Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Best Mental Illness Memoirs
If you are lucky enough to have never experienced mental illness firsthand, rest assured you know people who have, probably many of them. Despite the leaps and bounds the scientific community has made in categorizing diagnoses and fine-tuning psychiatric treatments, some aspects of the experience simply cannot be measured quantitatively. The brain, after all, cannot be properly understood without acknowledging one's individual emotional experience. Firsthand accounts about mental illness provide insight into the human psyche that no blood test or brain scan possibly could. Each of these testimonies speaks to a slightly different set of symptoms, environmental circumstances, prognosis and recovery; and yet, each one shares a common thread of empathy that transcends all differences in detail. These mental illness memoirs are must-reads for anyone who's experienced similar suffering as well as those who want to try and understand.
By Rachel G. David8 years ago in Psyche
The Anorexia Symptoms That No One Talks About
Being that I have suffered from disordered eating for the better part of eight years, I would say that I have become nothing short of an expert on living with this psychological beast. And I have read quite a bit of lit on the disorder, mostly because of either malnourishment-driven obsession with the process of starving oneself or just a curiosity about what others' experiences are like. Most of what I have read talks about the core symptoms: a fixation on the number on the scale, calorie counting, guilt and anxiety surrounding food, and an intense fear of gaining weight. I have had a taste of all of the above and would vouch that the individuals I know who also struggle have, as well. But there are five symptoms that I have noticed are particularly strong for me that no one seems to talk about.
By M.L. Sukala8 years ago in Psyche
Think Good Thoughts. Top Story - August 2017.
I remember thinking that I was a pretty positive person and that circumstances just got in the way of the real progress I wanted in my life. Growing up I kept a diary of things that I was dealing with and the questions I had regarding the way things would go. Life would present challenges and I kept my chin up and made sure that I spoke optimistically.
By Marilen Crump8 years ago in Psyche
Living with Depression and Anxiety
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. What? What is that? Oh no. My alarm. I have to get up now. I have to start my day. I have to get ready for work. What if people look at me today? What if they judge me. Shoot, I have bags under my eyes. What if they think I look tired? What if they judge how I look. Stop. Stop you're fine. Just put on your makeup, brush your hair and teeth. We're running out of time.
By Saraa Renaud8 years ago in Psyche
Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder
The first reaction I normally get when people find out I have DID is "Are you going to hurt me?" You wouldn't' say something like that to anybody with Cancer or somebody with depression so why is that the first thing that springs to people's minds when they find out about this? Personally, I think it is down to the fact that it is so badly represented in the media.
By Hollie Christopher8 years ago in Psyche
