ALONG THE BARREN ROAD

Tag: depression

  • Mental Illness And Misinformation

    Mental Illness And Misinformation

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    by

    Justin Farley

    What’s something most people don’t understand? It’s astounding how many people still completely misunderstand mental illness. Well, maybe not astounding because it’s hard for me to understand despite personally dealing with it for a large percentage of my life. But I guess what I’m referring to is the amount of people who believe mental illness…

  • Hope in Mental Health Recovery

    Hope in Mental Health Recovery

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Real hope for recovery from mental illness depends on realistic expectations and flexibility.

  • Stopping the OCD and Anxiety Spirals of Negative Thoughts

    Stopping the OCD and Anxiety Spirals of Negative Thoughts

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    by

    Justin Farley

    “A fourth thought arrived. Then many more”–so begins the hell of the spiral down to a panic attack or at least misery. This quote is a perfect description of how the spiral of anxiety starts and morphs into full blown panic from a single thought. Oh, if only you could avoid the first worried thought…

  • Sandcastles Poem About Hardships in Life

    Sandcastles Poem About Hardships in Life

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    by

    Justin Farley

    SandcastlesPoem About Hardships in LifeThe weariness of life is enoughto make even the watchman tired.His heavy eyelids close with eachcomplexity of life that breaches the palace gates.There he waits until all he aspiredfor crumbles beneath the harsh realities of lifelike the sandcastles he built as a boy,cold, green, frothy ocean dashing all his work in…

  • Seasons of Winter Poem About Spring

    Seasons of Winter Poem About Spring

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Seasons of WinterPoem About SpringThe ice is melting,thawing away from the land,flowing back into the handsof its maker.Nature’s enchantment shatterswith a single kiss from springclinging to the warmthof renewal, rebirth, reawakening.And in each pile of snowthat dissolves my heart beatswith a disposition towards hopesledding down slopes of solacetaking comfort in the possibility to copewith my…

  • Running Poem About Changing and Working on Yourself

    Running Poem About Changing and Working on Yourself

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    by

    Justin Farley

    RunningCan I get a cup of wineto drown the time,to float away fromthis heavy heart of mine?Or perhaps a speedy carthat’ll take me fast so faraway from these expired dreamsnow void of stars?Maybe a boat to sail these seasthat swallow me with easeeach time the tide of my moodshelplessly carries me out with no reprieve?But…

  • Poem About Gratitude, Having a Positive Attitude and Blessings

    Poem About Gratitude, Having a Positive Attitude and Blessings

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    by

    Justin Farley

    No Quarter If I look, I’ll find 1000 complaints, but I’ve resolved to give no quarter to protest when I’ve been so blessed with gifts raining down from Heaven like manna. If I find my vision dull, dark, and gray it’s because I’ve chosen to stay blind to how lucky I truly am. Of course…

  • When Sorrow Comes – A Poem

    When Sorrow Comes – A Poem

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    by

    Justin Farley

    When Sorrow Comes I’m old enough now and have lived through enough winters to know that as you begin reaping joy sorrow already begins to grow. This life promises many harvests but one crop it’s certain to sow – that beyond the warmth of summer comes the cold, winter snow. It’s not about protecting yourself…

  • Losing Myself Poem About Mental Illness and Recovery

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Losing Myself I’m losing myself in pieces –every year fragments of my soulfeel swept away by time. My identity constantly decreases,and I’m beginning to feel like a strangerwithin the confines of my own mind. Yes, I’m losing myself in pieces –the jigsaw puzzle’s lovely imagehas jumbled into an abstract mess. But my search for meaning…

  • Poem about Depression, Anxiety, and Bipolar Disorder

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Wavering Emotions What pulls me out of bed in the morning? What lies beyond the break of day? Some days find me bouncing to work, others a struggle to summon the energy to play. How do I slay this elusive dragon that renders me depressed and without drive? My heart longs and desires to flourish,…

  • Deep Poem About Depression Feeling Emptiness

    Deep Poem About Depression Feeling Emptiness

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    by

    Justin Farley

    A poem poem depression, examining what it means to be depressed and feel nothing—no sadness, no desire, no happiness—and to feel all the warmth of life disappear.

  • Rhyming Mental Health Poem About Bipolar Disorder Manic Depression

    Rhyming Mental Health Poem About Bipolar Disorder Manic Depression

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    by

    Justin Farley

    A poem about mental health that rhymes comparing bipolar disorder to a lifelong roller coaster ride that you are unable to get off of, written by poet Justin Farley.

  • A Post-Modern Portrait – A Poem

    A Post-Modern Portrait – A Poem

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    by

    Justin Farley

    “But I like the inconveniences.” “We don’t,” said the Controller. “We prefer to do things comfortably.” “But I don’t want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.” “In fact,” said Mustapha Mond, “you’re claiming the right to be unhappy.” “All right then,”…

  • Grace – A Poem

    Grace – A Poem

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Grace – A Poem I am awed by the way you move me like freshly fallen snowflakes dusting across the frozen ground. Some days I forget the barren tundra from which I came and how you whispered by name, echoing across that vacant landscape so that a lost soul could be found. Some days time…

  • Living With Fear – A Poem About Anxiety Disorder and Mental Illness

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Living With Fear – A Poem About Anxiety and Mental Illness Close your eyes.Keep yourself blindTo the hideous beastThat hides beneath this veil of security. Pretend you can’t see meFor who I am –A scared, frightened, shell of a manRaging in the solitude of fear’s prison. I can’t even stand the visionThat stares back at…

  • Illusions – A Poem

    Illusions – A Poem

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Illusions – A Poem The demon water you drinkIs devouring your soul.Don’t you know this road has no happy endingAnd your heart will turn cold? Repeating lies does not change reality.Sooner or later you’ll have to face life’s inevitable truth.Don’t set yourself on foolish paths, don’t chase foolish pursuits,And hang your happiness up by your…

  • Poem About Feeling Alone and Misunderstood

    Poem About Feeling Alone and Misunderstood

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Alien –  A Poem Feelings run too deeplike the full summer moon,sinking in the sky’s dark sea of black.Reminiscing, pondering over burnt out stars,wishing their beautiful light could somehow be brought back. But the ancient dust has crumbled,scattered like ashes in the brisk solar wind.But memories stand transfixed,unaltered by time, suspendedin infinity’s domain without an…

  • The Black Veil – A Poem

    The Black Veil – A Poem

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    by

    Justin Farley

    The Black Veil – A Poem I wear this black veil of despair Like the wrappings of a mummy, Covering my self-inflicted wounds. My face frozen in cold, blank stare Trapped within my tomb, Alone in my room. Why do you continue to test me? Why do you hold out savory meat Only to snatch…


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My Poetry Collections

the book cover of Nature's Bounty by Justin Farley— a poetry collection about the beauty of nature with subjects on birds, plants, trees, animals, the forest, and God.
A deep poetry book about the beauty of nature and the natural world by poet Justin Farley.
the book cover of Frozen Rivers by Justin Farley— a poetry collection about depression and the hardships of mental illness, balanced with nature poems on the season of winter.
Deep poems about depression and the hardships of mental illness, balanced with nature poems on the winter season by poet Justin Farley. Book 1 of the Seasons series.
a mental health poetry book about joy and nature poems on the season of spring
Inspirational poems about mental health, healing, and spring by poet Justin Farley. Book 2 of the Seasons series.
the book cover of Summer Days Sunburnt Nights by Justin Farley— a mental health poetry book about bipolar disorder and nature poems on the season of spring
Deep poems about bipolar disorder and being neurodivergent, balanced with nature poems on summer by poet Justin Farley. Book 3 of the Seasons series.
the book cover of A Voice in the Wilderness—A Chapbook of Poems About God by Justin Farley. It is a deep Christian poetry collection about contemplation, the spiritual journey, and finding grace through Jesus.
A contemplative, prayerful Christian poetry book about the spiritual journey and discovering God’s grace, mercy, and love.
the book cover of Thorns of Love by Justin Farley. It is a deep love poetry collection about sadness of breakups, divorce, and heartbreak.
A deep love poetry book about the pain of break ups and the heartbreak felt when relationships end by poet Justin Farley.