Criminalized/Mentally Ill

05/01/2025

Dissociation as a Way of Knowing in a Haunted World
What if dissociation isn't just a medical condition, but a profound way of experiencing and understanding the world?

I've been exploring how dissociative states might reflect a deep attunement to the pressures and oppressions of living under racial capitalism. In a society constantly haunted by the violence of its past, where the present feels like endless nostalgic loops and the future feels collapsed, altered states of consciousness take on new meaning.

For me, dissociation often arises when my body is asking for autonomy and space. That fuzzy, muted feeling emerges when I'm most attuned to what my mind and body truly need in an environment that is impossible to escape.

And I suspect I'm not alone. For many people, dissociation may be a protective assertion of embodied autonomy - a rapid calculation of energy and safety. Rather than "tuning out," it's a way of tuning IN to the dissonant realities of systemic trauma.

So I'm asking: Does it really make sense to label these states as inherently pathological in a world that is itself fractured by violence?

What if dissociation is a mad attunement to social hauntings - a reflection of the ruptured time we inhabit?

How might honouring these experiences help us resist racist and capitalist "normal" in a trauma-informed way?

I'm diving deep into works by brilliant thinkers like Therí Alyce Pickens, Avery F. Gordon, Elizabeth Freeman & more to grapple with these questions. Because I believe altered states have profound implications for healing, liberation, and the futures we imagine possible.

These ideas are challenging, but they feel vital. I'd love to hear your thoughts! How do you understand the link between dissociation, oppression, and time? What possibilities do you see?



Photo description: A black and white photograph from 1890 titled "The Ghost of Bernadette Soubirous." In a cave-like space, with rough rock walls. In the centre of the frame, a semi-transparent, ghostly white figure hovering and walking towards wall.

11/11/2024

Institutions like these carry a legacy rooted in confinement and control, often perpetuating the intersecting oppressions of racism, ableism, and sanism. It’s essential to recognize how these historical foundations continue to influence their practices today, especially in moments when marginalized voices, such as Palestinian ones, are silenced.

[Image Description:
A dark, high-contrast graphic with text discussing the history and practices of CAMH, highlighting its origins as the ‘Provincial Lunatic Asylum’ and its ongoing use of involuntary admissions: text reads “CAMH, originally the ‘Provincial Lunatic Asylum,’ has roots in confinement and control. Today, it still uses practices like involuntary admissions, echoing a legacy of forced institutionalization. Systems like CAMH reflect how racism, ableism, and sanism are deeply intertwined—so it’s no surprise when anti-Palestinian and racist behaviors surface. These systems are built on the same oppressive foundations.” and clip from another post reads “camh CENSORS PALESTINE.” End of description.]

26/04/2024

This is an appeal for compassion and solidarity. Your support, whether financial or through sharing this fundraiser, can help provide a lifeline in these unimaginable times (link in my bio).
Image Description: The image shows a screenshot of a GoFundMe campaign page. It features a photo of a young girl smiling and making a peace sign with her fingers. Below her photo, the campaign title reads “URGENT: Help me and my family escape from Gaza to safety” with a progress bar indicating $11,762 raised.

26/04/2024

Please donate and share widely! Thank you so much! ♡

My name is Moheen Yousef and I'm reaching out to you with an urg… Amel Buhaisi needs your support for URGENT: Help me and my family escape from Gaza to safety

17/02/2024

Wearing this tshirt is an honour (not to mention the art is rad). I hold unyielding support for and its mission to aid Palestinian refugees.

It’s immoral that the Canadian government decided to suspend funding based on unfounded claims against UNRWA. It’s like immediately after the ICJ findings about Israel last month, the Canadian government, which waffled to support the court, suspended funding to UNRWA.

Canada’s suspension of UNRWA aid is a hypocritical act of collective punishment against a refugee population facing genocide.

UNRWA’s work is pivotal in providing education, health, and social services to those Palestinians. I continue to support UNRWA and the dignity and human rights of all Palestinians.

Image Description:
The image shows Kendra seated in a warmly lit room. They are wearing a white t-shirt with “Gaza 5K” and “UNRWA USA” printed on it along with the year 2020 and other graphics in shades of blue and turquoise. She has short dark hair, round glasses, and a contemplative expression.