Juice from the Orange

About the Book

This book is the first 72 of over seven hundred poems about my life and random experiences. The poems are about the way I feel, what has happened to me in my past and the things I have learned over the years. It’s also about my experience of my third hospitalization for mental health. This book is an emotional roller coaster, going up and down as my moods went up and down when I first started to write. There are a lot of people that suffer the way that I did, and I want them to know that I understand.

About the Author

Dear Readers, My name is Shantaa Watkins and I am a new author. I am glad that you chose to pick up my book. This is the first of what I hope will be many compilations. I have written over seven hundred poems and I hope to have them all published someday. I began writing as a way to cope with the symptoms of my mental health diagnoses. My diagnoses are PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, and Anxiety. Writing is calming to me when I get anxious or have other symptoms that scare me. Writing helps me to put in words the things I cannot say. My mental health has gone up and down over the last ten years; requiring many hospitalizations, a group home, shared living situations a few counselors, and a lot of medications along the way. However, I didn’t let them get me down. I was able to go to a Junior college and get my Associate’s Degree and then go on to the University of Washington to get my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. It wasn’t easy, but I pushed through it and was able to make Phi Sigma Theta, the national honor society. I volunteer at the local children’s hospital during the week and I love being there. It is really rewarding to work with the kiddo’s. I need them as much as they need me. In my spare time I like to read for pleasure, write and make greeting cards. I love to see the look on people’s faces when they get a card that I made just for them. I also love scrapbooking and taking pictures of my family. God has been there for me every step of the way, but I could not always sense him or understand his plan for my life. I try to give him thanks every day, and I am involved with the church. As you can see, I am very involved in my life and I love most of it. People are not always happy with life, and I am no different. My book is real, raw, and emotional. I hope that you enjoy seeing the world through my eyes. Thank you for reading and best wishes. Your Friend, Shantaa