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Writing As A Form Of Therapy

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

Re: writing as a form of therapy

@Appleblossom Hey my friend, I'm glad you can find comfort through my verse in the knowledge you are not alone. I'm glad you get my wry sense of humour too. I think it's not possible to deal with the darkness and not have an off beat sense of humour. I know it's saved my skin many a time. If we don't laugh we cry eh?! I'm really humbled that other people can identify with the themes I write about. A lot of the time they are almost like letters from myself to myself, sometimes they are directed at those who make being mentally ill so much harder with their ignorance and judgment. And sometimes they are just ramblings that need to get out and be heard. I never thought anyone would "get me" or identify with the things I write the way I do, so it makes me feel less alone also. Hope you are doing well. Big hugs xxx

BB 🐰❤️

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

Re: writing as a form of therapy

@Bunniekins

Glad you liked it Pea! Hope you are well lovely! xxx

BB 🐰❤️

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

Re: writing as a form of therapy

Frozen

The world moves ahead,

For the millions in line,

But meanwhile I feel,

I’ve been frozen in time,

As society prospers,

With progress and mirth,

I stumble and fall,

To the ends of the earth.

Reapers and creepers,

The pale horse of death,

Have more motivation,

In one solemn breathe,

Than I feel in a lifetime,

Of sorrow and pain,

I writhe in the darkness,

It drives me insane.

As the years blaze ahead,

I am drawn to rehearse,

The promise of hope,

That delivers a curse,

Of chaos and mayhem,

Confusion runs rife,

I’m caught in a vacuum,

Of worry and strife.

This treacherous ledge,

That I know all too well,

Seduced and beguiled,

By duplicitous hell,

Reminds me how fragile,

And fractured a mind,

Can think the absurd,

When it’s caught in a bind.

Emotions and thought,

A tumultuous team,

That stimulates farce,

In the wildest of dream,

The committee at war,

In a tormented head,

All bitter and twisted,

And left for the dead.

So when will it end,

This journey of blight,

Running deep in my veins,

In the shadow of night,

Bewildered and torn,

Longing for the sublime,

As the world passes by,

I’m still frozen in time.

© BB - 20 Nov 2020

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

Re: writing as a form of therapy

Some Days

Some days you’re the hammer,

Some days you’re the nail,

Some days you’re the garden,

Some days you’re the snail,

Some days you’re the forest,

Some days you’re the bog,

Some days you’re the hydrant,

Some days you’re the dog.

Some days you’re the rodent,

Some days you’re the trap,

Some days you’re the timber,

Some days you’re the sap,

Some days you’re the courage,

Some days you’re the fear,

Some days you’re the laughter,

Some days you’re the tear.

Some days you’re the joker,

Some days you’re the joke,

Some days you’re the sapling,

Some days you’re the oak,

Some days you’re the music,

Some days you’re the noise,

Some days you’re the ocean,

Some days you’re the buoys.

Some days you’re the engine,

Some days you’re the oil,

Some days you’re the flower,

Some days you’re the soil,

Some days you’re the water,

Some days you’re the soap,

Some days you’re the climber,

Some days you’re the rope.

Some days you’re the conflict,

Some days you’re the calm,

Some days you’re the wounded,

Some days you’re the balm,

Some days you’re the order,

Some days you’re the strife,

Some days you’re the dying,

Some days you’re the life.

© BB - 01 Oct 2020

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

Re: writing as a form of therapy

@bipolarbunny xxx

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

Re: writing as a form of therapy

@Bunniekins @Appleblossom @HenryX @Dimity @Shaz51 @Meowmy @frog @Mazarita @TideisTurning @Judi9877 and anyone who passes this way 🙂


Hey my friends, 3 poem drop tonight.
This last one was written as a gripe aimed at those who refuse to believe in our struggles or dismiss us as "attention seekers" and those too, who watched a movie with a bipolar character in it and are all of a sudden an expert on meds and the illness. I'm sure you all have had someone like that in your life. I've had far too many unfortunately.

I hope everyone is travelling well. Big hugs xx

BB 🐰❤️

Invisible Illness

I have an illness of the brain,

And yet the world dispenses blame,

As if I can control this side,

Of me, I want to run and hide.

Invisible and wracked with pain,

And yet I’m doused with fear and shame,

You won’t believe what you can’t see,

And so I’m locked in agony.

I’m judged for every single act,

Regardless of intent or fact,

My illness used against me so,

The world can justify it’s blow.

I may retain non useful thought,

But that’s no reason for retort,

About my medical regime,

Opinions were not sort or gleaned.

And still you give advise in short,

As if your ‘expertise’ was sort,

You’ll never understand my plight,

Or what prevents my sleep at night.

So don’t pretend you know my curse,

Your ignorance just makes things worse,

My heart is not a weathered ball,

That you can throw against the wall.

So keep opinions to yourself,

Don’t place me on the crazy shelf,

If truth be told I’m probably,

More stable than you’ll ever be.

© BB - 19 Oct 2020

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

Re: writing as a form of therapy

@bipolarbunny wonderful poem, thanks for sharing

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

Re: writing as a form of therapy

@Meowmy Thank you & you're welcome! 🙂

BB 🐰❤️

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

Re: writing as a form of therapy

@bipolarbunny Hey hunny thank you for the poems. I wish I could write unfortunately I am not blessed with that skill. Take good care of yourself and a big Hi to @Meowmy . Hoping you both are having a kind and caring evening. xxx

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

Re: writing as a form of therapy

@Bunniekins Lots of love n hugs Pea, hope you are doing better my lovely friend. xxx

BB 🐰❤️

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