Living in a State of Overstimulation Print

This piece is inspired by my own experience with living in a constant state of overstimulation. My journey with depersonalization/derealization disorder has made it so my reality is always overwhelmingly abnormal. I see myself and my life in this piece from the man himself to the colors, textures and brushstrokes that compose the painting. The background textures were made using a palette knife to create the feeling of being in an unreal overstimulating environment (derealization). The central figure is portraying depersonalization, the feeling of not being your true self and not being able to identify with your physical self. The similar characteristics of the background and the central character mirror how one with DPDR associates their identity to their perception of the world around them. The physical structure of the man, vibrant colors, brush strokes, and shapes depict the way I cope with the weight of it all. Art has been my only solace. Simply put, this work is representative of how those living with dissociative disorders feel and navigate the human experience.