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emo-nerd — Understanding Mental Illness
Published: 2014-01-23 22:17:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 618; Favourites: 18; Downloads: 0
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We have good days and bad days.Sometimes we feel content and will go out for a walk.
Sometimes it feels literally impossible to get out of bed.
Sometimes we want to spend time with others.
Sometimes we need to be alone.
Sometimes we’ll want to talk and be social.
Sometimes we don’t want to say a word.
Sometimes we want to be hugged and be affectionate.
Sometimes it hurts to be touched.
Sometimes we will laugh or cry.
Sometimes we feel numb and robotic.
Sometimes we feel excitement and joy.
Sometimes nothing makes us happy.
We may not always respond.
We may act like we don’t hear you or don’t care, but we listen.
We hear everything you say.
We appreciate every kind word.
We love you for trying to help, but you must understand that you cannot fix this.
You cannot fix us.
All you can do is support us and be our friend.
You do not need to understand, all you need to do is be there.
Accept us.
Listen to us.
Respect our needs.
Give us time.
Let us be.
Know that we love you.
We love you for trying.
Know that though the effects of your help may not show or be too subtle to notice, your love and support is valued beyond measure.
Every small attempt.
Every kind gesture.
Every supportive phrase.
Every loving embrace is acknowledged and cherished.
And when we are well again, we will let you know in great detail how much you mean to us.
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Comments: 14
Hi there
I would like to feature this on My Blog
Please could you give me a shout and let me know if you're interested.
Thanks
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You absolutely can. Thank you so much for your interest
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Excuse me! ^^ But you are absolutely correct. I may not have the advantage of knowing exactly what it's like to be stuck in depression or any other factor similar to such a scare, but I can tell you this: you are brave. Writing this is an act of bravery and whenever a feeling is shared or expressed in any sort of fashion, it is an act of bravery.
I'm fourteen years old, and I've had a couple of bumps and a curse of a weaker immune system. But I do find it simple to be happy with things (and people) that I love. And it will remain that way. I'm often not listened to either, because of my age. Only adults can be acknowledged for what they say and I am against that to certain extents. So me and you already have something in common, we have a voice. I'm glad you've shared your voice with us. <3333 I hope this makes a small smile come to your face for a slight realization or some sort of great emotion.
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Thanx so much 
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I'm glad my achievement was reached. Tell you what, I'll be happy to stay friends with you if you'd want. I have plenty of friends who were diagnosed with mental illnesses and I know it's hard for them but all I can do is watch and try and bring them the smiles that they deserved to have since day one. *hugs* <333
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Oh, boy. This is going to be brutal; so brace yourself. And I mean that.
I don't even know where to start. Have you ever heard the term "terminally unique"?
Let me begin with the most concerning thing about your work: None of this poem aptly describes the first detail about mental illness.
Everything you describe in this poem (and I mean every line) applies more to regular people than to insane or mentally-diseased ones. We all "have good days and bad days." We all "will laugh or cry" or "feel numb and robotic." All this is common to the human experience, the human range of emotions. To *not* experience these things would be mental illness, truly.
The only thing I can translate as a possible symptom of insanity is your line, "Sometimes it hurts to be touched." If this is not an artful metaphor, if you have somehow actually convinced yourself that touch generates pain, this is a sign of mental disease (or just sensitivity and a vivid imagination). Also, if touch generates pain, it could indicate you have been molested at some time in your life. If so, that is something to confront with your psychotherapist, assuming you have one.
In conclusion, I'm convinced you have a very limited understanding of mental illness. Thusly, you should not write a poem called "Understanding Mental Illness". Instead, you should write a poem called "Understanding My Mental Illness" or "Understanding My Humanity". Also, none of this is academic to me. Doctors have diagnosed me with O. C. D., schizoaffective disorder, and P. T. S. D.. And one of my siblings was molested.
Summarily said, this work is too broad and too bold, too pretentious and too naive.
Vision: 0.5/5
Originality: 0.5/5
Technique: 1.5/5
Impact: 0.5/5
This is the worst score I've ever had to give.
If this is strong medicine, keep in mind we at are not about "kid gloves".
I have given you get the gift of honesty, even if it feels astringent. But don't misunderstand, I believe you are clinically depressed. But I don't believe you know enough about how to live with it. Whatever the case, you certainly don't know enough to try to appropriately teach others about the subject.
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Thank you for your critique and honesty. I feel maybe I shouldn't have added this to Literature Critique because I didn't actually want this critiqued in a literary sense, but that's my fault and thank you for doing it anyway. I'm sorry you feel that way about this piece because this is honestly how I feel and, from the information I've gathered from others in the counselling classes I take, how others I've talked to about this subject that are also afflicted feel. I'm aware I have no credibility teaching others about this subject, nor would I try too. Everyone has their own experience and deals with their illness differently with different symptoms and emotions, these are just mine. I was trying to convey the complexity of Depression and that it isn't merely being sad, there's a lot to it and it changes day to day. Some days you feel very normal, although you are always a person first and your illness does not define you. That's another thing I was trying to say; that mental illness is more common than most people think and you could be afflicted and not even know it due to lack of information, stigmatization, etc. Sometimes someone may feel "off" or "wrong" and they don't know what the matter is, thinking this is just the human experience when really they may be suffering with a mental illness.
I'm sorry for your diagnoses. Obviously this piece was not for you, but I hope you find something that speaks to you and helps you with your recovery
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You're certainly not alone, I've been there too! Very well written and brave of you to share, so thank you! It is very difficult to try to get others to understand and even the in-depth explanatory, they say they've got it, but they haven't! There is light at the end of the tunnel though, you have to believe in yourself, push yourself just a little bit at a time and only YOU can change ... Good luck with your journey, it won't be easy, but it is achievable ... just BELIEVE x
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Oh I know now how prevalent these types of disorders are, but I remember back when I was first diagnosed thinking I was some freak. Luckily I had my mum who also has depression to help me through it and support me with all the emotional changes I was having. But I know there are people that aren't that lucky and don't know anyone who understands, so they have no one to reach out too and tell them it's okay and that there's help and they can get better. I had a lot of experiences with people who said they got it but they really didn't because they'd try to help by telling me to do things like paint my room a bright colour because navy blue is depressing lol. But I learned you have to be patient with those people and inform them of what's really going on because all they're trying to do is help and most of them don't know how.
I'm slowly getting myself better, and I now know where to look for support and have a lot of it in the form of counselling and doctors and stuff. Thanx so much for the kind words 
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Bless you and thank you, I just know from your true and kind words, you are going to become an inspiration to others who will go through mental illness in the future. I am one of those people who didn't have anyone to reach out to, but like you I also found support through the correct medium and went through extensive counselling. I admit I wasn't very patient with other non-understanding people trying to 'help', probably because of the lack of understanding and frustration of what was happening to me. Fortunately, I am quite a spiritual person and it was my belief in this area that helped me to see and understand ... and then start to heal. The turning point for me was finding this brilliant release - writing poetry!
At first I was feeling a bit sorry for myself, as you do, why me and all that stuff lol ... but again, it was my spirituality that turned it around to positive thinking as I totally believe everything happens for a reason. It might be a strange thing to say, but for me, having a complete mental breakdown I truly think has been of more benefit to me than harm - I feel like a different, but better person for it and certainly more understanding of others' problems! Thank you again for your kind and inspiring words
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I'm sorry to hear. Its hard living a life feeling like a black sheep in a white flock. Trust me, I know that feeling. I have a "Learning Disability" which effects my speed in learning new things, remembering certain things like long sequence numbers,spelling and reading. Its frustrating having everyone around you labeling you, your separating you from others who are classified as being "normal." In the end though, you have to remember, that you are not the only black sheep in the world. There are a billion of black sheep in the world. We are out there, looking for each other. Trying to help one another because we know each others pain. I might not know you in person, but from what I have obtained from talking to you online is that, you are a very nice, creative and lovely person with a supporting brother and loyal friends. As you said before, you can't change the way you are, because you are awesome at being you! You shouldn't let anyone else tell you otherwise. Don't be afraid to love yourself because once you start doing so, you will start seeing the world in a new light, but remember, you have people willing to help you.
Remember, the black flock always finds it's kind in order to help one another.
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You are the sweetest, best person ever!
Thank you so much for always sending kind thoughts and words my way. You always have an outlet in me as well, I'm a great listener
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Any time chickie! Also good to know. I am told that I talk a lot so its good to know that someone is willing to listen. XD
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lol I love people that talk a lot, then I don't have to do the talking! XD
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