I’ve noticed a couple of sites over the past few months that have to do with hard subjects.
The first one is I’m Just About to Get Skinny by Christi Nielsen. She talks about her struggles with her self-image. Her posts are very honest and moving and include a photo to help drive the point home. Susan first sent me this link because she knew it would appeal to me not just as an artist/photographer, but also as someone that still struggles with self-image and eating disorders. Now, before you freak, rest assured I haven’t’ acted on an eating disorder impulse in over four years and I doubt I ever will again. But for many years, I was a starving or binge eating or puking person. And when something is a part of your life for 12 years, those thoughts and impulses continue to cross your mind long after you stop acting on them.
The second site is 05mm.org. Photographer Keith Clark specializes in photography of architecture and built environments but his new project about self image is the one that caught my eye*. He asks people to come into the studio and pose showing and highlighting their favorite body part. And he asks them why. What a great concept. He was recently highlighted locally and invites anyone in the Indianapolis area to come over and be a part of the project.
The two images that spoke the most to me were about self-harm. This one and this one. Again, a self-harmer for years and years, I wouldn’t do it anymore but the impulses still travel through my brain. I have scars all over my body and get looks and sometimes questions but I’m not embarrassed by them anymore. And that feels good.
*I can’t remember who linked to this first. So, thanks, you.
Thank you for this honest and open post. It’s good to know that there are people out that that have struggles like I do and that they are doing something about it. Being proactive and acting and putting it out there for the world.
Much appreciated.
As a person who used to cut a lot from the ages of 12 – 16ish. It is interesting for me to see people who view their scars as their favorite part of their body. For me stopping cutting was very difficult and something I still find myself struggling with. I have a lot of scars on my arms and I people asking me what they are from is something I dread most. I have always kept my arms covered and only recently have I started wearing shorter sleeves. It’s nice to see some people who aren’t afraid to show what they have been through. I think that is very admerable. Hopefully one day I will be there too.
Thank you so much for linking to those pictures. I was a cutter for years and dread the looks and questions about my scars. I still have the urge every time I’m tired, frustrated, angry or upset. Seeing those pictures made me cry… huge sobbing gasps because I still feel it, the pain that overwhelms. Sometimes I feel so alone and wonder what is wrong with me that I can’t accept and love myself.
i still fight the urge to cut every day. i’m a designer, and knives and blades of all sorts are part of my daily professional life, and some days it takes the heap of extra effort not to steal away with one into the bathroom.
i used to wish my scars were painted or tatooed on. it was a tough thing for me, because when the scars and cuts were there i loved to stare at them, and i felt okay. when they started to fade i tried to resist and let go but i told myself i need more, i needed them there to be okay. i too covered my arms constantly but i wished i didn’t have to. i wish people didn’t ask any questions. i wasn’t suicidal, as everyone seemed to think, i just cut, they didn’t have to worry about it so why did they have to bother with me? in highschool i was pretty close to my art teacher and after awhile i felt like that class was a “safe zone” and i stopped covering my arms when i didn’t feel like it. instead of letting me be or even quietly asking if i needed or wanted help or someone to talk to, she sent me to the principles office “trying to help me” where i sat in a chair while five men stood above me staring me in the face bombarding me with questions. i was rushed to the er later that day of a massive panic attack.
later i realized that because i never ever wear shorts i was being stupid all this time and i should just use my thighs, and then i wouldn’t have to worry about covering anything.
i can see why these girls display them here, i probably would have done the same.
I enjoyed both sites a lot. Very unique. Thanks for sharing.
Very personal post. Thanks for sharing it!
Eeww. Who shows off self-inflicted scars? That’s not a good thing.
linda – it’s fine to have your opinion and it sounds like looking at scars on someone who has self-harmed is not in your comfort zone. i hope you are open to other people having their opinion as well.