We were lucky to catch up with Kylie Payne recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kylie, 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’ve struggled with mental health issues almost my entire life. I’ve showed symptoms of anxiety since I was a little girl, it runs in my family. I’ve been in therapy since I was 14 and put on antidepressants when I was 17. When I was 19/20 I was in a very unhealthy relationship and attempted to take my own life. It was a very dark and scary time and it took months to even process what I went through. I honestly did not cope in the best ways at first. I turned to alcohol as a distraction to the pain I was in. My family and friends tried supporting me, I pushed them away. When I hit an extreme low, I decided I needed to change my life. It is a privilege to be alive and I deserve better. It was me who pulled myself out of a dark place because I wanted a better life. I took care of myself by becoming sober, getting good sleep, diet, exercise, self care, going to church, and surrounding myself with good people. It’s not always that easy. I still get flashbacks and have hard days. But I don’t stop trying. I don’t let my depression control my life because I’ve come too far to give up and I deserve to be happy. There’s people on this earth who need me and I won’t let them down, including myself.
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 went viral on tik tok a few times in 2020 when I posted tumbling and stunting with my college cheer team. In 2021 I switched to fashion hauls and went viral again, getting my first collaboration opportunity. I learned from other creators on the app how to communicate with brands properly over email and how to create my own media kit. It’s such a fun opportunity to share my favorite products and explore new trends. I continued to grow and absolutely loved showcasing my life and creating a digital scrapbook of memories. I also loved sharing my mental and physical health journey w my followers and I try my best to be relatable and make a difference. I encourage anyone wanting to post on social media to go for it no matter what anyone else may think of them. The community is so encouraging and uplifting and I feel so blessed to have a small platform.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The number one thing I get asked is how I have the confidence to post. You have to learn to not care what anyone thinks when you’re creating content for the first time, even if it might feel a little embarrassing. The only one stopping you from achieving your goals is you. The second most important skill is consistency. Do not get discouraged or stop posting if you’re not receiving as much engagement. Learn to have fun with it and not rely on view or follower count and don’t give up! I lastly recommend connecting with other new creators on the app, You can learn something from them and grow together and the community is so welcoming and friendly. Good luck you got this!
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
The number one challenge for me is definitely comparing myself to other creators doing better than I am. I have to remember that this can be counter productive and cause me to want to give up. I’ve come too far to do that to myself and I’m doing better than I used to be and I have to be proud of myself for what I’ve accomplished.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/kyliejoyce?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwL1Fv5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp-SEdsWEmW1K9dRjffA7oZp8wMe1wiIzKX9dCKnw-qdhCjvCR1UAX6F1C5Uw_aem_DPvI–kBuEkYRju4_JL1jg
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyyliejoyce?igsh=ZXMyY28zcDJyaTM1&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kyyliejoyce?si=FTLVXOseRPeDL6Qh
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kyyliejoyce?_t=ZP-8yQ9sE76XL5&_r=1
Image Credits
Benjamin Williams
Brianna Nield
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
