anxiety
A look at anxiety in its many forms and manifestations; what is the nature of this specific pattern of extreme fear and worry?
Behind the Screen: How E-Commerce Is Rewriting Human Life
You probably didn't even notice it. Maybe it was just another night. You were tired, half-asleep, your phone in hand. You opened an app without thinking, browsed through a few products, read some suspiciously similar reviews, tapped "Buy Now," and went back to what you were doing. Somewhere in the distance, a warehouse light came on, you scanned a barcode, and a package arrived. A few days later, a small box arrived at your door, and the moment was complete.
By Sayed Zewayed3 months ago in Psyche
The Curator. AI-Generated.
I am the Curator of a magnificent museum. The exhibit is my life. Or rather, the life of Elara 2.0. It began innocently enough. A filtered photo on Instagram that got a few more likes than usual. A witty, slightly embellished anecdote on Twitter that garnered laughs and retweets. Each positive response was a drop of dopamine, a tiny hit of validation that felt more real than the quiet unease of my actual existence.
By The 9x Fawdi3 months ago in Psyche
Tenant in the Basement. AI-Generated.
Every mind has a basement. A place where we store the things that don't fit the narrative of who we think we are. The rage that shames us. The pettiness we deny. The selfish, primal urges that have no place in polite society. We lock the door and tell ourselves the basement is empty.
By The 9x Fawdi3 months ago in Psyche
The Month Everyone Gets Wrong About Suicide
The public conversation around suicide repeats a mistake every year. As soon as December hits, social media fills with somber graphics, dramatic pleas, and emotional declarations insisting that the holidays are the most dangerous time for suicidal behavior. The message is well-intended, but it is wrong. The data has been stable for decades.
By Dr. Mozelle Martin3 months ago in Psyche
Power of Patience
Long ago, in a distant kingdom, there lived a young king named David. David inherited the throne after his father died at the age of 25. He was raised by a wise tutor named Edward, who taught him not only about the world but also about the values of kindness, patience, and wisdom. After his father’s death, Edward became David’s closest advisor, guiding him through the challenges of ruling the kingdom. Edward became the kingdom’s prime minister and trusted advisor. Things were going well in the kingdom for a year when Edward’s miscalculation of the weather caused an unexpected food crisis. In his despair and anger, David, heartbroken, ordered his tutor Edward to leave the kingdom and never return. Edward calmly obeyed, leaving the palace and his familiar life behind to start a new life. He settled in a remote village and chose the life of a humble farmer. Despite his wealth, he chose a simple life, connecting with the villagers and participating in their daily struggles. Edward quickly earned the respect of the villagers, who turned to him for advice on everything from agricultural matters to their solutions. Conflict meant a return to the kingdom. David was troubled. He missed Edward’s wise counsel, especially when faced with complex decisions alone. Gradually, David began to realize that banishing Edward had been a mistake—a decision made in anger, not thought. He regretted it and decided to send troops to find Edward and bring him back. Days turned into weeks, but there was no sign of him. The kingdom was vast, and no one knew where Edward had gone. Then, inspired by Edward’s cunning ways, David had an idea. He decided to see if he could find Edward’s wisdom anywhere in the kingdom. He ordered his soldiers to send a message and a clay jar to each village chief. The message stated that each chief must return the jar filled with wisdom within a month. If they failed, they would have to fill it with precious gems instead. The jar and the message arrived at Edward’s village. The chief, angered by this strange request, went to Edward for advice. Edward reasoned that wisdom could not possibly fit in the jar, and he knew that the village did not even have enough jewels to fill it. The villagers, fearing punishment for rejecting the king’s strange request, turned to Edward. With troubled faces, they pleaded, “Please help us! Only you can find the solution!” Edward quietly sat among them and assured them, “Give me the jar, and I guarantee that it will be filled with wisdom by the end of the month.” The chief asked, “What is your intention?” Edward smiled simply and replied, "I'm not sure yet, but in time, I believe a solution will come." Trusting in Edward's wisdom, the villagers left the jar with him, hoping that he would find a solution in the silence of his field. Edward pondered the problem. Suddenly, he saw a small gourd vine nearby, and an idea struck him. He gently placed a small gourd inside the jar without cutting it from the vine. Day after day, he watered it, and over time, the gourd grew so large that it completely filled the jar, making it impossible to remove. Finally, Edward cut off the vine and left the jar with the ripe gourd inside. As the king had requested, he returned the jar to the kingdom. When King David received the jar, he was amazed to see it filled with giant gourds. He smiled and said, "It takes wisdom to grow a gourd of this size in a jar." He immediately realized that this clever solution could only come from Edward, without hesitation. David prepared to go, determined to find Edward, apologize to him, and bring him back to the kingdom. Don't make decisions in a state of anger. Strong emotions can cloud your judgment and lead to regret. Second, take a moment to calm yourself down before trying to solve the problem. A calm mind promotes clear thinking and helps you find the best way forward. Remember that wisdom often comes from patience and understanding.
By Abdur Rahman3 months ago in Psyche
Anxiety... Autism... or both?. Content Warning.
I've been having a lot of meltdowns and shutdowns in this past year. It's been almost 9 months since I was diagnosed with autism. It was an expensive diagnosis that has honestly been more problematic than helpful (but hopefully that will change soon).
By The Schizophrenic Mom3 months ago in Psyche
Shipping Stupidity before Thanksgiving
It was in November 2025 that I decided to order a punching bag stand off Amazon. I was already slowly setting up a small training space in the garage at home. Not exactly a fully set home gym or anything fancy. But it's good enough some decent legroom to beat some holiday stress out. And burn off the Thanksgiving feast in the process. At least that was the idea. When the package arrived, I set it down into the garage so I can assemble the punching bag stand when I got a whole day off work. I started by putting the bottom part of it together first. So I'd have a better idea on a spot to really beat the punching bag. And when I started on the central support for the stand the next day. I noticed that something was wrong. The foot parts that hold the frame in place came in 2 right foot parts. Instead of the actual left and right each. Or to be more precise, 2 pieces of the same side. I never saw it coming. Let alone expect a major setback like that.
By Matthew Sposato3 months ago in Psyche
Through the Walls
Through the Walls by Theodore Homuth The apartment had its own kind of silence—thin, brittle, and stretched too tight. It wasn’t peaceful. Peace required steadiness. This was the kind of silence that trembled, like it expected something to break at any moment. The only sounds were the low hum of the refrigerator and the occasional ping from Sarah’s phone, bright as a slap in the quiet.
By Theodore Homuth3 months ago in Psyche
