Poetry for Mental Health (National Poetry Month)

Poetry can be used for therapeutic purposes and for taking care of your mental health. Writing down your thoughts in rhyme, without rhyme, or in any other poetry form can be useful for you to heal from traumatic events. Also, poetry can help you to release your emotional stress through writing. Poetry makes you self-reflect on how you are feeling at that time and makes you feel better about yourself. You can begin writing your poetry in a haiku, acrostic, sonnet, free verse, prose, list poetry, or any other poetry form in your journal.

Writing poetry helps your healing process. There are no restrictions in writing your poems. Write your thoughts and do not limit your words. Express yourself with your poems. Read poetry to assist you to open your deep emotions.  

Reading poetry allows you to relax and understand what the poet is trying to convey. It is an aid for making your mental health better. Take your time to write for five minutes a day in a journal or notebook. Feel creative in your writing. Poetry can help you with your grief, anxiety,  worries, and other issues. Yet, it is an accompaniment to your professional therapy sessions. 

Do not rely on just writing poetry without professional therapy. Poetry works for communicating how you feel through writing. But you will need a professional therapist to interpret what you write and diagnose your troubles. Therefore it is recommended to get professional therapy to improve your mental health. Write poems when you need a break and when you need to self-reflect. 

The whole month of April is National Poetry Month. However, you can write poems anytime for you to worry less. Write a short poem in the morning while you have breakfast. Write a poem during your work break. Last write a poem at night and compare your three poems. 

You will notice that all three poems might be similar, or different, or will make you feel calm as you review your day. Focus on how you felt and realize that those worries are temporary. Writing poetry might enable you to sleep better. Exercise your mind by writing poetry and see how it makes a difference in your mental health. Here are websites about poetry and mental health.

 

How Poetry Can Heal-Psychology Today:

How Poetry Can Heal | Psychology Today

7 Poems That Teach Us About Mental Health:

7 poems that teach us about mental health (happiful.com)

Poetry Therapy-Good Therapy:

Poetry Therapy (goodtherapy.org)

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