Looking for advice: Requesting a refund from an artist

[friskecrisps.livejournal.com]

I wasn't sure if I should have mentioned this in the title so I felt it was better to keep it in the body. Essentially I'm considering requesting a refund from an artist due to having to wait several months for having a commissioned piece done. However what's troubling me is that the artist says they are suffering from depression and that they are doing what they can to get mine and other works done. I'm not sure of what to do here cause I feel like if I ask for refund, a whole new set of issues are going to arise from it and that I might be causing the artist more grief on top of their current situation. So I'm a bit lost of what to do.

Comments

Refund

[aazhie.livejournal.com]

I have mild anxiety disorder and while I could use that as an excuse, I am actually just spacey and forgetful. If someone does have issues with a more severe problem, I feel the right thing to do is how Stormrunner does and not accept payment in case things get too bad to finish a piece. I tend to take deposits/half payments myself as I can easily blast out a rougher piece and not finish and let them have what I did draw rather than have to worry about refunding a piece I can't finish.
That being said, i think there are a lot more artists BSing about being unable to finish pieces than there are honest artists genuinely in funks that won't let them perform. If they are accepting more and more commissions either with or without producing anything new, I call more BS than honest depression, though I don't discredit that the may indeed have depression and not be aware they are making bad decisions and frustrating their clients.
Needless to say, this kind of situation, BS or not, is why I have stopped doing most trades and usually don't commission anyone I don't know pretty well...:/