“Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also harder to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say ‘My tooth is aching’ than to say ‘My heart is broken’.” ― C.S. Lewis
The macho culture has taught men to ignore their feelings, and it has imposed on them the old catchphrase: “boys don’t cry.” However, the use of violence, drugs, and alcohol as forms to deal with bottled up emotions are acceptable. 350 million people suffer from depression around the world, and an estimate of 6 million men in America are silent victims. Most of them remain oblivious to their disorder or refuse to accept treatment out of shame.
Depression is a silent ghost, which affects men in various ways: fatigue, irritability, difficulty to concentrate, and hostility are some of the symptoms. Like any other disorder it can be treated; however, men need to start by recognizing the symptoms and admitting they need help.
Photographer Edward Honaker suffered from depression and anxiety for two years, but he wasn’t aware of it. Before his diagnosis, he felt like he was at war with his mind, and he felt scared. “Your mind is who you are, and when it doesn’t work properly, it’s scary,” he declared in an interview with the Huffington Post.
When he finally began to understand his condition, he found a light at the end of the tunnel through the power of photography. “It’s kind of hard to feel any kind of emotion when you’re depressed, and I think good art can definitely move people,” he stated.
His collection of photos are black and white scenarios where male depression exists. He portrays despair and loneliness in each photo. His face remains blurry or hidden to depict how depression steals away his identity and affects his mind.
Your stomach is tied into knots, as if you were falling, and the feeling doesn’t go away easily, it can last for hours, days, or months. All you want to do is go home and sleep; maybe you’ll feel safer in your dreams. No matter how many times you roll around in bed, you never feel comfortable. Even when your eyes are closed, your mind keeps going: “Why haven’t they texted me back? Were they talking behind my back? Is my boss mad at me?”
You’re numb and aware of the chaos in your mind. You are so detached you can’t appreciate the beauty in the little things.
“Who is that person?,” you ask yourself every time you look at all your photos. You’re far from being the person who you used to be. Maybe, if you were to disappear, the pain would go away, but that’s not the answer either.
“I think a really helpful way to end the stigma surrounding mental illness is to be there for others who might be suffering,” Edward explains about his work. His series invites everyone to address this disorder and to seek help to fight it. With therapy, and sometimes medication, depression can stop having a negative impact on people’s lives.
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All photos are credited to
Edward Honaker
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Source:
The Huffington Post