Chains of the Mind, Key of the Saviour

 When the Storm Rages Within

Living with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and manic depression often feels like being trapped in a cage—one not made of iron bars but of invisible walls pressing in from all sides. On the worst days, it’s as if a storm rages inside, a storm no one else can see or understand. Explaining what it feels like becomes impossible; words falter and fail, leaving you isolated in a whirlwind of chaos and silence.

I wrote this haiku to capture some of that struggle:

Caged within my mind,
walls unseen yet pressing close,
a storm with no end.
Words falter, fail, break apart,
shattered echoes in the dark.

The voices that rise within are loud, confusing, and relentless. Each one demands to be heard, but none of them seem to speak for me. They steal my peace, replace it with fear, and bury any attempt at clarity under layers of noise.

A thousand voices,
each one screaming to be heard,
yet none speak for me.
I reach for light, but it hides,
trapped in shadows, trapped in time.

In these moments, it feels like drowning under the weight of emotions too heavy to carry. It’s not just sadness; it’s despair, hopelessness, and sometimes a deep exhaustion that makes the idea of explaining it to someone else feel like an insurmountable task.

The weight of the world,
crushing down from every side,
I gasp, but I drown.

But here’s the hope that keeps me moving forward, even on the darkest days: my Lord holds the key to my chains. No matter how tightly the storm grips me, He is my refuge. When I can’t find my way, He is there to lead me. When I feel I’ve lost my voice, He whispers, reminding me that His love is greater than the shadows that try to consume me.

Yet in the storm, my Lord stands,
holding the key to my chains.
He whispers through winds,
“My child, I am your refuge;
I will set you free.”
And though I’m trapped, hope ignites—
His love breaks through every night.

This journey isn’t easy, and it may not look the same for everyone, but one thing I know is this: I am not alone. Even when words fail and the weight of mental illness feels unbearable, God’s love is unwavering. He sees my pain, understands my struggles, and promises to walk with me
through every storm.

If you’re reading this and you feel trapped too, I want you to know that there is hope. You may not see it now, but the One who holds the key to your freedom is closer than you think. He is my anchor, and He can be yours too.

Even in the darkest moments, His light can break through. Keep holding on, and trust in His promises. He is faithful, even when the storm rages on.