Acrylic on foam board and plastic. 36” x 48” x 48” inches.

 

Taking daily medication after being medically discharged from the U.S. Army for PTSD and severe depression, I began to reflect on the phrase “TGIF.” Commonly used to express relief at the end of the workweek, it also came to symbolize, for me, the fragile line between routine relief and the risk of medication abuse. During the pandemic, addiction to prescription and over-the-counter drugs became a widespread concern. This piece examines that crisis through a personal lens, exploring how the search for stability and escape can become entangled with dependency, especially in the wake of trauma.