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Photographs by women recovering from addiction, exploring and reflecting on milestones and challenges to a positive future through photography. PhotoVoice in partnership with Diversity in Care www.photovoice.org | www.diversityincare.org.ukTRANSCRIPT
Shutter Release
PhotoVoicein partnership with
DiversityInCare
Workshops with womenrecovering from addiction
Ealing, 2013
Tracey Sumner
My Journey
Tracey Sumner
Change of direction.
Tracey Sumner
Facing my demons
Tracey Sumner
Getting rid of excess baggage
Tracey Sumner
Learning to walk again
Tracey Sumner
My life has been a mess
Tracey Sumner
At times I thought I’d go NUTS
Tracey Sumner
I didn’t tick the right boxes
Tracey Sumner
Lost my sense of own personal affects
Tracey Sumner
Self-medicating led to addictions, but now I listen to what the doctor says
Tracey Sumner
A baby blanket is all I had left of my daughters
Tracey Sumner
Their letters kept my heart going
Tracey Sumner
I kept a shrine to get them back
Tracey Sumner
I want to be a real mum
Tracey Sumner
Tracey Sumner
Tracey Sumner
Tracey Sumner
Tracey Sumner
Tracey Sumner
Tracey Sumner
Tracey Sumner
Tracey Sumner
Tracey Sumner
Now it’s time to focus
Tracey Sumner
The switch is on
Healthy diet
Right beliefs
Tracey Sumner
Clear nooks and crannies
Tracey Sumner
Fill in all the holes
Tracey Sumner
Wipe the slate clean
Tracey Sumner
Make space
Tracey Sumner
Let go of the past
Tracey Sumner
I am a mom, I have a family.
Tracey Sumner
Sian Angus
Anxiety makes me hide away
Sian Angus
I hide behind my brave face
Sian Angus
Discipline. A routine is important to structure your life. Try to go to bed at the same time. Get up at the same time.
Sian Angus
Self Acceptance. You may not like your hair but there are many hats out there. You may not have the money to change the
shape your nose, so you have to live with it. There are so many people worse off than you.
Sian Angus
Sian Angus
Face your fears. What are you scared of? Why are you scared? Usually the answers are simple – you have made yourself scared
and are just using it as an excuse to isolate yourself.
Sian Angus
Don’t sit in front of the TV all daydrinking tea and smoking fags.
Sian Angus
Her name is Baby, my reason for getting up in the morning. But I need more fulfilment in my life.
Sian Angus
Getting Out. You live in the capital of England, yet you go no further than a couple of miles from your home. Get out there
even if it’s on your own and explore this amazing city.
Sian Angus
Create a safe haven to return to.
Sian Angus
These feet should be out walking.
Finding and touching something real. Overcoming fear.
Sian Angus
Recognise your talents. Get out there. Join groups and clubs. If you like yourself then other people will like you. No-one likes to
be around a negative moaning Minnie.
Sian Angus
No excuses now. Get out there and enjoy,come rain or shine.
Sian Angus
Liza Stephens
I want to have inner peace and tranquillity.
Inner peace means quietness and the absence of chatter in my head.
Freedom to express the truth about feelings, showing I am happy in my soul and whole being.
At one with the world.
I hate being naked to the world. I don’t want to be bullied again. I am finding it hard to take life’s knocks
and move on.
I’m stuck and trapped in this endless life cycle of addiction, co-dependency and self-abuse.
I will get there with each step.
Vulnerable
Liza Stephens
Stuck in the middle.
Liza Stephens
Hiding
Liza Stephens
Anxious and fearful.
Liza Stephens
Taking care of business. The reality of responsibility.
Liza Stephens
A work in progress…
Liza Stephens
This is the start of my recovery / journey.
Liza Stephens
Acceptance of my sensitivity and vulnerability.
Liza Stephens
I need love, affection and comfort.
Liza Stephens
Positive steps in the right direction.
Liza Stephens
Developing a passion, with a razor sharp mind.
Liza Stephens
Letting go of pre-conceived ideas.
Liza Stephens
Steps to seeking fulfilment.
Liza Stephens
Knowing the risks of not remaining abstinent.
Liza Stephens
Knowing the risks of not remaining abstinent.
Liza Stephens
Attaining fulfilment and joy.
Liza Stephens
Attaining fulfilment and joy.
Liza Stephens
Letting go of my old ways.
Liza Stephens
Structure daily routine.
Liza Stephens
Inner peace and serenity.
Liza Stephens
Inner peace and serenity.
Liza Stephens
Sobriety and long lasting friendships.
Liza Stephens
Teri Austin
I’m in prison of my own making.
Teri Austin
I’m lost. Where am I going?
Teri Austin
Which route do I take?
Teri Austin
I need something dependable and resilient.
Teri Austin
Unity, recovery and service.
Teri Austin
Accept my Dis-Ease.
Teri Austin
Confront the wreckage of my past.
Teri Austin
I need a solid structure.
Teri Austin
To cross that bridge to normal living.
Teri Austin
Don’t put anything off till tomorrow.
Teri Austin
This is my way to start each day.
Teri Austin
Ready for a workout.
Teri Austin
Face the fear.
Teri Austin
Don’t panic about little things.
Teri Austin
Take control of your life.
Teri Austin
Acceptance is the key.
Teri Austin
Cut back the thorns to move upwards and onwards.
Teri Austin
Are you ready to de-clutter?
Teri Austin
There is a place for your rubbish outside.
Teri Austin
Let go and trust.
Teri Austin
Don’t let excess baggage weigh you down.
Teri Austin
Now for some nosh.
Teri Austin
Share with love
Teri Austin
Don’t give a damn about judgement.
Teri Austin
Time to give back.
Teri Austin
My past.
Teri Austin
Be present.
Teri Austin
Mary O’Neill
Overwhelmed. Trying to do so many things all at once. Seeking perfection of myself in every role I play.
Being pulled in every direction.
Mary O’Neill
Chaos. I was overwhelmed with the loss of my parents, divorce, debt, struggling to keep strong for my three kids.
Mary O’Neill
Make or break. Sink or swim. HELP.
Mary O’Neill
Pain of addiction. To think I thought the answer to my problems was to block pain and emotions in drink .
Mary O’Neill
It’s the climb.
There is always gonna be another mountain.
I’m always gonna want to make it move. There is
always going to be an upward battle – sometimes I’m gonna
have to lose.
It ain’t about how fast I get there.
It ain’t about what’s written on the other side.
It’s the climb.
Cooking and cleaning are menial tasks I have to do,but loving my children and making them smile makes
everything else worth while.
Mary O’Neill
Keep positive. Only actions will make you drink. A thought might suggest it. Can a thought alone open your hand?
Actions speak louder than words.
Mary O’Neill
Stop. Never think negative. When you start experiencing negative thoughts, imagine a red light and put a stop to them.
Mary O’Neill
The one who falls and gets up is so much strongerthan the one who never fell.
Mary O’Neill
Life is in a lot of ways just like a party. You invite a lot of people. Some leave early. Some stay up all night. Some laugh at you.
Some laugh with you and some show up really late. At the end, once the fun is over, some of them will stay and help you clean up the mess, even though they have never made it. It’s those people
that really matter. The ones you can count on. True friends.
Mary O’Neill
I’ve felt pain. I’ve endured hardship. I’ve suffered loss of loved ones and I’ve memories I want to forget. However, these things have made me stronger and today I face the world with a smile.
I know things will always get better. Those who love me will always be there for me. Seeing the light.
Mary O’Neill
Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions.
Mary O’Neill
Gratitude. To be content and happy with everything we already have in life. You can always want more.
Be aware of how lucky we are.
Mary O’Neill