coping
Life presents variables; learning how to cope in order to master, minimize, or tolerate what has come to pass.
Have a Day
"Have a good day!" It's a pretty common phrase, is it not? Something we often say to one another -- something we may call to say to our significant other on the way to work, or shout after our children once they’ve scrambled to gather their book bags and lunch pals in time to make the bus. It’s a nice sentiment, but sometimes the expectation to have a good day is simply too much. Some of us may be struggling with long term depression or battling a treacherous physical disease, grieving the loss of a loved one, or experiencing the heartbreak of a relationship coming to an end. For some of us, from the moment we open our eyes to the sun streaming in through our bedroom window, we are doused with an overwhelmingly heavy blanket of sadness, anger, confusion, or loneliness, leaving us with not even a moment of serenity to bathe in before settling over us. A full day of expectations awaits us, and the mere thought of having to fulfill those expectations is exhausting; having to fulfill them with a cloud of disdain raining down on us seems damn near impossible.
By Abbey Walters8 years ago in Psyche
Gender Dysphoria
“Deep breath, sweetie. Straighten your spine. Bright smile! Think about a happy time in your life.” The words ring empty in my ears. A happy time in my life? Happy? My brain crackled and strained like a record on the brink of making some noise. I don’t know how I was expected to pull a happy expression when here I was, a spy undercover. It was advice a friend had given me yesterday—I heard something that helps people dealing with dysphoria is to act like you’re a spy undercover. I had brainstormed a name minutes earlier, a backstory and everything. Pendleton Schnell was the real name for myself I came up with, the same initials as my actual name. I was an adult with a baby face posing as a high school girl. I had been watching a man, one of the teachers, for months in this faux-investigation—on the brink of some kind of discovery, some evidence against him. Doing homework, projects, and attending class each day was just the name of the game. Taking senior photos was, too.
By Sol Stassi8 years ago in Psyche
Our Thoughts Are Talking
Just go ahead and start writing? That's it? What happens after that? Is it the same thing that happens every time I stand up and speak out for mental health? That empty feeling, where I've just laid my entire life on the line again, exhausted every square inch of my physical being, shot every nerve from my head to my toe and completely drained myself mentally and emotionally before 10am again?
By Kelly Warne8 years ago in Psyche
Fear of Disappointment
For me, disappointment often breeds disappointment. The fear of not fulfilling expectations is disappointing in and of itself. The idea that you fear how others perceive your challenges is disheartening. The anxiety of being worried about disappointing someone makes you feel disappointed in yourself. It's a brutal cycle that once you're stuck in, it seems like you'll never win.
By Sabrina Benzies8 years ago in Psyche
Fighting Depression
Fighting depression can be difficult but don't fret, it is not impossible. I was diagnosed with clinical depression in 2005 and it was a big struggle for me. I found that I had no joy in doing things and a lot of the times I just wanted to stay in bed. Sometimes when looking at loved ones or friends, people don't always realize that their friend or loved one is depressed. For me. when I look back, I realize that even though my parents didn't always notice when I was depressed, our boxer Baron always knew. Baron was a godsend. No matter how bad I felt he was always there to make me smile. He was an amazing companion that showed an amazing amount of love and concern for each of us, especially me when I was falling. If you find that you are depressed, I highly recommend a loving four-legged cuddle buddy.
By Rachel Smith8 years ago in Psyche
The Dark Headache
Like many sufferers of anxiety and depression I spend my life fighting what I like to call "The Dark Headache". Now when I say headache I don’t mean one that causes you physical pain and makes you feel like somebody is drilling into your cranium with a blunt instrument, but one where the brain goes into a whirlwind of thoughts and ideas until you physically become numb to the outside world.
By BOS3R G3IST8 years ago in Psyche
The Wishing Hour
Night falls around me like a bitter blanket. The air is hot with pre-summer melancholy and reeks of restlessness. Lying in bed is a game of catch and release— close my eyes and try to catch a few more hours of sleep, and release when the attempts fail.
By Becca Volk8 years ago in Psyche
Prologue
The ache in my chest continued to grow as I tried to hold back my tears. Words spoken lead to the release of them; warm as they slid down my cool cheek. I zipped up my hoodie, grabbed my keys and slid my phone into the pocket of my black jeans as I walked out the door. My steps on the cement stairs barely audible to my roaring ears. All I wanted was out and I had achieved it. With one last glance behind me at the closed apartment door, I did the one thing I had been dying to do since I found out things would never be the same. I ran.
By 8 years ago in Psyche
