“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.
Nia Finlay
Learning the art of letting go and knowing when to ask help. Since starting my healing journey, I have learnt a lot about myself and through therapy I learnt who I am as a person and what my triggers are relating to my childhood. This knowledge helps me navigate through tricky situations with ease. Read more>>
J. Avery Chester
Living with depression and anxiety has been a constant challenge, but I’ve found ways to persist and create light in the midst of it. Creative writing gives me an outlet to release thoughts before they become overwhelming, while musical theatre allows me to step outside of myself and escape into another world, even if only for a little while. Read more>>
Nicholas Smith
I never truly “overcame” my mental health challenges, but over the past 2 years I can wholeheartedly say that it has became a lot easier to manage. I deal with a lot of depression, and that stuff ain’t no joke. My coping mechanism is through music & just being out in nature communicating with God & the universe. Read more>>
Doug Rockwell
At a very young age I was diagnosed with OCD and a mild form of Tourette’s. It’s something that had always made me feel different, and at times alone. I used to have such a hard time talking about it and tried anything I could to hide it in public, which would cause great amounts of stress and anxiety. Read more>>
Dora Tramel
With my anxiety, I am constantly questioning my next move or decision in life and as an entrepreneur. My depression comes into play when I feel like I am stuck, an unsuccessful entrepreneurial attempt or I am having to be patient in business or life. Praying, cooking, reading my Bible, and exercising are my things that keep my anxiety and depression down. Read more>>
Maren & Charlotte Wallevik Hansen
We are two sisters who battle mental health issues, and have had some really heavy years with undiagnosed issues that affected everything in our lives – especially mid and post pandemic. Specifically, Maren has something called PMDD and wants to share information about this as many places as possible – as it is such an undiagnosed and underrepresented issue. PMDD stands for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. Read more>>
Téa Emerald Anderson
Truthfully, my mental health is a huge struggle I deal with and never really talk too much about it. I am a Model as well as a business owner. Doing this, being creative, helps me persevere through my hard times and gives me something to work towards and focus on. I have a BPD, ADHD, Depression & Anxiety, as well as a PTSD diagnosis. Read more>>
Bethany James
I have overcome and persisted through mental health challenges by transforming my pain into purpose and my struggles into written form. As a Black woman navigating schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and seasons of emotional exhaustion, I have turned to faith, creativity, and community as lifelines—not just to survive, but to truly heal. I openly acknowledge that mental health is both a personal and universal battleground. Read more>>
