Numb - Madison Keyser

Content Warning: The film explores themes of drug use, which some people may find distressing. You can view the film on the artist's Vimeo.

Numb is a film about my perspective with medication. I have struggled with mental illness for much of my life and was put on ADHD medication when I was around thirteen years old. I have come to know a sensation of numbness that dictates and controls my feelings based off of my medication. This feeling has been around causing me waves of discomfort, sadness, and at large the grappling sensation of self medication with drugs and alcohol. When I let my thoughts dictate my life I feel as if I am at my lowest level of consciousness. What is truly dictating my thoughts and actions and how could these be differentiated from a medication that is known to have psychological effects. This piece I created was a pleasure to make as I struggled with creating these uncomfortable feelings and bringing them into my film.