Mythbusting Mental Illness and a Fragmented Poem
Joe Carter over at First Things points us towards a list of 10 mental illnesses and their myths.
This is actually the second list and the original can be found here.
Whilst on the subject of mental illness the Royal College of Psychiatrists run an annual poetry competition and the following is this year’s winner:
Fragmented – By Andy Garrett
This space I occupy – my head, my world, my universe
I comprehend as you do yours, but mine is liquid – changing, flowing
Facets presenting themselves before me, communicating differing aspects
My head feels as if it must explode – information overload
I get no rest, no peace although I am alone – I am not
I respond to them – they tease and taunt, my mind they haunt
I am in fear of what they know.You know not who I am, who sent me, but to his will, I bend
I have no time for Wordly things – my way is set. I follow.
Messages only for me, whispered in my ear, through the radio or TV
My life is a mission – resenting interference from you and your kind
Who are you who think you know what is best for me?
I am of the ancient world and live by the old rule
Unhand me. Through fear I shall fight and for what is rightDegraded yet again – I know this place and those who dwell here
Unable to move, I struggle to make sense of the battle within
The haze inside my mind – blades of light and clarity
Penetrate and buzz to the very core of my brain and then
It dawns, I am unwell again – no sickness, no broken bone
No visible signature of physical trauma, but my mind –
Oh my mind, it torments me as it screams for tranquillity
Tags: Science & Medical