Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project
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This is a very personal project. Depression and Addiction affect thousands of people every single day. I’ve personally gone through depression and still struggle with it. My ex-husband was/is addicted to hard drugs and alcohol and through dealing with that and the consequences of it, I was inspired to create this photography project. Having someone I loved dearly addicted to drugs and alcohol profoundly changed my life and who I was as a person. It changed how I saw life and the people in it. Watching my husband deteriorate and destroy our family eventually allowed me to appreciate the small things and life, but it also made me more cautious and fearful. He also suffered from suicidal thoughts and I worried every day that I’d never see him again. Thankfully we are both free from this abuse but sadly, it ended our marriage before that could happen.
This particular project shows a woman in the beginning stages of depression and follows her through alcoholism and addiction to prescription drugs until she ultimately chooses to end her life.
There are also metaphorical images which shows what’s happening inside her mind and what she thinks will happen to her “soul” when she dies.
Secluded in the Crowd
Time to Drown the Thoughts
Drinking Alone
Trapped in My Own Thoughts
Hiding From Life
Getting Some Shut Eye
Can’t Look at the Light
Drinks of Choice
Mind of the Addicted
One Last Cigarette
Candy
Into the Darkness
Peaceful Slumber
Light at the End of the Tunnel
Time to Wake Her Up
Realization
Panic
Love Torn Apart
Emerging to Freedom
Gone
Hope
Paradise
Freedom
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!["Karen Complains To HR About My Body, I Uno-Reverse Her Complaint, [And Now] Everyone Hates Her"](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/coworker-complains-to-hr-about-womans-body-revenge-latest.jpg "\"Karen Complains To HR About My Body, I Uno-Reverse Her Complaint, [And Now] Everyone Hates Her\"")
**DISCLAIMER** I can't seem to edit my post but I want to make sure no one thinks that I am promoting suicide. In this project it is suppose to represent this person's feelings and thoughts only. I didn't think about making sure that was understood when I posted because I don't think that way. I do not want this post or my work to be a reason to think suicide is never the answer. If you are having suicidal thoughts please seek help and know that you are never truly alone. I love you all and appreciate the wonderful comments and thoughts on my work.
Let's get this up.
I think it's amazing. I've been in every position. When I was 21, I found my Mom's body exactly the way your pics showed. So very realistic! " She was an alcoholic, addicted to pain & anxiety meds". After that I became severely depressed. Diagnosed with bipolar. It all made sense! I had tried a couple times to take my life. Started to "self medicate". Then I thought I can't do this anymore. I WILL NOT LET MY DAUGHTER GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH!. I've had struggles with meds & such. I've jumped on & off the wagon. It's still a struggle. But a clean & sober me, will never put my daughter through that. My recovery is extremely important to me, if for no other reason. Your photo ensemble is dead on. Thank you for sharing something so personal & intimate. It's hard to open your heart, to be vulnerable. The horror on his face is exactly how my heart felt. Really accurate...
freud made u add an n there.. and <3
Although I appreciate your effort and applaud your recovery, the essay photos are obviously staged, appeal to cheap sentiment, and rely on popular tropes of depression, addiction, and death. It doesn't ring true. The obvious conclusion a viewer would reach after viewing this is that suicide is the answer, despite that not being your intent. It's a heartfelt try, but needs rethinking.
It is staged. And while I appreciate the opinion I disagree. It doesn't rely on popular tropes but what I felt and what I saw from someone I cared about. I just used a different subject to covey my feelings and thoughts. This rings true for me. That doesn't mean it does for anyone else.
Absolutely @Swingtime. As someone who's also been personally affected by this issue, I think this is an extremely over-simplified version of reality. It's as if the photographer depicted addiction through the eyes of what she THINKS addiction is supposed to look like. Unfortunately it's so much more complex than most people realise, and that's why friends and family often fail to notice it. My two cents.
What would you suggest? I've thought about taking this on again from a different perspective and really making it come alive. Maybe this time without death. I did this years ago but I'm still proud of it but like others have said, its lacking in creativity. I'm also not in the same place as I was when I shot it so it might not be a good idea.
You described one ugly period in your life, and it's not supposed to be nice and warm. You are very brave and courageous and no need to apologize to anyone. I'm sorry that you are misunderstood by some people. I was following your story and I don't think that you should change anything. Every picture speaks volumes, for those who can really see them. Not for a second I thought you were promoting suicide, or death. People don't like to read. :)
This is very touching. I've experienced this, but I never got to the stages of Gone, Hope, or Paradise... I'm glad you were able to get through that time.
Thank you.
**DISCLAIMER** I can't seem to edit my post but I want to make sure no one thinks that I am promoting suicide. In this project it is suppose to represent this person's feelings and thoughts only. I didn't think about making sure that was understood when I posted because I don't think that way. I do not want this post or my work to be a reason to think suicide is never the answer. If you are having suicidal thoughts please seek help and know that you are never truly alone. I love you all and appreciate the wonderful comments and thoughts on my work.
Let's get this up.
I think it's amazing. I've been in every position. When I was 21, I found my Mom's body exactly the way your pics showed. So very realistic! " She was an alcoholic, addicted to pain & anxiety meds". After that I became severely depressed. Diagnosed with bipolar. It all made sense! I had tried a couple times to take my life. Started to "self medicate". Then I thought I can't do this anymore. I WILL NOT LET MY DAUGHTER GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH!. I've had struggles with meds & such. I've jumped on & off the wagon. It's still a struggle. But a clean & sober me, will never put my daughter through that. My recovery is extremely important to me, if for no other reason. Your photo ensemble is dead on. Thank you for sharing something so personal & intimate. It's hard to open your heart, to be vulnerable. The horror on his face is exactly how my heart felt. Really accurate...
freud made u add an n there.. and <3
Although I appreciate your effort and applaud your recovery, the essay photos are obviously staged, appeal to cheap sentiment, and rely on popular tropes of depression, addiction, and death. It doesn't ring true. The obvious conclusion a viewer would reach after viewing this is that suicide is the answer, despite that not being your intent. It's a heartfelt try, but needs rethinking.
It is staged. And while I appreciate the opinion I disagree. It doesn't rely on popular tropes but what I felt and what I saw from someone I cared about. I just used a different subject to covey my feelings and thoughts. This rings true for me. That doesn't mean it does for anyone else.
Absolutely @Swingtime. As someone who's also been personally affected by this issue, I think this is an extremely over-simplified version of reality. It's as if the photographer depicted addiction through the eyes of what she THINKS addiction is supposed to look like. Unfortunately it's so much more complex than most people realise, and that's why friends and family often fail to notice it. My two cents.
What would you suggest? I've thought about taking this on again from a different perspective and really making it come alive. Maybe this time without death. I did this years ago but I'm still proud of it but like others have said, its lacking in creativity. I'm also not in the same place as I was when I shot it so it might not be a good idea.
You described one ugly period in your life, and it's not supposed to be nice and warm. You are very brave and courageous and no need to apologize to anyone. I'm sorry that you are misunderstood by some people. I was following your story and I don't think that you should change anything. Every picture speaks volumes, for those who can really see them. Not for a second I thought you were promoting suicide, or death. People don't like to read. :)
This is very touching. I've experienced this, but I never got to the stages of Gone, Hope, or Paradise... I'm glad you were able to get through that time.
Thank you.