Lost in isolation and loneliness, I discovered the world of Gundam. From the model kits, video games, and anime, I found that the characters’ struggles often mirrored my own mental health problems. But Gundam inspired hope. In the words of Banagher and Gundam quotes, I found motivation. And in Gundam Unicorn Anime, I finally discovered the true power of possibility.

The portrayal of mental health in Marvel’s Moon Knight has been a messy one. From the early years when his personas were simple disguises, to his mental trauma as a result of supernatural phenomena, to the recent depiction of Moon Knight having DID. His journey reflects not only the changes in the character but society’s prejudices and its eventual understanding of those with mental illness.

From that first booster pack, I became a fan of Pokemon TCG. But with the release of new sets, I became Pokemon obsessed. I was afraid of missing out and my passion led to intrusive thoughts. My mind was always on ways to buy and collect Pokemon cards. But I needed to learn how to deal with obsessive thoughts. Here are practical tips on what I learned in my journey in how to overcome obsession.

Superheroes are, by their very nature, special. They exhibit incredible powers and hold themselves to incomparable moral standards. They exist to show us the best possible versions of ourselves. But the X-Men in particular serve to remind us that sometimes we all struggle with self-acceptance and feeling different. But that it is our own uniqueness that makes us special.

I can’t see dice.

I can’t see grid maps.

I can’t read spell cards or manuals.

I can’t operate a character sheet.

When I was first invited into a game I certainly didn’t expect to face my worst fear. I absolutely never expected to overcome it.

All Green Lantern had to do was think about something and his ring would make it real. But it’s more than creativity, the ring that runs on willpower and courage. And for me, the Green Lantern has come to mean overcoming fears, both external and those the reside inside of us.

The last few years have seen everything from comic book superheroes to Dungeons & Dragons in the spotlight. While the media has flashed headlines of the “Year of the Nerd.” But for all the positive changes, is being a nerd truly accepted as cool?

Being true to yourself is so much more than just a nice quote and magically believing in yourself. But why is it so hard to be authentic? We wear these masks for work and society, sometimes I don’t know who I am. How to live authentically? Be yourself, be the true person underneath. But I admit, I often am not living authentically. It’s a struggle and one that I fail at again and again but keep trying.

I am a people pleaser. Making others happy shouldn’t be a bad thing. After all, what’s the danger of being a people-pleaser? But it means losing yourself, almost entirely. Why am I a people pleaser? It’s a habit that I can’t shake. These are my confessions, the confessions of a people pleaser. And what recovery and authenticity mean to those, like myself, that are trying to find their way back.