For my mum. As we end Mental Health Awareness Week, let us not forget Mum. My two bros and I have given our mum such unrelenting worry. And shes never ever stopped being there for us. She even knows when we havent slept, she wakes in the night.
##mentalhealthawarenessweek #mums #recovery #love #family
I think physical illnesss is still very much forgiven and sympathised with. Mental illness is very much distrusted and still seen as a weakness that you should have taken steps to prevent.
#mentalhealthawarenessweek #compassion #understanding #recovery #happinessisnotachoice
Excited to get this through the post from @aftershockpoetry . And a really lovely detail message on the envelope.
#poetry #mentalhealth #recovery #trauma #psychosis
Another brilliant night of poetry @between_the_lines_bristol@bristolfolkhouse with a great group of talented people. Thank you to John for the pic :)
#openmicbristol #poetry #spokenword #bristolcommunity #wellbeing
A brilliant night at @ourplacepoetry hosted by @varosha and @helensheppard58 . Thank you! And to everyone for sharing their words, stories and experiences. And thank you to the excellent wordsmith and poet @rosannafosterartist for this pic. Hope it's ok to steal it for my page š
Until the next one šÆ
#bristolpoetry #openmic #spokenword #bristolcommunity
CONTENT WARNING!!! I am halfway through my second book. The first book is what i am calling a triptych of memoir-in-verse. The second book is what I am calling recovery-in-verse. I hope i never have to write a third one called recovery-in-reverse.
Im not pulling any punches with these. Not for any shock factor. But the subject demands honesty. And the issues need clarity.
So it needed a content warning.
"I have written with no limits. Deep in the most self-destructive tunnels of my mind, words were my escape; and for them to be the powerful tool they became, they had to be as sharp, incisive and brutal as possible. Iām sure it might be difficult at times to read. It certainly was to write. But I give you my absolute word ā I have spoken at every moment with complete honesty. Nothing is embellished. Nothing is self-gratuitous. And it is always with the intention to share the truth of what can be the loneliest and most misunderstood experiences we can suffer as individuals. And the more we can learn from each other, the more we will overcome this mental health crisis that tears our society and communities apart. Mine is just one story but I am sure it is lived by millions. But I can tell you, when I was in it, I felt savagely alone. It was eating me alive. But I survived it.
This book is for people who love language, life, thoughts, ideas and feelings. It is for people who have struggled, who know others who have struggled, or for those who want to know about the struggle. It is for the curious and the empathetic. Ultimately, it is for people who are interested in people. Its words reinforce the power of humanity, the will to survive and love, and the incredible resilience of the human mind, spirit and body.
My story is not always a happy one, but it is a hard message to encourage you to keep strong, be empowered and feel inspired. Not by me ā by you, by what you are capable of."
#contentwarning #mentalwellbeing #poetry #memoirinverse #spokenword
A brilliant night @lyrafest@satelliteoflovepoetry and @chimes.poetry.night collaboration. Image credit goes to their teams thank you. Cant wait for the next one and also to check out the night in Bath too.
#lyrafest #bristolopenmic #spokenword #bristolpoetry #bathpoetry
