Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Burnout
I have worked in the field of social work for nearly a decade now. The majority of social workers can’t help but to get emotionally invested in their work. They have to work through vicarious trauma, vicarious grief, their own grief, and feelings of helplessness when they know there is nothing more they can do to support someone but that person is still struggling. Self care is preached as the most important thing for people working in the human services to do, but self care is such a vague and difficult thing to figure out. So many people have such diverse suggestions to work through the stresses and burnout of the job but everyone is so different no one suggestion will work for everyone.
L. A. McCulloughPublished 2 years ago in PsycheDiscovering Your New Normal After Trauma
Growing up, my normal was chaos and madness due to some less than stellar events in my childhood and a messed up family. Through the constant struggles, I have learned what to appreciate. And for me, every aspect of life is worth being appreciated. But above anything else, I appreciate normalcy.
That Psych NerdPublished 2 years ago in PsycheThe Closing Wind
Lying up, staring at the ceiling, thinking, longing. Surrounding him only darkness with the small light that shone from his phone’s screen. Calm music filled the room and surrounded what appeared to be, at first glance, a statue. Motionless, expressionless. Looking closer and closer, two spheres appeared to shine like two moons in the glow from his phone. His eyelids, flickering shut from time to time, only to be reopened every so often with a stream running through and from them. Going deeper we see a dark figure, towering over him, consuming him, becoming him. He gathers enough energy to start to rise from his bed, the figure still looming over him, surrounding him. He goes downstairs, puts on a coat, and leaves. That evening 3 moons could be seen, the one in the sky, and the two eyes, sparkling in the moonlight.
Karol A KubickiPublished 2 years ago in PsycheThe Journey Of An Abused Child Who Learned To Become A Healthy Adult
Acknowledgment Of The Author This is an autobiography of my life as a child who suffered through many traumatic, life-changing events, and learned to heal from my trauma to become a healthy adult. I will be discussing many things that may bring back traumatic memories for those who have also suffered through abuse of any or many forms. I write this with the hope that other people will know they weren’t the only ones who went through traumatic experiences in their life. Please read at your own risk and hopefully this autobiography will be helpful to those who have gone through something similar and to those who have thankfully never did. This took a lot of patience, courage, and willpower to write this story. I still struggle with the belief that I should of just never posted this, but I believe for the sake of my mental health, it was best that I got this on paper instead of keeping this within myself.
Alicia MetcalfPublished 2 years ago in PsycheMushroom Mindset
Lets start off by saying, i am in no way a medical doctor and when dealing with mental wellness, please do research, make sure you are taking care of yourself and seek professional help if you need it. I do however believe we are our own best healer, which leads me to this article!
A desired person lives within you.
What does day 1 look like? Is it a notion of a thought? Is it a malfunction of a mindset? Is it something you saw on a billboard on your way to work?
Ansley MariePublished 2 years ago in PsycheMental illness and love-hate relationship with corona virus
It was month of November when I first heard about covid-19. It was just another disease that might go on to kill the world but wouldn’t affect me as long as I was in my house, safe, surrounded by pale yellow walls and well, curtains that kept the thoughts of dying away. I could always draw the curtains. I have been depressed for four years now and haven’t had much social interaction with anyone. My friends left me soon after my diagnosis well because they were searching for their purpose in lives and one cannot manage that while having to go back to depressed friend. Soon it was New Year and I had nobody to wish except my family and I didn’t have any plans for 2020. I was after all living under the effects of antidepressants that convinced me that world was a horror game and I was definitely not the hero in this game. So I did what I had been doing for the past four years. Waited for a change. And maybe god really did listen to my prayers sans the fact that he didn’t listen to the part where I was wishing for change in my life and not the entire world. The funny thing about being mentally ill is that nobody dares question your thought process because in their heads you are already crazy. So now that you are thinking that my prayer gone wrong started the covid outbreak, well, it’s better to keep you thinking than put my rational mind to work and clarify the situation. I live in India and this virus hadn’t hit until February. It was always the other country. Just like how aliens always attacked America. But soon the things got out of hand and entire country went into lockdown. Roads were empty and people hoarded the necessary utilities a day before. It was scary, how shops were full of people as if doomsday were near and the last thing people didn’t want were empty stomachs when they died. It makes sense though. The first time we bought oranges during corona, I washed it with Dettol for extra protection!
bharti bansalPublished 2 years ago in PsycheWhat if hell is real?
There is a hell that I believe in, not designed by any mind and not a punishment from any judge, but instead a problematic paradigm which we are in denial of every day - life is suffering.
Insinq DatumPublished 2 years ago in PsycheWhy the Dunning-Kruger effect does more harm than the Imposter Syndrome
It all started with a Greek fable in the 1st century. “A dog in the manger who has no need of, or ability to eat, the chaff in the barn. But it would prevent the cows from having it.”
My ADHD Life Hacks
I’m an adult female living with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). My fiancé said the thing that may appall others like me.
Katie JohnsPublished 2 years ago in PsycheWhat is an Inpatient Drug Rehab In Gulfport, MS all about?
What is an Inpatient drug rehab in Gulfport MS? Inpatient drug rehab program is one of the many options available for those suffering from addiction to drugs or alcohol. Inpatient drug rehab treatment centers offer comprehensive, professional care that is focused on healing from all the emotional and physical ramifications of drug abuse. Inpatient drug rehab in Gulfport MS offers treatment for various levels of addiction. Each Inpatient drug rehab program is unique and designed to meet the needs of patients.
Esteban CodyPublished 2 years ago in PsycheThank God I Didn't Know Then What I Know Now
For reasons not fully understood by myself just yet I decided to watch a movie I watched a lot when I was a teenager and struggling with my mental health in a big way. The movie was 'Girl, Interrupted' and the year was approximately 2003. I was about 15 I think maybe a bit younger and I watched this movie a lot. Like so much. Like, definitely, for sure, too much. It didn't make me feel good. It's very upsetting in a lot of ways and yet it was in my regular rotation then. I hadn't watched in about 17 years. Then I did. It was a trip. In good and bad ways. By that I mean it literally caused an emotional flashback, causing me to relive how I felt then; lost, confused, stuck, unsure of what I was doing what I was doing, not knowing what to call my actions or why they made me feel better. I felt anxious, desperate, lonely, fearful, drawn and repulsed by the mental illness I didn't understand. It was rough. But in a really good way.
Christine HollermannPublished 2 years ago in Psyche