how to

How to cope with your emotions, maintain mental health, deal with life's stressors and help others do the same.

How Lack of Sleep Affects Your Body and Mind
In our fast-paced world, sleep is often the first thing we sacrifice. Late nights, busy schedules, and constant digital distractions have made rest feel like a luxury, rather than a necessity. But sleep is not just about physical recovery; it plays a vital role in emotional balance, mental clarity, and psychological well-being. When we deprive ourselves of sleep, we aren’t just making ourselves tired—we’re disrupting the foundation of self-care and mental resilience.
By Leesh lala8 months ago in Psyche
Silent Lessons: 15 Truths That Change Your Life Forever
15 Psychological and Life Truths 1. Earn money first, then fall in love. As bitter as this may sound, financial stability is essential before entering into deep emotional relationships. Love can be fulfilling, but without the means to support it practically, it often becomes strained under the weight of unmet needs. Money does not buy love, but it does buy the peace of mind that helps love grow
By Habib Ullah 8 months ago in Psyche
Please, Someone See Me
Thank you for opening and reading this. Every single read means the world to me. Each time someone clicks and reads, I know someone out there heard my story, my thoughts, my heart. As a new writer on Vocal, I’m deeply grateful to every person who gives my words a chance.
By Aarvi nilli8 months ago in Psyche
What Meta And AI Fundamentally Misunderstand About Loneliness And Therapy
Mark Zuckerberg has recently talked about the Future he Envisions. A Future that makes me Fundamentally Sick because of its Dystopian Consequences.
By Dr. Cody Dakota Wooten, DFM, DHM, DAS (hc)8 months ago in Psyche
Are You Using Your Phone or Is It Using You
Start writing.At first, it was just a tool. A shiny rectangle full of promise. You tapped the screen and marveled at the world it unlocked—endless knowledge, instant communication, and the comforting sense that you were never really alone. But somewhere along the way, the roles reversed. You used to reach for your phone with a purpose. Now, you reach for it without even thinking. Standing in line, sitting in silence, lying in bed at 2 a.m.—your hand gravitates toward it like metal to a magnet. You scroll, swipe, tap. What were you even looking for? You’re not sure anymore. It started with connection. But now? Now it feels more like a leash. The Silent Shift You didn’t notice it at first. Nobody does. The apps you downloaded were fun. Useful. Harmless. But they didn’t stay that way. Slowly, they learned about you—your habits, your patterns, your weaknesses. They began shaping your behavior, nudging your emotions, hijacking your attention. What began as convenience turned into compulsion. Have you ever caught yourself unlocking your phone without a reason? You’re not alone. In fact, studies show the average person checks their phone 96 times a day—that’s once every 10 to 12 minutes. Not because we need to. Because we’ve been trained to. Notifications aren’t just alerts. They’re psychological triggers. Every buzz or banner on your screen sets off a tiny burst of dopamine—a chemical reward that your brain starts craving. Over time, your mind becomes wired to seek those rewards, not unlike a gambler waiting for the next win. You aren’t using your phone anymore. It’s using you. The Illusion of Control Sure, you tell yourself, I can quit anytime. But can you? Try going a full day without checking your phone. No social media. No emails. No YouTube. No mindless scrolling. Just you and your thoughts. Feels uncomfortable, doesn’t it? That discomfort is not accidental. It's by design. App developers consult behavioral psychologists to make their platforms as addictive as possible. Infinite scroll, autoplay videos, algorithmic feeds—they all serve one purpose: to keep you engaged, even when you're exhausted, disinterested, or even unhappy. Your attention is their currency. The longer you stay, the more ads they show, the more money they make. Every second you spend is another piece of yourself you’re trading—often without even realizing it. What Are You Losing? The cost of constant connection isn’t just time—it’s presence. It's relationships. It's peace. How many dinners have been interrupted by a glowing screen? How many deep conversations have been reduced to distracted nods? How many nights have you stayed awake, endlessly scrolling, while sleep slipped through your fingers? It’s subtle. It creeps in slowly. But eventually, you begin to feel... off. Anxious for no reason. Unfocused. Restless. Your mind flits from one thing to the next, unable to rest in the stillness. Unable to be alone. Because being alone means facing yourself. And your phone doesn’t want that. Your phone wants to keep you busy. Distracted. Dependent. Reclaiming the Driver’s Seat But here’s the truth: the phone only has the power you give it. You can take it back. It starts with awareness. Not blame, not guilt—just honesty. Notice your habits. Track how often you pick up your phone, and ask yourself why. Is it boredom? Loneliness? Stress? What are you really looking for? Then, take small steps. Turn off non-essential notifications. Set app time limits. Designate phone-free hours during your day. Replace late-night scrolling with journaling or reading. Create space for your mind to breathe. Most importantly, reconnect with real life—with the moments that can’t be captured or posted. The laughter of someone sitting across from you. The silence of a walk at dusk. The satisfaction of being fully here. The Choice Is Yours Are you using your phone—or is it using you? It’s a haunting question. One that reveals more about your life than you might be ready to admit. But it’s not too late to shift the balance. Not too late to stop living on autopilot and start living with intention. Your phone is a tool. A powerful one. But it is not your master. It doesn't breathe. It doesn't feel. It doesn’t dream. You do. Don’t trade your reality for a screen. Don’t let the illusion of connection rob you of real presence. You are not a machine, and you don’t have to live like one. Unplug to remember who you are—before the phone started whispering otherwise.
By Sajid 8 months ago in Psyche
You’re Not Behind — You’re Just Human
You ever look around and think, “Everyone else seems to know what they’re doing... why don’t I?” Someone just got a promotion. Someone else is buying a house. Your friend is planning a wedding, launching a business, traveling the world.
By SHADOW-WRITES8 months ago in Psyche
Is Sadness Good?
Sadness. A feeling we often run from. We hide it behind smiles, bury it under distractions, and hope it fades like a bad dream. But what if sadness isn’t our enemy? What if, instead of being something to escape, it is something to embrace?
By Leesh lala8 months ago in Psyche
Do Not Dwell on the Past
There is a quiet ache in the soul of every human being — the echo of moments gone by. Memories that surface without warning, regrets that whisper in silence, and wounds that seem too deep to ever fully close. The past has a way of reaching into the present, tightening its grip on our hearts. Yet, in that very ache lies the opportunity for profound healing. It begins with a single choice: not to dwell on the past.
By Leesh lala8 months ago in Psyche
Tragedy, Tribulations, and Finding Peace Within Myself . Content Warning.
Greetings, Vocal readers. Before I begin, I want to say thanks to the wonderful team on Vocal for selecting my story as on of the Top Stories of May. I'll have a link to that story down below if you would like to read it. For this story, I want to be open and honest about, and in detail, about my devastating lows and numerous suicide attempts. It's an uncomfortable topic to discuss, but I believe by being transparent about what I've gone through mentally, it might encourage someone to seek professional help. In my previous stories on Vocal, I've been frank about my mental health struggles. We should have difficult, yet necessary conversations about mental health. It will show that people are honest and genuine about their feelings. In fact, we should normalize being open about our struggles, not have it suppressed. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in February 2012, but had been experiencing those feelings since I was 19.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 8 months ago in Psyche
Why Do People Like Music?
The Enduring Allure of Music: A Universal Language Music, an art form as ancient as humanity itself, transcends borders, languages, and eras to unite people in a shared experience of joy, sorrow, and connection. From the gentle lullabies soothing infants to the vibrant anthems echoing through stadiums, music weaves itself into the fabric of human existence. Its profound impact stems from a remarkable interplay of science, psychology, culture, and emotion, making it one of the most cherished forms of expression. But what is it about music that captivates us so deeply? The answer lies in its multifaceted ability to engage the mind, stir the heart, and foster unity.
By MAROOF KHAN9 months ago in Psyche
How to Manage Time Effectively Daily
Have you ever reached the end of the day wondering, “Where did all the time go?” I sure have. In fact, I remember one Tuesday that started with high hopes — a to-do list written with fresh morning coffee, my desk cleared, and a mental promise to be productive. But by evening, all I had was a half-checked list and a gnawing feeling that I’d let the hours vanish. No emergency came up. No major distraction, really. Just… little things. A few too many social scrolls, a couple of unplanned calls, and somehow, the day unraveled like a loose thread.
By Safe khan9 months ago in Psyche
Are You an Actor in Someone Else's Play?
The root of inner conflict: Are you living for other people’s expectations? I have a friend who, under the expectations of his family, chose a "stable" life path – working in the post office. My family thinks this is a great choice, with a stable salary, good benefits, and a secure retirement. The problem is – he was in terrible pain every day!
By Emily Chan - Life and love sharing9 months ago in Psyche