Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
The Day I Broke Up with My Mental Illness
As a kid, I knew I was different. It started one summer when my best friend from across the street came over to play. Our days never seemed to stopped. Sprinklers under trampolines followed by pudding popsicles and frozen waffles. Slip n’ slides and wet grass and sunscreen. Endless days and sleepless nights. Summer was the best time of our lives. But not this summer. I couldn’t. My brain and body could not. I laid in my dark room for hours at a time running my hands over the silk sheets wondering what was wrong with me.
By Tabitha Shiloh8 years ago in Psyche
Fear of Being Alone
Recently I discovered my fear of being alone. I have been afraid to be alone in terms of romantic relationships. I think I've always known this to some degree but it became abundantly clear to me when I found myself staying in a bad relationship. Anyway that is another story, the recent discovery though is how scared I am of being alone with my thoughts and I have subconsciously always found ways to avoid long periods of just thinking and this is what I believe to have been the gateway to my debilitating depression.
By Yedzayi Nenjerama8 years ago in Psyche
Postpartum Depression
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION IS MORE REAL THAN THE AIR I BREATHE. Depression is lonely, but postpartum depression is isolation and guilt. It’s so taboo that the thought of a discussion scares you into silence. If I talk about it will they take my baby away? If I admit what I’m actually feeling will they think I’m a bad mom and not fit to be a parent? Should I speak up or should I stay quiet? Postpartum isn’t only after the baby is born, it can start during pregnancy. Hormones are your enemy during and after pregnancy. It feels like they want to kill me. I must fake a smile and go on.
By Alicia Leon8 years ago in Psyche
Bottling Up Emotions - Your Battle Against the World
All you have to do is google 'The history of mental health' and be shocked at the way we used to shun mental health and the gruesome methods in which we thought would help sufferers achieve 'normality.' But finally, after so many thousands of years of the human race gracing this earth we call home, we are in a position where we are recognising the importance of mental health and realising that it's okay not to be okay. For me, it was the death of Robin Williams that brought it home; I sat there in front of the news having misheard the name and thought 'Oh, Robbie Williams has died. Shame." I think being corrected afterwards made the whole ordeal that ever more shocking for me! I thought of the larger than life man I knew whose wit had no limit and smile never ceased. It suddenly struck me how powerful the mind is and its uncanny ability to produce genius and destruction in equal measure, and it scared me to think it had the capability to bring down a man like Mr. (ROBIN) Williams who, to my mind, was indestructible.
By Louisa Jane8 years ago in Psyche
Struggle
Everyone has a story to tell. The story is as unique as the individual who tells it. One person's story may overlap another person's. There are parts of a story that may be difficult for the person to tell. Yet, under the right circumstances, the person just may open up and give parts of their story to open ears that are willing to accept.
By Joy Ergang8 years ago in Psyche
#OCD #Sucidal #Depression #Anxiety
These are some of the "#" that run free on social media. Now we all learned from experience that the more hashtags you put, more people see the post. So naturally, people started putting random hashtags to posts that don't even have any relevance to what is in the picture, just so more people see the post and increase the likes. The problem, in my opinion, is when you start associating yourself with these disorders that are more serious than people realize. But in order to realize why you shouldn't associate yourself with these things, you have to understand them and how serious they are. So let's start explaining them.
By Foreign Paws8 years ago in Psyche
Erasing the Stigma
Mental illness is a huge modern day problem that not enough people are taking seriously but instead stigmatize it when it shouldn't be at all. Mental illness is a very common problem now-a-days, yet remains an extremely taboo subject, even to those who struggle with it. Most people who are ill are ashamed of being open about their diagnosis(es) out of fear of being stigmatized by those who aren't educated enough about the subject, especially among the younger generation with the Internet and all this information being so accessible. Some contribute to making the stigma worse by going so far as to fake a mental illness because they think it's cool or trendy to have one, they use it as a tactic to "fit in" with those who they think would be accepting or pity them because of their alleged illness. Mental illness is a very big and serious problem that's been around for centuries and we have to work together to educate those who aren't and erase the stigma around it.
By Spencer Barcenas8 years ago in Psyche
Agoraphobia
I know what I have to do and it is so simple. Anyone one could do it. A 1-year-old for fuck sake could do it! Yet I sit here staring blankly at this screen. The front door is behind me. I can hear the wind howling outside telling me it's a brisk early winter day. It will be cold outside and there will be a bite in the wind. My heart starts to race and already I can feel the panic rising in my stomach making me feel sick.
By Samantha Don8 years ago in Psyche
