Written and Illustrated by Lauren McAvoy
Dark Companions
Dark Companions is an illustrated short story about my mental health and the depression and anxiety that overshadowed much of my adolescence. Struggles with mental health are a large part of our society, and the more personal and intimate aspects of these struggles are often hidden and taboo to talk about.
This story helps to illuminate the darker parts of struggling with mental health and shows that through connections and support from others, the struggle can be eased.
This story explores my experience living with a persistent, shadowy presence: the mental health struggles that shaped much of my adolescence. In those years, I often felt isolated and numb, caught inside my own mind and surrounded by an overwhelming tide of negative thoughts.
Depression can feel like moving through a dense, lightless forest, where the weight of despair pushes you toward places that only deepen the hurt. What changed my path was reaching out to people who genuinely understood. Their care helped me find my way back to wanting a life worth living.
Although these dark companions may never disappear entirely, their influence can be softened by connection, compassion, and the steady presence of others. This project is a reflection on resilience and the healing power of empathy.
