Who we are & why we are

Welcome to the gallery site of Broken Light Collective. We are artists of all levels and abilities who are affected by mental illness. We create and we share our work for the therapeutic benefits to us, as well as others who may be struggling and feeling scared and alone. Together we can move from disconnected to collective.

Photo taken by contributor Samantha Pugsley, a conceptual fine art photographer in her twenties from Charlotte, North Carolina. She first picked up a camera during her junior year of college. This was right around the time when she was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Things that were once easy became impossible for her. Getting dressed in the morning, shopping at the grocery store, driving her car…just living, was a panic attack waiting to happen. Photography helped her heal. With her camera she could start a conversation about what was going on in her head. She could say things with her images that she didn’t know how to say out loud.

About this photo: “I had six blissful months away from the anxiety. Six months without waking up with immediate, debilitating worry. Six months without rapid heartbeats and racing thoughts. Six month without meds. I thought I was better. I lowered my defenses. I stopped creating art because I thought maybe that was something only the ‘sick’ me needed to do. With the recent return of my anxiety comes the realization that both my mental illness and my need to create art are both part of who I am. This image represents the acceptance of that fact. By acknowledging these things I hope to invite healing and self-acceptance into my life.”

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**Visit Broken Light’s main gallery here ▸ Now a 501(c)3 non-profit! Please donate here.

*Facebook & Twitter @BrokenLighCo & @DanielleHark. Follow for e-mail notifications.


14 responses to “Anxiety Returns”

  1. kari'd away Avatar

    I can relate so much to this. It’s so difficult to have anxiety come back in your life after you’ve experienced a peaceful time without it. Best wishes.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Hank shaw Avatar
    Hank shaw

    This is a lovely and thoughtful image

    Like

  3. Kika Avatar
    Kika

    Thank you for sharing your image and your story – I hope your beautiful photography continues to help and heal.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Frank Avatar
    Frank

    Beautiful compostion! Keep going Samantha!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. luro97 Avatar

    Such a beautiful photo. Keep ’em coming!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. jimholroyd365 Avatar

    stunning photo

    Like

  7. priyanka Avatar
    priyanka

    Stunning photography , and the last passage about art and mind is beautifully written . Amazing 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  8. ShaktiDurga_Me Avatar

    my favorite blog!!!!

    Like

  9. duel2 Avatar

    Reblogged this on Duel2's Blog.

    Like

  10. susanheney Avatar

    Reblogged this on shensea.

    Like

  11. lmarea3070 Avatar
    lmarea3070

    I hope you returned to doing photography.

    Like

  12. samanthapugsley Avatar
    samanthapugsley

    Thank you everyone for your kind words. It feels good to be back here and to be making art again.

    Like

  13. Jaeda DeWalt Avatar

    Samantha, i love this photo. You are talented! You have gleaned so much wisdom from your struggles, “With the recent return of my anxiety comes the realization that both my mental illness and my need to create art are both part of who I am. This image represents the acceptance of that fact. By acknowledging these things I hope to invite healing and self-acceptance into my life.” <–wise, wise words. Creativity is cathartic, you are proof of that!

    Like

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