Much love! Sending you hugs. You’re so right about being in this together 🤘

Thanks Eva for starting this conversation! I completely agree that there needs to be more hugs, kindness, and empathy in spaces where the typical response would be, “it’s just business.” Being kind to others will not kill you and it might make an otherwise painful experience better. Negativity just sucks the wind out of the flow of life and every chance I get, I’ll squirt love and joy right in its eyes if I have to. Cheers to hugs and to your awesome band!

I love this! Thank you!!!

Hello Eva! First of all we love the new album, so many great bangers!! We also love that you are such a big advocate for mental health and have this blog. We too have become advocates on a much smaller stage. My wife Alyssa suffered two bouts of Postpartum Psychosis after the births of our two daughters. It took almost 10 years to shed the embarrassment, break our silence and share our story via our podcast. Our goal is to help as many women and couples as we can and hopefully help someone in their journey. There are so many misdiagnosed women when it comes to this terrible condition and we are hoping to help as many as we can.

Much love Steve! SHEESH I couldn’t have said it better. Uncertainty and insanity 😅 felt that in my soul!

I love hugs. A good tight hug can totally change the outlook on your day. I often hide behind the mask of being the rock for everyone and the one to make everyone laugh to bring them out of their moods, leaving my own emotions bottled up. Often getting up behind a microphone and belting out some tunes helps me release those pent up emotions, but a hug at the right time from an understanding person will make my flood gates open up and I just let it out....as I apologize for crying on the person's clothing lol.

I love this. Treating ourselves and others gently is so important.

I just want to say thank you for your song the strong. My son who is 14 has had a rough year from a death of a friend to his grandmother dying of cancer to his grandfather being diagnosed with cancer a few months later. The song the strong really helped him through it. He went to a concert in Angola Indiana and seen you guys sing the song live and can't stop talking about it. You also took a picture with him and I can't thank you enough.

Thank you for sharing your story and I’m so glad you found our music! That anxiety monster is a demon

I agree we need more kindness and understanding. You never know if the kind word or gesture (i.e. a hug or a smile) made the difference in someone's life from walking off the edge or not when they needed it most. I've loved your music and came to your shows. I've got pictures with you and you ARE the person you say you are. At the CD release party I wore my Sweet Relief shirt and I don't think I've seen another in the crowd at either show I was at but I know it meant a lot to you because you gave me a hug pre-show and told me Thank You (for supporting the cause). Music IS my therapy and has been and I'm not ashamed to admit it plays a huge p[art in my life. Your music in particular has meant a lot to me and meeting you and seeing how humble and kind and caring to us fans the way you are is a true testament of your character. You ARE the REAL DEAL ... Thank you for being you Amanda.

Thanks Shane! In person are the best I agree. The rock show is def a special moment. Hugs and good vibes to you friend 🤘

In person are definitely best! I never really was particularly huggy until my best friend passed away in 2016. I haven't been the same since as the depression and anxiety starting hitting hard after he passed as we did nearly everything together at the time. 2019-2021 got worse as I lost all four of my grandparents in that timeframe (3 years to the day of my friend's passing, ironically). In the middle of that time I also found out my girlfriend was cheating on me as well. I wish I could have found your music sooner as I'm finally coming out of that dark time now and your music has played a huge part in that. I pray we get to hug on tour so that I can thank you in person for the inspiration your music feeds to people like me!

This is beautiful! Congrats on 21 years! I’m cheering on your continued journey. From one therapist friend to another HUGS!

So, I am no stranger to grief, loss, depression and sadness, but I live in a world beyond this. I don’t lnow how you feel about faith and I am not even going to discuss it except to say if I didn’t feel support from someone greater than me, I would be dead by now. Having people on my side for support is also awesome. I find many people in my job that I get to help fet thru their issues. I work across from a hospital abd everyone at some time there needs hugs. Even in CoVid days I gave hugs, support and even elbow bumps (the new handshake/fist bump). If I am to die from someone given a hug who needs it, so be it. Keep up all you do, the new album is amazing, I hope you make it to Montana. I find myself loving you more as I learn more about you (music and personal) Not speaking of intimacy, just pure unconditional love.

I guess a virtual hug is better than no hugs. My mental health has been so bad lately. I lost my mother 2 years ago. It's been so rough. I'm 3 years in on my healing journey,when j started my shadow work then also. Then a month ago I lost my 6 year old niece.. I feel like I've been grieving most my life. And my mother was my only support system. Lately I feel so lost and I have no one. 😪 Your music plays daily in my house, it helps keep me motivated to push forward and keep going. 🖤

Hello to all! I have hit a major stumble this past week. After battling with depression and anxiety for 10 years, I was given insight into what was really going on with me. My current psychiatrist recommended me for a full psych test. The results came in and threw me for a loop. I am now diagnosed with Bipolar 2, PTSD, ADHD, and anxious distress. The bipolar diagnosis has made me think about how I deal with stressors in life. I was very afraid that my test results would come back with the bipolar diagnosis. Now I will have to tackle the med change rollercoaster over the next several months. It scares me to think about the next few months. I struggled with my last med change. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this med change will go better. Thanks for supporting mental health and being an advocate for all of us!!!

Amanda, it’s been great to read through all the blog posts here so far (25th May ‘23). I’m guilty of occasionally hugging because it makes me feel a positive connection, a part of something wider than just myself - and of course, on occasion, a much needed comfort. I met you in the UK recently and hugged you on four separate occasions on that night 🫣 because I was was so excited, not only to be privileged enough to see the band live, (something I never thought I’d do!), but to actually meet some of the members of one of my most listened to and favourite bands of recent times! What a privilege to meet these people that live an ocean away but who feature so strongly in everyday life and instil a sense of connection despite never having previously even set foot in your neck of the woods never mind your country! So I won’t apologise for the excessive number of hugs(Lol!), they were a long time coming, and serve as a positive affirmation and acknowledgement of a connection that goes way beyond the physical that we all get through the music that we listen to so passionately!
So, thank you to all you music makers, you make our world infinitely more tolerable and pull us through on the hardest of days, we owe you a great deal of gratitude x