Book Nook: Out of the Woods - A Journey Through Depression and Anxiety

Thoughts of anxiety and hopelessness fill 322 million worldwide resulting in 121 suicides a day in the U.S. In fact, last month was Suicide Awareness Month and Depression Awareness Month follows this month, to help raise awareness of these stark numbers. I recently had a chance to review Out of the Woods: A Journey Through Depression and Anxiety , by Brent Williams. This illustrated memoir shows the nature of depression, coping with its challenges, and working towards recovery. It is Williams’ personal experience of depression and anxiety - part memoir, and part educational tool for others to understand. 

I really liked the way this book combined personal experience with research and self-help strategies. The visuals are gorgeous and really capture the experience of depression and anxiety. Everyone who has either or both experiences it differently, but this does a good job of being universal enough to relate to everyone with those mental illnesses. It's also appropriate for those who have a friend, family member, or co-worker with depression or anxiety, to help understand what is going on.