Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Terry Pratchett: Made Me Believe In Magic
When Terry Pratchett died I felt like a family member had died. His books were an integral part of my early life, hell they still are. When I was younger I would have one of his books everywhere so I could read one wherever I was.
By Sam Finlayson4 years ago in Psyche
Ride the Lightning
I do not recall the exact date or month, or even a really coherent narrative of how I found myself an inpatient at a psychiatric hospital in the Borough of Queens, city of New York. However, I do know that it was not the first hospital I was admitted to. Nor were any of the events transpiring not of my choice. I have for some time been realizing that things, somethings, then everything, were somehow not quite right. Part of the recipe here was the fact that I was involved in a near fatal motor vehicle accident, upon my ejection from my vehicle a good Samaritan at the scene thought it proper to drape a blanket over me as she was convinced there was a dead body on the side of the road, and the decent thing to do would be to shield others from such a sight.
By Michael Capriola4 years ago in Psyche
24 Hours Inside the Life of a Homeless Alcoholic
I spent three years homeless because of my alcohol addiction. Sometimes, when I could afford to, I lived out of motel rooms. The majority of the time I lived out of my car. I learned a lot during that time. I met so many people who were in similar circumstances and heard their stories.
By Ashley Brousseau4 years ago in Psyche
Birth Stoned
When I was young, though I don’t feel old now… I hit the road and drove around the country all alone. I just decided I’d leave, 5 weeks that time. It’s something I did once in a while. Sometimes with friends for a weekend; times a journey into the abyss; some casual cross-country road trips. Whatever it is, I feel like I am my truest self when I am out in the open, between some mountains - in my spaceships - alone in the wind. When I experience freedom from all things is when I can be my truest self, if you can imagine that. It sounds so obvious but some people never even consider it.
By Lolly Paige Lennox4 years ago in Psyche
8 Things you need to know if your partner was a victim of child abuse
Child abuse is sadly quite common and there are different types; sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse and neglect. It can be really hard to love someone with any of these types of abuse in their past.
By No One’s Daughter4 years ago in Psyche
What Anxiety Really Feels Like
I just woke up and the anxiety was upon me. It only took nine minutes. Nine minutes before I began to dwell on an upcoming social obligation. Oscillating between deciding to go and hating it, or decided to bail and letting everyone down.
By Zachary Phillips4 years ago in Psyche
Counseling And Therapy For Addiction and Mental Health. Top Story - December 2021.
I was meeting with a man for the first and last time in a session that usually did not go this way. He asked if I could hear his confession. I told him that I was not a priest and that if it was a crime or involved hurting himself or another, I could not keep that secret as a priest could. As he started to talk, he made it clear enough without saying it that he had killed someone. Or that at least he was paid to hurt others and paid well to do that. I told him that people in recovery will often make amends by offering to not do that thing anymore. Then he said, “I probably couldn’t do that. I believe that if I’m paid to do this again, I will.” I was thinking how I really didn’t want to carry around his crime or crimes with me. I then said that I would like to help him but I was sure that his best bet would be to speak with a priest and I encouraged him to do that as soon as possible. Our session ended. I think back on that day often. I was new to the position of counselor. A few years later, I was told in a high-speed chase with law enforcement, with him on a motorcycle, he went off the road and became paralyzed for the rest of his life. I was told he is living in a nursing home and that is probably where he will live out his days. Could I have done something different. Something that may have prevented this from happening? This time and others I would look back to see if there wasn’t something that may have changed the circumstances.
By Denise E Lindquist4 years ago in Psyche
Depression
It hurts to move forward when the thoughts come in and won't stop. I'm told to act happy and bring a smile, but that mask is suffocating. No matter how big I smile or how engaged I seem, my mind is spinning. That constant movement is exhausting, and I just want to sleep.
By Courtney Ann4 years ago in Psyche
