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Description
The first 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.

OTHERS IN THE SERIES:
Anxiety Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Di…
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/PT…
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/AD…
Autism: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Bo…
Borderline Personality Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/BP…
Bipolar Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Bi…
Schizophrenia: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Sc…
Body Dysmorphic Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Bo…

Transcription of Text:
Major Depressive Disorder
Classification: Parasitic
Depression is a creature rooted into the ground, seeking to feed on its victim's happiness. It will capture them in sluggish muck, and slowly entangle them in vines and trendils that tug at the body and make it difficult to move. As a result, victims entangled by it can become easily irritable or upset, and lose energy and motivation quickly. Due to its nature in absorbing joy, victims may find themselves losing interest in things they previously enjoyed. Depression is a parasite that hides carefully from others, including the victim. It will retreat into the ground if threatened, leaving victims feeling like something is wrong with them.

Depression has various stages, forms and effects. Some may cause hallucinations, catatonia, insomnia, or appear seasonally. Depression is known to latch onto victims that already harbour another parasite.

Depression is capable of being reformed or even eliminated, through therapy, medication, and social interaction and openness with the victim. Listening is especially important, as victims may feel reluctant to initially speak.

Description
The first 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.

OTHERS IN THE SERIES:
Anxiety Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Di…
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/PT…
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/AD…
Autism: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Bo…
Borderline Personality Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/BP…
Bipolar Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Bi…
Schizophrenia: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Sc…
Body Dysmorphic Disorder: smashgal.deviantart.com/art/Bo…

Transcription of Text:
Major Depressive Disorder
Classification: Parasitic
Depression is a creature rooted into the ground, seeking to feed on its victim's happiness. It will capture them in sluggish muck, and slowly entangle them in vines and trendils that tug at the body and make it difficult to move. As a result, victims entangled by it can become easily irritable or upset, and lose energy and motivation quickly. Due to its nature in absorbing joy, victims may find themselves losing interest in things they previously enjoyed. Depression is a parasite that hides carefully from others, including the victim. It will retreat into the ground if threatened, leaving victims feeling like something is wrong with them.

Depression has various stages, forms and effects. Some may cause hallucinations, catatonia, insomnia, or appear seasonally. Depression is known to latch onto victims that already harbour another parasite.

Depression is capable of being reformed or even eliminated, through therapy, medication, and social interaction and openness with the victim. Listening is especially important, as victims may feel reluctant to initially speak.