Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
It All Evens Out in the End — Bad News Will Come to Each of Us
In life we all experience highs and lows — it’s a simple fact of life. As good as things might be at any given moment, in the next moment we could be faced with challenges and hardships that make life seem difficult to bear.
By George Ziogas4 years ago in Psyche
Emotionally Closed Off...
Being married for over 8 years, and together for over 12, I never thought I would have to rejoin the dating world. But, since we opened up our marriage, I've had to do just that. When my husband and I got together, apps were just starting out - we met the old fashioned way, at a bar. We knew what we were getting ourselves into because we had to see each other and talk to decide if we wanted to pursue the relationship. But now, with apps like Grindr, Scruff, and Tinder, we take a 1 second look at someone's profile picture and swipe right or left. The person might have written they are a serial killer in their profile and we would have absolutely no idea because our judgement is based 100% on looks alone. And yes, I am just as guilty as the next person.
By Steven George4 years ago in Psyche
My Death, Decisions, & Dithering
Prologue I have a warped relationship with time. When I was 29 years old, I was diagnosed with a rare sleep disorder. The sleep specialist assured me that my chances of having it were low; in fact, I think he was more surprised by the diagnosis than I was. It’s most common in males over 65, and it's rare even then.
By Alex Casey4 years ago in Psyche
This is Your Brain on Painting: Effects on Memory, Emotions, and Cognition
Across multiple lands and worlds, the message appears loud and clear: meditate. Meditate. For mindfulness is now accepted as healing for many conditions of the human psyche: trauma, internalised dysfunctions, and the all unfortunate and inevitable ageing of the brain.
By Avocado Nunzella BSc (Psych) -- M.A.P 4 years ago in Psyche
As my mind wonders
I’m paranoid, everytime I step outside I think I’m going to die. I live day by day with thoughts of only how will I survive. I’ve been through pain and I’ve made others feel pain. I’ve contemplated the value of life a million times, I’ve played out the scenarios of every different step I could possibly take and in the end I’d lost my mind or died. I spend my nights with thoughts that turn into images, or dreams that turn to life. What’s bad is I witness my death every night. Im often sleepless because I can’t wrap my mind around my emotions. I can sense my end is around the corner. Im anxious and I feel like I'm choking, I’m lonely but all alone is how I’ve all ways been. I hold no peace just anger shedding tears as I’m loading this banger. Problem solved if the trigger squeezed… but I could never I’ve been through it all when I’m at my lowest I fail to stand tall then I contemplate how could I end it all. I know I say I’m alone because that’s how I feel in side but I got family and I got friends but my mind is battling a God called depression. My emotions get the best of me I wonder if I died tonight would I pass on to something heavenly but I know I’ve lived the life where the man upstairs just isn’t expecting me. I wish I could place the blame on someone else… thanks for neglecting ~sincerely your son I needed your bond or your shoulder so that I can lean on, you can’t cuddle me from the world but it would’ve helped a few times. I’m going crazy all alone I ain’t been picking up the phone I ain’t talking to the guys asking what they on I’ve been chasing myself I’ve been chasing my mind and emotion I’ve been so hopeless I’ve been so soulless. I’m on these drugs till there’s no return. I’m hurting I don’t know how I keep moving on enduring all this pain I just know my heart is shriveled up, i know no body understands what’s going on. I’ve lived a crazy life I lost the closest of my friends. I done seen cops kill the kids that look just like me. I harbor all the hardships I’ve endured in side of me I tried so hard to push it to the side of me. I keep on erupting with anger cause pain still lingers from it all I was a young kid always stood tall I lost my dad and I didn’t know how to deal with it all I’m the middle child so I always had things rough I felt like my momma hated me could you imagine the toll that takes on an 8 year old. As I got older I craved love and it did me no better because I couldn’t love myself unless I was getting money. I’ve been searching for love so desperately I had to learn the hard way it wasn’t only sex I need. I needed someone to hold me and connect with me I need that intimacy come smoke a couple blunts with me as I hold you close comfortably that’s my type of love you see. I don’t like people next to me but I like you next to me. I don’t want no one stressing me I wanna live stress free. Come find some peace in me Im hoping that you’ll see it in me. Don’t tell me you don’t wanna be with me I’m expressing how I feel deep fully. There’s more to this man than what you seen from me take me out my shell open up to me I wanna know what do you think it means to be free because that’s how it feels when it’s just you and me.
By Kairell Jones4 years ago in Psyche
The Chains Our Minds Create
Point of view changes(I did that on purpose) I can feel that something is “off” with me lately. Anger that I haven’t felt since I was a teenager has enhabited my mind, body, and soul for the last couple of weeks. I hate feeling angry and know it’s there for a reason but I don’t like when it consumes me like this. What am I angry about?
By Brandy callahan 4 years ago in Psyche
I Hate the Holland Poem
My name is Angel, and this is my autistic confession. I hate the Holland poem. Do you know the one I’m talking about? Well, when I first started working with children with special needs, there was a poem that was often referenced by parents. You've probably heard it, as it can still be found on the websites of many organizations that are related to disabilities. In the poem, the unnamed person plans to go on a vacation to Italy, and they are looking forward to all of the great things they will get to do. Inexplicably the plane goes to Holland instead. The person is then stuck there, on a vacation that is not the one they wanted.
By Angel Mann4 years ago in Psyche
It's in your head
Art therapy surprised me and changed my life in a way that I could not have predicted. I didn't like the idea at first; I had trouble letting go, and I didn't like the idea of potentially ruining my design. I've learned the hard way that attempting to control the outcome is more destructive.
By Carrie Principe4 years ago in Psyche
Panic! 5 MORE ways to Alleviate Panic Attack Symptoms and Anxiety
About a year ago I published a piece on Vocal, Panic! 5 ways to Alleviate Panic Attack Symptoms and Tips on Dealing with their Aftermath, and it became my most read piece on the site, eclipsing my short stories, poetry, and memoirs. I had started it in an attempt to write something that would qualify as "click bait," and found myself hours later, old notebooks and folders of print-outs from years of personal research fanned around me, trying to convey just what Anxiety and Panic Attacks were, and things I had found that helped. I had to narrow it down to just 5 bullet points, so I combined, connected, and coalesced as much information as I could and came up with my list: Ride it out, Move, Breathe, Mantras, and Recovering. I have only re-read it a few times, but in doing so realized just how much I had left out about Anxiety in general in my effort to focus specifically on Panic Attacks.
By Carly Doyle4 years ago in Psyche
