Geodeer

TL;DR: if you're struggling with depression, read it. If you're not, read it to understand anyway.

So, this is the first thing I've drawn for myself in a very long time. I've always made it a point to kind of paint myself in a happy light online, so on my Instagram and Facebook pages, it's a simple exercise with my fineliner set I bought a while ago.
I feel like Deviantart is a much more community based platform, so I don't feel weird in telling y'all what this piece actually was. 
I went through an awful period of depression. I am prone to them, and I often feel trapped by the lack of access to mental health help in my country. This period was particularly bad. Although it did mean I advanced about ten levels in Skyrim, since that was my escape hatch. 
This piece was a spur of the moment piece I did that sort of spurred the coming out. Inspired by an artist I'm sure you all know of, it just seemed to fit. And the mark making was mindless enough to be therapeutic. And the beauty of it at the end (I know it sounds silly) was enough to kickstart me into doing other things, like getting out of bed for the first time in over a week. Like making actual real supper instead of just eating slices of bread because they're easy. Like doing some work. Like taking a shower.

Now I sit here typing this, almost ready to go outside and meet up with some friends, feeling just that bit more strengthened. I love this piece. So here it is. And I hope there are others out there who can relate to it, and find some strength in it too. When in doubt, just make good art. 
Holla Mr Gaiman. (if you havent already, watch his Make Art Speech)

Another beautiful and helpful piece of art: Kona Shiomachi's manga on Depression

Love and light. Sounds cheesy, but wishes to you all in the darkness.