gemma correll

Everyone grapples with anxiety from time to time, but for illustrator Gemma Correll, it's a longer, constant battle. That's why she started making funny comics to cope.

While Correll is British, to give you homeland perspective, anxiety disorders affect 18% of the adult population (40 million people), making it the most common mental illness. As such, many treatments and coping methods are available both clinically and homeopathically, but since anxiety can manifest differently in everyone, nothing is a surefire fix. Thus it falls to individuals to perform a lot of trial and error.

In a lucky turn of events, Correll discovered her coping method could also be her career. She illustrates hilarious comics, many of which often directly relate to her own anxiety.

"I honestly think that humour can be a saviour at times of distress or, if you just live with a constant level of anxiety and depression like I do," she told Mashable.

Yes, her work has helped her deal with the daily struggles that accompany her anxiety, but she also hopes it brings comfort to others and perhaps even inspires them to speak out about their own struggles. The more candid we are about anxiety, the less alone people living with it will feel.

Here are 12 examples of how Correll's anxiety translates into hysterical comics.

1. To someone with anxiety, worrying and overthinking go hand in hand.

[rebelmouse-image 19523719 dam="1" original_size="700x861" caption=""World champion over-thinker." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission." expand=1]"World champion over-thinker." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission.

2. Correll's anxiety often comes with a generous helping of depression.

[rebelmouse-image 19523720 dam="1" original_size="700x700" caption=""Pasta shapes for the depressed." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission." expand=1]"Pasta shapes for the depressed." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission.

3. When those conditions combine, socializing is usually the last thing you want to do.

[rebelmouse-image 19523721 dam="1" original_size="700x525" caption=""Decision making dice for my social life." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission." expand=1]"Decision making dice for my social life." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission.

4. Because now, everything is the worst, scariest thing.

[rebelmouse-image 19523722 dam="1" original_size="700x917" caption=""Real life horror movies." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission." expand=1]"Real life horror movies." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission.

5. Even when you try to use exercise to lift yourself out of it, it backfires...

[rebelmouse-image 19523723 dam="1" original_size="600x600" caption=""Worrier pose." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission." expand=1]"Worrier pose." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission.

6. ...and then you end up on the floor, crushed by life.

[rebelmouse-image 19523724 dam="1" original_size="700x700" caption=""The perils of chronic overthinking." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission." expand=1]"The perils of chronic overthinking." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission.

7. That's when you arrive in Depression Land! The crappiest place on Earth!

[rebelmouse-image 19523725 dam="1" original_size="700x962" caption=""Depression Land." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission." expand=1]"Depression Land." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission.

8. But don't worry, your emotional baggage will never get lost on the way.

[rebelmouse-image 19523726 dam="1" original_size="700x525" caption=""Emotional baggage." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission." expand=1]"Emotional baggage." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission.

9. When anxiety is constant, even uplifting messages seem like they're mocking you.

[rebelmouse-image 19523728 dam="1" original_size="700x875" caption=""Can't keep calm and carry on." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission." expand=1]"Can't keep calm and carry on." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission.

10. But remember, you're not alone in these feelings.

[rebelmouse-image 19523729 dam="1" original_size="600x960" caption=""Emotional state birds." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission." expand=1]"Emotional state birds." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission.

11. Even trees get where you're coming from.

[rebelmouse-image 19523730 dam="1" original_size="700x700" caption=""Anxie-trees." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission." expand=1]"Anxie-trees." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission.

12. Ultimately, you deserve to feel good for getting the seemingly little things done, because all of them together is life.

[rebelmouse-image 19523731 dam="1" original_size="1000x1134" caption=""I wish I still got stickers for doing hard stuff." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission." expand=1]"I wish I still got stickers for doing hard stuff." Comic by Gemma Correll, used with permission.

There will be other days, however, where you just can't. And that's OK too. Everyone needs to take a mental health day from time to time.

If you notice those days are becoming more and more frequent, though, it might be time to look into new coping methods. Whether that's therapy, exercise, or drawing funny comics, it's important to figure out something that will help you keep carrying on even if you're not completely calm throughout.