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.
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!
In third grade, our elementary school was doing a whole salute to the food pyramid thing (The one from the 90's that commanded us to shove an entire loaf of bread down our gullets every single day). My teacher made a banner for the hallway that said something like "I commit to eating 3 vegetables and 2 fruits every day" and we were all supposed to sign it.
I was the only kid that declined. I told my teacher that it sounded a little unrealistic and I didn't want to make a promise I couldn't keep. 🤣
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"....
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!)
You had me at the Rotten Tomatoes dilemma.
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!
Oh my god, I have met my psychological twin!
In third grade, our elementary school was doing a whole salute to the food pyramid thing (The one from the 90's that commanded us to shove an entire loaf of bread down our gullets every single day). My teacher made a banner for the hallway that said something like "I commit to eating 3 vegetables and 2 fruits every day" and we were all supposed to sign it.
I was the only kid that declined. I told my teacher that it sounded a little unrealistic and I didn't want to make a promise I couldn't keep. 🤣
Hahah amazing. Oh, that food pyramid…
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.
This is no topic for a beautiful spring Sunday. It’s a Monday cartoon. 😥
Anxiety knows no season!