We are nothing more than the stories we have to share. We laugh, we cry, we get vulnerable — we use stories to form some of our deepest connections with others. Yet, no matter who the storyteller is, you never fully know everything, at least this is what singer-songwriter Madison Beer thinks. In her memoir […]
In the poem TODAY MY ALARM WENT OFF AT 12:30PM, Mira Gonzalez details the routine of someone struggling with depression and substance use issues. Though short in length, the poem is commanding, doing an impressive job of highlighting the distress that can arise from addiction and mental health issues. At the start of the poem, […]
Odes to Lithium is a 2019 book written by Shira Erlichman. The book contains poetry focusing on Erlichman’s experiences with having bipolar disorder; more specifically, it is a love letter to lithium, the medication that she uses to navigate her symptoms. Throughout its pages, readers can experience a bold, humanized look into a mental illness […]
Lizzy McAlpine, a singer, songwriter, and producer, contributes to the large body of alternative and indie wistful music. Her third studio album, “Other,” is a full embodiment of raw vulnerability. McAlpine narrates a breakup throughout this project, one in particular being her sixth track on the album. Staying. The beginning of the song begins with […]
The poem, “When Did I Become So Scared?” by Anita Campbell, powerfully captures the haunting moment of realizing you’re living with anxiety. Additionally, it is an exploration of all of the rational and irrational fears that are experienced when anxiety is present. Whether it's the fear of embarrassing oneself in a social setting or fearing […]
A poem from Iris Rose’s book fragile feelings delves into some of the complex emotions that arises from experiencing a traumatic event. “My trauma did not make me stronger, it made me fragile, sensitive, and dysfunctional.” This is an impactful opening line which acknowledges a difficult truth many individuals who have faced trauma at some […]
The poem “Depression, Too, Is a Kind of Fire” is a piece by Taylor Mali. It is written from his perspective, detailing his experiences with his first wife, who he tragically lost to suicide after her long struggle with depression. This heartbreaking poem details his regrets in not saving her and his failure to see […]
The asylum process for refugees is often portrayed through statistics and policy debates, but behind the headlines are deeply personal stories of fear, resilience, and hope. In a powerful project led by Dr. Sohail Jannesari at King’s College London, these stories are brought to life through poetry written by Iranian and Afghan sanctuary seekers. The […]
Brenna Twohy’s spoken word poem Anxiety: A Ghost Story captures the restless, all-consuming nature of anxiety. She uses humor and haunting metaphors to compare living with anxiety to being trapped in a horror story. The fear is both familiar and relentless. Twohy opens with a playful critique of Goosebumps protagonists who ignore red flags and […]
Forgiveness should not be seen nor pushed as a requirement for those healing from trauma. Trauma psychotherapist, Amanda Ann Gregory, delves into this topic in her book ‘You Don’t Need to Forgive’. Her writing highlights the false idea that there is no healing without forgiveness that society often pushes onto trauma survivors. “Forgiveness is not […]