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My Story and Writing Helped

I attended school at Saint Bonaventure beginning in 2007 and during my late sophomore year in 2009 I developed depression, it was terrible to say the least. Everyday of my life was a struggle; it was a fight in itself to get myself out of bed and into the classroom. Junior and Senior year brought what seemed like a prized championship-boxing bout, I missed probably a third of the school days, my grades dropped like crazy and I wasn’t myself any longer; I was a shell of the person I used to be. I had days where I didn’t leave my bed, I used the blankets as a cover both physically and psychologically in the way that I used them to hide from the outside world and the problems I faced. Senior year no one would listen to me at all I was trying to scream I needed bigger help than, “You will just feel better if you go to school today” or “Go to school or else you won’t graduate.” One morning my Mother walked into the room where, yet again, I was hiding under the covers. She pulled me out of bed somehow and the morning turned into a screaming match where I screamed, “If you make me go to school then I will just walk off and kill myself, somewhere!”

            I didn’t intend on killing myself but I needed someone to listen to me further than the surface questions. My Mom did listen to me and I went to counseling where I received the help I needed, but I was lucky, I had support from many people including my parents and faculty at Saint Bonaventure. The faculty who helped me at Saint Bonaventure were amazing! They gave me the support I needed outside of my family to succeed in the outside world.

            In my counseling I found writing as a useful tool to positively direct my emotions and issues. It became an everyday habit; I would go through my day, take notes in my mind of what I went through throughout the day, then at the end of the day type out what I felt or what happened, similar to a diary. I created a system that helped me whether it was writing down the happenings of the day or a story idea that developed in my head.  The point is writing can be used as a helpful tool for kids who are having troubles in their life, whether those problems are abuse, depression and related mental illnesses, or any kind of problems the world may hold for the kids. 

What should I write?

What should you write? Anything and everything is the limit. The greatest part of writing or writing therapy is it has no boundaries, it truly is boundless. Just a few months ago I felt terrible feelings about the bullying I underwent during my elementary years so I decided to write a few things about it. It turned into a full fledged middle grade book named the "Memoirs of a fat kid" and I am currently shopping it to a few publishers and agents.
The gist here is, basically, writing is like water in the way that water can take on any form or shape and so can the words you write. Emotions are an extremely strong tool to use during the writing process; it brings out everything that's real. The best part about leaving it all out on the page is what I like to call the "Trash-affect", after you pour your heart and soul onto this blank, white piece of paper you can just simply crumple it up and throw it in the trash. In my experience it is utterly the best writing therapy exercise in the entire writing therapy world, it's completely empowering to be able to write down your deepest darkest secrets or something you are struggling with and just simply throw them away like it never happened, the "Trash-affect" is probably the most useful exercise out of all. There is a sense of absolute release after you forcefully throw the feeling or situation away, true relief.
In closing I suggest you go try the "Trash-affect", could help you out with a situation or feeling you are struggling with.

Sincerely,

Dylon J. Serpa

Writing Therapy? What is Writing Therapy?

All teens deals with their own personal problems; depression, trouble at home or just plain trying to put your life back together. Your teen years are called the "best years of your life" by many and these confusing, wonderful, crazy years are certainly not the "best years of your life. Nonetheless, everyone needs a little help once in a while for a temporary amount of time or some may need a ton of help for an extended period of time but in this time of need their are many outlets society has already established; sports, counseling etcetera but these outlets are for those who want the help, in my experience, no one wants help. I dealt with depression heavily from the ages of 16-18 and I didn't want any help, none, nada, ziltch; most of the time it was get out of my face because if you do mention the words "counseling" or "help" I am going to rip your face off. It sounds odd a person would not accept help  but 85% of the teens will not want to accept the fact they need help (even though it is nothing to be embarrased by).
Something my Mother showed me and what I discovered was the absolute power of writing, it's a strong, strong power that civilization holds. Writing done in the right ways and contexts are extremely powerful, specifically short stories and poetry; for some reason these two types of writing have immense emotional power.
Where am I going with this long unecessary post , right? Well here it is and it involves two words coming from different sides of the education specturm, one coming from the subject of English and the other Psychology, Writing Therapy.  Writing Therapy is an expressive form of writing used by many to control emotional processes and emotional release, but in a productive and good way. Teens that have traumatic emotional short lived situations can be helped by this immensly as well as help teens that are being affected by clinical problems.
For example if Debby at school is trying to take your man or she is spreading unecessary rumors about you grab a piece of paper and start writing. All of the sudden you have taken a blank page from blank to telling the story of a witch who is trying to cast a spell upon you and your man. Not only does it ease the stress of the situation but you feel accomplished. The best part of this is it is completely to yourself, no one has to see this but your own eyes.
For teens struggling with more clinical problems try keeping a daily diary (for boys you may call it something else!) of your emotional struggles, ALL of the ups and downs no matter how bad or how good. It really helps the teen out seeing how much they really are struggling and will push them to see a counselor or some more serious help
Writing Therapy. Live it. Love it. Do it. IT WILL HELP, I swear by it.