support

A solid support system is invaluable for one's recovery from psychiatric illness and mental health issues.

In the Shadow of Occupation: How a City Found Hope Through Milk and Solidarity
In February 2022, our city fell under occupation, and life as we knew it changed forever. We faced a severe food shortage as closed shops and blocked roads made any attempt to leave the area nearly impossible. There was no transportation connection with major cities, only small neighboring settlements. Our residents encountered a real scarcity of food, and the situation worsened with each passing day.
By Bivan2 years ago in Psyche
Brief moment of connection
My body is aching for healing. I need help, help to see how to get through the darkness. I’m searching but I just can’t seem to find what I’m looking for. I feel like I’m seeking for the keys to my success inside a pitch black room, desperately clutching at objects trying to find my way out. I feel like I’ve fallen into a hole and have no means to get out. I have lost my voice and lost myself. I need someone to come and help me out of here.
By Mia Watanabe2 years ago in Psyche
The Fallen Lady
I fell. Silly old me. I'm only going to the shops to get some milk because Tom is coming around later. He'd told me he'd get it on the way through but I'm old-er, not an invalid. It does me good to get out of the house.
By Rachel Deeming2 years ago in Psyche
How Pediatric Home Health Services Support Families in Times of Medical Need
Navigating the complexities of a child’s medical condition can be overwhelming for any family. When a child requires ongoing medical care, the traditional hospital or clinic setting may not always be the most practical or comforting environment. That’s where pediatric home health services come into play. These services offer invaluable support, ensuring that children receive high-quality medical care in the comfort of their own homes. Let’s explore how pediatric home health services support families during challenging times.
By Integricare2 years ago in Psyche
Ride into Paris
I am exhausted. We have just landed in Paris from our 11-hour flight from Sao Paolo. The girls were particularly fussy during the entire flight: the little one, one-year-old Olivia, couldn't stand the pressure on her ears and cried non-stop on take-off, landing and during turbulence, which was particularly bad this time. This was driving the passengers around us crazy, and a couple of times we got not only stern looks but also comments like "Can't you do anything to stop your baby from crying?" Like as a parent I already don't feel bad and am irritating my babies on purpose so that they annoy other passengers.
By Lana V Lynx2 years ago in Psyche
When Suicide Became A Real Threat For Me. Content Warning.
I’ve struggled with suicidal ideations for a long time, probably most of my adult life, but it was never a real threat.
By Patrick Meowler2 years ago in Psyche
The hills came alive, beyond the beaten track
"England truly is a writer's paradise", she breathed out in an awed whisper as the verdant and glorious landscape of undulated mid England scenery galloped by.
By Antoni De'Leon2 years ago in Psyche
Helping on Labor Day
I’m not sure if writing for Vocal helps anyone, yet I did discover a interesting woman who posted photos that astounded me after writing, “Beautiful Festival of the Valley” & “Valley of the Gods” both for the “Arid” challenge. Her photos were of the night sky of brown clouds that took the shape of what resembled a Mummy. An Interesting phenomenon, as she posted what was outside her window. It showed how one person can influence another, even if I haven’t proof what I had written conjured up the image. Yet for the Arid challenge, it required an incantation. I think I made it powerful enough with the conjuring of a phoenix then using the bird to travel back in time to conjure the existence of the sacred King & Queen with the existence of a fallen asteroid. I hope the story helped someone, yet no one said a word to me personally. I read although that Michael Jackson’s, Neverland reopened after being shut down for over twenty years. When writing “ A Special Invite” Someone posted a very old recipe from a newspaper written years ago that inspired me to use it for the “ Under a spell” challenge. I hope it pleased the culinary world to some extent as there were more feasts shown in pictures of cooking in the desert with huge caldrons. Thinking back to the time I helped someone the most, my dad called me from Arizona. Being in the hospital during holiday season was tough as conversations on the iPhone left me feeling powerless. All I could do was listen. Let me see what you look like, Dad said as if the spirit of Phoenix was there as well. Oh a blond! I rolled my eyes letting him continue. Talking for about one week I changed my eyes coloring to more vivid colors than usual. Do I look prettier in Phoenix? I asked as each second felt was in the unknowing. I decorated my small Christmas tree was a can of Arizona tea. I considered going there, as the Sedona area interested me with the vortexes. There were many sightings of ufos 🛸 on the social media. More than usual. I honestly thought the Vortexes were summing the ufos. I also thought they were physical structures of rock that projected wind from underground. Looking online I found they were only certain areas on a mapped trail that is said to have magnetic activity. Maybe magnetic energy is what happens when you meet someone interesting. This seemed to be the case when I met Elsa. She was sitting at a dressing table at the Navy pool where she spoke to me as if she knew me. Maybe it was those Dietrich dimples with her same charisma. We sure hit it off & helped each other out. I found out that she was a coronals wife from Bavaria. Inviting me to her home she shared her life’s story of surviving the war & dealing with alcoholism. I understood the problem as she related that she couldn’t stop drinking where it was difficult to live. Talking helped as all that is needed is two people who share the common bond. We both had been on the psych ward where I went awol after realizing I wasn’t going to get a career. I discovered they kept wives in the hospital where Presidents go for treatment along with officers & enlisted. She related about James Forrestal who she said was thrown out of the window. No wonder the place gave me the creeps, 🫥!! It had a history of phenomenal I learned that tied into the nuclear tests in the Bikini Islands. That aspect of the Navy annoyed me. I was so afraid of them I stayed away for one year. I had to get discharged officially so I returned where all I could do was swim in the pool. I didn’t know where to go & am grateful to have met a German woman who made more sense than anyone there. I wanted to work in maxillofacial after seeing a display of painted eyes that took a special craftsmanship. I had an interview with a Petty Officer Caterton that worked in the wing near dentistry. Having an art degree I related how I would be good at the craft. The job didn’t work out so I volunteered for the Red Cross in the medical library. I learned that there were some books left on top of the bookshelves that were said to be omen books not to be moved. I wonder today what books they were. No one, not even doctors were allowed to check out any books. They had to photo Copy any documents if needed. I thought it was a waste of trees & paper & a dumb rule. I worked for a while inserting metal dividers into books that would beep the metal detector. The long subway ride became too much to endeavor so I left the job being a veteran. I remember one Veterans Day when i was asked to support the vets at the Marine base Quantico for a ceremony. The shuttle took a long time in the November rain. After a few speeches it was time to return to Washington. It had only rained for awhile, yet long enough to cake the shuttle tires with mud. The driver sat at the wheel, spinning effortlessly with no luck moving the bus. Oh No! 😳😳 It was near dinner time, soon to get dark🫡🫡 Yes Sir! I was afraid I would be stuck in a graveyard at night! What was I going to do?? Then down the avenue of flags came a white Marine core bus! 😏 What a relief! Stepping into the bus was like a miracle where inside sat well dressed Marines that rescued all us vets from harms way. I couldn’t imagine what it would of been like if they hadn’t shown up. I hope this story helps someone as I am grateful that there are responsible people that had a solution to what seemed like no way out! I did return to the medical center when it changed its status to Walter Reed. It was much more relaxed & less uptight having personal dressed in army fatigues rather then uniforms. The piano was still there where I met with Elsa in acute care. She had flown space available to Germany where she gave me a gift of bonbons. She informed me that the swimming pool had closed, as I thought was a bad idea since Doctors liked to swim before work. She took another trip to China where she asked me to go. It was so far away, I couldn’t. Space available she said was fun since you can ride with the troops. She related many stories about her childhood when she had polio & her ride in the backseat of Hitlers car. The time her water broke when she was pregnant inside Cheyenne Mountain. Her two daughters I never met, as we lost contact after a few years. When I watch a Marlena movie I think of her, as she died on my birthday, May 6th. It was the same day of the Hindenburg tragedy, yet in 1961 it was the day of the first flight in space by Alan Shepard. Wikipedia says now it was on the 5th, as I had a newspaper clipping from the Merced Sun-Star that had it dated the 6th. I know since Marlenas biography states on a few websites she died on May 16th. 🤥 It doesn’t matter as I wish I could have helped Elsa more since through talking, we were able to discuss the mystery of a hospital that had a automated atmosphere feel. It’s healthy to have a good laugh.
By Ocusan M2 years ago in Psyche
Friendship Lost: A Lesson in Betrayal
A Helping Hand It was a cloudy September morning, an obvious sign it would rain. I was dropping my son off at the elementary school and afterward driving to work. I kissed him and promised to pick him up in the afternoon. As I walked towards my car, it began drizzling. Once inside, I noticed a woman struggling to open her vehicle’s window. When suddenly it began raining harder. Without a thought and with my umbrella in hand, I jumped out of my car and walked towards her.
By Debbie's Reflection2 years ago in Psyche
The Listener
I hate to be woeful, but these days have been less than ideal. Actually I must quite like being woeful, as often as I allow myself to indulge in self-pity; I have even credited it as a personality trait of mine, this talent for sifting through all the positivity in this world and grasping at anything that could make me feel further from contentment. Maybe I seek attention, or comfort from a source outside myself. Perhaps I want to be proven wrong about all the negative truths I have discovered because I require convincing in order to believe in something good. Could it be, even, that I have become addicted to a form of sadness because I have chosen the familiarity of pain over the risk of joy? Regardless, my point is that I go through my days lately feeling downcast unto numbness, and all I really want is for someone to know that.
By Bethany Larson2 years ago in Psyche
A Welcoming Surprise
We’re having our kitchen renovated and it’s currently unusable. Stripped to the bare bones. These renovation works are not something we can really afford but a necessary expense after we discovered the old gas stove was leaking, the kitchen sink was cracked and letting water into the bottom cupboard and the electric light switch gave me a shock every time I turned the light on or off.
By Colleen Millsteed 2 years ago in Psyche
Saved By The Bell…
I’m breaking the rules of this challenge off the bat, and if that disqualifies me than so be it. In fact at first I didn’t even intend to enter this particular challenge, and I’m probably not a good enough writer to win regardless. One thing I’m sure of is that in my hectic life as a single dad I don’t always take the time out of my day to something nice enough for someone to inspire a winning story anyway.
By Kenneth cruz2 years ago in Psyche