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If you or someone close to you has ever been diagnosed with depression, obsessive-compulsive…
Read Personal Stories
by Marci Hopkins
09.29.2025
Marci shares her story of how she hid her struggles with anxiety and depression with alcohol until sobriety and community brought her the healing and freedom she was desperately searching for.
by Angela Baker-Creary
09.18.2025
At Mobillionairez, our mission has always been bigger than fashion.
by Tanya Guschina
09.17.2025
An illustrator and mother shares her journey of living with OCD and anxiety, and how art became her lifeline and therapy.
by Jason Brazao
09.08.2025
Jason recounts how a manic episode involving a police chase, arrest and imprisonment led to a crucial diagnosis of Bipolar 1 Disorder at the age of 38 and to his much-needed recovery.
by Kyle Elliott, EdD
09.02.2025
Read how Kyle's unexpected OCD and anxiety diagnoses helped him understand years of hidden struggles, leading to healing, self-acceptance, and advocacy to fight mental health stigma.
by Maddie Andrews
07.16.2025
After decades of battling undiagnosed trauma, OCD, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, Maddie turned their mental health journey into a powerful story of recovery. Through therapy, medication, and community support, they founded a nonprofit to help others and now advocate for stigma-free, accessible mental health care for all.
Share Your Story and Your Voice.
Help #breakthestigma Around Mental Health.
Read Stories From People Just Like You.
ADAA features a variety of personal stories shared by individuals who have experienced mental health challenges. These stories are meant to provide hope, raise awareness, and reduce stigma by showcasing real-life experiences. They often focus on overcoming obstacles related to anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions, sharing coping strategies, and emphasizing the importance of seeking help.
Reading these stories can be a great way to feel less alone in your own journey, as well as learn helpful tips and coping mechanisms from others who’ve gone through similar experiences.
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.
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.
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