What gives you hope and keeps you going when the going gets tough?

[scullpanda]

So what gives you hope and keeps you going when the going gets tough--- Tell your story ?

I was bullied really badly in college and had to transfer but before I did I took off a lot of time due to having mental breaks due to the bullying so I started drawing comics and let me say I had no Idea what I got myself into but it helped you know some days I had anxiety so bad I couldn't leave the house and eventually even comments online got to me and I took down my first comic spent about 9 months reworking it you can find it here and learning more about drawing and even transferred to a new school where I wouldn't be bullied and if I was hopefully they would do something about it other then tell me "we can't help you deal with it yourself" . The biggest thing that kept me going trough all of this was seeing the progress I was making and the fun I was having while doing it , it kept me calm and still does. I even started a comic about events in my life as a kinda pseudo diary and that helps too You can find that here

But what have you gone through that keeps you going and what would you say to those who suffer in silence?

[mariusthered]

bully's grrr! it's one thing I hate and have had my share of when I was younger. I'ts why I have featured bully's in My comic to bring attention to the problems people have with these types. but bullies sadly are not just at school and collage but in all areas of life and sadly the internet.

I wont mention names but when i first started out in comics I joined a sight and paid to do so, it was run by someone who seems to have a big following ( and ego!) sadly I soon found this group was something of a tight nit community that seemed to all band together. they did not like my comic or the fact i use 3d models in my comics and my work was ripped apart on every little thing that was wrong with it. as for the problems I have with grammar it was like blood in the water. long story short I got so upset I almost gave up drawing comics. I quite the group and stepped away from the computer for a few days , instead doing my oil painting ( something I have always enjoyed and never had any problems to face with)
Eventually I decided to stick with it and keep posting to my own web page with the thought that if they don't like my work they can read else where "stuff em!" and about a year later I found Tapastic where I have enjoyed posting ever since.

What keeps me going? writing not art keeps me going I find it therapeutic to tell story's and escaping to Swipe city from my own life where I can write about mobsters and cops and bad guys and teachers and teenage trouble makers , well it keeps me young inside.

end of the day the only thing bullies do is show how weak and pathetic they are, and the more attention they get the worse they become, best you can ever do with bullies is walk away and give them nothing to draw attention to their pathetic selves .

best of luck

[StevenDacasin]

I really don't know. I remember in grade school drawing silly little comic strips and making people laugh. And up until now I never knew I can talk to other creators about comics. I guess telling stories and having people who listen/read are what keep me going.

[AnnaLandin]

I struggle a lot with anxiety and stress and the inconsistent sleeping habits that result from it - and telling stories and making comics definitely helps me cope with that.

Grassblades is many things, but it is ultimately about one person's effort to recover from trauma and journey back to being a functional human being again - and so it is partly my attempt to tell myself, and others, that we're going to be okay in the end.

Anxiety is one of those things that is hard to even acknowledge that you have, because your anxiety keeps telling you that terrible and worthless, and that there isn't anything really wrong with you, all at the same time. It's largely invisible from the outside, but it can be devastating from the inside - and I don't even have a really severe case!

I hope that through my comics, I can work through my own anxiety, and maybe give other people hope that they will defeat whatever invisible demons are plaguing them.

And, you know, tell a good story while I'm at it.

[R.n.P]

I normally discard all useless comments about my comic from my mind unless it is a good criticism not someone trying to troll me an d I also don't discard encouragement for my comic because I've learnt that there's is no point worrying about what people say in life about what you love doing so as long as you love doing what you're doing just do it and don't give two dimes about what other people say.

[Shanny8]

Wasnt exactly the most popular person in my high school days, but in certain zones I reveled in that; I didnt care much what others thought of me, coz I felt I had a purpose. Years later, I'm still not a super popular person- and I still dont care much for what others think. The only thing that matters to me are those that are close- my family & my closest friends. That's what I've learned in my life's journey: at the end of the day/week/whatever ordeal- those people will be there for me when I'm down.

A lot of my fam used to draw just like I do, but somewhere along the way they stopped drawing while I kept on. The fact that looking at others comic art and reading comics still interests me- makes me feel that comics is my goal. My imagination is still as vast as it was when I was a kid, and my determination to become a comic storyteller is also as strong.

[quakeulf]

My heart won't stop beating.