Riding a bike to help social anxiety disorder, illustration

Hand-drawn illustration depicting a lady riding a bicycle. Positive (yellow) and negative (blue) emotions are depicted on the faces of the people in her thoughts. One individual suffering from social anxiety disorder said: "I have taken up cycling and although I battle with severe anxiety and agoraphobia I have bought a touring bike… this is helping me get out and I am trying to get out once a week at least. It makes me happy when I am on the bike. I am in a world of my own, in control and can shut out other people in my mind and it gives me a sense of calm." This image is part of a communication design project on social anxiety disorder which aims to show anxiety as it is experienced in everyday life: where the anxiety comes from, what it feels like and what people have tried to do to overcome it.