My name is Josh Lewin. I am, among other things, a radio and TV sportscaster, and (spoiler alert!) I have dealt with anxiety and depression for a good part of my life.

It has been estimated recently that 18.4 million other Americans deal with some form of these challenges as well – and it’s powerful to understand that’s exactly what anxiety and depression are. Challenges.

Like many other challenges in our lives to navigate; from traffic to head colds to surprising bouts of rain. However, this particular challenge can threaten your well-being and pollute the environment of your friends and family. It deserves our attention. It is not to be shrugged off or ignored. And there is absolutely no shame in coming forward; in fact, I would suggest, there is honor. Courage. It’s okay to have to deal with this challenge. And certainly, you’re not alone.

This website submits that overcoming and actually slaying the anxiety/depression monsters is best left for another day. (These monsters love to eat, and they appear at rather inconvenient times, I suspect you’d agree.) Sometimes it helps just to know you’re among friends; that indeed, you’re not walking this road by yourself. So for today, since there’s comfort in company, let’s simply take a page from the wonderfully stupid movie “Ted” and round up some Thunder Buddies.