PTSD Poems
#PTSD
PTSD poems, poetry about post-traumatic stress disorder, an anxiety disorder caused by experiencing a distressing event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident or an assault. PTSD can cause a sufferer to relive the traumatic event through nightmares and flashbacks, and they may experience feelings of isolation and guilt. PTSD symptoms are often severe enough to have a significant impact on a person’s day-to-day life.
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crash
You say words
that have no meaning
make promises
that are designed
to break
(the passenger door is open
but you're waiting on the wrong side)
I remember the day
you gave up on me
was the day
I gave up on myself
(hands shaking
I'm crying in the parking lot
while you're yelling
and I can't make out
a single word)
I still haven't managed
to find my way back
to who I thought I was
(she took me out
held a metaphorical gun to my head
said drive ...
that have no meaning
make promises
that are designed
to break
(the passenger door is open
but you're waiting on the wrong side)
I remember the day
you gave up on me
was the day
I gave up on myself
(hands shaking
I'm crying in the parking lot
while you're yelling
and I can't make out
a single word)
I still haven't managed
to find my way back
to who I thought I was
(she took me out
held a metaphorical gun to my head
said drive ...
#anxiety
#LifeStruggles
#MentalHealth #PTSD
#MentalHealth #PTSD
66 reads
2 Comments
Metamorphosis
Maybe I don’t hate myself anymore…
I used to be consumed
By a deep self-loathing
But I’m learning now
How to be self-forgiving
I used to be burdened
By traumatic memories
But the memories are fading
And being replaced
With notions of fortitude
With newfound grace
Growing in self-love
Growing in strength
No longer disturbed
By tragic past times
I have finally returned
To my rhythm and rhyme
I used to be consumed
By a deep self-loathing
But I’m learning now
How to be self-forgiving
I used to be burdened
By traumatic memories
But the memories are fading
And being replaced
With notions of fortitude
With newfound grace
Growing in self-love
Growing in strength
No longer disturbed
By tragic past times
I have finally returned
To my rhythm and rhyme
#MentalHealth
#NaPoWriMo2024
#PersonalGrowth
#PTSD
#learning
71 reads
14 Comments
Mendacity
17/30
Mendacity
My Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
is trying to keep me alive, longer
No idea why
as I felt the US Air Force
never intended to use
my expertise in that
which I am totally capable
in seeing the task, the goal
to its end
Fellow Veterans, who,
like me,
don’t understand
why I don’t trust
my own Healthcare Provider
(LOL!) the military
They say civilians care and the
Veteran’s Admin is not military.
I still don’t trust them.
My...
Mendacity
My Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
is trying to keep me alive, longer
No idea why
as I felt the US Air Force
never intended to use
my expertise in that
which I am totally capable
in seeing the task, the goal
to its end
Fellow Veterans, who,
like me,
don’t understand
why I don’t trust
my own Healthcare Provider
(LOL!) the military
They say civilians care and the
Veteran’s Admin is not military.
I still don’t trust them.
My...
#anger
#depression
#military
#NaPoWriMo2024
#PTSD
59 reads
0 Comments
writing journey~sorrow speaks
Sorrow explains herself
with a soft voice and gentle touch
long blonde hair and sunshine in my smile
a sunflower growing in the wild
Sadness looms behind my eyes
and if you provoke my hurt
you will meet Darkness
concealing her well unless Sadness feels threatened
Darkness is vicious with her tongue
precise and strategic once loose I can't control her temper
my hands are never raised in anger
in a past life I think I let it go to my heartbreak
so even when she is freed I maintain my control
letting her defend me and...
with a soft voice and gentle touch
long blonde hair and sunshine in my smile
a sunflower growing in the wild
Sadness looms behind my eyes
and if you provoke my hurt
you will meet Darkness
concealing her well unless Sadness feels threatened
Darkness is vicious with her tongue
precise and strategic once loose I can't control her temper
my hands are never raised in anger
in a past life I think I let it go to my heartbreak
so even when she is freed I maintain my control
letting her defend me and...
#love
#MentalHealth
#PTSD
53 reads
4 Comments
FALLING EVER FURTHER MORE DEEPLY AWAY (12-13-1995, 3:36a.m., Galveston Island, Texas)
i stay up all night at times
perhaps to steal back time
that i feel is being stolen away from me
i stay up in my head
keeping watch from my inner battlements
looking for the shadow of death
breathlessly lurking all about me here
across and throughout each long night
concealed in invisible layers of so much
mysterious deadly craftiness
stealthily stealing ever closer to me
all the time day and night
it knows i watch in wait for it
as even here now
i listen for the clacking
of it s sneaking bones
trying to slip in ...
perhaps to steal back time
that i feel is being stolen away from me
i stay up in my head
keeping watch from my inner battlements
looking for the shadow of death
breathlessly lurking all about me here
across and throughout each long night
concealed in invisible layers of so much
mysterious deadly craftiness
stealthily stealing ever closer to me
all the time day and night
it knows i watch in wait for it
as even here now
i listen for the clacking
of it s sneaking bones
trying to slip in ...
#anxiety
#insomnia
#illness
#PTSD
#disability
41 reads
0 Comments
duality
10 of 30
go ahead
I dare you
test my strength
it’s a little known secret
I go nowhere without backup
it’s never just me
he knew this
I warned him
he just didn't listen
maybe he thought himself immune
...silly fool
when my safety is in jeopardy
she's always there for me
my hidden weapon
even I didn't know she existed
until we came together
unexpectedly
always in moments of crisis
she emerges from the aether
the first time...
I watched as she emerged ...
go ahead
I dare you
test my strength
it’s a little known secret
I go nowhere without backup
it’s never just me
he knew this
I warned him
he just didn't listen
maybe he thought himself immune
...silly fool
when my safety is in jeopardy
she's always there for me
my hidden weapon
even I didn't know she existed
until we came together
unexpectedly
always in moments of crisis
she emerges from the aether
the first time...
I watched as she emerged ...
#confessional
#MentalHealth
#PTSD #NaPoWriMo2024
#PTSD #NaPoWriMo2024
86 reads
8 Comments
trying to write out my feelings instead of cutting
anguish is flowing in red rivers beneath my skin
and it’s screaming to be let out
i couldn’t tell you where it came from
all i know is that i’m wired wrong
i wouldn’t dare try to talk to anyone beforehand
people either freak out or act annoyed
and in such a vulnerable state,
that is the cyanide of human communication
i wish someone would help me
the way i need to be helped
i usually feel stressed
numb
sad
ashamed
lonely
and overwhelmed ...
and it’s screaming to be let out
i couldn’t tell you where it came from
all i know is that i’m wired wrong
i wouldn’t dare try to talk to anyone beforehand
people either freak out or act annoyed
and in such a vulnerable state,
that is the cyanide of human communication
i wish someone would help me
the way i need to be helped
i usually feel stressed
numb
sad
ashamed
lonely
and overwhelmed ...
#depression
#loneliness
#SelfHarm
#PTSD
#StreamOfConsciousness
88 reads
2 Comments
The Beginning
i wash the blood
off my hands
rinse the spatter
from my face
scrub the clots
from my shoes
after receiving thanks
congratulations for
saving a mans life
now it
sinks in
i didn’t think about myself
didn’t hesitate
didn’t pause to don
gloves mask face shield
reached out instinctively
applied pressure to spurting wound
stopped life from flowing
onto the floor
realizing now
i have been exposed
to a disease that could kill me ...
off my hands
rinse the spatter
from my face
scrub the clots
from my shoes
after receiving thanks
congratulations for
saving a mans life
now it
sinks in
i didn’t think about myself
didn’t hesitate
didn’t pause to don
gloves mask face shield
reached out instinctively
applied pressure to spurting wound
stopped life from flowing
onto the floor
realizing now
i have been exposed
to a disease that could kill me ...
#anxiety
#illness
#PTSD #fear
#PTSD #fear
383 reads
3 Comments
Other Than That, Missus Lincoln
I got to sleep
finally at 5 a.m.
forgot to turn off the phone
and case manager called at 9:55
about my protein order
which is months late bc
I or somebody forgot to--
no, they had left a msg
on my whatchacallit
voice mail
and I never answer
unknown numbers or voice mail
bc they always want money
and I am already tapped out,
giving to Katie Porter--who lost-- ...
finally at 5 a.m.
forgot to turn off the phone
and case manager called at 9:55
about my protein order
which is months late bc
I or somebody forgot to--
no, they had left a msg
on my whatchacallit
voice mail
and I never answer
unknown numbers or voice mail
bc they always want money
and I am already tapped out,
giving to Katie Porter--who lost-- ...
#depression
#MentalHealth
#PTSD #disability
#PTSD #disability
86 reads
7 Comments
White Walls
Locked inside a place with white walls
My mind is my own worst enemy here
No padded walls but locked doors
Nurses checking in on me every fifteen minutes
Afraid I am a danger to myself
I might self destruct in three, two, one...
Anxiety spiraling out of control
The voices in my head overwhelm my mind
My brain screaming thousands of fears at me
"You're not worth it!"
"They don't love you!"
"You messed everything up!"
"You'll never be a first responder now!"
"You lost all your...
My mind is my own worst enemy here
No padded walls but locked doors
Nurses checking in on me every fifteen minutes
Afraid I am a danger to myself
I might self destruct in three, two, one...
Anxiety spiraling out of control
The voices in my head overwhelm my mind
My brain screaming thousands of fears at me
"You're not worth it!"
"They don't love you!"
"You messed everything up!"
"You'll never be a first responder now!"
"You lost all your...
#anxiety
#MentalHealth
#PTSD #healing
#PTSD #healing
91 reads
2 Comments
#27
I slaughtered and buried my enemies,
And my friends I kept in the fridge.
Their pictures hang on the tapestries,
And their memories sound like the kids
Outside the home of depravity
The house where I used to live
Everyone alive has capacity,
But not everyone caves in.
Still we all want to be happy
And yet we love mortal sin
Pulled on blue gloves for examining
This heart that I am stuck with
I
Keep a graveyard out in the back, sneak the brave-hearts into a trap, weave my ramparts throughout the past.
Hey look, Making excuses...
And my friends I kept in the fridge.
Their pictures hang on the tapestries,
And their memories sound like the kids
Outside the home of depravity
The house where I used to live
Everyone alive has capacity,
But not everyone caves in.
Still we all want to be happy
And yet we love mortal sin
Pulled on blue gloves for examining
This heart that I am stuck with
I
Keep a graveyard out in the back, sneak the brave-hearts into a trap, weave my ramparts throughout the past.
Hey look, Making excuses...
#SelfReflection
#PTSD
#DomesticViolence #deception
#DomesticViolence #deception
106 reads
2 Comments
Talking to Myself
In the recesses of a mind obscured,
Skye sought refuge, her essence secured.
She's woven into the kajira's thread,
Where Drogon's wings o'er shadows spread.
Shielding her from an entropic cruel dance,
A brat's mischief, a warped, fickle chance.
A shard of chaos, a mirror unformed,
A misty reflection, menacingly stormed.
Ah, the Poet intrudes with silent grace,
Demanding canvas for the mind's embrace.
A battle of wills, an internal strife,
The Poet wins, the pen comes to life.
Whispers of verse, the...
Skye sought refuge, her essence secured.
She's woven into the kajira's thread,
Where Drogon's wings o'er shadows spread.
Shielding her from an entropic cruel dance,
A brat's mischief, a warped, fickle chance.
A shard of chaos, a mirror unformed,
A misty reflection, menacingly stormed.
Ah, the Poet intrudes with silent grace,
Demanding canvas for the mind's embrace.
A battle of wills, an internal strife,
The Poet wins, the pen comes to life.
Whispers of verse, the...
#MentalHealth
#PTSD
58 reads
2 Comments
DU Poetry : PTSD Poems