Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
As the Cookie Crumbles…
For the last few weeks, I’ve been feeling like my old self. Not the good kind of old self, but the self-destructive and self-sabotaging self. I’ve been having a hard time coping with, well, everything, and having a harder time being around people even the people who mean the most to me. But as of late, I feel like I’m drowning, and I recognized the old, familiar, feeling… my depression is back.
By Claire Beauvoir7 years ago in Psyche
The Next Chapter
The day I realised I wanted to live... Tuesday 13th June, 2017 Just over two years ago, in February 2015, I dropped out of my first A-Level school. I had moved there after my GCSE's but, for various personal reasons, I ended up leaving prior to exams. My parents agreed to this with the understanding I would go back into education in the following September. I spent sixth months working with my dad's company, whilst trying to save myself from sinking deeper and deeper into the darkness.
By Maya Emily Lorford7 years ago in Psyche
What Mental Illness Taught Me
If someone had of told me before I was diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses, I would not have believed you. I was outgoing, social, always out, working, hanging out with my friends. I would have looked you straight in the face and told you that it could never happen to me. It's the little things you take for granted.
By Courtenay McKinnon7 years ago in Psyche
How to Find Meaning in the Suicide of a Loved One
On Thursday, July 21, 2011, my twenty-year-old son left work early and never came home. His body would be found six days later in a remote area overlooking the Sweetwater Canyon, a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, and my life would never be the same. One year later, my wife took her life.
By David Stoner7 years ago in Psyche
When Is It Okay to Laugh Again?
I see myself as having a “goofy” sense of humor. My idea of a fun evening is making fun of old crappy movies or watching anime spoofs on YouTube which, by the way, are hilarious. It's the stupid, silly things that can make me laugh for days on end. Some people don't get it, but I guess you'd need to have that goofy mentality to understand what makes me tick. Being silly or making other people laugh, even just a little bit, makes me feel, well...pretty damn good. Almost somewhat “normal.”
By Kelly Hawks7 years ago in Psyche
Trichotillomania: Impulse Control Disorder
You’ve probably never heard of Trichotillomania and if you have you probably know someone or are someone with this disorder. People refer to this as a BFRB, or a body focused repetitive behavior, and it is a compulsive disorder where people pluck or rip out their body hair. This doesn’t mean that it is OCD, but it does share the traits of repetitive behaviour, compulsions, and can be prevalent in OCD patients. In other words, you can have TTM and not have OCD, or you can have OCD that involves TTM.
By Nicole King7 years ago in Psyche
5 Things to Do When Your Partner Is Having a Psychotic Episode
I found out about five to six months ago I suffer from bipolar disorder and psychosis. I have never experienced such a hard and complicated disease before. My psychosis experience has changed my life completely and has really put a damper on my relationship with my boyfriend, Brook. When I am having episodes I hear another girl in the house. She sometimes speaks really loud and I can make out the whole conversation and sometimes she whispers. I hear a variety of different things from normal conversation to sexual conversation and hearing a couple have sex.
By Christine russell7 years ago in Psyche
An Open Letter to My Abuser
How are you doing? I am doing alright, it’s been a while since you thought of me, hasn’t it? I think of you more than I should. What you did to me taints my every action; it forces me to second-guess every single person in my life. Does that guy really like my shirt, or are his eyes looking to my breasts? Is she grooming me, or is she genuinely my friend? Who is using me and who isn’t? Every day a question like this passes my mind, and to be honest I blame you. You took my innocence away when I was 13. You stole the last drops of my childhood and forced me to grow up. I remember exactly what you did, no detail has moved from that day.
By Eadlyen Greenwood7 years ago in Psyche
The Man in the Mirror and His Music
The man in the mirror keeps looking at me. He speaks to me and knows what will break me. He picks away at me like I will crumble. Sometimes he transcends the mirror and sits beside me on the couch or holds a knife to my face, whispering that I should let him take over or kill myself now. When we were little we used to toss a baseball back and forth. Or we would take turns scoring goals in soccer. My imaginary friend looked just like me. I grew up, and he became less imaginary and far more destructive.
By Scott A. Vancil7 years ago in Psyche
A Deficit of Attention
It's an odd thing. Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder is invisible among adults, by and large — say the term and the immediate thought is of semi- or entirely- feral kids, tearing around supermarkets and being rude to teachers; of Ritalin and use of the kind of food additives that can dye kids sunset-orange. But adults do have it. It's like most pathological conditions, in that you can't eradicate it from your overall makeup so instead you have to learn to live with it or turn it to your advantage. As with lion-taming, you come to a mutual understanding — on the lions' part, that you're in charge and so long as they have your full attention they will do your bidding. On your part, it's that if you let your mind wander, the lions can go to town on you. So it is with ADHD, except that very lack of attention is the lion. Except it's more like a chimp.
By Stu Neville7 years ago in Psyche