Everyone Dissociates is a picture book for adults that illustrates and de-stigmatizes the psychological phenomenon of dissociation. Loosely based on Taro Gomi's Everyone Poops, Everyone Dissociates is a humorous, poetic collage of what it means to dissociate. While satirizing the casual repression of trauma, Everyone Dissociates is the most vibrant and certainly the most important conversation piece on any coffee table. It is a valuable piece of literature for anyone who has ever felt disconnected--even if only for a moment--from her/his reflection, identity, and/or surroundings. When casually dissociating (while on a long bus ride for example), one might not even realize she/he is dissociating at all. Our brains will purposely disconnect from reality in order to pass the time. However sometimes dissociation is unexpectedly intense. People suffering from depression and/or anxiety are especially prone to dissociate. It is a scary and extremely isolating experience that is difficult to explain and even harder to control. Without mutual recognition of the experience, dissociation easily leads one to feel more alone and subsequently depressed, even less in control, and anxious. Everyone Dissociates is about learning to share--not our toys, but our thoughts and our fears. Everyone dissociates...but if everyone shares a little bit more, we can all dissociate a little bit less.
Associated Works
Dissociation Illustration 4: How it Feels to Dissociate in a $4000 Chair. 2019. Soft pastel. 12 x 11 in.
Dissociation Illustration 3: Hit Your Juul, Not Your Girlfriend. 2019. Soft pastel. 12 x 11 in.
Dissociation Illustration 8: B12. 2019. Soft pastel. 9 x 12 in.
Dissociation Illustration 7: I Feel Distant from my Friends. 2019. Soft pastel. 9 x 12 in.
Dissociation Illustration 10: Can you tell I’m not listening? 2019. Soft pastel. 9 x 12 in.
If and Only, 2019.
Acrylic gouache on canvas
24 x 30 in.
Dissociation Illustration 6: On Feeling Trapped in My Own Body. 2019. Acrylic gouache and oil pastel. 14 x 16 in.
Dissociation Illustration 5: On Not Recognizing Myself in the Mirror. 2019. Acrylic gouache and oil pastel. 22 x 30 in.
Dissociation Illustration 9: The Great Dissociation of the Last Castrato. Oil pastel and recording of Alessandro Moreschi singing Ave Maria in 1904. 6 x 6 in.
Dissociation Illustration 2. Oil pastel. 8 x 8 in.
Dissociation Illustration 1. Oil pastel. 8 x 8 in.
If you’re my sister. 2019. Digital illustration.
Here Lies My Former Self. 2019. Digital illustration.
Therapy, 2019. Digital illustration.