Fragmented

Photo taken by S. I am a 27 year old woman who has struggled with depression and anxiety since I was a teenager (and truthfully I have probably been depressed longer, albeit I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 16.) However, my depression has always come and gone, but this bout feels different. In the last two years I have gone through a major back surgery and consequently have been stagnant in my personal and professional life for two and a half years. My depression has deepened to the point that I feel like I am broken, like I am a fragmented version of the person I should be, although I can’t for the life of me define who that person is.

This photo is a self-portrait I took before surgery last March. It really spoke to the fractured and dark nature of myself, but there is also a small bit of hope in the clarity of my face.