Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions in the UK; more than one in 10 of us is likely to suffer a "disabling anxiety disorder" at some point in our lives.
And yet, it can also be frustratingly difficult to describe what experiencing it means.
Everyone feels anxiety differently, and symptoms can vary massively from one person to the next. It's a condition that is both visceral - so claustrophobic and all-encompassing - and yet hidden from plain sight.
Anxiety sufferers often appear "fine" and "calm" even when panic is rising beneath the surface, as worry-related adrenalin cranks into overdrive.
For all these reasons, anxiety can be easier to draw than articulate. And thankfully, a handful of talented illustrators have risen to the challenge, showcasing their work on Instagram.
These artists have put pen to paper to express how their own anxiety battles feel, from obsessing over the minuatiae of everyday life to night-time terrors.
Not only is the physical act of drawing and creativity linked to relieving anxiety, their illustrations remind all those struggling with anxiety that they're not alone.
And that while mental illness is not at all funny, our shared experience of it has moments of lightness and humour amid all the angst.
Come look at some of the most relatable anxiety illustrations Instagram has to offer...
1. Anxietea
This anxious cup of tea is the inspired creation of California-based cartoonist Gemma Correll. The Norwich-born illustrator suffers from clinical anxiety and depression, and has sought to document her experience via a series of witty cartoons.
"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 says.
Her illustrated book, The Worrier's Guide To Life, casts a spotlight on over-worrying and insomnia.
"The traits are part of who I am and inspire and infuriate me in equal measure," Gemma says.
She hopes her work, some of which you can see over on her Instagram page (as well as the top main image of this article), will encourage people to speak more freely about the issues they face with mental illness.
2. Irrational Fears
This is one of a series of humorous cartoons titled "IS THAT YOU?" that channel the overbearing power of anxiety, by Mumbai-based artist Pranita Kocharekar.
After many conversations with her friends about the nature of anxiety, Pranita set out to depict the emotions and thoughts of someone suffering from it - rather than the symptoms.
"After speaking to a few friends, I realised that there are many people who suffer from minor and major anxiety," she says. "I also realised that there are simple solutions to minor anxiety such as acknowledging it, meditation and breathing techniques. I knew that stating these facts will not be enough. So I began gathering details of incidents that my friends and I acknowledged and illustrated them."
Check out more of Pranita's illustrations on Instagram.
3. All in the mind
This beautifully simple illustration conveys the internal weight carried by those who suffer from anxiety.
Canadian illustrator Catherine Lepage has published a book of imagery called Thin Slices of Anxiety that draws together depictions of her own struggles with generalised anxiety disorder.
Her cleverly-observed drawings will ring true with anyone who's experienced anxiety, and shares tips on dealing with its unexpected and sometimes paralysing effects.
“I try to explore myself. That’s what magic about it. By understanding how I feel, by getting to know me better, I can create something people can relate to,” Catherine tells Mashable. “People always share the shining side of things, but I think it’s also important to show we’re all human, we all have failures, we have things that are more difficult to cope with.”
You can explore more of Catherine's illustrations on her Instagram page.
4. "You Look So Calm"
France-based illustrator Sow Ay unpicks the detail of how anxiety feels on the inside, versus how it appears on the outside.
His thought-provoking and insightful drawings are testimony to the fact that what you see in an anxiety sufferer is not even close to what's going on underneath.
"Some months ago, I started drawing my thoughts as an person struggling with generalized anxiety, panic attacks and depression," he writes, on Bored Panda.
"I started these drawings because I'm really bad at explaining what's inside my head, and explaining by drawing has always been a lot easier for me."
Sow says illustation is a theraputic process for him.
"It helps a lot," he tells Thought Catalog. "I feel like I’m cleaning my brain by putting my thoughts on paper. The feedback and response is also an amazing support. I feel useful and that gives me a reason to keep creating."
He wants others who suffer from anxiety to know they are not isolated:
“I would like to tell them that they are not alone. And to not be afraid to talk with their friends, family or doctor. People are way more supportive than our mental demon makes us think they are.”
See more of Sow's drawings on his Instagram page.
If you suffer from anxiety, seek help and support with the NHS or Mind.
READ MORE: Six Women We Admire On Battling Anxiety And Depression
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