I Am Anxious... Jarrett J. Krosoczka
The National Book Award Finalist talks stable homes, uncertainty, anxiety, and his new graphic memoir Sunshine.
Jarrett J. Krosoczka is the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator behind more than forty books for young readers, including his wildly popular Lunch Lady graphic novels, select volumes of the Star Warsâ„¢: Jedi Academy series, and Hey, Kiddo, which was a National Book Award Finalist.
Krosoczka creates books with humor, heart, and deep respect for his young readers—qualities that have made his titles perennial favorites on the bookshelves of homes, libraries, and bookstores over the past twenty-two years.
The author’s highly anticipated next graphic novel Sunshine: How One Camp Taught Me About Life, Death, and Hope was released on April 18, 2023 and is now available everywhere books are sold.
You can find him on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and on his website.
How long have you been an anxious person?
That's hard for me to pinpoint. In reflection, it's something that I have always had hovering. As a small child—from newborn through my third birthday—I lived alone with my mother, who had an opioid addiction disorder. She couldn't provide me with a stable home, and there was always a lot of uncertainty—who would be coming through or if any adult would be home at all. From there, my maternal grandparents gained custody of me. With their drinking, I was never sure what version of them I would get. But in 2017, while working on my first graphic memoir, Hey, Kiddo, I started regular therapy, which is when the official diagnosis came.
What is your earliest memory of being anxious?
My earliest memories of anxiety all came from my interactions with my caretakers. Would they be loving and comforting? Or would they be under the influence of something? My grandfather became very caring when he was drunk, but my grandmother? She became mean, cussing and screaming.
Have you ever experienced a panic attack?
I'm not quite sure. But I will say I cannot deal with being trapped in the window seat of a flight.
What do you do when you feel anxious? How do you take care of yourself in those situations? Do you have any anxiety management tips or tricks?
I get flooded. As a father and a busy professional, I have a constant stream of "asks" coming in. Before I get to a boiling point, I need to retreat to a quiet room alone or take a walk. That typically brings me back to "baseline okay."
When you're not feeling anxious (simply in your day-to-day life), what do you do for self care?
I have three small dogs, and they make the best weighted blankets. Sometimes, I need to disassociate from the world and jump into the FYP on TikTok. It's the only social media platform where I actually feel better about life after spending time on it. While my Twitter handle still exists, I rarely look at that space.
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What are some of your favorite examples of Pop Culture that gets anxiety and mental health right?
I'll recommend a few graphic novels that I really loved! Swallow Me Whole by Nate Powell / Guts by Raina Telgemeier / Improve: How I Discovered Improv and Conquered Social Anxiety by Alex Graudins / Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini — yes, this prose novel was adapted to the graphic novel format!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I appreciate that you have this platform and share it!
Editor’s Note: This interview was edited slightly for length and clarity.
Thank you so much to Jarrett for participating in the I Am Anxious… questionnaire. I’ve been lucky enough to become friendly with him over the last few years and I can say, without a doubt, that he’s one of the kindest and most giving individuals you’ll ever find.
His new graphic memoir Sunshine is tremendous and if you can see one of his book launch events, I highly recommend it. He’s doing live readings of the memoir on stage with loads of folks in various cities. Really fun stuff. Thanks again, Jarrett!
If you are interested in being a part of the newsletter in the coming weeks and taking the I Am Anxious… questionnaire, please email me (scott.neumyer@gmail.com) and I’ll get you on the list! I’d love to have you. I would love to get to the point where we are sharing so many reader stories that I’m backed up for months.
Be well and keep talking.
DISCLAIMER: I am, by no means, a medical profession. If you need help, please seek qualified medical attention. This newsletter, while informative and fun, is no substitute for the real thing.