Hello folks

This is a personal piece that deals with the topic of depression, anxiety, and the overwhelming effects they can have on one's perception.

If I may get real for a moment.

I, among thousands, have waged war with mental illness. Anxiety, depression, and I, are no strangers to each other and over the last year and one half I have been part of a particularly rough and ongoing battle against both.

The way these feelings manifest with me is through the feeling of disconnection which I have tried to convey in the image. Specifically, this image is about a little known symptom of both anxiety and depression known as derealization/depersonalization -the feeling of a loss of connection to one's sense of self and environment.

Having endured these feelings of unreality in the past -sometimes for months on end- I decided to describe the feeling as best I could in an illustration.

I'm glad to say that In recent months I have been feeling much better. I'm now determined to share my thoughts and experiences on the subject of mental illness in hopes of shattering the stigma that comes with the topic. This will hopefully be the first in a series of images that deal with it.

We must be honest and open with each other about how we feel, and never ashamed of asking for help. Remember this. No matter what your brain is telling you at the moment, you are never alone.

Thanks for reading

Steve Boyd