Category: Miscellaneous

Essays about random things

How to Practice Empathy and Prevent Emotional Impotence

Your first question after reading the title is probably “What is emotional impotence?” Emotional Impotence is a term sometimes used in behavioral health, also often called toxic positivity or chronic optimism, and refers to the act of compartmentalizing or dismissing negative and often traumatic… Continue Reading “How to Practice Empathy and Prevent Emotional Impotence”

Companionship: Love Not Lust

I’m a descriptive writer, I love details, analogies, essays and creativity. Someone told me one night that I write because it’s how I come to understand things.  That through my writing I come to terms with things that once tormented me or that continues… Continue Reading “Companionship: Love Not Lust”

The Power and Truth of Self-Awareness

The reality is life is hard and sometimes even painful, but so is the truth.  We shouldn’t cover up the truth and we shouldn’t hide from life out of fear of or submission to hardship and pain. Many of us have things in our… Continue Reading “The Power and Truth of Self-Awareness”

The Dying Light of Unrequited Love

The Dying Light of Unrequited Love We spend most of our lives trying to emotionally connect with other people, only to realize that we cannot emotionally connect with most of the people we meet. I could probably write a book about the experiences I’ve… Continue Reading “The Dying Light of Unrequited Love”

Love Me Not

Love Me Not:A Conversation About Mental Health & Relationships If you’ve read my previous work, you know that I’m often very personal and brutally honest about my experiences and my mistakes. This essay will be no different. I want to share with you some… Continue Reading “Love Me Not”

The Past That’s Not Forgotten

[Reader Discretion Strongly Advised: this article discusses the sexual assault of men and boys and may not be appropriate for readers under the age of thirteen, it may also be triggering for those who have experienced similar trauma.  Resources and reading recommendations follow the… Continue Reading “The Past That’s Not Forgotten”

In the Twilight of Memory

In the Twilight of Memory Calling to me in the distance, I can hear them all say my name. Reaching out from the past, from moments that used to be. I drift beyond the precipice of wakefulness, I let go of my consciousness and… Continue Reading “In the Twilight of Memory”

Out of the Darkness: My Experience with a Mental Health Condition

My name is Kephen Merancis and there’s really no easy way to start the conversation that we need to have. It takes a lot of courage to break the wall of silence that stigma builds. It takes at least a little bit of hope… Continue Reading “Out of the Darkness: My Experience with a Mental Health Condition”

To Be Acknowledged As Existing

To be Acknowledged as Existing 7,432 Americans will wake up today to what will be their last day alive, most of whom will not know this ahead of time. According to the American mortality rate published in 2016 by the National Center for Health… Continue Reading “To Be Acknowledged As Existing”

Choose To Live

Following an extended period of depression, a friend of mine carved this into a park bench after contemplating suicide. He sent me the photo and I’ve kept it because I think it holds a powerful message. Choose To Live Do something that scares you.… Continue Reading “Choose To Live”