I Illustrate My Darkest Thoughts To Help People Understand What It’s Like To Suffer From Mental Illness

Damn. I've felt all of this at different points in my life. And I'm only 20.

To all the people out there suffering from things like this, it'll be okay. I know how it feels. But keep your head up friendo. You're strong. You're powerful. You can get through this. Whatever is getting you down will pass. And if you don't even know what's getting you down, don't worry, it'll still pass. I believe in you, and I'm always here for you. Have a good day, friendo. <3

adults say that's just you beeing lazy

Sorry, but I don't think this really helps with understanding metal illnesses for people who don't have them. Those are thoughts that everybody has at some points in their lives, and what makes them an illness is when you have them all the time, for an extensive amount of time and for no real external reason. I have anxiety, and I get told all the time that I have nothing exactly because the symptoms, by themselves, don't really seem like anything out of the ordinary, it's just the intensity of them that makes it so hard. It's great to express yourself, but in that point I don't think it'll help.

I think everyone feels like this at times, mental illness or not. Our biggest critic can be our own inner voice.

I feel like some random, small comment out of many, but this has hit me deeper than most things. As someone who is just coming to terms with having clinically diagnosed Agoraphobia, GAD and PTSD that has caused me to be unable to leave my house and fail university twice over the past few years, I have felt so alienated from others for a long time. These pictures represent so much of what I have felt all alone, some so specific that it heals me just to see the same thought expressed by another person. Thank you so much for creating these illustrations...

Hello, We are looking for individuals who are willing to participate in a study on mental illness and work. The aim of the study is to better understand the experiences of people with a mental illness in the workplace, so that organisations can better adapt the workplace to their needs. Participation is voluntary and anonymous. If interested, please leave a message and we will contact you or send us a mail to sophiehennekam@yahoo.com Participations consists of a 30 minute interview whenever suits you best. Interviews can be conducted through skype or phone or (if distance allows) at any place most convenient for you. We are researchers working at the University of La Rochelle in France and the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. The results will be used exclusively for academic publications. Thank you in advance for your collaboration. Sophie Hennekam

Dear god I just read every thought I have lol

Please, think of it as an "affection" instead of disorder or illness. Mental affections are not what you are. You have to deal with them the rest of your life, like any chronic affection, and that is a burden, always. But, please, it is not YOU! You are affected by it, no more, no less. But is isn't you. As soon as you can give it a place somewhere in your life, and accept it for what it is, it won't overtake you anymore. It will always be your "undertow" (read Garp), but you are the one in control who decides whether it takes you out into the void or not.