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#InsideOutChallenge Reminds People Not To Be Ashamed Of Mental Illness

"Mental illness shouldn't have to be hidden away, let's start to talk about it."
Isabelle Khoo

A new beauty challenge is tackling the stigma around mental health.

Vancouver beauty blogger and mental health advocate Yasaman Gheidi started the #InsideOutChallenge last month. Posting on YouTube and Instagram, she challenged people to use “makeup to create an outward expression of what you or others feel on the inside.”


On Instagram, Gheidi explained that it was her battle with anxiety that inspired her to create this challenge and get people talking about mental health.

At a staff Christmas party last year, Gheidi experienced an anxiety attack and decided to leave quietly with her partner. Not knowing what to tell her coworkers the next day, she asked her partner what she should tell them.

“Without much thought she said to say that I had a headache. I agreed but quickly questioned my decision,” the 27-year-old explained. “Why did I have to be ashamed and lie about my anxiety attack? So many wonderful and amazing people suffer from the same mental illnesses that I do on a daily basis. Why can't we just talk about it openly? Mental illness shouldn't have to be hidden away, let's start to talk about it.”

After Gheidi came up with her challenge, she then decided to name it after the Disney-Pixar film “Inside Out.”

“[Inside Out] was one of the first movies that I have seen that was able to visually illustrate feelings and emotions,” she told Revelist. “I find that many times people with mental illnesses are not taken seriously because there are not always physical symptoms that can be easily seen.”

Pretty soon, the beauty blogger’s makeup challenge took off on social media, with many people bravely sharing their mental health stories to raise awareness.

I'll be posting 3 photos in the next few hours. All are of the same makeup look, inspired by @lilmoonchildd 's #insideoutchallenge. The challenge is to raise awareness of/for mental illnesses. The goal is to show how uniquely someone can be emoting on the inside, despite a normalized outward appearance. 🎭 I inherited depression and anxiety disorders from my mom, who inspires me constantly to keep moving forward. I know there will always be road blocks, but I'm actually really happy by how much understanding there is on social media now about anxiety/depression. It doesn't have to be a dark mystery! Everyone's experience is different. The more the social stigma lifts, the better. Thanks and praise to everyone who helps humanity toward this goal. 🌏 I'll explain my makeup concept and how it reflects my anxiety in my next post. 💄Lip is KVD's Lolita. White pigment is by Kryolan in Pearl over Mehron white water cake. More details to follow. 💋(Check out @lilmoonchildd 's page, btw! She's an amazing human being and one of my favorite MUAs on Instagram.) #makeup #portrait #creativeportrait #anxiety #depression

A photo posted by Britt Gorman (@bat.barbie) on


This is my visualization of how depression and anxiety affect me. It feels like my head is turning into a black hole that absorbs all the happiness, hope and self esteem, as well as everything else I feel - except sadness. It gets overwhelming if it lasts and I usually think that I'll never feel happy, calm and secure again. The stigmatization makes it even worse. If you constantly have to pretend you're fine and aren't it makes you feel even worse. I have suffered from various mental illnesses for over 10 years. I'm glad that today most of the people in my life know about my illness and accept it as a part of me and listen to me. They are there for both parts of me, the positive and the negative. This is why I participate in @lilmoonchildd s #insideoutchallenge - let's end the stigma! Left side FACE: @urbandecaycosmetics All Nighter Foundation in 0.5 @lagirlcosmetics HD Pro Concealer in Porcelain @anastasiabeverlyhills Contour Cream Kit in Fair @kevynaucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium BROWS: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Soft Brown and Clear Brow Gel Right side @katvondbeauty Metal Matte Palette and Tattoo Liner in Trooper Urban Decay Naked Smokey Palette Black Gel Eyeliner @nyxcosmetics @nyxcosmetics_de Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk and Vivid Brights Eyeliner in Petal

A photo posted by Aria Mavens San (@aria_mavens) on


Inspired by the insanely talented @lilmoonchildd This look is for her amazing #insideoutchallenge focusing on bringing attention to mental illness. For this look I channeled how I'm feeling at low points of my depression and anxiety. Social anxiety can completely take over your life. Every day is a battle. From the pressure of going to work, any type of event or social gathering, even just personal interaction. Your mind feels jumbled and confused. Leaving you with little to no words to speak. The feelings of insecurity and low self esteem hit. Your mind starts to pass judgement, calling you things like stupid, ugly, lazy, fat, making you feel as if you're bottled away from the rest of the world. That people don't care what you have to say. The depressed episodes happen and sit so heavy on your soul, so heavy that you don't even want to move. You ask yourself why but there is no explanation most of the time. People call you lazy, say you're being dramatic, but you know that you can't help it. Words may seem small to some people, but to others, they weigh your heart down so much that it feels like the world is crashing down on you. It's all you think about. Please be kind to one another. You are stronger than your illness. Every mental illness matters. I want to thank @lilmoonchildd for opening up the discussion about mental illness. We don't have to suffer in silence. 💜__________________________________________________ Products used: @mehronmakeup Paradise Paint Palette @morphe 35 B Palette @limecrimecosmetics Venus 2 palette -mud -mustard @maccosmetics pro longwear fluid liner in "blacktrack" Foundation is MAC pro longwear Contour is #anastasiabeverlyhillscreamcontour __________________________________________________ #insideoutchallenge #liftthestigma #makeup #mentalillness #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #featuremuas #undiscovered_muas #shoutoutmakeupbeauty #underratedmuas #makeupslaves #glits #glittermakeup #glitter #selftaught #makeupshoutout #undiscoveredmua #undiscovered_muas #makeupjunkie #anastasiabeverlyhills #anastasiabeverlyhills #urbandecay #urbandecaycosmetics #eyekandy #vegasnay #eylure #eyelure #katvond #morphe #mehronmakeup

A photo posted by Dem (@demichase) on


While Gheidi admitted on Instagram that she initially had anxiety sharing her Inside Out Challenge, she knew she had to. “This video is about much more than makeup, it’s about starting a campaign to spread awareness of mental health illnesses via art,” she wrote.

Since sharing her “inner self” with the world, the blogger has received a ton of positive feedback. “It’s amazing to know you're not alone. There's a lot of comfort in that unity,” Gheidi told CTV. “I created this challenge to start a conversation so that I could start chipping away at mental health.”

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