Transitioning into adulthood can be a difficult process, often led by trial-and-error. Even though young adults are expected to have everything figured out, it is okay to feel lost and overwhelmed, especially amongst such a chaotic time in history. Aging can be scary, but it can also be liberating, and as someone in the midst of this experience, I am here to let you know that we are all in this together, regardless of where we are at in age and experience.

As you grow up, you tend to worry about what your life is going to look like in the near and far future. This is a common stressor that reaches people of all ages and at any point of life, which can ruin the ideal notion of “living in the moment.” That being said, there are always ways to overcome this fear, and enjoy your life as it exists.

In hopes of helping just one person feel seen, heard and loved - Natalie Brooke shares her vulnerable and authentic journey towards accepting her own diagnosis and disability. The journey towards accepting your diagnosis/disability can be a lifelong goal, but it's definitely not a sentence. With a growth mindset, determination, and creativity you can find ways to help minimise the impact it has on your life. Instead of being a victim you can be a warrior!! You’ve got this - you have so much to offer, and remember - don’t let anyone tell you differently!

While September may represent the beginnings of sweater weather, it is also back-to-school season and a time of stress for many. Getting back into the swing of things can be taxing in a variety of ways, as fitting school, work, social life, and relaxation into 24 hours may seem like an impossible and exhausting task. As someone dealing with this firsthand, knowing that countless others share my struggle makes the adjustment into fall a much easier process, and I hope my account provides the same comfort for you!

It’s important to remember that quite literally no one on Earth is a perfect person and we all make mistakes. What actually matters is your ability to learn from the past, be present now, and accept your authentic self for who you are.

: Embarking on a mental health journey is a courageous yet daunting experience. Although the road may be challenging, it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate the small victories along the way. During long periods of depression or stress this can be extremely difficult - but everyday wins can be as small as getting out of bed in the morning. It's up to you to decide what’s a win exactly! In this blog post, we'll explore a few steps that can be useful in recognizing and celebrating small wins on your mental health journey.

Long Distance relationships can be a real rollercoaster. They require extra communication, and effort in order to succeed compared to an in person relationship. Sometimes they can be even more emotionally taxing and anxiety inducing than non long distance relationships. Despite that however, there are many lessons that can be learned through a challenge like this. Believe it or not, it has the potential of even making a relationship stronger.

College is not as exciting and drama-filled as coming-of-age films may make it appear. For most, college mainly consists of going to class, doing your work, and rushing home afterwards to try and get as much rest as possible before the next day begins. Although teen dramas make college look like a movie-come-to-life, that is not always the case, and that is okay to admit.

Even if you’ve embraced your authentic self, not everyone is there yet! It’s important to know how to handle inauthenticity from people in a way that is kind to all parties, and prioritize your own, authentic self.

Throughout our lives, many of us go through various highs and lows. Friends and family often give their own advice which can make things worse, depending on what it is… For example, some of the ones I’ve heard are: “Pull your socks up!” or “Be more grateful.” or “Others have it worse.” Everyone has their opinions and views - and that’s okay… but I think what we must normalise is that it’s okay to not be okay! Really, it is - trust me! I know you don’t know me, but know this: it’s okay to be feeling what you’re feeling right now. Your feelings are valid. Emotions need to be felt. Take it from Inside Out - all of our emotions play a part in our lives. They’re all important. And, that’s truly beautiful. Why? Read on.

Male friendships can be rather tricky to handle at times and can be even trickier to explain. I have had male friends all of my life, and let me just say that they are a complete rollercoaster. There are several reasons as to why they can be really tricky to manage, and it has a lot to do with societal expectations. Everyone needs friends, and they are extremely important to our mental health.

In a world full of negativity and false appearances, it is important to shed your mask and embrace your true self. Authenticity and confidence in one’s skin may be hard to achieve, but it is a powerful tool to wield. We have only one life, so why waste it chasing impossible, ever-changing beauty standards? Every body is a good body, including yours!

Not fitting in is something we all deal with, at any stage of life. It can be incredibly difficult and exhausting to feel this way, which is why we here at LAD believe it is so important to learn how to have pride in who you are and embrace your authentic self!

Many adults struggle with maintaining and/or finding friendships. Another difficult thing to navigate is finding community in a world that is judgemental and cliquey. Society puts a lot of pressure on individuals to have a solid group of friends after high school. This simply isn’t attainable anymore, as after graduating everyone goes their own way: by getting married, having kids, continuing education, moving away, etc. This can be devastating to those that aren’t experiencing the same things in life. Sure, we have different seasons of life - but when we’re made out to feel less than because we don’t “measure” up to what others have accomplished… that’s when it becomes a problem. How can we then be authentic in finding friendships and building our community?

Many of our male readers write in about how they struggle to properly express their feelings to their family and friends. Many have a hard time understanding their own emotions, and desires, which unfortunately results in some pretty bad experiences. Society has a certain image on what a man is “supposed” to look like. There’s a lot to cover in regards to men’s mental health, and one blog post isn’t going to do it justice. I’m going to start by talking about how my sexual orientation journey helped me surround myself with those who loved me for being my authentic self.

One of the first steps towards self improvement is learning to love and accept oneself at the base level. Many of our readers write in about struggling with their sexualities, so we are here to display the beauty in authentically embracing every part of what makes you YOU!