Poetry About Depression: these 9 powerful poems will move you

Poetry About Depression

Poetry About Depression-depressed girl next to a phone
Poetry About Depression, photo by Andre Moura

Depression is a serious mental health condition that can negatively affect how you think, feel, and act. While there are many different ways to treat depression, some people find that poetry can be therapeutic.

Poetry about depression can help you express your feelings in a creative and cathartic way.

It can also provide comfort and understanding from others who have been through similar experiences.

If you’re interested in exploring this form of self-care, read on for some poems about depression that may resonate with you.

Is poetry good for depression?

depressed man sitting
A depressed man, photo by Pexels

Poetry can provide an outlet for emotions, helping people to express what they may be feeling but unable to put into words.

It can also be a form of self-care, teaching people about their own thoughts and feelings and how to cope with them.

Additionally, poetry can be a way to connect with others who have experienced similar things, creating a sense of community and support.

Of course, not everyone will respond to poetry in the same way or find it helpful for their depression. However, for some people, poetry can be an important part of managing their mental health.

Cutting Again

Today I found satisfaction
In cutting myself
Again.

Not much makes sense 
To me
Anymore,
But this does.

Feels damn good!

As I watched, the blood flowed
In the intricate network 
Of patterns carved on my skin,
I feel a sense of 
Peaceful satisfaction.

Tomorrow I think I’ll do it
Again.

The Flip Side

Here we go again!
The uninvited guest
Has arrived in style 
AGAIN!

Now those who are close
To me
Are about to see her
True colours 
AGAIN.

Run,
Hide,
Don’t speak to me,
Don’t look at me,
Just leave

If you stay, you will
Live to regret it,
Don’t empathize with me
Don’t show me any sympathy,

Run,
Hide,
Don’t speak to me,
Don’t look at me,
Just leave!

Run away
Because she is here 
AGAIN
And she is never pretty.

Leave Me Alone, Please

No,
Not today,
Please, not today.

I just want to be alone
Just leave me alone.

I don’t need your sympathy
Nor your words of encouragement
Please, just leave me alone.

Let me marinate in my pain
Again,

Let me sit in solitude
And feel sorry for me
Again.

Please, not today
I just want to be alone,
Just leave, please.

Depression poems that make you cry

A depressed man seated alone in a room
A depressed man seated alone in a room, photo by Adrien Olichon

Poetry can be incredibly moving and cathartic, and there are many poems about depression that can make you cry.

This selection of poems captures the raw emotion and intensity of what it feels like to suffer from depression.

If you’re looking for a way to express how you’re feeling, or just want to know that you’re not alone, these poems will speak to you.

Faceless People

I live in a world 
That’s indifferent to 
What I feel and 
What I go through
Daily.

At home, 
I have to deal with 
An insensitive mother
And a bitchy sister
Whom thinks i’m 
An attention seeker.

At work,
My boss and co-workers
Are prime specimens
Of toxic pest.

Where or whom do I run to?

Alone,
In my quiet moments,
My habitual thoughts
Are like a fish market
Of old nags-
I can’t get a fragging break!

Where or whom do I run to?

I live in a world of 
Faceless people.

Sunrise

This morning 
I awoke to a gorgeous sun 
Lighting up the cloudless sky 
And I hated it!

My hair is like 
The husk of a freshly peeled coconut.

I smell like a skunk in heat
And my face is like 
Crumpled brown paper
Tossed in the garbage.

I hate this kind of morning
Sun-
I hate it!

Just when I prefer to lie 
In bed and feed my sorrow
It finds its way through
My window reminding me
That there is still life and hope.

I hate this kind of morning
Sunlight!

These Tears

These tears are 
My constant companion,
They are always there
When I need a release.

They may cloud my eyes
And burn my cheeks
But these tears are therapy.

When no one understands
They do,
When everyone leaves
They stay,
When everyone else ridicule
They don’t.

They are always here to 
Keep my company.

These tears might seem
Like sorry to some
But they keep me sane
And healed 
When I need them the most.

Poems about hiding pain with a smile

Poems about hiding pain with a smile
Depressed Girl

It’s not easy to hide the pain with a smile. It’s even harder to do it day after day. But for many people who suffer from depression, it’s a necessary survival tactic.

Depression is an incredibly isolating illness. It can make even the most outgoing person feel like they’re trapped inside their own head.

And when you’re struggling just to keep your head above water, the last thing you want to do is burden others with your problems.

So instead, we put on a brave face and hope that nobody notices how much we’re hurting inside. We laugh when we really want to cry.

We smile when all we really want to do is curl up in a ball and hide away from the world. Here are a few poems about using a smile to mask pain.

The Smile they See

I get loads
Of complements
For the glow in my smile,

It attracts unwanted followers
And suitors
At inopportune moments.

But no one sees 
The bottled-up pains
That’s eating me on the inside.

I mask my pain to avoid
The cliché questions
And dagger-like insensitivity
Of a society that’s emotionless.

Faking a smile
Is so much easier 
Than exposing myself 
Coldness of a world
That don’t give a damn
About me and what 
I feel.

Out of Body Experience

I sat there watching me
Laughing at all the jokes
Being the life of the party-

What a frigging fake!

Look at you,
I’m a wrecked piece of shit
On the inside
Yet you find time
To entertain the crowd.

When you are suffering, 
In solitude,
No one gives a flying fuck
About you!

But here you are
The life of their party

The joy in their smiles.
The candle of 
Their celebratory moments.
 
I sat there watching me
Laughing at all their jokes
Being the life of their party-

But when I really need 
This version of me 
She is nowhere to be found.

What a frigging fake!

The Smile I Wear

This smile I wear
Is just a band-aid
To my bruised and battered
Soul.

I’m tired,
I’m weak,
I’m losing hope.

This smile I fight 
So hard to keep
Is just a mask
To conceal my actual pain.

I’m growing more tired
By the days,
I’m getting weaker
By the moment,
I know I’m losing hope.

This smile I’m wearing
Is just a band-aid
For my bruised and battered
Soul.

Final Thoughts on Poetry About Depression

Poetry can be a powerful tool for exploring the complex emotions associated with depression. It can help you to make sense of your feelings and to express them in a creative way.

Writing poetry about your depression can also help you to feel less alone and to connect with others who have similar experiences.

If you are considering writing poetry about your depression, it is important to be honest and open about your feelings.

Be gentle with yourself, and don’t expect perfection. Just let the words flow and see what comes out. You may be surprised at the insights you gain into your own mind and heart.

Bentinck is a bestselling author in Caribbean and Latin American Poetry, he is a multifaceted individual who excels as both an artist and educator.

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