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Sarah Schuster

I run the mental health section at The Mighty. I think that every day should be a mental health day.

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Anyone who's been afraid to take antidepressants needs to hear this actor's story.

There are a lot of misconceptions about taking medication to manage depression.

Some assume antidepressants are simply "happy pills" while others think all antidepressants make you devoid of feeling. For those who find antidepressants helpful, medication can be a good weapon against depression. No one should be ashamed of using a tool that works for them.

But not everyone understands this — and it can be hard to explain why medication is an important part of your mental health treatment.

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If you don't have it, chronic anxiety can be hard to understand. These comics can help.

Ever felt like you can't explain how your anxiety feels? Artist Marzi has a solution.

Attention anyone with anxiety who spent time in class with their head down doodling in a notebook: This is a comic series for you.

Introvert Doodles started as a “self-pep talk” by a comic artist who goes by Marzi. She was inspired to explore her identity as an introvert after a personality test made her realize her introverted tendencies weren’t flaws — they were part of her personality.

On her site, she explains (in a doodle, of course):

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Sarah Schuster

Can positivity be “toxic”?

Do any of these speak to you?

To find out how depression shows itself in ways other people can't see, we asked The Mighty mental health community to share one thing people don't realize they're doing because they have depression.

It's easy — and understandable — to roll your eyes when someone offers a "miracle cure" for your anxiety.

1. Making your bed every morning.

2. Keeping your phone on silent.

3. Opening up to others about your anxiety.

4. Spending less time on social media or limiting screen time.

5. Saying "no."

6. Using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques (aka Jedi mind tricks).

7. Starting a mindfulness practice.

8. Writing down your schedule or to-do list.

9. Working out.

10. Practicing acceptance.

11. Cutting out toxic people and things from your life.

12. Establishing a bedtime routine.

13. Journaling.

14. Finding something to do with your hands.

15. Cutting out caffeine.

16. Giving yourself time in the morning to prepare for the day.

17. Practicing gratitude.

There are a lot of misconceptions about taking medication to manage depression.

In an interview with The Star, "Big Bang Theory" and "Star Trek" actor Wil Wheaton offered a metaphor that might help.

In a video for Project UROK, Wheaton offered a similar metaphor and described what it felt like when his medication started working for the first time.

Ever felt like you can't explain how your anxiety feels? Artist Marzi has a solution.

Attention anyone with anxiety who spent time in class with their head down doodling in a notebook: This is a comic series for you.

She also features comics about life with anxiety — although, she says, having anxiety and being an introvert are not synonymous.

She says introverts like herself are finding a voice — and learning that, while their strengths are different from those of extroverts, they are no less valuable.

The comics show her understanding of how anxiety can make even the smallest things difficult.

But it's worth celebrating every time you can overcome it.

She knows the feeling of a panic attack:

But she also helps guide friends and family through tough moments too.