagram to enter, and 35 lucky finalists were selected to travel to New York for a photo shoot and interview.
By Aimee Dillard8 years ago in Psyche
Staying Strong When Anxiety Looms Large
It was bad enough when I was diagnosed with anxiety in 2010; I never once suspected that my daughter would also have it. I honestly thought that it was something I could handle all on my own, and I was wrong. I thought I could deal with the sense that I needed to be super mom and pay bills and take care of all my job responsibilities while I was at it. I couldn't, and it resulted in me having massive panic attacks a couple of times.
By Christina St-Jean8 years ago in Psyche
5 Things To Do in a Mental Health Crisis
A mental health crisis may consist of extreme anxiety, depression or feeling suicidal. For me, it's generally a mix of all three. This results in a rush of energy, feeling like I can't keep still or think straight, feeling like I can't breathe or am drowning and just utter terror that this is the beginning and things are about to get so, so much worse.
By The 'A' Girl8 years ago in Psyche
Anxiety
Anxiety is the name we give to our feelings of worry, fear, apprehension, and nervousness. It is not a mental illness. It is the appropriate nervous reaction that human beings developed when we first evolved to tell us when we were in a dangerous situation. Many of our fears and worries a justified. We may be worried about taking an exam or that a person we love is suffering. Anxiety may, however, occur without cause or it may be that we are more worried about a difficult situation that it warrants. People who suffer from severe anxiety find it can have a serious impact on their daily lives.
By Clare Scanlan8 years ago in Psyche
The Hole
I was there against my will, and I knew it was the place that I needed to be. See, I asked for help and protection from myself. I didn't trust myself anymore because I had a plan, a workable plan, and I intended to put that plan into motion three days ago. My plan consisted of a wooded area, a hose, a car exhaust and a sunny final day of my life.
By Rachael Merrick8 years ago in Psyche
The Thoughts and Feelings of Someone With a Mental Health Issue
I know that I suffer from a mental health issue—I know, deep down, that I am depressed. Most people think that depression is only "feeling sad." Wrong. There is so much more to depression than that. What bugs me is when you confide in someone about being depressed, the other person says "Oh, I've been sad too." Basically, I'm hoping that I'm gonna try and minimize the preconception of depression as only sadness.
By Ronnie Walker8 years ago in Psyche
