We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ty Baker a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ty, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I went through a very traumatic experience in 2019 and as a result I was diagnosed with depression and adjustment disorder. I developed an unhealthy paranoia that effected how I lived and raised my children, and I had a great lack of trust for certain groups of people. I also developed extreme levels of anxiety in certain environments or circumstances or around a certain profession of people. I stay vague in what I mention now because I know how powerful my words are and I don’t wish to give any of those things or people any power in that negative light. But my depression was kicking by butt. I just wanted to retreat into a black hole and lay there hidden from life. Ironically enough, I wasn’t suicidal because I’m a single mother of three beautiful teenagers, and I’ve always been the only parent they have. They counted on me and I never want to let them down. So I pushed to defeat my depression—with seemingly no success as I learned my doctor elected to increase my medication dosage. Although I wasn’t hopeful, I still desired to be “okay”, both for my kids and myself! I wanted to feel like my life has a purpose beyond taking good care of my kids. I wanted to LIVE—and not just survive!
The part of me deep down in there that was fighting to get ME back—had me start working out. Not for any real physical looks or build goal, but just to be active and “take care of myself”. This helped me. It became my go-to, to do in the mornings to start my day. It’s what got me out of bed! But I knew that wasn’t enough because I was still wearing a mask 24/7–looking “okay”. Smiling for everyone to be comfortable around me while I was uncomfortable inside me. Making sure my kids were good while I was crying on the inside.
So I sought to get out more with friends, to get some temporary jolts of “happiness” based on “happenings”. But this was just a bandaid. I began to pour myself into my indie work in efforts to film a sizzle reel of my series pilot that I created and wrote for all 3 of my kid actors to star in together. The work was so fulfilling, and the production was a great success. But my imposter syndrome and my self-doubt ran deep thanks to my depression, so even after having such a successful production, I shied away from pitching our show.
I know I am an extremely talented person yet I would come off lacking self-confidence because of my depression and beliefs that I’m cursed. I let self-doubt and fear of failure bind me and prevent me from trying to accomplished greatness for myself or on my own. I believed myself to be marked to exist solely to help others, but not to expect anything positive or successful for my own gain or good. I hadn’t prayed in God knows how long, because I saw time and time again that my prayers don’t work for me.
Nothing anyone said lifted me up or truly encouraged me. I just let people say what was on their hearts because I know they meant well. And I did appreciate it. It wasn’t until I posted in a FB group of black traveling ladies that I was shooting my shot for friends to travel with. Because—in an effort to take my kids on a family vacation once a year—I learned that traveling and enjoying my job flight benefits was one thing that truly brought me joy. So I sought to travel more in attempts to shun my depression. I met some awesome ladies I began planning to travel with. I also spoke with the creator of the group, who recommended I read the book “The Power of the Subconscious Mind”. I did. And it has changed my life.
I began to learn the effects that our world around us and our conscious mind had on our subconscious mind. I thought of different circumstances in my own life or past that exemplified what this text was teaching me and exposing me to. It made perfect sense. At the exact same time in my life, I was seeing a chiropractor after a car accident. That practice also offered neurofeedback therapy. This helps with balancing the brain function—its brainwaves or the production and distribution of electrical energy in the brain. These things affect our mental state and physical state. As expected mine charted to not be of a good balance.
It was at this point I doubled down on being intentional with my brain, my mind, my thoughts, my perspective, my words, and my efforts. Instead of starting my day with my workouts, I start my day with prayer and positive affirmations for myself. I write my affirmations down. Then—because traveling is a positive stimulant for me—I create an image using one of my travel photos (where I am my happiest) and post my daily affirmation onto the photo. Then I make the photo my wallpaper on my cell phone so I continue to see and recite the affirmation throughout the day. I do this every morning. Each day is a new affirmation and photo. In addition to my daily affirmation, I have one lengthy affirmation and proclamation I claim over my physical, mental, and financial health—one of which being that I am not depressed, but I am confident, and I am God’s light. After my prayer and affirmations, then I apply for the positions I truly want in my career field that imposter syndrome told me I had no business aspiring towards. Then I workout. Then I go to my chiropractor appointments on their set days, and I undergo the neurofeedback therapy.
I instantly started seeing improvements in my spirit, peace of mind, positivity, hopefulness, desire to live, physical pain/discomfort, and my results of my neurofeedback therapy. The repetitive, intentional choice of words in my affirmations sends a conscious focus to my subconscious mind. The physical efforts I am taking resonates those beliefs in my words through concrete actions and locks them into my subconscious mind. The scientific use of neurofeedback affords me the ability to track my progress outside of my own observations—but even if I don’t have this part, I still know it is working for my good. I’m looking forward to each day, and my future, and the next accomplishment waiting for me.
I’ve always been an amazing mother. my kids are all extremely well mannered, polite, loving kids, successful professional kid actors, star-students taking accelerated classes, skipping grade, making all A’s & B’s, working PT jobs—all while working in the TV/film industry. I’m their Momager and Mom. Whatever I do, I do it well. I know this. But I let this slip away from who I’d grown to be. And I’m taking ME back now! I am nolonger dimming my light. I believe now more than ever before that there is power in your words, and that prayer coupled with works is a huge component of overcoming. I understand WHY now. Maybe I am one of those people who need to know the why to accept and fully believe the what. I’m just grateful I am where I am in my mental state now so I can be as awesome as God made me to be.
And I will get our family comedy series picked up sooner than later. I’m ready to pitch it now!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a marketing specialist. Anything you can imagine that appeals to a target demographic, I can create the blueprint and even the mock ups of a marketing campaign for it—be it a social media campaign, ad campaign, email campaign, public relations campaign, or branding package.
I am a talent manager. I have managed my children—who are teen actors—for 10 years now, and as a boutique manager, I also have additional clients who are crossing over from the influencer work to TV and film.
I am a screenwriter. My goal is to have one of my series pilots land on your TV screen within the next year.
I am an educator. I have been certified in the state of GA in early childhood education, middle grades math, high school math, and physical education since 2008. I enjoy teaching and reaching others!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Determination. You can’t give up on yourself because if you can’t count on anyone else—you should be able to count on you. But with that determination, be intentional about it. Don’t be a “jack of all trades—master of none”. You cannot be determined to go left … then right … then both … then left—no right. Yes you can be very talented in more than one thing and “wear multiple hats”—celebrities are not the only multi-hyphenates. But make sure you are not flowing too easily with the wind, changing course before you are able to truly apply that determination to bring your goals to fruition.
Strong work ethic. You have to be willing to work hard and wade it out to see long lasting results. Anything come by quickly can be lost just as quickly. If you want longevity in your success, you have to make sacrifices to stay focused on the task and work smarter and harder as needed.
Ability to keep learning and adapting. Agility is important. You may not have all the wisdom, insight, or abilities off top. Allow yourself to learn from others, from your mistakes, from your accomplishments, and from a mentor. Read the room. Read between the lines. Don’t miss a single teachable moment. Who knows what lesson can help your goals come that much closer to your reality.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am looking to speak wherever my voice, my stories, or my encouragement are welcomed and needed. As a woman of color, as a mother, as a mental health advocate, as an educator, as a Momager, I have seen and experienced so much. I would love to begin to share what I know in front of people eager to learn, be inspired, or welcome new outlooks. Anyone who may be coordinating private events, or booking company speaking engagements, or looking for presenters for teacher professional development, or wanting to collaborate in another way—I welcome you to reach out to me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Instagram.com/TyTai.Beautiful
- Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/in/ssattb
- Email: TeamTHR33T@gmail.com
Image Credits
First 4/studio photos: Geno Snaps Flying dress photo: Waseem, True Santorini
