As the prevalence of mental health issues increases and affects an ever larger number of our friends and family, it becomes essential that we create spaces for folks to talk about how they overcame or persisted despite mental health challenges. Here, we’ve tried to create a safe space for people to come together and discuss their stories, experiences, triumphs and failures with managing their mental health issues.
Ellen Schwinger
I went through two incredibly challenging depressive episodes, where I couldn’t sleep for months, and it ultimately led to my hospitalization. These periods tested me deeply, pushing me to my limits. But after each episode, I found a way to rise again—stronger, more self-aware, and determined to live a more meaningful life. Read more>>
Sam Qavah John
Persistence. I spent most of my life hoping I would be gone the next morning. My mind was broken and so was my body, heart, and soul.
I was 16-years-old when I dropped out of high school, was admitted into a psych award and underwent what became a decade long journey to find peace and grace for myself. I was lost without direction and didn’t know if I wanted to keep going. Read more>>
Liz The Artiz
My boldest risk in pursuit of artistic goals came when I quit my job as a vegan cook to pursue art full-time. The stakes were enormous, especially as a disabled and mentally ill person. LGBTQ+ individuals are estimated to make up 20-40% of the homeless population, despite representing only about 7% of the general population. Neurodivergent individuals face unemployment rates as high as 30-40%, significantly higher than the general population. While precise statistics are limited, studies suggest that autistic adults are at a significantly higher risk of homelessness. One study found that 12% of people in a homeless outreach service were on the autism spectrum, compared to about 1% in the general population. These are only some of the relevant statistics. Read more>>
Allyson Nichols
I was officially diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) with panic attacks and depression at the end of January 2024, but I have struggled with anxiety my whole life. I was always someone who was against being medicated for it due to the fear it would change my personality, but after six months of panic attacks at work, home, the grocery store, driving, and more, I reached a point where I could no longer ignore the impact my mental health was having on my quality of life. I began seeing my psychiatrist, and we worked together to put me on the correct medication for me with the help of the GeneSight test. Read more>>
Onye Ndika
During Autumn of 2021, I was feeling stretched thin and struggling. The pandemic effectively ended my full-time work at a medical clinic. I was attempting to survive my life via two part-time jobs, which required full-time energy and effort. The chronic stress was exhausting and triggered numerous rheumatoid arthritis flares. Mix all of these together, and it created a depressive downward spiral. Then in October of that same year, I discovered a golfball-sized growth that turned out to be growing within my salivary gland. In order to stave off a total nervous breakdown, I booked a flight to Maryland to see my mother, and get away from all of the things by which I was being overwhelmed. Read more>>
Jenny Sims
I’ve overcome heavy things in my life—alcoholism, drug abuse, ongoing mental health struggles, domestic violence, burnout, and impostor syndrome. But when I look at it, the one constant through all of it is that I just keep showing up. Even when I feel raw, even when it hurts. Even when I don’t want to get out of bed or face the world, I do it anyway. And even in those moments where I don’t like myself or feel like I’m not enough, I still push forward. Read more>>
