What does Psychic mean to you?

I’ve been wondering how being part of the Psychic Reddit community has actually impacted your lives. What was it that first drew you to follow this sub, and what have you actually gained from participating—whether you're actively posting or just lurking in the shadows?

If it’s alright with you, I’ll wait a day or two before explaining my own reasons for starting this thread; I don't want my bias messing with your honest answers. But if you'd rather I just get to the point right now, let me know.

I’m genuinely looking forward to reading your deep dives on this. Thanks in advance for sharing. 🙂

Matthew Castillo5 said:I’ve been wondering how being part of the Psychic Reddit community has actually impacted your lives. What was it that first drew you to follow this sub, and what have you actually gained from participating—whether you're actively posting or just lurking in the shadows?

If it’s alright with you, I’ll wait a day or two before explaining my own reasons for starting this thread; I don't want my bias messing with your honest answers. But if you'd rather I just get to the point right now, let me know.

I’m genuinely looking forward to reading your deep dives on this. Thanks in advance for sharing. 🙂

I joined this Reddit specifically because of certain people in the Psychic community. They are resilient, insightful, and clearly handle life's various challenges and illnesses with grace. I enjoy reading their perspectives and seeing how they navigate difficult situations. I hope to develop that same level of composure one day. Your posts often provide the exact sense of comfort and hope I need. My thanks to all the wonderful, open-minded people posting here.

Robin White2 said:I joined this Reddit specifically because of certain people in the Psychic community. They are resilient, insightful, and clearly handle life's various challenges and illnesses with grace. I enjoy reading their perspectives and seeing how they navigate difficult situations. I hope to develop that same level of composure one day. Your posts often provide the exact sense of comfort and hope I need. My thanks to all the wonderful, open-minded people posting here.

Yeah. Someone has always already survived what you're currently walking through, and they can show you the exit. There are some genuinely brilliant, resilient people here that I'd probably never cross paths with in real life.

This subreddit has been an absolute lifeline for me. When I first posted here, I was nothing more than a terrified little girl, trapped in a cycle of spinning in circles and beating myself up with overwhelming fear and guilt.

The people on this platform provided guidance at my lowest points—moments when I felt completely isolated, convinced that no one could ever truly understand what I was going through. I took everything everyone shared to heart: the constructive criticism, the encouragement, the practical advice—all of it. I sat with every single word, reflected deeply, and finally found the strength to take action.
I’ve finally managed to clear out the mental clutter, started physical therapy, cut ties with some incredibly toxic relationships, and I can actually breathe again. For the first time in forever, I feel light, clear-headed, and genuinely at peace with myself.

I truly hope that by sharing my story, I might offer someone else the nudge they need to start their own journey toward healing and personal growth.

A huge thank you to my favorite ladies on Reddit (Robin White2, boldnomad45, and Terry Lopez18) for being so incredibly helpful with all the advice they've shared regarding my question so far. 🙏

I’d love to hear from anyone else who feels like weighing in—if you have the time or just feel like sharing your thoughts, please jump in!

I was planning on answering this with a bit of distance and keeping things vague, but I just can't help myself, so here’s a total brain dump 😬.

If I remember right, I originally joined Reddit because of the OCD stuff, but I ended up posting here way sooner than expected. Back then, I was dealing with intrusive thoughts that felt totally insane. I honestly thought I was losing my mind and that if I opened my mouth about it, I’d end up locked away in a psych ward somewhere 😁.
My very first thread was about a "friend" where I laid out my whole situation, but you know... asking for a friend 😁.

It actually blew my mind how much empathy people had. It was so surreal how normal everyone seemed to think it was (unfortunate, but whatever), and the amount of support I got was huge. Nobody told me my "friend" was crazy; instead, I just got a mountain of first-hand stories from people who were older than me or had just been through more of this mental health crap
. I was 18 at the time, still in high school, and just completely terrified by everything that was starting to happen
.
A ton of other threads and a lot of bullshit happened between then and now, but none of it is really worth dwelling on
. Nowadays, I try to be somewhat constructive, though even this place has kind of turned into a venting ground. There used to be way more active users here, so it always makes my day when an "old" username pops back up
. Or almost always 😬.

In general, I’ve stopped poking people just to be a jerk. I stopped putting up with pure stupidity just to keep the peace in this digital house, which you can probably tell from how I talk now, but hey 😁. I try to help when I can, and I try not to be a dick, but I won't let someone lecture me on stuff they clearly don't understand. If they try, I’ll gladly shut that down. Even if it gets me banned 😁.

I’ve been through a hell of a lot and gathered plenty of experience, so if I give anyone advice, it’s always coming from a good place
.
Threads here are mostly for venting, which is fine, but I don't think people realize how vital topics like the ones about psych meds are—where you can get actual, first-hand experience regarding any specific medication
.

Honestly, I lurk in this sub-Reddit all the time even though I rarely post. I just like to think that those few serious posts I force myself to write might actually help someone out there. Out of pure curiosity, I end up scrolling through threads that aren't even my thing—just picking up bits and pieces along the way. Aside from enjoying the vibes from certain users, I really dig the overall atmosphere here in 'Psychic'. What probably bugs me most about other forums and the internet in general is how toxic things can get, but they’ve totally nipped that in the bud here—which is why this is easily my favorite, best-moderated corner of the site. It honestly just keeps me calm.

I find myself dropping by less and less often. These days, I’m mostly lurking—reading more than I actually contribute. It’s actually quite helpful, though; you can find some solid advice from people navigating similar struggles. The main reason I'm spending less time here? I'm finally starting to feel better.

Matthew Castillo5 said:I’ve been wondering how being part of the Psychic Reddit community has actually impacted your lives. What was it that first drew you to follow this sub, and what have you actually gained from participating—whether you're actively posting or just lurking in the shadows?

If it’s alright with you, I’ll wait a day or two before explaining my own reasons for starting this thread; I don't want my bias messing with your honest answers. But if you'd rather I just get to the point right now, let me know.

I’m genuinely looking forward to reading your deep dives on this. Thanks in advance for sharing. 🙂

I’ve been trying to write out my own story. Honestly? It’s not happening. I’ve come close to finishing it a few times, but I always end up second-guessing myself and backing away. So, for now, it’ll probably remain a mystery. 😁

Well, since trying to pull myself together after "the incident," I’ve started writing about other things too. I feel like I can relate to almost everyone here; I see little pieces of my own story reflected in the people on these various subreddits. It’s like I’m slowly piecing together my own Frankenstein’s monster of a puzzle—looking at my problems from different angles, playing around with metaphors, and stuff like that.

At the end of the day, I know I can't fix everything myself, and there isn't anyone else who can step in and do it for me. But I hope that by helping others here and there, I might accidentally help myself in the process. Maybe. 🤔

Back when I first signed up for Reddit, Psychic hadn't even been launched yet; back then, we just had Psychology.
I’ve started quite a few threads over the years, ranging mostly from heavy, depressive topics to the occasional lighthearted one.
Now, I don't think Psychic can actually solve a deep-seated psychological issue for a few specific reasons:
-It's much easier to truly connect with and understand someone facing a struggle when you're looking them right in the eye in person rather than through a screen.
-A person will always be able to explain what they're going through more effectively in real life, since on Reddit, you aren't seeing their actual presence—you're just reading a description of how they're acting.
-The people contributing to Psychic aren't professional clinicians; most of them are just regular folks who happen to be dealing with their own mental health struggles.
Even though Psychic isn't meant to be a cure-all, I still believe it serves a purpose, as it can help guide someone toward finding professional help in the right places while offering at least some digital support and companionship.

Psychic topics have always been one of my favorite subreddits. It helped me realize I wasn't actually losing my mind, and I feel much better knowing there are plenty of people out there dealing with even weirder stuff than I am (😬). Is anyone else relieved by that?
I also enjoy offering advice to others, since I've navigated some of the same struggles they are facing right now.

I’ve been lurking on this Reddit for about 9 years now—at least, according to the registration dates on my old accounts where I lost all my passwords 😬... I’ve read through everything, including Psychic, though I could never quite manage to stay active, except for lurking on a few specific threads. Honestly, reading about everyone else's experiences on Psychic helped me so much during low points when I was feeling pretty isolated. I’m sure I’m not the only one. Plus, the crowd hanging out here just gets me... feels like home. 😬

Reading through various threads on Psychic has hit me a little hard, but I guess it was enough to make an actual difference.

Matthew Castillo5 said:I’ve been wondering how being part of the Psychic Reddit community has actually impacted your lives. What was it that first drew you to follow this sub, and what have you actually gained from participating—whether you're actively posting or just lurking in the shadows?

If it’s alright with you, I’ll wait a day or two before explaining my own reasons for starting this thread; I don't want my bias messing with your honest answers. But if you'd rather I just get to the point right now, let me know.

I’m genuinely looking forward to reading your deep dives on this. Thanks in advance for sharing. 🙂

Well, just like anywhere else on the internet, you've got the amazing people and then you've got... well, everyone else.

I honestly love reading, doing some deep self-reflection, and just throwing out threads about things that are bugging me or stuff I'm just genuinely curious about...

Besides Radical, I'm sure there are plenty of high-quality people here, but there's also a fair amount of folks who, unfortunately, have kind of soured this part of the forum for me, so I don't find myself hanging out here nearly as much as I used to...

I would argue that roughly 80% of people—excluding immediate family, of course—simply aren't my intellectual equals when it comes to certain existential questions or general life insights. So, I suppose that is where I find myself... 😊

I really want to say a huge thank you to everyone who chimed in on this thread. In my opening post, I mentioned I’d explain why I started this discussion in the first place: I’ve actually submitted a presentation for the 1st International Disciplinary Symposium, "bioethics and the aporia of the psyche," and I decided to focus on our shared experiences with Psych Couch. I hope nobody minds me using this topic as a springboard. 🕺

The symposium kicks off today, November 23rd, at 5:00 PM at the Center of Excellence for Integrative Bioethics, located at 1 Ivan Lučić St. in Washington, D.C. (it's that low-rise building right next to the Faculty of Philosophy). It runs through Saturday afternoon, the 25th—though on Saturday, we move over to the Faculty of Philosophy at 3 Ivan Lučić St. Entry is totally free, there’s no registration fee, and anyone interested is more than welcome to drop by to listen (or jump into the discussions if you're feeling brave). You can find all the specifics at this link:
Symposium Program

When things get heavy (like today), I just hop on here to vent. Sometimes I actually get decent advice, other times I just need to dump my guts. When life isn't such a mess, I still check in once in a while.

Matthew Castillo5 said:I really want to say a huge thank you to everyone who chimed in on this thread. In my opening post, I mentioned I’d explain why I started this discussion in the first place: I’ve actually submitted a presentation for the 1st International Disciplinary Symposium, "bioethics and the aporia of the psyche," and I decided to focus on our shared experiences with Psych Couch. I hope nobody minds me using this topic as a springboard. 🕺

The symposium kicks off today, November 23rd, at 5:00 PM at the Center of Excellence for Integrative Bioethics, located at 1 Ivan Lučić St. in Washington, D.C. (it's that low-rise building right next to the Faculty of Philosophy). It runs through Saturday afternoon, the 25th—though on Saturday, we move over to the Faculty of Philosophy at 3 Ivan Lučić St. Entry is totally free, there’s no registration fee, and anyone interested is more than welcome to drop by to listen (or jump into the discussions if you're feeling brave). You can find all the specifics at this link:
Symposium Program

Oh, wow, that sounds great! 🙂
My only concern is that every lecture is scheduled for just 15 minutes. Isn't that cutting it a bit thin?

It honestly confuses me because I really thought Martian was such an honest woman, but then... 🕺

Joseph Bailey41 said:It honestly confuses me because I really thought Martian was such an honest woman, but then... 🕺

Well, hey, at least I’m making an effort to be, despite everything. 🤷 :mig