Mental Illnessesby Andrew Burns

With her head hung low

and nowhere to go

She can't explain

this mysterious pain

It comes on so fast

How long will it last

Her heart is just pounding, her head starts to

spin

Please go away, she does not want you in

She's uncontrollably crying

It feels like she's dying

Mysterious Pain by anonymous

Her body is trembling, her hands start to shake

She feels so helpless with this horrible ache

Someone, please help her, make this go away

She can't stand to feel this way one more day

Someone, please help her, she's down on her knees

She's scared and helpless and hopes no one sees

With her head hung low

not knowing where to go

She tries to explain

This mysterious pain

The poem, Mysterious Pain, is about anxiety disorders. I chose this poem because I liked the way it addressed the author’s disorder in the third person. The poem uses an excellent rhyme scheme. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in America, affecting approximately 18% of adults.

They said I would be changed in my body.I would move through the physical world in a different

manner.I would have pain where there was no blood.I would react to sights, sounds, movement and touchin a crazy way, as though I were back in war.

They said I would be wounded in my thoughts.I would forget how to trust, and I would think that

others were trying to hurt me.I would see dangers in the kindness and concern of

my relatives and others.Most of all, I would not be able to think in a

reasonable manner,and it would seem that everyone else was crazy.

They told me that it would appear to me that Iwas alone even in the midst of the people,and that there was no one else like me.

Untitled by anonymousThey warned me that it would be as though my emotions werelocked up, and I would be cold in my heart andnot remember the ways of caring for others.While I might give meat and blankets to the elders,or food to the children, I would not be able to feelthe goodness of these actions.That I would do these things out of habit and not from caring.

They predicted that I might do harm to others without plan or intention.They knew that my spirit would be wounded.

They said I would be lonely and that I would find no comfortin family, friends, elders or spirits.I would be cut off from both beauty and pain.My dreams would be dark and frightening.My days would be filled with searching and not finding.I would not be able to find connections between myself and the rest of creation.I would look forward to an early death.

And, I would need cleansing in all these things.

This untitled poem is about PTSD. PTSD stand for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and affects approximately 7.7 million adult Americans. I chose this poem because it’s extremely personal and deep. The poem utilizes free verse.

When I need words mostThey seem to drift awayMy brain is their hostDoesn’t know the right words to say

A panic sets in meAnd everything becomes overwhelmingMy self-esteem starts to dropIt feels as if my head might pop

It’s scary unexpectedIt’s like I’m infectedI feel as if I’m always being testedI feel like I’m always being rejected

Why can’t I talkWhy can’t I make that scared feeling stopI barely ever leave homeI’m starting to wonder if I’ll spend my life alone

When will this endWhen will I start to being okay again

Social Anxiety by Jessica Stubbs

This poem is about social anxiety disorder, just as the title suggests. I chose this poem because of the isolated tone of the poem. The poem’s rhyme scheme changes in different verses. Social anxiety disorder affects approximately 15 million adult Americans.

Outside lives a girl with a smile that will brighten up the

room,

yet inside hides a girl with a frown full of despair.

Outside lives a girl with eyes of joy that brings you to

ease,

yet inside hides a girl shedding tears of sadness.

Outside lives a girl with a beautiful laugh that's

contagious,

yet inside hides a girl screaming her lungs out in

unwanted anger.

Outside lives a girl with the personality everyone envies,

yet inside hides a girl full of insecurities and shame.

Outside lives a girl who is fearless and tough,

yet inside hides a weak girl who lives in fear.

Inside out by Angie FloresOutside lives a girl full of life,

yet inside hides a girl full of pain, wanting to die.

Outside lives a girl with a perfect image,

yet inside hides a girl with regrets and mistakes.

Outside lives a girl of innocence,

yet inside hides a girl with tremendous guilt.

Outside lives a girl with goals and aspirations,

yet inside lives a girl lost in confusion.

What you see on the outside is my personal disguise,

What hides underneath you can't even begin to imagine

The poem, Inside Out, is about major depressive disorder. I chose this poem because it did a fantastic job at comparing and contrasting how the author felt versus how the author acted. The poem followed the same general pattern throughout. Major depressive disorder affects about 6.7% of adult Americans.

Looking in the mirrorMy biggest enemy Fat all over my bodyIs all I seeI have to lose fifty poundsI want to look like a

skeletonBut I am so far from thatCause I weigh at least a tonPuffed wheat has forty

caloriesPuffed rice has fiftyThat's all I'll eatJust wait and seeI lost ten pounds I still look the same

Untitled by anonymousI started to eatThat's when the weight gain cameWorshipping the porcelain godReflections of meFloating in the toilet waterA fat face is what I seeStick my finger down my throatTo release the guilt I feelLooking back at meMy fifty calorie mealLooking in the mirrorI still look the sameI can't stop until I winI have to play this game

This untitled poem is about eating disorders, specifically anorexia. I chose this poem because the author doesn’t hold back any of their thoughts. The poem also follows free verse. Eating disorders are much more common in teenagers than adults.

Bipolaran illness or just a state of mind.

Depressionrejection emotions on the border line.

Anger frustration a roller-coaster ride.

I'm out of control I don't know why one minute ecstatic the next I want to die.

Pumped with drugs I lose my mind no longer can I function, I drown in waves, overwhelming emotion.

Bipolar by Maria ShawI fight to gain control but i fall into the deepest hole this battle I can't win though I try so hard to swim.

The current is too strong I try so hard to keep afloat but there's no hope, I surrender, the struggle's over, all is calm, peace at last.

As the title suggests, this poem is about bipolar disorder. I chose the poem because it showcase the range of emotions felt by the author. The poem doesn’t have much of a rhyme scheme with the exception of some of the final few verses. Bipolar disorder affects approximately 2.6% of adult Americans.

How different will my life truly be, To bring up a baby that will never recognize me. Autism is what they say, And it will never go away. We will live our lives bit by bit, And learn to just deal with it. See what I see It's all about Jayson Lee I'll love him till the day I die, But I will never truly say goodbye. One day he will talk to me. And that day will truly be, The day I leap for joy, Watching my baby turn into a boy.

Mommy’s Boy by Monique Austin

The poem, Mommy’s Boy, is about autism. I chose the poem because it is extremely heartfelt and loving the poem is. The poem follows an AABB rhyme scheme throughout. Autism is a very serious mental illness affecting 1 in 68 children with rates on the rise.

Do not ask me to remember,

Don’t try to make me understand,

Let me rest and know you’re with me,

Kiss my cheek and hold my hand.

I’m confused beyond your concept,

I am sad and sick and lost.

All I know is that I need you

To be with me at all cost.

Do not lose your patience with me,

Do not scold or curse or cry.

I can’t help the way I’m acting,

Can’t be different though I try.

Just remember that I need you,

That the best of me is gone,

Please don’t fail to stand beside me,

Love me ’til my life is done.

Do Not Ask Me To Remember by Anonymous

The poem, Do Not Ask Me To Remember, is about Alzheimer’s Disease. I chose this poem because it’s heartbreaking. The poem follows an occasional rhyme scheme but doesn’t rhyme throughout. Alzheimer’s is a deadly mental illness and is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States.

Everything has it's place Everything has an order Everything balance here The room is looking great

Nothing should be moved Everything stays the same I'm not obsessed about this No it's not turning me insane

Make sure everything is right Making sure nothing is wrong Take back items to the places Make sure they are balanced

Geometric Order by Louis Minett

The poem, Geometric Order, is about OCD. OCD stands for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and affects 2.2 million American adults. I chose this poem because of it’s initiative to keep everything in it’s place. The poem is free verse and doesn’t follow a rhyme scheme.

Everyone is laughing around me.Keeping to each other.Keeping to what they know.Everyone is smiling around me.Smiling because they know they're perfect and they know I'm not.Everyone is dancing around me.Swaying and moving to the music.The music must be in their heads cause I can't hear it. I use to strain to hear it, but know i don't give a ----.Everyone is singing around me. Words I can't understand escape from their lips.A language completely foreign to me rings in my ears.I can't make it stop.So here I am, among the laughing, the smiling, the dancing, and the singing fools in my world.In the middle of it all I am sitting on the ground. The dancing is crushing my legs. The laughing makes me cry cause I don't know how to laugh with them. The singing make me wish I was deaf.And the smiling make me wish I was blind.

Everyone by Malysah Kelsey

The poem, Everyone, is about paranoia. I chose this poem because it highlights how frantic paranoia is. The poem is free verse and has a very alienated tone. Paranoia affects approximately 1% of adult Americans.