D.R.E.I - Die Reise eines Irren

The work „D.R.E.I - Die Reise eines Irren“ is a conceptual-documentary photographic work on the subject of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), in which it is photographed how a mental disorder can be visualized. Portraits of those affected, relatives and experts, as well as their surroundings are contrasted with subjective, associative photographs of the emotional world of those affected (I was affected myself). Additional aspects are highlighted through texts such as experience reports and interviews.

A total of around 1 million people in Germany are affected by obsessive-compulsive disorders.

The obsessive-compulsive disorder is divided into 2 groups. On the one hand there are obsessions and on the other there are compulsive acts, whereby the sick can suffer from both. Obsessive thoughts are characterized by the fact that images, ideas, thoughts and impulses (often negative) repeatedly impose themselves on the person concerned and they cannot shake them off. In contrast to schizophrenia, thoughts are perceived as one's own. Compulsive acts, on the other hand, are often pointless and exaggeratedly repeated acts, whereby those affected feel internally urged to perform them again and again. However, they usually experience this themselves as nonsensical. Overall, an obsessive-compulsive disorder limits the person affected extremely in everyday life and determines him excessively.