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Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

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This is a very personal project. Depression and Addiction affect thousands of people every single day. I’ve personally gone through depression and still struggle with it. My ex-husband was/is addicted to hard drugs and alcohol and through dealing with that and the consequences of it, I was inspired to create this photography project. Having someone I loved dearly addicted to drugs and alcohol profoundly changed my life and who I was as a person. It changed how I saw life and the people in it. Watching my husband deteriorate and destroy our family eventually allowed me to appreciate the small things and life, but it also made me more cautious and fearful. He also suffered from suicidal thoughts and I worried every day that I’d never see him again. Thankfully we are both free from this abuse but sadly, it ended our marriage before that could happen.

This particular project shows a woman in the beginning stages of depression and follows her through alcoholism and addiction to prescription drugs until she ultimately chooses to end her life.

There are also metaphorical images which shows what’s happening inside her mind and what she thinks will happen to her “soul” when she dies.

Secluded in the Crowd

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Time to Drown the Thoughts

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Drinking Alone

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

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Trapped in My Own Thoughts

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Hiding From Life

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

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Getting Some Shut Eye

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Can’t Look at the Light

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

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Drinks of Choice

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Mind of the Addicted

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

One Last Cigarette

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Candy

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Into the Darkness

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

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Peaceful Slumber

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Time to Wake Her Up

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Realization

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Panic

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Love Torn Apart

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Emerging to Freedom

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

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Gone

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Hope

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Paradise

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

Freedom

Depression, Addiction And Suicide: My Very Personal Photo Project

23Kviews

Christina Morrow

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

What do you think ?

Christina Morrow (Post author) 7 years ago

**DISCLAIMER** I can't seem to edit my post but I want to make sure no one thinks that I am promoting suicide. In this project it is suppose to represent this person's feelings and thoughts only. I didn't think about making sure that was understood when I posted because I don't think that way. I do not want this post or my work to be a reason to think suicide is never the answer. If you are having suicidal thoughts please seek help and know that you are never truly alone. I love you all and appreciate the wonderful comments and thoughts on my work.

48points

Daria B 7 years ago

Let's get this up.

10points

Load More Replies...

Crystal Hoskins 7 years ago

I think it's amazing. I've been in every position. When I was 21, I found my Mom's body exactly the way your pics showed. So very realistic! " She was an alcoholic, addicted to pain & anxiety meds". After that I became severely depressed. Diagnosed with bipolar. It all made sense! I had tried a couple times to take my life. Started to "self medicate". Then I thought I can't do this anymore. I WILL NOT LET MY DAUGHTER GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH!. I've had struggles with meds & such. I've jumped on & off the wagon. It's still a struggle. But a clean & sober me, will never put my daughter through that. My recovery is extremely important to me, if for no other reason. Your photo ensemble is dead on. Thank you for sharing something so personal & intimate. It's hard to open your heart, to be vulnerable. The horror on his face is exactly how my heart felt. Really accurate...

2points

Sophie G 7 years ago

freud made u add an n there.. and <3

0points

Swingtime 7 years ago

Although I appreciate your effort and applaud your recovery, the essay photos are obviously staged, appeal to cheap sentiment, and rely on popular tropes of depression, addiction, and death. It doesn't ring true. The obvious conclusion a viewer would reach after viewing this is that suicide is the answer, despite that not being your intent. It's a heartfelt try, but needs rethinking.

12points

Christina Morrow (Post author) 7 years ago

It is staged. And while I appreciate the opinion I disagree. It doesn't rely on popular tropes but what I felt and what I saw from someone I cared about. I just used a different subject to covey my feelings and thoughts. This rings true for me. That doesn't mean it does for anyone else.

9points

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Sonelle van der Merwe 7 years ago

Absolutely @Swingtime. As someone who's also been personally affected by this issue, I think this is an extremely over-simplified version of reality. It's as if the photographer depicted addiction through the eyes of what she THINKS addiction is supposed to look like. Unfortunately it's so much more complex than most people realise, and that's why friends and family often fail to notice it. My two cents.

3points

Christina Morrow (Post author) 7 years ago

What would you suggest? I've thought about taking this on again from a different perspective and really making it come alive. Maybe this time without death. I did this years ago but I'm still proud of it but like others have said, its lacking in creativity. I'm also not in the same place as I was when I shot it so it might not be a good idea.

2points

Silent Skeleton 7 years ago

This is very touching. I've experienced this, but I never got to the stages of Gone, Hope, or Paradise... I'm glad you were able to get through that time.

10points

Christina Morrow (Post author) 7 years ago

Thank you.

9points

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Christina Morrow (Post author) 7 years ago

**DISCLAIMER** I can't seem to edit my post but I want to make sure no one thinks that I am promoting suicide. In this project it is suppose to represent this person's feelings and thoughts only. I didn't think about making sure that was understood when I posted because I don't think that way. I do not want this post or my work to be a reason to think suicide is never the answer. If you are having suicidal thoughts please seek help and know that you are never truly alone. I love you all and appreciate the wonderful comments and thoughts on my work.

48points

Daria B 7 years ago

Let's get this up.

10points

Load More Replies...

Crystal Hoskins 7 years ago

I think it's amazing. I've been in every position. When I was 21, I found my Mom's body exactly the way your pics showed. So very realistic! " She was an alcoholic, addicted to pain & anxiety meds". After that I became severely depressed. Diagnosed with bipolar. It all made sense! I had tried a couple times to take my life. Started to "self medicate". Then I thought I can't do this anymore. I WILL NOT LET MY DAUGHTER GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH!. I've had struggles with meds & such. I've jumped on & off the wagon. It's still a struggle. But a clean & sober me, will never put my daughter through that. My recovery is extremely important to me, if for no other reason. Your photo ensemble is dead on. Thank you for sharing something so personal & intimate. It's hard to open your heart, to be vulnerable. The horror on his face is exactly how my heart felt. Really accurate...

2points

Sophie G 7 years ago

freud made u add an n there.. and <3

0points

Swingtime 7 years ago

Although I appreciate your effort and applaud your recovery, the essay photos are obviously staged, appeal to cheap sentiment, and rely on popular tropes of depression, addiction, and death. It doesn't ring true. The obvious conclusion a viewer would reach after viewing this is that suicide is the answer, despite that not being your intent. It's a heartfelt try, but needs rethinking.

12points

Christina Morrow (Post author) 7 years ago

It is staged. And while I appreciate the opinion I disagree. It doesn't rely on popular tropes but what I felt and what I saw from someone I cared about. I just used a different subject to covey my feelings and thoughts. This rings true for me. That doesn't mean it does for anyone else.

9points

Load More Replies...

Sonelle van der Merwe 7 years ago

Absolutely @Swingtime. As someone who's also been personally affected by this issue, I think this is an extremely over-simplified version of reality. It's as if the photographer depicted addiction through the eyes of what she THINKS addiction is supposed to look like. Unfortunately it's so much more complex than most people realise, and that's why friends and family often fail to notice it. My two cents.

3points

Christina Morrow (Post author) 7 years ago

What would you suggest? I've thought about taking this on again from a different perspective and really making it come alive. Maybe this time without death. I did this years ago but I'm still proud of it but like others have said, its lacking in creativity. I'm also not in the same place as I was when I shot it so it might not be a good idea.

2points

Silent Skeleton 7 years ago

This is very touching. I've experienced this, but I never got to the stages of Gone, Hope, or Paradise... I'm glad you were able to get through that time.

10points

Christina Morrow (Post author) 7 years ago

Thank you.

9points

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