Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Four Step Program for iPhone Addiction in Teens
Four Step Program for Iphone Addictions in Teens This program outlines how to change iPhone addiction in high school students using Hull's four-step theory. Hull theorized that learning a novel behaviour occurs through four different events; a drive or motivation, cues, response or behaviour, and reinforcement. This program changes iPhone addiction by targeting these four events. The program is designed specifically for high school students who are particularly vulnerable due to peer influence and emerging sense of personal identity. The program aims to help students learn the harms of iPhone addiction and feel confident in their decisions to restrict iPhone use for better mental health.
By Beth (Halo) Hanson4 years ago in Psyche
Imposter Syndrome and chronic illness
I have had Imposter Syndrome for really all my life. Along with 70% of the population, at some time or another. Imposter syndrome is the feeling that any successes you have had are due to luck or some external influences outside of yourself. And not your skills, talent or qualifications.
By Nikki Albert4 years ago in Psyche
The Power of Manifestation
A little backstory – I write lyrics but I don’t play any instruments and I don’t sing. I heard about a contest 99.5 WYCD was having where you show up to Hockey Town showing your love and support for the radio station and the chance to win front row tickets/backstage passes to the Taylor Swift Concert at Ford Field. My vision was winning backstage passes, meeting Taylor Swift, giving her my lyrics and getting recognized as an amazing song writer. While I did not get the chance to showcase my writing, I did win front row.
By John Hanna4 years ago in Psyche
Anticipation
I’ll do it, but I can’t deny that I am second-guessing, well... everything. It’s one thing to consider to myself that I have more issues than I’ve led myself to believe for years on end; I have dismissed signs, minimized dark thoughts, told myself “it’s just a bad day”. Except… So many days are bad, back-to-back-to-back.
By Megan Baker (Left Vocal in 2023)4 years ago in Psyche
there is more to this than what's happening
“How big will the incision be?” was the first of a list of questions I did not think to ask before brain surgery. I was honestly surprised they weren’t going to pull the tumor out of my ear with some sort of laser tweezers. I remembered just getting home on a sunny afternoon and answering my neurosurgeon’s PA’s call on my car’s bluetooth, parking in the driveway, and listening as she explained the surgery process. She told me they would make an incision, peel back the skin and the muscle… and then my consciousness started spinning. My roommate smiled and waved and I smiled and waved back. I could feel myself dissociating as she spoke. I snapped back to the conversation when she asked if I had any questions; “No, sounds good– see ya Tuesday!” Casual.
By Kayla Reiter4 years ago in Psyche
3 Emotions You Need to Experience to Understand.
I believe it is hard to understand almost anything until you have experienced it. This is especially true of emotions. My reasoning for this is that emotions transcend language. You can try to explain an emotion to someone, but the explanation will only take you so far. Without direct experience, it is impossible to know the depth, length, and consequences of any emotion.
By Leon Macfayden4 years ago in Psyche
Girl Not Interrupted
A little over a year ago, I took a job working in mental health as a program technician, even though my dad did not encourage working in this field with my anxiety. Dads great though, he’s super supportive. He's worked in recovery for years as a case manager. He just received his legacy reward for his 10-year dedication to the field-we really don't know how I managed to get this fucked up. I had a lot of great interactions with the clients working in recovery. We would sing, go hiking, go thrift shopping per my request. I would sit and talk to them for hours, whatever they really needed throughout the day I was there to fill the void. I watched prescription after prescription being thrown out at every client like candy. I had a therapist pull me to the side one time upon arriving to shift to tell me to be careful with new client-let's call this client Suzie. Be careful with Suzie, she's diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Do not trust her, she will build you up to tear you down. Do not tell this client anything personal. Little did she know while she was outside labeling a client, I haven't even had a chance to meet for myself yet she was speaking to one. A BPD.
By Hannah Whiting4 years ago in Psyche
Dreams Inebriated
If you ask anyone who knows me, they will tell you that I am not an animal lover. I admire them from afar and respect them but do not look to me to have them for pets. What is odd is that I've wanted a dog for some time now, more like an emotional support dog. For as long as I can remember, the majority of my dreams have had animals in them. They tend to rotate from exotic cats to rats; some have been nightmares. My goal is to find out what they mean so you can find me Googling 2:30 in the morning in a cold sweat.
By teisha leshea4 years ago in Psyche
They Don’t Just Love Them, Men Truly Desire Bitches
Last weekend, my friend needed me to be his Vanna Black at a pop-up event. He owns a clothing store and wanted a gorgeous woman to help him reel in customers. I obliged. The event was a mashup of comedy, music, food, and drinks. After being on lockdown for nearly a year, it always feels so good to be social and amongst the people. As I was standing by a clothing rack of coats, a short man approached me. He wanted to know if I was the coat-check girl. Incredulous at this suggestion, I told him “no, why would he think I’m the coat check girl?” The convo descended into corny banter that eventually culminated in him asking for my number. I declined. When he asked me why? I simply replied, “I don’t date.” (This was a lie, but I declined to add the rest of the sentence. I don’t date men like him.) To my surprise, he rather obnoxiously and arrogantly retorted, “You big fat loss.” Of course, I laughed. I mean, this man was short. His breath smelled like a garbage truck. He was not attractive by most people’s standards. How on earth could it be my loss? Suddenly, I was slightly annoyed at myself. Why had I been so gracious to him? Perhaps, if I had delivered the brutal honesty that he so desperately needed, he wouldn’t be strutting away like he was the bee’s knees. After all, men will always appreciate and desire a “bitch”.
By Jacqueline Atulip4 years ago in Psyche
I’m in Recovery
Let me premise this to say that I have lived a couple of decades without drugs and alcohol in my body. Don’t feel sorry for me yet. I used plenty to excess and had all of the same nights I don’t remember, waking up in strange beds, doing things I regret, and even getting handcuffed in the back of a cop car. Drinking literally “fu^&$d” me up from my first drink, but I sometimes still crave that feeling of sinking into oblivion where my brain starts to turn off, my inhibitions come down and I even begin to laugh; not tied down by my own serious, catastrophizing mind.
By Melissa Steussy4 years ago in Psyche
I Was the Best Faker Ever
I'm true to myself now, and it's not gonna happen. Not today. Sometimes that’s enough. I can say that, now. There were days when I’d wake up wishing I hadn’t, and days when I’d consider driving my car as fast as I could, over a bridge or into a brick wall.
By Catherine Kenwell4 years ago in Psyche
