German Author Uses Comics to Help Children Understand Emotions

Baden-Baden, Germany – Andreas Huck, a 37-year-old from Baden-Baden, has developed a series of comic-style workbooks aimed at helping children and adolescents navigate their emotions. Huck, who personally experienced years of defining himself solely through achievement before a mental health crisis and subsequent therapy, found it difficult to perceive his own feelings. He now seeks to provide younger generations with earlier access to emotional understanding.

"This would have been something I simply wished for as a teenager," Huck said about his comics. His own journey through multiple therapy sessions and treatment for depression led him to develop methods for confronting his emotions. He noticed a similar difficulty in accessing feelings with his partner's twelve-year-old son. The idea to combine comics, which they were enjoying at a Marvel exhibition, with emotional exploration struck him as a way to offer a low-threshold approach.

“

This would have been something I simply wished for as a teenager.

Huck's workbooks, titled 'Neurorush,' aim to convey the message that "it is okay to talk about feelings, it is part of life." The books include interactive exercises, such as drawing where feelings are perceived in the body or marking current emotional states. Huck emphasizes that his approach is not about diagnosing illness but about helping individuals connect more readily with their emotions.

However, professionals express caution regarding such initiatives. Fredi Lang, from the Professional Association of German Psychologists, noted that when laypeople publish such materials, there is a risk of overlooking professional and ethical standards. Lang stressed the need for external expert evaluation to assess the effectiveness and appropriateness of these books. Huck himself acknowledges that his books are not a substitute for professional therapy, but he hopes they will encourage early conversations about emotions and mental health within families.

“

it is okay to talk about feelings, it is part of life.