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Read Personal Stories
by Brandon Mills
08.31.2024
I was irritable with everyone. I lost the ability to smile. It would take years for all of my issues to manifest fully and come to the surface. But being able to go through PTSD behavioral classes with a one-on-one counselor helped me a lot, and I found it also uplifting and relieving at the same time to find "like minded" people to share my mental health issues with.
by Stan Popovich
08.31.2024
I knew that the answers I was looking for were out there and all I had to do was make an effort to find them. Over time, I became very knowledgeable on how to deal with fear and anxiety which helped me in the long run.
by Pat Smith
08.24.2024
Despite outward success, I had been abusing drugs and alcohol since middle school, a habit I developed to escape emotions I didn’t know how to handle. I knew I had to change or continue suffering indefinitely. Slowly, meditation became a habit, helping me manage my emotions better.
by Todd Crush
08.22.2024
Do not be discouraged when confronted with the impossible. I’m living proof that anything can be done. At 25, with a young family, I was struck with the onset of schizophrenia and anxiety and everything in my world had come to a screeching halt. But I knew I had to push past my fear.
by Collin Williams
08.07.2024
I’m one of those people that if you knew me six or seven years ago you would never have thought I was suffering - or could ever suffer - from depression. I played football in college. I was a successful lawyer in the big city (Chicago) and a family man. A real guys’ guy. I didn’t sit in the corner of a dark room and cry. Instead I was angry. I was irritable. I had severe bouts of rage. I lashed out and couldn’t understand why.
by Luciana Valbuena
07.13.2024
My dream was always to be a mother. The day my first child was born, I felt something in me change completely. I didn’t know what it was... But when I saw my daughter, I felt happy, yet alongside that happiness came fear and an unknown feeling.
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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