Beauty and Pain in Written Words
Today, we are sharing this blog space with Alexia Eller, LMSW. Alexia is a trauma therapist, an EMDR therapist, and a mental health advocate, passionate about the unique journies to mental wellness. Join us in learning more about the topic of poetry and writing as a tool for emotional healing.
Poetry Is:
A stinging bee
Beautifully raw but yours
A lingering ghost
Your little confidant
A consuming thought
… collectively your truth.
Some of us express ourselves by writing words in a journal, on our phone, or on any type of paper we can get our hands on. Whether you are writing words in poetry form, a story, or applying the words to musical tunes.
The National Library of Medicine (2020) studied that during the pandemic, many individuals experienced loneliness due to the disruption of our regular day-to-day life and how poetry has become a form of medicine. Writing your own words down can be powerful, practical, and healing.
Poetry is not a one-size-fits-all to every problem, but it can show the raw you. It can depict the picture that you are trying to portray or what you feel you can’t say out loud to others but can write without issue.
Most people think they are not creative enough in drawing, writing, and musical instruments, but they are not allowing themselves to be free, not have a prerogative or outline, but be raw. There is beauty in being raw and vulnerable with yourself connecting with the words floating in your brain and putting them down on paper.
When we are kids, it’s viewed as okay to be creative and scribble and draw our little hearts away. I want you to feel like you can bring that mentality into your adult world. As adults, we may be told we aren’t good enough or creative enough by society, but I want to challenge you to give yourself grace and try.
Tips for writing for YOU:
Be creative - allow yourself to go back to the little version of you, meditate on a certain age as a kid, and explore from that mindset when writing
Freewriting or prompts - some of us need some structure to get our words flowing and some of us need to have an open page with no limitations. Find what works for you and set a 15-minute timer to allow yourself the space to express yourself.
No “rules” - there are no rules to poetry or songwriting that they have to rhyme or be a collection of stanzas. Write as if you are expressing your raw emotions on something that is important to you. The only “rule” is to allow yourself to write freely.
Healing through words can be one of the best ways to relieve stress in your life and break down any barriers or judgmental thoughts and engage in the practice of enjoying something that can relieve pressure points of distress in your life and turn it into something beautiful (1).
If you want to learn more about different ways to express yourself or sit down on a couch and share your deep thoughts from poetry, creative writing, or songwriting, we have a spot for you on our couch or sharing through online therapy. Connect with a member of our team today at our Arlington, TX-based therapy office.
