Broken Light: A Photography Collective
We are photographers living with or affected by mental illness; supporting each other one photograph at a time. Join our community, submit today!
Exposed While Hiding
Photo taken by contributor Bekr aka Bipolar Girl, a 37-year-old woman who lives in Nevada with her husband and two fur babies. She always knew she was “different.” She was diagnosed with depression as a teenager, then finally diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in her 20′s, along with PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and ADHD. She has also been a self harmer. She is now an advocate for mental illness and is trying to make a difference and help to stop the stigma.
About this photo: “I took this photo last year while in a brief depression, right before a serious identity crisis. When I look at it now, it makes me feel vulnerable. My arms also look very bare because while having this identity crisis I had lots of ink added to my arms. I do not regret them, all of my tattoos have meanings. This photo is me totally honest and raw.”
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12 comments on “Exposed While Hiding”
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I was sitting with my two year old and she saw this picture. She said in a sad little voice she said “hurting”
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I was. Wow, smart 2 year old!
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We often play games to help identify emotions (e.g. show me a happy face, now a sad face, now a sleepy face, etc.) but I think the magic of this photo is that it evokes an emotion so primal that even babies can understand
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Reblogged this on a day with depression and commented:
I can relate to this photo/pose so much.
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Thank you for your bravery! I, too, have tattoos that I wear with pride.
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That’s the word I was looking for – vulnerable. Amazing, and yes, primal image.
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thank you
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This photo looks vintage, yet it is of you, so it could be timeless. How did you achieve the blurred/aged look? I hope you are in a better place now. I do know with seasonal depression that light therapy does help as well as keeping up on B vitamins and mild exercise. Some advice I must stick to.
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I took this last year, I don’t remember what I used to edit it. But this is a photo of a printed photo. I am in a much better place now, thank you.
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God bless you and keep the faith. I have found that serious prayer works miracles. Out of whack hormones and chemistry sucks and is hard to deal with but love helps in all things. I was on anti-depressants for over a year and was heck getting off them. A brother has lived on them for years and does well. I choose an occasional 1/2 of mildest xanax or couple ounces of winde for case of nerves. Got to admit to using chocolate to self medicate the most!
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Supposed to be couple ounces of wine.
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Great shot with thought provoking words. I too got multiple inks while manic and don’t regret the changes as a reminder. Keep sharing.
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