Living with anxiety is not easy. Someone with the condition would know how the smallest of things like the tick-tock of a wall clock can literally control your life when you have anxiety. Mumbai-based artist Pranita Kocharekar has been long exploring the subject in her artwork to bring out the challenges of dealing with anxiety on a daily basis and to make people realise that they are not alone in this battle.

Talking about the purpose of her art, she shared in a previous interaction with IWB, “For those suffering from anxiety – You’re not alone! Acknowledging an illness is the first step towards curing it. For society – Any mental illness is dangerous if not treated. Helping one another is also one of the first few steps to cure!”

In observation of the Mental Health Awareness Month, Pranita has released her latest series on the topic where she has illustrated some methods of Surviving Anxiety, which have proved effective for her in the past.

“Surviving Anxiety is a series of illustrations that help deal with anxiety. We often have moments of crippling anxiety & helplessness. This #MentalHealthAwareness Month, I’m illustrating every small help that I received & discovered to reduce my anxiety. These are purely based on my personal experience & may not help everyone in need. Anxiety comes from deep-rooted causes, in order to identify those & to bring about a change, please reach out to a professional therapist,” she writes.

She adds, “Acknowledging & understanding your anxiety is the first step to fixing it!”

Here are few of the illustrations:

I read for an hour daily – this helps my mind stay distracted from ‘real life problems’ & helps me stay relaxed. Colouring is also a great way to relax your mind. What activity will you pick up for better mental health? ⠀ ⠀ #SurvivingAnxiety (2/10) is a series of illustrations that help deal with anxiety. We often have moments of crippling anxiety & helplessness. This #MentalHealthAwareness Month, I’m illustrating every small help that I received & discovered to reduce my anxiety. These are purely based on my personal experience & may not help everyone in need. Anxiety comes from deep rooted causes, in order to identify those & to bring about a change, please reach out to a professional therapist. ⠀⠀ .⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀ #1503 #pranitasdrawingaday #illustrationartist #thegridlife #illustree #illustrationdaily #comic #type #lettering #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmay #illustrationartist #thegridlife #illustree #illustration #watercolour #watercolourillustrations #anxiety #depression #therapy #cripplinganxiety #selfcare #selfcareisimportant #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mentalhealthawareness #grounding #indianillustrator

1,438 Likes, 30 Comments – Pranita Kocharekar (@pranitart) on Instagram: “I read for an hour daily – this helps my mind stay distracted from ‘real life problems’ & helps me…”

Tag those friends who need to see this!⠀ I’m tagging myself because I have to admit – this one is very difficult for me as well. Being aware every time you’re derogating yourself is a habit that can go a long way. If you’re hard on yourself, you cannot expect yourself to be any different with others around you. This affects your relationship with yourself & others. ⠀ Body shaming yourself can be really brutal, increase your social anxiety & affect your confidence. So every time you catch yourself doing this – make notes of it so you remember how often you’re doing it – it helps increase awareness <3⠀ ⠀⠀ #SurvivingAnxiety (3/10) is a series of illustrations that help deal with anxiety. We often have moments of crippling anxiety & helplessness. This #MentalHealthAwareness Month, I'm illustrating every small help that I received & discovered to reduce my anxiety. These are purely based on my personal experience & may not help everyone in need. Anxiety comes from deep rooted causes, in order to identify those & to bring about a change, please reach out to a professional therapist. ⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #1504 #pranitasdrawingaday #illustrationartist #thegridlife #illustree #illustrationdaily #comic #type #lettering #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmay #illustrationartist #thegridlife #illustree #illustration #watercolour #watercolourillustrations #anxiety #depression #therapy #cripplinganxiety #selfcare #selfcareisimportant #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mentalhealthawareness #grounding #indianillustrator

1,521 Likes, 24 Comments – Pranita Kocharekar (@pranitart) on Instagram: “Tag those friends who need to see this!⠀ I’m tagging myself because I have to admit – this one is…”

Do you journal? If so, what’s your process like?⠀ I usually literally write my thoughts out, sometimes my page starts with “I’m looking at my shadow & it looks like a peacock.” & ends with “… maybe I need a break, I’m burnt out” ⠀ Sounds bizarre & it IS biazzare in my head sometimes. But whenever I write, it’s like my thoughts are slowly & steadily aligning; I can finally understand my anxiety. Acknowledging & understanding your anxiety is the first step to fixing it!⠀ ⠀ #SurvivingAnxiety (4/10) is a series of illustrations that help deal with anxiety. We often have moments of crippling anxiety & helplessness. This #MentalHealthAwareness Month, I’m illustrating every small help that I received & discovered to reduce my anxiety. These are purely based on my personal experience & may not help everyone in need. Anxiety comes from deep rooted causes, in order to identify those & to bring about a change, please reach out to a professional therapist. ⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #1505 #pranitasdrawingaday #illustrationartist #thegridlife #illustree #illustrationdaily #comic #type #lettering #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmay #illustrationartist #thegridlife #illustree #illustration #watercolour #watercolourillustrations #anxiety #depression #therapy #cripplinganxiety #selfcare #selfcareisimportant #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mentalhealthawareness #grounding #journalling #indianillustrator

868 Likes, 31 Comments – Pranita Kocharekar (@pranitart) on Instagram: “Do you journal? If so, what’s your process like?⠀ I usually literally write my thoughts out,…”

Tag your friend in need 🙂 I’m tagging @shachilavingia & @with_stupid they are like rainbows, adding a lot of colour to my life especially in dark times 🙂 ⠀ -⠀ I would 100% recommend seeking professional help from a therapist (tagging mine! <3 @rgpsychotherapy) but in times of crippling anxiety/ panic attacks, I pick the phone & speak to my best friends till I'm better. Surviving anxiety alone seems very difficult & having a support system by your side is just so reassuring <3 ⠀ ⠀ #SurvivingAnxiety (5/10) is a series of illustrations that help deal with anxiety. We often have moments of crippling anxiety & helplessness. This #MentalHealthAwareness Month, I'm illustrating every small help that I received & discovered to reduce my anxiety. These are purely based on my personal experience & may not help everyone in need. Anxiety comes from deep rooted causes, in order to identify those & to bring about a change, please reach out to a professional therapist. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #1506 #pranitasdrawingaday #illustrationartist #thegridlife #illustree #illustrationdaily #comic #type #lettering #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmay #illustrationartist #thegridlife #illustree #illustration #watercolour #watercolourillustrations #anxiety #depression #therapy #cripplinganxiety #selfcare #selfcareisimportant #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mentalhealthawareness #grounding #journalling #indianillustrator

1,610 Likes, 53 Comments – Pranita Kocharekar (@pranitart) on Instagram: “Tag your friend in need 🙂 I’m tagging @shachilavingia & @with_stupid they are like rainbows,…”

No is a full complete sentence. Do you have trouble saying no, if so do you know why?⠀ -⠀ #SurvivingAnxiety (6/10) is a series of illustrations that help deal with anxiety. We often have moments of crippling anxiety & helplessness. This #MentalHealthAwareness Month, I’m illustrating every small help that I received & discovered to reduce my anxiety. These are purely based on my personal experience & may not help everyone in need. Anxiety comes from deep rooted causes, in order to identify those & to bring about a change, please reach out to a professional therapist. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #1507 #pranitasdrawingaday #illustrationartist #thegridlife #illustree #illustrationdaily #comic #type #lettering #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmay #illustrationartist #thegridlife #illustree #illustration #watercolour #watercolourillustrations #anxiety #depression #therapy #cripplinganxiety #selfcare #selfcareisimportant #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mentalhealthawareness #grounding #journalling #indianillustrator

1,063 Likes, 18 Comments – Pranita Kocharekar (@pranitart) on Instagram: “No is a full complete sentence. Do you have trouble saying no, if so do you know why?⠀ -⠀…”