Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
Involuntary Memory Suppression/False Memories
Many studies have been done to prove that our brains are capable of involuntarily blocking out painful memories. I, myself have experienced this first-hand. In fact there is an entire 3-4 year period of time that doesn’t exist in my mind. Because of the journals and writings I kept, I know some of what happened during that time. However, if I actually try to think back to specific circumstances, conversations, etc, it is just all so black. It’s like my mind comes to a fork in the road and just stops as if there’s nowhere else to go.
By Brittany Stengel8 years ago in Psyche
Signs of Depression in Men
It may surprise you to learn that the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide is depression. According to the World Health Organization, a staggering 300 million people suffer from depression. And that’s just diagnosed depression. Even more so for men than women, depression is deeply misunderstood and still widely prevalent. Although many indicators of depression in men and women may be similar, the disease will always manifest itself in different ways in different people. In a stigma-filled society, men can be especially vulnerable because like many of us, they may be resistant to observing and acknowledging the signs of depression and then seeking help. Depression is treatable, and it can be overcome. These key signs of depression in men are critical to recognize; it may just change your life.
By Sophie Heller8 years ago in Psyche
Battling Anorexia
"I wish I was skinny." Ever since I was a child, those words have escaped my mind and my lips tirelessly. Growing up, I was an overweight kid — no doubt about it. I was the fat kid who sat in the back of the classroom with no friends. I was the fat kid everyone picked on. To everyone at my school and even most of the people in my family, I was nothing more than just that: the fat kid.
By Lucius Holmes8 years ago in Psyche
Therapy: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly. Most Importantly... The Truth
Going to therapy is like having coffee with a good friend you haven’t seen in a long time. You talk, you discuss real-life issues. You spill your heart and something about the sanctity of the coffee represents the “this stays between us” moment. Once you’re done sipping your last bit, it’s time to say goodbye. Once you leave, you smile because your heart feels lighter, but in reality you wish it would never end. That’s what therapy is like for me. It’s nice to know that every Friday at 11, I have someone to talk to. It’s nice to know that I have one thing to depend on each week. But the hardest part is knowing that once I step out of the office, I am out of sight, out of mind.
By Brittany Stengel8 years ago in Psyche
What It's like to Have Rapid-Cycling Bi-Polar Disorder
If you know me, or have read some of my older blogs, you probably know that I suffer from bipolar disorder. Specifically rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. Let's get technical for a second. What is rapid cycling bipolar disorder?
By Brittany Stengel8 years ago in Psyche
Psychology: Dissociative Disorders
There is a significant controversy regarding mental disorders in our society regarding frequent confusion of classifications, but not only is this a common problem among countries everywhere, the real issue that remains critically problematic today is the strenuous evaluation salient for accurate diagnosis and speculation for the mentally disturbed. Currently, the contemporary statistical analysis of the disorders that plague us is unequivocally compromising our psychological health and is detrimental to how we behave and think. In 2009, an estimated 1 percent of the world population suffered from schizophrenia; in the United States alone, 3.2 million individuals were professionally diagnosed with schizophrenia, which is a considerable amount regarding the rarity of this infliction. According to the fifth and current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), 1.5 percent of the American adult population alone suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder as of 2013 (also the publication year of the DSM-5), although some doctors will estimate averages as high as 3-5 percent.
By Nathaniel Reidhead8 years ago in Psyche
"I Am Brave Enough to Accept Any Challenge Possible"
Nothing is more heartbreaking than retraining yourself from new experiences because of your own insecurities. I believe we all have experienced these kind of situations where saying "yes" is impossible. "I have nothing to wear," "I have a fever," or not replying to texts because "I was sleeping." While some people think you are lying shamelessly, it's a definitely different story for you.
By Gabija Savickaite8 years ago in Psyche
