“After every storm, there is a rainbow. If you have eyes, you will find it. If you have wisdom, you will create it. If you have love for yourself and others, you won’t need it.” – Shannon L. Alder
Some of the most successful folks in our community thrive despite experiencing mental health challenges. We are inspired by their strength and honored that they would share their stories with us below.
Cara Correnti
I struggled with mental health issues for many years of my life, and I never thought I would recover from all of my symptoms. Several different doctors said I had Bipolar disorder with psychotic episodes along with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. I was in and out of psych wards and hospitals, and no matter how many medications I was prescribed, nothing seemed to truly help. I was actually in the emergency room waiting for a room at the mental hospital when I was told I was pregnant. I didn’t believe that it was true, and I spent the first four months of my pregnancy hospitalized. Read More>>
Kira’Fika Jackson
My persistence made me resilient and when I think of resilience, I immediately think of a diamond being put under pressure in order to be made beautifully. Over the span of my life, being only 25, I’ve been placed under some pressure. I’m sure we all have. I lost my brother when I was a senior in high school and then a year later during my sophomore year in college, I lost my grandmother in a vehicular accident. Someone ran through her living room with a car as she was sitting watching tv. I couldn’t believe life had gotten like this. I dissociated and crawled my way through college up until graduation. I was mentally and physically exhausted. Read More>>
Imani Hasiina
Overcoming the struggles related to MY mental health is still something I work through and fail at everyday. But I keep trying. I keep going because even in my darkness I know there is a purpose to it all. I have attempted suicide more times than I want to count. I have dealt with or been diagnosed with every sickness you could imagine since I was a little girl. From ADHD to anxiety to suicidal depression to eating disorders and finally to Bipolar Disorder. Read More>>
Princess Jennings
Therapy was a game changer for me. At first, I found it challenging to pour out my past experiences but overtime I became comfortable with them, and it started to feel like a breath of fresh air. I would finish my sessions and it felt like I’d released so much weight. In between sessions, journaling allows me to clear my thoughts. I have also found the importance of surrounding myself with people who truly care about my well-being. Read More>>
Meaghan McArthur
I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in May of 2016. The next couple of years were rough with episodes of deep depression and anxiety. I went through countless trials of different medications, hospital stays, and therapists. It took a couple of years to find the right combination to get myself feeling better. I still am tweaking my medications all the time, but I have been able to almost fully overcome the episodes of anxiety and depression. I still have an occasional anxious day, but the majority of the time I am, happy, productive, and fulfilled. Read More>>
John Martin
As a childhood trauma survivor, I have been challenged by mental health issues my entire life. I lost my mother due to cancerous tumors at 3 years old and then my father to drug use and HIV/AIDS at 6 years old. Following that I was raised in an environment filled with abuse, neglect, violence, alcohol, and drug use. Read More>>
Brett Ellis
While I was in the Air Force, I developed Anxiety and Depression due to the experiences and stress associated with working in the military environment. A surprise to me was that the Anxiety and Depression was only exacerbated when I moved away from the Air Force and back to civilian life. I think the reason for that is, while the military environment takes a toll, I was also surrounded by people that were experiencing the same thing and those people were my friends and support system. Read More>>
Abigail Rodriguez
As someone who has been struggling with severe anxiety, for the past few years I’ve found it extremely hard to find the motivation to begin a photography career and thought it was impossible to meet new people. I started branching out by focusing on what helps keep my anxiety to a minimum by constantly challenging myself throughout the day. To start small if I wanted to find things, I would ask people for directions in public. Read More>>
