Poetry In Motion My Life With A Mental Illness

The life of a poet with a mental illness.

A remarkable Pocket Poets anthology of poems from around the world and across the centuries about illness and healing, both physical and spiritual. From ancient Greece and Rome up to the present moment, poets have responded with sensitivity and insight to the troubles of the human body and mind. Poems of Healing gathers a treasury of such poems, tracing the many possible journeys of physical and spiritual illness, injury, and recovery, from John Donne’s “Hymne to God My God, In My Sicknesse” and Emily Dickinson’s “The Soul has Bandaged moments” to Eavan Boland’s “Anorexic,” from W.H. Auden’s “Miss Gee” to Lucille Clifton’s “Cancer,” and from D.H. Lawrence’s “The Ship of Death” to Rafael Campo’s “Antidote” and Seamus Heaney’s “Miracle.” Here are poems from around the world, by Sappho, Milton, Baudelaire, Longfellow, Cavafy, and Omar Khayyam; by Stevens, Lowell, and Plath; by Zbigniew Herbert, Louise Bogan, Yehuda Amichai, Mark Strand, and Natalia Toledo. Messages of hope in the midst of pain—in such moving poems as Adam Zagajewski’s “Try to Praise the Mutilated World,” George Herbert’s “The Flower,” Wisława Szymborska’s “The End and the Beginning,” Gwendolyn Brooks’ “when you have forgotten Sunday: the love story” and Stevie Smith’s “Away, Melancholy”—make this the perfect gift to accompany anyone on a journey of healing. Everyman's Library pursues the highest production standards, printing on acid-free cream-colored paper, with full-cloth cases with two-color foil stamping, decorative endpapers, silk ribbon markers, European-style half-round spines, and a full-color illustrated jacket.

In this collection of poetry, individuals living with mental illness convey in an intimate, evocative and vivid style their longing for acceptance, meaning and recovery. The therapeutic benefits for the mentally ill writing poetically is a journey of self-discovery and the writing process organizes and clarifies their situation in life. For the mentally ill, writing poetically by using imagery and metaphor is a safe passage to reclaim who one was before the illness emerged. The metaphor relies on an analogy or symbol to create new meaning by expanding the imaginative mind that ultimately pushes one into a new reality that generates insight. The metaphor is fascinating because of its power to silently express a complete picture in an instant. Individuals living with symptoms of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder are a vessel of truth and writing poetically about suffering transforms that truth in a way that makes it meaningful and amenable to healing. What is dormant, and undoubtedly shameful to disclose is awakened, and although it describes the limitations the illness imposes in their lives, it energizes one to act in some way to heal the pain, overcome and defeat ongoing devaluation, loneliness, stigmatization and alienation. In the end, it is hope that gives life meaning and sustains faith for the good life. Without hope, one lives in despair and futility. Meaning gives one the strength to overcome. The evocative nature of poetry transforms silence, alienation and insignificance to sound. The mentally ill live in their safe, beautiful, intimate and private world. The written word-- the poem, allows one to share this experience in a public forum for others to identify with and ultimately connect them to the larger world to reduce alienation and increase integration. At some level, the healthy mind will invariably understand the depth of suffering and through empathy, the ability to take the role of the other, appreciate and render compassion to the mentally ill.

Mental Health, Poetry, and I is a compilation of original poems, which delivers an unsparing view on trials and tribulations we all experience, including mental health issues, depression, anxiety, love, life, and loss. The unforgiving delivery of the poetry grants a unique insight into the effects of mental health issues on individuals and their relationships.

Howard Moon has survived two major strokes that left his brain shattered. These poems reflect his experiences and thoughts about living with mental illness and healing his damaged and battered brain. The poems are based on real life experiences and reflect the daily struggles he faces and how he overcomes those struggles. Living with a mental illness and living with a shattered brain is a challenge - but it is a challenge that can be overcome. It is possible to live a happy and full life despite mental illness. Also title - Poems From A Shattered Brain.

Howard Moon has survived two major strokes that left his brain shattered. These poems reflect his experiences and thoughts about living with mental illness and healing his damaged and battered brain. The poems are based on real life experiences and reflect the daily struggles he faces and how he overcomes those struggles. Living with a mental illness and living with a shattered brain is a challenge - but it is a challenge that can be overcome. It is possible to live a happy and full life despite mental illness. Howard is a brain injury survivor and speaks at conferences in Florida about surviving and living with a brain injury (TBI). He also speaks at disability conferences about living with a disability and mental illness.

Loss X Mental Illness is a collection of poems written by Aariona Harris during one of the most emotionally and mentally challenging times of her life. The goal with these poems was to offer solidarity to other readers who may go through something similar and ensure they knew they were not alone. While doing so Harris addressed her grief and to expel all the feelings associated with it, with the emotional reactions caused by her diagnoses. What reviewers say: There were moments reading this when I could see the 13 year old I was sure would be a lawyer, throwing out a witty retort to any would be offensive adult, and there were times I saw the young woman clinging desperately to a hand she would never get to hold again, which remains the single most heartbreaking thing I have ever witnessed. Her mother was a huge fan of poetry, and meaningful lyrics; and she was incredible at spoken word, and I think she'd be really proud of what her daughter has accomplished here. I can't wait for the next book. Christeena L. Putzer Aariona Harris' captured so many emotions and feelings in her book "Loss X Mental Illness". With each poem you can feel the emotions that are wrapped around every word. You can tell that the author has gone through so much in her short life. While reading I was shocked and amazed by what she has faced in a short amount of time. Not only does she bring attention to very important topics, she expands on them. This is a raw and honest view of mental health struggles at a young age. Grappling with life challenges that seem almost insurmountable including the loss of a mother, this narrative resonates deeply as it mirrors the silent battles that many young individuals face into today's world. Aariona's writing is viewed with a sense of resilience and hope as she navigates these challenges. It encourages a deeper understanding and empathy of those who battle mental health issues often in silence. The book is a beacon of hope and understanding. A reminder that even in our darkest time there is light to be found. Rebecca Durgin In Loss X Mental Illness, Harris bares her scarred and beautiful soul. Her poetry could not be more honest as she has sought to understand herself in the context of painful losses. John Zimmerman

Bell takes us on a beautiful journey in this poetry chapbook, full of poignant and ever-so-raw emotionally charged poetry that leaves her readers breathless as always. Growing Pains is an enchanting and eloquent reminder to us that life's trials are the mental and emotional equivalent to growing pains, harrowing and impossible as they may seem, they are catalysts for growth and testaments to the glorious process of refining a human. Amazon Categories: Poetry Poetry for Teens & Young Adults Death, Grief & Loss Women's Poetry Mental Health Poetry