I wanted this image to be one of power and not pathos. Two years ago I was burning myself to shit, bound to the lonely confines of bipolar disorder. I was suicidal and came through one attempt, fortunately. I still wonder what would have become of my family had I succeeded. I publish this image because I want to show you that the performance of normality is not always necessary. It’s okay to be fucked up. I hope that by exposing myself, I can open the space up to others who need to feel a sense of power in their own lives. We are not the sum of our wounds. Inevitably, somehow, it is important to get help. And because of the staff at Stikland I received tremendous care. The stigma attached to your pain is not yours, it is those who judge that have misfortune. Reach out to someone before you tear yourself apart like I did. Mental illness does not reside in the brain alone. It encompasses the entire body. Be strong. There is help.
Very cool image
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Thank you for sharing this. Very powerful
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When I saw this on Twitter, I immediately retweeted it. (I’m picky about RT’s) :) Thank you for being real, putting yourself out there, and for giving all of us hope!
And thanks to my brilliant,beautiful super-gifted writer/artist/advocate YVETTE for creating OLE! I should tell you this more, honey. And….
I LOVE YOU!
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“We are not the sum of our wounds” – very powerful statement that. Thank you for share your story
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