Champions Amy and Lena speak out about their lived experiences to tackle stigma through poetry. 

Postnatal OCD

OCD is not what you think,
horrid thoughts that make your heart sink.

Distressing, disturbing and terrifying,
vivid images that just leave you crying.

Making you question everything about yourself,
believing that you are somebody else.

Fearing that the thoughts may come true,
leaving you wondering what should I do.

Over and over the thoughts in my head,
distancing myself and filling me with dread.

My children being cared for by someone other than me,
that’s my way of protecting them you see.

The fear that my children would come to harm,
too scared to tell someone, without raising alarms.

Terrorised by these obsessive thoughts,
taking precious time from us, that can’t be bought.

Stealing the space up in my mind,
I have to believe there’s hope to find.

Getting help is recovery’s start,
obsessions and compulsions it’s time we part.

- written by Champion Amy

 

It’s Time to Change

It’s time to change

The way we talk

About what’s in our heads.

Our hearts, our minds

With our bodies, connect.

They grow on what they are fed.

 

We all have mental

Health, it’s not just

A buzz word or a fad

Just because you

Need to talk

It won’t make others mad.

 

For the one in four

Those who have spoken

There’s strength that can be

found

Sharing experience lived,

How love, hope

And empathy can abound!

 

For the general “pop”

Those who don’t or

Can’t imagine how it feels

To be reduced

To questioning

One’s life and lost ideals;

 

Remember it matters

The way we talk

To eachother and ourselves (as

we do).

We have a choice

To be kind, to encourage

The parts of us most true.

 

It’s easy to see

Other’s differences

To find easy to judge and

Compare.

But start with one person

Sow seeds of understanding,

We’ll find common ground

somewhere.

- written by Champion Lena