Photo by contributor Toby Upson, an 18-year-old man from England. Last year, Toby was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. His condition was so severe that at one point he was rushed to a hospital where he was given two days to live. Luckily, his body managed to stabilize and he eventually was transferred to a hospital that specialized in mental health. It was there that he began using art as a distraction and coping tool.
About this photo: “there is a huge stigma around anorexia. if you ask someone to describe an anorexic they think of young girls that want to be a model. this piece uses 2 photos layed on top of each other. if I tell someone I’m anorexic there is an immediate assumption about me. this work is a bear all photo. some may find it shocking but that’s not the target. I tried to challenge the opinion of what people think when they think of an anorexic. I wanted people to realize the pain and distress I and thousand’s of other anorexic’s go through while in recovery.”
Find more from Toby at his blog.
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Creative image and powerful.
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Shocking? Yes, in a way, but shockingly good, personal and intense. Amazing!
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Yikes! I didn’t think anorexia can be that severe.
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Oh he is lucky, my best wishes to him. His art is very powerful. He will make it out!
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I was anorexic in my twenties and in the depth of it had nothing to do with image and everything to do with control I also ran with several men that now looking back I’m pretty sure had eating disorders. great blog and cinematography
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I was an anorexic of the 80s-90’s. Very powerful. Reblogged ❤
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awesome work and simply beautiful. It is hard to bear or hear someone suffering from this problem which is out of their control.
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Thank you for the photo and your unique insight. Consider me schooled.
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As crazy as this sounds in my opinion this images captures mixed emotions,turmoil, struggle and the will to survive. They always say you can read a person’s thoughts threw his body language and threw the eyes, as the eyes are the window to the soul.
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Eating disorders are a horrible disease. I hope your art is helping your recovery. It’s a powerful illustration of how EDs can affect men as well as women.
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There is a reason for your recovery, the Universe has a purpose for you. Tell your story, using your photography, it will matter, it will make a difference. Very powerful images here.
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