Jennifer tells of her life with 'The Voices that Won't Listen'
TACKLING one of the most poorly understood mental illnesses which she has lived with all her life, Athy poet Jennifer Delaney launched a very special collection of her writings last weekend in Athy.
Jennifer's poems give a raw and honest account of what it is like to live with schizophrenia.
Originally from San Francisco but living in Athy for the past nine years, Jennifer began jotting down how she was feeling as a form of therapy. The collection evolved into a well-received publication that was launched last Friday (February 12) by Deputy Jack Wall at the Methodist Church in Athy.
Describing what it is like to have a schizophrenic episode, Jennifer explains it is similar to hearing a number of voices all chattering inaudibly at the one time making it impossible to think straight.
An incurable condition, Jennifer said she is able to live a complete and fulfilling life thanks to the medication she takes to control it.
Her 16-page poetry collection will be an inspiration to people out there affected by schizophrenia.
"I'm hoping that by having a book published it will help people understand it. If it helps one person to reach out in their moment of need. Whether it's a doctor, a family member or a friend to understand how we feel when we hear the voices. If it is someone with schizophrenia it will help them to know that the voices will stop."
Jennifer graduated from the Choices Programme in Athy over two years ago and said it was thanks to the support and encouragement of Colm Walsh from the Programme that her poems saw the light of day.
However, she is keen to see the public become more aware of this debilitating illness and not to make little of it.
So strongly does she feel about the misrepresentation of the condition that she wrote a letter about schizophrenia to RTE Radio after hearing one of its DJs refer to the weather as "schizophrenic".
With one successful publication under her belt, Jennifer, who lives on Woodstock Street with her husband Eamonn, is hopeful of putting out another in the next year or so.
"The Voices that Won't Listen" by Jennifer Delaney is available to purchase at Gem newsagents in Athy. The price is n6.
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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