From a young age-- for as long as I can remember-- I’ve loved Peanuts comics. Because he’s a dog, Snoopy has always been my favorite character. As an adult living with mental illness, however, I find myself also relating to the comic strip’s central human characters: Good ol’ Charlie Brown, Linus, Peppermint Patty, and even Lucy (sometimes). In the stress of preparing to move, I re-read some of my favorite Peanuts collections (both because I was packing them in boxes, and also because I needed some laughter). I noted the comic strips that resonated with me because of my experiences with mental illness. Some made me laugh out loud, while others brought a quiet smile to my face. I decided that’s something worth sharing with others-- especially for those also living with mental illness-- so I compiled a list of my favorites for the Internet world to enjoy. Thank you to the late Charles M. Schulz for creating a world in which it’s okay to talk to your friends about mental health, to use words like “anxiety” and “depression” explicitly, and to laugh at our feelings, sometimes. 1. Insomnia2. Anxiety3. Depression4. Suicidal Thoughts5. Health Care6. Hope
3 Comments
katelyn
5/10/2018 04:19:54 am
You know, I never really "caught" all of the mental health references in the Peanuts comics.....I totally see it now! Thanks for sharing. (Can I share this post on FB or would you rather I didn't?) lmk. Sending love your way!
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Mary Beth
5/11/2018 06:44:56 am
Thanks so much, Katelyn! Feel free to share on FB :) Sending love and hugs to you, as well <3
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Clara
10/31/2021 12:39:32 pm
Thank you so much. Great job! Now I understand why I used to like Peanuts so much when being a little girl. The characters could speak about mental conditions without restriction, without fear.
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Author: Mary Beth SpangGraduate student | Archives
August 2018
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