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.
Haoyue Yang
Last year marked a period of profound emotional turmoil for me. Due to the loss of a beloved family member and the regret not bidding her a final farewell, I lingered over the edge of breakdown. Meanwhile, a lack of steady income prevented me from securing a new apartment as my lease neared expiration. The industry-wide strike compounded my difficulties in finding stable employment, resulting in the onset of burning mouth syndrome—an ailment closely tied to emotional distress. On the verge of a breakdown, I thankfully found solace in the company of friends during the day, even if our activities were as simple as sitting together, preventing my mind from descending into overthinking. Read more>>
Angela M Mitchell
That’s a great question, and it’s the one I get asked the most! Especially since I had to push past the stigma, and the narrative of being the “strong black woman” that I held on to so tightly. A lot of times when it comes to our mental health we don’t want to admit that the load is too heavy, at least that is what I did. I first give all honor and glory to The Most High, because I had to rebuild my relationship and rely on my Faith. That’s the only way I could see my way out of the darkness I was lost in. Read more>>
Paul Lukes
First off let me state that I know some people may differ in opinion, but I think addiction is a mental health issue. I am a recovering addict (11.5 years clean now in 2024) and making it through the throes of addiction and the deep levels of despair and suffering that come along with it is something that I’ll never stop being proud of. That being said, I know getting clean is not curing cancer and I don’t think it’s really worthy of a nobel prize or anything. But I sure am glad I made it out alive when a lot of my peers and friends haven’t. Read more>>
Aylea Burkes
Mental health has been a lifelong, up and down journey throughout my life for sure. There have been times, up until recently where the thought of just giving up on everything has crossed my mind. Thoughts that the internal struggles I suffer will forever have a stronghold on myself and the goals that I dream of accomplishing. But each time this thought pops up in my head, a contrasting thought pops up to challenge it-” What’s different now? ” When I stop to reflect, I realize that my life in the midst of all those sad times has consistently shifted. Read more>>
Rachel Silva
I think it takes a lot of strength and vulnerability to speak about mental health issues that we have personally struggled with. I’m very open about raising awareness in mental health issues to help ease some of the stigma associated with these topics. I will say on a personal level, I have struggled with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm, and other mental health issues pretty much my entire life. I still struggle with some of these issues daily and I don’t think there is any real “win” or “overcoming” it – it’s about doing the work despite the struggle and working through the issues. Read more>>
Gisele Silva
Therapy! I have been in therapy since 2017 I would not have been able to stay sane without it. Moving alone without family to an unknown country is not easy, this support four is extremely important for me. Read more>>
Elm Jed
In a single word: Spite. I have struggled with a multitude of mental health challenges since I was eight, more and more adding on as life happened and circumstances I couldn’t really change. I have PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, and ADHD. When I tell people what I’ve lived through, most of the responses are shock and think I’m making some of it up. I grew up in a traumatizing household of different abuse, and then I entered the Marine Corps when I was 17 to get away from it and start a new life, unfortunately, that somewhat backfired in some ways. Read more>>
Elena Borum
So, ofcourse, making art is one of my biggest outlets. On a much larger scale it all came with time and having people by me who pushed me into healthier habits. People who took care of me at my lowest. I’ve struggled with depression, mainly, and the resulted in heavy drug abuse and me just bed rotting. When things got bad I did absolutely nothing, I would just let my whole life fall apart. Luckily I had people who would drag me out of the house. Eventually I got a service dog and that gave me a consistent obligation. Read more>>
BL4RE
Since I was a little kid I had been dealing with Bipolar and ADHD. Being an adult with bipolar can be challenging at times. You go from being in a perfectly fine state of mind, to feeling like the world is crashing down on you. The thing that keeps me level, and knocks me out of my manic states is making music. Even if I can’t come up with something I think is amazing it still helps to sit down, collect my thoughts, and put them to a beat. Read more>>
Cirice
I turn my mental health into issues into creative devices. People who are of sound mind make boring and uninteresting art that doesn’t mean anything. Those who endure the most suffering will create some of the greatest works known to man. Read more>>
Sarah Swensen
Growing up as an only child who was adopted I didn’t look like the other people who were in my community. I grew up living in a small town- upper-middle class area where I experienced a lot of bullying and isolation from not fitting in with my peers. By the time I was in middle school, I had depression and a low self esteem. One passion that helped me when I was having very hard days was writing. I would write in my journal, write poems and songs without any music but I could hear them forming in my head – relating to my emotions at the time. Writing gave me an outlet and helped me feel better even on my darkest days. Read more>>
Ginger Lee
I am definitely not one of those who would say they had an easy road. Growing up in the eighties as an undiagnosed autistic kid, I feel like life handed me challenge after challenge. I have learned that our struggles will either make us or break us. For me it comes down mindset. Yes, trials make us who we are, and we can survive or fail, but I am still learning to unmask. Read more>>
Nichole Peterson
Approximately eight years ago, I experienced the profound loss of my father to suicide. He was not just a parent but also my mentor and role model—a source of inspiration throughout my childhood. We were, in many ways, reflections of each other, sharing a strong work ethic and a passion for pursuing joy in life. Following college, I initially ventured into a sales job but soon realized my true calling lay in movement and personal interaction. I transitioned to become a personal trainer, owning my business, and dedicating myself to helping others find joy through fitness. Read more>>
Josh Grimm
I chose to answer this question as hard and complicated that the answer may reveal. I find that my journey has been a bit unlike most. When one takes the perspective of mental health being not a priority but THE priority, doors will open. It’s incredible how much you can unlock with a clear mind. The practice of meditation, manifestation techniques, and sheer drive to be and do better is what has driven me and my successes in both my work and in my personal life… Read more>>
Nija Spencer
My mental health had always been an issue since I was a child. I just wasn’t aware of it until I became an adult. I became depressed in 2021 and it honestly changed my life forever. I was sad. I barely got out of bed. I slept a lot. I was barely eating or had an appetite. It was bad. But one day I literally said “I’m tired of being sad. I have to make it through this.” It was easier said than done but one thing about me is if I say I’m going to do something I’m gonna do it. I may not know how but I always figure it out in the end. I gave myself the self proclaimed title “Ms. Make It Happen” because I can make something out of nothing and I make it happen every time. Read more>>
Stephanie A. Morrison
Being a photographer was always a dream of mine, but doubts, fears, insecurities, and feeling required to follow a more practical career pulled me away from what I’m truly passionate about. Life led me to everything from running a cash register to teaching in a classroom, but one constant through each season was my desire to learn more about people. I love getting to know people, where they’re from, what they’ve been through, and what makes them who they are. Read more>>
Natalia Lazo
Mental health issues can feel so debilitating. Fiery sensations trickle through my chest cavity as my mind races with thoughts, and I feel the fight or flight responses threatening to take over my body. Suddenly, I snap myself out of it and remember that I am in a public setting and have to remain calm. This is a common obstacle for a lot of us despite the efforts we make to combat the phenomenon of anxiety. The invisible forces of anxiety and depression have chased me most of my life, but I have proven to myself that I am resilient and can persist despite the uneasiness my body feels sometimes. The strategies I have implemented are what has worked best for me, but hopefully they can inspire someone else. Read more>>
Giorgia Cavicchioli
My mental health has always been a challenge for me. I had anorexia and depression in a very young age, at 12. But I survived. I also overcame anxiety, that I developed during the pandemic and after my father passed away, in 2021. It was a difficult journey, I am not gonna lie. But, at the same time, those “low points” made me appreciate every single little accomplishment. I’ve learned how to make a plan and have a goal, but appreciate every single day and every single good thing that happen in my life. I think that, at the same time that being too emotional can be my biggest flaw, it can be my biggest strength. Read more>>
