I've Started Writing Poetry to Handle My Chronic Pain and Anxiety

Photo by Karim MANJRA

It’s helping, too.

I’ve been focusing a lot more inward lately, writing poetry to help with my chronic pain and anxiety. I thought I'd share a few with you, to see if it helps. Here are 8 of my latest poems. I would love to hear what you think of them—please comment below!

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Living with chronic pain

is like driving a car

with the check engine light on

forever.
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Tomorrow you can be what you want

Today you are enough as you are

Tomorrow you can thrive

Today, my friend, you just survive.

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Some days you just get through

Don't be bitter about them

For they are the ones that get you to live.

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The difference between

a good decision

and a bad one

is a few deep breaths.

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Winter's pain do remember

in every summer

Summer's joy do treasure

in every winter.

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a drizzle for you

a hurricane for me

you don't even notice

while i crumble to pieces

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nothing to do

nowhere to go

you are here

this is everything

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When hope seeps out

Hold on to your will

Renuka Dhinakaran is a burned out international lawyer & mother with Fibromyalgia and anxiety. After a near-death experience, she took a step back from her law practice and is now trying to re-discover her identity.

She writes on her blog about living with these conditions. Poetry helps her process her pain and anxiety. Renuka lives in The Hague, Netherlands.