About the use of the word ‘Depression’ on this blog
‘Depression’ is a word that mental health professionals generally use and it can mean different things to different people. On this blog site, we do not attempt to define Depression. If you wish to find out whether you are experiencing Clinical Depression, the most useful initial contact is your GP or local mental health service. If you are looking for fact sheets about different types of Depression and treatment methods, please go to www.beyondblue.org.au or other mental health websites listed in the ‘Getting Help’ section of this blog.
Cocoons & Depression – Some of the ways people in Moreland experienced Depression
The contributors of the ‘Cocoons and Butterflies’ booklet have experienced Depression in a variety of ways. These are some of the ways they described Depression:
- ‘dark clouds hovering over my head’- ‘being trapped in a dark tunnel’
- ‘worms burrowing in my brain’
- ‘a Black Dog that looms big from time to time’.
The effects of Depression on each contributor were different. Here are some of the tactics of Depression they experienced:
- Depression kept them in dark black holes
- Depression often blocked them from having hopes or meaning in life
- Depression persuaded them to withdraw and stay in their cocoons.
About Depression and the use of the ‘grey balloon’ symbol
During the creation of each of the illustrations shown on this blog site, project participants contributed their stories which in many cases included specific symbols, colours and themes that related to their experiences of Depression. These symbols, colours and themes were used in the preliminary sketches created for the booklet and were then submitted to project participants for feedback. The use of the colour grey echoed as a consistant theme in many stories about some people who have suffered Depression describing it as a grey cloud hovering over their head. As the cloud symbol is a very common symbol in artwork relating to Depression I wanted to create something new but recognisable. The balloon evolved as a popular choice with project participants as it is something that can be attached to you but something that can also be let go. Therefore having the grey balloon occur throughout the Depression illustrations became a theme which could connect the Depression illustrations together.
Please note that this image is no way an absolute description of all types of Depression. The image may be confronting to some viewers. If the images bring up difficult memories or trigger unpleasant feelings for you, it may be helpful to talk to a counsellor. Please click on the ‘Getting Help’ link on the navigation menu for more info.
Please note that this image is no way an absolute description of all types of Depression. The image may be confronting to some viewers. If the images bring up difficult memories or trigger unpleasant feelings for you, it may be helpful to talk to a counsellor. Please click on the ‘Getting Help’ link on the navigation menu for more info.