Meet Shayna B.

We were lucky to catch up with Shayna B. recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shayna, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any 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’m still in the process of overcoming mental health issues. In addition to that, I’m still figuring out life after cancer. I’m 5 years out from ovarian cancer, which makes me a “survivor” (please leave that in quotes) from ovarian cancer according to cancer survival rate data. And I’m almost 4 years out from neuroendocrine cancer. But no one talks about survivorship and how hard it is. The anticipatory grief, the anxiety, the depression, the medical trauma that turns into PTSD, the permanent changes to your body, the costs to your finances and your career. My online AYA (adolescents and young adults) cancer community has been huge in helping me with my mental health, and I started sharing and connecting more after my 2nd cancer. There is no one in my real life that is my age that has had cancer, so I am forever grateful to the friends I’ve met online that “get it.”

Although I celebrate overcoming traumatic experiences, I’m fully aware that cancer is a shadow, a ghost, and a thought lurking with me at all times. I think about how my body turned against me every day. It is a low anxiety hum in my brain (except during scan time when it’s a HIGH anxiety blow out in my brain and body).

One of the things I love about website design is that it gives me the freedom to work with my body’s natural energy, not against it. Some days I’m super focused in the morning, and other times later in the day, and that flexibility really matters to me so that I don’t burn out. Working from home means I can create in a way that feels more comfortable for my needs, especially with the changes to my body after cancer.

My therapist and my medications deserve a huge shout out as I learned to navigate life after cancer. I celebrate every win, personal and professional, big and small, and encourage others to do the same. Remember, if your body is in pain, find a doctor who will listen to you and help you find the cause.

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 website designer who started my professional career as an educator. As a ‘forever educator’ of 18 years, I bring a unique set of skills and perspectives that set me apart from other website designers. I strongly believe education is empowerment, and I want everyone around me to feel empowered.

I collaborate with small businesses to create or redesign custom websites, then teach you how to make and maintain changes. When you learn about your website and the design process, you will be empowered to drive business decisions that are the best for you. I love the spark that people get when they’re learning something new.

And I love being responsible for that spark ;).

Attaining my master’s degree in instructional design provided professional experiences such as copywriting, visual design, user experience, organizing content, course creation, accessibility best practices, and working with other experts in my field.

My ideal clients trust me with the technical process and design, they’re not afraid to learn and jump in to co-create their vision, and they’re not afraid to ask questions!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three qualities that are important and have impacted my journey are communicating, self-advocacy, and self- discipline. I’ll explain further.

Communicating effectively is essential in my personal and professional life. Years of being an elementary school teacher helped me to communicate effectively with adults AND know how to break things down for children. I really care about being understood and making sure others feel heard in a kind way too. I always remember that kindness matters! I like to think things through, try not to offend, and try to choose my words carefully. I enjoy communication that is clear and organized. I ask a lot of questions, not to be nosy, but because I genuinely want to understand where people are coming from. I’ve also learned that checking in and being honest, even if I’m nervous, is way better than holding things in.

Self-advocacy is a skill I’ve learned the hard way, because I didn’t listen to what I needed. I had ovarian cancer in 2020 and then neuroendocrine cancer in 2021. When I had ovarian cancer and didn’t know it, I pushed through so much pain and made so many excuses for my pain until I was unable to walk or stand up straight and finally went to see a doctor on a Saturday morning (so I wouldn’t miss work). For my second cancer diagnosis I had to see 7 doctors before I found out what was wrong, and I kept pushing the doctors to listen to me because I knew my body should not be in pain after learning the hard way the first time. I’ve learned to get help when I’m in pain and to rest when my body needs to rest. I’ve learned to speak up for myself, even when no one looks like me. I have heard countless times “you’re too young to have cancer,” “you can’t have cancer again,” and “you don’t look sick.” I’ve proven all 3 of those statements incorrect. One of the things I love about website design is that it gives me the freedom to work with my body’s natural energy, not against it. Some days I’m super focused in the morning, and other times later in the day, and that flexibility really matters to me so that I don’t burn out. Working from home means I can create in a way that feels more comfortable for my needs, especially with the changes to my body after cancer.

My self-discipline comes from my love of feeling prepared and on top of things – it just makes me feel more relaxed and confident. I’m definitely the type to make checklists for everything (even for fun stuff!) and I enjoy being organized. Having a plan (and a backup plan) makes me feel calm and in control. I also really like being someone others can count on, so if I say I’ll do something, I’ll definitely do it. It makes me feel safe and grounded when I’m on top of things.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

I stay away from hustle culture and treat my body gently. Instead, I like to take life at a pace that actually feels good for me (as much as I can). I tune into what my body’s telling me, make time for rest, and do little things that help me feel balanced. I want to be kind to myself, stay present, and let my creativity flow without burning out.

I’ve been the one to make a pros and cons list for decision making for as long as I can remember. I love a good list, a good planner, and some deep research when it comes to seeing different perspectives and weighing potential risks before committing to a choice. List-making helps me get my ideas on paper and makes me feel organized, which reduces any feelings of being overwhelmed.

I have a small circle of friends and family that I can turn to for the good things and the bad things. Knowing that I can be myself and be honest with them helps my self-care because I’m reminded I’m not alone. They remind me that I don’t have to carry everything alone, and that support is just a phone call or text away. Having that makes it easier for me to slow down and check in with myself.

To decompress at the end of the day I love to watch a good movie or series with my family, hanging out on the couch, or read fiction and occasionally non-fiction before bed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brightbunchdesigns.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightbunchdesigns/

Image Credits

Image Credits: Shayna at Bright Bunch Designs