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A young man who faced a lengthy battle against mental illness has told how writing a comic book has helped him turn his life around.
Aaron Moran was once so paranoid he was being spied on through a webcam that he took apart his laptop and buried it in a field.
He was in the throes of a severe mental health crisis, which resulted in him being treated for psychosis for five years.
Now, the former University for the Creative Arts student has published his own graphic novel - which he hopes will help break the stigma surrounding mental illness.
“I’ve suffered from mental health problems for some time,” explained Aaron, 34, who works at Sainsbury’s and lives with his mum in a caravan at Seaview Holiday Park in Whitstable.
“It was bad. I kept thinking I was being framed for crimes I wasn’t doing.
“I was worried someone was watching me through my laptop camera, so once I actually took it apart and buried it in a field.
“I’d be banging my head against the wall, and just generally breaking down.”
But despite paranoia and anxiety taking hold of his life, Aaron denied having a problem for a long time.
“I was worried someone was watching me through my laptop camera, so once I actually took it apart and buried it in a field..." - Aaron Moran
“The hardest part is understanding and admitting you need help,” he said.
“It was only when I saw the toll it was taking on my family and friends and on their mental health - particularly my mum - that I promised I would get help.”
Specialists promptly diagnosed Aaron with psychosis as well as Asperger’s, and he was placed in the care of the Early Intervention in Psychosis Service.
“Psychosis is basically the inability to sense the difference between what’s real and what’s not,” he explained.
“You start to think things are happening that aren’t.”
While undergoing therapy, Aaron’s doctors and helpers discovered his passion for art.
“I’ve always loved being creative and I like comic books” said Aaron.
“My mum said I drew everything and didn’t speak until I was five. My doctors encouraged me to use my abilities as a form of self-psychoanalysis.
“I started drawing and writing about my own experiences, then one day I looked at it and thought ‘actually, this could be something’.”
Seven years on, Aaron’s first graphic novel - Whispers: A book about mental health - has been published by Markosia.
“It’s a dual narrative, about a comic book author and the book he is writing,” he said.
“The two main characters are at different stages of mental health problems - the author is going to therapy, while the character he’s writing about is just beginning to admit he has a problem.”
Aaron explained how - in a genre that centres around indomitable heroes like Superman and Batman as they face fiendish villains - he wanted to depict a protagonist who is battling a more everyday nemesis.
“I wanted to use my experience to help others - and show that no matter how bad your mental health, there is always a way out,” he said.
“The book has helped me understand mental illness, and I hope it helps others too.”
He urges other people facing mental health problems to try drawing and writing.
“I wanted to use my experience to help others - and show that no matter how bad your mental health, there is always a way out...” - Aaron Moran
“Anyone can do it, whatever their age or situation,” he said. “With art, you can create your own story - your own world.
“It’s not a cure, but art really can help. I’m still on medication and still have moments, but I’m very comfortable with who I am now. I’ve realised I’m not a freak, I’m not weird - I just do things my way.
“There is of course a big stigma around mental health problems - but you should never feel shame in it.
"It doesn’t make you less of a person. Suicide is the biggest killer of men aged under 45. It’s important to not just hide what you’re going through.
“No matter what race or religion you are, how old you are, whether you’re straight, gay or transsexual - mental health problems affect people from every walk of life. We’re all human.”
Whispers: A book about mental health is available to buy on Amazon, and Aaron will be signing copies at Sci-Fi by the Sea in Herne Bay on June 16.
