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Writing As A Form Of Therapy

SilenusSenior Contributor12 Apr 2016, 3:14 pm AEST

Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Hi all,

I have found throughout the course of my life that writing has been a constant companion to me. It has provided me with a way to vent my frustrations, to grapple with the eternal verities of life that confound and delight me, to explore ideas and concepts, and to try to put into words the often chaotic moods and thoughts that result from having a mind that's a little bit odd...

I have written lots of poems, especially in the last 3 or 4 years, dealing with depression and bipolar. They help me to process and understand some of the things that are happening in this twisted little noodle of mine. As such, writing has become one of my main forms of therapy.

One of the best things that I find about writing is that it can act as a kind of mood diary. I can read things that I had previously written, and it will quite often map out where I was at during the time of writing. The words I spread across the page act as signposts of my progress, too. As my self knowledge increases and my life journey progresses, I find that it affects how I write and what I write...

Often, we do not see the thousands of tiny little changes to our selves that our life experiences cause over the years. It can be very helpful to re-read old writings, in order to see how far we have come, what we have improved, where we have fallen back into old harmful habits, and the things that we have learned.

The language that we use in our writings and in our thoughts and in our speech is very important. It can reveal a lot about our selves, our states of mind, and our moods...

That language, it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I believe that we attract certain kinds of people around us, and create (or at least influence) life situations based on our choice of language. It helps define who we are as a person.

Negative thinking, self-deprecation, self-hatred, these sorts of dangerous life traps are often revealed in our choice of words. So too are the positive things. It all starts with a glass. How we describe the glass and the quantity and quality of its contents, that's where language comes into it, and it can shape our very lives and the lives of those around us.

Writing... it is my solace and my main tool of self-analysis. It is my favourite form of therapy...

2932 replies

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In response to: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

MazaritaSenior Contributor02 Apr 2021, 3:50 am AEDT

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Fantastic poem, @bipolarbunny! I felt your experience. What a great way with words and rhythm in your writing.

I couldn't live without sunnies. Earlier I wrote on another thread about how rain is soothing to me in its softness. I also find at dawn and dusk big changes in my health when I've been physically sick all day or night. Weather and natural phenomena affect us so much, I feel.

In response to: Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

bipolarbunnySenior Contributor02 Apr 2021, 3:53 pm AEDT

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

@Mazarita Thank you my friend. I hear you on the sunnies I cannot cope without mine. I love the rain also. I especially love running in it. I love storms and stormy skies too especially down the coast. I agree about weather etc. affecting us. Sometimes I feel like my moods flow with nature's. If that's at all possible. I did a lot of photography a few years back, there's nothing more amazing than standing on a rock ledge during a stormy sunset. I really miss it.

My happy place 🙂 BB 🐰❤️ xx

In response to: Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

MazaritaSenior Contributor03 Apr 2021, 12:47 am AEDT

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Love your creativity, word and image, @bipolarbunny.

In response to: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

HenryXSenior Contributor09 Apr 2021, 9:45 pm AEST

Re: writing as a form of therapy

@bipolarbunny

Hi BB

I was just looking at one of your earlier comments on the "writing as a form of therapy" thread, from

25 Mar 2021 06:05 PM. It was interesting reading about your earlier writing and resumption following a period "in recess". I can say that I've enjoyed reading the poems that you have written and posted on the forum site. Thank you. Your enjoyment derived from the writing of the edgy and the good comes through. It is also pleasing to know that you consider the writing experience as being cathartic, allowing you "to bare your soul in a safe way." I hope that you will be able to continue writing poetry for your own benefit, and yours and our enjoyment.

In response to: Re: writing as a form of therapy

bipolarbunnySenior Contributor13 Apr 2021, 9:20 pm AEST

Re: writing as a form of therapy

@HenryX Thanks so much my friend,

Sorry it took me so long to reply. I'm really honoured that you enjoy my poetry. You can thank my therapist for getting me back into writing after all these years. It really has become a source of wellness and enlightenment. I seem to be able to find the words through prose to describe my experiences and emotions better than I ever could through spoken word. I don't tend to open up in person very well as I am extremely introverted, but prose has allowed me to find my voice I think. I told my therapist he created a monster cause now he can't shut me up! Lol!

Hope you are well my friend, sending you hugs & love xxx

BB 🐰❤️

In response to: Re: writing as a form of therapy

bipolarbunnySenior Contributor13 Apr 2021, 9:26 pm AEST

Re: writing as a form of therapy

Thunder and Lightning

Thunder and lightning,

Fire and ice,

It’s nights like these,

Where I relish my slice,

Of agony, ecstasy,

Heaven and hell,

The air is electric,

I’m caught in its spell.

Thunder and lightning,

Chaos and calm,

Before I hit bottom,

I open my palm,

Of triumph and tragedy,

Safety and fear,

These cards that I play,

To the end, I hold dear.

Thunder and lightning,

Glory and grief,

Before running too hot,

I am granted relief,

From action and apathy,

Struggles and peace,

I’m reminded my feelings,

Are stuck in a crease.

Thunder and lightning,

Pleasure and pain,

I wonder how much of,

My soul does remain,

Through courage and cowardice,

Challenge and quest,

The edge that I balance,

Is fragile at best.

Thunder and lightning,

Narrow and vast,

Do I jog to the future,

Or sprint from the past,

From insult to injury,

Joy to regret,

This whole way of living,

Is not over yet.

Thunder and lightning,

Darkness and light,

I come for the intrigue,

And stay for the plight,

Am I free to be bound,

Or bound to be free,

Thunder and lightning,

It’s me versus me.

In response to: Re: writing as a form of therapy

bipolarbunnySenior Contributor13 Apr 2021, 9:35 pm AEST

Re: writing as a form of therapy

@Shaz51 @Bunniekins @HenryX @Mazarita @Daisydreamer @Appleblossom @Dimity @TideisTurning @Meowmy
Sometimes when I'm struggling and can't find the words I'll go back through my poetry. They are almost like messages to the future me, to remember to hold on, that things won't always be so hard. Tonight I found this poem to be just such a message that I really needed to hear so I thought I'd share it for anyone else that might be struggling.

Hugs xx

BB 🐰❤️

Never Give Up

Never give up,

You know it won’t last,

The buzz in your head,

The wounds of the past,

The pain in your heart,

The ache in your soul,

The voices that chant,

You will never be whole.

Never give up,

You know it will heal,

The sadness you breathe,

The rage that you feel,

The hurt in your bones,

The throb in your mind,

The dog bite that shadows,

Your lonely behind.

Never give up,

You know you can bear,

The heartache of stigma,

The silence of stare,

The chaos of madness,

The chasm of fear,

The self sabotage of,

The things you hold dear.

Never give up,

You know you can win,

The game you’re enduring,

The pickle you’re in,

The war you are waging,

The battle you fight,

For the forces of good,

In the darkness of night.

Never give up,

You know it won’t last,

The buzz breaking silent,

The wounds healing fast,

The pain slowly fading,

The ache growing dim,

Don’t you ever give up,

On the life that you’re in.

In response to: Re: writing as a form of therapy

MeowmySenior Contributor13 Apr 2021, 9:53 pm AEST

Re: writing as a form of therapy

@bipolarbunny thanks for sharing. It gives such hope. It's beautiful to read.

In response to: Re: writing as a form of therapy

BunniekinsSenior Contributor14 Apr 2021, 5:44 am AEST

Re: writing as a form of therapy

@bipolarbunny Thank you BB just what the pea needed to hear. Love peaxxx

In response to: Re: writing as a form of therapy

AppleblossomSenior Contributor14 Apr 2021, 12:40 pm AEST

Re: writing as a form of therapy

@bipolarbunny

Your poetry resonates well with me. It still has the spoken word brevity and bite, which I like. Kind of makes me feel good knowing I am not alone in these experiences, even tho they are tough, and gives me a sense of whimsy as there is humour lurking in there with the word mastery.

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