“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.

Laurel Wright

For as long as I can remember I’ve struggled with severe anxiety. I’m not sure if I was wired at birth with this and/or my childhood trauma contributed to this. But it’s something I’ve struggled with my whole life. I used to think I was just shy and timid. But I’m not. I was just fearful of how the outside world would perceive me. Overrun with thoughts of the worst case scenarios.

When I started my career as a hairdresser, I just dove in head first with no idea of what I was getting myself in.to. With pressure from my parents to find a “career “. I knew I never wanted a “normal “ job. I was always creative, a deep thinker, and into art and fashion. Read More>>

Robyn Phelps

I wasn’t super conscious of my mental health issues, or really able to understand that I even had any issues, until I was in late high school. It took MANY years, and a lot of steps forward and steps backwards, but I can genuinely say now that I feel the most mentally well I ever have in my life. One major factor of that was finally seeking help from a psychiatrist to confirm my ADHD diagnosis a few years ago.

I had suspected I may have ADHD for about two years before I finally made the appointment to be assessed. Which I always think is at least a little bit funny, considering the barrier to executive function that ADHD presents, that the one thing you need to do to be diagnosed is to get yourself together enough to make an appointment. Several of my close friends had been diagnosed over the years, and after having many conversations with them about what exactly they were feeling, I found myself relating to many of those experiences. Once I started to really think about it and learned the actual symptoms of ADHD, there was almost no aspect of my life that I didn’t see affected by it. Read More>>

Kristine Ruth

Overcoming and persisting through mental health challenges has been a journey of deep healing, transformation and self-discovery—one that has led me back home to myself. There was a time when I searched for love and validation outside of me, believing that my worth depended on how others perceived me. But through the highs and lows, I’ve come to realize that true healing, true love, and true wholeness can only be found within. Read More>>

Jovan Clark

I guess I’ll combine a few of your questions into one since they all kinda relate.
Let’s start with the mental health side. Since about 12 I’ve struggled with depression, & on & off anxiety. Early 2020 I was inches from committing suicide. That night changed my life forever. The next day I took a plane ride home, which was like my new system update. I became a new person. I knew my purpose, & started pursuing it right away. Read More>>

 Nalu Cooley

Mental health has been a thread woven through my life since childhood. I grew up in a household deeply impacted by mental illness. My mother struggled with suicidal depression, and my father battled bipolar disorder, often expressing it through uncontrollable anger. As a teenager, I ran away, trying to escape the chaos, only to find myself spiraling and hitting rock bottom. Read More>>