Antimo Chiariello

I thank the Art Institute for helping me save my passion and expel the demons of dystonia.

Music is a passion that has always accompanied me and will forever do so, through its deep, authentic and varied forms, which are hidden behind a guitar...

I am not a professional guitarist nor do I play at a very high level. I have always played, first and foremost (I admit it selfishly), for myself, perhaps to try to make my soul speak and to be more constructive to its whims. Then for everyone else. This also includes sharing and having fun.

I began to notice problems in the movements of my left hand while playing: my ring finger moved badly and out of time, becoming a burden for the entire hand that reached the point of not being able to make even one of the simplest chords.

It was difficult for me to explain all this to others and especially to "explain it to myself." I found myself in a fight against an invisible demon that was far from my conscious part.

In Italy I was visited by several specialists: traumatologist, neurologist, hand surgeon. I did not receive any explanation or diagnosis for my problem. Until one day, thanks to research on the Internet and some friends I knew, and to whom I am grateful for their advice, I was able to find information about the experience of the Institut de l'Art. On their website they defined all my symptoms precisely. I felt from the beginning that the path to recovery was in Terrassa, at the Institut de l'Art.

I made an appointment with them and they diagnosed me with "focal dystonia" in my left hand. Then came the treatment. Dr. Rosset, Sílvia Fàbregas and all the staff at the Institut de l'Art have shown themselves to be understanding friends who help you and understand the problems of their patients.

I followed the assigned treatment and daily exercises for a year and now I can say that I am cured. The hand has recovered a new motor program that had been "corrupted".

Now I have what I wanted again: a free and relaxed hand on those six strings: the rest is extra.

I thank the Art Institute for helping me save my passion and expel the demons of dystonia. After this cycle and this experience, I feel like I have acquired a different and deeper "consciousness".