41. Writing for Recovery: Poetry
The Mental Health and Faith: A Closer Look program presents a series of episodes on Writing Your Way to Recovery. Throughout June 2024, Caroline shares content originally created for presentations at two different mental health conferences in Missouri. Today’s episode explores how poetry can be beneficial in exploring emotions and how to express those feelings in a healthy way.
Links to info on Emotion (Feeling) Wheels
https://positivepsychology.com/emotion-wheel/
https://psychcentral.com/health/emotion-wheel
links for information on poetry
Poetry 101 – different types of poetry: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/poetry-101-learn-about-poetry-different-types-of-poems-and-poetic-devices-with-examples#6bzWosRp10myuzu65GOZ9w
The Free Verse Poem – https://www.masterclass.com/articles/poetry-101-what-is-the-difference-between-blank-verse-and-free-verse
The Narrative Poem – https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-narrative-poem-3-different-types-of-narrative-poems-with-poetry-examples
PSALM 42 (NASB) – An example of poetry (a song) expressing emotions honestly.
Thirsting for God in Trouble and Exile.
For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence.
6 O my God, my soul is in despair within me;
Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan
And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me in the night,
A prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11 Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THE MENTAL HEALTH AND FAITH: A CLOSER LOOK PODCAST.
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Caroline S. Cooper (Owner of In God’s Corner Ministry) is a writer, speaker, and podcast/YouTube host whose mission is to offer encouragement for life in a complicated world. Please email your comments, questions, or suggestions to caroline@ingodscorner.org.
Need help?
Crisis Lines
- Nationwide (USA) Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline: Call Or Text: 988
- SAMHSA’s National Helpline: (800)-662-HELP [4357]
- National Child Abuse Hotline: 800-422-4453
- National Child Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
- National Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255 or Text to 838255
- National LGBT Help Line: 888-843-4564
a more complete list of mental health resources can be found on Caroline’s website: carolinescooper.com
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Jessyln McCutcheon spent twenty years battling a giant in her life. A diagnosis of bipolar I revealed the giant’s name, and then the real work began. Hear Jesslyn’s story of how finding the right treatment plan brought her relief from symptoms. The more powerful story is how God transformed Jesslyn by revealing his purpose for her life resulting in the establishment of Fighting Goliath for Mental Illness, Jesslyn’s ministry.