by Sue Holt ISBN 13: 978 1 84747 011 9
Published: 2005
Pages: 120
Description
This is Sue Holt"s second collection of poetry. Sue is a poet who suffers from mental distress. Her first book "Poems of Survival" was Sue"s opportunity to open up the Pandora"s box that contained memories of her past and her day to day struggle with manic depression, in doing this she was able to emerge to begin the slow process to accept her own worth.
About the Author
Sue Holt was born in Liverpool in 1967 and is now living Rochdale. Shortly after the birth of her son, illness forced her to leave her job as a social worker. She was diagnosed with manic depression and has since been hospitalised on numerous occasions. In order to overcome her illness Sue developed her creative abilities, and started expressing herself through writing and sculpture. Now, having had her first collection of poems published, she is an effective campaigner fighting the stigma that surrounds mental illness. She has helped set up a group for fellow mental health survivors called "Freedom" which provides support and training.
Book Extract
The Book Launch
I wrote a book
Of past hurts
Humiliation
Pain.
The pain of insanity
Of childhood sexual abuse
My pain
Locked within
My body.
My mind broken
Ravaged by madness
Turned in on itself,
Looked for answers elsewhere.
Answers came from above,
A gentle voice in my mind.
A delicate breeze
Held me close.
God spoke to me
About my "living hell"
He told me of love
Life in the future.
Faith,
Faith was all I needed
Such a simple concept
Just believe.
I spoke of my emotional pain
To others,
They misunderstood
I tried harder.
I told them of God
And all He had said.
I was ridiculed
My dreams dismissed.
I forgive them for this
They were not to know,
The truth
Though it was clearly there.
Today I believe my faith
Is truly recognised.
Although the voice
In my head.
Is still not considered
To be God
That is ok
I understand,
The lack of faith
In others.
I believe
I will teach others
About mental health
One day.
Tomorrow.
Sees the launch
Of my first book
For me it is much more.
People are coming to see me,
Hear me talk.
Acknowledge my former pain
And me.
I am beginning to feel accepted
Not just by God
By those around me.
My thoughts, feelings
Emotions And
opinions,
Do count.
I feel deeply honoured
That people
Are willing to share their time
With me.
Mental Health Is still very hush hush
I dream I can
help Help others
speak.
Perhaps tomorrow
Those gathered
May see people
In a different light Это и многое другое вы найдете в книге Depression Ate My Soul (S Holt)