Photo taken by contributor Allison Utz, a 23-year-old photographer from Marshall, Wisconsin. Allison’s challenges include alcoholism, bipolar disorder, anxiety, major-depressive disorder, acute obsessive-compulsive disorder, and bulimia-nervosa. Allison created a series called Breaking The Stigma: Mental Health Awareness Series, through which she learned a lot about herself, and others surrounding her. She uses her voice for those who no longer have a voice.

About these photos: “I created this mini series by taking different descriptive words in which people (including myself) used to describe how their mental illness made them feel on a daily basis. Words such as: suffocation, drowning, brokenness, and so forth. I created this series to help those who have a voice, but are afraid to use it and allow their voices to be heard. I created this series for those whom unfortunately no longer have a voice. Who suffered for so long and felt as if they were not able to get help for these horrible diseases due to the stigmas that come along with them. Let’s break the stigma, let’s help one another, let’s heal.” 

Find Allison on Instagram: @auphotography and Facebook

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