A Lost Soul
Entry in the Depression challenge for the Stillness Speaks group.
Depression robs a person of their soul. And turns them into someone even they don’t recognize. It exaggerates faults and hides all qualities, tucking them into the far recesses of the mind. Depression is darkness. It is a condition that repels light even though it is the light that will help make the transition back to reality. Every thought becomes an affliction. Hope does not find a home here. And each day can become a living hell for the person going through it. An individual moves about the world in a zombie state, not quite connecting with anything or anyone.
Despite the media attention in the last couple of years, depression is still misunderstood, feared and has a definite stigma associated with it, as it belongs to the terrifying category of mental illness.
“Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives. ” Canadian Mental Health Association
“Major depression, is the world’s leading single cause of disability in 2000 according to
a World Health Organisation report,and is projected to become the foremost
contributor to the disease burden in high income countries by 2030.2” Scott Patten and Heather Juby, A Profile of Clinical Depression in Canada 2008
“Depression becomes an illness, when feelings of failure, worthlessness, self-blame, sadness, disappointment, and emptiness are severe, last for several weeks, and begin to interfere with one’s work and social life” Canadian Mental Health Association
Featured in the Image/Writing group November 2008
A Lost Soul belongs to the following groups:
The Human Condition and Who Needs Color For Beauty? - Black & White Art At Its Best Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
dawndavies
awesome shot,dawnx
Fremme
very cool lighting, love how you’ve composed this and used the light,
Robin Brown
I know a bit about the subject Joanne & its not just mis-understood. Mental illness has a stigma attached to it, we don’t want to talk about that & we don’t want to admit to it either. Truth is many people just don’t admit to themselves that they have issues which would confirm they have mental health problems. That’s the biggest issue of all. Someone who accepts they have a problem & seeks help is less of a problem than those who don’t admit to themselves they need help.
Cracking interpretation of depression Joanne but its not always this obvious; I know!! xx
Johanne Brunet
This is great Joanne! I like that the head and face are in the dark, but that there is still enough light to read the body language. I like the details of the pills on the nightstand and the somber atmosphere. Excellent shot!
Judi Taylor
I looked at this and immediately started to hurt. You have captured the essense of this terrible disease. Too many lost souls who do not even know where to turn or who to talk to. This is the how it looks to them and those who helplessly watch me.
Leanna Lomanski
An intense and moving image and words—so true, unfortunately….. Excellent work Joanne!
hirst
Absolutelty excellent work Joanne, my husband has suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder for almost 40 years, so I understand!
CraigsMom
It will make a great entry, Joanne. awsome photo
Hank Rodriguez
Been there Joanne..Happy to say I’m doing better now..in part thanks to my friends here.
RB has been great therapy for me.
Great capture to illustrate the feeling . Glad I’m not still there.
Sean Farragher
great shot
Antanas
Perfect…...
linda858100
FANTASTIC
DawsonImages
nice ude of low light
shallay
Staggeringly moody piece, the half-clothed look seems to add to the despair of this individual, finding it hard to get out of bed – and limp posture of anguish.
Cora Wandel
Superb Joanne, I know depression too well. I wish you success in the Stillness Speaks challenge. This is an excellent cause to get behind and express yourself about. – Cora
Lucindawind
stunning and wonderful capture … depression ia a horrible thing to endure
Christopher E...
Excellent stock image!! wow!! and you dont show model’s face so you dont have to worry about the model release, very nice work here
Jan Piller
Good luck in the challenge Joanne! This is a winner!
Cora Wandel
Your hosts,
Anne-Marie & Cora
xxfaithxx
oh…yep know that pose oh too well…thanks for puttin it out there…
and lovely work…
karenuk1969
I can relate too. Really well expressed.
amarica
Excellent work my friend!! Congratulations Joanne on being featured in the ImageWriting group!!
RosaCobos
I have never suffered it…
But have had her very close….gnawing my spirit with its depleting force.
I sit there… on the border of the bed,
with this woman,
and sense the terrible lost of her soul.
Not survival…
is letting it down… all..
and wishing to drag the world down to the abyss.
Not passion.. emotiona painful..
but pain and abscense of passion…
which leaves the heart askew.
The light… is begining to dark….
to the most “Dark Night of the Soul”
Rosa (perfect)
Simon Whittaker
Excellent work, you might want to put this in “The human condition” as well.
Joanne Bradley replied
Thank you so much for the suggestion Simon!
Clive King
Joanne this is a stunning work. Well done.
catnip addict ...
this photo is me! i suffer from depression. everything you said i could understand. it repels light. i hate the sunny days when i am depressed. under nystate law emplyers can fire at will. i had so many jobs and lost them. making me and my efforts a joke. i hope through your work and comments of you and others the art of photography opens doors to each person helping another in a most eternal and personal way. that is one of the gifts of “having gifts” and sharing them. in my case, nothing means nothing and what little hope i try to grab i end up willingly letting it go as i fear failing “again” thus not giving hope any opportunity to to prove my failures. pray for the depressed. keep up the great work!
paul romanowski
OH, DEAR….STRONG STATEMENT AND GOOD PHOTO! FOR SURE I FAVE THIS ONE…
Michelle Barlo...
WOW – BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO
PPPhotoArt
this is a wonderful photo but a really depressing statement!!! i’m not making light of that at all but I’ve been depressed a few times but got myself out of it as that is a hell of a way to live!!! we all go through terrible times, some worse than others, but we have to try very hard to make ourselves better and happier, really one doesn’t need fancy things to make them happy but you do need to have a more positive attitude, i believe that attidude is everything, and sometimes it takes a while to get it!!!
bless you Joanne for being so supportive and caring