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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

Wonderful @StuF mental illness can be a wonderful productive thing.....thank you

In response to: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

@Former-Member Thanks my friend, yeah I had a big clean up today actually. House is fresh and clean all ready for mum tomorrow. 5 mins after she walks in there'll be stuff strewn everywhere lol!

We are getting some much needed rain here in country Vic too. Being under the doona is most appealing! I'm heading there right now! xx

BB 🐰💙

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

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

@Former-Member @bipolarbunny

Thanks for the feedback! Much appreciated 🙂

Too right about mental illness, sometimes at least 🙂

In response to: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Hi @Former-Member

Wow. I am honoured and humbled that peeps keep finding this thread and making it their own with their amazing words from the deep wellsprings of their lived experiences...

Much love and respect...

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

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

@Silenus

Many thanks for kicking it off!

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

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Hello @Silenus thank you for starting this thread. Unfortunately I don't have words of wisdom or poetry that everyone else. But I can enjoy and learn from others work.

i love what you said.." The mind and body can take no more, and so a period of rest is forced upon us" re depression. This is so true. Maybe it is the bodies way of protecting us from total overwhelming burnout?

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

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

I don't know how to feel anymore

is it happiness, fear, sad,

there are so many mixed emotions

I don't know how to feel anymore

One minute I am ok

the next I am a mess

and then I breathe

and then feel a mess

I have these visions in my mind

of where to go and where to hide

and then i see that I get help

and all my fear just melt

the fear inside of me is so intense

it rips me apart from end to end

it breaks my heart to see whats done

for i am just the little one

i sit and cry on a rock

my heart is broken

i need to get away from here

and just sit and be near

i need to fix my broken heart

and a childhood that was taken away

i have fear inside

for i am not strong

I sit and wonder why

but i can't work it out anymore

sometimes i feel that it's too easy

to just say goodbye

some days i struggle to get out of bed

i have so much going on in my head

it tells me stuff that i should do

and then i fall into a heap

i really don't know what i am saying

it's just what's in my head today

if i could hide away for a while

but some days i dread stay

i feel sometimes i should go

and leave everyone alone

for i have wrecked everything

and i get no forgiveness

if only they could say sorry

and validate the things they did

but that will never happen i know

so i should just go

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

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

@BlueBay

Excellent! Heartfelt and relatable.

I just hope you don't just go

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

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

@BlueBay

Hello BlueBay ,

You have expressed sentiments, feelings and wishes in your poem, that I, and I think, many on the forum, would feel and could identify with fairly often

It can all seem like a roller-coaster ride, as I have also seen others talk about. The high points just seem to accentuate the lows.

I was talking with a counsellor, a short while ago. It seems that with the severe impact of MH issues, there often comes the suggestion or question of considering a way out. It hasn't come up in our couple of sessions, though I have, at times, also had those thoughts. I didn't want to divert from the topics that we have been discussing in this series of visits. However, it has been "on the tip of my tongue", a few times.

Participation in discussions, on the forums, has certainly helped me to feel less alone, more responsive, and less reactive. That participation has also given me the feeling that I can contribute in some meaningful and worthwhile way, as well as receive acknowledgement, intellectual and emotional support. Looking back through your posts and responses, it is clear that you often give others that support and positive affirmation.

The inclusion and feedback that I have received in my time here, since February has been really affirming and reassuring for me.

Thinking about your comment on work, the other staff and customers. It is certainly good to feel comfortable with other staff. Sometimes, though not always, it is the person you least expect, who will give you support when you need it most.

I have worked as a food and drinks waiter, employment officer (public service), school bus & taxi driver, lawn mowing contractor and brickies labourer. I broke up the connections with other people, with whom I interacted in each of those occupations.

5% - I'd never want to see again,

20 – 30% - I could take or leave,

remaining ~ 60+% made my work day pleasant, and in many cases, even rewarding.

Though subjective and very rough, it interested me to note, that the analysis was close to even on each of the occupations, with staff or clients/customers.

Your back pain and other issues cause you distress. However, I do hope that your work will give you, not just financial support, but personal, intellectual, and emotional support and returns.

With Best Wishes,

HenryX

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

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Thanks @HenryX for your comments

I do enjoy the customers especially the ones that love a chat. We have a lot of the older generation and they love to stop and talk.

At times I feel overwhelmed and that's when I go into "panic mode" or "I don't give a stuff about life anymore" but those feelings do ease up. It just takes time.
@HenryX yiuve had lots of experience in different work places which is great. I've always stuck with either admin or pharmacy.
thanks again for replying. Xxx

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