Without Mental Health Series

I shot this series a while ago.  Now, the theme is dark and rather unlike most things that I post.  But there is a lot of symbolism and I think a lot of insight of what the “lack of mental health” can look like.  All of you, or most all of you know, that I used to work at an inpatient psychiatric facility with some patients with some severe psychological disorders.  I brought my interpretation of how some of these souls feel through me and through the lens.  I haven’t posted them before due to their unhappy nature, but since it is getting close to Halloween, I thought I might be able to get away with it.  Overall, the series progresses from emotional/psychological struggle to emotional/psychological freedom.

Again, I will forewarn you, these pictures aren’t going to be “happy” but I hope I may give you a little insight into the world of people with severe psychological disturbances.  There is a distinct order to the series of 5.

#1 – The Struggle Within

Can you imagine what it is like to feel trapped in your own mind and trapped in a facility that you do not trust.  You know that you want to escape from both, but you just don’t know how.  The contrast between light and dark is a huge part of this series, you will notice this contrast in most of the photos.  In this photo, you can see the light coming through the crack at the bottom of the door.  Letting you know that there is light outside.  But right now, the struggle is just too much to bear and the slightest attempt for freedom just isn’t enough.  The multiple exposure of the photograph hints at a lack of reality, notice how the person is slightly transparent?  Is the person really “there” or are they a passing delusion in their own delusion?

#2 – Longing for Sanity

Now, the fight is on.  You know that you want to fight, but it is a hard road.  Mental illness, especially any psychotic disorder, is an extremely difficult thing to beat.  But there is hope and it is behind the door.  Just trying to open the door…

#3 – Duality

The door is open, and you can see the light.  You can see that things are getting better.  But what I have noticed about people I have worked with is a hesitancy to recover, a hesitancy to take medication, a hesitancy to trust.  So, before and real positive change or step in recovery can be made, there is a duality between “selves”.  The person who wants to get better, and the person that believes highly in delusions to the point that they will not give them up… no matter how enticing that warm light of recovery might be.  Still take note of the contrast between light and dark…

and finally, #4 – The Light from the Outside finds the Light Within

In this final frame, she finally finds the balance between light and dark.  In contrast to the very first photo in the series, she is essentially “lit up”.  The first photo depicts her as a dark character, reaching for escape.  This photo depicts her as having a light inside her that is brought out by the light outside the door.  Again lots of symbolism… what are your thoughts?

So, I hope that didn’t scare you too much.  I also hope that I was able to shed some light on an area that you may not have had directed experience with.  Psychological disorders, from depression to bipolar to schizophrenia to generalized anxiety, are difficult for any person to handle.  There is a flux of seeking treatment and refusing treatment. There is a flux between reality and delusion and between cognitive distortions.

My bottom line today is this: Mental health treatment in this country is a stigma.  And above it what it looks like when it goes without attention.  Most of the time people, like 40-60% of people who struggle with any mental health issue do not seek treatment due to this stigma.  The overall intention of this series is to draw attention and to put a visual to what it means to lack mental health and that through the struggle of regaining that mental health, there is hope.  Always hope.