stigma
People with mental illness represent one of the most deeply stigmatized groups in our culture. Learn more about it here.
The Day Freedom Died. Content Warning.
America, land of the free, has fallen... it is no more. I never thought I would see the day this truly happened in the country I've proudly called my home since birth. The country my ancestors, elders, grandfathers, father, and uncles fought for. The country my partner fought for. The country I always praised and cherished... the country that taught me what freedom looked like. Now... I watch it perish under a regime of tyranny and evil that masquerades under the guise of religion and doing "God's" work. These are the moments that continue to reshape me... that redefine me just when I thought that I had reached my final state of definition. But the transformations are not always for the better... this particular time of change has me conflicted and tormented with guilt and disgust.
By Luna Verity12 months ago in Psyche
The Mind Wanders
Before I begin, I would like to tell you, the reader, that I’m okay. This narrative is prompted by a Vocal challenge entitled “The Metamorphosis of the Mind.” This challenge is a no more than 2,500-word and no less than 1,000-word piece where I, the author, am supposed to share a transformative moment from my mental or emotional journey. For the past few years, while being a Vocal Plus member, I have been entering these challenges in the hopes of likes, reads, subscriptions, and, of course, prize money. My entries, thus far, have been mostly fictional pieces of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and the occasional poetry. I report that to date, I have not won nor have had an honorable mention, which is okay. I am hopeful that I will at least sharpen my skills to where someone enjoys my writing enough to continuously want to read what I put out on Vocal. This challenge, however, is different. This challenge wants us to explore our own psyche and present a moment of our lives to you, the reader. I did not know where to begin with this entry, for you see, I believe I have experienced a more than average share of personal growth. Let me quickly explain.
By Anthony Diaz12 months ago in Psyche
When the Future Felt Too Heavy—I Returned to the Present Moment. AI-Generated.
There was a time when the future felt like a weight I couldn’t carry. It stretched out endlessly, uncertain and dark, like walking through fog with no flashlight. Every “what if” became a fear. Every plan became a pressure. Every dream turned into a deadline.
By PrimeHorizon12 months ago in Psyche
A Million Tiny Diamonds. Runner-Up in The Metamorphosis of the Mind Challenge.
There are always moments that define you as a person. We have been conditioned to never admit to weakness because, in the shame of bad judgement, the metaphorical fingernails of others can get a hold on you from the chink you've exposed by sharing your confession. You can then be prised open, your vulnerability there for all to see, to be poked and prodded mercilessly by a metaphorical stick held and being controlled by the will of another. And what would be the result of that poking? It would let the shame out, the dampener and the twister of all emotions which transforms people into ogres, which we try and subdue, putting it into the darkest corners of ourselves.
By Rachel Deeming12 months ago in Psyche
The Things I Had to Unlearn to Finally Feel Free. AI-Generated.
Freedom isn't always found in gaining new things. Sometimes, it's hidden in what we release—ideas we were taught, roles we didn’t choose, beliefs that never fit. For the longest time, I thought I had to learn more, achieve more, be more. But what I really needed was to unlearn.
By PrimeHorizon12 months ago in Psyche
When My World Paused for a Stranger - Austin Shivaji Kumar
I remember the exact platform. Dadar station. The financial and chaos capital of Mumbai. The kind of place where the air feels thick with movement, where a thousand footsteps stomp through your silence. You don’t get a second to think. Or feel.
By Austin Shivaji Kumar12 months ago in Psyche
"When Nice People Are Dangerous: The Soft Violence of the Well-Meaning". Content Warning.
I used to think the worst harm came from people who were loud about their hate. The red-faced screamers, the slur-throwers, the ones who burned flags and broke windows. The ones whose violence made the news.
By Noman Khan 12 months ago in Psyche
The Forgotten Language of Touch: How Physical Contact Shapes Our Emotional Well-being
In a world dominated by screens and digital expressions, we have learned to communicate through messages, emojis, and reactions. We connect in online meetings, express love with virtual hearts, and offer condolences through comment sections. Yet, in our reliance on words and technology, we’ve drifted away from one of the oldest and most profound forms of communication—physical touch.
By Mysteries with Professor Jahani12 months ago in Psyche
The Invisible Weight: Living with the Emotional Baggage We Don’t Talk About
The Backpack No One Sees When my friend Julia died suddenly in a car accident, her husband, Mark, showed up to her funeral wearing a crisp suit and a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He shook hands, accepted casseroles, and thanked everyone for their support. Two years later, at a dinner party, he casually mentioned he still sets a place for her at the table. The room fell silent. No one knew what to say—not because they didn’t care, but because grief, like so much of our emotional baggage, lives in the shadows.
By Mysteries with Professor Jahani12 months ago in Psyche
How Small Acts of Kindness Changed My Perspective on the World
The Day a Stranger’s Umbrella Taught Me About Humanity It was a gray, drizzly afternoon in Kyoto when I first grasped the quiet power of kindness. I stood outside a train station, drenched and frustrated, silently berating myself for forgetting my umbrella. Out of nowhere, a woman in her sixties—her silver hair peeking beneath a sunhat despite the rain—paused beside me. Without speaking, she opened her bright red umbrella and held it over both of us. We walked in silence for two blocks until she nodded toward my destination: a tucked-away tea shop. When I thanked her, she smiled and said, “The rain feels lighter when shared.” Her words lingered long after the clouds parted.
By Mysteries with Professor Jahani12 months ago in Psyche
