Opening first and foremost by setting a boundary. This is my mental health, and I will divulge as much as I want to and no more. I don't mind questions, but nobody is entitled to the details of my mental health for any reason whatsoever.
That said! I share things because I'm an advocate for open discussion of mental health topics. The more people talk about their experiences, the less likely it is that someone experiencing the same things will be left in the dark.
So I want to clarify those doodles are a big simplification, and a silly approach. And if I do more they will continue to be a silly simplification.
They're doodles. It's not an autobiography. Even if I WANTED to share everything, I'm not spending hours making sure I've covered every conceivable misunderstanding in a nonsensical doodle.
For example, it's not that everyone popped into existence once I asked. It was that I started recognizing what had been happening, and once I reached out properly everyone became more receptive to communicating as... themselves? For lack of a better word, currently.
From what I can tell, some have been around for several years, others a couple of months. I think? It’s a lot of piecing things together in hindsight.
And like... I'm not fuckin drawing all that context, that would be both boring and dumb lol
And it is confusing and stressful. I know I approach most things with humor, but I want to be serious for a sec. It’s a relief to have context for what’s been going on now, but how I got to piecing that together "wasn’t ideal", and continues to not be.
But also! I don't exactly feel like concerning a bunch of strangers on the internet with that! Maybe I'll share more down the line, but especially not when I've just started working things out.
I just want to sift through some of this. And sharing that experience in a silly way helps me do that! It keeps things light for me! Opens the door for conversation! By sharing what I have in an approachable way, I invite the opportunity to find people willing to interact and share like experiences!
Anyway. The point of this ramble, and the only time I will ever address this.
I like to be open, but it ain't my job or obligation to make sure strangers on the internet don't misconstrue my silly personal doodles.
If you decide a handful of drawings has given you the entire context to my experience and you don't like what you've concluded? That is a you problem.