Mentally Free

They called me ‘mental’, ‘mad’ and ‘trippy’

but they didn’t care to see 

to push past their own perceptions and learn about what was bothering me.

Never making the grade, never conforming to normality

I once considered it a curse

now I relise I am free.

I think and I feel

I experience pain

I reflect on my being through its joys and it shame.

I know myself through and through and

in this knowladge comes truth.

 

Never think your mad, never think your bad

never think your nothing

forgive yourself when you’re sad.

You feel therefore you live

You breathe therefore you are

A universe in a dream

Within dark forests you are a star. 

 

 

 

Mirror – SINGLE B SIDE POEM – REFUGE

Mirror
 
I looked in the mirror for the first time
In years
I surveyed my face
Aged, tired, still supple
Every wrinkle told a story
I picked the jar of cream up
Read the label
Opened it
Applied the cream to my face
Carefully
First time
In years
I liked what I saw
I liked what I felt
I felt me again
I felt good

 

 

Saiqa collects an iPad and a handmade hardback book

She will be presented with these at the House of Lords on the 1st May 2013

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

wrethinkyourmind logo

 

Her work will feature in the book going nationwide

Her poem will be recorded in spoken word to create the B-side to the refuge single release

 

Advance poem website button


We would like to say a huge thank you to Advance for generously donating the iPad prize

 

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wrethinkyourmind logo

 

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Selected Poetry Entries for The Yellow Book please click the titles to view:

 

 

  1. I Feel Life – Ella Zellaby – Rochester Kent
  2. This World – Stephanie Rose – Bo’ness Scotland
  3. Lift Your Voice – David Holloway – Bedford
  4. Mirror – Saiqa Parveen – Halifax
  5. With Good Mental Health – Anne Broadbent – West Yorkshire
  6. Meadering – Peter McGrath – Essex
  7. Senses – Jade Tullet – Berkshire
  8. The Wren – Ian Curtress – Cheltenham
  9. Recovery – Lesley Burt – Dorset
  10. A Home in my Head – Karen Mason – Surrey
  11. Freedom is Ours – Gemma Rose – East Sussex
  12. Beauty – Debee Ebeneezer – Nottingham
  13. It is Ok – Suzanne Bate – Liverpool
  14. Happiness is Gratitude – Lisa Barry – Rhondda Cynon Taft
  15. I’ve Changed – Louise Gillett – Christchurch Dorset
  16. Sunny Side Up – Karim Harvey – London
  17. Proud to be me – Denise Claxton – Essex
  18. Daylight after Rain – John Campbell – London
  19. I Can See The Colour and I Can Feel The Sun – Elizabeth Aldous – Luton
  20. Free To Be Me – Diana Hayes – Abergavenny
  21. Bus Journey – Safoora Masood – Halifax
  22. There Once Was a Young Girl From Wales – Katy Young – Flintshire
  23. See the Flowers Beneath Your Feet – Anonymous
  24. I Know – Kauser Parveen – Halifax

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

wrethinkyourmind logo

when I am well

When I am well
 
 
 
When I am well
I engage in life
When I am well
I comply with medication
When I am well
I get out of bed
When I am well
I eat better
When I am well
I sleep better
When I am well
I embrace life
When I am well
I am at peace with the world
 
 

The defeat of the dementor

 

 With good mental health I have….

 

‘To admit defeat,’ says the demon of depression,

 

‘I lived inside your body for so long,

 

You’d even forgotten that there was a real YOU underneath it all,

 

As long as you believed the lie I told, you thought YOU were a failure,

 

You were convinced YOU would never be good enough,

 

You felt YOU could never get out of the deep pit you were in’

 

And, you kept feeding me with more and more YOURSELF

 

Even your small setbacks seemed to be replayed inside your head a million times,

 

Till they felt like the biggest catastrophes,

 

You lost confidence in YOURSELF,

 

I made you believe that – that’s my job

 

The demon who feeds on human happiness.

 

You were wearing my glasses…

 

The kind that only let you see the rain and not the rainbow through it….

 

 

And, then, one day YOU made a choice to change

 

YOU started to attend therapy sessions,

 

Started to look for a place to anchor

 

Your faith, your long imprisoned talents,

 

I knew then that I was fighting a losing battle….

 

To my ‘You are not good enough’

 

YOU soon learnt the truth

 

YOU are good enough-

 

Good enough to be called

 

A caring friend, a helpful neighbour

 

A good human being….

 

 

The day you turned around and told me

 

There would be the rain…

 

But the important thing was to focus on the rainbow,

 

You had discovered the truth-

 

YOU had been put on earth for a purpose

 

YOU looked upward to renew your faith

 

YOU looked sideward to connect with old friends

 

YOU looked outward for a new hobby, a new job

 

YOU looked downward to encourage someone still in the depths of despair

 

YOU looked inward to find the real YOU.

 

I knew then you were on your road to recovery-

 

to having good mental health…

 

And, I knew that I couldn’t feed off you anymore…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There Once Was a Young Girl from – BOOK SELECTION

 

There once was a young girl from Wales

Who had the wind knocked from her sails

She battled with wit

Refusing to quit

And now it is her that prevails!

 

She uses her humour to aid

All those who are starting to fade

From sadness and woes

And all inner foes

So that they’re no longer afraid.

 

With good mental health she has glee

And shares it with others for free

As she fully knows

About what the lows

Can do when you feel all at sea.

 

You’ll know who this young Welsh girl is

It wasn’t that hard of a quiz!

And with unique style

I’ve made others smile

Though I’m not a comedy-whiz!

 

My new plan in life is to write

And show others how they can fight

Their illness and pain

Until they can gain

A life that is joyful and bright!

 

So now that my life has a goal

I am the one who’s in control!

And so as I end

I wholly intend

To always stay mentally whole!

 

 

 

 

Katy collects a handmade hardback book

She will be presented with this at the House of Lords on the 1st May 2013

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

wrethinkyourmind logo

 

Her work will feature in The Yellow Book going nationwide

 

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Selected Poetry Entries for The Yellow Book please click the titles to view:

 

 

  1. I Feel Life – Ella Zellaby – Rochester Kent
  2. This World – Stephanie Rose – Bo’ness Scotland
  3. Lift Your Voice – David Holloway – Bedford
  4. Mirror – Saiqa Parveen – Halifax
  5. With Good Mental Health – Anne Broadbent – West Yorkshire
  6. Meadering – Peter McGrath – Essex
  7. Senses – Jade Tullet – Berkshire
  8. The Wren – Ian Curtress – Cheltenham
  9. Recovery – Lesley Burt – Dorset
  10. A Home in my Head – Karen Mason – Surrey
  11. Freedom is Ours – Gemma Rose – East Sussex
  12. Beauty – Debee Ebeneezer – Nottingham
  13. It is Ok – Suzanne Bate – Liverpool
  14. Happiness is Gratitude – Lisa Barry – Rhondda Cynon Taft
  15. I’ve Changed – Louise Gillett – Christchurch Dorset
  16. Sunny Side Up – Karim Harvey – London
  17. Proud to be me – Denise Claxton – Essex
  18. Daylight after Rain – John Campbell – London
  19. I Can See The Colour and I Can Feel The Sun – Elizabeth Aldous – Luton
  20. Free To Be Me – Diana Hayes – Abergavenny
  21. Bus Journey – Safoora Masood – Halifax
  22. There Once Was a Young Girl From Wales – Katy Young – Flintshire
  23. See the Flowers Beneath Your Feet – Anonymous
  24. I Know – Kauser Parveen – Halifax

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

wrethinkyourmind logo

 

WITH GOOD MENTAL HEALTH – BOOK SELECTION

I breathe in the beauty of a summer breeze,

watch the sun catch diamonds in rustling leaves;

feel strong in body and frame of mind,

relish the laughter lightening my life.

 

And if worries lean on me when I wake,

I know I can cope, that I’ll be okay;

with good mental health I have

trust in others and belief in myself.

 

I look forward to what

each day has in store

and feel blessed to have

all these things … and more.

 

Anne Broadbent

 

Anne collects a handmade hardback book

She will be presented with this at the House of Lords on the 1st May 2013

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

wrethinkyourmind logo

 

Her work will feature in The Yellow Book going nationwide

 

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Selected Poetry Entries for The Yellow Book please click the titles to view:

 

 

  1. I Feel Life – Ella Zellaby – Rochester Kent
  2. This World – Stephanie Rose – Bo’ness Scotland
  3. Lift Your Voice – David Holloway – Bedford
  4. Mirror – Saiqa Parveen – Halifax
  5. With Good Mental Health – Anne Broadbent – West Yorkshire
  6. Meadering – Peter McGrath – Essex
  7. Senses – Jade Tullet – Berkshire
  8. The Wren – Ian Curtress – Cheltenham
  9. Recovery – Lesley Burt – Dorset
  10. A Home in my Head – Karen Mason – Surrey
  11. Freedom is Ours – Gemma Rose – East Sussex
  12. Beauty – Debee Ebeneezer – Nottingham
  13. It is Ok – Suzanne Bate – Liverpool
  14. Happiness is Gratitude – Lisa Barry – Rhondda Cynon Taft
  15. I’ve Changed – Louise Gillett – Christchurch Dorset
  16. Sunny Side Up – Karim Harvey – London
  17. Proud to be me – Denise Claxton – Essex
  18. Daylight after Rain – John Campbell – London
  19. I Can See The Colour and I Can Feel The Sun – Elizabeth Aldous – Luton
  20. Free To Be Me – Diana Hayes – Abergavenny
  21. Bus Journey – Safoora Masood – Halifax
  22. There Once Was a Young Girl From Wales – Katy Young – Flintshire
  23. See the Flowers Beneath Your Feet – Anonymous
  24. I Know – Kauser Parveen – Halifax

 

Congratulations from all of us at !!

wrethinkyourmind logo

 

 

Clarity

 

With good mental health I have…

Clarity of mind

A deep insight

Feeling fine

My path is set out

As clear as can be

The clouds disappear

And I can finally see

Doubts are not disabling

Fear goes away

I wake up with joy

Eager to greet each day

With good mental health

I have a feeling of calm

I know I will succeed

I know I will not harm

Myself and those I love.

With good mental health

The world is full

Of achievable dreams

Of magnificent schemes

That will benefit me

 And everyone.

 

© Anne-Teresa Michaels, 2013-01-16

Love is

Love is such a powerful gift
That can start with a smile
A hug or a kiss
Its a bonding and trust
Of compassion and care
That is deep in the heart
Of two people that share

Its to think or be thought of
Give help never short of
Sometimes a surprise
Always truth and no lies

Like a magical dream
somewhere great we have been
Very hard to describe
Try to show and not hide

To live or to die for
Try see eye to eye for
Be happy or cry for
And more and much more

The one thing we all need
To be strong and proceed
The more love that we give
The more love we recieve xxxx

By richard bennett

Colours

With good mental health I have……….

Colour in my world

Feeling in my body

A spring in my step

A twinkle in my eye

 A future I can see

Dreams I can reach

A person I can be…

I have hope in my heart

These New Feelings Within

 

With good mental health I have peace, not strife.

I’m happy for once in my life!

My mind’s a safe haven that’s void of pain

And still I have lots more to gain!

 

Some years ago I was fearful inside

Regardless of how hard I tried

And so I sought help and then I gained ground.

Just look at the peace I have found!

 

Many good changes, where should I begin?

I have these new feelings within!

Rarely do I stress, I can relax now.

I’m happy, serene and here’s how:

 

I spoke to the doctor telling her all.

She listened; It didn’t appall.

I got further help but waited a while 

And afterwards I can now smile!

 

I’m much stronger now but not perfect yet!

But this doesn’t cause me to fret

Because who is perfect? I’m know I’m not!

Instead I’m content with my lot.

 

Skills I have learned make me braver each day

And though there’ll be toil on the way

I’m ready for battles! Ready for war!

Bring it on! I’ll settle the score!

 

I try helping others to help me too.

Together, we’ll all make it through

And as a result, I now have a goal

To help others make themselves whole.

 

So if you need help your first step should be

To visit your doctor or see

What other support can help you nearby

Until you can lift your head high!

 

No matter how awful you feel inside

Or how much support you have tried

You’re not beyond help, no one is, it’s true

All darkness can be broken through.

 

I broke through darkness and now I convey

Ways to fight your illness away.

I only do this through good mental health

So join me with great mental wealth!