Issues. Everybody’s Got Issues.
Identity crisis would be just fine
Had someone not just smashed mine.
“I found myself.” “I lost myself.”
Everywhere: self, self, self.
Hello and how do I do?
I’m very sorry, have I met you?
Yes, I met me the day I’s born;
Then I left me all forlorn.
Oh, you poor and silly me.
How could you possibly not know me?
All my life I’ve felt so dizzy.
Gosh, finding me has kept me busy!
(C) 22 October 1992, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
exploring the many aspects of abuse, wounding, surviving, healing from, and then emerging from a variety of abuses including childhood sexual abuse, incest, rape, domestic violence, spiritual abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, and so on
Showing posts with label PTSD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PTSD. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
P.T.S.D. Begins
P.T.S.D. Begins
Pinch me. Am I alive?
Yes, but I do not feel it.
Isn’t it strange to be alive yet feel dead,
Such deep wounds and never reveal it?
Nobody knows. Nobody sees.
Nobody knows except me?
Everyone knows. Everyone sees.
Everyone knows except me?
Constant turmoil. Constant calm.
Brightest clouds. Darkest sun.
Scorching rain. Pouring heat.
Standing still on the run.
Hiding in the open field;
Cowering in the hidden den;
Am I really so innocent
Drowning in the deepest sin?
(C) 22 October 1992, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
Pinch me. Am I alive?
Yes, but I do not feel it.
Isn’t it strange to be alive yet feel dead,
Such deep wounds and never reveal it?
Nobody knows. Nobody sees.
Nobody knows except me?
Everyone knows. Everyone sees.
Everyone knows except me?
Constant turmoil. Constant calm.
Brightest clouds. Darkest sun.
Scorching rain. Pouring heat.
Standing still on the run.
Hiding in the open field;
Cowering in the hidden den;
Am I really so innocent
Drowning in the deepest sin?
(C) 22 October 1992, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
A Wound for a Heart
A Wound for a Heart
Bubbling, boiling, heatedly churning,
Frothing and foaming, emotions are burning
Into my heart, my stomach, my head,
Violently reeling alone on my bed.
I cannot stop thinking. The memories come…
Upheavals, eruptions, but just feeling numb.
My stomach is knotted; memories play in my mind.
Tormenting and mocking, my life in a bind.
Furiously hating, bitter rancor,
Anger, hurt, fear: my grudging anchor
Holds me in place, frozen in time—
Will I ever be free from their despicable crime?
Sapping my energy, draining my life,
The past cuts right through me like a well-sharpened knife.
Will I ever be freed from my past?
Will I ever find peace in my heart that will last?
The chains are too heavy, too tight and too much,
Tangled, intertwined with my soul in the clutch
Of their cold, evil fingers, tearing me apart—
Big, gaping wounds in the place of my heart.
(C) 17 January 1993, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
Bubbling, boiling, heatedly churning,
Frothing and foaming, emotions are burning
Into my heart, my stomach, my head,
Violently reeling alone on my bed.
I cannot stop thinking. The memories come…
Upheavals, eruptions, but just feeling numb.
My stomach is knotted; memories play in my mind.
Tormenting and mocking, my life in a bind.
Furiously hating, bitter rancor,
Anger, hurt, fear: my grudging anchor
Holds me in place, frozen in time—
Will I ever be free from their despicable crime?
Sapping my energy, draining my life,
The past cuts right through me like a well-sharpened knife.
Will I ever be freed from my past?
Will I ever find peace in my heart that will last?
The chains are too heavy, too tight and too much,
Tangled, intertwined with my soul in the clutch
Of their cold, evil fingers, tearing me apart—
Big, gaping wounds in the place of my heart.
(C) 17 January 1993, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
That Old Nameless, Faceless Fear Again
That Old Nameless, Faceless Fear Again
I have known the terror
Of never being sure
Just when the next trauma
Would engulf my little world,
Of living out a nightmare
Yet appearing very good…
For whom?
I have known the terror
Of never feeling safe,
Of being ever vigilant,
Of pretending to be sedate…
How docile and passive—
Like an electric barbed wire!
But who cared?
I have known the terror
Of sleepless nights and sleep-filled days,
Of feeling lost and wandering
Through a mine-filled maze,
Of always looking back and forth,
Of never being sure…
Of whom?
(C) 23 October 1992, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
I have known the terror
Of never being sure
Just when the next trauma
Would engulf my little world,
Of living out a nightmare
Yet appearing very good…
For whom?
I have known the terror
Of never feeling safe,
Of being ever vigilant,
Of pretending to be sedate…
How docile and passive—
Like an electric barbed wire!
But who cared?
I have known the terror
Of sleepless nights and sleep-filled days,
Of feeling lost and wandering
Through a mine-filled maze,
Of always looking back and forth,
Of never being sure…
Of whom?
(C) 23 October 1992, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
My Eyes Have Told My Story All Along
My Eyes Have Told My Story All Along
I looked at some pictures the other day,
And, boy, what a big surprise!
I wasn’t as ugly as I was led to believe,
Regardless of my age or my size.
It was a stranger looking at me,
Yet I recognized my big sad eyes.
My story told a story amazingly clear.
They saw through a life of lies.
Fixed eyes and focused, sad and alone,
Waiting for the unseen…
Eyes filled with a purpose yet gentle and kind,
Fiery and strikingly keen.
Sweet eyes yet haunting,
Knowing yet stilled,
Ready to pounce,
Yet sealed.
Scares eyes and timid,
Searching for love,
Questioning without answers…
Hawk with eyes of dove.
Mysterious yet open,
Guarded but real,
Penetrating,
Much to reveal,
My eyes told my story
There all along,
But no one saw it before?
Clearly something’s wrong.
Yet my eyes covered it up,
Hiding inside,
Remaining undetected—
My life relied.
Yes, I looked at some pictures the other day,
And, boy, what a big surprise!
Seeing myself for the very first time
In my quietly beckoning eyes.
(C) 30 October 1992, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
I looked at some pictures the other day,
And, boy, what a big surprise!
I wasn’t as ugly as I was led to believe,
Regardless of my age or my size.
It was a stranger looking at me,
Yet I recognized my big sad eyes.
My story told a story amazingly clear.
They saw through a life of lies.
Fixed eyes and focused, sad and alone,
Waiting for the unseen…
Eyes filled with a purpose yet gentle and kind,
Fiery and strikingly keen.
Sweet eyes yet haunting,
Knowing yet stilled,
Ready to pounce,
Yet sealed.
Scares eyes and timid,
Searching for love,
Questioning without answers…
Hawk with eyes of dove.
Mysterious yet open,
Guarded but real,
Penetrating,
Much to reveal,
My eyes told my story
There all along,
But no one saw it before?
Clearly something’s wrong.
Yet my eyes covered it up,
Hiding inside,
Remaining undetected—
My life relied.
Yes, I looked at some pictures the other day,
And, boy, what a big surprise!
Seeing myself for the very first time
In my quietly beckoning eyes.
(C) 30 October 1992, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
Determined
Determined
In the heart of my heart is a door
Long locked and barred.
Aching. Yearning.
Deep desire.
What passion ruled me there?
I want to be loved, respected, admired.
I want to be an artist, serene.
I want to be saintly, earthy, risqué.
I want to be alive in all ways.
I want to be graceful, wise, fun, and deep.
I want to dance, sing, and run.
A secret compartment deep in my heart,
Buried yet ever with me.
Blocking. Preventing.
But not anymore.
Because I am determined to be me.
(C) 31 October 1992, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
In the heart of my heart is a door
Long locked and barred.
Aching. Yearning.
Deep desire.
What passion ruled me there?
I want to be loved, respected, admired.
I want to be an artist, serene.
I want to be saintly, earthy, risqué.
I want to be alive in all ways.
I want to be graceful, wise, fun, and deep.
I want to dance, sing, and run.
A secret compartment deep in my heart,
Buried yet ever with me.
Blocking. Preventing.
But not anymore.
Because I am determined to be me.
(C) 31 October 1992, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
Who Are You? Me!!
Who Are You? Me!!
Dark, deep swirling in the river of my soul,
Sucking whirlpool and crashing wave.
How I’ve longed to trace you and
The devilish pain you gave,
But I never could quite discover
Even who you were, you knave.
Struggle, strive, stretch, searching,
Desperate to find relief,
In every nook and cranny,
Turning over each stone and leaf;
I hounded you to dispatch you—
To rest finally was my belief.
Who are you, my constant companion,
Who I fear, hate, yet long to see?
You outwit me, and you mock me,
Yet you fit me to a tee.
I hate you now I love you.
How dare you be me!
(C) 5 January 1991, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
Dark, deep swirling in the river of my soul,
Sucking whirlpool and crashing wave.
How I’ve longed to trace you and
The devilish pain you gave,
But I never could quite discover
Even who you were, you knave.
Struggle, strive, stretch, searching,
Desperate to find relief,
In every nook and cranny,
Turning over each stone and leaf;
I hounded you to dispatch you—
To rest finally was my belief.
Who are you, my constant companion,
Who I fear, hate, yet long to see?
You outwit me, and you mock me,
Yet you fit me to a tee.
I hate you now I love you.
How dare you be me!
(C) 5 January 1991, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
Personally Balanced
Personally Balanced
If I were sweeter water still
And not some brackish brine,
If I were only whippoorwill
And not a herd of swine,
If I were only oak and ash
And never knotty pine,
If I were only lakes and trees
And not a deep coal mine,
Then I would lack the bass-er notes
That swell the symphony,
And I would even lack the pain
And tears of sympathy;
My life would only be so flat—
No room for empathy,
And I would—perfectly dull—
Not have much company!
(C) 5 January 1991, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
If I were sweeter water still
And not some brackish brine,
If I were only whippoorwill
And not a herd of swine,
If I were only oak and ash
And never knotty pine,
If I were only lakes and trees
And not a deep coal mine,
Then I would lack the bass-er notes
That swell the symphony,
And I would even lack the pain
And tears of sympathy;
My life would only be so flat—
No room for empathy,
And I would—perfectly dull—
Not have much company!
(C) 5 January 1991, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
Instinctively Led
Instinctively Led
With hope as the anchor for my soul
As I feel so tossed and torn,
With steady course before me set,
I walk though weak and worn.
Others tread similar paths
Even though I feel alone.
I know my anchor will continue to hold
Even though I feel cut to the bone.
Confused and clear, numb and pained,
Trauma upon trauma relived,
Agonized hauntings my memories come
To make my whole life sieved.
Yet deep in my heart I hear the voice
Of God speaking to my spirit,
Telling me exactly which way I should go,
And, thankfully, my spirit can hear it.
ã22 October 1992, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
OK, But Don’t Tell Me I’m Going to Like It!
OK, But Don’t Tell Me I’m Going to Like It!
What do you do when you’re all alone
And it strikes?
You cannot scream loud enough,
Or get numb enough,
Or run fast enough,
Or sleep deep enough
To escape again.
And you know escape is not even the answer.
But how do you welcome torment,
Embrace agony,
Beckon to torture,
Entreat misery,
Cohabit with trauma,
Flirt with devastation?
And damn it all! That’s the only way out.
ã31 October 1992, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
Recovery
Recovery
Pain, how I hate you,
You excruciating fiend,
Who causes me to cry out with the agony
Of a tortured mind and heart
That tears and ruins my body
And destroys my very soul.
You’ve made my life as miserable
As you possibly could…
But, you failed.
I live. I cry.
I breathe. I sigh.
I think. I try.
I love. Oh, my!
Pain, you gave all you could,
And you still try to wear me down,
But you might as well give up
Because I will banish you one day to hell…
You cannot ruin my spirit—
I will overcome!
I am a survivor, and I will fight you…
And the battle’s just begun!
ã17 January 1993, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Fine, Fine, We’re All Fine, Thank You
Fine, Fine, We’re All Fine, Thank You
It isn’t there.
I didn’t see.
I don’t know.
Why ask me?
I didn’t feel it.
I didn’t touch.
I didn’t fake it.
No, not much.
I don’t remember.
What do you mean?
Do not disturb.
Don’t be seen.
Do not talk.
Play pretend.
Rigid smiles.
No more friends.
I didn’t hear it.
I didn’t say.
Evade the question.
No dismay.
Blank expression.
Vacant eyes.
Avoidance is
A ghast disguise.
ã8 January 1991, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
Loneliness
Loneliness
Alone.
The oppressive silence
Cuts into my heart
As I cry
Silent tears.
Hello?
Can anyone hear me?
Only my heartbeat
Answers the cry
Of my heart.
God?
Have even you left me
Alone…
All alone in my sorrow?
No answer…
Except
My aching heart
And tired mind.
Strange, you see,
Because there are so many people
All around…
But no one sees me.
Ignored.
This stuffy bubble
Called isolation—
Not of my choosing
But assigned to me—
Crushes me.
I see the people
And smile…
Try to talk…
But silenced by
Their indifference.
Oh, God!
What’s wrong with me?
Why does nobody want me?
Do you also
Not want me?
I weep.
Silent tears,
Shuddering at an icy wind
That only my heart
Can feel.
Alone,
Afraid,
Aching,
Acutely aware that others
Feel as lonely
As I do…
But are they also standing here
Nearby smiling, chatting…
And alone, too?
God,
You are everywhere,
So come out, come out
Wherever you are
Because I know
You’re here…
But where are you?
Why does my heart
Feel all alone
With an aloneness
That cannot be broken through?
Oh, God,
It’s terrible torture
To know and to do
All the right things
And still feel empty…
And alone.
God,
I know you can hear me,
But why do you—even you—
Hold yourself aloof
From my heart?
And my pain
Of feeling
All
Alone?
Is there no reprieve for good behavior?
O-o-o-oh God!
Help me!
Such lonely aching
I could die from…
But torturously,
I still live…
Alone
Even with you and people
All around me.
Utterly alone.
Oh, God.
This icy wall of separation
Is too penetratingly
An agony…
Oh, God,
If you do not bridge it,
I will die…
Alone.
To know in my head
That you have
Is not enough
If I do not feel you there.
Oh, God,
Please let me know you
And feel your presence
In my aching
Lonely heart.
Ó22 January 1993, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
Panic Attack
Panic Attack
Cold, slimy fingers creeping up my spine…
Body hair stands up.
GASP!
Can’t breathe.
Pounding heart.
Dry tongue.
Sweat.
A nameless terror tingles my colon.
A knot here…
And there…
PAIN!!
Tense.
Eyes w-I-d-e open…
Yet blind.
Straining ears are deaf.
Chilled,
Yet burning up
By turns.
Racing thoughts.
Escape!!!
Yet paralyzed.
Even tears have fled the scene…
Silently screaming
IN PANIC!!!!!
Yet remaining
Deadly
Still.
ã22 October 1992, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.
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