Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Xanax
A few years ago I was diagnosed with a few mental health conditions, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) proving to be one of the more invasive ones in my daily life. I still experience extreme anxiety making plans with friends I've known for ages, throughout the day I experience moments where it feels like my heart is going to beat right out of my chest, and I tend to think of the worst when something doesn't play out exactly as how I thought it would.
By Katharine Danae8 years ago in Psyche
A Philosophical Approach to Conquering the Fear of Meaninglessness
The possibility that I'm building a life for myself that is meaningless is one of my biggest fears. The dull repetition of days (which seems to be one of life's inherent qualities), haunts me with the idea that a meaningful life is impossible to attain. The idea that life can be devoid of purpose plagues me. From spending many tedious days considering this, I have acquired a deeply embedded fear that my life is useless, meaningless. Days as such take me away from myself, forcing me to look at my life as though I was watching an hourglass, staring as sand tumbles down until my time is out. When I’m breathing my last few breaths someday, watching the last grains of sand fall, I fear I'll look back on monotonous days and despise myself for never turning my life into something meaningful. So, while empty hours drift by, I find myself trapped in a reflection of why I do the things I do. I wonder how I should be living differently to gain more out of my life. I wonder if anyone else feels this way so often. Finally, I wearily wonder if anything is even worth it, and if there is even a point to trying.
By Cecilia Bilton8 years ago in Psyche
Just Get Over It
"Just get over it." "It's all in your head." "You could stop it if you wanted to." These are just some of the many things people with anxiety or panic attacks hear so often from people who don't understand this condition. I have lived with this mental illness for many years now and before I had my first panic attack, I too said these things. I had no idea what anxiety or panic attacks were like so I just thought they were just being dramatic or it was all in their heads. The first experience that I had that began my journey with this condition came a day after a horrible near-drowning accident. I jumped off a 25 foot cliff and when I hit the water, I had my mouth and nose wide open, so water rushed right into my lungs. I surfaced and could not breathe. Luckily there was a friend there who grabbed me and helped.
By Somer Michalski-Jones8 years ago in Psyche
Coming Out As Mentally Ill; My Story
So, I have had a few 'coming out' moments in my life. Coming out as liberal in a conservative household, a tea drinker amongst coffee lovers, and of course the classic, coming out as gay. All of these things came so naturally to me, I was proud of them, and they helped shape my identity. Don't get me wrong, they were still terrifying moments, but ultimately these comings out, whether they be trivial or life changing, made me feel complete, more fully formed. Coming out as mentally ill was an entirely different kettle of fish.
By EP Jenkins8 years ago in Psyche
What Others Can’t See
Depression. A 10 letter word that over 350 million people are going through as I am typing this. There is a whole variety of different types of depression. But the one type that the majority of the people ignore is major depression. It’s the type where you stay in bed all day, staring at the ceiling. It’s quiet in the room, you can practically hear yourself breathing, but your mind is running wild, with uncalled for thoughts that you let take over. My own depression has me debate if I even wanna get up to use the restroom, because that will require me to get up, that will require me to open my door, and see the little bit of sunlight escaping the curtains in the living room and hitting the hallway that leads to my room. That will require me to drag my feet on the cold floor, and see myself in the mirror. See how messy my hair is because I don’t ever brush it unless I go to work. Otherwise it’s usually in knots after knots in a big bun. Being able to see the dark circles under my eyes from only a couple hours of sleep the night before. See how pale my skin is because I'd rather choose the comfort of my room.
By Catalina Verdugo8 years ago in Psyche
Depression
Depression is one of the most common issues for teens in America. About 30% of teens in America are actually depressed. As a parent with a teen that is depressed you might ask yourself how you can help, and you can help by paying attention to your child's feelings, stay calm when your child becomes anxious about a situation or an event (with this one if you don’t stay calm for your child, and your child can see you aren’t staying calm they might act out even more), recognize and praise small accomplishments, and don’t punish mistakes or lack of purpose.
By Michaela La Brie8 years ago in Psyche
Things That Helped Me Overcome Insecurity and Anxiety
1. Own it before anyone else can point it out. Make joke about your hairy arms, nose, or calling a lot to make sure everything is okay. We are beautifully flawed but there is no problem with that. There is nothing wrong with having bump in your nose. If you do, own every bit of that bump or weird birthmark or wide feet. Your "flaws" (and I use the word "flaws" very loosely) is what makes you you. No one can be you or your flaws. Owning it doesn't just help you but others with the same insecurity.
By Belle Denka8 years ago in Psyche
Mental Illness: The Demons Within
The next illness on the list is PTSD, also known as: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I wasn’t diagnosed with this until I was hospitalized on 5 North (the psychiatric ward of the hospital) but I believe it’s something I have had long before I was in the hospital.
By Alyssa Lactin8 years ago in Psyche
I Struggled but Survived
It all began when my parents divorced. I was seven years old, and didn't really understand what was going on. I know now that it was for the best, and I'm glad it happened when I was so young. Although we moved in with my mum's new boyfriend when I was eight years old. We lived in an upside down house; bedrooms downstairs, kitchen and living-room on the upper level. I came home from school one day, and he was downstairs. I walked into the bedroom as I thought my mum was home and he was watching porn with his shorts and boxers down to his ankles. I was eight years old, I didn't understand it at all. I just walked out and went into my bedroom. It then progressed to him coming into my bedroom at night and doing business over me. Again, I had no idea what was going on, and I was left to clean up the mess. Nobody seemed to notice that my behaviour was becoming progressively worse and I was playing up a lot more. I would see my biological father on weekends, have a really great, relaxing time and then when I'd go home, I would play up and my mum would think that it was because I'd seen my Dad, when in reality, it was because I was back at home.
By Emily Fowler8 years ago in Psyche
