Photo taken by contributor Cari, a 31-year-old from Chicago, Illinois, who has been diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder for the past 12 years. She was recently hospitalized in September 2014 for suicidal and homicidal intrusive thoughts. These distressing symptoms were very new and foreign to Cari. Cari has been participating in intensive treatment since her release from the hospital to regain stability. Cari has found photography is a critical part of her recovery. The intrusive thoughts that she had were very vivid and photography has been a great outlet for her to create new images in her brain. Cari’s ongoing work with photography has assisted in her overall ability to find herself again.

About this photo: “I saw this statue in a park in a suburb of Chicago. It spoke to me as the statue’s body is tattered and pieced together which is similar to how I feel about my self-injury. However, what stands out is the statue is standing tall amidst her brokenness. I see her as stoic.  I have been feeling less broken lately and more stoic in my journey which is refreshing and beautiful. I know that despite my scars and brokenness at times, I can stand tall and be stoic like this statue.”

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