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Black Rainbow
Black Rainbow: How Words Healed Me, My Journey Through Depression | Rachel Kelly
2 posts | 1 read | 2 to read
In 1997, Oxford graduate, working mother and Times journalist Rachel Kelly went from feeling mildly anxious to being completely unable to function within the space of just three days. Prescribed antidepressants by her doctor, and supported by her husband and her family, Rachel slowly began to get better, but her anxiety levels remained high, and six years later, as a stay-at-home mother, she suffered a second collapse even worse than the first. Throughout both of Rachel's periods of severe depression, the healing power of poetry became an integral part of her recovery. As someone who had always loved poetry, it became something for Rachel to cling on to in times of need - from repeating short mantras to learning and reciting entire poems - these words and verses became a powerful force for change in her life. In Black Rainbow Rachel analyses why poetry can be one answer to depression, and the book contains a selected 40 of the poems that provided Rachel with solace and comfort during her breakdown and recovery. At a time when mental health problems and depression are becoming more common, and the stigma around such issues is finally being lifted, this book offers a lifeline for anyone seeking to understand depression and seek new ways to treat it. Poetry is free, has no side-effects and, as Rachel can attest, 'prescribing words instead of pills' can be an incredibly powerful remedy.
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Caroline2
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A writer reads poetry to help her through depression. This is probably one of the most realistic portrayals of depression that I‘ve read and the poetry in it is sublime. However, she comes from an extremely privileged background (supportive husband, they can afford a full time nanny, a psychiatrist in Harley Street who does home visits and numerous private therapists) I felt rather jealous by the end!

TrishB Interesting, I have this on the pile 👍🏻 5y
Caroline2 It is really good, some of the poetry is so lovely I‘ve copied it out! And she has some really good advice on how to deal with depression which helpful! 👍🏻 I would just like to read a book on depression by someone working class and coping with it?? Someone who has to get up go to work/take care of the kid/cook dinner etc cause they can‘t afford to stay in bed for months. Ya know? @TrishB 5y
TrishB I agree - They probably don‘t have the time and capacity to be able to write it 😔 5y
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Cinfhen You make such an interesting and important point!!! Great review 5y
Caroline2 @TrishB that is very true!!! 5y
Caroline2 @Cinfhen Thanks! I felt the same about Brooke Sheilds book...it‘s a brilliant book about post-natal depression that helped me a lot but she hires a night nurse and a cook!! 🙄 I remember crying my eyes out reading this bit while nursing my eldest at 4am!!! 😬 it‘s a different world!!! 5y
Cinfhen Yes; such a different world @Caroline2 🙄 5y
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Caroline2
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I‘m really suffering with bad anxiety lately. I can‘t find a self-help book that helps when you have crippling anxiety about your child with chronic health problems!? The cycle of constant worry, tests, doc appts and then guilt when all you want to do is run away from it all. I feel like my heart is breaking

LauraBeth ❤️❤️❤️ Feeling anxious, worry and guilt about that is completely normal. Deal with today and today only. Sometimes all we can do is live in the moment and when it sucks - claim it - and don‘t feel guilty about it. 5y
Kaye I‘m sorry you‘re having such a difficult time. Life is really hard sometimes. The best advice anyone gave me was an old Dr I used to have , who told me that I shouldn‘t look at the big picture , but look at only what I can handle. Cut time down into as small of amounts as you can deal with. Take one day at a time. If that‘s too much, take one hour. If that‘s too much, get through one minute, then on to the next. Somehow it‘s easier that way. 5y
TrishB 💕 a day at a time is the best advice. Sending love. 5y
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BookNAround I‘m so sorry you‘re suffering. I think all parents have some level of anxiety about their children but if your child has chronic health issues, that ups the ante in ways the rest of us could never imagine. (((Hug))) This may sound silly but have you looked for a community of parents whose kiddos face the same health challenges yours does? Sometimes having people who understand on that deeper level helps. 5y
Kalalalatja Sending all the love 💕 5y
heikemarie Love your way. Wish I had the recc that makes it all better for you 💜 5y
Blaire I am so sorry you‘re going through this. My daughter has a rare genetic disorder - when we got the diagnosis last year I spent the first few months sobbing and raging at the unfairness. Like others have said I‘ve found staying in the present and getting through each day to be the best. Also having friends with whom I didn‘t have to pretend I was ok. And let yourself escape sometimes whether into comfy tv shows, a long walk, or ice cream. 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Sorry you‘re going through a difficult time. Hugs and ❤️ to you. 5y
zsuzsanna_reads I'm so sorry. What really helped me was doing a course on mindfulness. I used this book with the course: 5y
zsuzsanna_reads I also agree with @BookNAround . I had a complicated and difficult pregnancy and a Facebook support group I found made all the difference when I felt that people around me didn't understand what I was going through. 5y
zsuzsanna_reads @blaire so sorry to hear about your child''s troubles too. 😢 5y
ErikasMindfulShelf 💕💕 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘m so sorry... sending love and hugs to you ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
Texreader I‘m so sorry and sympathize so much. At 4 my daughter lost all hearing in one ear and for some time we thought she would become completely deaf. That didn‘t happen but for years I suffered depression and severe guilt and many crying bouts. Time was the salve and now that she‘s 16, a sense of humor also helps. We still have bridges to cross but the sadness and guilt have significantly decreased. I send you and your child much love. 5y
Notafraidofwords There are no answers to that kind of anxiety. But I‘ll keep you in my thoughts. 5y
Reecaspieces So so sorry! 5y
JessClark78 ❤️❤️ 5y
Caroline2 @Kaye @LauraBeth @TrishB @Kalalalatja @heikemarie @erzascarletbookgasm @irre @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Notafraidofwords @Reecaspieces @JessClark78 Thanks guys for the kind words and good advice, I will try and focus on one day at a time rather than worrying about all that‘s ahead! 💖 5y
Caroline2 @BookNAround @zsuzsanna_reads good idea, I‘ll look into it! 👍🏻 5y
batsy ❤️❤️ 5y
Caroline2 @Blaire I am so sorry to hear that. I agree, escapism is all that‘s works for me at the moment. Thank god for books, Litsy friends and Gilmore Girls! 💗 5y
Caroline2 @zsuzsanna_reads thanks for the tagged book! I‘ll definitely check that out! 👍🏻 5y
Caroline2 @Texreader I am so sorry to hear that about your daughter but thank you for sharing. It is awful, the guilt you feel when your children are ill isn‘t it. I think the guilt is the worst part! 5y
LA_Mead I‘m sorry you‘re having a tough time! I can relate to the worry about kids—my son had to have surgery a few months ago and it was pretty scary... I usually watch Gilmore Girls or read Brene Brown books 5y
Jas16 Sending ❤️ 5y
Blaire @Caroline2 yes, I watched a lot of great British bake-off, and read fluffy ya books, and old favorites. It‘s such a roller coaster I hope you have some moments of ease. 5y
eraderneely Think of you 💗 5y
Caroline2 @LA_Mead Yes!!! Gilmore Girls is my go-to TV show too! 👍🏻 and I love Brene Brown! 💓 5y
CouronneDhiver I know anxiety is very challenging. I‘d recommend this book. Please try to be careful about passing your fears on to your child. My mom is a big part of the reason I struggled with health fears: 5y
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