Creative Writing for Mental Wellbeing

By Colette MacFadyen

I took up creative writing, mainly poetry, in September 2023. It started with a poem called Balance which was a description of how I felt which was extremely off-balance. I had been very stressed with life, and my moods were all over the place. Sometimes I get quite mixed moods, so I was totally off-balance and couldn’t get back on track.

After the first poem, I started writing poems all the time. I found it was a release to me and helped me focus my thoughts. I have always loved journalling, and writing how I was feeling and what was troubling me, but I never appreciated how essential it was to my mental wellbeing - to get the thoughts out of my head, instead of circling round my mind tormenting me. It is also good when feeling high to try to calm the thoughts down and to slow your racing mind.

It helps you to see clearly and to challenge your thoughts better. This is especially true with the poetry, as I liked to type them up and put a little picture beside them. It helped me be creative, which is a big part of who I am. I read recently how journalling was really good for your mental health - to free your mind of the thoughts and ideas that ruminate over and over, tormenting you. I am sure you will all relate to this.

I find the creative writing, especially the poetry, is very positive and can be fun too. Sometimes you write a poem, and you wonder where the ideas come from. I just know they are so good for my mental health and wellbeing, and wanted to share this with you all to help encourage you too.

There is no format to journalling and poetry. Just write what is on your mind and in your heart, and hopefully you will feel the release and set your mind free too. It really does help. So, take pen to paper and give it a try.

MY MASK

It is easy to smile and pretend you are fine

To hide your emotions and feelings behind

No one need know how you truly feel

The mask that you wear helps you to conceal

You laugh and you join in but inside you cry

You are feeling so low you just want to die

But nobody sees this as you cleverly hide

Your thoughts and emotions deep inside

The mask helps you pretend that all is okay

It hides your true feelings and keeps them at bay

It is easier to hide than admit what is real

It is only at home that you start to reveal

Forgive me if I am not being honest with you

It is hard to admit when you are feeling so blue

It is easier to put a smile on and act

The truth is so dark it will have an impact

I wear my mask daily and put on my smile

I pretend all is going well and I am just fine

Don’t judge me too harshly it is my way to survive

To keep my feelings locked inside and keep me alive.

ABOUT THE POEM: The poem was inspired by the poem by Charles C. Finn - "Don't be fooled by me, I wear a mask, a thousand masks and none of them are me." I loved this poem and it inspired me to write my poem. It explains how I hide my feelings deep within, and put on a mask to keep them hidden. I think many of us wear a mask and hide our feelings, especially if feeling unwell mentally.

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