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- Under Construction -
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Neuro Art Narratives:
Dawn A.
I had been wearing glasses and going to vision therapy for a couple of years because of a vision (brain) issue. Every few months my vision would change significantly and I would end up needing a less strong prism. This was a good thing! Part of what we were working on with my vision therapy was trying to gain depth perception. One day after getting new lenses, I drove home and was shocked. I had an abrupt increase in depth perception! It was like the world had suddenly changed from a painting to a pop-up book. The telephone poles really struck me as bizarre. They were barreling towards me, one after the other, as I drove down the road. I burst into tears and thought, “How can people live like this?” It seemed unbearable at the time. Now I don't even notice it; depth perception has become normalized for me.
I had been wearing glasses and going to vision therapy for a couple of years because of a vision (brain) issue. Every few months my vision would change significantly and I would end up needing a less strong prism. This was a good thing! Part of what we were working on with my vision therapy was trying to gain depth perception. One day after getting new lenses, I drove home and was shocked. I had an abrupt increase in depth perception! It was like the world had suddenly changed from a painting to a pop-up book. The telephone poles really struck me as bizarre. They were barreling towards me, one after the other, as I drove down the road. I burst into tears and thought, “How can people live like this?” It seemed unbearable at the time. Now I don't even notice it; depth perception has become normalized for me.
Laura B.
I’m a long time sufferer of anxiety. It is sometimes consuming and often prevents me from getting a good night’s sleep because I just can’t shut my brain off and let it go quiet. Occasionally I can pinpoint the source of my anxiety – a particularly stressful job related event or I’m trying to reach someone who isn’t picking up their phone. It was really bad when I was the mother of teenagers and they were away from me. I’ve also had a really difficult time getting on airplanes – a result of losing my father to a plane crash when I was 11. Sometimes the anxiety just sweeps through me for no apparent reason, when everything in my life is rosy and calm. I physically can’t sit or lay still and my mind races to all kinds of places that are not fun to go to. Most of my life I dealt with it without any medication, although in hindsight I think I used alcohol and marijuana to self-medicate when I was a teenager and well into my 20’s and 30’s. When I had children myself I finally got some help from a doctor in the form of both talk therapy, the use of hypnosis and a Xanax prescription. I still use Xanax as needed and have learned to quiet my mind through activities such as embroidery that help me remain present and mindful while doing something repetitive. This artwork represents the feeling of detachment and thoughts racing around in my head when I’m feeling anxious.
I’m a long time sufferer of anxiety. It is sometimes consuming and often prevents me from getting a good night’s sleep because I just can’t shut my brain off and let it go quiet. Occasionally I can pinpoint the source of my anxiety – a particularly stressful job related event or I’m trying to reach someone who isn’t picking up their phone. It was really bad when I was the mother of teenagers and they were away from me. I’ve also had a really difficult time getting on airplanes – a result of losing my father to a plane crash when I was 11. Sometimes the anxiety just sweeps through me for no apparent reason, when everything in my life is rosy and calm. I physically can’t sit or lay still and my mind races to all kinds of places that are not fun to go to. Most of my life I dealt with it without any medication, although in hindsight I think I used alcohol and marijuana to self-medicate when I was a teenager and well into my 20’s and 30’s. When I had children myself I finally got some help from a doctor in the form of both talk therapy, the use of hypnosis and a Xanax prescription. I still use Xanax as needed and have learned to quiet my mind through activities such as embroidery that help me remain present and mindful while doing something repetitive. This artwork represents the feeling of detachment and thoughts racing around in my head when I’m feeling anxious.