Landing Page Hero Image

Read Personal Stories 

Filter by:
by Shanean Henry
My mental and physical state was so strained but I could not find time to show weakness because I was a mother of two and needed to get back to work in 2 weeks.
by Brandon Karasinski (AESTHETIC))
For many years music helped me to feel less alone going through something I hadn’t come to understand about myself until recently. My new song CARE describes that fork in the road we all come across in our lives where we have two paths to choose walking down.
by Eternal Ballers
In 2020, I made a life-altering decision to take my passion for music to a new level. This decision set me on a path of self-discovery, helping me overcome depression and anxiety while also aiming to assist others in their own journeys.
by Gary Hirsch
I draw small robot figures on the backs of domino tiles and give them to people. I also encourage others to draw their own Bots, as they are called, and name them as a creative way to connect community. For me, the Bots and all my artwork are a way to help myself, but also a way to recognize, support and celebrate others.
by Jamie Factor
My name is Jamie and I battle anxiety—social anxiety—and depression. As I write this, I am 18 and it's the middle of June. I'm going to college in a few months, which is something I never thought was possible.
by Min Jung
As I made connections between Buddhism and neuroscience, I realized they both shared a common insight: the need to retrain our brains and ourselves to value inner peace over fleeting pleasure, to find joy amidst challenges, and to discover happiness in the very process of living.

Share Your Story and Your Voice.

Help #breakthestigma Around Mental Health.

Read Stories From People Just Like You.

We invite you to explore personal stories submitted from ADAA's community to learn how people living with an anxiety disorder, OCD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression or a co-occurring disorder have struggled, coped, and triumphed. 

 

Do you have a story about your mental health journey? Your voice and your story can help transform the lives of many, help decrease stigma, and make one feel less alone.

 

We welcome written stories and short 2-3 minute videos, or a 1-2 minute recording, that we will share on the ADAA website, through our Triumph e-newsletter, and across our social media platforms. 

 

In a story of 500 -750 words (or a 2-3 minute video), please describe your mental health journey and how it has affected your life. Please provide a brief title and focus on the therapy or other treatments that have helped you manage or overcome your illness. Please include how ADAA's website or resources have helped you. In order to publish you story on our website and to share it on our social media platforms, we require that you use your real name and include a photo.

 

Please note that we do not accept advertorials (these stories should not include any call-outs for personal websites or publications or sell any products). We reserve the right to reject any story that we do not feel is appropriate to share. 

 

SUBMIT YOUR STORY


NOTE: ADAA reserves the right to edit for clarity, length, and editorial style. We do not guarantee that every submission will be published. If your story is accepted, you will be notified. If you have not heard from ADAA within one week of submission that means that your story has not been accepted. Once your story is posted on this website, it is the property of ADAA.
Boost Search Results
On
Educational Resources
Tips & Strategies from our Member Experts and Public Community
Block reference
Blog
In recent years, it seems like each presidential election leaves around half the country feeling…
PERSONAL STORY
I, like many others, was led to believe that feeling the fear and doing it anyway was the answer,…