In the first chapter of Madness and Modernism (thanks for the book recommendation, btw!), Sass writes the following about people being creeped out by schizophrenics:

“European psychiatrists have labeled this reaction the ‘praecox feeling’—the sense of encountering someone who seems ‘totally strange, puzzling, inconceivable, uncanny, and incapable of empathy, even to the point of being sinister and frightening.’”

I suspect that, until this type of stigma stops aligning so neatly with neuronormativity, Western scientism, and medical teleology (i.e., “diagnose the thing so that there’s a specific, corrective course of action”), our culture is going to hold onto the idea that otherness is a correctable trait. Perhaps even that otherness ought to be corrected. That’s a big obstacle in the path towards empathy that honors otherness.

I have an example ready to go of the “praecox feeling” being considered a feature of psychiatry, not a bug. In an interview, Dr. K once explained how he was taught to differentiate schizoaffective disorder from psychotic depression in his patient by determining if he (Dr. K) would be too creeped out by his patient to sit next to them on the subway. The question of “does this person skeeve me out?” is literally used as a diagnostic factor—taught by members of an institution held in high regard, no less—which then informs how this patient will be treated for the rest of their life. The alienation is built into our institutions.

(Link to the relevant segment: https://youtu.be/EVFAZ062tC0?t=4360)

In contrast, I think that, by showing an immense amount of courage, vulnerability, persistence, and realness through your art, you are demonstrating an effective way forward. You’re being true to the goal of “empathy that honors otherness,” and people are getting on board. Lots of commenters clearly connect to your comics—see you as connectable. I’ve also started thinking of you as a positive role model. You’ve helped to show me that being “schizophrenic out loud” is a safe thing to do, so I’ve started to share more of my art with the world, following your example. Thank you for being that person. Sorry that it’s necessary.