This is my version of the more popular ( ; ) mark. A paper clip is a very simple innovation. It is just a twisted metal but it can keep things together (not permanently though, but still). I even had a paper clip tattoo to remind myself every day that “I should keep things together”. For me, it symbolizes life more because it has a starting point and an end point. There is also direction of movement that can depict how people live their lives. Can be from outside going in, or being in touch with what is inside and slowly discovering the world outside.
In this series, I would like to visualize the most common mental illnesses and disorders a lot of people, especially the youth, are facing right now. Through these minimalist illustrations, I hope to promote awareness and understanding of the alarming problem.
More info: behance.net
This post may include affiliate links.
Depression
So accurate, it's like you're alone in the world... I struggle with it daily, and this is perfect
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
All OCD patients are not obssessed of organizing things. Their obsessions can be towards something else, for example collecting something. For example some hoarders are OCD patients. But I understand that it is difficult to express the diversity of OCD with just one simple art picture.
my ocd disorder develops as obsessive thoughts, not actions for instance
Load More Replies...
Hi guys, MD here. There is a difference between OCPD and OCD, they are distinct disorders. One is a personality disorder with specific traits, one is an anxiety disorder driven by Obsessions and Compulsions. When people describe themselves as 'OCD', they usually refer to OCPD, not OCD. Please be aware!
Getting a bit tired of seeing OCD being illustrated with disarranged objects.
"I'll bring awareness to mental illness by using tired stereotypes and centuries-old stigma! Surely this can't go wrong!"
Can people please stop misrepresenting OCD. It's not about tidiness or whether something's not straight. It's about overwhelming, crushing fear and terror. It's really not that hard to google
I think this was the only one that missed the mark; the more we peddle the stereotype that people with OCD are singularly obsessed with cleanliness and order, we will always have people claiming to be ‘a bit OCD,’ because they like a tidy house - hence overshadowing quite a painful mental illness.
This isn’t what my OCD looks like. I think this is perpetuating incorrect myths about OCD.
OCD, is another name for Compulsive Disorder. This is when someone is obsessed with keeping things organized. Someone people get frustrated when all the colors are the same, or when something is a little out of place. Some people with OCD aren’t like that though, some people just have it when they are looking at art and collecting things.
It really bugs me that it's made of an uneven number of paper clips and that one isn't straight.
this is beautiful. The colours on the black background are soothing, and the crooked clip is intended, this is why it seems in the right order, just like this. Meanwhiles, the other day i had a mental breakdown, because my roomie hung up an ugly bag in our hallway, and on top it was half open... after staring at it for 10 minutes, i realised i would have to leave it like it is, and it ruined my day. I wonder how must living feel, when you only worry about real issues..
Just because you find this picture awkward doesn't mean you have OCD. OCD is when everything has to be a certain way because if it isn't something terrible will happen. Or when you obsess over awful things until it makes you miserable. OCD is truly an awful disorder and is so commonly misunderstood.
Load More Replies... That's not what OCD is. OCD is a serious disorder that affects many lives, it is not just wanting things to be clean.
Load More Replies...
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Bipolar Disorder
reflects the duality of my sense of self...literally two different people depending on where I am on the roller coaste
Dissociative Identity Disorder
This one speaks to me. The one normal paper clip surrounded by the stranger ones on all sides: it's like the strange ideas talking to the one in the middle
Substance Abuse
It's like the paperclips are drugs, and they're coming out of a container of drugs
I think you're obsessed with paper clips, sir. But both your project and your tattoo are great!
Load More Replies... Quite often projects like this don't translate that well to people who don't already know what it would feel like, but I think your paper clips work. Also, your write up managed to get your point across in a factual manner instead of the usual style where people come across as whiney emo a******s crying for attention. I'm very impressed.
This is really inspiring, because I deal with depression and anxiety on the daily. I find this to be comforting, to know that I'm not alone in my troubles and I know that there are other people out there that are dealing with the things I am too. The paper clip perspective is gorgeous, the way you thought of the meaning is amazing, and I'm going to copy you (if you don't mind, of course) and get a paper clip tattoo. Thank you so much for this, I appreciate this very much :)
I don't particularly identify as having any mental illnesses, but I really understand your art and understand mental illness a little better as a result. How you've managed to achieve that with paperclips is beyond me!
Many of us can identify with occasionally experiencing some lighter versions of the symptoms or traits of various illnesses. Exhibits such as this one help us to recognize our own interactions with the symptoms and begin to get an inkling of what it is like to be fully involved with an illness.
Load More Replies...
If someone told me to represent anything with paper clips, I'd question their mental health, lol! But somehow you've done it. Symbolic, meaningful and powerful. Well done!
These are, for the most part, based on stereotypes and stigma. Anorexia isn't the only eating disorder, ocd isn't simply wanting things to be "neat", and DID isn't as "colorful" as you make it look here.
I have quite a few mental illnesses and this makes me very happy that someone, anyone has the option to try and understand what we feel on the outside as well as the inside. A lot of "us" don't like to tell anyone or to even speak out about it. Kudos to you to for being able to capture all of this, especially with just using J gm paperclips.
I love these, that depression one is so accurate it's actually upsetting.
I am actually diagnosed with the first six on the list and been free of number eight for fourteen years now , I think the illustration makes perfect since. Each one illustrates how it makes makes you feel, 1.anxiety= scattered and chaotic. 2.Depression= Very alone. 3.OCD= everything around me is organized and neat just as the paper clips are accept that purple one at the bottom , not only is it crooked but it is also upside down , that one represents me, my world is organized but i'm off kilter. 4.PTSD= as the paper clip in number two it is alone , but it is not smooth like the other ones looks almost rippled and frail. it can do the same job as the other paperclips but can't handle the same kind of pressure a normal paperclip can and could snap at any moment causing everything to fall apart.5.Bi Polar=The same as Depression accept you are alone on two different planes one up one down. 6. DID=I am the one in the middle being isolated by the other personalities feeling like they are
continued from above ......... closing in on me , taking over , and once again the one in the middle represents being alone
Load More Replies...
Love these. I love how you can be able to interpret all these with just clips
This was really great. I'm a counselor and this is very representative
If you don't think a particular entry fully conveys a mental illness or disorder, then create your own version. Just as no two people are exactly alike, no two experiences with the same mental disorder are alike.
For schizophrenia there could be a transparent paperclip and a bunch of other ones like it surrounding a normal one
i think i get what you mean, on one hand it is inspiring and valuable to approach those issues, to increase awareness. But what seems weird after a while, is when so many artists try to interpret states of mind, that they just aren't going through themselves..
Load More Replies... I think you're obsessed with paper clips, sir. But both your project and your tattoo are great!
Load More Replies... Quite often projects like this don't translate that well to people who don't already know what it would feel like, but I think your paper clips work. Also, your write up managed to get your point across in a factual manner instead of the usual style where people come across as whiney emo a******s crying for attention. I'm very impressed.
This is really inspiring, because I deal with depression and anxiety on the daily. I find this to be comforting, to know that I'm not alone in my troubles and I know that there are other people out there that are dealing with the things I am too. The paper clip perspective is gorgeous, the way you thought of the meaning is amazing, and I'm going to copy you (if you don't mind, of course) and get a paper clip tattoo. Thank you so much for this, I appreciate this very much :)
I don't particularly identify as having any mental illnesses, but I really understand your art and understand mental illness a little better as a result. How you've managed to achieve that with paperclips is beyond me!
Many of us can identify with occasionally experiencing some lighter versions of the symptoms or traits of various illnesses. Exhibits such as this one help us to recognize our own interactions with the symptoms and begin to get an inkling of what it is like to be fully involved with an illness.
Load More Replies... If someone told me to represent anything with paper clips, I'd question their mental health, lol! But somehow you've done it. Symbolic, meaningful and powerful. Well done!
These are, for the most part, based on stereotypes and stigma. Anorexia isn't the only eating disorder, ocd isn't simply wanting things to be "neat", and DID isn't as "colorful" as you make it look here.
I have quite a few mental illnesses and this makes me very happy that someone, anyone has the option to try and understand what we feel on the outside as well as the inside. A lot of "us" don't like to tell anyone or to even speak out about it. Kudos to you to for being able to capture all of this, especially with just using J gm paperclips.
I love these, that depression one is so accurate it's actually upsetting.
I am actually diagnosed with the first six on the list and been free of number eight for fourteen years now , I think the illustration makes perfect since. Each one illustrates how it makes makes you feel, 1.anxiety= scattered and chaotic. 2.Depression= Very alone. 3.OCD= everything around me is organized and neat just as the paper clips are accept that purple one at the bottom , not only is it crooked but it is also upside down , that one represents me, my world is organized but i'm off kilter. 4.PTSD= as the paper clip in number two it is alone , but it is not smooth like the other ones looks almost rippled and frail. it can do the same job as the other paperclips but can't handle the same kind of pressure a normal paperclip can and could snap at any moment causing everything to fall apart.5.Bi Polar=The same as Depression accept you are alone on two different planes one up one down. 6. DID=I am the one in the middle being isolated by the other personalities feeling like they are
continued from above ......... closing in on me , taking over , and once again the one in the middle represents being alone
Load More Replies... Love these. I love how you can be able to interpret all these with just clips
This was really great. I'm a counselor and this is very representative
If you don't think a particular entry fully conveys a mental illness or disorder, then create your own version. Just as no two people are exactly alike, no two experiences with the same mental disorder are alike.
For schizophrenia there could be a transparent paperclip and a bunch of other ones like it surrounding a normal one
i think i get what you mean, on one hand it is inspiring and valuable to approach those issues, to increase awareness. But what seems weird after a while, is when so many artists try to interpret states of mind, that they just aren't going through themselves..
Load More Replies...