An Online Exhibit by Meghan Clarkston ~ Part 2
Words and works by Meghan Clarkston
Clarkston is a visual artist, author, writer and mental health/eating disorder advocate. She owns and operates Abbatoir Lane Studios in Halifax.
If you missed Part 1 of Clarkston's exhibit, check it out here.
My own recovery process is more of a journey in understanding,
rather than attempting to “recover” from my eating disorder. At times this is
misinterpreted as that I want to continue to be bulimic, or to transition back
into anorexia; actively choosing to be ill rather than healthy, when frankly
this is not the case whatsoever. I find the terminology of eating disorder
treatment is very intense, often stating that a person is only healthy once
they stop having negative thoughts or actions, which in my opinion is nearly
impossible to consider a reality. How often does anyone have a negative thought
about their life or even their body? If this was the case then shouldn’t the
ideas of diets or Weight Watchers be considered a negative? I don’t condone
either but truth is they exist because the majority of the population has a
negative perception of their own bodies.
My process has been more in tune with discovering what
it is that made me choose to act out in the form of bulimia, rather than engage
in trying to eradicate the idea. Through this I have found a clearer means of
my triggers, how to avoid them, therapies which suit my life and method of
treatment - such as art rather than medication - as well as choosing to speak
publicly about my own disorder, which has been a very positive source in my own
understanding.
Negative thoughts creep in from time to time, and yes,
there are moments of relapse, but rather than “Starting from zero”, I look back
and document why it happened, what the elements were which lead to the binge /
purge, how I felt, etc, with each moment documented in my journals. I speak
openly with friends, families, and in support groups as well, which I love. For
myself I have found the positives lie in finding outlets which benefit my own
style of discovery, rather than trying to recover in the clinical vein of
eating disorder treatment.
Society is still dazed and confused when it comes to
understanding the world of the mentally ill. We still actively shun or become
engorged with fear when we hear mentally ill, or know of someone with the
dreaded illness. At times I feel as though we treat people like myself as the
wandering dead inflected with the black plague; best to stay away. Yes, we talk
about mental illness, we have advertising or promotional material from Health
Canada floating around the atmosphere, but when it comes to understanding or
actively taking notice, even caring, about such a monumental portion of
Canadian life, we are lost or afraid. We actively encourage those who are
afflicted to live in silence or secrecy, who shame or abolish them from
“Normal” aspects of life because we are “Crazy” or “Unstable”, which is
absolutely not the case whatsoever. In fact, it perhaps is quite the opposite.
We who are mentally ill are brilliant, artistically passionate, creative,
loving, and an array of interesting characters who each have a unique trait
which should be coveted rather than discouraged.
Sadly the majority of our culture will never know that
as we continue to advocate living in fear rather than becoming engaged or proud
to live with a mental illness or support someone you know who has been
diagnosed. The medical community is just as lost when it comes to supporting
those in the community, with many hospitals across the country actively hosting
sessions for staff to learn through a variety of mentally ill volunteers how to
interact with patients. It’s a discussion which often leaves me fuming because
based on my own experiences trying to seek supportive direction or treatment
from a doctor during my early years as a bulimic was nothing short of cruel.
Ranging from “It’s a teenage phase,” to “But you’re beautiful as you are”, to
“You will grow out of it,” or my personal favourite, “You just have to stop
doing it to yourself”. It’s been clear for a very long time that eating
disorders and mental health advocacy in Canada has been non-existent in both
the medical community and society at large for many, many years.
Only now are we beginning to really push forward with
more knowledge and rights for those who are ill to be treated and considered as
reputable members of society, not just “Crazy”. We are moving forward with the
help or courageous members of the community willing to advocate and come
forward with their own stories about living with mental illness, to push past
the stigma, and educate the future. It’s imperative to be proud of who you are
as an individual, ill or not.
For myself I have no shame in declaring that I am
a bulimic in transition, in showing my scars from episodes or self-mutilation,
or stating that I have attempted suicide several times in my life; that I am
mentally ill. Because making myself a visible reality to a country’s dark
secret is the first step in engaging a conversation about the why’s, how’s, and
what we can do as a country to understand, advocate, and help those who are
mentally ill.
These days I am up to a bit of this, a bit of that. I
have been trying to dive into the world of craft fairs with my work, but am
thinking my style is a bit too “Out there” for those types of shows. Right now
I am looking to have my work shown in some galleries around Halifax, or
anywhere, really. Just a case of sitting down and reaching out with
submissions, and such, during some of that free time.
Discover more of Meghan Clarkston's visual art and advocacy by visiting:
