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These Are The Realities Of Mental Health, From A(nxiety) To Z

These Are The Realities Of Mental Health, From A(nxiety) To Z
Priscilla Frank
Sonaksha Iyengar

A is for anxiety, which itself comes in many shapes and colors.

B is for bipolar disorder, a term still ignorantly used to describe mood swings or temper tantrums.

C is for Cotard delusion, a term for a condition that leads an individual to believe he or she is already dead or does not exist.

These are the ABCs of mental illness, thoughtfully compiled and illustrated by India-based writer, illustrator and graphic designer Sonaksha Iyengar.

Iyengar began the series as part of 36 Days of Type, a project challenging designers and illustrators to create their own takes on the letters and numbers of the alphabet, all of which respond to a singular theme. Iyengar, who has struggled with her mental health in the past, decided to focus her alphabet-based works around the still-stigmatized subject.

Every day, the artist uploads a new image to Instagram focused on a specific condition and its first letter. The images, depicting states ranging from jealousy to insomnia, reveal how mental health struggles touch all lives, and are not always tethered to a diagnosed condition.

Iyengar has taken some liberties with the disorders and behaviors she’s chosen to illustrate ― for example, Cotard delusion, or Cotard’s syndrome, is not recognized in the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-V and only extreme jealousy might be considered a mental illness ― but the underlying message remains steady: She aims to spotlight illnesses and symptoms that are often overlooked or under-recognized. Iyengar hopes her imagery, rendered in dreamy pastels seemingly plucked straight from the subconscious, encourage open and generous discussions on the subject matter.

“‘Get over it’ is not how it works,” the artist told BuzzFeed, “and I think being more aware and acknowledging mental health will help us make a start in the direction towards kindness and empathy.”

“It is time to have honest conversations with each other about the importance of mental health,” she concluded.

Immerse yourself in the conversation with Iyengar’s works below, and follow her on Instagram for more.

People often assume that mental health issues come with lack of social skills, this is untrue. First, it's wrong to make a generalized assumption. Second, a personality disorder like Histrionic Personality Disorder often goes undetected because the person can have great social skills. People with HPD tend to love being the center of attention, and sometimes this leads to failure and disappointment. However, like any other mental health issue, the treatment is not to yell or curse, but to give them time and guide them to seek help. But, it's also important to remember that anyone who enjoys attention doesn't have HPD. Always go to a trained medical professional for diagnosis. There's more to it that meets the eye. #atozofmentalhealth - - - - - #365daysofart #drawingaday #36daysoftype @36daysoftype #36days_H #36daysoftype04 #mentalhealth #art #typography #lettering #personalitydisorder #attention #watercolor #igart #sketchbook #digitalart #illustration #selflove #care #mentalhealthawareness #endthestigma #histrionicpersonalitydisorder

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Jealousy is a complex emotion, but a very human one. While it is often confused for envy, the two are really different. Jealousy often seeps into the head when there's a threat to a relationship - romantic, platonic and familial among others. Envy is about desiring what the other has. While it is normal to feel jealous, it's important to discuss it and find ways to deal with it rather than allow it to collect and erupt in pathological or delusional ways. Talk about it, with someone you trust whether it's a friend or a therapist. #atozofmentalhealth - - - - - #365daysofart #drawingaday #36daysoftype @36daysoftype #36days_J #36daysoftype04 #mentalhealth #art #typography #lettering #jealous #anger #frustration #watercolor #igart #sketchbook #digitalart #illustration #selflove #care #mentalhealthawareness #endthestigma #love #relationships #brain

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.