A stumble on my path
Filled my father full of fear
His tactics had me locked away
Head down I felt his shame
I couldn’t get my story heard
Voiceless,fearful, I was numb with pain
New tablets tried to soothe the pain
To force me on a productive path
The Powers persuaded and got heard
Telling me to have no fear
All was well, no need for shame!
I really tried to run away
But there was no way to get away
I had to sit and take the pain
Head down,loss left me shamed
Thorny pricks blocked my path
Masters of control and fear
I felt no hope of being heard
Twenty-four years later I felt heard
By a therapist, I sought miles away
Talked at last my troubled fear
Voiced at last my unheard pain
Secretly sought to find my path
Saw how I had been shamed
But word got out I had shunned my shame
Powers that be somehow heard
That I had embraced a newfound path
They needed again to put me away
To silence the voice of pain
To regulate my irrational fear
Four more years of Father-Fear
Struggling daily to rid the shame
I sought TRUTH to prevent more pain
Was happy at last to be truly heard
I finally got to run away
And cherish now my Noble path
Freedom is a personal choice
Sometimes costs a worldly price
But to sleep well, at last, is really Nice!
Survivor of Psychiatry 23/5/2023
Delighted that this person survived those thorny pricks who blocked his/her path.
I first encountered these bullies aged about 20 in the late 70s and, though not ever forced into captivity, I felt I had no other choice and voluntarily entered their realm, where my thoughts and opinions counted for nothing.
I am free of them now, have been for quite a few years, having finally met a kind, considerate woman consultant, with none of the condescending arrogance of those I’d met before. Unlike them, she did NOT insist on a pharmaceutical cocktail. She actually listened, and validated a lot of what I said, then suggested I stick with one drug, which seemed to help me without any major side effects.
Today I look forward, content that I’ve been able deal with what comes my way, and probably will for quite a few days yet. I choose to leave the dark days behind me, as I hope will the person who wrote this beautiful poem. Maybe someday we’ll chat.
Thank you Tomas for sharing your story. We are very glad to hear that you discovered a kind woman who helped you. If you wouldn’t mind sharing her name it would be good if we could let other people know she exists.Sadly it is difficult to get people who are helpful. You will be glad to here the person who wrote this poem is leaving those days behind and is drug free now.