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I Illustrated Mental Illness And Disorders To Fight The Stigma Associated With Them (New Pics)
Back in 2016 I created 31 different dark art interpretations of mental illness disorders for Inktober (that were featured on Bored Panda), in order to start an unconventional conversation.
In the past 2 years, mental health has become more openly talked about, but many people suffering from mental illnesses are still considered "crazy" or "mental". And as long as the stigma remains, I'll keep creating artwork to continue that conversation.
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Anxiety Disorder
A mental health disorder characterised by feelings of worry, anxiety or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one's daily activities.
Generalized Depression
ADHD
As an adult with ADD and a kid very much with ADHD it can be a very hard thing to manage. Medication helps but with it comes a need to be very organized and structured because if you aren't your world falls apart. I remember playing baseball as a child and if a butterfly flew past the game was over for me.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by reoccurring unexpected panic attacks. Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear that may include palpitations, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, numbness, or a feeling that something terrible is going to happen.
Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder
Nonsuicidal self-injury disorder is a mental disorder that refers to the deliberate destruction of the surface of ones own body without suicidal intent. These behaviors include cutting, burning, scraping skin, hitting, and biting oneself and are primarily inflicted to cause bleeding, bruising, or pain.
OCD
Anyone who thinks being neat and organized means they have OCD, have never seen anyone who actually suffers from it.
It genuinely makes me sad when people will organize something very efficiently and then joke that its their 'OCD'. OCD is a serious mental illness and making light of it in this way I feel decreases the validity of those who suffer from in.
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Excessive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviours (compulsions).
People throw OCD around recklessly. Claiming their cleanliness is their OCD, etc. Real OCD can be debilitating and expands beyond excessive handwashing. For years teachers thought I was "stupid" because I didn't retain information or test well. Truth is, I couldn't listen to what they were saying because I was too busy counting the words they said. I've learned how to control my OCD over the years. But I still count ALL.THE.TIME. All day, every day, I count.
people always say that they feel and I quote"sooo OCD today" but they do not understand that it is more than wanting to clean it can ruin people's lives who suffer from it.
I have this about curtains. Curtains. Literally nothing else but curtains. They have to be closed, or I WILL have a panic attack.
One way for the toilet paper on the holder pulling down, I have folded and unfolded and folded the towels about 5 times, I want to adopt a puppy from the shelter but I can't figure out which one I want, if I pick this one that one won't get adopted, if I take that one then the one behind him won't get adopted, OH HECK just bring in the semi truck, I keep washing my hands but they don't feel clean, pile the papers here no there no back here again oh heck just put them down, my keys where are my car keys, let me re-step where I came from, darn still I can't find my car keys, OK look in the car, nope not there either, in the bottom of my purse? NOPE did I leave them in the garage? NO I just can't find my keys OH they are in my hand.
Yes OCD is a lot more than cleanliness, although it could show that way too, I’m not diagnosed but I’ve been seeing a therapist, and think I have PDA OCD Bipolar and ADHD, I think I have ocd and my obsessions are more images in my head than thoughts, they aren’t about cleanliness, I get graghic images of hurting people or of sexual acts that scare me and make me feel like I’m a bad person or a danger to myself or others
for me, my OCD is usually more obsessive than compulsive (though there's some of that too). for example, if i see something scary, i'll be terrified and i'll expect it to show up at every corner, behind every door. a lot of people are unable to sleep for a few days after seeing something scary, but for me, one thing can keep haunting me for months. this used to be worse when i was younger, partly because i've grown out of it a bit and partly because i've gotten better at avoiding scary things (i love halloween, but horror movie ads on youtube can wreak havoc on my mental state). however, it's not just scary things that can intrude my thoughts. once, i read a book three times in a row, and couldn't get it out of my head for months - it's like the protagonists had decided to live in my brain (and they didn't even bother paying rent, mind you). OCD is much more than just sorting things a lot - trust me.
I think the comparsion between tidieness and OCD is contributed by the word itself, but only the obsessive part. I have/had OCD too, my therapist helped me a lot. the german word for OCD is translated as "forced thoughts", "enforcement neurosis" or "forced acts", therefore nobody compares it to being obsessivly tidy. You feel forced to do something special (like touching a thing of your choice with every fingers evelny), otherwise stuff may happen or you feel wrong
Randy Dhuyvetter, thanks for your post! When people think.they have OCD be they like the money in their wallet all facingthe same way, I tell them, "you ain't seen nothing yet"! They have no idea what it's like...to me,it's nothing like the picture though. It feel more like being controlled by some higher power holding a remote over you. You could stop it,but at the same time you can't.
I blame bad OCD portrayal as being tidy for the fact that it took me 5 years to find out I had OCD. It is nothing like what they usually show it as. Mine manifested as a fear of having a full stomach, and going to the bathroom all the time to a dangerous degree. It landed me in the hospital. They told me I had OCD.
OCD is a serious mental illness that has absolutely nothing to do with housework. Shame on you.
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Bipolar Disorder
A disorder associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.
Antisocial Personality Disorder
since i'm bored anyway,.. A mental health disorder characterised by disregard for other people.
Schizophrenia Disorder
A disorder that affects a person's ability to think, feel and behave clearly. Schizophrenia is characterised by thoughts or experiences that seem out of touch with reality, disorganised speech or behaviour and decreased participation in daily activities. Difficulty with concentration and memory may also be present.
Borderline Personality Disorder
A mental disorder characterised by unstable moods, behaviour and relationships. Symptoms include emotional instability, feelings of worthlessness, insecurity, impulsivity and impaired social relationships.
Intermittent Explosive Disorder
Intermittent explosive disorder (sometimes abbreviated as IED) is a behavioral disorder characterized by explosive outbursts of anger and violence, often to the point of rage, that are disproportionate to the situation at hand (e.g., impulsive screaming triggered by relatively inconsequential events)
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder (DPD) is an anxious personality disorder characterized by an inability to be alone. People with DPD develop symptoms of anxiety when they're not around others. They rely on other people for comfort, reassurance, advice, and support.
Pica Disorder
Pica is most common in people with developmental disabilities, like autism and intellectual disabilities, and in children between the ages of 2 and 3. ... People with pica frequently crave and eat nonfood items such as: dirt
Depersonalization Disorder
Depersonalization disorder is marked by periods of feeling disconnected or detached from one's body and thoughts (depersonalization). The disorder is sometimes described as feeling like you are observing yourself from outside your body or like being in a dream. However, people with this disorder do not lose contact with reality; they realize that things are not as they appear. An episode of depersonalization can last anywhere from a few minutes to (rarely) many years.
Avoidant Personality Disorder
A disorder characterised by social discomfort and avoidance of interpersonal contact. Someone who has avoidant personality disorder avoids intimate and social contact with others. People with this condition may be extremely shy, fear ridicule and be overly concerned with looking foolish.
Body Dysmorphia Disorder
A mental illness involving obsessive focus on a perceived flaw in appearance. The flaw may be minor or imagined. But the person may spend hours a day trying to fix it. The person may try many cosmetic procedures or exercise to excess. People with this disorder may frequently examine their appearance in a mirror, constantly compare their appearance with that of others and avoid social situations or photos.
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociative identity disorder, previously called multiple personality disorder, is usually a reaction to trauma as a way to help a person avoid bad memories. Dissociative identity disorder is characterised by the presence of two or more distinct personality identities. Each may have a unique name, personal history and characteristics.
Delirium Disorder
Delirium is a condition of severe confusion and rapid changes in brain function. Delirium in itself is not a disease, but rather a cluster of symptoms that may result from a disease or other clinical process. Shorter in duration than dementia, it is often the result of treatable physical or mental illness. Underlying causes should be investigated. Delirium can be a side effect of some medications. Delirium is also referred to as "acute confusional state" or "acute brain syndrome."
Dermatillomania
Excoriation Disorder (Skin Picking or Dermatillomania),... i think it's a disorder about picking own skin or other people skin. (i don't know if it's a dead skin or healthy living skin tissue, it'll be scary if it's the latter)
Stockholm Syndrome
feelings of trust or affection felt in certain cases of kidnapping or hostage-taking by a victim toward a captor
Cotard's Delusion
Cotard delusion is a rare mental illness in which the affected person holds the delusional belief that they are already dead, do not exist, are putrefying, or have lost their blood or internal organs.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
A disorder in which a child becomes excessively anxious when separated from parents. Separation anxiety differs from normal clinginess. Children with the disorder can't think about anything but the present fear of separation. They may have nightmares or regular physical complaints. They may be reluctant to go to school or other places.
Substance Abuse Disorder
looks like it's about alcoholic and using any kind of substance that induce intoxicated state with no good purpose
the drawing is so cool. but, i think it would be better if there's explanation of each disorder, and it would be cool if we have games that have monster/enemies like this.
Thanks for the descriptions :))) They were very helpful!
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although there is a lotta c**p in the world still, the fact that mental illness is being more accepted and spoken about in public is a huge step forward. there's a long way to go, but it feels like anybody who's socially 'different' is finally starting to get a voice.
Hello I'm wondering if I can interview you for a senior project. My project is over personifying mental disorders to raise awareness and you'd be perfect for my annotated bib. I know you're probably busy so thank you for finding the time to read this. :)
These are really touching and there are a couple I personally live with. The visualization of these disorders is freeing in a way, to be and feel seen.
Excellent work. You must be very empathic & educated to grasp these disorders so accurately. People who suffer from these disorders often have more than one at the same time & often self-medicate as substance abusers.
Hey I love your drawings, but I would like to make a suggestion. Would you mind drawing one about Tourette's? I personally have it and it is hard for me to cope with it, especially since most middle school kids don't know what it is. It would mean a lot to me if you did one about Tourette's. Thank you for doing these drawings, they mean so much to me.
Amazing work! After years of struggling, i finally got treatment for depression and no longer feel the need to keep it a secret. I was always ashamed of it but now realize that not only is it not something to be ashamed of, but also something that is just part of me like my bad vision. I always try to encourage people to get help because i feel so much better, and i wish i was pushed to get help sooner. Mental health is just as important as heart health or liver function.
"Don't get me wrong, the rise in awareness is beating a stigma that no longer scares us // But for sake of discussion, in spirit of fairness, could we give this some room for a new point of view? And could it be true that some could be tempted, to use this mistake as a form of aggression? A form of succession? A form of a weapon? Thinking "I'll teach them", well, I'm refusing the lesson// It won't resonate in our minds. I'm not disrespecting what was left behind, just pleading that it does not get glorified, maybe we swap out what it is that we hold so high. Find your grandparents or someone of age. Pay some respects for the path that they paved. To life, they were dedicated. Now, that should be celebrated" ~ twenty øne piløts
You captured these marvelously. Also, thank you for including disorders that are not just the typical anxiety and depression, like depersonalization disorder, avoidant, etc.
Really good depictions of psychical disorders. Creepy (in a good way) and interesting.
As someone who suffers from 4 (previously 5) of the illnesses depicted, I can say that the drawings do represent how I feel. The research was obviously put in Ansbach I appreciate the physicalisation of something that’s so far from being tangible to people who dont suffer these issues.
why are they all portayed as monsters? is it because it might feel like a curse? I realise you're not saying that you are a monster because of this affliction. still I would think that someone suffering from an illness like this would not be helped in uplifting his or her self image by seeing his or her affliction in such a monstrous way.
Can you draw something that involves Misophonia? Asking for a few friends :)
I have no where to go. No one to love me. I am alone. You made me feel less alone. Like others understand what I am going through.
Would like to see one for someone who makes things up, and needs to be the center of attention. They have done the self harm, now telling ppl they hear voices, easily influenced, at least now we are out of the gender switching stage, says she has anxiety, depression. This has been ongoing since childhood when in 1st grade, yes 1st grade, told the school nurse she had kidney stones, she did not, but dad did. Or the "Help Me" she wrote in her own blood on the bathroom wall at the dr's office as her dad and her read scarey stories and she thought it would be funny and the drs would think the place was haunted. Its all attention seeking antics. She is just now able to see a therapist about these things.
What we often don't think about it is that animals don't often suffer from mental illness. . Unnatural environments DO make animals crazy, though. We've all heard about the animal who went crazy in a zoo and started hurting itself or just died of depression. Occam's Razor would indicate that the prevalance of mental illnesses are a result of our society and our environment. Poisons (lead, synthetic estrogens in everything, pesticides that are very similar to nerve gasses) have to be taking their toll. Humans are a gregarious species, yet so many people are isolated (in the US at least). Loneliness kills people as sure as cancer.
FANTASTIC EXPRESSION. WITHOUT COMPARISON BUT VERY SIMILAR TO ALEX PARDEE STYLE. I WILL BE SEARCHING FOR YOURE PAGES SHAWN.
they're not as gross as Gerald Scarfe
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Didn't we already get this post like... 6 times. Exact same pictures. Is Boredpanda turning into a neverending rerun of Married with Children?
But most of all, it makes me upset when people belittle everyone's mental illnesses. There are so many other people with mental illnesses, I live in a family of six, shall I go on? Sorry that it is inconvenient to you that so many people have mental illnesses.
Load More Replies... the drawing is so cool. but, i think it would be better if there's explanation of each disorder, and it would be cool if we have games that have monster/enemies like this.
Thanks for the descriptions :))) They were very helpful!
Load More Replies... although there is a lotta c**p in the world still, the fact that mental illness is being more accepted and spoken about in public is a huge step forward. there's a long way to go, but it feels like anybody who's socially 'different' is finally starting to get a voice.
Hello I'm wondering if I can interview you for a senior project. My project is over personifying mental disorders to raise awareness and you'd be perfect for my annotated bib. I know you're probably busy so thank you for finding the time to read this. :)
These are really touching and there are a couple I personally live with. The visualization of these disorders is freeing in a way, to be and feel seen.
Excellent work. You must be very empathic & educated to grasp these disorders so accurately. People who suffer from these disorders often have more than one at the same time & often self-medicate as substance abusers.
Hey I love your drawings, but I would like to make a suggestion. Would you mind drawing one about Tourette's? I personally have it and it is hard for me to cope with it, especially since most middle school kids don't know what it is. It would mean a lot to me if you did one about Tourette's. Thank you for doing these drawings, they mean so much to me.
Amazing work! After years of struggling, i finally got treatment for depression and no longer feel the need to keep it a secret. I was always ashamed of it but now realize that not only is it not something to be ashamed of, but also something that is just part of me like my bad vision. I always try to encourage people to get help because i feel so much better, and i wish i was pushed to get help sooner. Mental health is just as important as heart health or liver function.
"Don't get me wrong, the rise in awareness is beating a stigma that no longer scares us // But for sake of discussion, in spirit of fairness, could we give this some room for a new point of view? And could it be true that some could be tempted, to use this mistake as a form of aggression? A form of succession? A form of a weapon? Thinking "I'll teach them", well, I'm refusing the lesson// It won't resonate in our minds. I'm not disrespecting what was left behind, just pleading that it does not get glorified, maybe we swap out what it is that we hold so high. Find your grandparents or someone of age. Pay some respects for the path that they paved. To life, they were dedicated. Now, that should be celebrated" ~ twenty øne piløts
You captured these marvelously. Also, thank you for including disorders that are not just the typical anxiety and depression, like depersonalization disorder, avoidant, etc.
Really good depictions of psychical disorders. Creepy (in a good way) and interesting.
As someone who suffers from 4 (previously 5) of the illnesses depicted, I can say that the drawings do represent how I feel. The research was obviously put in Ansbach I appreciate the physicalisation of something that’s so far from being tangible to people who dont suffer these issues.
why are they all portayed as monsters? is it because it might feel like a curse? I realise you're not saying that you are a monster because of this affliction. still I would think that someone suffering from an illness like this would not be helped in uplifting his or her self image by seeing his or her affliction in such a monstrous way.
Can you draw something that involves Misophonia? Asking for a few friends :)
I have no where to go. No one to love me. I am alone. You made me feel less alone. Like others understand what I am going through.
Would like to see one for someone who makes things up, and needs to be the center of attention. They have done the self harm, now telling ppl they hear voices, easily influenced, at least now we are out of the gender switching stage, says she has anxiety, depression. This has been ongoing since childhood when in 1st grade, yes 1st grade, told the school nurse she had kidney stones, she did not, but dad did. Or the "Help Me" she wrote in her own blood on the bathroom wall at the dr's office as her dad and her read scarey stories and she thought it would be funny and the drs would think the place was haunted. Its all attention seeking antics. She is just now able to see a therapist about these things.
What we often don't think about it is that animals don't often suffer from mental illness. . Unnatural environments DO make animals crazy, though. We've all heard about the animal who went crazy in a zoo and started hurting itself or just died of depression. Occam's Razor would indicate that the prevalance of mental illnesses are a result of our society and our environment. Poisons (lead, synthetic estrogens in everything, pesticides that are very similar to nerve gasses) have to be taking their toll. Humans are a gregarious species, yet so many people are isolated (in the US at least). Loneliness kills people as sure as cancer.
FANTASTIC EXPRESSION. WITHOUT COMPARISON BUT VERY SIMILAR TO ALEX PARDEE STYLE. I WILL BE SEARCHING FOR YOURE PAGES SHAWN.
they're not as gross as Gerald Scarfe
Load More Replies... Didn't we already get this post like... 6 times. Exact same pictures. Is Boredpanda turning into a neverending rerun of Married with Children?
But most of all, it makes me upset when people belittle everyone's mental illnesses. There are so many other people with mental illnesses, I live in a family of six, shall I go on? Sorry that it is inconvenient to you that so many people have mental illnesses.
Load More Replies...
