Mental Health Comics

Hello! This new section of the thingswithout.com website is dedicated to all things mental health. Mental Health Comics FTW! For now it has a few resources:

  • We Need to Talk About Mental Health
    • A short comic that I think will help us have better conversations in a climate where there is a lot of fear and anger.
  • So You’ve Had a Psychosis
    • A whole bunch of tips and tricks for recovering from psychosis from a person who’s had a few and is now in better mental health than she ever was!
    • This doc will probably evolve over time. I’ve been studying psychosis for years now and I’m always finding out something new or remembering something I forgot to include.
    • There are resources that can be useful for anyone who’s gone through a major disruption or crisis, whether you’ve had a mental breakdown or are suddenly grappling with physical illness, injury or disability.

And here is a gallery of fun one pagers that I quite like. If you have favorite comics you wish were included, let me know in the comments below!

If you like this stuff, you can subscribe to my Patreon (there’s even a free tier) and get regular comics in your inbox!

Mental Health Comics Transcript: Thing 1 has lots of rays coming in at them. Thing 1 has even more rays coming in at them. Pop! Thing 1 has exploded into lots of little pieces. Thing 1 is a jumbled mess of pieces pulling itself together. Thing 1 has pulled some of itself up, but on of its eyes is falling off the agglomeration of broken pieces. Thing 1 catches its falling eye and looks itself in the eye. Thing 1: We got this. Thing 2: How are you? Thing 1: I broke, and now I’m sad. Thing 1: How did I let this happen? Thing 1: I hate I was so weak. Thing 2: What if you breaking wasn’t a sign of weakness, but a symptom of having been strong for so long.
On the Topic of Breaking Webcomic Transcript Boot: Sometimes, even most resilient entities break. Sometimes in ways you never imagined. Somtimes from things you thought you were too big and too strong to be brokne by. It can feel stupid, embarassing and weird. And if it happens, if you do break. You’re not alone. Exceptional people have also broken and recovered. You are not alone. And if you look through the cracks. In the stories and metaphors, the company is brilliant and full of heart.
Pop/Strong for So Long Webcomic Transcript: Thing 1 has lots of rays coming in at them. Thing 1 has even more rays coming in at them. Pop! Thing 1 has exploded into lots of little pieces. Thing 1 is a jumbled mess of pieces pulling itself together. Thing 1 has pulled some of itself up, but on of its eyes is falling off the agglomeration of broken pieces. Thing 1 catches its falling eye and looks itself in the eye. Thing 1: We got this. Thing 2: How are you? Thing 1: I broke, and now I’m sad. Thing 1: How did I let this happen? Thing 1: I hate I was so weak. Thing 2: What if you breaking wasn’t a sign of weakness, but a symptom of having been strong for so long.
Folks say just be yourself work hard stay focused you can achieve anything. Thing 1: They make it sound simple. Thing 1: but it's so hard. Thing 1: my body can break sometimes Thing 1: And looking at the gulf between where I am and where I want to be... I feel so small, useless and pointless. Thing 1: I feel so tired. All too often. I am ashamed. Thing 2: it's ok to feel tired. Thing 2: it's ok to have naps.Folks say just be yourself work hard stay focused you can achieve anything. Thing 1: They make it sound simple. Thing 1: but it's so hard. Thing 1: my body can break sometimes Thing 1: And looking at the gulf between where I am and where I want to be... I feel so small, useless and pointless. Thing 1: I feel so tired. All too often. I am ashamed. Thing 2: it's ok to feel tired. Thing 2: it's ok to have naps.
Webcomic. Boot: I didn't always take in the best foods. Boot: Lots of Can'ts, Shouldn'ts, Not Good Enoughs, Don't Deserves, Get Over Its... lots of negatives. Boot: I'm trying to eat more Cans, Wants, Wills, Worth Its and supportives. Boot: It's not always easy, but we are what we eat.
Comic Transcript Thing 1 looks up at Thing 2. Thing 1: Sometimes I forget. Thing 1 looks down. Thing 1: That it’s ok to be me. Thing 2's mouth is wide open with shock. The Things stand in silence. Thing 1 looks down, Thing 2 looks on with concern. Thing 1 has a big smile on their face. Thing 1: But then I remember again. Thing 2 is delighted.
Fun Restoration Comic Transcript Thing 1 and Thing 2 are having a conversation. Thing 1: There’s always people with more energy who do so much more than me. Thing 1: I get so tired sometimes. Thing 1: They’re living while I’m resting. Thing 2: Resting is living. Thing 1: Yeah? Thing 2: But if you’re not enjoying rest. Thing 2: Maybe the question is, how can we make resting more ? Thing 1: I like that question.
Survive Comic transcript Boot: When I was younger, anger and sadness kept me alive. Love was too impossible and made feelings too intense anyway. When I got older that embarrassed me ... and now that I'm even older still I say “you smart young boot, you stayed alive. You worked to be responsible with your anger and you lived... There is no shame in your sadness and anger. No shame staying alive out of spite. You survived. You held on And got us here. And I am glad.
Boot on Kindness Boot: Sometimes the hardest thing about receiving kindness is you have to admit how much you hurt and that can be very hard.
Transcript: Boot: You Boot: You are mighty