POTD: An Uninvited Guest (Wellness Friday)
an uninvited guest
settles in the valley of my heart
makes a home within my chest
and refuses to depart
the mountains of my lungs
are crumbling down beneath his weight
as he pollutes the peace once there
with oppression and hate
there are waves of emotions
that pound against my veins
lost in a whirl of wind
as they rage in a hurricane
the currents get rough
and I find myself lost at sea
within a jagged ocean as vast
as the emptiness I flee
my nights have grown longer
as I struggle to fall asleep
my days have blurred together
and my body has grown weak
tracks run over my wrist
as the departing train voices its last call
is it better to feel pain
than to feel nothing at all?
emotions cloud my thoughts
smoke fogs up my mind
they tell me I’m not good enough
that I’m not worth it to the Divine
my faith is shaking
I can’t find who I am
I am enchained by anxiety
as desolation takes command
saltwater shakes my core
and spills over the rims of my eyes
as the ocean drowns me
I succumb to numbness inside
I frantically glance into the distance
and find His lighthouse shining from miles away
guiding me home
from tides that make me stray
He shows me the universe;
constellations trace my skin
and even when I’m breaking,
my galaxies shine from stardust within
He shows me the dawn;
as it breaks, so do I
but there’s a beauty in my breaking
as red and gold paint the morning sky
To Him I am worth more
than this world entirely
and that’s all I need to overcome
my haunting thoughts of mortality
an honorable guest
has settled in the valley of my heart
He illuminates it with hope and light
in places I’ve broken apart
-SS Barkat
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It's World Mental Health Day tomorrow!
One in five adults suffer from a mental illness each year within the United States. More Americans struggle with depression than they do with coronary heart disease, cancer, and HIV/AIDS2. Unfortunately, stigmas founded on misunderstandings of mental illnesses are common. Some may inappropriately label the lack of energy that a depressed individual struggles with as laziness. In turn, those that are suffering turn away from getting the professional help that they need from fear of what people may say.
The “uninvited guest” in this poem refers to depression. The poem’s title aims to demonstrate that depression is just as real as any other physical disease that one may have. It isn’t a state that those suffering choose to be in; rather, depression appears uninvited and begins to govern the mind and body of the victim. Overall, the purpose of this poem is to share the complex nature of depression, the thoughts that may plague the minds of those that are depressed, and ways in which we can all look at the signs around us to remember our self worth in times that we feel lost and hopeless.
By sharing experiences and having open and honest conversations about mental health, we can become a step closer to shattering stigmas and improving access to treatment and services as a community of health care workers.
Have a friend who needs help?; Give them a hug, a pat on the back. Let them cry on your shoulder or your lap. Don't underestimate the power of simple things.
Ask for help when it gets too much:
National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
NYC Well: 1-888-NYC-WELL or Text "WELL" to 65173
In-house: Erica Hutchinson, Ph.D.
Office: (718) 283-8174
Work Cell: (347) 996-6090
Have a great weekend and stay well,
TR Adam
