RETURN TO MYSELF
Return To Myself
No matter what
I can’t break free
From the occasional feeling
Of my misery
I try to fight it
Then the feeling takes hold
I lose all my warmth
I only feel cold
When this happens
I have to ride out the wave
I desperately need
The warmth that I crave
And like a tide turning
I return to myself
This is one way I suffer
With my mental health
But I’ll be alright
I’m always okay
I’ve learned to just take it
All day by day
That no matter what
Or how I might feel
I will always come back
Because I choose to heal
Poetry Written By:
Eryn Dunbar
.jpg)
Comments
This poem eloquently expresses the cyclical nature of mental health struggles, capturing the essence of dealing with intermittent bouts of depression or anxiety.
Struggle and Recognition:
The opening lines, "No matter what / I can’t break free / From the occasional feeling / Of my misery," immediately set the tone of an ongoing battle with one's inner demons. It acknowledges that these feelings are not constant but come in waves, which is a realistic portrayal of many mental health conditions where symptoms can fluctuate.
The Fight and Relapse:
"I try to fight it / Then the feeling takes hold / I lose all my warmth / I only feel cold" reflects the effort to combat these feelings, yet the acknowledgment that sometimes, despite best efforts, one can be overwhelmed. The loss of warmth symbolizes a loss of joy, comfort, or connection, leading to a sense of isolation or numbness.
Endurance and Hope:
"When this happens / I have to ride out the wave / I desperately need / The warmth that I crave" shows resilience. The metaphor of riding out a wave suggests that while one cannot control when these feelings come, one learns to navigate through them. The craving for warmth here might represent the longing for recovery, happiness, or normalcy.
Recovery and Self-Reflection:
"And like a tide turning / I return to myself / This is one way I suffer / With my mental health" uses the tide as a metaphor for the cyclical nature of mental health. The return to oneself implies a reclaiming of identity or equilibrium, highlighting that these episodes, though painful, are part of the broader spectrum of one's life experience.
Optimism and Self-Care:
The final stanzas, "But I’ll be alright / I’m always okay / I’ve learned to just take it / All day by day / That no matter what / Or how I might feel / I will always come back / Because I choose to heal," convey a message of hope and self-empowerment. This reflects an acceptance of the condition, coupled with a proactive approach to healing. It emphasizes personal agency in recovery, the importance of patience, and the daily commitment to mental health management.
Overall, the poem serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience needed to manage mental health issues, advocating for a compassionate understanding of one's own suffering while also highlighting the strength found in recovery and self-acceptance. It resonates with anyone who has experienced the ups and downs of mental health, offering both validation and encouragement.