Please welcome first-time contributor Leigh-Anne, a 46-year-old woman from Detroit who has battled a number of mental disorders for the past 44 years after experiencing severe childhood trauma. Her battles include addiction, anxiety, fibromyalgia, insomnia, major depressive disorder, PTSD, and a dozen suicide attempts. Leigh-Anne recently was discharged from the hospital earlier in the month after a heart attack and kidney failure due to withdrawal. She’s been clean and sober two weeks as of the date of this submission. Photography started out as a hobby for Leigh-Anne in 2013 after exploring a handful of abandoned buildings and factories located throughout Detroit. The hobby turned into therapy that led to many crumbled buildings and lots of graffiti.

About this photo: “I have found I completely lose myself for hours exploring the abandoned ruins found all over Detroit because they mirror my life. Abandoned for decades with a rich history of brokenness. While it seems I’m always trying to catch the ceiling as it crashes down on top of me, every now and then I’ll see the sun poke through. Gives me hope to make it through the day.”

Find more from Leigh-Anne on her website and Facebook.

**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.