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Panic attacks, particularly when you don’t know what they are or where they are coming from, can be…
Read Personal Stories
by Ashita Dadlani
01.08.2025
Anorexia is often labeled as an eating disorder, a need to control weight, or a mental battle. In my experience, it was about validating the belief that “I am not good enough." Therapy opened my eyes to the deeper issues behind my anorexia, showing me that my struggle wasn’t isolated—it was tied to a much larger narrative of my self-worth.
by Jonathan Teller
01.08.2025
In 2011, my acceptance to Penn State University marked what should have been the beginning of an exciting chapter. Instead, it became the first page of a different story – one about learning to advocate for myself while battling obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
by Kevin Turner
01.02.2025
Mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, bipolar, etc., aren’t funny. Or are they? As a comedian I find humor in my disorder. A big lesson I learned in therapy and through my comedy is you have to let things get messy sometimes. My intent is to be honest and raise awareness - even if that means exposing some negative, uncomfortable stuff.
by Shari Rowe
12.19.2024
Anxiety, grief, loss, sadness, day to day stress that comes with work and relationships. How do we get through the ups and downs that inevitably come our way? Check in with yourself. Ask yourself what you need, and then follow through. If you don’t know what you need, ask for help.
by Linda Ugelow
11.13.2024
I, like many others, was led to believe that feeling the fear and doing it anyway was the answer, or that repetition would somehow make it magically go away. In my case, I needed to go inward and process childhood and adolescent traumas that had been unhealed in order to truly heal and release the fear.
by Asato Kitamura
11.13.2024
Despite anxiety and depression, I was fortunate enough to overcome my traumas by learning how to repurpose them as inspiration. Today, fashion and fine art allow me to offer the world both a physical and mental embrace.
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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