stigma

People with mental illness represent one of the most deeply stigmatized groups in our culture. Learn more about it here.

Why Vulnerability is My Greatest Strength
By Nadeem Shah For most of my life, I wore armor. Not the kind made of steel and iron, but the invisible kind—woven from silence, guarded smiles, and perfectly rehearsed “I’m fine” responses. I convinced myself that strength meant never letting anyone see the cracks. If people didn’t see my pain, they couldn’t use it against me. If they didn’t know my fears, they couldn’t hurt me.
By Nadeem Shah 6 months ago in Psyche
The Invisible Weight of Anxiety
By: Nadeem Shah Anxiety isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s not the shaking hands, the racing heart, or the heavy breathing you see in movies. Sometimes it’s a quiet, constant hum in the back of your mind—a relentless narrator that never shuts up.
By Nadeem Shah 6 months ago in Psyche
Breaking Free from the People-Pleaser Trap
By Nadeem Shah They called me “the dependable one.” The one who never said no. The one who smiled and agreed, even when my insides twisted into knots.
By Nadeem Shah 6 months ago in Psyche
The Quiet Power of Good Health
We don’t always notice health until it’s gone. It’s like the air we breathe—essential, invisible, and only truly appreciated when it’s missing. More than just the absence of illness, health is the quiet foundation that allows life to unfold with energy, joy, and meaning. It touches every part of our existence: how we move, think, feel, and connect with others.
By meerjanan6 months ago in Psyche
Strength Isn’t Always a Choice
By Nadeem Shah People praised me for being strong, but they didn’t see the truth—my strength wasn’t a gift, it was a sentence I never chose to serve.
By Nadeem Shah 6 months ago in Psyche
The Wake-Up Call
Rafiq was 38, a man who wore his busy schedule like a badge of honor. As a project manager at a fast-growing tech company, he thrived on back-to-back meetings, late-night emails, and the constant hum of productivity. His desk was cluttered with energy drink cans, half-eaten sandwiches, and sticky notes filled with reminders. Promotion after promotion had come his way, but somewhere along the path, he’d stopped noticing how tired he really was.
By meerjanan6 months ago in Psyche
The Pillars of Health
When we talk about health, many of us think first about the body—whether we’re eating right, exercising, or avoiding illness. But true health goes much deeper than that. It’s not just the absence of sickness; it’s about feeling good in your body, your mind, and your relationships. The World Health Organization puts it well: health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. That’s a powerful idea—one that reminds us health isn’t something we achieve once and forget about. It’s an ongoing process, shaped by our choices, our environment, and the world around us.
By meerjanan6 months ago in Psyche
The Sound of Her Steps
In a quiet neighborhood where jasmine climbed over old brick walls and the breeze carried the scent of fresh bread from the corner bakery, lived Mrs. Kareem.
By meerjanan6 months ago in Psyche
The Last Appointment
On the third floor of City General Hospital, tucked between the radiology wing and the pharmacy, was a small, unassuming room with a faded nameplate on the door: Dr. Fareed – Internal Medicine.
By meerjanan6 months ago in Psyche
To Whom It May Concern
To Whom It May Concern, (especially if you’re struggling too). Hi, My Name Is Annie, and I’m a Recovering Psycho. Because, you know… I take antipsychotics. So technically, that makes me a recovering psycho. (Yeah, I know, not everyone finds that funny. My mom didn’t laugh. But I did.)
By Annie Edwards 6 months ago in Psyche
The Masterful Lie We Tell Ourselves That Prevents Us From Reaching Our Potential. Top Story - August 2025.
As Humans, We are Incredibly Good at Lying to Ourselves. When you look at the Psychophysiology of it, you'll discover that it is a Fascinating Magic Trick that We Play on Our Brain.
By Dr. Cody Dakota Wooten, DFM, DHM, DAS (hc)6 months ago in Psyche
Reflective/Emotional Story
By Nadeem Shah Dear younger me, You don’t know this yet, but one day you’ll look back and ache for a boy you didn’t protect—yourself.
By Nadeem Shah 6 months ago in Psyche