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If you had to imagine your mental illness or disorder as a house, what would it look like?

Federico Babina has just released a new project called Archiatric, which depicts 16 different conditions as works of architecture in various states of repair. The designs are chillingly abstract, but for anyone living with the agony of mental illness, they're all too accurate. An animated video posted to the Barcelona-based digital artist's YouTube page further intensifies the effect of the images.

Babina is known for architecture-inspired work, using a unique geometric style that takes clear notes from cubism. His designs are often surreal, yet underlined with cheeky humour.

More info: Federico Babina, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

#2

Depression

Depression

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Cat Meow
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it supposed to show "feel like drowning all while feeling trapped"?

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D Rolls
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry to butt in-- my personal opinion is that the house is "melting" and it's hard to get out of it, as if it's tar.

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Emy D'Owni
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's like a tremendous pressure is being applied on your body, your mind, your everything. From my experience, simple task such as getting out of bed,brushing your teeth,taking a shower,eating, enjoying the things you usually would are just too much and you can't even muster enough energy to do them. It's almost like you're suffocating because of it. You feel heavy and everything around you is a drag...

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Cheri-leigh Van Oosten
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think individuals probably experience depression in different ways... wrote to the artist, explain your personal experiences and then maybe they will be able to depict it to your satisfaction

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Lily Gardiner
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Damien. You clearly don't have depression. Cos that looks like drowning to me, and that's my day to day. Drowning, and remembering to breathe. Without running into an on coming train

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Arianna Stahl
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wasn't aware that suffering from depression made you a medical expert. Just ignore the fact that it hits people differently, so your truth may not be the truth of others. Gj.

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Andrew Dickson
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From my own experience with it, I would say this gets it about as right as it can be in a black and white picture, but everyone experiences depression differently. If I were to describe a picture that would embody depression in this format, I would say a house with the outside walls cracking and starting to fall off with part of the foundation falling out, and a large hole in the heart with tears running down it for the sadness, and blood running down it for the piercing pain in your soul. Using the two colors for liquid drops could symbolize that, and the hole in the center could be indicating the hole in your life it makes.

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Fayette Butler
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me, because I suffered from major depressive disorder, it represents my life with no foundation. Life is melting all around me while I'm comfortable in my isolation and darkness. The melting makes life seem heavier and weightier. I would just give in to feeling lost and stuck. But for me, thank GOD I was able, one day at a time, to slowly put my life back together through various support systems. Sometimes where you are looking for help is not the avenue where you will find it. It's all around you. Information is power!

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Gemma Weirs
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't think this describes depression for me personally. To me, depression feels like I've gone to the depths of despair. A melting house doesn't really describe that feeling.

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Belle White
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me, I feel like my heart is dead and becoming a faint dust to blow in the wind.

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Rhonda Himes
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What does the house look like if you have both anxiety and depression?

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Yuna Aita
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had deprisiion but overcame it since i told my mom and dad

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Naomi Elliott
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me depression can feel like trying to walk through mud - this made me see that. Like being trapped in a house (body) made of sticky mud (life) that's almost impossible to make your way through.

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Cheryl Reyes
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dealing with at least a couple of these, I think he had done a very good job. Even those I've never experienced personally or close to. ..I can see the connection and feel his meaning for the most part. Well done.

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MiaOokami
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it's accurate. To me, it looks like the house is consuming you.

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endelbendel
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shoah, the Jewish vision of afterlife (also the word for disaster), is envisioned as a house with no windows or doors, filled with grey dust and silent. This image may be suitable for depression which involves dorsal vagal shutdown.

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Martin Carmichael
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the only way to exit this is to move on. go outdoor. do a lot of sports. kick you and play. you will be rewarded.

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Renu Hasan
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depression when the work is not done properly and you have leakage

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Mandy laird
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Personally, i think the whole house should be built on top of the person. With only a little bit of light surrounding them; enough to see them. Then dripping light coming from the roof can come close but should give the illusion of being close, but so far away at the same time.

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Ashley Aronow
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me, the house should be falling apart with large cracks in foundation.

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KittySpam
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

By the gods, this is correct when explaining depression as a structure. As having clinical depression myself, I can say this reminds me of all the c**p I have ever felt. It feels like everything good melts in the palm of your hand while trying to maintain some sort of hold on it. But you can only sit helplessly and watch as everything around you blurs into unproprotional likeliness of being just so complicated to manuver. The foundation of the house is going and my depression makes me feel isolated and unsupported. Its just........beautiful 0_0

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Carmen Aquino
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In a way it feel like your trapped on a box drowning And trap out of this world

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Missy Hildebrandt
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lady who sees auras not that I totally believe in that told me my aura is dripping off me. I was so insulted until I saw this picture. Makes sense now

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endelbendel
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually it is Narcissism, not Depression which is empty inside.

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Jenica Thomas
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's different for everyone. I have bipolar I and in my depressive states I do feel empty and hollow.

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Billie Taylor
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This reminds me of a big four posted bed and lots of doonas to hide under.

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ReeRee Yarbrough
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

its missing the disconnected feeling like ur head floating above the rest of you.

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Jason Clark
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like that part of the foundation is missing because I feel like the floor is falling from beneath me.

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Pi...
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmm... I've never imagined depression as a house. It's just darkness in the corners of my vision.

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#4

Dementia

Dementia

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Jody Dubois
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg people...This man is an artist. These are HIS takes on various human conditions. Stop critiquing his choices and just appreciate his gift and willingness to share with the world.

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#6

Ocd

Ocd

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Yana La
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The roof does not fit correctly with that pattern........ *internal screaming*

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#7

Autism

Autism

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Lemur
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I truly can relate. This is me. I got Asperger, a form of autism where you are actually pretty smart.

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#8

Alzheimer

Alzheimer

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Erica Marx
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This depicts very well the bits and pieces of memory and habit that linger with this disease. The cracks are nearly all the way through, excellent.

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#11

Paranoia

Paranoia

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Sheralyn
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thought paranoia would be more like numerous eyes watching you or something. A maze sounds more like OCD or anxiety disorder.

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#12

Dyslexia

Dyslexia

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Ode
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The pictures are well thought through, thanks for that. But I don't think dyslexia is a mental illness

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#14

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative Disorders

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Christina Kernachan
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can relate to this... Though in my experience it's more like being in a bubble. Although i fully appreciate what the artist was aiming for. Good job

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#16

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy

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Clarissa Cole
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All these disorders are in the DSM, which includes all mental illness, including cognitive/regulatory issues. Narcolepsy, dyslexia, etc are all in there.

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