Meet Zoe
My name is Zoe, I am 18 years old, and mental health isn’t just a topic for me. It is a cruel illness that robbed a once happy girl from her joy, friends, purpose and power. From a very young age I have been battling anxiety, and as I grew, depression too. Mental Health does not discriminate and only those who experience it first hand, can understand just how paralysing it can be. And so, I have made it my purpose to become an advocate and use my stories to help reduce stigma, and give solace to those who feel alone. I strongly believe there is power in vulnerability and want to foster a culture of acceptance, resilience and compassion.
Thank you for trusting me with your time xx
What is 'Holding Your Heart Co.'?
Throughout my years of struggling, I would search the internet day and night for a safe space which would give me hope, and reflect my story. But never was that place found. And so, ‘Holding Your Heart Co.’ was born. At some of the darkest points in my life, there was nothing anyone could do to pull me out. Yet everyday without fail, my friend would text me a short, simple and yet so very eloquent message, “I am holding your heart’. To hold someones heart means you support them. It means you will be kept safe and warm. It means that I have your back. And that is exactly what I aim to do, for you. Through ‘Holding Your Heart Co.’ I strive to reduce the stigma around mental health and provide comfort to those who sit where I once sat. I created ‘Holding Your Heart Co.’ because I know what it is like to not have your story reflected. As a neurodivergent teenager with mental health struggles, I provide a unique perspective, one we rarely see stories written through the lens of. My hope is that people of all different walks of life will stumble upon this site, struggling or not, and will feel supported, comforted and guided.
Our Values
COMPASSION
Treat everyone with kindness. You never know who around you is having the worst day of their life.
INCLUSIVITY
We know mental health does not discriminate. Holding Your Heart Co. is a place where all deserve to feel welcome.
GROWTH
We are all on our own journeys and it is not a race. It is always one foot at a time as we harness our resilience and inner bravery.
AUTHENTICITY
Vulnerability is our superpower. Being raw and honest is the foundation of trust and building mental fitness.
My other work
My first piece of published writing was an article I wrote for women’s media company, ‘Mamamia’. I had admired the company for so long and was incredibly honoured to have my first freelance gig, published by them. It was a personal story about leaving school and the message I wanted everyone around me to understand. The outpour of support and love since being vulnerable with this article was overwhelming.
I have since, published two other pieces with them which you can find below. Writing for Mamamia was the catalyst for my writing career and gave me the confidence boost I needed.