I’d always had subtler social anxiety, but when I finally had a full-on panic attack manifest as symptoms similar to a heart attack, it was the tipping point. I realized I had to get it under control.
What’s working for me is various breathing exercises such as pranayama. Meditation. And investigating the real root of the anxious thoughts. Everyone is different though and has to experiment to find what works for them.
More info: Instagram
When I knew I had anxiety bad
Trapped in thought
Documenting my experiences with anxiety has been therapeutic. What I love most is finding others who relate and say my comics have helped them feel less alone.
Hypochondriac tendencies
The holidays and social anxiety
I’ve learned through this process that so much of managing anxiety for me is about getting some distance between myself and the worrying thoughts. Observing my thoughts without judgment or desire to change them. It gives me a new perspective on my own thought patterns and sometimes I realize how mechanical my worried mind can be.
The anxiety of school
Cathartic release through art
The physical act of drawing or writing it out is calming, too. Having an outlet to fall back on is like having a good friend around who’s willing to listen to anything.
What anxiety really is
Just once right now
It can seem pointless on the face of it, to do nothing but just write about anxiety. But I think it’s perhaps the best medicine because the last thing anxiety wants you to do is accept things as they are. It’s a relentless itch to act urgently, even if it doesn’t really know what it wants to do.
Anger
Multiple personalities
Struggle
Late night dwelling
The caffeine-anxiety connection
Feeling like a failure
Thoughts of chaos
Little improvements
