Photo taken by first-time contributor Hope, a 39-year-old woman from Georgia. She inherited depression from her parents, both of whom suffered from depression, plus developed anxiety. After dealing with it for 39 years and being on countless medications prescribed by her internist, her doctor finally convinced her to begin therapy this past March. Through the therapeutic process she has begun to explore what she calls the demons in her mental closet. Hope recovered a memory of being raped by a neighbor as a child and now that her secret is out and she has a voice, the five year old thinks she wants to live Hope’s life. Hope has a new diagnosis of PTSD and they are still trying to figure out her dissociation.

About this photo: “As part of my therapy I have been told to focus on twenty-four hour periods keeping in the now, and to acknowledge “her” when she surfaces then to let her go on her way.  One day I was driving home and she was being rather annoying.  So I began to notice every little thing around me.  Flowers on the side of the road, cans, trees blowing, but the thing I remember most was this log chip truck in front of me.  It had a full load of chips and on top of the load was a blue braided rope.  I had been behind the truck most of the hour drive, but it was not until I started looking specifically for details of things did I notice it.  It was then that the prompting came that part of my healing would be photography.  It would help me stay in the now by looking at things in the world through new eyes.  This wasp nest is on a can just outside my front door.  Who knows how long it has been there, but I went looking for pictures and found it.  Each day I am finding new things to see just beyond my front door, it really has opened up a new world, and helped me keep “her” quieter.”

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