Graphic Novel Review: Kind of Coping: An Illustrated Look at Life with Anxiety
Author: Maureen “Marzi” Wilson
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 192
Publish Date: January 2019
Publisher: Adams Media (imprint of Simon & Schuster)
Catalog ID: ISBN: 978-1507209189
Where to buy: https://bookshop.org/lists/recently-reviewed-on-graphicmedicine-org
Author website: https://introvertdoodles.com/
Review
by Soph Myers-Kelley
Wilson is known for her Introvert Doodles online, and her five book publications having either to do with anxiety, introversion, or both! This book, Kind of Coping, is the third of her five works, published in 2019.
Wilson uses analogies, metaphors, imagery, humor, and relatable experiences to make those who are introverted and/or anxious right at home. For those who don’t experience introversion or anxiety, the examples Wilson shares paints them a comprehensive & detailed picture of what anxiety feels like.
Wilson draws simply and succinctly. Her style clearly originates from her online internet comic work, using bright colors and strong lines. She portrays very relatable experiences, such as saying the wrong thing to the cashier at the grocery store by accident and panicking; giving your mom’s phone number in a voicemail to a potential employer; or talking with a friend and both of you keep on talking at the same time—unable to figure out who’s supposed to be talking next. Her comical look at experiences she finds embarrassing and awkward are healing both for the reader, and likely the author as well.
She shares how she manages social situations and her anxiety more generally. HOWEVER, she makes it clear that this book is not meant to be prescriptive or a medical book. It’s the story of one person’s anxiety and it’s meant to help you feel less alone with yours.
One particular comic that resonates with me was an example of a “good day” vs. a “hard day” to-do list for the author. The good day list has things like cleaning, mowing the lawn, scheduling appointments, exercising, and trying out a new recipe. The hard day list involves drinking water, emailing your therapist, eating, showering (if possible), and being gentle with yourself. It reminded me, as someone who also experiences anxiety, that anxiety often cohabitates with perfectionism. It can be easy to uphold unreasonable expectations for oneself, as if you could do a “good day’s” worth of to-do lists every day. Being gentle with oneself and focusing on the achievable is paramount to wellbeing. Our best is different from day to day, and that’s okay. Some days, being gentle with myself and taking care of my body within my abilities is the best that I can do.
While the comics focus largely on what it’s like to have anxiety and panic attacks, there are some comics on what people can do for their friends who experience such anxiety or panic attacks. These are great for people who might otherwise be confused about how best to help their friend and don’t truly understand the experience first-hand. There’s also a comic highlighting how her therapist sees her virtually and is open to texts and chats—meaning it’s more accessible for her versus when she’d have to make a phone call to schedule an appointment with another therapist (cue heavy breathing and panic attacks!).
This easy read is recommended! Wilson puts her vulnerability out there on the page- so we’re more likely to see our own experiences there as well! Bravo, nice work.
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Soph Myers-Kelley is a medical librarian, herbalist, and activist living in North Carolina. They can be contacted at https://www.smyerskelley.com/ and followed at https://www.instagram.com/thesofakingofficial/
Originally posted on graphicmedicine.org here: https://www.graphicmedicine.org/comic-reviews/kind-of-coping-an-illustrated-look-at-life-with-anxiety-2/