It's been about a month since my last blog post because life has felt extremely heavy. I've battled depression and anxiety for my whole life but the past year, and especially past month, have left me feeling particularly unsettled. Part of what gets me through hard days is knowing that I AM NOT ALONE. I've become more outspoken about dealing with mental illness because I hope that I can give the same temporary comfort or insight that others have given me. Here are a few resources I've found recently that help to explain and empathize with those of us who often feel like we've got a perpetual raincloud over our heads~ because YOU ARE NOT ALONE EITHER!

Mari Andrew is an illustrator and writer from New York City. I found her Instagram feed one day and am completely obsessed with her simple, yet poignant, work. You can also now buy prints and cards with her illustrations online!

2. Chris Gethard: Career Suicide is a HBO comedy special "about depression, alcoholism, suicide and the other funniest parts of life." I watched it recently and enjoyed how candid he was able to be without alienating the audience or indulging in the dark hole that is depression. Check it out!

3. Emily is in recovery from an eating disorder and is outspoken about her depression/anxiety. She has used art to tell her story and sells original work on Etsy! I love her Instagram feed because it is full of transparent and uplifting words.

4. The Know Collective is a company I've mentioned before but it continues to be an amazing resource! I highly recommend subscribing to their newsletter for weekly doses of support and encouragement. And follow them on Instagram for a feed full of wisdom.

5. Andrew Solomon: Depression, the secret we share is a fantastic Ted Talk that dives deep into the depression of one and many. "The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality" is just one of the many quotes from Solomon, a writer, that helps to explain the complexity of depression and anxiety.

Brand of the Week

Older Brother

A clothing company that is made in Los Angeles, with natural dyes and "eco-conscious" fabrics. Is this heaven? Older Brother produces simple, sturdy items that are all unisex. As with most sustainable/slow/conscious products they are not cheap, but their collection may just contain the jacket to last you a lifetime.

Watch of the Week

Overcoats' Tiny Desk Concert

I recently had the pleasure of going to a Maggie Rogers concert (if you haven't checked her out, I highly recommend) who had the band Overcoats open for her. I was a first time listener and their performance was amazing. They're two NYC based artists that seem to genuinely love making music together. Their first full length album "Young" is out on April 21st! To get a glimpse of their infectious enthusiasm watch the Overcoats Tiny Desk Concert below.

Feed of the Week

The Know Collective

This company is new and their website is still being developed but that doesn't stop them from putting out great content! If you know me at all then you understand I am a huge advocate of speaking about mental health and so is The Know Collective. They focus specifically on women's mental health through the encouragement of conversation, community, and counsel. As someone who struggles with depression and anxiety I am always grateful when I see others speak up, it makes me feel far less alone. Check out The Know Collective's Instagram feed to get a taste, or dive deep by signing up for their newsletter.