Inktober is a relatively new month-long challenge for artists all over the world. It was created by Jake Parker, who came up with the idea to focus on improving skills and developing positive drawing habits. For 31 days of October, everyone who wants to participate creates an ink drawing and posts it online using the #inktober tag. Each year there's a new prompt list to be used for the pictures. Shawn Coss decided to ditch the guidelines and create within a sore theme, posting new mental illness ink depictions every day of the Inktober.
Shawn's mental illness art translates sicknesses of the mind in an eerily accurate way, and his ghoulish illustrations don't end with Inktober. The artist has worked for such clients as the horror king Stephen King himself, creates Cyanide & Happiness cartoons, and even has his own clothing line.
So if you're searching for support with your mental illness or are plainly into horror, check Shawn's art below. It surely gave us the chills!
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Borderline Personality Disorder
I always find it fascinating how others see me, compared to how I see myself. While I understand the interpretation, and it is mesmerizing. I find, for me, it feels, like a perpetual black hole inside that nothing can fill, and, forever trying to decipher the reality of what is going on around me, as compared to how I feel is going on around me. People see BPD as instigatory and drama seeking, while, the few I have had the opportunity to talk to, agree, that it's actually reactionary, in a desperate attempt to keep up with the constantly shifting emotions. Chasing what can't be caught, reacting to what has already passed. Amazingly, I do see myself as naked in front of everyone. Like my emotions leave me perpetually ashamed and exposed.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
I think it's beautiful and perfectly shows the sadness from not being heard or understood.
Paranoid Schizophrenia
My husband is schizophrenic and I must say mostof these images really show the torment of the disorders, but this one could be more so I think. It doesn't show how horrible and degrading schizophrenic delusions can be. It's like torture.. it's like having your entire being torn apart and eaten alive by demons that no one else can see. His voices torment him 24/7... Sometimes his hallucinations keep him from sleeping... Besides it always being like he's in a room full of people judging and putting him down, he also hears explosions and smashing noises that will keep him up all night. This disorder permeates every part of our lives. Of all the seriously mental health disorders I think this one is the most extreme and debilitating BY FAR. Now a days, 2 years into him being a full blown schizophrenic, caring for him is like taking care of an old person with dementia.. he doesn't cook for himself, he barely cleans.. and doesn't remember anthing we talk about.. lots of notes and alarms...
OCD
My OCD is also not to do with cleaning, but it brings the point across. Have to do it else you can't get comfy and it destroys you. Mine's to do with routine, I have routines with routines, and timings. It's pretty bad and pretty much ruins my life.
DPD
I didn't even know this was a thing. I've never been able to be alone I have to have someone close by. I looked at this picture a very long time. I have never seen something describe me so clearly.
Depersonalization Disorder
Absolute 100% accurate depiction. Depersonalization is what triggers my panic attacks, particularly nocturnal panic attacks. I'm 34 and have dealt with pretty severe mental illness since 18. Although managed on meds, it's impossible to ever be 100% again. Thank you for your incredible drawings. I appreciate these so much. ❤️
"Although managed on meds, it's impossible to ever be 100% again." Wow--that says it so perfectly, not just for this but for any mental illness or disorder. But the general public don't get that: they see it as "If you are sick, you go to a doctor, take some medication, and you are well." Mental and emotional problems are in an entirely different world or something.
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Use to suffer from this a lot as a young teen. It would just come over me like a fog. Nothing felt real, not even myself.
That is how I describe it too, like a fog. It's a very good way to explain it.
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I'm delightfully surprised that this was included, I clicked on this thinking there was no way it would be acknowledged since it's so under the radar. I'm 18 and I've had this for as long as I can remember. For the longest time I didn't think I had anything and then I thought I was schizophrenic but I've never reached out out of a fear of doctors that hasn't entirely gone away go I've never been officially diagnosed. I found the information online and had such a huge epiphany, that was only a month or two ago. Heh, anyway thank you! Thank you for acknowledging us! This is a lovely and accurate depiction.
A lot of people told me that too, including doctors, despite me insisting that wasn't it. Finally I found one who knew a lot about it to know it wasn't just tiredness!
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I have lengthy, and potent bouts with Depersonalization. This is a very haunting depiction of that horrible feeling. That you are several steps removed from yourself physically. That when it feels like you move, it takes a second for your body to actually move. And when you touch something, you can't tell it's there... or that it feels like your limbs are in different places... and that your emotions are in your arms or something. I experience depersonalization when my panic attacks (due to BPD) go on for too long. It's like my body is like "OK, we can't hyperventilate anymore. We can't tense up anymore. Your heart can't go any faster... time to shut down". I can see why depersonalization would be useful psychologically if you were being eaten alive by a sabre toothed cat. You definitely wouldn't want to feel that, or be engaged. But it doesn't work so well at work. Or when you're visiting friends. Much love for all who deal with depersonalization, derealization, anxiety, BPD... yeah.
I used to experience short episodes of depersonalisation as a child and teen. My heart goes out to anyone that suffers from this. It was the most terrifying feeling I had ever felt. As a child I used to think that I would never get back to my body. And nobody knew what I was feeling or worse, they thought I was pretending 😔
This feels inaccurate. For years, I would go about doing things without ever quite realizing that I was doing anything. It's not that I was watching myself from afar. It's that I didn't exist. I felt separated from myself because I had no concept of self. My strongest memory of those times is of any of the many details of the events surrounding my existence. Talking with one of my counselors, it was a lot like the allegory of the cave, except the wall is a mirror, the shadows are my surroundings, the cave is my disorder, and my shadow is missing from the wall. I didn't exist. And it wasn't even painful, because I had no idea. It wasn't until the shadows stopped being interesting that I even began to realize what they were, that something was strange, and that that strangeness was whatever misshapen stain on the wall which supposedly represented myself. My body. And I spent the greater part of two years staring at the ceiling, rarely eating, rarely moving, studying my shadow.
I hate that so many people relate to this. Having dealt with this for 10 years, I hate knowing that others do too. It's horrible, and no one should have to go through it. I will say this, if you're going through depersonalization, I promise you're not crazy or broken. It's ok. There's nothing wrong with you, it doesn't make you crazy, you won't get locked up, and you have nothing to be ashamed of. Talk to a therapist, I promise it can get better.
Oh my god! I have this! I never knew before what it was, but.. omg! I HATTTEE having this! It feels like.. idk... I'm never really HERE, and it's super annoying bc I feel like I'm missing out on fun. I'm also worried that I'll pass out/fall asleep/black out randomly.
Wow I didn't know what the disorder was called. I've always called them panic attacks but depersonalization is exactly what it is.
It's a symptom of severe anxiety. A horrible wretched symptom, but it's a symptom. Or rather, a biproduct. Mine isn't usually long lasting, but it's often the brain's escape mechanism from trauma or severe panic attacks. So, if you get it, there's deeper issues there. But I swear, it doesn't make you crazy.
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I have been noticing this thing happening to me over the past few years and have had a hard time explaining it to my friends family. Particularly I feel a strong distrust of the reality I'm experiencing. In my teen years I battled diagnosed depression, but looking back it might have been b****y teen syndrome. Life is still great, but I feel a sense of unease in my own skin. I feel like my consciousness and body are in two different places. I feel outside of myself, not like I'm looking at myself from a different physical perspective, but this illustration speaks a thousand words as to what I've been experiencing over the past 5 years. The closest word I came too was dissociation, but that seemed too harsh of a description. The symptoms I feel are mild and don't effect my daily life, but have increasingly clouds my thoughts. This feeling of not being me.
I’ve been dealing with this for only a few years ( since I was 10, I’m now 13), but the first years were the worst. I’m happy to say I’m doing much better now, but this really means a lot to me. It can be really frightening.
I’ve been dealing with this for quite sometime now, so this really means a lot to me. It can be really frightening.
I don't really know much about this but there were times when I thought to myself that I was just simply sitting on a couch and watching myself go through all of it like I was just watching a show without even blinking. And these days I feel like someone does things for me like I lose myself or I just automatically switch with another person who takes care of what I am not able to do, all I could do was just watch myself move until that moment ends. Then I was myself again.
I have Depersonalization Disorder my whole life. As child I wasn't able to explain what's wrong with me, until DD triggered my first panic attack when I was 7 years old. I struggled with anxiety and DD without any help for 10+ years, because people in my country are not open minded, not even doctors. And that ruined my life. 4 years ago I finally found a good doctor who gave me proper therapy, medications and guidence, but no one can ever bring back what I've lost - during long period without any help I struggled so much that my diagnose today is - DD, generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks, clinical depression, fear of losing control, obsessive thoughts (it's part of OCD), and, finally, self-harm. I hope people from everywhere are reading this because there are so many, SO many beautiful human beings treated wrong, suffering, feeling helpless, useless, damaged, lonely. You are not all of this things. You can be whatever you want to be, you can do anything. Keep fighting. ❤
Absolutely correct. I’ve been suffering with this for awhile and it gives me really bad panic attacks. Thank you so much for your drawing, it’s nice to know that I’m not alone in this, and now when I explain this to my family I can show them this artwork so they can get the image around what depersonalization is. Thank you x
Is this what could be considered a "window" effect? But you know you're just there and your doing things but everything is easier to do because you are entirely numb to yourself and your environment entirely.
didnt know what was happening to me until i stumbled onto this drawing. you are amazing, keep up the good work, thank you
I stared at this picture for quite a while. I have not ever been diagnosed with this, and thankfully at this point in my life it doesn't happen often. For me, I would look at my surroundings- a place I knew very well, and all of a sudden it just didn't look right anymore. Nothing actually changed, but it was like seeing it more defined. Like the depth of everything was off. It looked the same but it felt foreign because it was like my depth perception of my surrounds was distorted. It used to send me into a panic attack every time it happened.
This is so accurate and not many people know about it so thank yo for including it. I suffer from it a lot and I feel like sometimes I must be goinf crazy.
This is way too true. Many people dont know about it, so thank you for putting it in there. I suffer from it a lot and I feels like I'm going crazy. Does anyone have any advice?
I experience this in the early stages of a seizure. It is terrifying! My good vibrations goes out to anyone dealing with this on a regular basis.
Thank you for including us <3 I don't think I've ever actually seen it mentioned in any kind of mental health awareness articles/posts.
Nails it. I feel like I'm watching myself do things and somehow my mind is detached from my body. Everything feel foreign, like even my home is a place I'm not familiar with. I don't have episodes like this often but when I do it's horrible.
Drives me out of my mine, that mind and body feel like two separate entities at times.
Whoa.... This picture looked way too familiar...... I had to look it up and a butt load of things make so much sense now........ Wow. Thank you.
I dissociate often and this portrays exactly what it feels like to live with it.
I dealt with this for a long time in high school and had no words to describe my thoughts and feelings because I couldn't understand my thoughts and feelings...though they were mine. I didn't realize this was a thing but I wish I had while I was going through it. It was so scary and even worse not being able to ask for help because I didn't know how to explain it. And if I did find the words admitting to having "out of body experiences" made me sound like I was being "dramatic" or "misusing the word." This picture is pretty accurate. There's just so much more to go along with trying to get help for this because no one understands. I hope this disorder gets more attention one day so that in the case of anyone struggling can get the help and explanation they need. Going through it alone was bad enough. I still have severe anxiety and depression but this was one scary time of my life. I constantly have to stop myself from starting to think about it in fear I go through it again. Thank you
I like to describe it as being in a fog or a dream-state. Sometimes it feels so much like a dream that I can't tell if I'm awake or not. Had it a lot more as a teen; discovered pain helped snap me out though, leading to people assuming untrue things when they saw marks on me, and no one seemed to be able to understand the true reason I did that until I found one psychiatrist that actually knew a lot about it; apparently not a lot are very familiar with depersonaliztion beyond a basic definition. =/
I have this, and while I don't view it as horrible or bad, it's a great depiction.
I have this sometimes, it ties in with my hypothyroidism. Well depicted
I have this too, I never realised it was thyroid related. I have hashis
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Yes... you got it right there. It's hard to describe, but this picture is spot on. Even though I luckily don't suffer from it
then how would you know that it's spot on...?
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Dissociative Identity Disorder
This is an amazing illustration for the insidious disease that I have. Your work just surpasses words...keep up the good work
Capgras Syndrome
Hadn't heard of this one either! Very interesting. "Capgras Syndrome, also known as Capgras Delusion, is the irrational belief that a familiar person or place has been replaced with an exact duplicate — an imposter (Ellis, 2001, Hirstein, and Ramachandran, 1997)."
Schizophrenia
This one reminds me of Carpenter's "In the mouth of madness". Good job!
Brilliant art work & building great awarness for this hidden yet crippling mental disorders <3
Yep, social anxiety and agoraphobia are linked to it, but still misses general anxiety disorder with panic attacks, by which I mean we're not necessarily having it in social situations.
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I'm a student in psychology, and your drawing really fit with all the description that we can see in class. That's an amazing work !
I'm always curious why society has selected a hand full of mental illnesses that should be taken seriously and the small handful of ones that people can "just get over" things that are though to only effect a small group of people like children so when an adult has it they need to just grow up. ADD doesn't go away when you graduate and it isn't just a learning disability. It's there when you try to drive, when you spend five minutes trying to get that word back that you had in your head and you couldn't spit out. When you can't remember a simple task you've been given seconds ago or when you just can't stay on task even if it's a task you want to do and you love to do, sometimes your brain holds the leash and you can't pull it free. It's a deafening silence in your head begging for your attention. It'd be nice if people would stop calling it just a learning disability, it sucks all the time not just in school.
I didn't know I had it until I tried to hold down a job in my field and couldn't manage multiple tasks with differing priority levels and a very rapid paced and stressful worm environment. I always just assumed I had a horrible attention span and ability to focus and stay on task while in college.
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How would you portray ADD? I'm forever told that "oh I know just how you feel" and "I'm just the same" or "you don't run round lots?" And it's infuriating as they don't see that it's not just one little thing but lots,constantly and endless energy in your head or the need to disconnect and having to scratch and bite yourself to stay engaged and stimulated or the way it destroys friendships. Never being able to achieve a dream or idea as its too big or quickly too dull. Held in place by your own enthusiasm and ideas.
These are all very spot on, but on anorexia, I know a lot of people, including myself, it felt like a voice in the back of your head, so a figure behind them like whispering in their ear would have completed it
These are insanely dope!!! How can I get in contact with the artist?!
He's on Facebook, his page is Shawn Cross - Artist
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I find these pieces valid and beautiful. I am curious as to the process of creating of this art.
Well done I really enjoyed passing by really would like to see what you could do with dyslexia
I have social anxiety really bad, and have had it pretty much all my life, and I've never seen anything so accurate! I'm kind of glad that it was social anxiety rather than general anxiety, because I never see anything with social anxiety, it's good because I have SAD rather than GAD
everytime I see post that I don't understand but somehow get so many viewer or upvotes I always assume it must contain some secret language or so. :|
This has been enlightening. The pictures reminds me of that game "Limbo".
As an autistic person the autism one is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen idk why
Incredible, powerful, accurate, Thank you! The ones speak to me most are PTSD, Bipolar, Autism, Depression, Anxiety, Cotards Delusion, DID. Always protect your Brain kids! Have you ever thought of creating one for PNES(Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures) II believe it may qualify, and would be interested to see how you see it. https://www.epilepsy.com/article/2014/3/truth-about-psychogenic-nonepileptic-seizures
Good thing I don't suffer from any of these. Or...DO I? No...What am I thinking?
I don't understand the BPD picture, I suffer from BPD, but for some reason I don't understand what is happening and why it's happening...in the picture I mean
I have PTSD, and immediately cried upon seeing your illustration on it. It's painfully accurate and I appreciate the artwork as well as bringing awareness to people who may not understand.
Don't understand all the crosses for Schizophrenia. Don't know how they are tied to the disorder, please someone try to elaborate and explain to me why they might be there
Why oh why are all these illnesses portrayed in this way !! we have an illness like malaria or chickenpox. Illustrating this with pen and ink gives a total missinterpratation of what is simply an illness like any other.
Absolutely amazing pictures. I would love to order one of the pictures. Is there any way you can do it? / Emma
I wish you would do one about OCPD, ADHD or Alexithymia. I suffer from these three. :(
These are amazing but the ocd picture only showed one type of ocd and it's the only one most people think of but it's not necessarily most common. It's a misconception that's it's purely a cleanliness or neatness obsession. It is so much more than that. It doesn't help awareness of that illness.
I do think the artwork is really good but OCD isn't just about cleaning as I have OCD and I'm not obsessed with cleaning and I don't think clean clean clean all the time. Jennifer xx
Absolutely fantastic. Actually gave me goose bumps because of how accurate some of these feel for me.
This is amazing! Maybe you could do one for Body dysmorphic disorder, I guess you get requests all the time xx
I found these images a bit triggering. I spend a lot of energy trying to remind myself that mental illness is not mysterious or sinister or having a destructive motive of its own, and that there is no "dark force" at work. I appreciate that these pictures do represent lived experience for some, for me too. But personally I find that personifying the illness makes it scarier than it already is. Certainly it's an interesting post though, and it's encouraging to see from the comments that a lot of people take solace in these pictures.
Great thing to look at if you wanna learn about this kinda stuff but have a artist soul
I wish the artist or someone else could comment on the "#5 bipolar disorder" drawing's symbols...
I would like to see ADHD. Constantly being bombarded with everything around you and not being able to filter things out.
So does this mean you stopped after the 18? Wish I could see some more...
Would have been interested in the artists take on Post Partum Depression, or worse, Post Partum Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The darkness in every one of these really disturbs me - I think they portray people living with mental illness as goulish, halloween characters full of darkness, dangerous and to be feared and despised and dis-intergrated. I see from the comments people living with the various disorders are either really committing to them being an accurate depiction for them or saying 'it's nothing like that" - I am not adverse to the dark AND I think the Ink IS powerful - but it does not describe my lived experience... of two of these diagnoses. It is well known tha mania is a state of hyper connectivity to ideas, thoughts nature, ideas, words, schemas, patterns AND most people in manic highs pretty well wants to involve other people to come on board the fast train. I find these images repellant and want to claim some ground back from them. There is ALWAYS a third face - and space in our times that is something more than the duality, the pain, the harm and hurt. We are people - not monsters.
I do not know what to say because I always wanted to draw these worlds feelings but I did not know how to make them. This artist is siper because with her designs tells a lot of things and feelings. . . I like how to draw because it is similar to how I will like to learn to draw.-/ Non so cosa dire, perché ho sempre voluto disegnare questi mondi sentimenti, ma non sapevo come farli. Questo artista è super perché con i suoi disegni racconta un sacco di cose e dei sentimenti. . . Mi piace come disegnare perché è simile a come mi piacerebbe imparare a disegnare.
I think it's good artwork in and of itself but terrible for getting your point across on your idea of mental illness and the people who have it. If an artist needs people with the disorders to be the majority of people who think their art is a 100% accurate depiction of it, then they're not a very good artist.
Amazingly accurate and impelling art. Having people in my life who have some of these disorders, and having worked in mental health, I'm in awe of someone taking on the task. We need this. Art explains more than words can say.
I wonder if he could put these in a coffee table book with the definitions of the diseases and his motivation. I think that these are amazingly accurate. I would definitely buy that book.
it is amazing art,great. Like every one has problems, but life is so much different with a disorder.
hey im doing a report on anxiety and the multiple disorders that go along in it, is it okay if I were to use some of these, as long as I cite them?
Does anyone know if the artist is selling copies of these? I'm diagnosed with five of those, and honestly as disturbing as some people think they are I find them hauntingly beautiful and so very fitting of how my I feel most days. Especially the PTSD and Social Anxiety.
I have Generalized anxiety disorder, I want to see that drawing :-)
Hello, I really liked your artwork. However, I am having trouble understanding the one with autism. Could you please help me understandt it???
A lot of people with autism (myself included) feel like their brain has so much to say, so many thoughts to express, but their mouth can't put it out. Often my mind keeps jabbing at me wanting me to express what I mean, but my words will come out wrong and I won't be able to verbalize what I'm thinking, because in reality my thoughts are so many at once, and rarely 'coherent' enough to put straight into words.
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You should do one with ADHD. I was diagnosed after my teachers said they couldn't "control" me. I refuse to take meds because I manage it very well on my own. But I've noticed many children have been diagnosed with this and the meds they take turn them into zombies. I am curious what your interpretation of this is. You pretty much nailed everything else!
Should do one on ADHD. I was diagnosed with it, but refuse to take meds for it. I manage it very well on my own. I like to think I just have a hyperactive brain. But i see many children getting diagnosed with this and the meds they take turn them into zombies.. I would love to see your interpretation of this, you pretty much nailed everything else.
What about ADD!? These are amazing and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the exact feeling to be sprawled out in a sketch
Stunning work. I didn't even know some of these disorders existed. I enjoyed looking at them...even though they saddened me only for the simple fact that so many of us are affected by these diseases and actually feel this type of pain that you have beautifully illustrated. Thank you for showing us your work. God bless you
Loved your art work! You should do some more like epilepsy, cancer and ect.
Brilliant work, bringing these illnesses out of the shadows of their stigmas and shedding light and hope to all who suffer through them , thinking they are alone.
I will have to come back again. My granddaughter had drawings here. I am A VERY PROUD GRANDMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your brave and accurate portrayals of mental illness. There are so many stereotypes that go with it and this was beautifully illustrated. If you do a generalized anxiety I hope to purchase it. Thank you!
Please could you draw General anxiety disorder or the nightmare of coming off SSRI's xxx
Please can you draw general anxiety disorder or the nightmare of coming off SSRI's xxx
If I could draw, I'd draw my depression crying, in the fetal position and chained to my house, surrounded by food containers. But I can't draw.
For me this is what stigma looks like. When people see this it's no wonder they are scared of the mentally ill, insecure around them or want them to be locked away. They may say "it's not you it's the illness the real you that which is like we want it to be" but obviously you cannot be separated from the "thing". I don't think of myself as a monster or possesed by one. I see myself as someone who feels and expriences things everyone feels or experieces but more intensely in certain situations. But like everyone else I do not feel the same all the time nor does anne experince the same states of mind all the time.
I find these grotesque. It would seem people think mental illness must always be a horrible and traumatising experience. The worst part is the opinions and unacceptance by people who have no experience but plenty of judgement. Autism isn't even a mental health issue, so including that shows some ignorance and bias.
Hey. Person on the autism spectrum here. To me, this is incredibly accurate. This isn't saying that mental health is always a traumatising and horrible thing, but it's illustrating how they certainly can be. You won't meet a depressed person saying their illness is beautiful and nice. You won't meet a person with Borderline Personality Disorder saying it has never felt horrible. And I don't wish to vouch for anyone on the autism spectrum, but autism is alienating. To me, it's feeling like your mind has a lot to say but your mouth won't co-operate. It's hearing people day in and day out telling you you might be misunderstanding. Because your brain doesn't work the way others do. Autism isn't an illness, but don't you dare tell me no one has ever felt pained or scared from any of these illnesses. They're grotesque because having an illness or disorder that isolates you feels terrible, at times. I can rise above my illnesses. That does not mean I haven't felt them push me down.
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Absolutely brilliant. Would have loved to have seen a piece for addiction....
Fantastic way to express these conditions. Thank you for opening the door, the heart, and the mind to create a sense of compassion, empathy, and understanding. I have spent my life working with children with emotional handicaps and it is such a hard road. The real monsters are the administrators who think teachers can cure everything with consistent punishment and overly testing them on academics.
Please don't forget to add ADD or ADHD, because that is a HUGE disorder that is often accompanied with other ones featured above, and affects millions of people.
Dear Artist, you must have gone through some really thick stuff to be able to purge on paper in this way. You are really strong. Kudos. Thank you.
Brilliant art work. But I mist the one for migraine I'm very curious about his one.
The illustrations are much too laden with assumptions that are fatalistic, depicting life with mental illness as inherently grim.
What a dark beautiful pictorial description. As for anxiety though, there are more than social anxiety... maybe something eating or pulling your heart down. But amazing art all in all!
These are haunting, yet frighteningly accurate images of these horrific illnesses. It's about time that mental illness is getting the attention it's needed for so long, unfortunately too late for some. My daughter struggles with a few of these and holds resentment towards me for having her on medication as a child. She believes it set her brain and body up for the need to have them forever. I don't think one medication is enough for bipolar, usually, but she swears she will only be on one medication or she will be able to handle zero medications. This makes me sad... I wish I could organize balance the seratonin and reasoning in her beautiful brain. Thank you for these. It lets me know we are not alone.
Are any of these available as a print, by any chance? I feel like I need the Autism Spectrum on my wall :(
This is amazing. WIll there be more? Like one for every day of october? Please.
Absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for these. I was actually a little bummed when I came to the end. I truly hope you challenge yourself farther and take on the oh so many more illnesses out there! Excited to see more of your work! You give us a voice through your art. Thank you.
These are all truly beautiful in a dark, macabre way. I would love to see your illustrations of 'Histrionic personality disorder'. I have had this disorder since my mid teens and seeing it from an outsiders art would be incredible.
Wish they had done panic Foster or anxiety as well, s**t even perpetual migraines.
These are brilliant, Shawn! Perhaps when you have time, if I may ask you to do an illustration of DID or Dissociative identity disorder? Would love to see it and someone I care deeply for has it and she would love your style. Thank you in advance <3
These images really hit me where I wasn't expecting. Thank you so much for creating these, they're absolutely beautiful. I'm not sure how you managed to do it, but you were able to create something that so deeply describes what many people that live their whole lives trying to explain. Thank you.
Shawn, I work in Mental Health and just want to say that your artwork is fantastic. The depictions tell a lot. Really good work.
I didn't see anxiety/panic attacks... like the anxiety I have is not just social.. anything can trigger it .. I feel like I'm scared of every thing and I think of the worst things possible and I can't control it and I start to panic/shake ... 😔
Stunning. Absuolutely fabulous artwork, with a huge impact. I'm really impressed with those.
Even when it would have been easy, ADHD gets zero respect. Easily way more known than half of these.
wow...when you read Bored Panda's comments on such post, it's like 90% of the planet (or at least of Bored Panda members) have mental illness! :s Maybe (just maybe), it's just disparity from the "norm" (that doesn't really exist) and not illness...and you have to live with been different from others
Impresionantes tus dibujos. Deberías hacer un calendario, yo como estudiante de psicología que soy, lo compraría !!! Sigue así ♥
Can't wait to see the others you do. 13 more to go. Looking forward to seeing ADHD..
If I have one overall critique it's that maybe I would remove the "headings", or, even better incorporate them into the world more, give them a bit more expression. I would probably get rid of the #inktober thing entirely, and just put that in an introduction to the collection, but I suppose the purpose of the repeated labeling is in case people shared just one of the pictures rather than all of them.
No shout out to epilepsy? There are 1 in 26 of us diagnosed (and suffering) in their lifetime. Where's everyone hiding?
Maybe because epilepsy is not a mental illness and these drawings are for mental illnesses specifically.
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I saw the one for PTSD and couldn't stop the tears. That is the most accurate representation of what I'm dealing with.
I can't understand the last one. Why there is a lot of holy cross?
I think these could help non sufferers to understand more what life is like to sufferers. I think this artist did a great job at expressing!
I could look at a book like that all day a little more work and that could be published
This artist amazes me, I wouldn't mind letting them ink my bedroom wall with mine (severe depression).
All catched in mind palace in zoo. Section: Introspektrals. What keeps them locked? It is your unfree will.
Wow, thank you so much for sharing these. They are so interesting and engaging. I have worked in mental health. If a person identifies with such an image it could prove truly invaluable for explaining their experience to others.
Those are so great;an eerie insight to how it feels to have social anxiety.
I think the comments on every piece are a testament to how well this artist manages to capture the sometimes overwhelming struggle of living with these illnesses- it's a powerful tribute.
Wow really touching. All my love to people suffering from any kind of mental dissorder.
Can I make a request?? A disorder I have, and is very rare, is called Munchausen's (Not the by proxy one though). I would really appreciate if you could illustrate it :3 Because it's so rare, I often go around feeling so lonely and hurt that no one else ever seems to possibly know my pain, or even want to get to know it...
Wow, all thumbs up. The drawings are amazing, and so spot on. So grateful to be (almost) healthy.
I have ptsd and a couple of others... I thought they were part of the ptsd its self?
there are many subtypes for each disorder (sometimes symptoms of a disorder are individual disorders themselves ) and i've noticed specific subtypes here have their own illustrations, like paranoid schizphrenia, depersonalization ( type of dissociation disorder), social anxiety and etc
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I need one for me too, anxiety and panic disorder, one that would work would be a choking or smothering sensation, you fell like your having a heart attack.
Screw mental illnesses! Mental illnesses are many times never detected and are people are called crazy for no reason, we should stand against such such individuals and spread awareness of mental illnesses
Those images are so beautiful, I can totally relate. Please draw one for eating disorder!
Autism is not a mental illness so I don't know why its even on here. Autism is part of me and that image is really offensive to me.
I also have Autism. It isn't an illness. It's a disorder.
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I have autism. And you have a low intelligence! :)
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I feel your comment is inappropriate. Mental illness is as real as any physical illness.
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those are the names of the actual disorders though...
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What are you talking about? Nowhere does it say that the artist has experienced all / any of these!! Myself being a sufferer of depression and anxiety find these fantastic and a great insight into what people go through (for those who can't relate). Plus, I learnt a lot about other illnesses. Don't be so narrow minded.
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Brilliant art work & building great awarness for this hidden yet crippling mental disorders <3
Yep, social anxiety and agoraphobia are linked to it, but still misses general anxiety disorder with panic attacks, by which I mean we're not necessarily having it in social situations.
Load More Replies... I'm a student in psychology, and your drawing really fit with all the description that we can see in class. That's an amazing work !
I'm always curious why society has selected a hand full of mental illnesses that should be taken seriously and the small handful of ones that people can "just get over" things that are though to only effect a small group of people like children so when an adult has it they need to just grow up. ADD doesn't go away when you graduate and it isn't just a learning disability. It's there when you try to drive, when you spend five minutes trying to get that word back that you had in your head and you couldn't spit out. When you can't remember a simple task you've been given seconds ago or when you just can't stay on task even if it's a task you want to do and you love to do, sometimes your brain holds the leash and you can't pull it free. It's a deafening silence in your head begging for your attention. It'd be nice if people would stop calling it just a learning disability, it sucks all the time not just in school.
I didn't know I had it until I tried to hold down a job in my field and couldn't manage multiple tasks with differing priority levels and a very rapid paced and stressful worm environment. I always just assumed I had a horrible attention span and ability to focus and stay on task while in college.
Load More Replies... How would you portray ADD? I'm forever told that "oh I know just how you feel" and "I'm just the same" or "you don't run round lots?" And it's infuriating as they don't see that it's not just one little thing but lots,constantly and endless energy in your head or the need to disconnect and having to scratch and bite yourself to stay engaged and stimulated or the way it destroys friendships. Never being able to achieve a dream or idea as its too big or quickly too dull. Held in place by your own enthusiasm and ideas.
These are all very spot on, but on anorexia, I know a lot of people, including myself, it felt like a voice in the back of your head, so a figure behind them like whispering in their ear would have completed it
These are insanely dope!!! How can I get in contact with the artist?!
He's on Facebook, his page is Shawn Cross - Artist
Load More Replies... I find these pieces valid and beautiful. I am curious as to the process of creating of this art.
Well done I really enjoyed passing by really would like to see what you could do with dyslexia
I have social anxiety really bad, and have had it pretty much all my life, and I've never seen anything so accurate! I'm kind of glad that it was social anxiety rather than general anxiety, because I never see anything with social anxiety, it's good because I have SAD rather than GAD
everytime I see post that I don't understand but somehow get so many viewer or upvotes I always assume it must contain some secret language or so. :|
This has been enlightening. The pictures reminds me of that game "Limbo".
As an autistic person the autism one is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen idk why
Incredible, powerful, accurate, Thank you! The ones speak to me most are PTSD, Bipolar, Autism, Depression, Anxiety, Cotards Delusion, DID. Always protect your Brain kids! Have you ever thought of creating one for PNES(Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures) II believe it may qualify, and would be interested to see how you see it. https://www.epilepsy.com/article/2014/3/truth-about-psychogenic-nonepileptic-seizures
Good thing I don't suffer from any of these. Or...DO I? No...What am I thinking?
I don't understand the BPD picture, I suffer from BPD, but for some reason I don't understand what is happening and why it's happening...in the picture I mean
I have PTSD, and immediately cried upon seeing your illustration on it. It's painfully accurate and I appreciate the artwork as well as bringing awareness to people who may not understand.
Don't understand all the crosses for Schizophrenia. Don't know how they are tied to the disorder, please someone try to elaborate and explain to me why they might be there
Why oh why are all these illnesses portrayed in this way !! we have an illness like malaria or chickenpox. Illustrating this with pen and ink gives a total missinterpratation of what is simply an illness like any other.
Absolutely amazing pictures. I would love to order one of the pictures. Is there any way you can do it? / Emma
I wish you would do one about OCPD, ADHD or Alexithymia. I suffer from these three. :(
These are amazing but the ocd picture only showed one type of ocd and it's the only one most people think of but it's not necessarily most common. It's a misconception that's it's purely a cleanliness or neatness obsession. It is so much more than that. It doesn't help awareness of that illness.
I do think the artwork is really good but OCD isn't just about cleaning as I have OCD and I'm not obsessed with cleaning and I don't think clean clean clean all the time. Jennifer xx
Absolutely fantastic. Actually gave me goose bumps because of how accurate some of these feel for me.
This is amazing! Maybe you could do one for Body dysmorphic disorder, I guess you get requests all the time xx
I found these images a bit triggering. I spend a lot of energy trying to remind myself that mental illness is not mysterious or sinister or having a destructive motive of its own, and that there is no "dark force" at work. I appreciate that these pictures do represent lived experience for some, for me too. But personally I find that personifying the illness makes it scarier than it already is. Certainly it's an interesting post though, and it's encouraging to see from the comments that a lot of people take solace in these pictures.
Great thing to look at if you wanna learn about this kinda stuff but have a artist soul
I wish the artist or someone else could comment on the "#5 bipolar disorder" drawing's symbols...
I would like to see ADHD. Constantly being bombarded with everything around you and not being able to filter things out.
So does this mean you stopped after the 18? Wish I could see some more...
Would have been interested in the artists take on Post Partum Depression, or worse, Post Partum Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The darkness in every one of these really disturbs me - I think they portray people living with mental illness as goulish, halloween characters full of darkness, dangerous and to be feared and despised and dis-intergrated. I see from the comments people living with the various disorders are either really committing to them being an accurate depiction for them or saying 'it's nothing like that" - I am not adverse to the dark AND I think the Ink IS powerful - but it does not describe my lived experience... of two of these diagnoses. It is well known tha mania is a state of hyper connectivity to ideas, thoughts nature, ideas, words, schemas, patterns AND most people in manic highs pretty well wants to involve other people to come on board the fast train. I find these images repellant and want to claim some ground back from them. There is ALWAYS a third face - and space in our times that is something more than the duality, the pain, the harm and hurt. We are people - not monsters.
I do not know what to say because I always wanted to draw these worlds feelings but I did not know how to make them. This artist is siper because with her designs tells a lot of things and feelings. . . I like how to draw because it is similar to how I will like to learn to draw.-/ Non so cosa dire, perché ho sempre voluto disegnare questi mondi sentimenti, ma non sapevo come farli. Questo artista è super perché con i suoi disegni racconta un sacco di cose e dei sentimenti. . . Mi piace come disegnare perché è simile a come mi piacerebbe imparare a disegnare.
I think it's good artwork in and of itself but terrible for getting your point across on your idea of mental illness and the people who have it. If an artist needs people with the disorders to be the majority of people who think their art is a 100% accurate depiction of it, then they're not a very good artist.
Amazingly accurate and impelling art. Having people in my life who have some of these disorders, and having worked in mental health, I'm in awe of someone taking on the task. We need this. Art explains more than words can say.
I wonder if he could put these in a coffee table book with the definitions of the diseases and his motivation. I think that these are amazingly accurate. I would definitely buy that book.
it is amazing art,great. Like every one has problems, but life is so much different with a disorder.
hey im doing a report on anxiety and the multiple disorders that go along in it, is it okay if I were to use some of these, as long as I cite them?
Does anyone know if the artist is selling copies of these? I'm diagnosed with five of those, and honestly as disturbing as some people think they are I find them hauntingly beautiful and so very fitting of how my I feel most days. Especially the PTSD and Social Anxiety.
I have Generalized anxiety disorder, I want to see that drawing :-)
Hello, I really liked your artwork. However, I am having trouble understanding the one with autism. Could you please help me understandt it???
A lot of people with autism (myself included) feel like their brain has so much to say, so many thoughts to express, but their mouth can't put it out. Often my mind keeps jabbing at me wanting me to express what I mean, but my words will come out wrong and I won't be able to verbalize what I'm thinking, because in reality my thoughts are so many at once, and rarely 'coherent' enough to put straight into words.
Load More Replies... You should do one with ADHD. I was diagnosed after my teachers said they couldn't "control" me. I refuse to take meds because I manage it very well on my own. But I've noticed many children have been diagnosed with this and the meds they take turn them into zombies. I am curious what your interpretation of this is. You pretty much nailed everything else!
Should do one on ADHD. I was diagnosed with it, but refuse to take meds for it. I manage it very well on my own. I like to think I just have a hyperactive brain. But i see many children getting diagnosed with this and the meds they take turn them into zombies.. I would love to see your interpretation of this, you pretty much nailed everything else.
What about ADD!? These are amazing and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the exact feeling to be sprawled out in a sketch
Stunning work. I didn't even know some of these disorders existed. I enjoyed looking at them...even though they saddened me only for the simple fact that so many of us are affected by these diseases and actually feel this type of pain that you have beautifully illustrated. Thank you for showing us your work. God bless you
Loved your art work! You should do some more like epilepsy, cancer and ect.
Brilliant work, bringing these illnesses out of the shadows of their stigmas and shedding light and hope to all who suffer through them , thinking they are alone.
I will have to come back again. My granddaughter had drawings here. I am A VERY PROUD GRANDMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your brave and accurate portrayals of mental illness. There are so many stereotypes that go with it and this was beautifully illustrated. If you do a generalized anxiety I hope to purchase it. Thank you!
Please could you draw General anxiety disorder or the nightmare of coming off SSRI's xxx
Please can you draw general anxiety disorder or the nightmare of coming off SSRI's xxx
If I could draw, I'd draw my depression crying, in the fetal position and chained to my house, surrounded by food containers. But I can't draw.
For me this is what stigma looks like. When people see this it's no wonder they are scared of the mentally ill, insecure around them or want them to be locked away. They may say "it's not you it's the illness the real you that which is like we want it to be" but obviously you cannot be separated from the "thing". I don't think of myself as a monster or possesed by one. I see myself as someone who feels and expriences things everyone feels or experieces but more intensely in certain situations. But like everyone else I do not feel the same all the time nor does anne experince the same states of mind all the time.
I find these grotesque. It would seem people think mental illness must always be a horrible and traumatising experience. The worst part is the opinions and unacceptance by people who have no experience but plenty of judgement. Autism isn't even a mental health issue, so including that shows some ignorance and bias.
Hey. Person on the autism spectrum here. To me, this is incredibly accurate. This isn't saying that mental health is always a traumatising and horrible thing, but it's illustrating how they certainly can be. You won't meet a depressed person saying their illness is beautiful and nice. You won't meet a person with Borderline Personality Disorder saying it has never felt horrible. And I don't wish to vouch for anyone on the autism spectrum, but autism is alienating. To me, it's feeling like your mind has a lot to say but your mouth won't co-operate. It's hearing people day in and day out telling you you might be misunderstanding. Because your brain doesn't work the way others do. Autism isn't an illness, but don't you dare tell me no one has ever felt pained or scared from any of these illnesses. They're grotesque because having an illness or disorder that isolates you feels terrible, at times. I can rise above my illnesses. That does not mean I haven't felt them push me down.
Load More Replies... Absolutely brilliant. Would have loved to have seen a piece for addiction....
Fantastic way to express these conditions. Thank you for opening the door, the heart, and the mind to create a sense of compassion, empathy, and understanding. I have spent my life working with children with emotional handicaps and it is such a hard road. The real monsters are the administrators who think teachers can cure everything with consistent punishment and overly testing them on academics.
Please don't forget to add ADD or ADHD, because that is a HUGE disorder that is often accompanied with other ones featured above, and affects millions of people.
Dear Artist, you must have gone through some really thick stuff to be able to purge on paper in this way. You are really strong. Kudos. Thank you.
Brilliant art work. But I mist the one for migraine I'm very curious about his one.
The illustrations are much too laden with assumptions that are fatalistic, depicting life with mental illness as inherently grim.
What a dark beautiful pictorial description. As for anxiety though, there are more than social anxiety... maybe something eating or pulling your heart down. But amazing art all in all!
These are haunting, yet frighteningly accurate images of these horrific illnesses. It's about time that mental illness is getting the attention it's needed for so long, unfortunately too late for some. My daughter struggles with a few of these and holds resentment towards me for having her on medication as a child. She believes it set her brain and body up for the need to have them forever. I don't think one medication is enough for bipolar, usually, but she swears she will only be on one medication or she will be able to handle zero medications. This makes me sad... I wish I could organize balance the seratonin and reasoning in her beautiful brain. Thank you for these. It lets me know we are not alone.
Are any of these available as a print, by any chance? I feel like I need the Autism Spectrum on my wall :(
This is amazing. WIll there be more? Like one for every day of october? Please.
Absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for these. I was actually a little bummed when I came to the end. I truly hope you challenge yourself farther and take on the oh so many more illnesses out there! Excited to see more of your work! You give us a voice through your art. Thank you.
These are all truly beautiful in a dark, macabre way. I would love to see your illustrations of 'Histrionic personality disorder'. I have had this disorder since my mid teens and seeing it from an outsiders art would be incredible.
Wish they had done panic Foster or anxiety as well, s**t even perpetual migraines.
These are brilliant, Shawn! Perhaps when you have time, if I may ask you to do an illustration of DID or Dissociative identity disorder? Would love to see it and someone I care deeply for has it and she would love your style. Thank you in advance <3
These images really hit me where I wasn't expecting. Thank you so much for creating these, they're absolutely beautiful. I'm not sure how you managed to do it, but you were able to create something that so deeply describes what many people that live their whole lives trying to explain. Thank you.
Shawn, I work in Mental Health and just want to say that your artwork is fantastic. The depictions tell a lot. Really good work.
I didn't see anxiety/panic attacks... like the anxiety I have is not just social.. anything can trigger it .. I feel like I'm scared of every thing and I think of the worst things possible and I can't control it and I start to panic/shake ... 😔
Stunning. Absuolutely fabulous artwork, with a huge impact. I'm really impressed with those.
Even when it would have been easy, ADHD gets zero respect. Easily way more known than half of these.
wow...when you read Bored Panda's comments on such post, it's like 90% of the planet (or at least of Bored Panda members) have mental illness! :s Maybe (just maybe), it's just disparity from the "norm" (that doesn't really exist) and not illness...and you have to live with been different from others
Impresionantes tus dibujos. Deberías hacer un calendario, yo como estudiante de psicología que soy, lo compraría !!! Sigue así ♥
Can't wait to see the others you do. 13 more to go. Looking forward to seeing ADHD..
If I have one overall critique it's that maybe I would remove the "headings", or, even better incorporate them into the world more, give them a bit more expression. I would probably get rid of the #inktober thing entirely, and just put that in an introduction to the collection, but I suppose the purpose of the repeated labeling is in case people shared just one of the pictures rather than all of them.
No shout out to epilepsy? There are 1 in 26 of us diagnosed (and suffering) in their lifetime. Where's everyone hiding?
Maybe because epilepsy is not a mental illness and these drawings are for mental illnesses specifically.
Load More Replies... I saw the one for PTSD and couldn't stop the tears. That is the most accurate representation of what I'm dealing with.
I can't understand the last one. Why there is a lot of holy cross?
I think these could help non sufferers to understand more what life is like to sufferers. I think this artist did a great job at expressing!
I could look at a book like that all day a little more work and that could be published
This artist amazes me, I wouldn't mind letting them ink my bedroom wall with mine (severe depression).
All catched in mind palace in zoo. Section: Introspektrals. What keeps them locked? It is your unfree will.
Wow, thank you so much for sharing these. They are so interesting and engaging. I have worked in mental health. If a person identifies with such an image it could prove truly invaluable for explaining their experience to others.
Those are so great;an eerie insight to how it feels to have social anxiety.
I think the comments on every piece are a testament to how well this artist manages to capture the sometimes overwhelming struggle of living with these illnesses- it's a powerful tribute.
Wow really touching. All my love to people suffering from any kind of mental dissorder.
Can I make a request?? A disorder I have, and is very rare, is called Munchausen's (Not the by proxy one though). I would really appreciate if you could illustrate it :3 Because it's so rare, I often go around feeling so lonely and hurt that no one else ever seems to possibly know my pain, or even want to get to know it...
Wow, all thumbs up. The drawings are amazing, and so spot on. So grateful to be (almost) healthy.
I have ptsd and a couple of others... I thought they were part of the ptsd its self?
there are many subtypes for each disorder (sometimes symptoms of a disorder are individual disorders themselves ) and i've noticed specific subtypes here have their own illustrations, like paranoid schizphrenia, depersonalization ( type of dissociation disorder), social anxiety and etc
Load More Replies... I need one for me too, anxiety and panic disorder, one that would work would be a choking or smothering sensation, you fell like your having a heart attack.
Screw mental illnesses! Mental illnesses are many times never detected and are people are called crazy for no reason, we should stand against such such individuals and spread awareness of mental illnesses
Those images are so beautiful, I can totally relate. Please draw one for eating disorder!
Autism is not a mental illness so I don't know why its even on here. Autism is part of me and that image is really offensive to me.
I also have Autism. It isn't an illness. It's a disorder.
Load More Replies... I have autism. And you have a low intelligence! :)
Load More Replies... I feel your comment is inappropriate. Mental illness is as real as any physical illness.
Load More Replies... those are the names of the actual disorders though...
Load More Replies... What are you talking about? Nowhere does it say that the artist has experienced all / any of these!! Myself being a sufferer of depression and anxiety find these fantastic and a great insight into what people go through (for those who can't relate). Plus, I learnt a lot about other illnesses. Don't be so narrow minded.
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