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Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

WrittenOnStarsCasual Contributor20 Sept 2026, 7:04 am AEST

Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

Hello.

I wanted to share a bit of my story. I am someone who uses language, structure, and writing to survive and reverse the effect of complex trauma(specifically, poetry).

Right now, I'm facing a lot of external frustration—bureaucracy blocks with Medicare, no working phone, and being ostracised by my family because of a clinical label (schizoaffective bipolar) that fundamentally misses the mark of who I am.

I know my mind operates on an autistic, systemising spectrum, but no one around me seems to take my reality seriously.

Even though it’s difficult, I keep writing because it’s what I do. I am determined to figure this out. I'm posting here hoping to connect with others who use creative structures to cope, or anyone who knows what it's like to be isolated by a label.

23 replies

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In response to: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

Andy676Casual Contributor10 Oct 2026, 10:11 pm AEDT

Re: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

I have been labelled with complex mental health issues. My first husband was/is a curse . He will be probably be getting remarried now .But I am here writing and healing. You need to set me free.

Showing me the glimpses of what we could have been.

It's painful and it hurts .

Our,s story was not a fairytale .

Stop showing me if it could have been.

You are a curse I failed to break.

What do I do to make you go away.

Is your revenge plan came to an end.

Honey, you killed me and you are smiling.

You destroyed me on the very first day and the very last .

Stop calling it love that makes me laugh. Stop messing with my life it's not fair.

Making me to lay with another the damage was beyond repair.

What do I need to do to make you go away.

It was not a fairytale you are aware of that

Stop making me to go through this again and again .

It was not love or a fairytale

There was no softness.

The audacity you say it's love .

It's time to say farewell once and for all.

#Isolation and depression

In response to: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

WannabeFreeContributor11 Oct 2026, 3:11 am AEDT

Re: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

Well done, this is something I've been trying to do, been thinking if I could get it down in a way that makes sense maybe I could learn something from it, to make things ease a bit. I don't imagine i could write poetry, but, thanks, im going to find a few to read today, feel free to share a subject or any suggestions. Stay Strong

In response to: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

WrittenOnStarsCasual Contributor12 Oct 2026, 4:07 pm AEDT

Re: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

Poetry for me is more a rigid, structurally dense container I can hide things behind. Although the same can certainly be done in standard prose.

It just depends on which medium draws you in the most. My largest suggestion would be to find what appeals to you most in a creative space and use that as leverage. It is not an easy road, but worth the journey(at least so far for me)

In response to: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

Andy676Casual Contributor14 Oct 2026, 4:24 pm AEDT

Re: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

Slowly losing myself in a fantasy.

The scary part :I like it .

In response to: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

JynxModerator14 Oct 2026, 7:51 pm AEDT

Re: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

Hi @Andy676

Hope you're okay. Sounds like you're sitting with some heavy feelings. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you're in need of some support.

Here's some suggestions, up to you.

For crisis Support:

Lifeline: Phone - Call 13 11 14

Chat – Visit https://www.lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat/

Suicide Callback Service: Phone – Call 1300 659 467

Chat – Visit https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/

Samaritans: Phone – Call 116 123

Chat - Visit https://www.samaritans.org/

For non-crisis Support

ListenWell – Call 1300 111 500

https://www.wellways.org/our-services/listenwell-warmline/

Peer Care Companion Warmline – Call 1800 77 7337

https://rosesintheocean.com.au/peer-care-companion-warmline/

Medicare Mental Health - https://www.medicarementalhealth.gov.au/

BeyondBlue - Call 1300 22 4636

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

All the best :)

In response to: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

Andy676Casual Contributor14 Oct 2026, 11:38 pm AEDT

Re: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

I don't know how to stop this non stop over thinking. But thank you for your support. I will definitely reach out to these services.

In response to: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

M0RTYSenior Contributor15 Oct 2026, 3:00 pm AEDT

Re: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

Howdy @WrittenOnStars,

Checking in and wanted to see how you went with the Medicare stuff?

Just had a similar issue with government stuff and wanted to see how you faired. Hard not to give up so hoping you found solutions.

Big love

morty

In response to: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

WrittenOnStarsCasual Contributor16 Oct 2026, 2:26 pm AEDT

Re: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

I went down to my local Services Australia with my Father and they point blank told us they couldn’t help me because they don’t have access to Medicares systems.

So now I’m stuck in a loop of playing phone tiggy with Medicare. They said they’d call me back within 14 days. It’s incredibly frustrating.

Hoping for a result next week, Im wondering also if there’s some kind of medical ombudsman or similar I could contact because it’s a bit ridiculous at this point.

In response to: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

M0RTYSenior Contributor17 Oct 2026, 6:36 am AEDT

Re: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

@WrittenOnStars

Thank you for the update.

That does sound frustrating indeed. Hurdles are not fun at all.

Without knowing the full situation wish I could help find a solution for you. A lot of reds tape these days to even find help and support from the system.

Have you looked into an Advocate service who can help guide you and act as a point of support in getting your stuff sorted.

Finger crossed they call you back with a solution to your problem sooner than later.

Best wishes here

In response to: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

WrittenOnStarsCasual Contributor17 Oct 2026, 7:50 pm AEDT

Re: Using writing to anchor myself through trauma and isolation

I suffered a weird episode today actually. I found out this morning that a long time close friend had passed. Usually, my mind tries to make math or language type structures for me to survive emotional and sensory overload, such as my poetry and prose. Today they failed to contain it.

I experienced a cross between acute sensory meltdown, a panic attack, and slight confusion. It didn’t last long, about 20-30 minutes. Afterwards I felt enormous amount of pain in my joints and muscles. Didnt feel great, not entirely sure why. Kept myself grounded with food and water at the time because I didn’t feel right. It was like all my stress caught up with me at once but like the whole world was turned up to 11.

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