The Weight of Suffering

The way mental health is addressed in dialogue is to say one suffers from a malady. But in certain instances this rhetoric gets turned on its head; for some, metaphysical suffering is the evil root of their mental health struggles.

A physical trauma can turn one’s life inside out. This is the case for Jessi, whose battle with the healthcare system to properly repair her spine has created a constant mental pressure on her everyday life. Endless medication, failed surgeries, and the feeling of inability plague her day-to-day life.

Jessi and I partnered to create this hefty piece reflecting on her traumatic past and shedding light on her current physical struggles regarding her spine. The emotion in these images, I think, speak louder than any words I could muster.

To say that mental and physical health share no correlation is a misstep to which everyone should open their eyes. If one’s body is suffering, the mind will follow suit. And sometimes, when there is no end to the trauma in sight, all one can do is weather the void and not succumb to the choking darkness.