People who suffer from mental illness are widely misunderstood by others. To help create a better understanding of these illnesses; I have created a series of four wearable objects that serve as cathartic aids to different psychological disorders. My goal is to create empathy for people with mental illness by sharing my empathy with those who view my work. To create every piece, I do extensive research on each disorder and how it affects the life of the person with the disease and the people around them. I put myself into the position of one of these people and create wearable objects that could potentially comfort a major symptom of the disorder. The causes of psychological disorders are mainly speculative and cannot be seen like a germ or a tumor. This invisibility is one of the barriers that prevents others from seeing psychological disorders as real diseases. People that struggle with life seem fragile but are actually much stronger than they appear. By making bold wearable objects, I hope to make that inner strength seen and appreciated by others.
brass, nickel-silver, soil from home, blanket, epoxy resin
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by an excessive negative mood-state and physical tension. It causes constant fear and worry that is difficult to control. Those with GAD typically fear public places making it difficult to leave the home. Muscle tension and panic attacks are potential effects of GAD.
copper, nickel-silver, rubber, weights, soap, suede
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder of paranoid thoughts that create unusual repetitive behavior in order to prevent some perceived disaster from occurring. The persistent impulses are excessive, unreasonable, and time consuming. OCD is often marked by the need for symmetry, keeping things in perfect order, or doing things in a specific way.
copper, nickel-silver, artist's lock of hair, feathers, epoxy resin
Trichotillomania is an impulse control disorder that causes an individual to pull hair from his own body to the extent of noticeable hair loss. It is often marked by stress and anxiety. Trichotillomania can escalate to Trichophagia, which is the ingestion of one's own hair.
bronze, stethoscope, fur, locks of hair from loved ones, rubber, epoxy resin
Double Depression is a mood disorder that is a combination of two forms of depression: Major Depression and Dysthymic Disorder. It is characterized by a depressed mood most of the time. Symptoms include anhedonia (the inability to experience pleasure), excessive guilt, change in sleep and eating patterns, low self-esteem, poor concentration and decision making, feelings of hopelessness, and thoughts of suicide.
