7 Illustrations That Capture Exactly What It’s Like to Have Anxiety

July 27, 2016 / Pranita Kocharekar

Originally published on Behance.net and republished here with the artist’s permission.

Know how it feels to have everyday things like nighttime noises or a dreaded “we need to talk” message fill you with anxiety?

Then you’re really going to be able to relate to this.

Unfortunately, anxiety disorders are still widely misunderstood – but these illustrations by Mumbai-based artist Pranita Kocharekar will remind you that you’re not alone.

This series, called Is That You?, aims to help people who are struggling acknowledge their anxiety as the first step toward getting mental health support.

Pranita drew from her own experiences and those of her friends to capture these emotions, choosing a humorous approach to add a little light-heartedness to an ordinarily heavy experience.

She told the Huffington Post, “It’s very easy for a person suffering through anxiety to worry about having anxiety. I hope that my illustrations will ease them a little.”

It can be quite a relief to know that you’re not the only one with your struggles – so take in these illustrations as a reminder of that. You can find more amazing art from Pranita Kocharekar by visiting her Instagram.

With Love,
The Editors at Everyday Feminism

For more, visit the artist’s Instagram by clicking here.

Click for the Transcript

Panel 1

When you’re sick and ask Dr. Internet for cure…

(A computer below reads, “You’re Obviously Dying. -Internet.”)

Panel 2

You can’t read the newspaper because…

(An image on the left shows a newspaper that reads, “THEFT, MURDER.” The face on the right is visibly distraught.)

Panel 3

Meditation is like…

(A person sits, trying to meditate with one eye open, and a flurry of thoughts surrounding them like, “I smell pizza” and “did I leave the tap on?” and “this isn’t working!”)

Panel 4

You’re forever paranoid and over-cautious…

(The image on the left shows two hands holding from across a table. The arm on the left is dangerously close to a candle. The image on the right shows a worried person thinking, “What if his shirt burns?”)

Panel 5

When your boss wants to see you in the office, the walk is a hard, hard one…

(A person with long hair walks down a hallway with thoughts trailing behind. “Did I do something wrong?” “Is everything OK?” “What if I’m fired?”)

Panel 6

When you hear rustling at night, of a [sic] being stabbed to death…

(The top two images show someone clutching their pillow, looking terrified. The bottom two images show a closeup of their face, crying.)

Panel 7

You check for your phone before sitting in the cab, while in the cab, and after getting out of the cab – twice.

(The first image shows someone inside a cab, digging around in their bag saying, “Where is my phone?” The cab driver looks back appearing puzzled. The second image shows the same scene, five minutes later with the text, “Is it still here?” The last image shows that person outside of the cab now, searching their bag again while saying, “Did I leave my phone in there?” The driver peers out of the cab window, looking worried.)

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Pranita Kocharekar an independent illustrator, graphic designer and type designer based in Mumbai, India. For more from Pranita, follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.