Nine Depression Poems To Guide You Through Challenging Times
Some individuals associate depression with silence, isolation, and darkness. However, poets throughout history have used their art to express these associations creatively, attempting to help others be less alone in their struggle. These poems may open a door for conversations around mental health, helping readers find others who may understand their experiences. In addition, words written years ago can resonate with people's feelings in the present day, showcasing unique humanity regardless of time.
Nine depression poems
You may notice how poets from different times and places captured universal feelings and experiences by exploring poetry. Their words can provide comfort, understanding, and a sense of connection when navigating the complexities of mental health. Below are nine poems that dive deep into the topic of depression, some relating to difficult emotions and others offering solace and understanding.
"Acquainted With The Night "by Robert Frost
Imagine walking alone at night when the world is quiet, and you're left alone with your thoughts. Frost uses the scene of a nighttime walk to show how someone can feel lonely or isolated, even in a city. When he talks about walking beyond the city lights, it may be like perceiving yourself as disconnected or distant from the world around you, a common sentiment when struggling with depression.
"The Waste Land" by TS Eliot
When you think of April, you may picture blooming flowers and fresh starts. TS Eliot flips this idea, suggesting that what's generally seen as positive can seem overwhelming when you're not in a positive mental space. The theme of memory and desire shows the struggle of past regrets and future hopes. It may represent being stuck between what was and what could be.
"Lady Lazarus" by Sylvia Plath
Lady Lazarus is about bouncing back from life's challenges, much like the character Lazarus from the Bible, who was brought back to life. She talks about the idea of "dying" as a repeated challenge she faces. However, she isn't speaking about physical death but about moments in life when she feels defeated or down. By calling it an "art," she's highlighting how each person copes differently and finds their unique way back to life.
"There's A Certain Slant Of Light" by Emily Dickinson
Have you ever noticed how different lighting can change your mood? Dickinson talks about a specific kind of light in winter that seems heavy and sad. She compares it to the grand and sometimes overwhelming sensation of hearing church music. It may be similar to when a particular setting or song can suddenly make you feel blue without an apparent reason.
"Not Waving, But Drowning" by Stevie Smith
Not Waving, But Drowning discusses a person trying to signal for help, but everyone misunderstands his actions. It's a reminder that sometimes when people are distressed, their attempts to seek help might not be obvious. For example, someone might say they're "fine," but deep down, they might be struggling and trying to get support.
"Refugee Blues" by WH Auden
Auden's poem captures the sense of being lost and not belonging, like how a refugee might feel being away from home. It could be like the sensation of being in a room full of people but still feeling alone or out of place. The repeated line about the city's millions of souls underscores this sense of isolation. In terms of mental health, it highlights the importance of understanding and belonging. Even when surrounded by many, it's the quality of connections and being understood that often matters.
"Alone" by Edgar Allan Poe
Poe expresses how he's felt different and isolated from others since he was young. Remember a time you thought you didn't fit in or your thoughts and feelings seemed out of sync with everyone else's? This poem speaks to that experience of feeling alone in a crowd or different from everyone else. It reminds readers that understanding and accepting your unique feelings and perspectives is vital for mental well-being.
"Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost
Frost describes a quiet moment in the woods on a snowy evening. The peacefulness of the scene is tempting, like the desire to escape from life's stresses and responsibilities. However, he's reminded of the duties and distances he still needs to cover. This poem may be akin to a moment when you want to withdraw from challenges but remember your commitments. It's a gentle nod to the push-pull of wanting to escape yet recognizing your responsibilities to yourself and others.
"Hope Is The Thing With Feathers" by Emily Dickinson
Dickinson uses the image of a bird to symbolize hope. She explores the idea that even in the most challenging times, a little voice (like a bird's song) tells her to keep going. No matter how tough things get or how stormy life becomes, hope continues to sing its tune. It's an uplifting reminder that even in your darkest moments, there may be a spark of hope within you to pull you through.
What are the mental health benefits of poetry?
If you have ever read a book and related significantly to its contents, there may be a cause behind it. Poetry can touch the heart and is often written from a place of emotion, which is why it may connect with your emotional challenges. Below are a few reasons poetry is beneficial for mental health.
Poetry puts feelings into words
Finding the words to say precisely how you're feeling may be challenging. Poetry can do the talking for you. It may be like having a friend say, "I get you," when you can't find the words yourself.
Writing can boost your mood
Try writing down your feelings in a poetic way, even if it's just for yourself. Jotting down thoughts, feelings, or daily happenings in a rhyme or free form can improve mood. Studies back up this theory, showcasing that any form of expressive writing can help people release emotional pain and improve mental health.
Poetry helps humans relate
Not everyone may understand what it's like to experience depression. However, poems can showcase these symptoms and feelings in a raw form. Discussing a poem with a friend or family member can be like opening a window to your feelings, and helping them see a situation from your perspective.
Poems offer hope
Poems often talk about bouncing back and finding light in the darkness. Reading these can give a gentle reminder that your situation can get better.
Poems allow you to connect
Chatting about a poem you love or hate with others can be a way to connect. It's a same experience, like watching a movie or discussing a book together. In addition, realizing others feel the same way as you can be comforting. The next time you struggle to navigate your emotions, pick up a book of poems or try writing one yourself. It might not be a magic fix, but it could serve as a metaphorical warm blanket on a cold day.
Finding support for depression
If you struggle with your mental health, you're not alone. Although poems can offer a comforting respite from a challenging symptom, they aren't a replacement for professional help. Talking to a therapist can allow you to receive expert guidance and start actively coping with these emotions and symptoms.
Some people may struggle to reach out to a therapist due to barriers like financial insecurity or social anxiety. In these cases, online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp may be an effective alternative. With its blend of convenience and flexibility, online therapy offers a unique platform for those who find solace in poetry. Communicating over messages with your therapist means that if you've written a poem capturing your emotions, it can be instantly discuss with them. This immediate exchange allows for feedback during sessions. Coupled with the comfort of discussing feelings from one's own space, online therapy may make exploring emotions through poetry a more intimate and enriching experience.
Online therapy has gained traction in recent years, with numerous studies suggesting its effectiveness in addressing various mental health issues. The convenience of getting qualified therapists from the comfort of one's home, coupled with the flexibility of scheduling, can make it easier for individuals to maintain consistent sessions.
Takeaway
The above depression poems to guide you through challenging times can offer solace through relatable words but may also serve as gentle reminders that you are not alone. If you are interested in further exploring your mental health experiences, consider reaching out to a mental health professional online or in your area for support.
What is the saddest poem ever written?
There is no consensus on the saddest poem ever written, for there have been many. A quick search on the internet will generate hundreds of lists that people have compiled about the saddest poems ever written. One of the most commonly cited is “Ode on Melancholy,” by John Keats. The poem is a meditation on joy, desire, and loss – contemplating the inevitability of sadness in the human experience. The poem is now a part of the public domain.
Ode on Melancholy by John Keats
No, no, go not Lethe, neither twist
Wolf’s-bane, tight-rooted, for its poisonous wine;
Nor suffer thy pale forehead to be kiss’d
By nightshade, ruby grape, of Proserpine;
Make not your rosary of yew-berries,
Nor let the beetle, nor the death-moth be
Your mournful Psyche, now the downy owl
A partner in your sorrow’s mysteries;
For shade to shade will come too drowsily,
And drown the wakeful anguish of the soul.
But when the melancholy fit shall fall
Sudden from heaven like a weeping cloud,
That fosters the droop-headed flowers all,
And hides the green hill in an April shroud;
Then glut thy sorrow on a morning rose,
Or on the rainbow of the salt sand-wave,
Or on the wealth of globed peonies;
Or if thy mistress some rich anger shows,
Emprison her soft hand, and let her rave,
And feed deep, deep upon her peerless eyes.
She dwells with Beauty—Beauty that must die;
And Joy, whose hand is ever at his lips
Bidding adieu; and aching Pleasure nigh,
Turning to poison while the bee-mouth sips:
Ay, in the very temple of Delight
Veil’d melancholy has her sovran shrine,
Though seen of none save him whose strenuous tongue
Can burst Joy's grape against his palate fine;
His soul shalt taste the sadness of her might,
And be among her cloudy trophies hung.
Which poets wrote about depression?
Many famous poets, including Robert Frost, Sylvia Plath, Edgar Allen Poe, William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, and John Keats, wrote poems about depression. Some of them, like Sylvia Plath, lived with mental illness themselves and used writing as a means of expressing their feeling states.
Why do I write depressing poetry?
Writing poetry can be a beneficial way to release emotions and feelings about a variety of topics – this can include depression. If you are writing poems about grief, sadness, or loss, it could indicate that you are going through emotional challenges and finding ways to process the experience. However, writing poems about depression doesn’t necessarily mean you are living with depression yourself. You could also be drawing from experiences of the world around you as an observational writer.
What type of poem is sad?
The elegy is a type of poem that expresses grief, sadness, or loss.
Is poetry good for depression?
Poetry expresses deep human emotions and feelings in a unique way, which is why it may connect with your emotional challenges. Below are a few reasons poetry can be beneficial for mental health.
- Poetry Puts Feelings Into Words: Finding the words to say precisely how you're feeling may be challenging. Poetry can do the talking for you. It may be like having a friend say, "I get you," when you can't find the words yourself.
- Writing Can Boost Your Mood: Jotting down thoughts, feelings, or daily happenings can improve mood. Even a report recently showed that any form of expressive writing can help people release emotional pain and improve mental health.
- Poetry Helps Humans Relate: Not everyone may understand what it's like to experience depression. However, poems can articulate these symptoms and feelings in an understandable way.
- Poems Allow You To Connect: Chatting about a poem you love or hate with others can be a positive way to connect. In addition, realizing others feel the same way as you can be comforting.
What poems make you cry?
Many beautiful poems have been written about sadness and melancholy. Thousands of poems exist that could make you cry, and the effect a poem has on you may depend on your emotional state, unique circumstances, or personal experiences. Below are two examples:
It was not Death, for I Stood Up by Emily Dickinson
“It was not Death, for I stood up,
And all the Dead, lie down -
It was not Night, for all the Bells
Put out their Tongues, for Noon.
It was not Frost, for on my Flesh
I felt Siroccos – crawl –
Nor Fire – for just my Marble feet
Could keep a Chancel, cool-
And yet, it tasted, like them all,
The Figures I have seen
Set orderly, for Burial
Reminded me, of mine -
As if my life were shaven,
And fitted to a frame,
And could not breathe without a key,
And ’twas like Midnight, some -
When everything that ticked - has stopped -
And space stares - all around -
Or Grisly frosts - first Autumn morns,
Repeal the Beating Ground -
But most, like Chaos - Stopless - cool -
Without a Chance, or spar -
Or even a Report of Land -
To justify - Despair.
Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare
When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
(Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
Why do I cry when I read poetry?
Studies have found that reading poetry can elicit strong emotional responses. Much like reading a sentimental book, poems can move readers to tears through their treatment and description of certain subjects and experiences. For example, a poem about heartbreak may move you to tears if you recently parted ways with someone you love. Or a poem describing depression might make you cry because the descriptions of loss, guilt, or sadness resonate deeply with how you currently feel.
Why write about depression?
Journaling is a commonly used intervention to manage depression. This may also include writing poetry about how you feel. Expressing your thoughts on paper can help you in several ways.
- Writing can help bring your thoughts and feelings to the surface. This can help you get to know yourself on a deeper level and better express your emotions to others.
- Journaling can help you feel like you’re taking an active role in your treatment plan. When you write something down, it may feel more manageable.
- Making note of your experiences with depression can help you track your symptoms and, over time, identify patterns in your behavior or feelings.
- Previous Article
- Next Article