“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.
Romin Irani
I’m not sure you ever “overcome” mental health issues. Mine has mainly been learning to live with a father who is Bi-polar and the way his mental health issue affect my mental health. It probably has been one of the hardest things I’ve had to deal with in my life as its an ongoing challenge with no end in sight. Read more>>
Alanna LeBlanc
Listen our society is so fast paced and we weren’t meant to live like that at all. The collective we decided that the “grind” is what it’s all about and I’m here to tell you that it is absolutely not. While the quality of always pushing yourself towards your goals is an admirable one to have, the perpetual grind is exhausting and diminutive. Read more>>
Eduardo Donawa
I don’t know how to quit, I’ve consistently reinvented my self through the multiple stages of my life. If I fell nine times I got up 10. Where I’m from life is hard so you have to be mentally tough. I find ways to relax in my spare time or down time. Alot of my ideas come to me when I’m alone so I self care by having my own space to think and create as needed. Therapeutic approach can let the creativity flow so that’s key with in my work ethic. Read more>>
Marlei Dismuke
Back in 2020, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I started going downhill pre-COVID, but being isolated once it hit didn’t help. At this time, I was going through a major life change – graduating from Community College with my associate’s degree and moving all the way to Miami, Florida, to pursue music at the University of Miami. Read more>>
Rebekah Louisa Smith
Many years ago, I was diagnosed with GAD – general anxiety disorder, it was pretty mild and I could carry on living my life, however it got worse in 2021 due to the stress of my US visa problems and the sudden drastic change that occurred in my life. At one point I was banned for life to enter the USA due to poor legal advice and I was in Mexico figuring out what to do with my life. Read more>>
Rachel Sellick
Good Question! Growing up, I don’t think I really struggled with any mental health issues, but as I’m sure many of us can relate to, COVID happened, life happened, and things got more difficult. It took me a long time to realise that I was struggling with my mental health, and to actually accept that it was ok. Read more>>
Sharee Silerio
Mental illness runs in my family on both sides, but it was never talked about. Through the silence, I learned that something being “off” should be swept under the rug. As an adult, though, I learned how damaging this mindset and way of operating could be. Read more>>
Jazzy Del
Mental health is a tricky thing for me. As someone who is diagnosed bipolar, some days I feel I’m on top of it and handling the curveballs, other times I feel like I’m drowning. I think the hardest part was simply accepting that this is something I will be dealing with for the foreseeable future. Read more>>
Chef Evelyn Jeanette
I think the first thing that is important is acknowledging mental illness or mental health issues. Acknowledging to yourself that you might need a little more help than just a hug. I feel it’s really important to always check in with yourself, ask yourself how you are doing, ask yourself if you need anything of importance that can help you through your day. Read more>>
Conner Stephens
Since I was young, I have battled with mental health and drug/alcohol related issues. I didn’t have many friends until I was 17, and I used to feel extremely isolated and alone. I would say there was and still continue to be two main things that keep me able to cope, overcome and find success in my life. Read more>>
Corisha Lawson
Navigating Mental Health Challenges as a Small Business Owner: My Journey of Resilience Read more>>
Lisa Mermella
As someone who is diagnosed with Bi Polar, it has not always been an easy road. Including finding the road to recovery and healing, but once I found the grounding I needed I basically ran with it and continued to stick with it. It has not been an easy road in the fact that at the time I was actively receiving help since I was 11 years old. Read more>>
LaRon Bryson
Honestly.. Showing up, which sounds like the easiest part but but ends up being the hardest. Struggling with mental health the smallest tasks like getting up in the morning, putting clothes on, trying to get in the shower or even to eat something becomes this giant battle in my head. I tell myself thousands and thousands of times… get up, get through the day, you can do it… Just show up. Read more>>
Mindy King
My embroidery was actually the answer to a large part of my mental health challenges. I served two tours in Iraq as a blackhawk crew chief before being medically retired due to an injury during my first deployment. I struggled not only with PTSD and anxiety in addition to the loss of my identity and purpose as a soldier. Read more>>
Anthony Abram Jr.
By just continuing to remind myself on why I started being public with my own Mental Health journey. Keeping that courage I had back in 2017 alive today when I do anything related to Mental Health. Encouraging one person to go seek professional has always been the goal! Read more>>
Jalyn Nwogu
I have struggled with mental health issues for a very long time. It has been and is one of the hardest challenges ai have to deal with it. However, the struggle and difficulties has made me who I am. I understand that I will always struggle and I have taken many steps to nurture myself and understand how I can still be me despite my issues. Read more>>
Liz Walker
In my 20s, I really was my own worst enemy. My anxiety had such a hold on me. It told me that nothing I did was good enough, that I was a failure, that I had already wasted my life and it was too late to get that time back. I really struggled to create anything while in that mental state. Why bother? What was the point? It would never feel like enough. Read more>>
Adrián Cavada II
Before being able to manage my mental health in a “healthy way”, I struggled quite a bit. It was as if I woke up one day and all my problems suddenly were on the surface. All of my neglected childhood trauma, all of my neglected adulthood trauma, along with my overall negative attitude towards myself was crashing on me like tidal waves. Read more>>
Dave James
So, my mental health issue is drug addiction. I’ve been clean and sober since January 2007. My brain is wired a little differently than most people, so I’ve been dialed in to a 12 Step program since just before I cleaned up my act. Read more>>
Pauline Messina
Growing up in a Hispanic household, mental health issues weren’t talked about. Having any kind of “issue” may you look weak. It’s not something our “community” considers an issue at all. You have a bad day and then you just shake it off. Read more>>
