Author Turns Pain Into Poetry and Healing

Belizean author Bernadette Francisco is using her personal struggles with anxiety and depression to spark healing.

Her debut book, Real-Life Stories: A Path to Healing, is a heartfelt collection of poetry and reflections drawn from her own lived experiences.

“It was only an outlet for me to share what I was thinking, what were my thoughts,” Francisco shared. “And then in therapy, my doctor, Dr. Rosado, mentioned to me, ‘I really enjoy reading your poems. I think that you should publish these because there are a lot of people going through similar experiences… and it can be a form of inspiration to them.’”

For Francisco, poetry became a safe space to process emotion and navigate her healing journey. “I always enjoyed writing poems from when I was a little girl,” she said. “Whenever I would feel depressed or down, or whenever I am overthinking, it’s something similar to journaling, but I turn them into poetry.”

Opening up about her mental health was not without its challenges. “You know, sometimes we look at the stigma surrounding anxiety, the stigma surrounding depression, mental health… and of course, some of these stories are personal,” she explained. “My thoughts were like, how would I be viewed? Knowing that you suffered through all these things. But then I said, these are my stories, these are what happened to me. I am not ashamed of them. They have helped shape me to the person that I am.”

Now, Francisco hopes that her transparency will help break the silence around mental health and encourage others to seek healing. Her book is currently available for purchase at Dakers Stationery in Belize City and will soon be stocked at a bookstore in Belmopan. Copies are being sold for thirty dollars each, and she plans to have it available on Amazon by the end of the month.