humanity
Mental health is a fundamental right; the future of humanity depends on it.
Some Call it Baseless Fear
I can feel it again, that surge of dread that settles into the depths of my stomach until something unbelievably terrible finally happens. It happened only once before, but I was written off as “emotionally unstable” or some other made up bullshit people use to validate these unjustifiable feelings. Maybe it’s a worldwide anxiety, like the onset of World War III. I hope so. It would be much less painful if the entire global population was involved in this terror instead of it engulfing exclusively my world. That might offend some people. So be it. But I’d rather have the next world war than lose someone I love. If they implement the outdated mandate for a draft, I’ll simply gather up those eligible in my life and flee on a bus to Canada. I’ve always liked the snow; it makes it increasingly more difficult for zombies to attack you.
By Melissa Carey5 years ago in Psyche
It's my time
My mom banged on the bathroom door, "You're failing two classes! What’s wrong with you?!" I could barely hear her over the sound of my music. I looked down at my feet. Something was happening. I couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't think. I wasn't frozen, I blacked out. I didn't fall, I didn't knock anything down. It happened again. I looked the shower floor. I started crying. I thought to myself "Why can't I be normal?"
By Brigid Miller5 years ago in Psyche
The Tormented Philosopher
Sometimes he wondered what he was doing with his life. But, he had wondered that very thing so many times before that it was starting to become a dreary question. "What am I doing here? What's my purpose? What should I do with my life?" He was frustrated with himself for pondering the question for so long, and yet, part of the answer was missing, there was something he wished for but didn't have.
By Gabriel Mohr5 years ago in Psyche
My Exquisite Sensitivity, Unpathologized
It’s crazy the power a few letters can have over the human psyche. Growing up I was told without (but also at times with) intended condescension that I was oversensitive. It seemed to me that what they were really saying was that emotions are often ill-timed and inconvenient.
By Shae Massé5 years ago in Psyche
Disjointed
‘’Five thousand…. Do I hear six thousand?” called the auctioneer. I remember this part clearly. I remember twitching in my chair uncomfortably as various sums were called out by strangers around me. I had never been to one of these events before, but truth be told, I had run out of other practical options.
By Catherine Potvin5 years ago in Psyche
Dear Neurotypical
I had never said it out loud before. Sitting there with my NT friend, it just popped out. He complimented me on some piece of original thinking and I replied, "Yup, it's great to be me when it's not terrifying." With no prompting, I went on to talk about the internal challenges of being neurodiverse, the every day confusion of living so far from the box. I talked in torrents, without considering where or how my words fell, as if a dam had broken.
By Chelsea Delaney5 years ago in Psyche
Confronting Corporeality
As inevitably common as it is, death is not a comfortable subject. To think about the end of every memory, laugh, success, failure, and pain we experience on Earth seems almost unbearable. Regardless of faith, or its absence, we all accept that we will eventually leave the world we know and love behind. However, in the wake of each departure is a sign that we did live: a body.
By Noah Rodriguez5 years ago in Psyche
Peaks and Valleys
Sadie slammed the door to her room and collapsed on her bed, screaming in and punching her pillow. She felt helpless and in deep despair. After a few minutes, the tears came pouring out. They seemed endless. And then, just like that, they stopped. Sadie felt lighter and a sense of peace washed over her for the first time in months; perhaps years. At that moment, a sunbeam coming through her window caught her attention. It was shining on a little black notebook on her floor. Her mother had gotten it for her as a gift. She knew that Sadie was going through a hard time and thought that maybe writing out her feelings and struggles would help. Sadie didn’t like the idea at first, especially since her relationship with her mom was rather tumultuous at this point. But right now, she was desperate. And she also took it as a sign. So she picked up the notebook and began writing.
By Jennifer Weatherly5 years ago in Psyche
Shhh...
I was recently asked if I could please stop talking about suicide. They felt that I talk about the subject too much, and that I use the hashtags just as much, and that by my continuing to talk about suicide and suicide awareness, I will only encourage others to commit suicide themselves. They proceeded to tell me that they had a relative who committed suicide and that if it was not for people like me talking about it, they feel, that person would still be alive.
By Max M Power5 years ago in Psyche
The Art of Being Transfixed
This reflection was inspired by reading an article from the Psychology Today website, Feeling Intensely: The Wounds of Being “Too Much” by Imo Lo, Psychology Today psychotherapist, art therapist, coach and author of the book Emotional Sensitivity and Intensity. Lo talks about some people having a much greater sensitivity than others and looks at both positive and negative aspects of this personality type.
By jacki fleet5 years ago in Psyche
