Mental Illness Poems - Page 2

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21. Something Lost

Depression, anxiety and mind a mess
- By Amar Qamar
- Published by Family Friend Poems July 2011 with permission of the Author.
Depression And Anxiety

I had it once, now it's gone
Like a knot it's been undone
Was once so tight, now so slack
Happy times I wish I could have back

I had it once, now it's gone
Like a knot it's been undone
Was once so tight, now so slack
Happy times I wish I could have back
I sit a home, and feel so lonely
It'll be great if that was all, if only...
Zombie on the outside, the living dead
But so many questions floating around my head
Confusions rains down, it pours
Pandora's Box, I've opened the doors
No sign of anyone who can help
No sense of feelings or of myself
Where I can find the answers
Who am I? What am I?
Am I a dream? Or am I the dreamer?
Am I a thought? Or a complex computer,
How do my thoughts start? What makes them end?
What makes me do this? What makes me do that?
I know I overanalyze, I can't help it
Thinking and gazing into space, as I sit
Why can't I accept the wisdom of those around
Not letting myself accept the answers I've found
I want to free myself from my mind
And not just to pretend
Everything's okay everything's fine
I want to be NORMAL... When it's going to end....

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22. My Not-Addiction

For a really long time, 2 years ago, I felt like no matter what I did, it was never good enough. Those girls still made fun of me. To cope with that, I stopped eating. I wanted to be thin enough, pretty enough, perfect enough. But I realized I was only hurting myself. It was never a full-blown addiction, but it still hurt like one. Anorexia was never something I thought I'd have to deal with, but I overcame it, and I hope all girls realize that the control, although nice to have, isn't worth it.
- By Sydney W.
- Published by Family Friend Poems February 2014 with permission of the Author.
Overcoming Anorexia

It's not an addiction,
Really it's not.
But that mirror,
It's a source of affliction.

It's not an addiction,
Really it's not.
But that mirror,
It's a source of affliction.

Not long ago,
I could look in that mirror
And see nothing wrong at all,
But now I've got nothing to show.

The pressure to be perfect,
It tears away at my body.
At first it looked like nothing,
But it had a side effect.

I wanted to be one of them,
One of those girls everyone envied.
But the price to pay was my body,
Not a small pretty diamond gem.

It was never enough,
No matter what I did.
The skipped meals
Turned my image rough.

But will it ever be worth it?
I stare and ask myself.
My image in the mirror,
Kept begging just to quit.

It became a nightly thing,
Standing on that scale.
And I was pleased to see
That the pounds kept dropping.

My hair was starting to thin.
My bones began to show.
Everything was different.
The desire was starting to win.

The pain I was putting myself through,
The constant suffering,
Everything was just a blur,
But nobody ever knew.

I don't starve anymore,
But I could if I tried.
It was a part of my life,
Now just a closed door.

It's not an addiction,
Really, it's not.
But that mirror,
It's a source of affliction.
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I have also struggled with my eating, and I loved the way you depicted anorexia through your imagery. I loved your stanzas about the scales and the mirror. With an eating disorder, no matter...

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23. 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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I understand how you feel. It's really sad when people don't notice. Sometimes, I need a hug, but there's no one to give me the hug, so, I hug myself and tell myself it's going to be...

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24. Panic

I have suffered acute panic attacks. I've been wanting to write a descriptive poem, but have found it very hard to put into words.
- By Evangeline King
- Published by Family Friend Poems January 3, 2023 with permission of the Author.
Poem About What A Panic Attack Feels Like

One thousands beats per second
It hammers ‘gainst my chest
I feel it in my temples
Tonight there’ll be no rest

One thousands beats per second
It hammers ‘gainst my chest
I feel it in my temples
Tonight there’ll be no rest

Tortured is the breathing
Fast and shallow til it’s gone
Air that’s so elusive
In this fight to fill my lungs

A mind out of control
Thoughts will not be still
People think I’m crazy
Illusions can be real

Floating round in vertigo
Raw throat can’t make a sound
Get me off this ride!
The world keeps spinning round

Tiny little tremors
Turn to quakes beneath my skin
Every limb is shaking
It seems there’ll be no end

Then here comes the thoughts
Oh, the thoughts are just a beast!
Tumors, cancer, heart-attack
On lies this mind will feast

It’s when every little ache
And every little pain
Is blown out of proportion
Courtesy of my brain

I crawl into my shell awhile
Until this horror ends
Until the monster lets me go…
In panic’s grip again
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25. 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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26. Panic Disorder

Just wrote how I felt when I have a panic attack.
- By Brittany
- Published by Family Friend Poems July 2011 with permission of the Author.
Tightness in my chest.
I can't breathe.
The only time I can escape
is when I fall asleep.

Tightness in my chest.
I can't breathe.
The only time I can escape
is when I fall asleep.

Constant nausea,
constant fear.
How did this happen,
knowing I'm safe here?

It's a constant worry
another will strike.
I worry about it all the time.
It makes me lose my appetite.

My sight darkens,
my life flashes.
My worries control my thoughts,
my heart crashes and burns to ashes.

You have no idea what it's like
to live one day in my shoes.
Maybe if you did,
you wouldn't judge me as you do.
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I am 13 years old, but I've gone through so much, well I believe I have at least. All my life I've grown up with harsh punishments, including intense beatings using belts, bamboo, and my...

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27. Uninvited Guest

Anyone who has suffered from depression will understand this poem. I urge you to fight. There IS a light at the end of the tunnel.
- By Vicky
- Published by Family Friend Poems October 2007 with permission of the Author.
I'm feeling broken down, my body aches
My heart, it bleeds from past mistakes
Can't stop the tears; they fall like rain
The words are spinning 'round my brain

I'm feeling broken down, my body aches
My heart, it bleeds from past mistakes
Can't stop the tears; they fall like rain
The words are spinning 'round my brain
So scared and feeling so alone
The coldness fills my every bone
No food, no sleep, can't think at all
Each way I turn, another wall
This darkness haunts my very soul
My world seems dead; I've lost control
The only weapon is my pen
Depression has moved in again
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The poet has penned down his pains in a truly pictorial ways that draws the picture of his mental condition of broken heart in the mind of the readers.

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28. 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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29. 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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30. Another Trigger

Anxiety can be debilitating and is on the rise. This poem is dedicated to my daughter. Her struggle is real but thankfully she is getting better.
- By Jim D. Prime
- Published by Family Friend Poems December 2020 with permission of the Author.
Living With Anxiety

A storm is coming, my chest is tightening and it's hard to breathe.
Like a giant noose, life is smothering me.
I would do anything to not feel this pain.
Make it stop, I want to laugh again.

A storm is coming, my chest is tightening and it's hard to breathe.
Like a giant noose, life is smothering me.
I would do anything to not feel this pain.
Make it stop, I want to laugh again.

The thought of being scared is so frightening.
Another trigger, it's happening again; is everyone watching?
Everything matters, nothing matters, my life will be ruined again.
Paralyzed, afraid to move, the walls are closing in.

Everyone has disappeared, they think I don't care.
Truth is I don't want to be alone; I am so scared.
Please be patient, I know I can be withdrawn.
I need all of you more than ever; I'm not really gone.

Grab my hand, I can feel the ground; please don't let go.
Having you with me helps more than you will ever know.
Let me talk, let me be silent, listen either way.
Thank you for understanding; I think I can make it another day
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31. 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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32. 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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33. The Ruse

No one can truly understand depression unless you either live with it or love someone who lives with it. This poem is dedicated to my beautiful daughter who has been suffering from depression for so long I don't remember when she wasn't depressed. All I can do is try and love her through her pain...
- By Annabel Sheila
- Published by Family Friend Poems July 2008 with permission of the Author.
Poem Unmasking The Hidden Struggle Of Depression

She's beauty, style, poise and grace,
At least she appears to be.
But no one knows the girl who hides
Behind the face they see.

She's beauty, style, poise and grace,
At least she appears to be.
But no one knows the girl who hides
Behind the face they see.

Her self-esteem is all but gone,
Of her ego there's barely a trace.
There's so much pain behind the mask
She wears upon her face.

Depression has controlled her life
With far too many tears.
Her smile is fake; she's good at it;
She's been doing it for years.

The cover is what attracts us
To the story within the book.
And she's afraid that without the ruse,
No one would bother to look.
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I myself have a daughter that is now going to be 26 in a little over a month. She doesn't leave the house at all, she comes to my house and to her Dr's appointments but not by choice. They...

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34. 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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35. 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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36. 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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This is exactly how I feel. I have always suffered with mental health issues, but when my partner left me last year, I fell to pieces. Even more than a year on, I struggle every day with...

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37. Unclear

This poem was written during my rock bottom. I was going through a divorce and dealing with the death of my sister. I did not see a light at the end of the tunnel. I lost myself in the midst of the emotional chaos.
- By Catherine Lamberton
- Published by Family Friend Poems May 2020 with permission of the Author.
Feeling Lost And Unsure Of Who You Are

Never knowing,
Always seeking
happiness and approval,
even the words I am speaking.

Never knowing,
Always seeking
happiness and approval,
even the words I am speaking.

Constantly doubting
my choices, my actions.
Succumbing to fixes,
for temporary satisfaction.

Overwhelming anxiety,
illuminated by fear,
controlling my life.
Who I'm becoming is unclear.
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For those who are unfamiliar with mental illness in all its varied forms, this is a good place to start sharing Catherine, as it's no longer a marginal disease. My son introduced me 20 years...

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38. The Room Of My Life

Anne Sexton is a famous poet known for writing about challenging topics, often expressing despair in her work. In the poem "Room of Life," she reveals the troubled life she led through vivid imagery, including objects that seem to take on a life of their own. Sexton sees each object in her room as a reflection of her own life, including the books, the typewriter, the phone, and even the windows. She feeds both the world outside and her own inner world, but she struggles to find meaning in her existence.

Famous Poem
- By Anne Sexton
Here,
in the room of my life
the objects keep changing.
Ashtrays to cry into,

Here,
in the room of my life
the objects keep changing.
Ashtrays to cry into,
the suffering brother of the wood walls,
the forty-eight keys of the typewriter
each an eyeball that is never shut,
the books, each a contestant in a beauty contest,
the black chair, a dog coffin made of Naugahyde,
the sockets on the wall
waiting like a cave of bees,
the gold rug
a conversation of heels and toes,
the fireplace
a knife waiting for someone to pick it up,
the sofa, exhausted with the exertion of a whore,
the phone
two flowers taking root in its crotch,
the doors
opening and closing like sea clams,
the lights
poking at me,
lighting up both the soil and the laugh.
The windows,
the starving windows
that drive the trees like nails into my heart.
Each day I feed the world out there
although birds explode
right and left.
I feed the world in here too,
offering the desk puppy biscuits.
However, nothing is just what it seems to be.
My objects dream and wear new costumes,
compelled to, it seems, by all the words in my hands
and the sea that bangs in my throat.
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39. The Fire

I cope with my anxiety and depression by writing. Enjoy.
- By Sarah Gray
- Published by Family Friend Poems February 2019 with permission of the Author.
Poem About Anxiety

The fire that rages
from within my rib cage is
weakening the bones
that should make me strong.

The fire that rages
from within my rib cage is
weakening the bones
that should make me strong.
The feeling creeps for every dark place.
It fills up my head; it's invading my space.
It's melting me from inside; I think I'm burning up.
I can't breathe or move or talk. I'm hopelessly stuck.
As people pass by, they give no second glance.
I cry out for help; this is my chance.
The fire claws at my throat; it's burning my tongue.
I think it's too late for help; the damage is done.
I down some water, which brings calmness and peace.
The fire has settled for a minute, at least.
Eventually it's burning as hot as before.
The fire rages back up from my very core.
The fire inside is one you can't see.
The fire inside, it's my anxiety.
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40. Life Behind The Mask

I have suffered from a mental illness for a long time after suffering abuse as a child. My life hasn't been easy and neither has my battle with my illness. I've written this poem, as I know a lot of people suffering with mental illness will be able to relate. I want people to know they are not alone and to spread awareness of something that is still quite a taboo subject. For us suffering, the struggle is real.
Warning - this poem references self-harm/suicide attempts.
- By Louise
- Published by Family Friend Poems June 2020 with permission of the Author.
The Struggle Of Living With Mental Illness

Deep inside her mind,
Behind a picture-perfect smile,
Lies a desolate, lonely place
She hasn't visited for a while.

Deep inside her mind,
Behind a picture-perfect smile,
Lies a desolate, lonely place
She hasn't visited for a while.

A place of worst nightmares
Where her demons lie in wait.
Their armour made of trauma,
memories she cannot shake.

Last time she was trapped there,
Equipped with razors and a knife,
She overdosed on tablets
And almost took her life.

For in this place there is no daylight,
And all her hope is gone.
Her eyes blind to any joy,
Even her own daughter and little son.

Nobody knows her struggles.
If only they would ask.
She didn't have to fight this alone
And hide behind a mask.

But she found the strength to leave
And journey onto the path to light,
Finding her hope along the way
While she regained her sight.

And it's sad, for she had done well
She had already made it so far.
Months with no self-injury.
Her cuts reduced to scars.

The clouds began to darken.
Harsh words pushing her back.
The light and hope began to dim
As she went backwards along the path.

And she tried so hard to fight,
To keep going forward, not back,
But the harsh words kept coming
As she put back on her mask.

Her fear began to return
As that dark place came into sight.
Her strength weakened by the day.
She was once again losing her fight.

And she didn't know how to stop it.
Her energy plummeted to the ground.
She screamed and shouted for help,
But nobody heard a sound.

She's now on the edge of the dark,
Again holding the razors and knife.
Please, someone help her; she's scared.
She doesn't want to lose her life.
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21 - 40 of 53

Mental Illness Poems - Page 2

21. Something Lost

Depression, anxiety and mind a mess

22. My Not-Addiction

23. 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.

24. Panic

I have suffered acute panic attacks. I've been wanting to write a descriptive poem, but have found it very hard to put into words.

25. 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.

26. Panic Disorder

Just wrote how I felt when I have a panic attack.

27. Uninvited Guest

Anyone who has suffered from depression will understand this poem. I urge you to fight. There IS a light at the end of the tunnel.

28. Anxiety

29. Another Breakdown

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

30. Another Trigger

Anxiety can be debilitating and is on the rise. This poem is dedicated to my daughter. Her struggle is real but thankfully she is getting better.

31. 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.

32. Dear Mom

33. The Ruse

34. 2 Hours

35. Worry Is The Game

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

36. Baby Blues

37. Unclear

This poem was written during my rock bottom. I was going through a divorce and dealing with the death of my sister. I did not see a light at the end of the tunnel. I lost myself in the midst of the emotional chaos.

38. The Room Of My Life

39. The Fire

I cope with my anxiety and depression by writing. Enjoy.

40. Life Behind The Mask