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If you or someone close to you has ever been diagnosed with depression, obsessive-compulsive…
Read Personal Stories
by Hudson Leogrande
05.13.2025
I dropped out of high school at 16 and went through one of the darkest seasons of my life battling depression and anxiety. I started Comfrt to build something deeper than a clothing brand—I wanted to create a sense of belonging.
by Morgan Manning
05.05.2025
Being a caregiver, whether by profession or a desire or duty to care for family and friends, can be extremely rewarding, not to mention admirable. But it is physically and mentally exhausting and can take a toll on one’s emotional wellbeing.
by Anonymous
04.23.2025
Though having experienced several mental and psychological disorders, she still desired to give back to women and girls who faced similar situations, to teach them about mental health and empowering them with education.
by Peter Roff
04.17.2025
Anyone can experience depression and anxiety. Success doesn't mean that someone is immune to any and all hardships and struggles. You can be successful and still experience mental health issues, and that is okay.
by Aneela Idnani
04.10.2025
Body-focused Repetitive Behaviors, commonly known as BFRBs, are behaviors that include pulling hair (trichotillomania), picking skin, biting, or scraping, that are often done compulsively, despite attempts to stop. Read Aneela's personal story with trichotillomania and the hope she has found and created for others.
by Nieisha Deed
03.21.2025
I believed in the recipe that society had laid out for me: get a good education, land a good job, buy a house, get married, have children, and boom—happiness would follow. But as I continued down this path, something didn’t add up. The math wasn’t mathing.
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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