coping

Life presents variables; learning how to cope in order to master, minimize, or tolerate what has come to pass.

Times Are Tough For All Of Us, Put Down the Cheese
I don't know what's become of the world, but something has to give! I'll start there, My name is Karen. Yeah, I know, but it's not like that. My name is actually Karen, Mrs. Karen Lorainne Jasper III nee Woodhouse. I'm Karen, not a Karen, and I saw something today that just rotted my socks!
By Misty Raeabout a year ago in Psyche
Stress Is Killing Us All
Everyone’s stressed! I’m stressed, my dad’s stressed, and especially my dog because she lost her ball in the grass yesterday evening.
By Patrick Meowlerabout a year ago in Psyche
Manic Depressive Disorder Overview
Understanding Manic Depressive Disorder: Symptoms, Effects, and Management Manic Depressive Disorder, commonly known as Bipolar Disorder, is a complex mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings. These mood swings range from manic episodes, which are periods of abnormally elevated mood, energy, and activity levels, to depressive episodes, marked by feelings of severe depression, hopelessness, and lack of energy. The fluctuations in mood can be dramatic, impacting a person’s ability to function in daily life.
By Richard Curranabout a year ago in Psyche
Tea of Warmth
It was a grey day in Plymouth, a day when the rain didn't just fall; it seemed to hover as if it were something solid that you could touch. It seeped into everything and everyone. My little tea shop on the cobbled seafront promenade had become a haven for people fleeing the rain and seeking warmth all afternoon.
By Bradley Knight about a year ago in Psyche
I Just Came for the Coffee
I had time to waste in between my lectures. I wanted to get off campus and find a nook where I could relax. I thought it was a good idea. I needed a quick pick me up and a good cup of strong coffee with lots of sugar seemed to be calling my name. I'm sure you've probably been to such a well-known local establishment where you over-pay to enjoy an entitled swirl, too?
By Shirley Belkabout a year ago in Psyche
Darkness, my companion…
Raised and governed by the illusion that darkness should be avoided, kept far from the conscious self, neglected, we’ve misunderstood the purpose. But when it inevitably arrives, or even takes over, we don’t understand how to operate within or even rise above it because we’ve been taught from a place of fear how to handle or deal with darkness when it can lead to a state of abundance. Darkness is as much a part of life as light is. No one traverses the earth in complete light at all times. Light carries no value if there is no darkness involved. But what are we missing by not fully understanding our own darkness to begin with? It’s lazy and naïve to just lump darkness in with evil just as it is immature to assume black cats are a bad omen.
By The Omnipotent Deityabout a year ago in Psyche
Ride into Paris
I am exhausted. We have just landed in Paris from our 11-hour flight from Sao Paolo. The girls were particularly fussy during the entire flight: the little one, one-year-old Olivia, couldn't stand the pressure on her ears and cried non-stop on take-off, landing and during turbulence, which was particularly bad this time. This was driving the passengers around us crazy, and a couple of times we got not only stern looks but also comments like "Can't you do anything to stop your baby from crying?" Like as a parent I already don't feel bad and am irritating my babies on purpose so that they annoy other passengers.
By Lana V Lynxabout a year ago in Psyche
Helping on Labor Day
I’m not sure if writing for Vocal helps anyone, yet I did discover a interesting woman who posted photos that astounded me after writing, “Beautiful Festival of the Valley” & “Valley of the Gods” both for the “Arid” challenge. Her photos were of the night sky of brown clouds that took the shape of what resembled a Mummy. An Interesting phenomenon, as she posted what was outside her window. It showed how one person can influence another, even if I haven’t proof what I had written conjured up the image. Yet for the Arid challenge, it required an incantation. I think I made it powerful enough with the conjuring of a phoenix then using the bird to travel back in time to conjure the existence of the sacred King & Queen with the existence of a fallen asteroid. I hope the story helped someone, yet no one said a word to me personally. I read although that Michael Jackson’s, Neverland reopened after being shut down for over twenty years. When writing “ A Special Invite” Someone posted a very old recipe from a newspaper written years ago that inspired me to use it for the “ Under a spell” challenge. I hope it pleased the culinary world to some extent as there were more feasts shown in pictures of cooking in the desert with huge caldrons. Thinking back to the time I helped someone the most, my dad called me from Arizona. Being in the hospital during holiday season was tough as conversations on the iPhone left me feeling powerless. All I could do was listen. Let me see what you look like, Dad said as if the spirit of Phoenix was there as well. Oh a blond! I rolled my eyes letting him continue. Talking for about one week I changed my eyes coloring to more vivid colors than usual. Do I look prettier in Phoenix? I asked as each second felt was in the unknowing. I decorated my small Christmas tree was a can of Arizona tea. I considered going there, as the Sedona area interested me with the vortexes. There were many sightings of ufos 🛸 on the social media. More than usual. I honestly thought the Vortexes were summing the ufos. I also thought they were physical structures of rock that projected wind from underground. Looking online I found they were only certain areas on a mapped trail that is said to have magnetic activity. Maybe magnetic energy is what happens when you meet someone interesting. This seemed to be the case when I met Elsa. She was sitting at a dressing table at the Navy pool where she spoke to me as if she knew me. Maybe it was those Dietrich dimples with her same charisma. We sure hit it off & helped each other out. I found out that she was a coronals wife from Bavaria. Inviting me to her home she shared her life’s story of surviving the war & dealing with alcoholism. I understood the problem as she related that she couldn’t stop drinking where it was difficult to live. Talking helped as all that is needed is two people who share the common bond. We both had been on the psych ward where I went awol after realizing I wasn’t going to get a career. I discovered they kept wives in the hospital where Presidents go for treatment along with officers & enlisted. She related about James Forrestal who she said was thrown out of the window. No wonder the place gave me the creeps, 🫥!! It had a history of phenomenal I learned that tied into the nuclear tests in the Bikini Islands. That aspect of the Navy annoyed me. I was so afraid of them I stayed away for one year. I had to get discharged officially so I returned where all I could do was swim in the pool. I didn’t know where to go & am grateful to have met a German woman who made more sense than anyone there. I wanted to work in maxillofacial after seeing a display of painted eyes that took a special craftsmanship. I had an interview with a Petty Officer Caterton that worked in the wing near dentistry. Having an art degree I related how I would be good at the craft. The job didn’t work out so I volunteered for the Red Cross in the medical library. I learned that there were some books left on top of the bookshelves that were said to be omen books not to be moved. I wonder today what books they were. No one, not even doctors were allowed to check out any books. They had to photo Copy any documents if needed. I thought it was a waste of trees & paper & a dumb rule. I worked for a while inserting metal dividers into books that would beep the metal detector. The long subway ride became too much to endeavor so I left the job being a veteran. I remember one Veterans Day when i was asked to support the vets at the Marine base Quantico for a ceremony. The shuttle took a long time in the November rain. After a few speeches it was time to return to Washington. It had only rained for awhile, yet long enough to cake the shuttle tires with mud. The driver sat at the wheel, spinning effortlessly with no luck moving the bus. Oh No! 😳😳 It was near dinner time, soon to get dark🫡🫡 Yes Sir! I was afraid I would be stuck in a graveyard at night! What was I going to do?? Then down the avenue of flags came a white Marine core bus! 😏 What a relief! Stepping into the bus was like a miracle where inside sat well dressed Marines that rescued all us vets from harms way. I couldn’t imagine what it would of been like if they hadn’t shown up. I hope this story helps someone as I am grateful that there are responsible people that had a solution to what seemed like no way out! I did return to the medical center when it changed its status to Walter Reed. It was much more relaxed & less uptight having personal dressed in army fatigues rather then uniforms. The piano was still there where I met with Elsa in acute care. She had flown space available to Germany where she gave me a gift of bonbons. She informed me that the swimming pool had closed, as I thought was a bad idea since Doctors liked to swim before work. She took another trip to China where she asked me to go. It was so far away, I couldn’t. Space available she said was fun since you can ride with the troops. She related many stories about her childhood when she had polio & her ride in the backseat of Hitlers car. The time her water broke when she was pregnant inside Cheyenne Mountain. Her two daughters I never met, as we lost contact after a few years. When I watch a Marlena movie I think of her, as she died on my birthday, May 6th. It was the same day of the Hindenburg tragedy, yet in 1961 it was the day of the first flight in space by Alan Shepard. Wikipedia says now it was on the 5th, as I had a newspaper clipping from the Merced Sun-Star that had it dated the 6th. I know since Marlenas biography states on a few websites she died on May 16th. 🤥 It doesn’t matter as I wish I could have helped Elsa more since through talking, we were able to discuss the mystery of a hospital that had a automated atmosphere feel. It’s healthy to have a good laugh.
By Ocusan Mabout a year ago in Psyche
My Path To Self-Confidence
For most of my life, I led a predictable and uneventful routine: eat, sleep, go to school, and repeat. My days were filled with the same old patterns, and I lacked any real drive or ambition.
By Raouf Raoufabout a year ago in Psyche
Friendship Lost: A Lesson in Betrayal
A Helping Hand It was a cloudy September morning, an obvious sign it would rain. I was dropping my son off at the elementary school and afterward driving to work. I kissed him and promised to pick him up in the afternoon. As I walked towards my car, it began drizzling. Once inside, I noticed a woman struggling to open her vehicle’s window. When suddenly it began raining harder. Without a thought and with my umbrella in hand, I jumped out of my car and walked towards her.
By Debbieabout a year ago in Psyche
Can You Love The Addiction Out Of Somebody?
I’ve been spending some time on Reddit lately, answering questions about addiction and sharing my own experiences. As expected, tons of posts were from people struggling with addiction issues looking for advice.
By Patrick Meowlerabout a year ago in Psyche
Saved By The Bell…
I’m breaking the rules of this challenge off the bat, and if that disqualifies me than so be it. In fact at first I didn’t even intend to enter this particular challenge, and I’m probably not a good enough writer to win regardless. One thing I’m sure of is that in my hectic life as a single dad I don’t always take the time out of my day to something nice enough for someone to inspire a winning story anyway.
By Kenneth cruzabout a year ago in Psyche