coping
Life presents variables; learning how to cope in order to master, minimize, or tolerate what has come to pass.
The Unexpected Hobby That Helps My OCD
For as long as I can remember, I have suffered from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – however, it was not until this past January that I was diagnosed and came to realize that my behaviors were linked to this disorder. OCD is one of the more highly stigmatized disorders in our society, and it is because of the beliefs I had surrounding OCD that I didn’t think that my behaviors qualified for a diagnosis. That was, until my psychiatrist explained me to what OCD really is.
By Ashley Nestler, MSW5 years ago in Psyche
Xanax and Her Smile
In a world of imperfections, perfect pairs are sometimes hard to come by. Compound that with the challenges I have faced living with Bipolar 1 disorder and anxiety; the terms happy, let alone perfect, can sometimes seem like a myth. I am only 38 years old, and for over 20 of those years, I’ve spent my time seeing countless psychiatrists, taking a myriad of medications, and continuing down a road that I hope will one day lead me to a place of acceptance; of my faults, of my disorder, of myself!
By Alaine Hay5 years ago in Psyche
Seasonal Affective Disorder
It was a little over a year ago now, I started feeling stressed with work, I felt like I was getting the job done but doing it enough or to my best standard. I wasn’t sleeping much at home, I was sitting up late most sits just overthinking things, scrolling through my social media and just letting time pass by, whenever I did get time to eventually fall to sleep, I’d be woken up about an hour or two later by my alarm.... another day I would be dreading I’d think to myself. However, I’d put a smile on, get up, shower, get my work uniform on, and sort my son out for school - who at this time was going through a referral for ADHD, I did my best, got him to school and went to work, hiding how I feel. I stopped speaking to people, only if it meant I had to for my job, and decided I would keep myself to myself. No one knew anything, they just thought I was a normal happy 24 year old.
By Medina Chambers 5 years ago in Psyche
It's New To Me
Panic attacks. Never had one, Never understood one. Never knew anyone who had one to understand one. Now I do. Me. I've worked in a hospital for the past thirty years. I work in the operating room. Some days it's a quiet normal do your thing day. Some days I'm up to my elbows in someone else's blood. I've had people die on my table and I've watched my surgeon call time on a patient. None of this, on any level, made me ready for what was coming in my own life. I've worn a mask on my face for thirty years. A duckbill, a sticky, a green tape. All masks I've worn one day or another. I never thought I'd be ripping one off my face to catch my breath.
By Melanie Crane5 years ago in Psyche
Learning to Love Through Hate
"Where were you in 2020" is going to be an ongoing conversations for the rest of our lives. This year has brought with it so many new challenges that for many of us have made us question our pasts, fear for our futures and look in disbelief at our present. I figure someday in the near future, when we meet new people, sharing our 2020 stories to get a picture of that person will be commonplace.
By Tony Sepulveda5 years ago in Psyche
Hair Stylist/Artist/Mom/Crafter
So, a few months ago I discovered abstract art. I really enjoy watching painting videos that are not abstract though. I cannot paint with a brush, at all. I have tried to learn hacks, tricks, and even got an easel. I was watching the same videos over and over again trying to understand how they make it look so easy. I had wasted many, many canvases. Then, I found acrylic pouring method I just had to try. Instantly I fell in love! I never knew something could make you feel a thousand times better about yourself and at the same time you're making some extra cash here and there from it. So it's September, and my house is literally slap full with paintings after about one week of trying these pouring techniques. I post them online to my Facebook and suddenly people start messaging me about the ones that they like already! So, I decide maybe I can make a career of this one day and quit hair. I am so desperate to get out of the hair business it is unreal. It's just not for me. I have been doing hair since I was in highschool so maybe I'm just sick of it? Anyway, I decided to invest in more supplies, get a cricut maker cutting machine and go big or go home. It is now November and I am finally getting everything in order to try and start some kind of a crafting business. I have so much fun making odd and end things. My daughter can even help me with some things I create. We already paint a lot together so once she is older she will have so much fun with me making all sorts of cool things! I have not been at this long at all but I truly hope all things work out and I can stay home and make stuff instead of going to work and cutting everyones hair in the middle of a pandemic. Doesn't it sound fun yet? I don't know if I should journal about my days in the salon or about my art journey but I'm sure the two will intersect anyways. I want everything to be about my art and crafting. My facebook page is Kreative Krafts1989, just search for it and check out all my sweet paintings so far. I'm just trying to be positive lately since everything in my world has been devastating the past couple of years. My grandma died last year and I have been trying to fill that hole ever since. No one, and I mean no one, will ever be as awesome as my grandma. I miss her everyday and recently finding out I am bipolar doesn't help anything. From trying to find the right doctor, to getting on the right medication, to getting the days off from work can be downright exhausting in itself. So art to me is an escape from my reality. I feel no pain or sadness when I pour. I feel no emptiness when I start to work on a craft. Talking to other people everyday and hearing some of their problems does make me grateful for my little problems in the world, don't get me wrong. But sometimes the wrong people cross your path and shake up that little world you're in because they're just a miserable as you are. But at least I try to hide my misery and be cheerful and chipper. I try to never be the debbie downer of things so when people sit in my chair and just continue to be awful I tend to get quiet. This is why I want out of dealing with customers. I'm not saying everyone or even half the people I see are like this but more than enough are this way and it desperately makes me want to pack up my things and quit but I quickly realize I have no other options around here and I am stuck here. This is why I do crafts and pour my little heart out on that canvas. Puts me in a much better mood, I feel productive, and sometimes I make a little extra cash from it. But to make a career out of it... that is what's stumping me. I have done everything to make it seem more like a business. I have made a youtube channel, website, etsy, and now I'm even journaling about this. I am told if you have a passion for something and give it your all it will always work out. But it doesn't quite seem this way. I dedicate all of my free-time to painting and working with my cricut to really understand how everything works. I am obsessed with a new pouring technique that involves my blow dryer, which is super cool since I am really good with a blow dryer in more ways than one now. So I am going to end this now hoping I don't sound whiny or like a cry baby. I'm really neither one. Just someone who is fed up with this pandemic and touching people on a daily basis who don't shower or think that it is okay to get sick then come get a haircut at their local salon. Thank god for masks is all I can say!! YES I SAID IT. I am thankful to all of our healthcare workers who I know are severely stressed out and are working tons of overtime due to the pandemic. I always have my nurse friends in mind. I want to personally thank everyone in the healthcare field. I don't know how they do it but I hope whoever is reading this enjoyed it and was able to put my shoe on for a minute and walk around in it.. No one has a perfect life, but when you're thrown one too many curve balls, the little things in life are all you have left and you cherish every little thing a little bit more. Thank you once again to our nurses, medical assistants, and all medical professionals. I appreciate you all! Let's get through this pandemic together and support each other!
By Danielle Solo5 years ago in Psyche
Holiday Covid Lifestyle
It's now almost Thanksgiving. Once a holiday where families and friends set to gather around the table not only to feast but to give thanks. To give thanks to everything they cherish in life. This Thanksgiving will not be like the others. This Thanksgiving is the start of the Covid holiday season.
By Chris Cerchio5 years ago in Psyche
Broken
They say you can’t choose your family, but there are so many things in life that can’t be chosen. You’re born into a family, a religion, a belief, a lifestyle and sometimes you just can’t get out. You grow up based on what you were taught and sometimes you can’t get away because the loss is too big. Sometimes the freedom you seek leads to a path of loss, but sometimes that loss is yourself. You lose the love you have for yourself, the love for your goals, and the love for your dreams. You become emotionally unstable because you have to choose between your sanity or your family. You choose between being free or being trapped in someone else’s lifestyle. You choose between doing what makes you happy and worrying about becoming a disappointment to those you love. We all grow up and plan to become who we want to be. We set our life goals and we do everything in our power to make them happen. We shoot for the moon and we make our dreams a reality. But unfortunately for one girl, her life was dictated by the people who were supposed to protect her. Sometimes those who hurt you are those you love most.
By Lobna chaya5 years ago in Psyche
Bullying
In this project I will be talking about bullying, the different types, and my own experiences. What is Bullying? Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involve a real or recognized power imbalances. The six types of bullying are physical bullying, verbal bullying, relational bullying, cyberbullying, sexual bullying, and prejudicial bullying. Physical Bullying is when kids use physical actions to gain power and control over their targets. Verbal Bullying is when perpetrators of verbal bullying use words, statements and name-calling to gain power and control over a target. Relational Bullying is ostracize others from a group, spread rumors, manipulate situations and break confidences. Cyber Bullying is when a tween or a teen uses the Internet, a cell phone or other technology to harass, threaten, embarrass or target another person. Sexual Bullying is consists of repeated, harmful and humiliating actions that target a person sexually. Prejudicial Bullying is based on prejudices tweens and teens have toward people of different races, religions or sexual orientation.
By Alexa Asusta5 years ago in Psyche
Why I am Still Alive
He lays there so peacefully. Every once in a while I can feel him kick his feet or shift our plush comforter, but otherwise he looks like an angel. Besides the consistent snoring, every time he falls asleep before me, I always sit on his side of the bed and hold his face. I talk to him every night. He’s a deep sleeper, so I don’t always whisper. But, I like to put the TV on, just for background noise.
By Halli Booth5 years ago in Psyche
