Thank you for talking to PMH Leanne. Tell me more about your mental health challenges.

I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I also have a learning disability called dyslexia.

Can you identify how or when they first started?

I can’t pinpoint the exact moment or year when depression, anxiety, or dyslexia began. For dyslexia I can remember as a kid; always having issues writing, reading, and even placing my shoes on the wrong foot - I was so bad at getting my shoes on the right foot that my uncle placed R and L on the back of my black shoe with white polish. It was the most embarrassing time of my life, shortly after I was diagnosed with dyslexia. As for depression and anxiety; looking back, I can see some glimpses of it in my childhood, but it wasn't until I was in my thirties that I could recall a significant moment; I was at work just another day suddenly, I just broke down crying, asking to leave because I felt like I needed to escape. My next major episode would come in 2020 after the loss of my grandfather. My grandfather and I was very close and losing him felt like I lost me. I was devastated, empty, like someone took my heart out of my chest.

What do you do to cope?

I first turned to food—specifically binge eating—as a way to cope. Over time, this left me at my heaviest, and also the most unhealthy and unhappy I had ever been. Eventually, I reached a breaking point, both mentally and physically. That’s when I decided to seek help. I entered a program that gave me practical tools and strategies to manage my struggles. Now, I meet with a therapist weekly to stay accountable, check in with my feelings, and maintain healthy coping mechanisms. I also make sure to take my medication as prescribed, which has been an important part of my journey toward healing.

How have you managed?

I’ve carried pain in silence, but poetry gave my silence a voice. When the weight of depression, anxiety, and loss felt too heavy to speak out loud, I poured it onto the page. Writing became a release—a safe place where I could unravel the chaos in my head and turn it into something I could see, shape, and understand.

What processes do you use to help and support you through the difficult times?

When life gets heavy and the weight feels unbearable, I’ve learned to lean on a few things that keep me grounded. Writing has always been my first outlet—poetry especially. It gives my pain a place to go and transforms feelings I can’t always say out loud into words that help me heal. I also make sure to stay connected with my therapist, meeting weekly to check in on my feelings, my coping mechanisms, and to remind myself that I don’t have to carry everything alone. Alongside that, I remain committed to taking my medication as prescribed—because caring for my mental health means staying consistent, even on the days when I don’t feel like it. Support has come in many forms. Sometimes it’s family or friends reminding me I’m not alone. Other times it’s the tools I’ve learned in programs that taught me healthier ways to cope. And always, it’s those quiet moments of reflection where I pause, listen to myself, and remind myself that even in pain, I am still here. These processes—writing, therapy, medication, support, and reflection—are what carry me through the difficult times. They don’t erase the struggle, but they give me the strength to face it.

What help and advice can you give others going through the same challenges?

If you’re going through what I’ve been through, I want you to know one thing first—you are not alone. Even when it feels like no one could possibly understand, there are people who care, and there is a way forward. Reach out for help when you need it. A therapist, a support group, or even a trusted friend can make the weight lighter. Stay consistent with your care—whether that’s showing up to therapy or taking your medication as prescribed. Healing is not about big leaps, but about small, steady steps. Find your outlet. For me, it’s poetry. For you, it might be journaling, painting, music, or even walking outside. Give your feelings a safe place to go. And please, be gentle with yourself. Healing is not a straight line—some days will feel harder than others, but every single step is progress. Surround yourself with people who lift you up. When you can’t see your own worth, let them remind you. And remember this: the fact that you’ve made it this far proves your strength. You are still here, and that is powerful.

When did you start using poetry to help you?

I found poetry at a time when depression and anxiety had their grip on me. As a child, I didn’t always have the words to explain what I was feeling, but writing gave me a place to let it all out. At first, it was just scribbles and broken lines, but slowly it became my safe space—my way of releasing pain I couldn’t say out loud. Poetry became more than words on a page; it became my lifeline. It taught me how to face myself, how to give voice to the silence, and how to heal piece by piece. Whenever I felt lost, writing helped me find my way back. That’s why I share my poetry with you—because maybe it can be the same light for you that it has always been for me.

What is your writing process - from that initial idea, thought or feeling, to actual words on paper?

For me, writing always begins with a feeling. Sometimes it’s heavy like sadness, anger, or anxiety and other times it’s a spark of hope or clarity. That first feeling usually sits with me for a while, and I let it roll around in my mind until words start to form. When the thought or emotion grows too loud to ignore, I grab my notebook or phone and write it down raw, without worrying if it makes sense. This is my release stage just letting the truth spill. From there, I revisit what I’ve written. I look for the heartbeat of the piece the one line or image that really carries the weight of what I’m trying to say. Once I find that, I start shaping the words around it, cutting away what doesn’t belong and strengthening what does. Finally, I read it out loud. Spoken word has taught me that poetry isn’t just about what’s written, it’s about how it moves, how it feels when spoken. If the rhythm hits me in my chest, I know I’ve gotten it right.

Have you had any poetry published?

Yes—I have just debuted my poetry collection, The Weight She Carried. This book gathers the pieces I’ve written through some of my darkest and most healing moments. While I’ve shared poetry on social media and through spoken word, this book marks the first time my work will be published in print and made widely available to readers. The Weight She Carried can be found on amazon.