INTRODUCTION
Life often feels like a rollercoaster, full of highs, lows, twists, and unexpected turns.
Feeling overwhelmed sometimes is completely normal. Many people silently struggle with mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, and more. Some are simply born a little different and that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s something beautiful.
No matter what you’re facing, always remember: you are worth it.
Everyone has something that brings them joy, a passion that makes life a little brighter. Some people find comfort in book clubs, others in cooking classes.
For me, that spark of joy comes from being part of the anime and cosplay community.
“For many of us, cosplay can be truly life-changing. I’ve struggled with feeling ‘different’ for a long time. But through cosplay and crafting, I found a special place where I could truly be myself. It’s my happy place.”
Cosplay gave me a way to express emotions words couldn’t capture. Sure, I’ve had my fair share of awkward and hilarious moments, like trying to act like the characters I cosplay and totally failing. But you know what? That’s part of the magic.
Through cosplay, I found a community that understands and accepts me, quirks and all. A place where creativity, passion, and kindness are celebrated. A sense of belonging I never thought I’d find. Now, I can’t imagine life without it.
Of course, there are still days when anxiety creeps in, or when doubts whisper that I don’t belong. But then I remind myself: this is my journey. I don’t need to be perfect.
Here is a special reminder to reach out: You don’t have to carry everything on your own. Whether you’re overwhelmed, uncertain, or just need someone to listen, connection matters. Asking for help isn’t weakness, it’s courage. You are not alone, and support is always closer than you think.
Behind the Cosplay: Real Advice, Real People
Meet Matthew Barry
An UK cosplayer and the 2024 Global Crown Champion at C2E2, with a collection of prestigious awards to his name and a passion for bringing characters to life like no other.
Matthew Barry shared:
“Be curious, not judgemental. The other people in the green room or waiting to be judged are not your biggest enemy, they can easily be your greatest allies. A lot of my closest friends I’ve met competing against them. But by becoming friends they’ve taught me new skills, techniques, and we’ve shared so many memories together. Go into judging with the desire to learn, the desire to improve. Understand that everyone is always continuing to learn and grow, and if you can find people willing to help you – always cherish it.”
“If you don’t win or place, don’t be disheartened. Success is a goal you set for yourself.”
“You can “lose” and still succeed, just the same as many people win and fail. My first time at crown finals I did not accomplish my goal of winning or placing. But through the people I met, the things I learned about myself and what I could do, I was able to go on to succeed later. By not winning I became a better crafter, and I’m glad for it.”
Meet Neon Okami Cosplay (he/him)
The brilliant mind behind the Cosplay Lab Community on Discord. A passionate and seasoned competitor, Neon has showcased his talents at numerous cosplay conventions and proudly represented on the global stage at the World Cosplay Summit.
Neon Okami Cosplay added:
“So if you’re looking to enter cosplay competitions, it’s important that you keep your goals in sight. A healthy goal would be to improve your skills with constructive feedback and improve with each cosplay.”
“While yes, we compete to win, you have to keep good sportsmanship in mind. Everyone else is as invested in the competition as you are and you need to show respect for competitors.”
“That being said, competing isn’t for everyone. It’s a lot of pressure and it can ruin the hobby for some people so remember those goals.”
“The most important part of entering the competition scene for the first time is to read the rules. The rules are so important regardless of your skill level because it’s easy to overlook something and then get disqualified or points deducted. The rules will explain the competition in detail with regards to what the judges will be looking for.”
“Reach out to experienced competitors and respectfully ask for their advice. There is so much knowledge to be shared in the community.”
“But the number one rule is to remember that you don’t need to compete to be a valid cosplayer. As long as you’re having fun and doing your best, that’s all anyone can ask of you.”
Meet Comigeko Cosplay
A standout cosplayer celebrated for both incredible craftsmanship and spot-on character embodiment.
Known for unforgettable portrayals like Beetlejuice and Mileena from Mortal Kombat, his bold style and flawless taste in characters leave a lasting impression wherever he goes.
Comi gecko Cosplay gave advice especially for beginners:
“Best advice for beginners remain as calm as possible, try to stay in character until the judges ask you to break character, try to not over elaborate the details of your cosplay.”
Keeping Your Cool During Convention Chaos
Coping with Overwhelm at Conventions
Conventions are amazing but they can also be loud, crowded, and overwhelming, especially for people who are sensitive to sensory overload. So what are some good coping strategies for cosplayers?
Matthew Barry suggested:
“A good coping mechanism is to have friends to go to the con with. People who you can trust and identify your signs when you’re overwhelmed. Not being alone in itself helps to prevent those feelings.”
“More cons have started added “reset” rooms where you can go to chill if you are getting anxious or overwhelmed, with the specific goal of preventing panic attacks.”
“Making sure you have a “safe spot” where you can go to recharge is good. It can be a cafe, a hotel room near by, or even a bench; have a plan and a space.”
Neon Okami Cosplay added:
“If you know youre prone to bouts of anxiety, never attend a convention alone. Or if you do attend alone, then make sure you’ll be meeting up with friends you trust. the con space is so overwhelming because of the sheer amount of people, the noise, and the chaos happening around you. there is no right or wrong way to experience a convention so don’t worry about doing everything that’s available. its entirely up to you whether you want to see celebrities and attend panels or if you want to see artist alley and spend time with your friends.”
“I often get those times where I can feel a panic attack coming and I just hold onto a friend’s wrist to feel grounded. Make sure to discuss with your friends how they can support you if you do feel anxious or overwhelmed. Depending on the convention, there may be quiet rooms or spaces you can decompress.”
ComiGecko Cosplay also recommends:
“Best coping mechanisms i could recommend always make Sure you have a friend with you that knows how to keep you centered, sometimes listening to music can help any anxious nerves, food always a great go to option is food or snacks.”
More Than a Costume: Cosplay as Therapy
Can cosplay be therapeutic?
Cosplay is so much more than just fabric, foam, and photo shoots. For many of us, it’s a lifeline. A safe place. A form of therapy disguised in thread and creativity.
When the world feels heavy, cosplay gives us something to hold onto, a character, a project, a purpose. It’s a way to escape, not to run from who we are, but to rediscover ourselves through the characters we love. Each stitch, each prop, each layer of makeup becomes a small act of self-expression. A small act of healing.
Matthew Barry offered a deeper reflection:
“Yes in many ways, with some no’s. Cosplay is, for many people, a form of escapism. It certainly has been that way for me. Instead of focusing on your problems or worries, you invest all your time into one thing, a creative output. It helps stop the anxiety; stops you thinking about things you cannot change or control.”
“But it is important to know when you’re running away from a problem. You also need to learn to run with them. Some things need to be faced head on, even though they’re terrifying.”
“When it comes to competing with cosplay, the emotions of what we’re escaping – the hard life events, people we’ve lost, medical conditions we’re facing – all those emotions can so easily get wrapped up in the end goal. Like you’re gonna win and your problems will go, then the credits roll. In reality, the sun will rise, tomorrow will be another day, and you’ll still be you; win or lose. You see a lot of people break down when they don’t win because those emotions get tied into their success”
Neon Okami shared a thoughtful perspective
“I think it can be, but it also depends on your mindset. For instance, if all you have on your mind is competitions or social media numbers or comparing yourself to others, then youre not going to end up enjoying the hobby. Find something within the hobby that makes you feel most peaceful. Whether you really like wig styling, or you really like painting, or you really like makeup or sewing or whatever, do that most often.”
“Cosplay is a hobby and it must bring you joy. If it’s not making you happy, then you need to reevaluate why youre doing it.”
ComiGecko Cosplay
“Cosplay can be quite therapeutic especially if its something you working on that you have all your resources and everything you need to make it work.”
When the Inspiration Fades: What to Do Next
How to Cope with Artist Block During a Cosplay Build
One of the toughest parts of being a cosplayer or artist is dealing with artist block—especially when deadlines are looming!
Here’s what some amazing creators shared about how they cope:
Matthew Barry added:
“I normally experience this through burnout. I stop working on the cosplay, and I find other things that I enjoy. Games, painting, gym, etc.”
“If you stop loving what you do, then the end result will also show this. Give yourself space to breathe again. Knowing when to stop is important.”
“Maybe you’ll pick up the cosplay again when the creativity sparks again – it can take months sometimes. Or maybe you’ll move onto a new project instead. Be kind to yourself, enjoy doing it, don’t beat yourself up because you stop – we do this for fun.”
Neon Okami Cosplay shared:
“Artist block will always hit at the most inconvenient of times – and for cosplayers it’s often when the convention is just around the corner!”
“everyone will have different ways with coping with the block but what I find works for me is switching my focus to something else.”
“If I’m sewing Cosplay A for a competition and the pants are giving me problems and I’m hitting a blank on how to fix it, then I’ll take a breath and move onto working on something that I feel more confident doing; like the wig.”
“You can work on a different cosplay entirely if you want to, and this will work quite well, but obviously if you’re on a deadline, it won’t be helpful to meeting that deadline.”
“If you’re feeling artist block with cosplay in general, it’s helpful to reconsider your goals with cosplay. I’ve found myself burned out before when I was focusing too much on entering competition after competition and it really helped to take a break for a year and only make cosplays that were “simple” and easier to make so that I could still feel like I was doing something but I wasn’t stressing myself out over.”
Comi gecko Cosplay shared helpful advise:
“A Artist block is a bit of a challenge , best way that helps me cope with a artist block is to try and do as much as you can, step away from the project for a little bit to gather yourself, have something to eat and drink, and see if you can revisit to continue the project.”
How Anime Characters Shape Our Cosplay Journeys
Can Anime Be an Inspiration for Cosplayers?
Absolutely! Anime - and really any form of medi can have a profound effect on cosplayers and creators.
Matthew Barry agreed whole heartedly, sharing a personal example:
“Yes.”
“There’s plenty of ways that anime can inspire, but it’s best explained through personal example.”
“I find haikyuu a wonderful anime and watch it when I’m working on a build for a contest. The ideas of competitions in general translate. The idea of pushing yourself to do better, to keep going, how to get up again when you feel like you can’t go on, they all encourage and inspire.”
“Tell us what we need to hear.
I remember very prominently, there’s a scene in my hero academia where shinjou loses are the sports festival; and with it his dreams of becoming a hero are crushed.”
He’s asked “why do you want to be a hero”
And he just responds “you can’t help the things your heart longs for.” Then walks always, defeated, holding his emotions, alone.
Then his friends in the crowd shout out how amazing he is, how much insane potential he clear has.”
“It always reminds me of when I didn’t place at finals the first year. Dreams crushed and what I wanted so badly has gone, but hearing people
Celebrate just how amazing I was and how awesome my work actually was. It filled my heart with strength again.”
“The moment from the anime is painfully relatable, but it inspired me not to give up, that things will be ok.”
“Haikyuu is riddled with moments like this also. I also love the soundtracks by Yuki hayashi. It hits hard.”
Neon Okami put it beautifully:
“Any form of media whether it be anime, movies, or games can have a profound effect on people. Often it’s a character that we bond that we want to cosplay.”
“We can connect with these characters’ stories and personalities and struggles and we want to show our love for these characters.”
ComiGecko Cosplay added another important insight:
“I feel anime can be a inspiration especially with portraying a characters personality and movement, also helps with aesthetic of the characters, and can work as a living/live reference when building the character.”
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