without the darkness you cannot see the stars

somebody once said "without the darkness you cannot see stars"
I say "you're not really healed if you don't have any scars"
all those years in mental health got me thinking "am I really broken?"
I still have memories in my mind in the hospital perfectly frozen
losing your mind can really damage your self esteem
enough to the point where you think you're lower than other human beings
but I got through it, my trials and tribulations
it's like graduating high school, I deserve congratulations
now im wise enough to know not to regret it
always do I reminisce and never can I forget it
Im thankful it was bipolar and not cancer or an amputation
I've learned a lot my experience is my elevation
without the darkness you cannot see the stars
well, im now healed and proudly bear the scars
...

That was amazing to me... I am bp1 and been hospitalized like 13 times since I was a kid... I hate it in there it’s so scary - a few years ago a patient was chasing me around yelling at me screaming bible versus saying I come from sin. I am so impressed with your writing and it’s true how your self esteem drops - I even dated a man who beat me and it was so hard to leave or get him arrested when he beat me into the hospital I said I fell down a flight of stairs. Stars are so much to me... I’ve burned one out wishing on one before and my tattoos are my scars too... love this and thank you - maybe we can write a piece together cause not all mentally ill people shoot shit up. I’m so impressed!

yes it can really tear down your self esteem. I had trouble calling myself stupid and shit when im actually pretty smart and kind, I don't know why I put others first and myself last. I just need to love myself and be nicer to myself. im also glad I had bipolar and not cancer or an amputation or something worse.