Visibly Absent - Final Draft

     The poem “Paralyzed” by NF is representative of the perception of a man who has become so depressed that he can no longer feel anything physically or emotionally. He is currently experiencing something many depressed people go through which is the in-between of despising to continue on earth but still being incredibly anxious over the idea of death. He feels both empty and emotionless and almost as though he is no longer living his life, but just viewing it from the outside looking in. This poem demonstrates that the first step to recovery is to acknowledge one’s own paralysis and the second step which is more necessary is to seek professional assistance.

  Aware of his past self vanishing, the man in the poem progressively gets worse over time. The person that he has known himself to be his entire life is now missing which he struggles to accept. He recognizes his thoughts are contradicting his typical personality, and he passionately states in the poem the lines, “Where’s the person that I know? They must have left” and “Where is the real me I’m lost and it kills me.” These lines display his deep frustration over not understanding where his inactive self is, wondering what happened to that person and questioning if he will ever be able to come back. The man acknowledges that there is a difference between his past self and current self which shows the reader that he wants to see himself change but he is not capable of doing so alone; again highlighting the necessity of getting help from a professional.

  The male in the poem believes he is fully liable for becoming so sad. He feels as though he has become a spectator to his own life. He expresses in the poem the lines, “I’m in a box, But I’m the one who locked me in” and “Waves come crashing over me but I just watch ‘em I just watch ‘em.” He is trying to explain how he feels he trapped himself into this problem he cannot get out of and is just watching the problems come but cannot bring himself to do anything about them. He is observing his life around him rather than experiencing it, fully blaming himself for entering the depressive state he is now in. Because he knows that he is a different person than he used to be, he recognizes the tragic situation he is in, and now needs to understand the importance of seeking outside help.

  This poem demonstrates that when one acknowledges his own paralysis, that is the first step to recovery and looking for someone to provide support is the second, and more important step. The man shows frustration that he is no longer the man he once was. It is evident through his choice of words in the song that he wants answers to why he has become the way he is. The man blames himself for the problems he now endures, and the reader realizes the importance of him finding help. Although paralysis is a state of depression, if treated, a person can resume his quality of life.