anxiety
A look at anxiety in its many forms and manifestations; what is the nature of this specific pattern of extreme fear and worry?
An Open Invitation From Death
There was not one thing I feared most in life than death. Discussing death was simply an open invitation to plunge into a blackhole of a fear, a discussion I simply had no desire to partake in. The very thought of death felt like death itself: painfully numbing, perpetually dark and unimaginably empty.
By Rebecca Armstrong5 years ago in Psyche
A Small Victory
I still wonder how anyone gets through their adolescence. I had heard statistics as a young man about the suicide rate among us, and also knew about all the dangers out there that would eventually claim many in my circle of friendships and family (death, jail, drugs, disappearance, etc.)
By Kendall Defoe 5 years ago in Psyche
Rogers: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Overcome the OCD.. First Place in Coming of Age Challenge. Top Story - September 2021.
I was 10 when it first happened. When this specific fear first appeared and drilled its way through the folds of my brain and stayed there. I was sitting on the couch while my mother worked her second job and just for a moment I looked over at the kitchen. Then, an intruder came into my head, a quick image of me plucking a knife from its block and stabbing myself in the gut.
By Lucy Richardson5 years ago in Psyche
9 Ways to Deal with Anxiety
Have you ever woken up with your heart pounding and filled with dread for no particular reason? Or maybe your palms get sweaty and you feel all weak and panicky when you have to give a presentation in school? That’s anxiety, and something most of you are probably familiar with at some point in your life. Anxiety is our body’s natural response to stress, but it can also get out of control – when our body’s threat-detection system is malfunctioning. But everyone’s response to perceived threats or danger is different, so it can hard to identify the type of anxiety.
By Caitlin McColl5 years ago in Psyche
EmCoyEe of the Month
It has been over 18 months now since I have been working from home and I have to say, I have loved every minute of it. As an introvert, it's been a pleasure not going into a hectic call centre office, but getting all comfy and wrapped in blankets on my sofa instead. It's not for everyone, I know, but for someone who loves solitude and peace and quiet, this is just ideal. On the warmer days, however, I have enjoyed sitting in the back garden with my laptop, soaking up the sun. I am lucky enough to have a pond in my back garden with a water feature and an abundance of fish. I cannot overstate how much of an effect the running water and these fish have had on my mental health. When I sit outside beside the pond I feel my anxiety and stress instantly start to melt away. Even though I am working and answering emails etc, my concentration is on the relaxing tones of the babbling waterfall and the occasional splashes of the fish playing at the water's surface.
By John Moroney5 years ago in Psyche
Growing Pains
I, like many, struggle with the aspects of day-to-day life. From the second I wake up to the moment I lay my head on my pillow at night, I feel a weight form in my chest. Though it has always been there to varying degrees of noticeability, it has recently been more prominent, leaving me wondering why.
By Alice Farmer5 years ago in Psyche
How to Help Your Anxious Friend
The first time I had a panic attack, I was standing in front of my entire French class. A flimsy pink poster was between my fingers. My gaze drifted across a room full of my fellow fifteen and sixteen-year-olds, hoping to find a familiar face. I inhaled deeply, then exhaled — uttering a prayer as I did so.
By Ilana Quinn5 years ago in Psyche
The REAL Truth Behind Growing Up With Social Anxiety
If you were to scroll to the first thing I ever uploaded to Vocal, you'd probably look at this and go.. "Didn't you already write this article before?". The answer is yes. I did. Four years ago, when I first discovered Vocal's existence, I made some crappy article about having social anxiety that somehow did pretty well (surprisingly). I recently reread the article and realized just how much I wish I was able to change with this article if I was able. I won't lie.. I've actually considered deleting the article all together (sadly vocal doesn't allow you to delete articles though.. although I'm thankful for that, because I wouldn't want to erase my old work from existence). So instead.. I've decided that if I wasn't a fan of the article before.. why not just reedit it into an article I actually would be proud of. So that's what I did.
By 'Lissa Stufflestreet5 years ago in Psyche
