The Diagnosed and the Dismissed
"This project explores the experiences of people living with chronic illnesses and neurodivergent conditions, highlighting how they are frequently misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed within healthcare systems and society.
"Through first-hand testimonies, it gives individuals a platform to share the realities of daily life, revealing the emotional impact of living with invisible challenges.
"Combining textiles, graphics, typography and animation, the work creates a powerful visual narrative. Inspired by inkblots and pareidolia, it examines themes of categorisation, recognition, and belonging.
"By making hidden experiences visible, the project transforms feelings of isolation and neglect into an empathetic and engaging experience for viewers."
This project aims to identify chronic illnesses and disabilities that are not visible, and therefore often overlooked by medical professionals, insurance providers, and government support systems. They often go unnoticed because they are misread as depression or anxiety. After all, the patient does not show visible signs on their body, such as rashes, and because of fear of being judged after past negative experiences of stigma from health professionals, who do not take patients’ pain seriously because of their weight, age, gender, or background. The long waiting times for diagnosis can also have severe effects on these individuals, causing symptoms such as anxiety and depression. The longer they wait, the less likely they are to receive the support they need, and they may feel abandoned and lose confidence in the NHS.
