Sis, You May Need to Write It Out: The Power of Vulnerability:
Breaking Stigma Through Sisterhood and Poetry
There was a time when I struggled to express my emotions. Not because I didn’t want to share, but because I simply didn’t know how. My thoughts felt too heavy to carry yet too complex to explain. I wanted to be understood, but vulnerability in conversation seemed impossible. That’s when poetry became my refuge.
Poetry gave me language when my voice felt lost.
When my mental health was deteriorating, poetry became my escape—my way of speaking without fear of judgment. I didn’t have to sit across from someone and force out the words that refused to come. Instead, I could let my heart pour onto the page, raw and unfiltered. And the most beautiful part? I wasn’t alone in this.
I found sisterhood through poetry—women who, like me, used words to heal, process, and release. We connected not just through our struggles, but through our courage to write them down. In spaces where mental health stigma tried to silence us, poetry became our collective voice. We bared our souls on the page, and in doing so, we freed ourselves from shame.
I’ve learned that vulnerability is a gift that, when shared, has the power to break chains. By embracing our truths and writing them out, we dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health. We remind each other that it’s okay to feel deeply, to struggle, and most importantly, to heal.
My Dumping Ground
Crowded like a shopping center on a Saturday afternoon
My mind has not only memories
High continuous imaginations run through too.
Venting has minimal effect
Only instant regrets.
God blessed me with a gift that doesn’t require an open mouth
Only a poured-out heart.
Afraid to push my pen because critics and self-doubt tried to keep me bound
This is a freeing experience with each line created
Call it my dumping ground.
I’m freeing space in me.
This poem is my truth. It’s why I write, share, and continue to encourage other women to do the same. If you’re struggling to speak, sis, try writing it out. You don’t have to have the perfect words—just let them flow. And when you do, find sisters who will read, listen, and hold space for you. Healing should not be in isolation.
Sisterhood and poetry taught me that vulnerability isn’t a weakness—it’s a revolution. And together, we are breaking the stigma, one verse at a time.
Here are a few questions to reflect on in your private time:
1. Have you ever struggled to express your emotions in conversation?
2. How could writing—poetry, journaling, or storytelling—help you process your emotions?
3. Who are the women in your life that you can share your writing with?
Sis, you may need to write it out. And when you do, know that you are not alone.
With love,