Well, you have earned my subscription! I did have a wee bit of anxiety over should I just try it for a $5 month, or should I just pay the $50 and be square with myself that I will enjoy your work? 50 won because I didn’t want you to be anxious and I’m pretty sure I’ve made a good decision. Let me add that to my thought balloon. I fear I must now admit I, too, have anxiety. Now I have your cartoons in my head………..good deal!
Reading this really felt like a tap on the shoulder from a good friend, I’ve always (and still) suffered from anxiety, and I work as an illustrator too, so this really speaks to me.
Anxiety plays a huge rule for me even as a person, because I'm studying all the aspects of failure before moving one inch, which paralyzes me from starting, and then I fall into procrastination, after that comes the guilt of not being productive, and not creating art, then comes the depression of fear of falling behind, losing my skills, fear of being bad at my work (which I rely a lot on being what defines me).. so yeah I guess anxiety is controlling my life, but I'm fighting, still it's so hard. so thank you for writing such pieces.
Oh, holy hell, all of this (except for being able to decide what to order in a restaurant; once, years ago, as I struggled, a friend said, "Beth, you can come *back and order something else"). Thank you for writing this. It took the pandemic for me to realize how much I struggle with anxiety. Mostly, I thought I was just a fuck-up who wasn't living up to her potential.
Thanks for this. It's ironic how so many anxious people seem to be so chill on the outside. I don't know how we manage to pull that off. When in reality, our brains are like a tangled mess of strings going through every scenario that may or may not happen.
Have faked being chill my whole life, (apparently I'm amazing at it) god it's so exhausting. What would happen if we just stopped doing that? Hahaha. Just kidding...the world would surely end. 🤷🏻♀️
I love this! Such a vivid, accurate and highly relatable portrayal of anxiety, thanks for sharing, and I can say from both personal and professional experience that yes it absolutely can change, though it rarely entirely goes away. The key, for me, has been learning how to regulate the nervous system - on a bodily level. I don't think we can solve anxiety with the thinking mind, it's like that Einstein quote 'we can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking that created them'
Agreed, I always thought deep breathing was stupid until I recently realized when I am golfing that if I stop and take a deep breath before I swing /putt -I do way better and it also showed me the large amount of underlying anxiety I was unaware of. It became clear since it was really hard to stop myself and take that deep breath, plus the positive impact after I successfully of slow and relax is startling. It’s very hard to do repeatedly.... it almost becomes anxiety producing lol. 😆ahhh funny by
So true. Took me a long time to realise how often I was not really breathing and how much I exhausted myself and made life harder in the process (it's a work in progress!)
A lot of times when people write about anxiety it makes me, well, anxious! The opposite happened when I read this post. Everyone growing up thought I was the laidback twin (I’m a twin) but really I was just as anxious as she was but better at hiding it. Hooray for finding ways to cope and live with it!
And the “whatcha thinking” panel...my life (all the things!)
Well, you have earned my subscription! I did have a wee bit of anxiety over should I just try it for a $5 month, or should I just pay the $50 and be square with myself that I will enjoy your work? 50 won because I didn’t want you to be anxious and I’m pretty sure I’ve made a good decision. Let me add that to my thought balloon. I fear I must now admit I, too, have anxiety. Now I have your cartoons in my head………..good deal!
I really appreciate it, and I will definitely try to make sure you made a good decision and not worry too much either!
Reading this really felt like a tap on the shoulder from a good friend, I’ve always (and still) suffered from anxiety, and I work as an illustrator too, so this really speaks to me.
Also I LOVE your work.
Hope you have a good day :)
Thank you. It means a lot the way you described my piece. Does anxiety play into your art at all?
Anxiety plays a huge rule for me even as a person, because I'm studying all the aspects of failure before moving one inch, which paralyzes me from starting, and then I fall into procrastination, after that comes the guilt of not being productive, and not creating art, then comes the depression of fear of falling behind, losing my skills, fear of being bad at my work (which I rely a lot on being what defines me).. so yeah I guess anxiety is controlling my life, but I'm fighting, still it's so hard. so thank you for writing such pieces.
Oops, remark the slip... "anxiety plays a huge RULE"....
Oh, holy hell, all of this (except for being able to decide what to order in a restaurant; once, years ago, as I struggled, a friend said, "Beth, you can come *back and order something else"). Thank you for writing this. It took the pandemic for me to realize how much I struggle with anxiety. Mostly, I thought I was just a fuck-up who wasn't living up to her potential.
Right? The pandemic helped me too. Really gave me time with myself up close. It was good and also baaad.
Do people really live their lives without thinking about all this stuff?? Inconceivable!
Thanks for this. It's ironic how so many anxious people seem to be so chill on the outside. I don't know how we manage to pull that off. When in reality, our brains are like a tangled mess of strings going through every scenario that may or may not happen.
Have faked being chill my whole life, (apparently I'm amazing at it) god it's so exhausting. What would happen if we just stopped doing that? Hahaha. Just kidding...the world would surely end. 🤷🏻♀️
Haha... a lot of people probably think you're the most unfazed person ever.
I wish it was that easy for us to stop although I wouldn't want to worry anyone with my thoughts, so I remain chill
Yeah, end the world as we know it ;)
I love this! Such a vivid, accurate and highly relatable portrayal of anxiety, thanks for sharing, and I can say from both personal and professional experience that yes it absolutely can change, though it rarely entirely goes away. The key, for me, has been learning how to regulate the nervous system - on a bodily level. I don't think we can solve anxiety with the thinking mind, it's like that Einstein quote 'we can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking that created them'
Thank you! And really great point! There's no way to think my way out of overthinking, but it doesn't stop me from trying!
Agreed, I always thought deep breathing was stupid until I recently realized when I am golfing that if I stop and take a deep breath before I swing /putt -I do way better and it also showed me the large amount of underlying anxiety I was unaware of. It became clear since it was really hard to stop myself and take that deep breath, plus the positive impact after I successfully of slow and relax is startling. It’s very hard to do repeatedly.... it almost becomes anxiety producing lol. 😆ahhh funny by
So true. Took me a long time to realise how often I was not really breathing and how much I exhausted myself and made life harder in the process (it's a work in progress!)
This is a flat-out brilliant cartoon. Me, I’m firmly in the “where are the things?” camp … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLLGSxMS3Vg&ab_channel=CrowRising
I relate to all of this so much. Wonderful article.
Thank you! We're not alone!
A lot of times when people write about anxiety it makes me, well, anxious! The opposite happened when I read this post. Everyone growing up thought I was the laidback twin (I’m a twin) but really I was just as anxious as she was but better at hiding it. Hooray for finding ways to cope and live with it!
Thanks for sharing! And I'm glad I didn't add to your anxiety!
Thank you writing this. It came at a good time. Brilliant illustrations as well ❤️
Yay, right up my alley.
Learn, share and love it!
I love the shades of anxiety you express!
It's a funny day for self reflection. I've been working on one about Mercury Retrograde.
You had me at the Rotten Tomatoes dilemma.
This is no topic for a beautiful spring Sunday. It’s a Monday cartoon. 😥
Anxiety knows no season!