Many people have used the fine arts to emotionally express themselves, and many artists use their minds to generate art and beauty. In this article, I am going to be going into detail how poetry can be used to understand more about yourself and how it can be utilized to aid in your mental health.
Many people are taken aback from writing, since writing in an academic setting can make writers feel contrived and boxed in and unable to explore their own voice. There is a simple anecdote to this, and that would be poetry. Historically, poetry was obligated to rhyme and order, but with modern poetry, the structure can be mantled however the author wants it to be. Poetry comes with the concept of being free and it gives writers the opportunity to express themselves in any way they would like. You can write about anything and write about in any form you desire. This gives people the absolute freedom and control they may need to come to terms with their life. An example would be to compare sadness with the sun. There is never a wrong or incorrect way to write poetry. It is your story and your life, so run with it on paper and discover the truth of you who are and what you bring to this world.
E.g. the sun is depressively scorching my skin. This directly uses the metaphor of the sun to describe a unique pain. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to poetry. Similarly, how there is never a right or wrong answer for someone navigating their mental health. Society has unrealistic standards and people still do not fully grasp what it means to have a mental illness. Writing allows someone to create their own universe separated from all the people who do not understand mental health. Poetry gives them the platform to be free and creative.
There is a still current stigma regarding mental health and illness. Even if you do not have a mental illness, everyone deals with symptoms of mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and stress. Poetry is a great way to relieve your current feelings about what you are going through. This is your writing, and you don’t have to worry about being judged. Only you will be the one who will be seeing your writing and it will allow you to be honest with yourself and what you are going through.
Once you continually write poetry, you may want to consider performing it at an Open Mic Night. Performing poetry really gives the author the validation they need when expressing their thoughts. Also, when performing poetry, you will realize that you are not alone in what you are dealing with and the audience is always supportive when it comes to something as important as someone’s personal work. There is strong power in storytelling, and it can help you find empowerment in your life.
Poetry allows people to be reflective and write about how they see the world, so go on an adventure in your life and write about your experiences and discover your identity.
Written by Zane Landin