Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
A Day at the Beach
Earlier this year I had the fortunate experience of having a mental breakdown. Full-on depression and anxiety spiraling down into the darkest depths I have ever been. Sprinkle in my long-term boyfriend, of nearly five years, breaking up with me, and you have got a recipe for complete and utter destruction. Now there’s only a small hint of sarcasm there, or maybe a whole lot, because it really was one of the best things to happen to me, though I definitely wasn’t thinking that through the laborious, and hard, healing process.
By Tiffany Marvin-Carr8 years ago in Psyche
Suicide
Suicide. Not a fun topic. It’s not something people like to talk about. What people do not realize is that it is a very serious problem today and it needs to be brought into the light. “What better way to end the pain than end your life?” is a very common thought. You’d be very surprised by the number of people who want to take their lives daily. You also may not be aware that one of those people could be someone very well close to you.
By Deserae Manning8 years ago in Psyche
My Darkness
The scratch of a single pen on paper was the only audible noise in the cold, dimly lit room, save for my slow and shallow breaths. As I completed the poem and read it through once more, I discovered how beautifully sad it was. The black ink seemed cry out in pain and despair. Though, that had not been my intention; my intention has always been to be happy. At the very moment I stared at the sorrowful words scrawled across the page, it became clear to me what was true. The suffocating and relentless sadness that silently engulfed me every day could not remain quiet any longer. I finally gave into what I had feared the most; I was depressed.
By Tiffany Wile8 years ago in Psyche
Anxiety is a Twat
I’ve lived with my anxiety and depressive disorder for just over a year now and I still feel like I can’t come to terms with it. I struggle to do the simplest of tasks and, although medication and other methods do help, some days it’s just impossible.
By Jess Peters8 years ago in Psyche
The Forgotten
There are a lot of people who crack jokes about asylums, including the entirety of the horror movie industry, and how terrible they are. I am no different. Looking back on the first time I saw the clock tower building at the edge of town I distinctly remember saying it looked like an old asylum. Honestly I meant that it would make a good scene for a horror movie, little did I know that I wasn’t far off. It was a behavioral health clinic in its prime. Once I actually moved to Topeka I started taking a more in depth look into the old asylum and its property.
By Courtney Seever8 years ago in Psyche
Panic Attacks - How To Help Yourself or a Loved One
Panic attacks suck. They can be debilitating. At times, they are brought on by built up stress-worries about getting the perfect score on an exam, or a recurring family conflict, like arguments about insufficient household funds. Sometimes they can be caused by a very sudden stressor, like a car accident. Then there are those unlucky lot who are ambushed by panic attacks out of the blue, for no reason at all. Random occurrences of panic attacks are especially common with people who have experienced some type of trauma in their life. Now, that doesn't mean that you can't have a panic attack if you haven't experienced a trauma. In fact, most people will experience at least one attack in their lifetime. Though it is far more common in people with anxiety disorders.
By Miss Daisy8 years ago in Psyche
No Bright Side with Anxiety?
What is anxiety? Anxiety is a feeling. A feeling that can drive a person mad. A thought that can convince someone it's true and a thought that will rest in the back of your head and come out when you're not ready. It's also deep in your gut that can make you feel nauseous and even physically sick. You'll feel terrified and your brain will be completely overwhelmed. You can feel your stomach churn and your brain pulse, it can feel like it's being crushed. Anxiety will make you over think every little detail and situation. Anxiety is a thought, mutated in your brain, and it'll convince you something is wrong. Something terrible can happen or even will happen. That maybe you caused this problem or mistake, and you'll wonder but how can you fix it. And you can. By seeking help. Bluntly. That's the truth. I hadn't, and there's been many times in my life I needed help, but didn't. Anxiety isn't just fear. It's so much more than a feeling. When it's happening, everything feels very real. Your fear will be the truth. And your thoughts will rule you.
By Danny Flow8 years ago in Psyche
Let's Talk About Mental Health as Writers
As I’m writing this, I’m sitting in the library of my university, desperate to be productive. I have a brand new notebook, brand new pens (coloured fine-liners to be snazzy!), and an iced soy chai latte from Starbucks. All of these things give me the illusion that I’m about to do something big, but that’s not always the case.
By Sharna Bennett8 years ago in Psyche
Hunger
The hunger started when you were about 15, you went to Jack’s with a couple of mates and he passed you a zoot. You’d never even smoked a cigarette before because you were such a little mummy’s boy. Didn’t know how to inhale properly, so you choked. Cough. Cough. Pass.
By mollyglinski8 years ago in Psyche
