addiction

The realities of addition; the truth about living under, above and beyond the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Sobriety Changed Me
Day I Chose Clarity: A Sobriety Story It was a rainy Thursday afternoon, the kind of gray, heavy day that seemed to mirror everything I was feeling inside. I remember standing at my bathroom sink, staring into the mirror like I was trying to recognize the person looking back at me. My face was puffy. My eyes—bloodshot and tired—held a kind of sadness that wasn’t just from lack of sleep or too many drinks. It was deeper. Hollow.
By Gabriela Tone12 months ago in Psyche
It's March 25. Honorable Mention in The Metamorphosis of the Mind Challenge.
I still think about Giuseppe every day. It’s March 25 and I catch myself staring out the window - in a trance - never sure for how long or what I was looking for. Spring has started to reveal himself, provocatively - though my desire seems frozen inside the 25 kisses G used to leave on my sleepy forehead before catching the metro; a morning person to my night owl, compatible only through dialectical juxtaposition, cosmically at odds. I’ve learned to relinquish my daze to Spring, an act of supplication to lead the escape from Winter and all the heartbreak we bore with the cold, infamous for keeping dead organs alive.
By Aaron Calloway12 months ago in Psyche
Setting Boundaries Isn’t Mean…It’s Survival. Top Story - April 2025.
I’ve always known how to set boundaries. It’s not something I had to learn from a book or therapy session; it’s something that came naturally to me as a form of self-preservation. From the time I was a quiet two-year-old trying to watch a movie in peace, I knew how to defend my space, even if I wasn’t speaking much yet. My uncle kept pestering me, annoying me with taunts, pushing for a reaction And he finally said, “You look like a pig in the face.” and little two-year-old me, fed up and done, replied: “Well, if I look like a pig in the face, then you look like garbage.”
By Cadma12 months ago in Psyche
Not the Poster Boy of Sobriety
Let me be clear—I love my wife, deeply, and in all the ways I know how. That makes writing this all the more difficult. I’ve spoken before about my struggles with pornography and sex addiction—mostly online, never physical—but sharing it again still knots my stomach.
By Paul Stewart12 months ago in Psyche
I Drowned in Fire and Rose in Smoke
I Drowned in Fire and Rose in Smoke It began in a silence so thunderous it felt like the world had been muted mid-scream. Not the kind of quiet that soothes—but the kind that suffocates. That drips down the walls and seeps into the bones. I was not standing at the edge of a cliff. I was standing at the edge of *myself*.
By Gabriela Tone12 months ago in Psyche
Unconditional Commitement
The Power of Unconditional Commitment: Choosing to Stay the Course In today’s fast-paced, convenience-driven world, commitment can feel like an outdated virtue. People are often encouraged to “follow their feelings,” “move on if it doesn’t serve you,” or “leave if it’s not easy.” And while there is truth in setting boundaries and prioritizing mental health, there is also something deeply transformative—and increasingly rare—about *unconditional commitment*.
By Gabriela Tone12 months ago in Psyche
The Color of Quiet
"The Color of Quiet" Elena stood in front of the mirror, brushing her hair with slow, mechanical strokes. The silence of the house wrapped around her like a noose. In the reflection, she saw a woman she barely recognized—eyes dulled by years, lips pressed into a line too tight for smiling. She was 39 years old. Today marked her 20th wedding anniversary.
By Gabriela Tone12 months ago in Psyche
Living With Bipolar Disorder:
Living with bipolar disorder is like being on a rollercoaster you didn’t sign up for—one moment you're on top of the world, and the next you're crashing into a pit of despair. It’s a condition that affects every aspect of life: your mood, energy, relationships, career, and most importantly, how you see yourself. I want to share my journey, not as a sob story, but as a message of hope for those struggling silently. Seeking treatment at a mental hospital in Bangalore became the turning point in my life, and I hope this personal account offers comfort and encouragement to others on a similar path.
By Sneha12 months ago in Psyche
The Numb Age
Introduction: The Hidden Epidemic In today’s hyper-connected world, most of us are drowning—not in water, but in noise. Not from sirens or shouting, but from pings, reels, ads, and algorithmically curated chaos. It’s not a virus or a war. It’s something quieter, but just as damaging: dopamine exhaustion.
By Debarghya Chatterjee12 months ago in Psyche
How Much Phone Time Is Too Much?. AI-Generated.
Introduction: The Invisible Habit We All Share We touch our phones over 2,600 times a day, according to some estimates. From checking messages first thing in the morning to doomscrolling late at night, our daily routines are increasingly shaped by glowing screens. But how much screen time is too much? Is it possible that our eyes, brains, and sleep cycles are paying the price?
By Ahmet Kıvanç Demirkıran12 months ago in Psyche
The Metamorphosis of the Mind
Prologue Before the world begins to change around us, the most profound revolutions occur within. In the deepest chambers of the mind—where fears whisper, dreams flicker, and memories fold into silence—true metamorphosis takes place. This is the story of a man who, in forgetting who he was, learned who he could become.
By Malik Kashif12 months ago in Psyche
From Skinny Kid to 6’6 Gym Beast: What 1.5 Years of Consistent Lifting Taught Me
The Beginning: A Skinny Kid’s Dream At 6’6 and barely filling out my clothes, I was the classic "lanky guy" who got winded walking up stairs. I envied the muscular guys at the gym, thinking their physiques were unattainable. But one day, I decided enough was enough—I wanted to change.
By Aadithyan12 months ago in Psyche