The Healing Power of Writing (Poetry)
It’s no secret that the written word has power. After all, the ability to communicate through writing is one of the things that sets humans apart from other animals. But did you know that writing can also have a profound impact on your mental and physical health?
Some of us came to writing poetry instinctively because of what life has thrown at us, but there’s a growing body of research that suggests writing can be therapeutic as well. In fact, some experts believe that writing is an effective way to address trauma, anxiety, and depression. One study found that expressive writing helped people with anxiety disorders to reduce their symptoms and feel better overall. Another study found that writing about a traumatic or stressful life event helped people to cope with the experience and feel less distressed.
So how does writing have such a powerful effect on our mental health? One theory is that writing helps to “externalize” our thoughts and feelings. In other words, it helps us to get them out of our heads and down on paper (or screen). This can be especially helpful if we’re struggling to make sense of our thoughts and emotions, and let’s be honest, that’s something almost all of us have trouble with at some point in our life.
Writing can also be a way to process and make meaning of our experiences. By putting our thoughts into words, we can gain clarity and understanding. Writing can also be a way to connect with others. In one study, cancer patients who wrote about their experiences felt more supported by their family and friends. It is a way to connect with others who may be going through similar experiences and to find comfort in the words of those who have come before us. This is why we created our endometriosis anthology ‘Funeral for a Womb.’ In this poetry anthology we collected the stories of 35 international poets, all writing and dealing with the same thing: endometriosis.
Writing about trauma, sickness, or other difficulties we get to struggle with as humans, can help people process what happened to them and make sense of their experiences. It can also help them to communicate their feelings and thoughts about the trauma, which can be helpful in understanding and resolving the impact of the trauma.
There is something special about poetry, however. The way it can take the deepest, most personal thoughts and feelings and turn them into something beautiful that can be shared with the world. For many, poetry is a form of self-care. It can be a way to process difficult emotions, to make sense of the world around us, and to find hope in the darkest of times. It can be a way to connect with our own humanity, and to remember that we are not alone in this world.
When we read or write poetry, we are engaging in an act of self-care. We are taking the time to slow down, to be present with our thoughts and feelings, and to express ourselves in a creative and meaningful way. Poetry can offer us a space to grieve, to rage, to celebrate, to mourn, to heal. It can be a balm for our broken hearts and a light in our dark times.
There is no one right way to use poetry for healing, as each person's experience and needs are unique. However, some tips on how to get started include exploring what has been hurt or lost, and what needs to be healed; thinking about what brings comfort; and using imagery and metaphors to express emotions and experiences. Think about what you want to heal. This could be something specific, such as a broken heart, or more general, such as feelings of loneliness. Choose a form or style of poetry that feels right for you. There are no rules here, so go with whatever feels natural. Allow yourself to be vulnerable. This is your chance to express whatever you're feeling, so don't hold back.
It can also be helpful to read other healing poems for inspiration. Even the shape in which you present it can be different from that of other people: poems can be read, spoken, or written. It can be shared with others or kept private. It can be used as a tool for self-reflection or as a way to connect with the world around us. However you choose to use it, poetry can be a powerful tool for healing.
Our editor-in-chief used poetry to deal with her endometriosis. Endometriosis is a disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing pain and/or infertility. Our anthology FUNERAL FOR A WOMB tells the stories of 35 people who experience endometriosis in their daily life.