The "I feel..." Statement

“I feel”

By: Erin 

Throughout treatment we constantly say the words “I feel”

I feel angry - I feel sad

I feel hurt - I feel mad

I feel lost - I feel tired

I feel anxious – I feel inspired

The hardest thing though is when you just want to let go

Of all the feelings that we feel so deep inside

And wish they would pour out of our soul if we just cried

But feelings cling to our souls it seems

And maybe our only relief is in our dreams

Don’t fool yourself though “numb” is a feeling like every other

It’s worse though because it has the capability to smother

Smother your desire to be you

And do what you do

So feelings I admit, we cannot escape any second or day

But we must also make note they are not all bad any way

I feel joyful – I feel good

I feel loved – I feel understood

I feel strong – I feel kind

I feel able – I feel relaxed and unwind

So while feelings can be difficult, challenging, and sometimes hard to swallow

It seems like even though there are bad feelings… good ones tend to follow

So remember that just like how – what goes up must come down

There is an end to every frown

Feelings don’t last forever; they change, shift, alter, and swing

Remember life is a ride, but you decide what you want to bring

Leave as much baggage as you can

Grudges really hurt a man

And hold your beautiful memories up high

They will help you soar through the sky

Tonight I feel peaceful, a little sad, excited and nervous, uncomfortable too.

Tonight that is how I feel – What about you?

A poem I'm posting for a friend... much love.

I said “No.”

By: Erin 

I remember……. I said “No.”

Actually I begged you to stop

I pleaded with you to leave me alone

But you didn’t

You ignored me

Abused my body

You violated me, my body, and my spirit

I remember…….I said “No.”

Time went by; my lips sealed shut

I felt filthy every single day

No one could know, the shame, the disgust

That bathroom became a place for purging the wrong you did

The filth you left inside my body

The impurity and shame I held within

Sometimes I wondered: Did I say yes in some strange way?

Sometimes I asked myself: Did I tell him I wanted that?

Sometimes I questioned: Did I deserve this?

But the truth is out, it’s loud and clear:

I remember…….I said: “No.”

My experience is not uncommon, or unique to me

This horrible thing happens at an alarming degree

I’m working through it day by day

Even though sometimes there is nothing I want to say

But I will always remember that I said “No.”

And that he should have let go.