My fingers were itching to share more about my experience on managing mental illness, to write and to share my thoughts, my therapy. I let my mind wonder and started writing a poem. I don't have a lot of experience writing poems but I ventured off into another form of expression. Below is the poem I wrote:
My Version of Hope
by Ashley Smith
I feel a better me is yet to come,
No more naive decisions that make me feel dumb.
Limitless opportunities are on the way,
I believe I know what I want and how not to stray.
I see myself as the individual I long to be- free, confident, and classy,
My experiences cannot stop me,
Not schizophrenia and depression nor anxiety.
Because ingrained in me is an overcomer of adversity.
Now I understand how to strive in my recovery,
But I cannot take all the credit when it took a caring party.
I give thanks to my treatment team, family and peers,
Including those online that opened up about their fears.
And I will never overlook my miracle from above,
Forever recovering and living a life I am proud of.
My faith keeps me going as did my mom.
And now that she is gone, for others, I will remain strong.
Within my spirit hope shed its light,
Now I aspire to share the fight.
Join me as I dare to put myself out there,
And overcome the stigma that we bear.
Hold them accountable,
Oh yes, for the lies and propaganda that so freely is told,
Together we can contribute to the solution,
I urge you, to continue to speak, write, and demolish the confusion.
13 comments:
This is truly a recovery..may I copy to a friend who had made her way out of the long tunnel....I've been out for a number of years and it is FINE!
~Kokyo
I'm very fond of poetry, as you know and this one stands out, it's very touching.
Yes, Kokyo. Also send your friend a link to my blog. Thank you.
Thank you so much David! That makes me feel very good... And its great to hear from you.
Hi Ashley,
I love the spirit of your poem and it really resonates with me. I can identify with so much of it.
Thanks for sharing and many blessings to you.
Ashley as always thank you.I truly admire your strength and courage. You are an amazing woman and give me so much more confirmation in the faith I have for my boyfriend who lives with schizophrenia and is struggling. I believe in him fully. He is really in a rough spot now but working towards what he needs to do for his recovery. His "voices" have been very loud lately and all he longs for at the moment is for quietness. My question for you is do the auditory hallucinations ever fully quit with recovery and medication?
Nicole
Thank you for the warm blessings, Dawn!
Hi Nicole, to answer your question it depends on the individual and medication. For some individuals the voices persists despite the medication. For others the voices stop with the right medication.
Ashley,
This is a beautiful poem. Thank you so much for posting. I would like to know if you attend any support groups in Atlanta. If so, where are they located? I am looking for support for my daughter. It is a daily struggle for her.
Hi, I do attend support groups in Atlanta, check out the namiga.org website to find one in your area.
Hi Ashley,
I was happy to find your blog. I also am an African American woman living with a mental illness called Schizoaffective Disorder. I also wanted to begin my way of educating people about my illness because I have learned so much along the way. To see that you have done it gives me hope that I can do it too. Thanks for the inspiration.
Jennifer Hill
Thank you, Jennifer Hill!
I really like this poem. I think what we all want is truth, understanding and freedom to be ourselves. Thank You for writing this. Although my experiences with Schizophrenia have not been what was expected I still have hope for the future and belief in the people who surround me.
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