[Panel 1: What to do About Paranoia by Christine Deneweth.]

[Panel 2 and 3: Person with short curly brown hair, glasses, and a green shirt. She is saying, “Hi, my name is Crass and I’m schizophrenic and I experience paranoia. Paranoia is an intense fear usually of persecution or conspiracy. It can be hard to deal with. So I’ve compiled a list of techniques to keep it under control.”]

[Panel 4: Drawing of a fire, an exclamation point, and a stop symbol. The text says, “So what is paranoia? Paranoia is intense anxious and fearful thoughts often about danger, conspiracy, or persecution.”]

[Panel 5: Drawing of a brain. The text says, “What does it feel like? It feels like you can’t trust anything or anyone. Even your own mind.]

[Panel 6: Crass saying, “Everyone experiences it at some point, but it can be debilitating for people with anxiety disorders and schizophrenia.”]

[Panel 7: Dripping text saying, “My story with paranoia. There was one summer, four years ago, where my paranoia was so bad I didn’t know who I was.”]

[Panel 8: Crass with two heads saying, “I thought I had multiple personalities and I tried to be hyper aware of everything at all times.”]

[Panel 9: Crass looks normal but upset. She is saying, “I was convinced that my entire life was an experiment to see if I could figure out how mentally ill I was an that everyone I knew was in on it.”]

[Panel 10: Speech bubble containing a heart and skull. The text says, “I thought that the things people said had double meanings, and subtle things with tonal inflection were cues for me to try to decode.”]

[Panel 11: Crass talking to a therapist. The text says, “This went on for three months. I finally sought help and started my mental health process.”]

[Panel 12: Crass smiling. The text says, “Now I’m medicated and regularly go to therapy. Everything is much better now.”]

[Panel 13, 14, and 15: Crass saying, “Therapy and medication are a must. But they’re not always available when you’re having a flare-up. And since paranoia isn’t seen as ‘normal’ there isn’t much information about how to personally cope with it. Let’s get into ways you can snap yourself out of it when you don’t have access to therapy or medication.”]

[Panel 16: Number one. Drawing of a brain. The text says, “Get to know your paranoia.”]

[Panel 17: Drawing of a magnifying glass. The text says, “Figure out what it is that you’re paranoid about. Learn what triggers are. It may seem strange, but explore those feelings.”]

[Panel 18: Crass smiling and saying, “This helped me start to fight back. Understanding what I was paranoid about and what to avoid was a major help.”]

[Panel 19: Number two. Drawing of a paper and pencil. The text says, “Write out your thoughts.”]

[Panel 20: Crass writing. The text says, “Write out what you’re thinking in the heat of a flare-up. Get as much as you can out.”]

[Panel 21: Crass saying, “The more that’s on the paper, the less that’s in your head.”]

[Panel 22: Number three. Drawing of a red exclamation point. The text says, “Distractions.”]

[Panel 23: Drawing of a cat and a cellphone. The text says, “Redirect your attention to something else. Go outside, pet your pet, take a bath, listen to music, call a friend.”]

[Panel 24: Crass smiling and saying, “Try to push the paranoid thoughts out of your head by replacing them with other thoughts.”]

[Panel 25: Number four. Drawing of a green check mark. The text says, “Disprove.”]

[Panel 26: Text that says, “After you’ve written down your thoughts and had a break, if you’re still feeling paranoid, read what you wrote and ask where the proof is for what you were paranoid about.”]

[Panel 27: Crass smiling and saying, “I can’t actually back up my paranoid thoughts with any solid evidence. So usually this is enough to get them to stop.”]

[Panel 28: Number five. Drawing of a pink heart. The text says, “Talk to someone you trust.”]

[Panel 29: Drawing of a cellphone and writing on paper. The text says, “If you’re still having paranoia, it’s always ok to reach out. Read what you wrote down to someone you trust. They care about your well-being.”]

[Panel 30: Crass smiling and saying, “Sometimes it takes a good friend or loved one’s words to snap out of it. And that’s ok!”]

[Panel 31, 32, and 33: Crass smiling and saying, “Paranoia is seen as taboo, but we can’t help people without talking about it. You’re not alone, and your comfort is important! It can be hard when you’re battling your own mind, but you are strong! And you have tons of love and support to help you along the way!”]

Comic made by Christine Deneweth for Everyday Feminism.