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Description
The seventh of a long project that I am making, and am passionate about.

I find it apalling how some individuals can underestimate just how much mental disorders could affect a person. Often, the stigma around mental illness is met with unhelpful and often patronizing words. "Why are you anxious/depressed? You have nothing to be anxious/depressed about." "Well, you could get over it if you just tried!" and more. Out of frustration and also out of desire to prove a point, I've decided to personify mental disorders into physical form, showing just how impactful and restraining they can be at times.

For creative purposes, I've made them look like entry logs in an old book, which I've subsequently dubbed "The Book of Shadows". This is one of the many designs I have made so far.

My goal is to validate people who truly feel overwhelmed and affected by these disorders, and are frustrated by the stigma and the people who don't seem to understand how it works. Hopefully, putting these disorders into physical forms can help people cope with what they struggle with, and have an explanation as to why they feel the way they do.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/PT…
Major Depressive Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Ma…
Anxiety Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/An…
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/AD…
The Autism Spectrum: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Au…
Borderline Personality Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/BP…
Schizophrenia: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Sc…
Body Dysmorphic Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Bo…

Transcript of Text:
Bipolar Disorder
Classification: Parasitic
Bipolar disorder is a mood-inducing parasite, seeking to remain in a perpetual balancing act at all costs. Its glass orbs contain chemicals that cause extreme depressive and manic emotions. Using thick trendils, it injects these chemicals into its victim until one half of its hourglass empties, to which the other half takes over to do the same. This causes victims of the parasite to undergo prolonged episodes of mania and depression. Bipolar disorder invokes an array of symptoms depending on which half is emptying; the manic half can induce abnormal levels of energy, impulsive decisions, insomnia, distortions of reality, and possibly hallucinations, while the depressive half invokes sadness, lethargy, feelings of hopelessness and apathy.

In most cases, the depressive half takes much longer to empty than the manic half. This causes depressive episodes to last significantly longer than manic ones, and can take months or years for the manic half to turn over. Due to this, the depressive half may begin to adopt the hallucinatory symptoms created by its other half, inducing further stress in its victim.

Bipolar disorder is capable of being controlled through the use of mood stabilizers and antipsychotics, as well as therapy. Helping the victim learn when to anticipate episodes may also assist in coping with its symptoms. It is important to remain supportive and to talk to the victim and be open to them about the subject, as the Bipolar parasite maintains control of its victim most often through feelings of alienation.

Description
The seventh of a long project that I am making, and am passionate about.

I find it apalling how some individuals can underestimate just how much mental disorders could affect a person. Often, the stigma around mental illness is met with unhelpful and often patronizing words. "Why are you anxious/depressed? You have nothing to be anxious/depressed about." "Well, you could get over it if you just tried!" and more. Out of frustration and also out of desire to prove a point, I've decided to personify mental disorders into physical form, showing just how impactful and restraining they can be at times.

For creative purposes, I've made them look like entry logs in an old book, which I've subsequently dubbed "The Book of Shadows". This is one of the many designs I have made so far.

My goal is to validate people who truly feel overwhelmed and affected by these disorders, and are frustrated by the stigma and the people who don't seem to understand how it works. Hopefully, putting these disorders into physical forms can help people cope with what they struggle with, and have an explanation as to why they feel the way they do.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/PT…
Major Depressive Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Ma…
Anxiety Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/An…
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/AD…
The Autism Spectrum: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Au…
Borderline Personality Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/BP…
Schizophrenia: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Sc…
Body Dysmorphic Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Bo…

Transcript of Text:
Bipolar Disorder
Classification: Parasitic
Bipolar disorder is a mood-inducing parasite, seeking to remain in a perpetual balancing act at all costs. Its glass orbs contain chemicals that cause extreme depressive and manic emotions. Using thick trendils, it injects these chemicals into its victim until one half of its hourglass empties, to which the other half takes over to do the same. This causes victims of the parasite to undergo prolonged episodes of mania and depression. Bipolar disorder invokes an array of symptoms depending on which half is emptying; the manic half can induce abnormal levels of energy, impulsive decisions, insomnia, distortions of reality, and possibly hallucinations, while the depressive half invokes sadness, lethargy, feelings of hopelessness and apathy.

In most cases, the depressive half takes much longer to empty than the manic half. This causes depressive episodes to last significantly longer than manic ones, and can take months or years for the manic half to turn over. Due to this, the depressive half may begin to adopt the hallucinatory symptoms created by its other half, inducing further stress in its victim.

Bipolar disorder is capable of being controlled through the use of mood stabilizers and antipsychotics, as well as therapy. Helping the victim learn when to anticipate episodes may also assist in coping with its symptoms. It is important to remain supportive and to talk to the victim and be open to them about the subject, as the Bipolar parasite maintains control of its victim most often through feelings of alienation.