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To say that the COVID pandemic hasnt been easy is to state the obvious. Forget travelling, even catching up with friends over a drink or dinner has been impossible. Locked indoors, we are all coping with stress, anxiety and loneliness in our own way, some not as well as others. The upshot, if any, is that we are now discussing mental health more liberally. And helping the cause are artists on Instagram who are explaining mental health through their work. What does the mind look like in the midst of an anxiety attack? What does overthinking feel like? What can depression do to you? Graphic artists are using their skills to express, explain and empathise.

Illustrator Ananya Broker Parekh is spot on with her work on worrying and overthinking. Using a ball of yarn, she shows what it can feel like, how it festers and can take over your entire being.

Illustrator Tori Press takes the stigma out of seeking therapy and sketches how wonderfully counselling can help one grow. A self-proclaimed therapy enthusiast, she has several other relatable illustrations.

How many of us have been craving some form of physical touch or the other during this lockdown? Illustrator Pearl DSouzas cuddle club makes us think about who we miss the most. Physical touch is a special thing, she writes. Parents, siblings, pets, friends, partners. This lockdown has been hard on all of us, so please dont forget to give virtual and physical cuddles to anyone special to you.

Artist Aparna Ashok tells a thought-provoking tale of a sour orange. It lives its life feeling sour, unable to enjoy anything it does. Ashok leaves the story open-ended, giving her audience a chance to decide its fate. She writes: We often get caught up in a world wind of emotions and fail to recognise the little things in life that matter. Before we realise it, time has passed us by leaving us with regret and remorse. But what if we took control over our emotions? How would our stories end then? Theres a lesson here.

Heal With Art, an Instagram page curated by graphic designer Tanya Mahajan, encourages art therapy. In this illustration, she shows the various paths the mind can see but cant pick, while giving hope to her audience that they will find their way. She writes: Every day, we all are pushing ourselves a little further to cope up with the pandemic. With this unpredictable situation, we all are filled with unwanted emotions, which later leads to anxiety and depression. Please use this time to involve yourself into activities that help your emotions to flow. Thats the only way you can go through it.

Im fine!. How often are we told this, only to realise later that they were anything but. With this comparison to a deflating balloon, artist Brie encourages her audience to check up on people you more often.

This is comic book artist Meredith Laxtons take on what its fine can really mean.

An artist who goes by Feelings Boi on Instagram had this take on depression: Depression can feel like a vampire. It can suck the colour from your life leaving the world around you feeling desaturated.

Abstract artist Ashley reminds us that the mind can play tricks on you. Sharing her work, she writes: It serves as a reminder that my brain can lie to me and tell me things that are untrue. Sometimes you have to check yourself and thats totally okay!

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Coping with COVID: These stunning Instagram artworks dive deep into the mind - Cond Nast Traveller India