Its mental health month

May is Mental Health Month, and I have been painting for four years. My artwork focuses on mental health and the challenges of being a woman dealing with anxiety and depression.

Beginning therapy was my initial step in pushing myself beyond the familiar routine I was accustomed to. That's when I started painting. It was such a relief to discover an outlet for my emotions, something I could create from the pain I was experiencing. I've been dealing with anxiety for as long as I can remember, literally since I was 4. I recall the first time I felt it; I was just sitting on my couch, overwhelmed by the urge to leave, feeling like I didn't belong anywhere and that nobody wanted me. I later learned that this feeling stemmed from my parents not wanting me or giving me up at such a young age. That feeling has stayed with me throughout my life, and I still experience it occasionally now.

All of my work revolves around this emotion—a sense of uncertainty. It's the fear of saying the wrong thing when someone asks me a simple question about myself. My face flushes red, and I start to sweat because I'm so taken aback that I don't quite know how to reply. I've depicted much of my anxiety and the trauma I've experienced in my past and in relationships. I paint images that convey sadness and a feeling of being lost.

. I've also depicted my healing journey and the progress I've made from being the girl who couldn't answer a simple question. I've put a lot of effort into self-improvement. I became sober to aid in this process, and now my paintings reflect the inner child healing work I've accomplished. They are more lighthearted and carefree. Whimsical and ethereal characterize much of my newer work.

Lately, I've felt a strong urge to return to my previous understanding of work, focusing on the part of my journey that narrates the story of sobriety and anxiety, of healing and overcoming challenges. Managing mental health isn't easy, and for these reasons, we should all be kinder to one another.