But that’s not to say that avoidance is the only way to achieve a taste of freedom from mental anguish; which is where Wilted Flower’s latest EP release Chapter 1: Locked Doors & Hospital Beds stands as an exemplary tale of tried and true passage of revisiting the storms of emotional devastation to be greeted by the rainbows end.
Offering us a rare glimpse at the dissection of destructive thought patterns of an individual living on a ward, lead singer and principal songwriter Micki Woods bravely expresses their inner most triggering selections of consciousness from the times they spent seeking psychiatric intervention. Although discussions surrounding severe mental health struggles have been extensively woven into the fabric of previous entries to their discography; Locked Doors seems to instil a new underlying essence of familiarity born out of a more informed and stable positioning, that creates an almost harrowing effect as Micki’s restrained yet powerful voice guides us through the real and shocking truths of a mind that has betrayed its host.
Forcing us to exit our collective realities and venture into a dissociative like state, the ominously named track – ‘Run’ paints a reflective account of ceaselessly juggling their past, present and future self as denial seems to have robbed the narrator of sense, as they yearn so deeply for what they used to be while being unable to reconcile with their past selves unfortunate demise; whereas the EP’s lead single ‘My Next Cigarette’ journeys through the “management” of emotional disturbance through the means of self-harm. Although illusions of physical impairment are manifested throughout the track, it also demonstrates how self-harm can be interpreted, through the means of alcohol and cigarettes to name a few.
Upon reflection, ‘My Next Cigarette’ feels like one of the most important cautionary tales for fellow sufferers; as the constant longing to nullify the internal pain with detrimental alternatives becomes too much to bear, it makes tussling with illusions of numbness a desirable headspace to capture, which in turn can tap into an adverse need to escape the grips of extreme apathy through any means necessary, to obtain that sweet release from all the pain riddled into every facet of our world. It is a devastating downward spiral that so many can avoid with the love, support and understanding of those closest as well as the proper intervention needed to help live a long and fulfilling life.
Locked Doors & Hospital Beds’ combination of overwhelming fear and grief-stricken admissions can be a triggering and unsettling experience, but it can also be cathartic, heroic, even inspirational to so many in the world who have a shared understanding of the horrific side of human psychology that most will never be able to comprehend. It’s a testament to the strength of will we can tap into in times of great strife and how the progress made in our darkest hours can illuminate to way through the trials and tribulations this world has in store for us.