Generous snake
Cleo has a way of solving problems :p
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ANNOUNCEMENT:
Hey everyone!
First of all, don’t panic! Nothing’s gonna change about the comic. I’m NOT going on hiatus or anything like that. I merely want to explain my situation right now.
I want to talk to you all about what’s been going on with me lately. You might have noticed I haven’t reacted on comments as much as I used to before.
Believe me, I still read each and every one of the comments, but there’s a reason why I haven’t answered most of them recently. As you may know, ever since october last year, I’ve been having some health problems. Mental health problems, it turns out.
At first, my doctor had diagnosed me with stomach ulcers, which after some tests, turned out to be true. I was also suffering from having difficulty with breathing. My doctor figured it was caused by the ulcers, but also gave me some anti-anxiety medicine because I asked for help with the breathing issues.
In november, when I started the stomach medicine and anxiety medicine, it all turned better. We all figured it indeed were the ulcers.
In december, it turned worse again. I had been off the anxiety medicine for a couple weeks when it was slowly getting worse again. At the start of the year, I went back to the doctor and I’m now back on anxiety medicine and I’m in therapy.
Turns out I have something called ‘Hyperventilation syndrome’. I’ve been walking around with that for over 15 years now, and I finally know what it is. It has always been manageable, but 2020 was the final straw that broke the camel’s back, so to say. At its worst, I was unable to even sit at a computer for longer than 15 minutes, let alone get any work done. The meds are helping me function, but the therapy and coping strategies are what have to help me in the long run.
I’m relieved to finally have a diagnosis that explains the various symptoms I’ve been experiencing over the last decade and more, but I’m also a bit frustrated that it’s a mental disorder. It’s hard to “cure” this, and I will most likely have to watch out for this for the rest of my life. Luckily, I have a good therapist who has the same condition herself, so she knows what it’s like and what can be done.
I will definitely get through this, as I’ve always done. I might have to stay silent a while longer as I make the necessary life changes to help control this better. Rest assured that the comic will continue as it has always done.
Wish me luck, people! And all of you, take care of yourself as well 😀
Cleo knows what normally happens.
given her past ‘friends’ its no surprise that this is her automatic reaction….part of her has to worry, at least subconsciously, that one day kaya will turn into another leech. bet she´s amazed time and again when kaya refuses her (financial) help and really just wants to be friends with her
Cleo, it seems, is ready to help,
even if it’s just with her cash
as Kaya grins like a young loon
and Benji cuts quite a dash.
The young Doggywan is quite sage
and offers them some good advice.
Cleo was always going to help
no-one had to ask her twice.
Kaya made quite a scene, it seems,
before the bus driver drifts off.
Her way of asking help needs help –
This way had made our Benji scoff.
And best of luck to you, young Robin.
Cleo knows her stuff, most problems can be solved by throwing money at it.
Well, you can spend money to get people to help you with problems that are too big for you alone to solve.
People with the knowledge or abilities, the tools or the connections.
I don´t like it being oversimplified to “throw money at it”, because in the end, how much can one person really do?
And asking other for help is ok, you should of course compensate them for helping you. Not necessarily with money, the classic “one hand washes the other” works with other ways of compensation as well. But in the end, it´s the same.
Hope you get along alright, Robin! I know all too well what mental suffering can be like. At this point, I’m just glad to live in an era where mental health is an acknowledged thing that needs to be taken care of.
Everybody’s straight to the point, today huh?
I’m glad they did. I was afraid we have several pages of dancing around the issue before everyone admits what the situation is.
(Like, technically, we still can, but seems Benji is going to explain what’s the problem no matter what Kaya will say.)
I love how Cleo’s FIRST reaction is to ask how much money the problem is. Even if she’s not automatically offering to pay, she assumes the problem is financial. And her attitude is a willingness to help. That’s great! 🙂
And of course, Kaya is nervous about what Cleo is assuming. Kaya’s assuming about Cleo’s assumptions, lol! At least in this case, the misunderstanding is easily fixed! Yay!
Thank you for creating and sharing Twin Dragons with us. Re health issues, knowing is always better than not knowing. Good luck.
Big hugs, Robin – I know you’ll feel better able to cope soon. (trust me, you will – I have a similar condition and I have found ways to put up with what I have to and improve what can be improved. If I can do it, ANYONE can! ; ))
Well, I’ve always taken you as inspirational. Up at weird hours but inspirational.
Well, OF COURSE I’m up at weird hours… I’m a skunk! (We ARE crepuscular, after all!)
For them that knows not, it means Animals active during the dawn and Dusk hours. It does NOT mean he’s creepy, right, Skunkbro?
I’m guessing that the best advice that Cleo’ll be able to give is going to boil down to her (and her dad) agreeing to only loan the money instead of downright gifting it…
And with regard to the frustration of having mental health problems instead of physical, they’ve both got their drawbacks and advantages – at least with mental heath, you can get around most of the problems with some neurochemical rebalancing supplements, coping methods, and workarounds. That said, knowing what to call the problem is a very helpful step – I’ve got Disgraphia (like Dislexia, but it affects the forming of words and letters, not the understanding of words) and getting it officially named, and the advice that came with that, was a huge help in getting my school to give me the help I needed (unfortunately, I was almost finished with school when that happened, and the advice was exactly what my mum and dad had been trying to get the school to do from the get go, but “they’re not qualified!” got in the way)
Not a loan.
An INVESTMENT. perhaps a silent partnership with Cleo (or her dad) getting a fixed percentage share of profits for the next five years?
I’m glad to hear you’re getting help Robin. As someone who suffers from depression myself, I know how rough 2020 has been for those with mental health issues. (Not that it hasn’t been rough for everyone else too, but man did it pile on for those of us already struggling.) Even if our conditions can’t be fully cured, they can be managed. I wish only the best for you, and truly I do admire your commitment to maintaining this amazing comic and helping bring light to the days of all of us readers. It takes so much strength to spend your time working on something for others when you’re already dealing with so much yourself. Keep it up, Robin. Stay strong. Remember that we’re here for you. And as always, stay awesome.
I would add that I’m glad you don’t consider anxiety medicine final solution. Most of mental health medicine has long list of harmful sideefects, so if your problem is manageable with therapy and coping strategies it’s better than pills.
… no idea why would this being related to answering comments less, but I definitely support anything which will help you. Health is more important than the comics … and in long run, bad health would affect the comics even worse.
Quite simply, you don’t want your mood to affect the way you speak to your readers. If someone happens to start something you don’t like, you want to politely discourage it; if they say something you do like, you want to make your appreciation known. Being in a bad way – physically or mentally – will affect the way you respond to such things. Given that Robin has in the past been non-responsive as a result of personal business, his readers know not to take a lack of response personally, so it’s the lesser evil.
im glad your okay, will keep you in prayers🙏🏿
Glad to hear you’re getting help. Bute forcing your way through mental issues on your own can mess people up.
Well, at least Cleo knows it involves money.
Sometimes wisdom is more valuable than gold!
Zen hugs to you Robin.
If you need time to improve, take it.
One of the most important thing to remember.
It is OK not to be OK and some days are just harder than others.
You have made the first big step, simply telling other people there is an issue.
Sorry for being a day late here. Anyways looks like they’ll be asking for advise, which could be of help depending on if Mr. Romero takes it up. I do wonder though: 50 grand in the hole, was math not his strongest subject in school? Maybe after looking things over Cleo will advise that he maybe has someone else manage the finances while he sticks to managing the restaurant and cooking.
On the other non comic matter: I’m glad you finally have an official diagnosis! Can’t really address a problem if you don’t know what it is. While mental health can be tricky you at least now have a clear idea of what you’re dealing with and can get the kind of help you need. I hope things go well for you on that matter.
I would love to have a bus ride with Kaya XD
Cleo is kind but somehow it is sad that this has become her automatic reaction
And the best of luck to you Robin! 😀
Plot twist…Cleo doesn’t give them money…she invests in the restaurant because now that she’s free of the terrible trio, she’s trying to demonstrate good business sense.
Cleo: “Yeah, um…remember when I had that Monopoly game where we ended up doing actual real estate? Well…I think your apartment building was a placeholder for a hotel. The good news, it’s mine, so…I can knock a huge chunk off of your rent, at least down to maintenance and taxes, maybe even invest something into the restaurant?”
Kai: “Wait…you OWN the building?!”
Cleo: “Yeah…I thought I could use it to save for college.”
Addendum:
As a fan I’m glad you’re getting help.
And as a doctor, I can say that while there is a mental health issue, it’s less of a software (mind) problem and more of a hardware (neurology) problem (i.e., you’re not crazy, but your nervous system has some significant quirks…I have my own neurological quirks so I’m in the same boat). Hyperventilation syndrome has some overlap with panic attacks, in that your sympathetic nervous system (the fight-or-flight autopilot) starts activating in the wrong way. I have my own anxiety issues…it’s one of the reasons why I would like to see marijuana decriminalized. Different strains can have different effects…some are purely recreational, some have therapeutic effects against autism, and some are anxiolytic (anxiety medication). We do need some more research on the subject, though.
You’re not alone. I can’t give any better information here (and it’d be better to be discreet on that anyway), but I know how to seek out the info and translate it out of “medspeak.”
Robin, I wish you luck with the mental health stuff. I’m only just starting to discover everything I have, I’m sure there’s lots more yet to come. Thanks to a Film Theory video on the Grinch, I now know I have misophonia, and my OCD may be more serious than I initially realized. We’re all in this together, as it were.
On an unrelated note, something I’ve been meaning to comment about for a while: everyone’s profile pics are blank for me and seem to be that way regardless of private tab/browser or adblock status (which I do usually keep off on webcomic sites in general).
So idk what happened but when I came back after a break from my computer the avatars appeared. They’ve been missing for literal months idk what happened.
“- I’m sorry for pushing the button” , “- I’m sorry for yelling” ……… What will be the next ? “- I’m sorry for burning the bus” ?? ^_^”
I hope and wish your health problems resolves quickly and in the good way , Robin ; stay safe and take care to you first
Kaya has some wonderful postures and posing today! (I just got back from a trip to Mom’s) I particularly like her posture and right-hand positioning in panels 1 and 2. Her body-language in the last panel is also right on. The fact that you included a bit of shadow for Cleo’s foot in panel 4 is a nice touch too.
I like your new doctor! She sounds good. 🙂