After high school, I too struggled with an onset of illness (mental health related). I had a psychosis, where I lost touch with reality and couldn't tell what was real and what was fantasy - I believe the world was a big puzzle that I had to unlock before the end of the world. It was a very intense time for me. I was medicated and talked to plenty of Doctors and Psychiatrists that helped me get back on track. But once I was better I found out my Dad had cancer, so that spiraled me into a depression. Eventually I was able to recover and get back into a normal balanced life. I returned to uni and even moved into a student residence which was amazing. But sure enough I had another psychosis due to stress and stuff - this one being more intense that the first and took me a long time to recover. I also picked up anxiety and that was a struggle as well.

During highschool I was convinced I was going to be a cartoonist, but after these incidents with my health that dream kinda died. I studied Graphic Design in university, and have graduated with a qualification from that. I even set up my own freelance graphic design business - but it wasn't able to financially support me.

So really my mental health disability (I have to take my tablets for life) affected my dream to draw comics as a career, well that was what I thought. Now I've become determined that I can make my dreams a reality, whatever life throws at me. I won't quit - one of the helpful things that has got me back into it has been Tapastic. I've been looking for a good comic community like this for a while and finally came across it.

I've even thought about creating a comic/graphic novel that explores what I experienced - since there aren't many comics out there (at least in my experience) that look into the topic of mental health, illness and disabilities.

With my comic Moments1 I try to keep them as positive and funny as I can so it can help those in tough times - because laughter is an excellent medicine.

I'm not someone with a disability myself, but my mentor was disabled. She's also the most hard working, intelligent, and skilled artist I've ever met. She suffered strokes, anxieties, and was physically crippled on her drawing hand because of how much she drew. She's highly respected in the industry, that when I mentioned her to some animation folks at CTN, their jaws dropped. I can't sing praises about my mentor enough, and she always made it clear to us that "If I'm a cripple and I can do it, then you guys can do it!"
My thoughts: don't give up! You can be a great artist regardless of what disabilities you have. Just- don't feel bad about taking breaks in between, either. Your health comes first before drawing (I would say this to my mentor too).

I don't have a disability, but I still have my own demons I struggle with. I drew alot in highschool and college, and those were some of the happiest and most carefree times in my life. Then a week after I came home from college, my dad passed away, his evil business partner stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from his company (and stole a truck from the company), left my mom's life in ruins, bankrupted us (the Fed drained both my mom's and my bank accounts and life savings), we filed for bankruptcy, lost our house to foreclosure, were homeless for a short span, my mom was diagnosed with Parkingsons Disease.... it goes on and on for like a year.

I also got married that year and had a wonderful husband who picked up the pieces despite having a disability himself. He actually got me drawing comics as a way to cope with all the troubles in my life. Having something to work on, making goals, finishing each issue of the comic, making friends and working with Terri (the writer) really made life worth living and gave me something to look forward to.

Honestly, I look at making comics as an escape. When it becomes the cause of problems in my life that's when I have to walk away. Not to say I give up when comic making presents challenges (low readership, meeting deadlines, computer crashing, etc), but I always keep in mind that I'm working on my dream and this whole thing is suppose to bring me happiness.

It's inspiring to hear so many people continue creating in the face of so many struggles. I'm really happy for everyone who keeps fighting the fight and making comics!

I've had depression, anxiety, and panic attacks since childhood and it's been a difficult journey in learning to cope with it, especially when exacerbated by bad living situations and relationships. I'm grateful that in the last 6 years I've had my extremely supportive and patient partner by my side, and we've been able to support ourselves enough to arrange for a more peaceful living situation. It really makes a huge difference in my ability to deal with the day-to-day.

Still, there are days/weeks/months where depression knocks me on my ass and I have to claw my way up to get much of anything done. My comic is one of my main motivators in life, because I know I need to stick around to tell my stories. And having a comic with people that care about it gives me motivation to pick up the stylus and keep working on it even in the worst of times. It's also hugely beneficial for me to always have something to constantly be working on and striving toward. Which is probably why I'm able to hide my illnesses from most people, because I look like I'm always hard at work producing new stuff-- but honestly if I wasn't constantly busy I'd fall back into the pit really quickly.

@TheYuriCanon @jono_thompson @FunctionCreep

How do you feel completely comfortable talking about yourself?
Maybe this is self-acceptance, but still telling people online?

If i had an issue i would probably deal with it and not tell anyone

It's also hard for me to call it inspiring
Because all i would feel is pity

On topic. I also can't bring myself to stop trying

well I had a full manic psychotic mental breakdown at 14 but magically recovered on medicine and been stable for 8 years. I guess lucks on my side. Nothing interfering with my work except my possibe dyslexia I've been trying to get a diagnosis for years because my old school was too cheap and told my mom boys only get diagnoses. I spent over 10 years thinking I was an idiot due to my poor grades and reading skills! haha!

I struggle with anxiety, depression, and Aspergers.
I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression when I was 18 and then diagnosed with Aspergers about two years ago when I was 21 (I'm 23 now) I have been trying to get assistance for my issues for a while and have been denied it. Since elementary school teachers knew something was off and I always needed special help which made me a target for bullying, back then they just believed I had a learning disability but my family just thought I was being lazy which my family gave me a lot of shit about and it may have had an influence for my anxiety and depression. Once I was finally diagnosed with high functioning autism my family felt horrible and thought I could have gotten better help through my school years. Soon I will be moving in with my mother and she will be getting me help which is reassuring. Since school and just overall life was tough growing up I would draw just to find an escape. Even though I have been planning my comic for years and have dreams for it, it's still something I use to just relax and help me forget about my anxiety or depression.

I have chronic back, shoulder and neck pain and also struggle with anxiety, I don't usually talk about my back/neck pain because it runs in the family and I am used to being around others who are in the same pain as me or even more. But there are days I can't even turn my head my neck pain is so great. Though I never saw my pain as a disability, or at least I am determined not to let it be. I have a stringent exercise regimen and diet plan, as long as I follow them I am not to bad off. I also have to see a chiropractor quite often because my back goes out all the time. I have a bunch of stretches for when I am drawing, because when I sit too long my back can seize up.

But I keep drawing despite the pain because it helps with my anxiety, my art makes the world fade away and helps me clear my head. But again I don't see my pain as a reason to quit doing the things I love, I would rather change my life style and learn to cope (Which is what I did )

I have a type of muscular dystrophy. It causes weakness in every muscle, but mainly hits my face, neck, and shoulders. My symptoms first started in high school when I became unable to lift my arms above my head, but then they really didn't progress for over 20 years. But earlier this year, one weekend I suddenly got weakness in my right ankle and now I have foot drop. I decided to deal with it by writing a comic about the experience. A lot of people don't understand muscular dystrophy and that there are different types, and I figured I'd try to educate and infuse humor into it with my comic. So far it is going well (just 3 comics in). I think it's been more beneficial to me than to anyone else because it's hard as an introvert to express to people how I feel by having it.

I can't see myself quitting, and I'm glad that you aren't quitting despite your issues @TheYuriCanon. Remember to also do this for yourself, not just your readers. I think comics can be a great way to express yourself and your feelings that you can't always do otherwise.

Thanks everyone for the things you make despite what life throws at you!! I think it says a lot about how much love each of you have for the stories you're telling, and that's pretty inspiring.

I was diagnosed with MDD (Major Depression Disorder) when I was about 9 or 10. (Thou I do believe there were warning signs earlier, like me crying a lot in 1st Grade).

I guess my depression has always been something that got in my way. Sometimes it does help drive me but other times (like right now) it makes me want to just stop drawing. I have other issues happening in my life which feed my depression and as it is, my comics represent nothing more then the "world" I created to escape from reality.

Even though being a depressed mess, I was able to push out 118 pages for Crow's Worth1. I do plan to do more, I just need to "feel better" first.

I have chronic depression, social anxiety and currently struggling with diabetes and I find doing my comic a great way to get away from all those woes and be in happy superhero fantasy land, that is when the diabetes isn't knocking me out. Must stay off the biscuits! But it's one of the reasons I commented in a recent thread about success of your comic, I think when you're battling so much illness, just getting your work out there is a success. It has been for me. And we shouldn't belittle those achievements in relation to subscribers or page hits.

I think just being in a positive environment helps. The internet can be that, but sometimes it's a cruel place. But just knowing there's people out there who are empathetic enough to want to help is inspiring