Kathy Sherban's story

ONE. SINGLE. EVENT.

One. Single. Event. Occurred during Kathy's early formative years — a lightning bolt that changed the trajectory of her life forever.

Poetry by Roland Wayne Bebler

MY WAR.

Roland is an American poet whose work has been published and displayed internationally. He writes for personal reasons and hopes to relate to others.

Poetry by Ted Halm

OVERTURE.

Ted work examine characters searching for their identities and a brighter path, while coping with depression, despair, and loneliness.

Mark Fleisher's story

A DAY TO BE REMEMBERED.

Mark is convinced that writing about that day, and other difficult days in Vietnam, helped heal the wounds and ease the pain he carry in his memory.

Poetry by Hollie Dickson

A RAGDOLL’S SILENT SCREAM.

Hollie has a unique writing perspective as she holds a master’s degree in mental health counseling, and is someone who has been diagnosed with a serious mental illness.

Poetry by Johnnie Dalton

HOMELESS SOLIDER and WHEN WAR IS NO MORE.

Johnnie is an ex Soldier, which is what really inspires him to write - he has seen these issues first-hand.

Zack Benz's story and poetry

FRIDAY, EROSION, and RECOLLECTION.

Zack is a college student living with C-PTSD. His poems explore themes of mental health, LGBT issues, politics, and disability.

Peter W. Morris' story

A PHOTOJOURNALIST TACKLES PTSD.

Peter is an international photojournalist and writer who has traveled and worked in 80 countries on six continents.

Poetry by Paul Parker

NORTHERN IRELAND, ME AND PTSD, IT NEVER GOES AWAY, THE UNWELCOME GUEST, and ACCEPT.

Paul is a retired UK Military Veteran. Poetry is a very good way of helping him live with PTSD.

Poetry by Kavita Ezekiel Mendonca

LET ME BE THERE FOR YOU.

Kavita has taught English in Indian colleges and at an International School nestled in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains. "Sometimes all you can do to help alleviate the pain of sudden loss is to be there for the person."

Poetry by Amelia May Hart

JUST A KISS, PAY IT FORWARD, and THE ICE CREAM MAN.

Amelia is 15 years-old. She has OCD, ADHD and ASD, and struggles with her mental health.

Poetry by Freddie Obregón

I WANT TO BE FAMOUS.

Freddie is a queer, Latinx (of Latin American origin), plus-sized man who struggles with C-PTSD. His work explores the dark places the symptoms can take him to.

Poetry by Ivan de Monbrison

SANCTUARY.

Ivan is affected by strong psychiatric disorders that prevent him from having what others may call a 'normal' life. He has found writing to be an exit to this prison.

Poetry by Forrest Schalkham

DROWNING, THE MOON.

Forrest is a Sophomore, studying geophysics. He passionately writes about mental health in the hope that their work provides comfort to those with similar experiences.

Poetry by Anna Mavroidi

ABUSE, THE HOUSE DRAWN WITH A COLOUR PEN, SIMPLE LINES, STRANGE SPECTACLE, and DEAD PEOPLE.

Anna is a Greek poet and author of five poetry collections. She works as a counselor and psychotherapist in Athens.

Poetry by Donna Wester

SHADOWS IN MY MIND: A POEM OF CHRONIC PTSD.

Donna is a 31-year-old poet and mother of three. She finds inspiration in the everyday moments of family life, as well as the personal journey of navigating mental well-being.

Darren Warren's story

MY PTSD JOURNEY.

Darren has severe PTSD from an severe violent assault while on an evening out.

Poetry by Garima Sachdev Kapoor

THE BODY REMEMBERS.

Garima is an education practitioner, based in Dubai. Her writing explores the emotional landscapes of overthinking, uncertainty, and quiet resilience.

Jim Tritten's story

A FEW SECONDS.

Jim is a retired U.S. Navy carrier pilot. His PTSD stems from a near-death traumatic experience when he a twin-engine jet airplane.

Poetry by Yazdan Khoshsirat

LINGER.

Yazdan is an Iranian poet. His PTSD stems from his mandatory time in the military, specifically during the 12-Day War, and the circumstances he endured during that period.

Poetry by Blessings Mwahimba

THESE VOICES.

Blessings is a Malawian poet and literary student. Blessings's work aims to shed light on mental health, particularly PTSD, depression and anxiety.

Poetry by Elena Angelopoulou

BAD GRAMMAR.

Elena was born Germany, and grew up between Germany andGreece. She holds a degree in Educational Sciences. Elena poem gives form to the psychological impact of emotional uncertainty and unclear boundaries.

Poetry by Tricia Lloyd Waller

I AM NOTHING BUT SHADOW SADNESS.

Tricia's poem is about long-term grieving, and the cruelness of a group of people who vaguely know each other to an outsider.

Poetry by Barry Thorne

BETRAYAL.

Former military, Barry suffers with PTSD, depression, and anxiety at a severe assessment level.

Poetry by Karen Greenbaum-Maya

SO SORRY, ASTRAY, MACHT FREI and LIVING WITH THE BLACK DOG.

Karen is a retired clinical psychologist. Her poems chronicle her struggles with PTSD and mental health.

Ashtyn Salazar's story and poetry

BROKEN TIES, BAGGAGE, I WOULD HAVE PROTECTED HER, AFFLICTION, AMISS and THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

Ashtyn has ACEs - Adverse Childhood Experiences, which refers to ten categories of trauma a child could experience growing up. Ashtyn has experienced nearly all ten of them.

Poetry by Joan McNerney

DESCENT, WITHOUT YOU, BUTTERFLY, and FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD.

Joan lives in a small town in upstate New York, USA. After the death of her husband, Joan really did not want to continue her life - his medical suffering and death left her stunned and hopeless.

Poetry by Jill Skinner

SILENT NIGHT TO SUNBRIGHT.

Jill lives with PTSD, Clinical Depression, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, rooted in a childhood. Her work returns to those experiences, often with honesty and compassion.

Poetry by Matthew Gilbert

“SMILE IT MIGHT NEVER HAPPEN ...”

After a serious illness caused by sepsis, Matthew struggle with his mental health. Words have always intrigued Matthew and poetry became his true way of seeing — its rhythm brought order to his thoughts and images to life.

Poetry by Kay Morgan

WHY AM I HERE?, PREY, LOCKED IN, and UNTITLED.

Kay uses writing as an outlet to navigate the complexities of childhood and young adult trauma. Through poetry, healing is shown by capturing the struggles and resilience that comes with confronting the past.

Poetry by Hanh Chau

DEEP OCEAN DROWN.

Hanh resides in California, USA, and has worked for 20 years as patient care services representative.

Poetry by Rita McDermott

BATTLEFIELD THOUGHTS.

Rita is an Army veteran of 21 years, having a combat support role as a behavioral science specialist, in which she assessed and counselled soldiers and families dealing with various mental health issues.

Nick Jones's story and poetry

PTSD.

Nick was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan which had a significant impact on his mental healt which led to his PTSD surfacing 14 years later.

Poetry by Laura Michiels

MARBLES, THE PLUNGE and SELF-IMAGE.

Laura is a theatre scholar based in Belgium. She holds a PhD in American Literature. Her poetry grew out of her own recovery from PTSD, and explores female myth-making, performance, and mental illness.

Poetry by Pip McDonald

MY THERAPIST IS LIKE PAUL WELLER.

Pip is a spoken word performance poet from North East England. Her therapist helped her to both overcome complex PTSD and manage grief by weaving together songs and music with authentic reflections of a raw therapeutic journey.

Dee DeSoto's story and poetry

Story: DR. B. AND DEE MEET PTSD

Poetry: THE DEEP SELF KNOWS, ODE TO THE HEALER and AWAKENING THROUGH THE MIST.

Dee is a retired Respiratory Care Practitioner who dedicated her career to neonatal and paediatric intensive care. However, the weight of her responsibilities took a toll on Dee. After years of navigating emotionally charged situations—particularly with severely ill infants—she began to experience symptoms of PTSD.

Poetry by Heeya

WHAT SURVIVES THE LULLABY.

Heeya is a final-year medical student. She examines the emotional cost of caregiving, and seeks to articulate the quiet, ongoing exhaustion and the fractured peace that remains when the 'lullaby' of caregiving becomes a heavy, persistent reality.

Poetry by Gary Shulman

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE ANGER?, A HOLE IN MY SOUL and A SIMPLE REMINDER.

Gary has spent a lifetime supporting vulnerable families and children. He passionately writes with the goal of leaving this world a better place - one word at a time.

Poetry by Zoe Scott

SOFTEN YOUR HEART, IVY, I NEED MY TRAUMA TO HAVE NOT BEEN IN VAIN,and THE EMPTY STARE.

Zoe lives with C-PTSD and diabetes. She has found creativity and poetry a real benefit for her own wellbeing, and uses poetry to portray her own experiences with mental and physical health issues.

Poetry by Simon Drake

NIGHTMARE, BIOGRAPHY, and REFLECTION.

Simon is a UK based Gestalt Counsellor, and a huge supporter and advocate for mental health awareness for all those out there suffering in silence.

Kelly Maida's story and poetry 

SERAPHIM ANGELS, THE DANCE OF ARTEMIS AND DIONYSUS, CINNAMON SWIRLS, ALCHEMICAL MERGE, SERPENTS AND THE TREE OF LIFE and MYSTERY SCHOOL.

Kelly was diagnosed with PTSD six years ago after being almost killed by a man she was briefly dating - when she tried to leave him he almost killed her. However the psychiatrist also believes she had PTSD before this event too, because she was physically and mentally abused as a child.

Poetry by Diana Spore

SLIVERS OF TIME, COMING INTO FOCUS AND MERGING.

Diana earned her PhD in Human Development and Family Studies, with a concentration in Ageing. Her research efforts, work experiences, and writing have focused on mental health and ageing.

Poetry by Emily Astey

STUNTED.

Emily lives in Colorado, USA. Her bouts with PTSD and OCD have made life challenging, but through the grace of writing it has become manageable.

Poetry by Jason Kirk Bartley

THE WOOD CARVER

Based in the USA, Jason is a paranoid schizophrenic, and copes with his illness every day. He has a master's degree in ministry.

Poetry by Jasmeet Gabrie

CANDY, CANDY

Jasmeet's poem incorporates what the fear of abandonment looks like in a child.

Poetry by Shreya Pendurkar

LOCKED UP THE CAGE, OPEN WOUND and ABUSED.

Shreya is 20 years-old, and pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Diagnosed with clinical depression, generalised anxiety disorder, as well as PTSD, Shreya has been battling mental illness since childhood - physical abuse has been one of the contributing factors.

Poetry by Harriet Coppard

UNTITLED

Harriet has learned to see life in a whole different way.

Poetry by Lydia Chan

CUT

Lydia writes about her lived experiences with several chronic illnesses, including long-covid, Myalgic Encepholymyaltis, chronic pain and dysautonomia, as well as her experiences with medical trauma and complex PTSD. 

Poetry by James Stephen Clements

THE SHADE OF BLUE

James's work explores the intersections of internal psychological struggle, and the rugged endurance of the natural world. 

Poetry by Aishwariya Laxmi

AND SO IT GOES

Aishwariya's work appears in more than 50 multi-author anthologies worldwide.

Poetry by Rich Orloff

A PRAYER FOR THE UNHEALED, and COSSACKS.

Rich's work has been presented at churches and synagogues, performed in theaters and schools, and spoken at events both lofty and intimate, and his plays have had over 2400 productions on six continents.

Rema Tabangcura's story and poetry

Story: WHEN TRUST WAS BROKEN, FAITH HELD ME

Poetry: QUIET BATTLE.

Some see trauma in big dramatic moments only, but the real battle happens inside the mind. Rema's battles and struggles with PTSD - painful memories still triggers her and sleepless nights feel like the past is still happening.

Poetry by Mark O. Decker

WOE’S WILY APPETITE, COPING and IF ONLY FROM A DISTANCE.

Mark has been writing poetry for over fifty years and publishes two poems a week on Instagram where he has developed a diverse following of his friends and family.

Poetry by Anju Kapoor

MIRROR OF THE MIND

Anju is a Banking and Finance post graduate from the University of Mumbai. Sshe has been a resident of Bahrain for almost 24 years. A bilingual poet, her sensitive emotions lends an illuminating voice to her poems.

Poetry by Jose Manoj Mathews T 

IT WAS NOT MY SISTER

49 year-old Jose lives with his parents in Kerala, India. He is a beginner in the field of English poetry.

Poetry by Stephen Kingsnorth

HEALING VERSE

Stephen retired to Wales, from ministry in the Methodist Church, due to Parkinson’s Disease.

Ajaat Anant's story and poetry

Story: THE BREATH BETWEEN THE BENDS.

Poetry: THE HEAVY LIFT and DEBRIS OF THE HEART.

Originally from India, now living in Bahrain, Ajaat suffered PTSD after a significant high-speed car crash, where her world then became a series of sensory hijacking.

Poetry by Luke Howard

MOMMA’S MIND and EXCUSES AND BRUISES.

Luke is from Kentucky, USA. He writes to keep his sanity moderately intact, and to cope with bi-polar, OCD, and a childhood fraught with trauma.

Poetry by Naida Mujkić

SUBTLE SIGNS OF PRESENCE.

Naida is Bosnian-Herzegovinian. She holds a PhD in literature. A child of war, she often reflects on the lasting impact of conflict alongside her central theme; the position of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Poetry by Meghan Harre

THE SILENT ROBBER.

Meghan explores medical trauma and, through poetry, has started the long journey of healing and hopes to inspire others dealing with chronic pain and medical trauma to start that same journey.

Poetry by Sasha Aket

BROKEN RECORD, THE CONSTANT HUM OF THE PTSD DRUM ... and SPARK.

Sasha is a 33 year-old from Blackburn, England. She has no prior experience in writing poetry, and she struggles with a lot of things, but writing poetry helps her manage her mental health.

Poetry by Gabrielle West

FOREVER FEBRUARY

Gabrielle was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and Complex PSTD as a teenager. She utilises her life experiences in her work as a Peer Specialist to help others navigate their mental health struggles.

Poetry by Selena Nguyen

SETBACK

Selena is a high-school junior in Pennsylvania, USA. She explores words and concepts that act as advocates to those who do not feel seen. She hopes her work can be used as a voice for others. 

Poetry by Katrina Cattermole

LEARNING TO LIVE WITHOUT A WAR - CPTSD

Katrina lives in Suffolk, England. Her CPTSD is a result of a number of abusive and controlling relationships.

Poetry by Archan Mehta

WAR

Archan is based in India and has a Doctorate in Management. His poem is dedicated to the survivors and victims of war, both military and civilian, who are in need of help and healing.

Poetry by Brad Copp

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

Brad's poem about the mental struggles many of us face - when we feel consumed by darkness we must remember to focus on the light.

Poetry by Duane Anderson

SOME THINGS BEST FORGOTTEN

Duane currently lives in Kansas, USA. His poem focusus on his father, a veteran of World War II.

Poetry by C. N. Brown

PTSD

C. N. Brown is based in Derbyshire, England. Through poetry, C. N. Brown finally found a way to express herself and articulate years of internal anxieties, childhood traumas, suicidal feelings, PTSD, family rejection, and religious control.

Poetry by Mónika Tóth

ALL I SEE ARE MEMORIES and THE TRAUMA BUILDS.

Mónika was born in Romania. She graduated high-school in Humanities, and then studied accountancy.

Poetry by Annie Walsh

I AM NOT THE SAME, and I’M SCARED.

Annie has suffered with PTSD for over eight years. It’s a crippling illness that has changed her life - she has gone through so many losses and family trauma.

Poetry by C.J. Ashen

APATHETIC LEATHER, SPECIMEN, CHILDREN OF FIRE and THE WORDS OF A WOMAN.

C.J. Ashen is a UK-based poet who explores the somatic experiences of C-PTSD and the journey of reclaiming autonomy, focusing on the intersection of memory, dissociation, and the physical body.

Poetry by Meg Taylor

THE LOGIC OF LOOPS and SPELL FOR THE GIRL I DIDN’T KNOW WAS HURTING.

Meg is a writer and corporate analyst whose work explores the long shadows of trauma, the pressures of modern adulthood, and the slow, imperfect work of healing.

Poetry by Tony Daly

VAGABOND, METALLIC ALBATROSS, KNEELING AT THE GRAVESTONE and PATCH.

Tony is a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve Aerospace Medical Technician. Over his twenty-one years of service, he spent a good portion of his time with people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, many patients, some colleagues, family, and friends.

Poetry by Linda Imbler 

REDRAFTING A SOLDIER

Linda is based in Kansas, USA. Her poem is about her grandfather who, as an Officer, directed soldiers into thefireld during World War II. The burden he carried never left him - manifesting itself through insomnia and depression.

Poetry by Chezon

POEM-ISH

Poet and performance artist Chezon's work has been featured internationally. She voluntarily teaches the joys of creative expression through poetry.

Poetry by Rhiannon Watkins

FLASHBACK

Rhiannon is a high school English Language Arts teacher and literature student in North Carolina, USA. Rhiannon's poem is a snapshot of an ongoing journey toward healing and living with PTSD.

Donna Zephrine's story

BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU AND MY PTSD

Donna is a combat veteran who completed two tours in Iraq. Between her combat military experiences, and a variety of different setbacks in her life, Donna's recovery from mental health has been an uphill battle. PTSD is debilitating for her, but having an outlet such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has become a method to alleviate her suffering.

Poetry by Shannon Fraser

BAG OF BONES, LITTLE ME, and WARRANTY GUARANTEE.

Shannon is a 34 year-old writer living with BPD, PTSD, and chronic illness. She uses poetry as a primary tool for processing trauma and documenting the lived experience of being trapped in abusive environments.

Poetry by George Colkitto

ON A CLOSE FRIEND TELLING THEIR CANCER HAS RETURNED, and CONFLUENCE.

George's poems focuses on the trauma of bereavement.

Poetry by Russell E. Willis

SUDDEN GASP, and THE DIG.

Russell writes from the borderlands where poetry meets philosophy and, sometimes, theology. His poems reflects the perspective of the counselor / friend / loved one, trying to both make sense of and respond to a person exhibiting PTSD.

Poetry by Hussein Habasch

I AM SORRY MOTHER, I AM SORRY MOTHER, THE ROOM IS WARM!, and SUN AND MOUNTAIN.

Hussein is a poet from Afrin, Kurdistan, currently living in Bonn, Germany.

Poetry by Cam C

THE SCOPE

For much of her life, Cam C lived free from significant mental illness. Then, in April 2025, she was struck by a hypomanic episode. Depression followed,leading to a diagnosis of Bipolar Affective Disorder. Further episodes followed. Writing has since become both a release and a form of recovery.

Poetry by Tolnai

SAVIOR COMPLEX, THE BROKEN VASE, and THE OLD MAN IN THE DEPARTMENT STORE.

Tolnai explores mental illness and PTSD. Tolnai's grandfather did not manage to get help for his PTSD, being under the Soviet Occupation of Hungary at the time, and died in the Danube river in Budapest.

Poetry by Adiela Akoo

NO MOVE MONDAY.

Adiela is an award-winning South African poet. This poem was written in response to the unrest that swept across South Africa in July 2021.

Poetry by Alka Balain

DEPENDENCY, I NEVER STEPPED OUTSIDE MY HOUSE.

Based in India, through poetry Alka channels both her struggles with mental health, and healing, allowing inner light to gently emerge as words.

Poetry by Tadala Nkanaunena

SIRENS.

Tadala is a Malawian poet, blogger, editor and computer scientist. He writes about real life experiences of both himself and of others.

Poetry by Stoianka Boianova

THE SEA WITHIN ME.

Stoianka is a physicist and the author of eleven books. 

Poetry by Bongani Thato Mvala

TIME OF HEALING and RESTLESS NIGHTS.

Bongani is a South African educator and writer. His poems examine his struggle to finding healing after his traumatic experiences, even after forgiving those who did the unimaginable - those who betrayed his trust in the worst way one could ever imagine.

Poetry by Suzan Denis

DON’T TURN AWAY.

Canadian writer Suzan explores the process of being human through poetry. A sacred container for incubating understanding of the human experience and the soul’s journey, her poetry seeks to embody spirit and matter.

Poetry by Aiša Halilović

THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING.

Aiša is a young Bosnian-Herzegovinian author. In her writing she often explores themes of identity, emotion, and inner worlds.

Poetry by S. N. Shaw

FAIRYTALE DREAMS OF ME.

S.N. Shaw is a 21 year-old female author and poet from Pakistan currently doing a Bachelors in English literature.

Poetry by Anonymous

CRUEL PAST.

The author of this poem experienced the loss of a brother through suicide, as well as a traumatic childhood. failed. 

Poetry by Charity Louise

IMAGINE.

Charity has mental health problems and has battled drug addiction.

Poetry by Christopher Martin

EVENSONG.

Christopher is a poet and Buddhist living by the River Tyne, England.

Poetry by John Tunaley

TRAUMA STATEMENT, CHRISTMAS BUTTONS and LA CAMIONETTE DE BOUTONS (THE BUTTON VAN).

John was born in Manchester, England. He now lives in Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire.

Poetry by Xavier Panadès I Blas

VOLUME, MASKING

Catalan-born, neurodivergent artist Xavier was raised in a peasant family shaped by values of solidarity, justice and freedom. His poems and stories are an experience of self-discovery.

Poetry by Yvonnie S. Kunkeyani

SPILLING IMAGES

Yvonnie is a Malawian page and stage poet, content writer, creative writer, and voice-over artist. She writes about the sun, love, and social issues.

Poetry by Venesha Winter

FLASHBACK.

Venesha is an Australian poet. Her main purpose behind writing is to process complex emotions such as grief and sadness, and feels that writing poems helps her understand her emotions and moods better.

Poetry by Shaundra Graves

FLASHBACK.

Shaundra is a 35 year-old stay at home mom with multiple diagnosis including C-PTSD. She has just recently started writing poetry again, after many years of neglecting her love of writing.

Poetry by Tyson West

RESIDUE, PAPA'S PATH, and SCHOOLING.

Tyson works in real estate. His poems explore mental health and PTSD.

Poetry by Minko Tanev

BEFORE WE GO TO SLEEP

Minko is a Bulgarian philologist and the author of six poetry books. 

Poetry by Til Kumari Sharma

MENTAL HEALING

Til is an essayist, story writer, reviewer, awarded poet, and translator based in Kirtipur Kathmandu, Nepal.

Poetry by Roopali Sircar Gaur

THE PRICE OF WAR.

Roopali is a poet-performer, novelist, editor, eco-warrior, animal rights activist, social justice advocate and is passionate about the welfare of military families. She holds a Ph.D. in African Literature.

Poetry by Niharika Chibber Joe

SIX FEET OF TERROR.

Niharika is a US civil service officer, working as a public diplomacy specialist. She writes about the human condition, immigration, and the COVID-19 pandemic, bearing witness to the world’s most pressing struggles through poetry.

Poetry by Michelle Morris

WE HAVE TO GIVE IT A VOICE.

Michelle is a South African and British writer, based in Cornwall, England. She writes from personal experience, and hopes that her poems help someone else.

Poetry by Chris Shamro

TOMORROW I WILL BE FINE, and INNER SPHERE.

Chris lives in Ohio, USA, and administers a Jail Ministry at Delaware County Jail. He has been a leader in community helping with the welfare of mental health and recovery services.

Poetry by Sanda Ristić Stojanović

WHY POETS?

Sanda is a Serbian poet and aesthetic. She graduated in philosophy. She writes about the year 1999 and the 78 days of the bombing of Belgrade and Serbia.

Prose by Susan H. Evans

CHILDREN OF LESSER GODS

Susan is a former English professor from East Tennessee. She is a national and international volunteer and traveler, having served in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Philippines, Alaska, Kentucky, and Vermont.