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18 Comics Showcasing The Humor In Mental Health Struggles By Alec With Pen
Interview With Artist
If you sometimes feel alone and that nobody understands you, remember that many others share similar struggles and mental health challenges. The comic series by the artist Alec, titled “Alec With Pen,” perfectly illustrates how many people deal with trauma, anxiety, and other difficulties that impact their daily lives.
We got in touch with the illustrator and asked him some questions about his work. First of all, we were interested in what inspired him to start creating comics. The artist told us: “I've been drawing since I was a kid, but I considered myself a writer/comedian mostly until one day my therapist suggested I try to draw myself, as a way to self-empathize. I thought that seemed very dorky, but I did it anyway. And once I did, I didn't want to stop.”
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#1
Danish Susanne 1 year ago
Maybe I should do that too. I just cannot remember names sometimes even those that I remembered yesterday.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
I'm always too embarrassed to ask.
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Rick Rose 1 year ago
I'm never sure which is worse, if I don't know if they've told me their name, but they might, or when I know they told me, and still can't remember. In the first case, I'm always afraid if I ask "for the first time," they'll think I don't recognize them at all. In the latter, I can at least admit I forgot. But i clearly did forget. And if I ask someone who hasn't told me what their name was "again," then they see it was a charade, trying to hide my forgetfulness. Which it totally is, but it feels like that would make how forgetful I can be even more obvious generally. Then I worry other people would wonder if I remember, which I probably don't... yeah. Forgetfulness and anxiety aren't kind to each other.
cerinamroth 1 year ago
When we were living in university halls, there was one guy who kept forgetting my (now) husband's name, which was a little unusual for the UK. So he wrote it on his hand in blue marker pen before we went out so he wouldn't forget (sweet). He slept with his hand open against his face and ended up with my husband's name plastered across his cheek for a couple of days. He never forgot it again! :D :D
CrazyKnitter 1 year ago
I had a friend who I didn't know her name for months. Finally someone else said it and I remembered! It's too awkward to ask for the fourth time, especially if you're hanging out with them all the time and don't need to use it very often.
ElfVibratorGlitter 1 year ago
I always make sure I repeat a person's name back to them, supposed to help with remembering names, not sure it actually works.
Alec continued and explained why he featured a version of himself with blacked-out eyes in his cartoon: “That was originally an accident when I first drew myself, but it just felt immediately right. You could say it represents childhood trauma/depression/self-loathing IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO.”
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#2
Lotekguy 1 year ago
The ultimate goal should be to let yourself believe you deserve the compliment. The correct response will flow freely.
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Abigail Moritz 1 year ago
No you set the problem on fire. But not if the problem is an animal. Just burn the person.
ElfVibratorGlitter 1 year ago
It's so much easier to forgive other people's mistakes than my own.
Load More Replies... Asked about the recurring themes and motifs in his series, Alec answered: “My work has two modes: One is using jokes and a magical-realistic sensibility to mull over my issues with anxiety, ADHD, and chronic depression, but in, like, a FUN way, and the second one just being extremely silly and stupid, usually by making my version of certain genres. Detective Man is a satire of detective shows, Haunted House Husband is a satire of horror movies, and Midnight Justice is a satire of Batman. Oh, and I also do political and social commentary stuff when I'm angry.”
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#5
Me Oh My (He/They) 1 year ago
I lay awake at night thinking about the times I've overshared like this.
Jessica N 1 year ago
Most of us like the overshare tbh. Gives a glimpse into the real you!
Load More Replies...The artist also shared with us how he comes up with ideas for his new comics: “I write things in my phone when I think of them, but mostly I just watch hundreds of hours of TV and things just pop into my head. My comedy influences, hmmm, I'd say lots of TV like The Office, 30 Rock, Arrested Development, Party Down, Bored To Death, Search Party, and Shrill. When it comes to comics, though, it's ALL Calvin and Hobbes.”
#7
Lastly, Alec told us more about his influences in the world of comedy and humor: “Comedy is like horror, it attempts to make every moment in a work of art entertaining. Comedy FEELS good, and when you feel good, you want to pay attention. Like horror, too, when you pair comedy with a different feeling—anger, romance, grief, jealousy, boredom—it transforms into a special new concoction. I like playing with those combinations.”
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Lorraine Woollands 1 year ago
I have depression and anxiety and agoraphobia, I feel like this all day, every day. I began to that I was the only one that felt this way
Jessica N 1 year ago
You're not alone. I went through it after leaving a bad relationship, got to the point where I didn't step outside the house for over a year. Baby steps. First I started walking to mailbox. Then going to store as a passenger in car. Then drove myself. I applied to college, all online first semester then half in person classes. Met a friend online who hired me at the pizza place he worked at. This was over 2-3 years, breaking out in stress hives when I left house. You are worth working on, and at whatever pace you need. You're not alone in your struggle
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#16
ElfVibratorGlitter 1 year ago
I initially thought purging (making self vomit) and that was a pun with homesick somehow. Now I'm leaning towards sucking your thumb? But that might have all just whooshed past me
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Isobel Young 1 year ago
Maybe it's like you miss home but you are already home because everywhere you go there you are. Like you are the finger but you are also the home for that finger.
#18
Fleetwayfox 1 year ago
I like the idea of self-esteem being depicted as a deformed monster attached to our brain, but I'm not really sure how inducing vomiting was a metaphor for 'caring' for it? Letting it all out maybe? It still seems in bad condition in the last pic, though I think I'm reading too much into it.
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