How to call your reps when you have social anxiety

June 2020 update: I made this comic in November 2016 when I felt like our country was falling apart. It’s still falling apart. We need to take action now, and always, to fight racism, police brutality, & injustice in our communities. We can’t be passive.

I hope this comic continues to be helpful for folks like me who struggle to balance activism & mental health. You can find an Instagram version of this comic here.

I’d also like to recommend 5calls.org, a fantastic resource for calling your representatives.

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When you struggle with your mental health on a daily basis, it can be hard to take action on the things that matter most to you. The mental barriers anxiety creates often appear insurmountable. But sometimes, when you really need to, you can break those barriers down. This week, with encouragement from some great people on the internet, I pushed against my anxiety and made some calls to members of our government. Here’s a comic about how you can do that, too. (Resources and transcript below.)

Motivational resources: There are a lot! Here are a few I really like:

Informational resources: There are a lot of these, as well! These three are good places to start:

Inktober #31

Happy Halloween! Today marks the end of Inktober. It's been a great month! Here are two drawings from today:

I drew this squiggly self-portrait with my left hand because my right wrist felt inflamed. A fitting end to Inktober? But then...

My partner gave me some ointment that makes my wrist feel like it’s burning but also makes it feel better. He said, “It’s basically making your nerves dance!” I imagine little nerves dancing around my wrist to music I can’t hear.

Inktober #30

Out for a walk after the rain today, I was fascinated by an unusually shaped shadow on the side of the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption. I don’t normally just stop in the middle of the sidewalk and pull out my sketchbook, but this called for an exception. Here’s a quick sidewalk sketch!

Inktober #29

Here’s a Simple Halloween costume:

You’ll need:

1. Cut Cut the folder into twelve isosceles triangles of the same size.

2. Assemble Glue or tape six triangles together to form a base-less hexagonal prism. Do the same with the other six triangles, and then combine the two prisms at the base.

3. Insert Insert one end of the wire into one of the tips of the prisms. Use tape or hot glue to secure it.

4. Attach Wrap the other end of the wire around the middle of the headband.

Tada! Put on the headband and transform into a Sim! Remember to stay positive, as you’re sporting a perpetually green plumbob.

Inktober #28

Inktober is nearly over! Here are a bunch of hands.

Inktober #27

For Inktober yesterday, I drew a festive Halloween-themed header for my latest comics newsletter. You can subscribe to my email newsletter and read the archives at tinyletter.com/cordeliadillon.

Inktober #26

“Do you think Tim Gunn would consider being my life coach?” I ask, while admiringly pondering him saying his classic catchphrase, “Make it work.”

Inktober #25

Sketchbook page from yesterday, full of women’s faces. It was fun to draw a bunch of different hairstyles and think up new characters for my comics.

Inktober #24

Image description: Clutching my hands to my face and dressed like Velma Dinkley, I exclaim “Jinkies! It’s nearly Halloween already!”

Inktober #23

Dream Pants

Inktober #22

Lately I’ve been feeling particularly grumpy about second-hand smoke. Be mindful of the people around you.

Illustration description: Me glaring at a hand to the right, which holds a cigarette emitting a circle of smoke around my head.

Caption: “If you don’t really respect your own respiratory system, could you at least entertain the thought of respecting mine?”

Inktober #21: The Sweat Cycle

Here's a comic I've been meaning to make for ages about being a sweaty person. You can click the image to view a larger version in new tab.

The Sweat Cycle

1. Walk swiftly to work and arrive sweaty. (illustration of me smiling a tiny bit while holding my backpack straps, with visible sweat droplets jumping off my head and sweat patches visible in the armpit region of my button-up shirt)

2. Air conditioning is so cool, sweat won’t dry. (illustration of me with hands on computer keyboard, looking down somewhat worriedly at armpit sweat patches as air blows around in the background)

3. Sweat patches stay wet & become very cold. (illustration of me sitting at keyboard, clenching my teeth, and shaking a little bit as air blows around me)

4. Put on hoodie to warm up. (illustration of me wearing a hoodie and looking rather content as I sit at my keyboard, air blowing around me)

5. Extra fabric causes even more sweat. (illustration of me looking a little embarrassed, hands on keyboard, as sweat patches are now visible in the armpits of my hoodie) 6. Repeat steps 2 through 6.

Inktober #20

It’s Ron Weasley looking confident!

Inktober #19

Description:

A tiny drawing of me smiling while holding a balloon, which reads: “Don’t forget to smile.” A dime appears next to the drawing for scale; the balloon is just a little bit smaller than FDR’s face.

Inktober #18

Comic transcript: “Tuesday, October 18th, 2016″ I look down at my watch, which reads “11:20,” and say, “I am so SLEEPY but I still need to do Inktober!” Vaguely concerned, Partner asks, “Tonight? It’s so late.” I say “Yes, you’re supposed to draw EVERY SINGLE DAY.” Partner raises one eyebrow skeptically and says, “Sounds like a holiday invented by the pen industry...”

Inktober #17

I spent most of last night working on my D&D character, who compulsively tries to pick every lock she comes across.

Illustration description: A halfling woman smiles deviously as she picks a door’s lock with her right hand, her left hand clutching a strap of her overflowing rucksack. She wears her hair up, fingerless gloves, a striped tunic with noticeably sewn-on pockets, leggings with knee pads, and long pointy dark boots. Her location is unknown, but there are wooden floorboards, a wooden door, and a stone wall.

Inktober #16

Quick Harry Potter brush pen doodle for Inktober Day 16. We’re halfway through!