Category / Poetry

by mentallyillinamerica

Carving Out What I Believe In Relationship To Spiritual Role Models (A Poem)

Potential Trigger Warning: Religion (but, not toxic religion… some people will like it)!

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Who’s to say what’s true and what isn’t, but I believe…

In the principles taught by Jesus Christ.

I believe in the kind of man Jesus was said to be.

I tend not to believe in the Christians or Christian churches representing him back then, on into today.

I subscribe to my interpretation of how matters were, in both the world and in other people’s hearts—then and now.

There are many similarities to things occurring back then/now, and quite a few differences as well!

The very nature of matters further addresses why no one can know what’s true and what isn’t.

In my view, the only right position for the truth seeker, is to find a model to believe in, and cautiously put their trust in them.

And, I find it easiest to do that with Jesus Christ—in the version I acknowledge him as being.

It’s a version that embraces work done by scientists, physicians, educators, and the like—not even by Christians necessarily.

Long live a Jesus Christ… just not in the toxic sense! 🙂

by mentallyillinamerica

The Double Edged Sword Of Antipsychotics (A Poem)

They help, but they also stunt.
And, no one does more harm to me than what my illness does to me.
That being said, I know I need what the antipsychotic meds afford me.
I wish for more middle ground though.
I wish for more healing.
I wish for something other than what my life experience brings.
If I had the ability to pick up the pieces without harming myself any further,
That’s what I would do.
But, that isn’t going to happen.
And, that’s largely because of the antipsychotics and my illness.
So, I’m defeated now and ever since my life began.
Defeated on the one hand.
Triumphant on the other (or so I’m told).

by mentallyillinamerica

Reflecting On My Goals (A Poem)

The hardest thing is wrestling with my thoughts.
The second hardest thing is dealing with my personal hygiene.
The third hardest thing is trying to stay awake.

It’s all very difficult to face, but these are my hierarchy of troubles.
And, I don’t have time to wait until things improve with age.
I have to start making things happen today.

For at some point, my teeth will rot out of my mouth.
And, my partner won’t want to come near me.

I must work on the difficult personal hygiene issues I face, now. And, every day moving forward.
This is what is right and this is what is necessary.

Because I haven’t been able to overcome my troubling thoughts (at least not at my present age), and I won’t all of a sudden not be tired.
But, I can have decent personal hygiene today.
And, I will do my best to do so starting now.

by mentallyillinamerica

I Am Struck (A Poem)

I am struck.
I am struck by my feelings that life is difficult.
So very difficult!

And, what if you DON’T have a chronic illness?
How is life then?

Oh, I just want to be well!
The way I feel just sucks…

I only see managing.
Management of a mental illness.

So yes, I am forced to deal!
I am forced to accept…
And, the like.

I think I’ll just sleep!
Sleep makes everything a little better.

by mentallyillinamerica

Life Before Medication (A Poem)

The person I was before medication, is lost.
I am no longer “hanging out” like I once did.
And, when I look around at examples of people I know
who do not take meds,
I think that I am better off today.

Surely, there are those individuals who
won’t come around to my way of thinking
And, I understand that.
But, I can’t help my time-to-time thinking of the old me.
I miss that man.

by mentallyillinamerica

Medication For The Fight (A Poem)

2021 has taught me
That some people with mental illness
Function fairly well on medication
I am “kind of” one of them, but not really

I am goal-directed
But, I am also struggling every day
The meds do help me to be hospital-free
They also assist me with certain thoughts

So, I do all I can with the resources I have
It’s one day at a time
And, while I may never beat schizophrenia
My symptoms could one day improve