Caleb Woods
“Birmingham is a place where people from all backgrounds can find a safe haven through the arts. From film to literature, Birmingham offers countless groups and events that everyone can take part in. For me, Birmingham provides inspiration everywhere you look - from the various parks to the beautiful architecture. Birmingham gives you a place to call home and allows you unleash your passions through a multitude of creative outlets.”
Caleb Woods began writing at a young age to cope with bullying at school the depression he experienced. Growing up in the small town of Pisgah, Alabama, he was surrounded by religion and found it increasingly difficult to reconcile his faith with his sexual orientation. Caleb was told he would spend an eternity in hell for being gay – and he believed it.
He was first officially diagnosed with PTSD in high school after his closest friend died unexpectedly. He moved away to college but ignored his symptoms and didn’t seek help for his mental illness. After years of suffering silently, he began to accept his sexual orientation and eventually met his now husband, Luke.
Despite a happy marriage, Caleb continued to suffer with symptoms of PTSD. At their peak, the night terrors and panic attacks finally drove him to seek professional help. His doctor quickly confirmed that PTSD was the diagnosis and it wasn’t something to be taken lightly. Today, Caleb receives treatment for PTSD, panic disorder, and depression by attending reoccurring therapy sessions.
Throughout these years, Caleb wrote poetry about his specific struggles surrounding mental illness and growing up gay in the Bible Belt. In his debut book, Harnessing Darkness: Expressing Mental Illness Through Poetry, Caleb reveals his most personal thoughts – some dark, some light, some suffering, some uplifting, but all existential. Currently, Caleb lives with his husband in Birmingham, Alabama. He is a full-time writer, author, and poet who enjoys reading, traveling, playing board games, and collecting pop culture memorabilia.