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Is my OCD going to get worse during pregnancy or after giving birth? The worry that OCD symptoms…
Read Personal Stories
by Jon Bryant
06.09.2025
Mental health issues and dealing with conditions like anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, and depression, which I’ve been struggling with on and off for about 12 years, can make you feel incredibly vulnerable. Composing my album Therapy Notes was a therapeutic process for me at a time when I really needed it.
by Cole Rodby
05.30.2025
After years of battling anxiety and depression, Cole found healing through therapy, self-work, and the radical act of self-acceptance. A major turning point in his journey was starting his clothing brand, Damaged Goods Clothing, built around a simple but powerful belief: we’re all damaged and flawed—but that’s not something to hide.
by Jude-Gabriel Eveillard
05.28.2025
A senior graphic design student channels personal experience and cultural identity into a powerful poster series with a mental health nonprofit, using visual storytelling to break stigma and inspire open conversations about anxiety and depression.
by Jonathan Bregel
05.22.2025
After years of outward success as a filmmaker, I found myself quietly unraveling—burned out, disconnected, and grieving parts of myself I had buried under achievement. A personal documentary on grief changed everything, teaching me that true healing begins not in pushing forward, but in pausing to feel.
by Chloe Jang, Ava Samuel, and Jacinthe Tong
05.21.2025
We created Unwind Your Mind as part of a project, but soon realized how deeply the topic of anxiety resonated with our school, community, and even ourselves.We began to address a silent struggle that so many students face every day.
by Ryan Basen
05.19.2025
Growing up as a boy obsessed with playing team sports and meeting hypermasculine norms in the late 20th century, the American culture at large implicitly instructed me to hold in my feelings and take care of my problems myself whenever possible.
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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