coping
Life presents variables; learning how to cope in order to master, minimize, or tolerate what has come to pass.
Meeting My Dead Best Friend Twice: . AI-Generated.
I was twenty when the world cracked in half. My mom died suddenly that spring, leaving me reeling and raw. Then, just months later, Jimmy told me over a nice casual lunch on Broadway in Vancouver— plates filled with burgers & fries, the sharp tang of ketchup mixing with the faint diner coffee bitterness—that the spots on his arms weren’t an injury. They were the first signs of something the doctors were just starting to name AIDS. He was scared, but still grinning like the slutty optimist he was, his voice low over the clatter of dishes. “California,” he said. “They need fresh faces. Mature ones.” He practiced saying James instead of Jimmy, rolling the name around like it might armor him against whatever came next. I laughed, called him a goober, and hugged him so hard the waitress looked away; my cheek pressed against his warm shoulder.
By Thaidal Zoner25 days ago in Psyche
The Brew's Bitter Gift: . Content Warning.
By my early fifties, grief and trauma had stacked so high I could barely hold myself up anymore — just numbness, barely existing and fake smiles along with small talk raised as armor when I had no choice but to be social. It felt like my life was already over and I was just waiting for time to pass.
By Thaidal Zoner25 days ago in Psyche
How to Get Over Social Anxiety?
Dealing with social anxiety can be tiring! You might really want to talk to other people, have an open conversation, and experience the fun in socialising, but this might lead you to overthink the situation before it actually happens, avoiding participating in the conversation or playing the moments again and again in your head, even after they have passed! This isn't just 'shy' behaviour; it is also feeling 'afraid' of being judged, to be embarrassed, or misinterpreted. The weight of social anxiety can make normal occasions feel larger than life.
By Anxiety Offline26 days ago in Psyche
Trying to Take a Left Off the Roundabout
I won't keep anyone long. An introductory post that may never be followed up on. I'm not in a great place. I can't see many opportunities in my future, that excite me at any rate. My romantic relationship is far from ideal. No kids and mostly estranged from my family. I have so few friends I can't volunteer. I've witnessed corruption in the worst way - repeated institutional failures and no, I'm not a conspiracy nut! Just shit luck and a defiant, diogenic personality that's not exactly helped me or anybody else much.
By Victoria Millinship28 days ago in Psyche
...And I'm Back!. Content Warning.
I missed this. I missed this site and this community and I really, really missed writing. My last post was 2 years ago. A lot has happened since then, personally and globally. I’m not an expert on the latter, but I can share with you parts of my story since I was last here.
By Tasha McIntoshabout a month ago in Psyche
This is How IT Feels. Content Warning.
Do you ever feel like the blue duck in the picture? Trauma survivors often feel alone in a crowd of people. We see life in many more layers than people who haven't lived through trauma. We see everything all at once, and it can be exhausting.
By Elizabeth Woodsabout a month ago in Psyche
When a Job Stops Feeling Like Progress
Editor’s Note This article is presented as an edited interview shaped from publicly shared ideas, long form discussions, and talks by Ashkan Rajaee, a creator known for exploring the psychology of work, career transitions, and long term thinking around employment and independence.
By Felice Ellingtonabout a month ago in Psyche
Scrapbooking as a Tool for Mental Health
In my early twenties, I started keeping a daily journal. I enjoyed doodling, gluing in receipts, and writing down my thoughts. I started journaling with the intention of capturing memories, since my mental illness greatly affects my long-term memory.
By Kera Hollowabout a month ago in Psyche
