This collection delves deep into the abstract and emotional landscapes of the human psyche. Through the themes of confusion, mental illness, dissociation, and liberation, the images explore the fragile boundaries between reality and imagination. Each piece invites viewers to confront the chaos within, experience the struggle to free the mind and soul, and reflect on the universal search for clarity amidst internal turmoil. It’s a journey through fragmented thoughts, unspoken emotions, and moments of transcendence.
Next to each brave soul you will find their very own story
anonymous
When you say inner voices, there are two types of it and those are positive and negative. Most likely, we choose to embrace the positive ones because we think that it’s the easy way and it's good for us not knowing that those negative ones are being left out and it just keeps on adding up until it consumes you inside and reaches your outer self.
It’s like a poison that slowly devours your insides until it shows outside. I used to do that a lot. Ignoring negative inner voices but it came to the point that it consumed me and I felt so empty and lost. At first I didn’t know what to do. I was so scared to face all of it because it was a lot. There were times back then when I even tried hurting myself and that was one of the darkest parts of my life.
It came to the point where I don’t recognize myself at all even now.
I was this sweet, lovely and good person that people knew but deep down, I knew something was wrong with me and I didn’t want to be criticized by the people around me. I felt so lost and I thought I was just being crazy and I had to stop thinking about it, but then, something came up.
It felt like the universe gave me a second chance to restart my life. I gathered all the courage that was left inside me and went out of my comfort zone. Slowly but surely. Baby steps. I realized that I just have to deal with it and use it as a weapon to keep moving forward. Good or bad I have to face both and not run away.
After everything that happened, it felt so good that I am here now, I am still here, exploring my inner and outer self. I think there is no limit when you want to explore things in life. The only limit you can pit to yourself is YOU. Once you put limitations on your capabilities and self then I think everything just stops and you will never grow. W
You only live once so do great things that will feed up your soul and will keep you alive.
I’m not saying that limitations are bad but sometimes, you just have to take a risk and see what happens. You will never know if you don’t try. I used to be so conservative about myself that made me insecure to do things. But that’s wrong, You can be conservative and confident at the same time and I see myself that way in the the present.
I think we need negative voices to improve ourselves. They say we need to feed our souls with good things but those negative voices are actually helpful in a way that we will know what to improve.
Until now, I still feel like a stranger to myself.
I think I’m still young and I am learning a lot of new things in my life lately and whether it's good or not it’s feeding my soul both ways. When the shadows feel overwhelming, I think all you have to do is to move. Be the controller of your shadows. Remember, you are the captain of your soul so you have the power to change those shadows that overwhelm you.
Elina (Ellie) Anagrius Collin
What does it mean to you to face your fears instead of running from them?
When I was younger, my life was shaped by fears that stopped me from doing things others would see as everyday activities – everything from talking to new people to taking the bus to a new place.
Anything new and unpredictable was something I wanted to avoid so that I could stay in my comfort zone. At the same time, I wanted so much in life, and I could only achieve it by facing my fears.
Have you ever felt like you’ve become a stranger to yourself?
As a person with autism, I feel this quite often. From a very young age, I learned that my way of being and thinking is different. Back then, I didn’t know why, but I quickly understood that I needed to analyze others and their ways of behaving to be understood and to fit into society and social groups.
As a person with autism, I feel this quite often. From a very young age, I learned that my way of being and thinking is different. Back then, I didn’t know why, but I quickly understood that I needed to analyze others and their ways of behaving to be understood and to fit into society and social groups.
Analyzing and imitating people when I first meet them has become my habit. I base my humour, body language, reactions, and choice of words on how the other person I’m with behaves.
The more comfortable I become, the more I allow myself to be who I truly am. But it’s vital to remind yourself of who you are and to be around people who let you be yourself.
How do you deal with inner voices?
I try to listen without judging or assigning any value to them. I don't silence them; instead, I choose which voices to allow to guide me.
I try to listen without judging or assigning any value to them. I don't silence them; instead, I choose which voices to allow to guide me.
Vad betyder det för dig att möta dina rädslor istället för att fly från dem?
När jag var yngre så präglades mitt liv av rädslor som hindrade mig från att göra saker som andra skulle se som vardag, allt från att prata med nya människor till att ta bussen till en ny plats.
Allting som var nytt och oförutsägbart var något jag ville undvika för att kunna stanna i min egen bekvämlighet. Samtidigt fanns det så mycket jag ville med mitt liv och det kunde jag endast få genom att möta mina rädslor.
Har du någonsin känt att du blivit en främling för dig själv?
Som en person med autism så känner jag det rätt ofta. Jag har lärt mig sen jag var väldigt liten att mitt sätt att vara på och mitt sätt att tänka är annorlunda, då visste jag inte varför det var så och jag förstod snabbt att jag behövde analysera andra personer och deras sätt att vara för att kunna bli förstådd och för att passa in i samhället och bland grupper.
Det har blivit som en vana för mig att analysera och imitera personer när jag först träffar dem. Att basera min humor, mitt kroppsspråk, hur jag reagerar och uttrycker ord, på hur den andra personen jag är med gör det.
Ju mer bekväm jag blir ju mer mig själv blir jag, men det är väldigt viktigt att påminna sig själv om vem man är och att vara med personer som låter en vara sig själv
Hur hanterar du inre röster?
Jag försöker att lyssna utan att döma eller lägga någon värdering. Inte tysta dem, utan välja vilka röster som jag låter styra mig
CAJSA KASK
• How do you deal with inner voices?
I deal with my inner voices by doing the exact opposite of what they say. For most of my life, the voices have told me that I’m disgusting, fat, and ugly. They’ve said I don’t deserve to feel good or to be seen. Far too often, I give in and hide.
I deal with my inner voices by doing the exact opposite of what they say. For most of my life, the voices have told me that I’m disgusting, fat, and ugly. They’ve said I don’t deserve to feel good or to be seen. Far too often, I give in and hide.
The fear that others will feel the same disgust for my body as I do has held me back from living life to the fullest. More and more often, I find the courage to provoke the voices and make them shut up. Instead of hiding, I strip down, let myself be photographed, and tell myself that I deserve to be seen.
• What does it mean to you to face your fears instead of running from them?
Every time I face a fear instead of running away, it’s a victory. The fears remain, but every small win builds my courage. In these photos, you see me confronting my greatest fear and celebrating an incredible victory.
Every time I face a fear instead of running away, it’s a victory. The fears remain, but every small win builds my courage. In these photos, you see me confronting my greatest fear and celebrating an incredible victory.
• How do you find the light when the shadows feel overwhelming?
When the shadows feel overwhelming, I find the light in dance. That’s when I feel most alive and fully myself. Dance is me, and I am dance.
When the shadows feel overwhelming, I find the light in dance. That’s when I feel most alive and fully myself. Dance is me, and I am dance.
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• Hur hanterar du inre röster?
Jag hanterar mina inre röster genom att göra tvärtemot vad de säger. I större delen av mitt liv har rösterna sagt att jag är äcklig, fet och ful. De har sagt att jag inte förtjänar att må bra eller att synas. Alldeles för ofta ger jag efter och gömmer mig.
Rädslan för att andra ska känna samma äckel inför min kropp som jag gör har gjort att jag inte har vågat leva livet fullt ut. Allt oftare får jag mod nog att provocera rösterna och få dem att hålla käften. Istället för att gömma mig klär jag av mig naken, låter mig fotograferas och säger till mig själv att jag förtjänar att synas
• Vad betyder det för dig att möta dina rädslor istället för att fly från dem?
Varje gång jag möter en rädsla, istället för att fly, är en seger. Rädslorna finns kvar men varje liten delseger bygger mitt mod. I dessa bilder ser ni mig möta min allra största rädsla och fira en enorm seger.
• Hur hittar du ljuset när skuggorna känns överväldigande?
När skuggorna känns överväldigande hittar jag ljuset i dansen, det är då jag lever som mest och är mig själv fullt ut. Dansen är jag och jag är dansen.
