Thriving Through Adversity & Overcoming Mental Health Challenges

“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.

Charlotte Howard Collins

Mental health issues can be debilitating and challenging to overcome, but through perseverance and determination, I have overcome these struggles. It took a lot of hard work and self-reflection to come to a place of understanding and acceptance. However, ignoring my mental health concerns was not an option. Read more>>

Taylor Robinson

Until a few years ago, I was overwhelmed with guilt, shame, and embarrassment when confronted with the reality of the neglect I experienced during childhood. The stigma revolving around the abuse I endured made me feel disgusting, hopeless, and different than my peers. Decades of dissociation and avoidance were the only survival skills that I knew would keep me alive. Read more>>

Liesl Hays

I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety most of my life. Candidly, mental health is hard for me to talk about. There are so many unflattering stigmas attached to this discussion. However, I make it a point to share this because I know it will help someone else. My biggest piece of advice: trust yourself. Read more>>

Jiordana Saade

I believe I have struggled with mental health disorders since I was a very small child. I was obese as a child (the only obese kid in my school at the time) and I was bullied quite a bit at a very young age. I learned early on, that who I was inherently was not good enough, and desperately wanted to change and fit in. When I was 8 years old I went on my first diet and essentially starved myself. Read more>>

Jermeisha Blue

Your mental health began the moment you are born. Your environment, the food you consume, life experiences, and many factors throughout life affect your brain and how you will function throughout life. Read more>>

Brianna Jones

It’s literally been nothing but God that has been able to get me through honestly. I am very much a God fearing woman. I pray over my mental health and others all the time. I suffer from depression and anxiety. God has showed me what I need to do to overcome such things. This industry and even just dealing with people in general can take a big tole on your mental health. Read more>>

Joel & Aida Vélez

It is not easy. Controlling our thoughts especially the negative ones was not an easy task for me. Our small business got started from a time of deep despair, loss and grief due to the loss of our dog DaVinci. On 2022 we lost Davinci due to cancer. After being with us for 14 years, he decided that his fight against the cancer was over. Read more>>

Dyan McNeely

As someone who has lupus, epilepsy, and intercranial hypertension I have had my fair share of anxiety, panics, and depression. There have been days where I was at my most darkest moments and I turned to my family, friends, and love of photograph to help overcome. Read more>>

Taneisha Dale

Oh boy, where do I start? My mental health issues are like that annoying mosquito buzzing in your ear when you’re trying to sleep. It just won’t leave you alone, no matter how much you swat at it. I’ve managed to turn that mosquito into a sort of…well, let’s call it a “motivational gnat.” Read more>>

Ronni Grandberry

I have overcome my mental health issues by first admitting that I struggle with my mental health. Also, talking about what my triggers are to a person that I trust, and sometimes Journaling helps me. Read more>>

Sarah Caum

This is a great question as it touches upon an important aspect of personal growth and resilience. Like many people, I’ve encountered challenges related to mental health throughout my journey. I was dealing with high levels of stress and anxiety due to the pressures of being a single mom combined with past traumas still stored in my nervous system. Read more>>

Veronica Gagliano Averkamp

I’ve had to work alongside of grief, which has been a silent partner in my work for the last six and a half years. I lost my mom to cancer when I was 26 back in 2017, and then four years later my dad passed away as well. These last several years have probably been my most productive years in my art making journey since art school, but there are times of ebb and flow. Read more>>

Ebanie Wilson

For me, mental health never became a topic of discussion until later in life. Growing up, no one talked about mental health. If you ever heard the term mental in connection with someone, it was just assumed that they had problems or that they were “crazy”. Up until recent years, mental health had always been a taboo concept, especially in the black community. Read more>>

Micha Rivas

I have dealt with social anxiety and PTSD, I was diagnosed at the age of 16 while in high school and shortly after I dropped out. I tried medications and therapy, and for me, none of it worked. At 17 I started running to lose weight, it wasn’t long before I realized, I was in control of how far I ran, I could set a goal, and reach it. I started to feel peace when I ran, a peace I didn’t feel any other time. Read more>>

Sheree Braswell

First, I want to say God, my therapist and my amazing support system I have been able to overcome these challenges related to mental health issues. Seriously, they are a God-send. They have helped me maneuver through many challenges in life and helped me to face my fears. They have seen me in my high moments and been there for me in my valley moments. Read more>>