The last four years have been the most difficult of Stigmata's life. If it wasn't for his personal work and the connections he made through the furry fandom, he doesn't think he'd have survived. In this illustrated talk, Stigmata explains what life has thrown at him and what he did about it to keep his head above water, including what any creative person should do when faced with real suffering. This talk will also showcase unpublished mature work.