Poem on mental health stigma
12:33 am
Hello!
I have something special to share today. I wrote a poem on mental health stigma, a cause which I feel STRONGLY about. Here we are:
Mental
Health Stigma
"He's hearing voices? What a freak", they say, judging a person when they have no right
"He's hearing voices? What a freak", they say, judging a person when they have no right
"She's mad, stay away from her", they say,
thinking she might violently pick up a fight
But schizophrenia is not something that should define
who you are
The suffering and trouble you experience is already
enough to scar
"Get a grip and be a man", they say, having
no idea how suicidal you feel
"Other people have worse problems", they
say, not knowing how you cope and deal
But depression isn't something to be taken so lightly
It's a time when it feels there is no light shining
brightly
"Stop trying to lose weight, you're not
fat", they say, without thinking that you don't perceive that to eat at ease
"I can see your ribs, that's disgusting",
they say, having no clue that you don't see what
they see
But anorexia isn't something that means you're selfish
and vain
In fact, there's more to it, particularly a lot of pain
"Why are you so awkward and irritable at
parties", they say, not understanding that social situations are tough
"Stop worrying so much and always being on
edge", they say, failing to see that you’ve already had enough
But anxiety doesn't come with a manual on how to cope
Often you can't do much but sit around and mope
Because mental health problems cannot be paraded on
your sleeve
They’re much more common than most of us believe
Discriminating against someone when you haven't walked
in their shoes
Labelling them as 'weak' without knowing the cause for
their blues
Do we think that's appropriate, would you like to be
treated that way?
Each person is priceless, so let your negative
thoughts go away
If our bodies can get sick, then why can't our mind?
Health is not only physical, it is social and mental
combined
Stigma needs to be reduced, awareness needs to be
spread
What if one day you suffer, have you thought that far
ahead?
Support, love and care, may be all that they need
Be more accepting, that is all I plead
If they’re seeking treatment, shouldn't you be proud?
They have realised something is wrong, they just need
help to be found
Mental health problems need to be further understood,
isn't that true?
Learn to be more open-minded, that's the least you can
do.
Ayesha Shahid
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| "Keep your head above the clouds, but your feet on the ground" - Photo taken in Tenerife |
Thanks
for reading. There's not much more that I want to say, other than that I
hope I can help reduce stigma associated around these issues.
Take care lovely people!
Ayesha xxx
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5 comments
Lovely piece. I've recently started seeing a therapist and it's so helpful. I think the stigma needs to be blasted away!
ReplyDeletexo Annie
New England Romance
Such a beautiful and thought-provoking poem. ♥
ReplyDeleteTara x
Adorable! I love your poem )
ReplyDeletewww.writingmonique.com
Beautiful poem and it has such a great meaning :)
ReplyDeletevvnightingale.blogspot.co.uk
A sublime poem and a beautiful photo ;)
ReplyDeletebesos,
M
http://theflowerduet.blogspot.com/
Thank you for reading and commenting! Feel free to leave your blog link so I can check it out, but please no follow-for-follow requests! ♥