Meet Rachelyn Primm

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rachelyn Primm. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rachelyn below.

Rachelyn, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. 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.

Persistence is the key word in my story. “Find an expensive friend”, was the first advice that I happened to hear at a time when on the outside, everything looked perfect, but on the inside, I was at the end of my rope, and I felt that I was a burden on my friends and family. Though a humorous phrase describing finding a therapist, it’s so important to find a therapist that you click with and feel safe and comfortable sharing with.

I had been in denial for too long thinking that I could handle on my own what life was throwing at me, and I needed help desperately. I set out on my very first search to “find an expensive friend”. A google search led me www.PsychologyToday.com, where I found my therapist whose services were covered by my insurance. I didn’t quite know what to expect at first in therapy, but talking with someone weekly was something that I began to look forward to and after each session, I felt lighter.

A year later I went through a big life transition. I switched day jobs and moved away from a place that I had lived the last 5 years back to living in Chicago. I didn’t quite expect a grieving process in the life move, but my anxiety and sadness was amplifying so much that it was crippling. I was missing a lot of work from my already underpaid day job, that I fell into a deeper sense of hopelessness. My therapist gave me tools to help manage my anxiety, but I felt that I needed an extra bit of help, and I decided to ask about medication. Taking the steps towards medication was very scary, and in fact, I cried the first time that I took my first dose, because I had felt like my body was a failure for being unable to heal on its own. We all know that this is not true, but actually, the opposite, because seeking help is an extraordinary feat in itself! I’m still on a healing journey, and I’m so thankful for the support group that I have now.

For someone struggling with mental health issues, know that you are not alone, that you are loved, and we are so glad that you are here. It is very easy to isolate on low days, but please let your family and friends know what you are going through. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It may be hard to get out of bed or out of your home, but I promise you that you will feel a little better after a little walk outside. There are many mental health resources as well as financial resources for emergencies, and if you are in the entertainment industry, the Entertainment Community Fund was such a big help in my own life!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a professional vocalist and writer based in Chicago, IL. I’ve performed in various music venues and theatrical venues, but my top favorite performances have been working as an Entertainer at The Greenbrier Resort, Patty Andrews in “All American Sweethearts: A Tribute to the Andrews Sisters”, and writing and producing “The Rita Rose Show”, a 1950’s inspired one-woman show. I love performing nostalgic tunes from the 1940s-1960s eras, which often gives me the honor of performing locally for senior events. I will soon be launching my own company, Primmrose Productions, to connect talent with events! You can stay updated on my website at www.RachelynPrimm.com.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Resilience, positivity, and taking risks have been so helpful in my journey. For someone starting out, I highly suggest taking the time to observe and learn from those in your craft, i.e. seeing a show and journaling about it, and learning another related skill (for me it was behind the scenes work).

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My parents fully encouraged me to pursue my dreams in music, despite the potential hardships of the industry!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.RachelynPrimm.com
• Instagram: instragram.com/rachelynprimm