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Looking back now: SJ’s success story in progress

Looking back now, I can see it. I have always lived with my illnesses. At least as far back as I can remember. I remember feeling lonely, a lot. I remember feeling like an outsider in third or fourth grade. I remember thinking no one liked me, and even if I was standing right in the group, if someone didn’t specifically mention me or invite me to participate, I thought I was being left out or that they didn’t want me around. Those thoughts continued into my teens and adulthood.

Shortly after all of this I was introduced to the Make It OK campaign. I launched it for my organization and helped to found an organization devoted to the elimination of the stigma around mental illness. I spoke at tons of events, but even though I was working on stigma, I was a victim of it…

I also continue my work with Make It OK and serve on their steering committee. It is work I am very proud of and that is so important. People deserve to know they are not alone. They deserve to seek the treatment they need and deserve without fear.

We are warriors- all of us, and we need to talk about it, share our stories and truly Make It OK.

Self-doubt to self-discovery: Joel finds confidence through depression support groups.

Mental health, esp. for men, is of keen interest to me. I have contended with anxiety/depression for much of my adult life. The stigma I have experienced as a result of my illness has been primarily self-imposed. Low self-esteem, a failed marriage and minimum wage employment despite having a Master’s Degree have all contributed to seeing myself as a loser for many years. The most painful part has been as a father to my daughter.

By participating in various men’s support groups I have learned I am not alone in dealing with mental health issues. These groups have given me an opportunity to be supportive by telling my story, actively listening to other people’s experiences, and share the humor and horror of our journey as people with mental illness.

Remember on the tough days that life will have meaning again.

Trauma Survivor to a Trauma Doctor: Jess’ story

Diagnosed with complex PTSD following years of abuse and assault, finishing doctorate in trauma-informed care, better able to provide support to others because of her experience and thrived when employer gave her the opportunity to excel.

There’s also the stigma I face, like when potential employers have questioned my ability to care for other people experiencing trauma when I have a trauma history myself. But the thing they don’t understand is that my history makes me BETTER at caring for others. When I found a place that gave me the opportunity to show what I could do, I excelled. I have ongoing care with a therapist, a supportive group of friends and colleagues, a fantastic little dog, and a helpful self-care routine. I am now an expert on Trauma-Informed Care, finishing my doctorate in that field, and I’m a highly effective member of the spiritual care department.

Beyond bipolar disorder: Jehan shares her lived experience to inspire others and to help end mental health stigma

When a friend breaks an arm, we sign their cast. When a family member gets a cold, we bring soup. When someone tells you they live with diabetes, we make a sugar-free dessert.

What would you do for someone who told you they live with bipolar disorder?

Jehan has not only accepted her condition, but embraced it. She uses her experience to inspire and help others who may be struggling.

“I know my vocation in life is to help others and I want to do just that,” she says. “I can’t stress enough how important mental health is to talk about. You never know who you could be helping just by opening up.”

She’s doing this now by talking with colleagues and sharing her experience in our Make It OK campaign.

Defying the thin ideal and nourishing hope: Ashley’s journey in overcoming an eating disorder

When I tell people I am in recovery from an eating disorder, they give me a puzzled look like I must be crazy. I have had many people judge me and act like I did not go through a real struggle that almost ended my life. Food had turned into my enemy and my fear.

I cannot say how, why, or exactly when, but an eating disorder had taken over my life and I needed help.

Today I volunteer I can encourage those who suffer from eating disorders and give them hope. I have spoken in the community and in recovery groups about eating disorders and my personal story. I tell others that there is hope. I want people to know that life without an eating disorder does exist and is so much better.

When I was struggling, I never met someone who was on the other side of an eating disorder, so I often thought recovery was impossible.

Shadows Over Sunshine

The loss of my job finally pushed me to seek professional help. I had been ignoring the signs of my deteriorating mental health, hoping they would vanish once I found new work. Instead, they intensified. Acknowledging the severity of my condition, I visited a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with severe psychiatric co-morbidities: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

Blogging and advocacy transformed my sense of purpose. I championed workplace mental health, pushing for regulations and support systems for content moderators. My efforts attracted media attention, sparking debates that reached beyond my immediate community.

From Darkness to Light: My OCD Story

Adulthood with OCD was disastrous. In college, studying electrical and electronics engineering, my stress and obsessions increased. This led to immense pain and academic failure. I feared social interactions, obsessing over writing profane words on desks and sending inappropriate emails. Group projects were a nightmare, and driving triggered fears of running over imaginary bodies.

In my suffering with OCD, I found my passion and community. I made it my life goal to help others with OCD. I started my own website (www.thestrugglingwarrior.com) to raise awareness and provide evidence-based articles. Through this journey, I’ve met wonderful people and found my purpose.

The Ebbs and Flows of My Mental Health Disorders

I suffered from mental health issues throughout high school and college but was never clearly diagnosed during those times of my life. Part of that may have been because my symptoms first manifested as more physical – stomach pains, chest pains, headaches – and I never truly opened up about what was going on inside my head until much later.

I hope my story inspires and helps people who are suffering to feel less alone and know they will not always be in a dark, frightening, despairing place. We can rise above and every day I am so thankful for the science and medication that have given me my life back.

“Just Perfect”

If anyone had told me several years ago that everything would get better, I would have nodded while screaming disbelief inside my head. I thought things simply could not get better, that I’d be forever feel imprisoned in a dark room.

However, my greatest remedy is writing. My novel, Just Perfect, is based on the difficult times I’ve gone through. It took me more than three years to write, but it was definitely worth it. I wanted my work to inspire and help others by sharing my own struggles. I wanted to persuade people that they are not alone and that they, too, have a life worth fighting for.

Healing Physical and Mental Trauma Bone by Bone: Depression, Anxiety & PTSD After the Amtrak 188 Train Crash

I was extremely lucky to be alive. I was lucky not to be paralyzed. I was lucky I didn’t have a traumatic brain injury. I was lucky to have excellent medical care and the support of my family, friends and colleagues. But months after barely surviving the Amtrak 188 train derailment in 2015, I was dealing with not just the physical repercussions of a significant traumatic event, but also the emotional ones.

I had a lot of time on my hands while recovering and being curious, I began reading and educating myself on trauma and how pain impacts, and changes, our brains. I asked questions, I paid more attention to my mental wellbeing, and took copious notes from my research – which later would become part of my book, Bone by Bone.

What could I do to help others? The book is meant for anyone or even just one person who finds it helpful. In many ways, if no one needs it, that’s even better but if it can impact one life, then I know it was worth it. All proceeds from Bone by Bone are being donated to non-profit organizations that support trauma professionals and survivors.