Introduction to my poem…
I wrote the following poem a year ago after getting two severe physical syndromes that began my quest to eventually become medication free in a less than desirable manner. For those of you that have been following my blog you know my scary and dangerous story.
Please read my two posts I wrote about a year ago that describe the two syndromes I got:
They are valuable posts that give awareness to the possible dangers of psychotropic medications and the importance of getting your blood levels checked regularly which I didn’t do enough apparently.
After discontinuing my bipolar medication, Trileptal, the only medication I was still taking in my medication cocktail was Klonopin. I took only Klonopin last year and always tried to decrease it from 5 mg to less. I made it to 3 mg a day but could never got below that. Klonopin withdrawal symptoms were too severe and I had to take my Klonopin. The severe side effects mimicked severe anxiety, depression and continuous suicidal ideations. I never realized that for a year I had unknowingly put myself in a state of perpetual continuous Klonopin withdrawal. It was a very difficult year to put it mildly.
After my suicide attempt they stopped my Klonopin cold turkey and I was forced into a severe state of Klonopin withdrawal symptom with unbearable symptoms lasting over two months. I am still medication free and have little to no anxiety. I feel most of my obstacles I face today are caused from mental illness, but not from the direct symptoms of mental illness itself but the damage mental illness and stigma caused in my life for over twenty-five years. Some of the many casualties from the war of my mental illness were losing my career, home, marriage, money, friends, dignity and identity. I am still picking up the pieces and trying to live the best possible life I can live.
I am trying to make this time in my life the best time in my life.
This was a quick overview to explain the reason I wrote this poem and a little bit about how I am doing today.
Now for a lighter moment—my poem.
I hope you like it.
Much love and hugs, Sue
Sink or Swim
My mind drifts,
floating,
fleeing,
flowing
aimlessly adrift.
Scattered thoughts
fill my mind,
swirling confusion,
questions flowing
freely inside of me.
What will I be?
What will become of me?
Who will I be
with a bipolar
medicine free brain
inside of me?
Bipolar medication
helps many,
but has always
been my enemy,
occasionally a frenemy.
For twenty years
and many tears
I tried my best
but failed the test.
I tried them all,
combos, big and small,
purple, pink, blue, green
and everything in between.
Far and wide
I took the ride
on the bipolar medicine
bicycle, tricycle, cycle
trial after trial
for a long while.
Medicine treatment was a fail.
Couldn’t keep up, swim or sail.
No more meds for me.
Recently became sick as I could be.
Sodium level dropped,
flopped and plopped,
meds stopped.
I became unsalty
and faulty,
untasty,
and wasty,
pasty
and pale.
Body became bloated
from water that floated
throughout my body and being.
I was not a pretty sight to be seen.
Water retained,
weight gained,
face and body puffy
softly full and fluffy.
Too many long years
without medical mirrors
caused me to become very ill
from taking my Trileptal pill.
There are no more bipolar meds
left for me
none for me.
That was the last one,
my last chance,
my last hurrah,
the last straw,
hurrah, hurrah.
But wait,
I hesitate.Try another,
and another.
We got many,
make you thirsty,
take another,
we got plenty,
make you fat,
we got a pill for that,
make you dizzy
your hair frizzy,
here try another,
we got more,
lose your hair,
more to spare.
Bipolar medicine didn’t work for me
too many side effects,
ill effects,
adverse reactions,
they just didn’t work for me,
couldn’t keep me afloat,
and I fell off the boat,
but I can swim,
here I go,
sink or swim,
I can swim.
~written by Susan Walz
My Loud B;polar Whispers
Copyright © 2018 Susan Walz | myloudbipolarwhispers.com | All Rights Reserved
This poem is very good. It’s very evocative.
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Thank you. I’m happy you liked my poem but for some reason reason when I shared it in the Bipolar Writer’s blog part of it got omitted. Here is my entire poem on a post on my blog if you wanted to see the entire poem ( original version) httpsloudbipolarwhispers.com/2018/05/29/sink-or-swim-a-poem/
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Your poem touched every ounce of my being. I can so relate to those medications messing with me more, and not helping me mentally speaking. Just when I think it’s me just experiencing the horrible effects of medication, I read something like this. Thank you for sharing this amazing piece! You are the best Sue! 🙂
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I’m so happy you liked my poem. I’m kinda embarrassed because part of it is missing on his blog. Please check out the poem on.my blog to see the entire poem (original). It makes more sense. Middle part is missing. https://myloudbipolarwhispers.com/2018/05/29/sink-or-swim-a-poem/
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Reblogged this on Beckie's Mental Mess and commented:
I can truly appreciate this wonderful poem written by Sue “My Loud Bipolar Whispers”. Not all Bipolar medications prescribed work, and this poem touches on many points of the feelings you have when you take something that is not serving its purpose. Great piece!
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Thank you for reblogging but for some reason part of my poem was ommitted on his site. I must have made an error when I copied it or something.
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That’s strange. Then again, nothing here on WP is making a lot of sense lately. I have had some issues with it myself. Nevertheless, the poem was great. 🙂
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Thank you my dear… Have a happy, healthy and fabulous day. Yippy Skippy it’s Friday!!!
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You too, Sue! Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
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Thank you for reblogging. I always love the compliment of a reblog. FYI if you want to read my poem in it’s entirety it is on my blog and here is the link. I’m not sure how I left some out when I shared it on The Bipolar Writer’s blog. I’m not at home right now but will get the link.
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Okay. Look forward to it. 🙂
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https://myloudbipolarwhispers.com/2018/05/29/sink-or-swim-a-poem/ the entire poem is on this link…
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May you get through. Blessings
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Thank you very much for your encouraging words. I greatly appreciate it. Hugs, Sue ❤😊🌻
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Reblogged this on SEO.
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Thanks for the reblog. Best compliment. Hugs, Sue
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Thanks for reblogging. ❤😊
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amazing! wish you all the best ! 🙂
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Thank you. I am very happy you liked it. Hugs Sue
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Lovely. My short and sweet poem https://vinitsblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/22/anyways-we-swing/
Follow my blog https://vinitsblog.wordpress.com
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Great poem. Thank you for sharing. Hugs, Sue
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I like this very much 🙏🏽
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Thank you. I am very happy you liked it. Hugs, Sue
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brave lady and a fighter need to say this 🙂
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Thank you for your kind and encouraging words. I appreciate them greatly. Much love and hugs, Sue
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