Mental Illness Poems - Page 2

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21. Living With OCD

I lived with depression and OCD for a few years, and during that time I was suicidal. Now I'm free from it. It still lives in me, but it's not in control of me. I thought I'd write a poem for people to understand just a little bit of how OCD works on the mind.
- By GeorgeH4rt
- Published by Family Friend Poems June 2018 with permission of the Author.
O.C.D., those evil eyes that stare at me,
That bully in my head,
Obsession, obsession, obsession,
Is all that can be said.

O.C.D., those evil eyes that stare at me,
That bully in my head,
Obsession, obsession, obsession,
Is all that can be said.

I try to block, and I try to fight.
All hours I wish me dead.
The only peace I find throughout the night
Is when I'm in my bed.

Asleep, no oppression,
But when I wake, all I get is...
Obsession, obsession, obsession.
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22. Another Breakdown

This poem is about breaking down after you hold onto pain for way too long and then it finally just escapes you.

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- By Shaydee A. Ault
- Published by Family Friend Poems April 2018 with permission of the Author.
Poem: Experiencing A Mental Breakdown

It's hard when you're always lying,
Always hiding the way you feel.
Losing your sight on truthful words,
Forgetting what is real.

It's hard when you're always lying,
Always hiding the way you feel.
Losing your sight on truthful words,
Forgetting what is real.

It's hard when you forget to laugh
And you're scared that someone might see.
Hoping no one saw your face,
As you struggle to remember how to breathe.

It's hard to pretend you're happy,
And you're terrified someone might ask.
It's becoming harder every day;
It's becoming quite a task.

You feel when your body shakes,
As it searches for something to hold.
Though the temperature feels hot,
Your heart and mind feel cold.

Your throat feels like it's closing,
And your legs feel like they're weak.
You try your hardest to grasp a breath,
But there's not even enough to speak.

Your hands remain unsteady,
And your heart pounds like a drum,
And even though you can barely walk,
You fight the urge to run.

You scream as the world starts spinning,
And your knees drop straight to the ground.
You realize in that moment
You're just having another breakdown.
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23. Breathe

This poem is about my experience with anxiety and how I am still trying to breathe and work through the hard times. I know there are people out there with experiences like mine, and I hope this poem will help people know they are not alone.

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- By Tiffaney L. Ganci
- Published by Family Friend Poems April 2018 with permission of the Author.
Living With Anxiety

Panic, worry, darkness closing in around me.
These are some of the words I could use to describe my anxiety,
but nothing I can say could speak of its entirety,
as I cry internally thinking I've lost my sanity.

Panic, worry, darkness closing in around me.
These are some of the words I could use to describe my anxiety,
but nothing I can say could speak of its entirety,
as I cry internally thinking I've lost my sanity.

Doctors, counselors, saying there's something wrong with me.
My parents telling me to calm down and stop being so crazy.
But how can I calm down when the world around me
is spinning out of control and I can barely see?

Breathe. You will get through this.

You will get through the sleepless nights,
all the internal fights,
and the days that seem right
when the world hits you with all its might.

Breathe. You will get through this.

I know you think I'm overreacting about the silliest little things,
but to me those silly little things seem like the doom the world could bring.
Can't you see, a spilled glass of milk to you can seems like an earthquake to me.

I know it might be hard to understand my anxiety,
but I hope today I have given you some clarity.

So the next time someone is scared and feels like they can't breathe,
shaking and crying, unable to see,
don't tell them they're overreacting; don't call them crazy.
Help them realize there is more to life than this misery,
and no matter the doubt inside, they will be who they are meant to be.

Breathe. I will get through this.

Because I know I am more than just my anxiety,
and one day I hope to be free of it entirely.
But until then, I will keep telling myself, quietly,
I am stronger than this. I am stronger than my anxiety.
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24. I'll Fight For Her

This poem was inspired by my girlfriend. She has a disorder called borderline personality disorder, and sometimes seeing eye to eye can be hard, but no one will ever see her the way I do.
- By Joshua J. Siferd
- Published by Family Friend Poems February 2018 with permission of the Author.
Never Giving Up On Love

She can be a handful.
Yes, this is true.
But you won't look at her
In the ways that I do.

She can be a handful.
Yes, this is true.
But you won't look at her
In the ways that I do.

You couldn't comprehend
What goes through her mind.
You wouldn't understand
The look in her eyes.

From the fits of rage
To the unconditional love.
There isn't a day
Where I'd change any of the above.

Countless nights
I've stayed awake,
Wondering if it's right
Or if I'm about to break.

But in the end,
I know for sure.
No one else in this world
Would try to understand her.

Nights can be bright.
Days can be dark.
But even after every fight,
When it gets hard,
I'll never lose sight
Of what's carved in my heart.
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25. Music Of Wakefulness

I am only 19 and this is the first poem I've ever written. During my many battles with anxiety and insomnia, I put my late night hours into this piece, which gives it a sense of authenticity. It is a poem that almost anyone could relate to, a metaphoric piece based on the struggle of unwanted and persistent thoughts preventing much needed sleep. Although this is my first poem, it has been a product of years of depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
- By Caitlin L. Stafford
- Published by Family Friend Poems January 2018 with permission of the Author.
Experiencing Insomnia

It is in the dark of night
When insomnia sings me awake
To the tune of lullabies
And the rhythm of mindful blight.

It is in the dark of night
When insomnia sings me awake
To the tune of lullabies
And the rhythm of mindful blight.

It is the spotlight of the watchful moon
And the flickering of uncertain stars
That cradle my fears
And anxious thoughts they croon.

It is in the view of the sunshine,
Where my unwanted thoughts stem,
Waiting and ripening in my head
Until around my throat they twine.

And echoing in my mind
Is the blissful song of insomnia,
Sewing itself into my skin
As daylight leaves me behind.
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26. Baby Blues

I struggle with Depression and Anxiety, and I have this fear that I will pass the gene to my children because it runs in my family. I love kids and I do want to have some one day, but this is the only thing that would hold me back. This poem is about deciding whether I'm going to take the chance or save them from any possible hurt. I wouldn't want them to go through this, but I also wouldn't want to deprive a child of a life.
- By Katie Q. McKee
- Published by Family Friend Poems November 2017 with permission of the Author.
Fear Of Children Inheriting Depression And Anxiety

No words can describe what I feel when I look at you.
The glory of your smile brings light to this place.
So simple yet so impossible to understand.
Every move you make is taken in with grace.

No words can describe what I feel when I look at you.
The glory of your smile brings light to this place.
So simple yet so impossible to understand.
Every move you make is taken in with grace.

How could someone not want you in their life?
Like you were sent from a movie scene.
How could they just throw it all away,
Not thinking of what that could mean?

Your eyes capture mine in a second to spare.
I absorb your innocence that is ever so new.
I get lost in your soul so freely unveiled
As you gaze at me with your baby blues.

An unsettling feeling resides in my head,
One that I've been trying to forget.
A little version of myself walking around;
I guess I haven't gotten used to that yet.

I'm afraid you'll turn into me one day in the future.
That's a risk I can't afford to gamble on.
I want you to have a fair chance from the start.
I wish for you to paint a picture not already drawn.

But then I think about the love I'd share,
The good, the bad, and everything between.
I would show you this life's possibilities.
Maybe it could be different if I hadn't seen...

Your baby blues staring back to me,
Making my choice appear to be clear.
But that feeling still shakes my bones.
The only time it stops is when I hold you near.

Questions bounce back and forth in my brain.
Do you deserve this life or are the stakes too high?
Consequently my fear could turn into reality,
But who would I be if I could never even try?

I just have to look in those baby blues
And all my worries will fade into the night.
You have all the answers in your heart.
I'm trusting you that it's gonna be all right.

It's something to be cherished:
The joy you bring to this world everyday.
Run my fingers through your thin hair.
Listen closely so you can hear me say,

"Baby blue eyes,
You light up the skies.
I don't think you realize,
But you are everything and anything."

Another option I would choose
If it weren't for your baby blues.
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27. 2 Hours

Anxiety is a demon most can't see. Every time I left the house I would have constant panic attacks until I returned. This poem is about the first two hours of a day. I refer to Anxiety as a demon because they are similar in many ways. It's impossible to understand the feeling of your own mind turning on you until it happens. Medication can cure symptoms or create them. My Agoraphobia was the result of a particular combination of medications. When I was taken off one, my symptoms went away.
- By Brian E Pardee
- Published by Family Friend Poems November 2017 with permission of the Author.
Agoraphobia, Anxiety And Panic Attacks

Anxiety rips me out of my sleep, a shock to my system like a bucket of ice water.
I open my eyes to see a demon hovering near the ceiling; fighting it will lead to my slaughter.

These demons cover the Earth like the oxygen we can't see.

Anxiety rips me out of my sleep, a shock to my system like a bucket of ice water.
I open my eyes to see a demon hovering near the ceiling; fighting it will lead to my slaughter.

These demons cover the Earth like the oxygen we can't see.
One look into their eyes assures you several hours of misery.

I pull off my covers and step to the warm floor.
My teeth begin to chatter, sensitive to an elusive vibration that I've felt before.

Every muscle contracts; I notice the blinds are closed, yet a small beam of light still gets in.
They spy on us through the sunlight; it's hard to fight a battle that you know you can't win.

I quickly stumble to the kitchen to take my medication, hoping today's the day it starts working.
Tunnel vision increases the terror, knowing that the beast is somewhere close lurking.

I eat the fastest meal that I am able to find,
Then brush my teeth twice, because I always throw up after the first time.

I quickly get dressed; with my head down I walk toward the car.
Hyper-vigilant to something you cannot see, aware of the fact that I must appear to act bizarre.

Each day is like reliving a bleak dream, every 24 hours repeating exactly the same.
When the tension becomes too great I'm forced to distract myself with a different form of pain.

I get into my vehicle, driving to my monthly psychiatric appointment as fast as I can go.
The night before was a bad one; I took a hammer to the side my face to make the pain show

I walked into the building, trying to cover the side of my face that was black and blue.
I quickly sat down, noticing some of other patients could see the demons too.

Some people think we are terrified of other people, but that simply isn't true.
I'm terrified of the demon that is standing between me and you.

It only took a few months before this doctor stopped pretending to care.
It's always the same questions, just wanting my new medication so I could get the hell out of there,

So I can race home, splash some water on my face and take a deep breath,
Because that was only two hours and there's still twenty two left.
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28. Take A Step Back

Things sometimes get to be too much. Just remember this.
- By Aaron Stone
- Published by Family Friend Poems October 2017 with permission of the Author.
Calming Poem For Overcoming Anxiety

Take a step back,
Learn how to breathe.
Take a step back
And just be.

Take a step back,
Learn how to breathe.
Take a step back
And just be.
Observe in silence.
Take things in.
Despite what's goes on,
Trust what's within.
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29. We Couldn't See

I was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1996. In the last 21 years I was told I had a new disorder every couple of years, despite the fact that my problems have been pretty consistent. Depression and anxiety were at the heart of everything, and they only got worse with age. Sometimes when we can't deal with things, we find someone who can, whether we realize it or not.
- By Brian E Pardee
- Published by Family Friend Poems September 2017 with permission of the Author.
Dissociative Identity Disorder

Brian and I were polar opposites; he was loud and wild while I was more quiet and tame.
Despite our differences, both family and friends said we often looked and acted exactly the same.

I never understood it. My skin was unremarkable, nothing more than the average bruise.

Brian and I were polar opposites; he was loud and wild while I was more quiet and tame.
Despite our differences, both family and friends said we often looked and acted exactly the same.

I never understood it. My skin was unremarkable, nothing more than the average bruise.
Parts of Brian were mutilated. Years later he covered half his upper body with tattoos.

We were friends as long as we could remember. We were both trapped in a world we viewed as a prison.
We even grew to like the same type of girls. In our twenties we even dated two of the same women.

Brian and I met in Queens in the 1980s, both turned 21 in Ohio and toasted with our first beers.
I stayed in Ohio while Brian moved back to New Jersey for a number of years.

I had a normal life filled with normal experiences, Brian was much different.
I always made the attempt to be social, whereas Brian preferred to stay distant.

He introduced me to this little schizophrenic girl. He said she represents what he didn't think was real.
It was a few days after, he called me telling me he had become too numb to feel.

I gave Brian advice. I told him to move back to Jersey because you can't achieve what you don't try.
Brian did. When he came back, he told me when you lose the ability to feel you lose the ability to cry.

I lived a pretty normal life. I eventually found peace, although it took a while.
Brian only saw pain. He said the top of his cheeks hurt when he used to try to smile.

Even Brian didn't know when things changed, but he knew when his health went downhill.
The medication caused weight gain and disease. In the psychiatric world, hope is in the form of a pill.

I started to see Brian a lot more. Unforeseen stress changed his personality drastically.
I even started to see Brian different. It's as if he lived in a different galaxy.

Brian's mood swings became unbearable. He lost all but a few friends.
Brian can't see his own problems, but I assured him I'll be here til the end.

I often wonder what changed in him that made him change.
Was he made this way by a person, or is part of his brain just deranged?

I see scenarios where Brian would be happy. Why can't he?
There really is hope outside of those pills. Why can't he see?

Brian's tattoos started to reflect themes of distrust and betrayal.
Brian said he'd talk about his wanting to die more often, but he didn't want to seem ungrateful.

I knew human beings had good in them. Brian knew they did not.
I want to help people. Brian wants to watch your lying corpse rot.

I told Brian these doctors mean it when they swear to do no harm.
Brian said, "That ignorance is why I stabbed you in the arm."

Neither one of us could agree, because neither one of us could see
That there never was a "we," that I was Brian, and Brian was me.
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30. Dear Mom

This poem is coming right from the heart. As a child, my mother had bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, which impacted my siblings and my life. There was constant upheaval and unstable lifestyles. I had to deal with being homeless, taking care of my 4 younger siblings, and moving around a lot (7 schools in 5 years). At the age of 13 my mom left us and forgot about her kids completely, leaving us to pick up the pieces.
- By Jonah
- Published by Family Friend Poems February 2017 with permission of the Author.
Poem About A Mentally Ill Mother Who Abandons Her Children

Dear Mom,
Have you forgotten?

Sitting, waiting, hoping

Dear Mom,
Have you forgotten?

Sitting, waiting, hoping

Where did you go, Mom?
Did I do something wrong?

Lost, lonely, sad

Are you really gone, Mom?
I waited...
I'm with my grandparents now, Mom.
I have a room now.
Are you there, Mom?
Can you hear me?

Tired, crushed, defeated

Started school again.
It's my birthday, Mom!
It's okay, I don't need a birthday card.

Broken, lacking, sorrowful

Broke an arm, Mom.
Got a school solo.
Are you happy?

Undefined, sinking, heartbroken

Went to prom, Mom.
Had my first kiss!
Do you miss us, Mom?

Warped, torn, tangled

You're really gone now.
Why?
I'm moving on now, Mom.
I miss you.
Goodbye.

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31. Now You've Recovered

I have written a poem about recovery from mental illness. It touches upon the fact that someone who has recovered is now living a brand new life, and they must answer the question, "Now that you've recovered, what will you do?"

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- By Charles A Cino
- Published by Family Friend Poems November 2016 with permission of the Author.
Inspiring Poem On Starting Life After Mental Illness

When you recover, what will you do?
When you recover, will you still be you?
Will you be stronger, will you be new,
When you recover from what you've been through?

When you recover, what will you do?
When you recover, will you still be you?
Will you be stronger, will you be new,
When you recover from what you've been through?

Can life get better than it was before?
Will you realize your dreams and improve your score?
Will people still remember your name,
Or will they forget you because they're ashamed?

Life in recovery may not be the same.
The rules may have changed in this brand new game.
You can pick up the pieces and make a new start,
And courage and hope keep you from falling apart.

The world all around you seems different and changed.
Things that once were now seem out of range,
But you can recapture your life and fulfill
The dreams that were lost when you took ill.

The journey to wellness takes time and is long,
And those that get well are exceptionally strong.
For depression can kill, but you have survived.
Your goal to recover has kept you alive.

Now you're recovered, what will you do?
You suffered and conquered and saw it through.
Back from the black and abyss of despair,
It is time to move on; it is time to care.
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32. Finding Peace

I am a veteran of the Iraq war. I received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. I was diagnosed with PTSD after my return and have been struggling with it every sense. I wrote this just to try and make people understand.
- By John Baumgartner
- Published by Family Friend Poems October 2016 with permission of the Author.
The Effects Of PTSD

Turmoil covers my eyes and my heart.
It never leaves me in day or dark.
Combat changed me to this way.
Hate and death seem to be with me to stay.

Turmoil covers my eyes and my heart.
It never leaves me in day or dark.
Combat changed me to this way.
Hate and death seem to be with me to stay.
I yearn for peace for just a little while
To free my soul from further trial.
The faces of death haunt my dreams.
I pray for peace from all these things.
God, take me home if it is the only way.
Please give peace for just a day.
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33. Little Schizophrenic Girl

I've been to the mental hospital on five different occasions. I believe the third or fourth time I met the girl I wrote this poem about. I'm not sure we ever spoke verbally, but like those of us who are mentally ill, her eyes communicated what her voice could not.
- By Brian E Pardee
- Published by Family Friend Poems September 2016 with permission of the Author.
A Girl I Met At The Mental Hospital

Little Schizophrenic Girl, heavily medicated so she can't feel the pain.
She will never leave that hospital, never again feel snow or rain.

Tears rolled down my cheek the very first time I looked into her blue eyes.

Little Schizophrenic Girl, heavily medicated so she can't feel the pain.
She will never leave that hospital, never again feel snow or rain.

Tears rolled down my cheek the very first time I looked into her blue eyes.
3 a.m. she's in the hallway hugging an old woman while she cries.

The mental hospital is a holding cell for God's rejects,
A place you will feel nothing but sadness and neglect.

Only 17 years old, a beautiful young girl so sweet and innocent,
Doing life for a crime she didn't commit, there was no sin committed to repent.

Just the way things are, that was 11 years ago and it still hurts me.
A wonderful heart with a tortured mind, something I wish I didn't see.

It still weighs heavy on my heart, it still makes me cry.
I can't forget the sadness I felt the first time I looked into her glassy eyes.

I'm not sure she knew where she was, never be someone's girlfriend or wife,
'Cause she'll never leave that wing of the mental hospital; she'll never experience life.

How can the hospital workers have the strength to do that job?
They're trying to help the cursed, while other lazy people steal and rob.

She barely ate, the medication took away her sense of taste.
I don't think she even knew where she was; counseling sessions were a waste.

A living, breathing, caring heart, a mind with no thoughts like she's brain dead.
The emotions were unbearable, never comprehended a word she said.

Don't worry, you'll feel bliss in heaven, because you were tortured in this world.
I'm still praying for you, Little Schizophrenic Girl.
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34. Master Of Disguise

I have been struggling with depression, self-harm, anxiety, and eating disorders, so I turned to writing poetry to help me. This poem is about disguising my problems while wanting someone to notice/care.
- By Lkglauren
- Published by Family Friend Poems May 2016 with permission of the Author.
Poem About Hiding Depression And Eating Disorders

She is skillful at deceiving.
No one even has a clue.
Her pretty words are weaving
Throughout the souls of me and you,

She is skillful at deceiving.
No one even has a clue.
Her pretty words are weaving
Throughout the souls of me and you,
But in the late parts of the evening,
When her mind is way past due,
The skin of hers starts bleeding
And her act becomes askew.
Her eyes are actually pleading,
Saying her words aren't always true,
And her heart is really needing
Life to begin anew.
So if at night you see her sneaking,
Hold her till the morning's hue,
Because her heart is barely beating,
And she doesn't know if she'll make it through.
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35. Signed, Your Mind

I have been struggling with depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder for about a year and a half now. My poem is from the point of view of your mind, because with these mental illnesses, you're in constant battles with what's going on in your head. I want to spread awareness and erase the stigma attached to mental illness.

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- By Emma
- Published by Family Friend Poems December 2015 with permission of the Author.
Poem About Anxiety And Panic Disorder

Get dressed, love.
You're going to be late.
You look at yourself in the mirror,
The one you really hate.

Get dressed, love.
You're going to be late.
You look at yourself in the mirror,
The one you really hate.

Put it down, love.
It's caused you so much pain.
You're going to do damage.
You don't want to be called insane.

Stand up, love.
Your tears make you weak.
Wipe off that black mascara,
Proof of sadness upon your cheek.

Take your pills, love.
You must try your very best.
Forget about your dizzy spells,
The tightening in your chest.

Chin up, love.
No one can know your thoughts.
You must act like you're happy
While your heart just sits and rots.

Smile a little, love.
Let me see those pearly whites.
No one has to know
What you thought about all those nights.

Breathe for me, love.
Your pain won't be forever.
Take my hand, and I'll take yours.
We'll get through this together.
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36. Anxiety

I'm 20 years old and have been suffering from anxiety and social anxiety for seven years. It has affected my life in such a way that I cannot make friends, drive, or have a job. I graduated home school in 2012 because public school was just too much for me. Every day I struggle to date, I struggle to breathe, I struggle to have a life beyond the bed and couch. I take Prozac, and I see a therapist, but sometimes even their motivation isn't enough.
- By Kristal McDolgle
- Published by Family Friend Poems September 2015 with permission of the Author.
Poem About Social Anxiety

Anxiety,
I'm miserable because of you,
making plans and not following through.

Anxiety,
I'm miserable because of you,
making plans and not following through.

You have me feeling as though I am alone.
I don't feel safe unless I'm at home.

I see a stranger on the street,
want to say hi but too scared to speak.

What are they staring at?
Something must be wrong...
Is there a stain on my shirt?
Is my nose too long?

I'm shaking, find an exit, I must retreat!
Here they come! Here they come!
Quick, I must flee!

People keep telling me that I am fine
but I am not,
not in my mind.

A lump in my throat makes it so hard to swallow.
Pains in my chest consume me with sorrow.
I lay awake, restless, hoping maybe,
just maybe this will all be gone
tomorrow.
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I actually struggle with minor social anxiety and this really is how it is. I have scars on my arm from where I scratched it off in a panic attack about people looking at me. To be honest,...

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37. Life Is An Illusion

Suicide has always been a haunting ghost in my mind. An easy way out or great escape? I have battled the fight most of my life. I actually wrote this after cutting my wrist in a mental hospital. But it has become one of my favorites. Mainly because I was willing to take my last breath but instead was given more life. It isn't intended to promote suicide but to give insight into the mind of someone who has contemplated it. Good vs evil. Heaven and hell. Giving up or pushing forward.
- By Trisha
- Published by Family Friend Poems July 2015 with permission of the Author.
Poem About Giving Up Or Pushing Forward

Surrounded by people yet all alone
Trapped within this solitary zone
A world where chaos and hate overtake
Every bit of happiness that may try to escape

Surrounded by people yet all alone
Trapped within this solitary zone
A world where chaos and hate overtake
Every bit of happiness that may try to escape
Laughter and smiles never seem to last
Because I am haunted by memories of my past
Running the distance with nowhere to go
These are the days of my life, a Broadway show
Screaming for help, does anyone hear
The demons of death are coming so near
Echoes in my head tormenting me all day long
Breaking the woman who was once very strong
What does serenity mean anyway
Is it the swag in my step or just the words I say
Deep rooted evil no time for a soul mate
Wondering why joy is always a day late
Suicide is the easy answer many times I've tried
Happiness seems to be the tears I have cried
Unable to distinguish what's real from what's fiction
Hope is an illusion, an optimist's prediction
What will it take to get me right
A visit from the devil on a lonely night
Angels prepare to battle and take a stand
To remind me of their holy land
When I want to give up, they push for me to be strong
In my head I hear their harmonious song
A tranquil state I now find myself
Dealing with the hand in which I was dealt
Good vs evil, what does it really mean
Am I dirty when I appear to be clean
Life is an illusion a constant mind trick on me
Who knows what my fate will be
Heaven and hell are both fair game
Will I succumb to peace or fall down in shame
Surrounded by people yet all alone
Trapped within this solitary zone
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38. Worry Is The Game

This is my daily struggle. It's really quite unbearable.
- By Tiff W
- Published by Family Friend Poems April 2015 with permission of the Author.
Poem About Struggling With Anxiety

I sit here and feel so alone.
Things in my mind broken.
Home doesn't feel like home.

I sit here and feel so alone.
Things in my mind broken.
Home doesn't feel like home.

The thoughts creep in,
The symptoms come too.
When this happens,
I don't know what to do.

My heart races,
I feel so strange.
Anxiety is the word.
Worry is the game.

Life seems so unfair.
People places and things
Seem like they're not there.

I feel unreal,
I feel so alone.
Fear is my enemy,
The enemy is the unknown.

My life was perfect,
Just a simple girl.
Things got changed.
I entered the worry world.

I can't sleep.
Sometimes I wanna die.
I look around the room.
I find a place to cry.

Trapped in my mind,
Nowhere to go.
Worry is in there.
It took the show.

Love is no longer an essence.
Money doesn't matter.
Sometimes all I want to do
Is just jump and splatter.

Why does this happen to me?
Guess I'll never know.
I pray for help.
I pray for somewhere to go.

I want it to stop,
Go to someone else.
Sacrificing life,
Trying not to dwell.
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This hit deeply. I suffer from so many mental health problems. I seem to be declining now. I'm lower than I have ever been. This poem put it in perspective and words I can't figure out that I...

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39. Broken

Suffering from PTSD can be difficult at times. It takes a special kind of person to understand how to handle someone who tends to fall into "a dark place" and re-lives traumatic experiences. Lucky for me, I found that person almost 7 years ago and am so grateful to have him at my side when I need him the most. Thank you for loving me and never feeling that I'm just too broken!
- By Tonya
- Published by Family Friend Poems April 2015 with permission of the Author.
Poem About Loving Someone With PTSD

If I turned around and walked away, would you notice I'm gone?
Would you even care?
When you look at me, do you see the smile on my face,
Or do you see the tears I fight to hold inside?

If I turned around and walked away, would you notice I'm gone?
Would you even care?
When you look at me, do you see the smile on my face,
Or do you see the tears I fight to hold inside?
Do you see a strong, willful woman I portray,
Or the scared little girl who never quite goes away?
If I broke down and lost all control,
Would you know how to handle me,
Would you hold me 'til I stop shaking,
Kiss away all of my tears?
Would you know how to lift me up
From a place far below recognition?
You see a sexy, loving woman,
But I'm so much more.
I'm sad,
I'm lonely,
I'm unpredictable,
I'm broken,
I'm irrational,
I'm complicated.
You say you want me,
But you don't even know.
You see who I let you see,
Who I've always let you see,
But what about the real me,
The everyday me?
The girl who never seems to get anything right
The one who could break down at any given moment
And have no clue why?
I try so hard to fight away my doubts.
For a while they bury themselves away,
So far away that I think they're gone forever,
But I guess nothing lasts forever,
Because the pain and tears always find their way back to me.
Can you handle me,
Can you handle ALL of me?
Am I worth the time?
Do you really love me enough
To stand by me through all my troubles,
Or am I just too broken for you?
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Beautifully written right from the heart. Carry on telling people how you feel; don't keep things bottled up like my son did. Unfortunately, he's no longer with us. See my poem, "Jonathan's...

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40. Internal War

This poem is very personal to me and was inspired by the everyday struggles of having a mental illness, specifically anxiety and depression. Having worked in mental hospitals, I know I am not alone in this. Every day is a battle, but every day is also a win to be proud of.
- By Laura Campbell
- Published by Family Friend Poems June 2014 with permission of the Author.
The Everyday Struggle With Mental Illness

Every day is war to me,
A struggle to obtain reality.
A shower, my make-up, putting on my shoes.
It's hard to see the point some days,

Every day is war to me,
A struggle to obtain reality.
A shower, my make-up, putting on my shoes.
It's hard to see the point some days,
And no one has a clue.

I have been deemed so many things
By those who wouldn't know.
High maintenance, a worrier,
A girl putting on a show.

I've been trained to feel unworthy,
Ugly and hard to love.
The pills, they make me tired,
But I get by just enough.

Sometimes I feel that I'm one mistake away
From losing all I've suffered for.
While every day is a success,
I am tired of my war.
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I think this poem was a very good insight into what it is like to have anxiety, I am currently having an attack now and it is nice to have proof that I am not alone. Most of my friends don't...

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21 - 40 of 53

Mental Illness Poems - Page 2

21. Living With OCD

I lived with depression and OCD for a few years, and during that time I was suicidal. Now I'm free from it. It still lives in me, but it's not in control of me. I thought I'd write a poem for people to understand just a little bit of how OCD works on the mind.

22. Another Breakdown

This poem is about breaking down after you hold onto pain for way too long and then it finally just escapes you.

23. Breathe

This poem is about my experience with anxiety and how I am still trying to breathe and work through the hard times. I know there are people out there with experiences like mine, and I hope this poem will help people know they are not alone.

24. I'll Fight For Her

This poem was inspired by my girlfriend. She has a disorder called borderline personality disorder, and sometimes seeing eye to eye can be hard, but no one will ever see her the way I do.

25. Music Of Wakefulness

26. Baby Blues

27. 2 Hours

28. Take A Step Back

Things sometimes get to be too much. Just remember this.

29. We Couldn't See

30. Dear Mom

31. Now You've Recovered

I have written a poem about recovery from mental illness. It touches upon the fact that someone who has recovered is now living a brand new life, and they must answer the question, "Now that you've recovered, what will you do?"

32. Finding Peace

I am a veteran of the Iraq war. I received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. I was diagnosed with PTSD after my return and have been struggling with it every sense. I wrote this just to try and make people understand.

33. Little Schizophrenic Girl

I've been to the mental hospital on five different occasions. I believe the third or fourth time I met the girl I wrote this poem about. I'm not sure we ever spoke verbally, but like those of us who are mentally ill, her eyes communicated what her voice could not.

34. Master Of Disguise

I have been struggling with depression, self-harm, anxiety, and eating disorders, so I turned to writing poetry to help me. This poem is about disguising my problems while wanting someone to notice/care.

35. Signed, Your Mind

36. Anxiety

37. Life Is An Illusion

38. Worry Is The Game

This is my daily struggle. It's really quite unbearable.

39. Broken

40. Internal War

This poem is very personal to me and was inspired by the everyday struggles of having a mental illness, specifically anxiety and depression. Having worked in mental hospitals, I know I am not alone in this. Every day is a battle, but every day is also a win to be proud of.