These photos reflect our personal perspectives on mental illness, which were both inspired by this project and our own experiences with mental illness. Our goal is to show the internal affects of mental illnesses that are difficult to understand for those who don’t suffer from one. We hope to inspire sympathy and understanding so that the stigma of mental illness that is present across college campuses, and across our country as a whole, is removed and replaced with a forthright dialogue.
Translucent Haze: Struggling with mental illness might mean having to take pills. These mask the problem, building a translucent haze over everyday life. There’s a disparity between those who experience mental illness and those who don’t, like cloudy glass, you see it but not entirely for what it is.
Ripples: This picture is of raindrops and their ripples on concrete. While some may associate rain with sadness, I happen to enjoy the weather. This picture though, is a metaphor for the ripples that sadness can have. Bad days and thoughts can create a ripple that not only affects you but all of those around you.
The Shield: The is the door to my bedroom. During weeks where my anxiety and depression feels unbearable, my bedroom is my safe space. It’s difficult to interact with the outside world when an episode has left you shaken and vulnerable. In many ways, my bedroom door acts as a shield that allows me to heal, recover and rebuild myself. Remaining behind that door allows me to feel like I am able to keep my dignity while taking care of my mental health.
Ankle Deep: When a mental illness takes hold minor stressors can feel enormous. Standing in a puddle can make you feel like you’re drowning. However, most mental illnesses do not physically manifest, so everyone else only sees the puddle, but you feel its numbing cold.
Room Reflections: At the height of dealing with mental illness, often times we feel completely alone and isolated. A bed can be the only way to feel a sense of safety, to hide from struggles that come from everyday interactions. With many anxiety and depression patients, their bedroom reflects their mental state. What many outsiders don’t understand is that a cluttered room or an inability to get out a bed is not a sign of laziness, but rather a sign of mental and physical exhaustion.
Forgetfulness: These are all of the to-do lists and schedules I write for myself for the week. My anxiety makes me doubt my ability to complete assignments on time and plagues me with the thought that I am constantly forgetting something. The number of lists and planners I use typically depends on how bad my anxiety is that week. On my worst weeks, I plan each day out hour by hour to encourage myself to be productive and participate in society as much as possible.
From the Surface: Mental illness is represented in this photo from the only visibility is what has surfaced. Suffering from mental illness includes a lot of hiding behind it, putting up a façade that never hints at a struggle from mental illness. We judge each other based off of what is displayed on the surface, yet there is so much beneath what meets the eye.
Transitions: This displays a transition between the seasons of fall and winter. For me, this is a disappointing time, as one of my favorite seasons turns into my least favorite. Winter for me means a more volatile and fragile emotional state. Cold days beat up my psyche, wearing me down and making me vulnerable for the season.
At the Door: Often times, we’re expected to leave our mental illness at the door, like a set of dirty shoes. We’re expected to act accordingly and put our mental health on the back burner. If we’re struggling with a physical ailment, it’s taken seriously, but if it’s regarding our mental health, it’s not a real thing.
66%: A major symptom of depression is loss of motivation. No motivations to study, to work out, to eat healthy, to see old friends, to shower, to get out of bed. It is not an indication of intelligence or ability, but its affects can be crippling.
Writing on the Wall: Studies have shown that a major social stigma still exists, putting mental health issues and seeking treatment in a negative light. One thing we can do to change that is to show support for one another. Words are powerful.
Music Therapy: This picture is of a record. In times of darkness, I usually turn to music for solutions. This particular record is called Panda Bear Vs The Grim Reaper, a record about dealing with death and loss that really helped me with the passing of my good friend years ago. For all the sad moments this record has, it has many hopeful songs that keep me going.
Light in the Dark: The candle in the darkness represents hope. Mental illness can shroud the world in darkness that seems unshakable; that no one else can understand. But there is hope, and hope is contagious. The light of the candle started small and grew to fill the entire frame. Hope can be found by reconnecting with an old passion, seeking professional help, or hearing someone say, “I understand how you feel.”
The Fight: My tattoo that acts as a daily reminder to keep pushing forward. At the darkest times in my life, this tattoo has been a source of motivation to fight against the temptation to give up and give in to my mental illness. It reminds me that, although my present circumstances seem unconquerable, the future is bright if I have hope and strength.
Ripples: This picture is of raindrops and their ripples on concrete. While some may associate rain with sadness, I happen to enjoy the weather. This picture though, is a metaphor for the ripples that sadness can have. Bad days and thoughts can create a ripple that not only affects you but all of those around you.
The Shield: The is the door to my bedroom. During weeks where my anxiety and depression feels unbearable, my bedroom is my safe space. It’s difficult to interact with the outside world when an episode has left you shaken and vulnerable. In many ways, my bedroom door acts as a shield that allows me to heal, recover and rebuild myself. Remaining behind that door allows me to feel like I am able to keep my dignity while taking care of my mental health.
Ankle Deep: When a mental illness takes hold minor stressors can feel enormous. Standing in a puddle can make you feel like you’re drowning. However, most mental illnesses do not physically manifest, so everyone else only sees the puddle, but you feel its numbing cold.
Room Reflections: At the height of dealing with mental illness, often times we feel completely alone and isolated. A bed can be the only way to feel a sense of safety, to hide from struggles that come from everyday interactions. With many anxiety and depression patients, their bedroom reflects their mental state. What many outsiders don’t understand is that a cluttered room or an inability to get out a bed is not a sign of laziness, but rather a sign of mental and physical exhaustion.
Forgetfulness: These are all of the to-do lists and schedules I write for myself for the week. My anxiety makes me doubt my ability to complete assignments on time and plagues me with the thought that I am constantly forgetting something. The number of lists and planners I use typically depends on how bad my anxiety is that week. On my worst weeks, I plan each day out hour by hour to encourage myself to be productive and participate in society as much as possible.
From the Surface: Mental illness is represented in this photo from the only visibility is what has surfaced. Suffering from mental illness includes a lot of hiding behind it, putting up a façade that never hints at a struggle from mental illness. We judge each other based off of what is displayed on the surface, yet there is so much beneath what meets the eye.
Transitions: This displays a transition between the seasons of fall and winter. For me, this is a disappointing time, as one of my favorite seasons turns into my least favorite. Winter for me means a more volatile and fragile emotional state. Cold days beat up my psyche, wearing me down and making me vulnerable for the season.
At the Door: Often times, we’re expected to leave our mental illness at the door, like a set of dirty shoes. We’re expected to act accordingly and put our mental health on the back burner. If we’re struggling with a physical ailment, it’s taken seriously, but if it’s regarding our mental health, it’s not a real thing.
66%: A major symptom of depression is loss of motivation. No motivations to study, to work out, to eat healthy, to see old friends, to shower, to get out of bed. It is not an indication of intelligence or ability, but its affects can be crippling.
Writing on the Wall: Studies have shown that a major social stigma still exists, putting mental health issues and seeking treatment in a negative light. One thing we can do to change that is to show support for one another. Words are powerful.
Music Therapy: This picture is of a record. In times of darkness, I usually turn to music for solutions. This particular record is called Panda Bear Vs The Grim Reaper, a record about dealing with death and loss that really helped me with the passing of my good friend years ago. For all the sad moments this record has, it has many hopeful songs that keep me going.
Light in the Dark: The candle in the darkness represents hope. Mental illness can shroud the world in darkness that seems unshakable; that no one else can understand. But there is hope, and hope is contagious. The light of the candle started small and grew to fill the entire frame. Hope can be found by reconnecting with an old passion, seeking professional help, or hearing someone say, “I understand how you feel.”
The Fight: My tattoo that acts as a daily reminder to keep pushing forward. At the darkest times in my life, this tattoo has been a source of motivation to fight against the temptation to give up and give in to my mental illness. It reminds me that, although my present circumstances seem unconquerable, the future is bright if I have hope and strength.