Love Your Mind - Anxiety and Depression Awareness Month

Hello there lovelies,

As I come back from a slightly extended absence, I've got a topic to talk about that's really close to my heart. I'm a little late to the party, but October is the Beyond Blue Anxiety and Depression Awareness (ADA) Month, obviously aimed to promote understanding and awareness of anxiety and depressive disorders. According to Beyond Blue, depression affects 1 in 5 people throughout their lifetime, and one in four people experience anxiety. That's a hell of a lot of people - and those figures include a lot of people that are near and dear to me. I've experienced depression firsthand, and I know what these disorders can do to people. So maybe it's not much, but I'll do my little bit to get the word out.

Beyond Blue makes it very easy to do just that. If you head on over to their website they have a range of online information, as well as packs that they'll send to you for free. Here are just a few ways you can help raise public awareness about these disorders:

• Order some information packs from Beyond Blue and distribute them to people you know, or around the workplace.
• Use one of the Beyond Blue woven shopping bags to carry stuff around.
• Wear a blue wristband for the month of October.
• Display a Beyond Blue fridge magnet at home or work.
• DIY yourself an ADA month t-shirt/bag/anything else you can think of.
• Download one of these Beyond Blue posters from the website and put it on your blog or just link to the website.
• If you've experienced anxiety or depression talk to people you know about your experiences - half the problem is that people still don't think of these disorders as a normal part of life!
• Download the anxiety and depression checklists at the Beyond Blue website, and check your family, friends, and of course yourself.
• Anonymously send an information pack to anyone you think may be experiencing anxiety or depression.

So seriously, if I haven't said it enough head on over to the Beyond Blue website and get involved. The more people there are getting the word out, the more those people who suffer from anxiety and depression will know they're not alone! Speak up for all those people who may not presently be able to speak up for themselves - they will thank you later. And I'll thank you too.

Until next time, xo.