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!
Anxiety Returns
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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14 comments on “Anxiety Returns”
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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.
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This is a lovely and thoughtful image
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Thank you for sharing your image and your story – I hope your beautiful photography continues to help and heal.
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Beautiful compostion! Keep going Samantha!
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Such a beautiful photo. Keep ’em coming!
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stunning photo
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Stunning photography , and the last passage about art and mind is beautifully written . Amazing 🙂
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my favorite blog!!!!
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Reblogged this on Duel2's Blog.
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Reblogged this on shensea.
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I hope you returned to doing photography.
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Thank you everyone for your kind words. It feels good to be back here and to be making art again.
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Stunning!
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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!
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