“After every storm, there is a rainbow. If you have eyes, you will find it. If you have wisdom, you will create it. If you have love for yourself and others, you won’t need it.” – Shannon L. Alder
Some of the most successful folks in our community thrive despite experiencing mental health challenges. We are inspired by their strength and honored that they would share their stories with us below.
Cayla Jackson
The first and most important step for me in overcoming mental health challenges was understanding and truly believing that struggling with mental health is not an automatic disqualifier for happiness or success. In fact, over time, I’ve learned quite the opposite. For me, those struggles often showed up as depression, anxiety, persistent self-doubt, and a tendency to internalize rejection more deeply than I should. Read More>>
Dona Cassingham
Suffering from ptsd, mdd, multiple cancers, and anxiety I have learned to continue to overcome. Having to fight thru being a 600lb high school student in a wheel chair, too a divorce with three young boys and a feeling of failure as I soon found out one child was autistic. I had to put all my own personal discomfort, personal pain, my silent screams away. Read More>>
Arielle Montero
I’ve overcome many deeply difficult challenges in my life, including an eating disorder, domestic abuse, alcoholism, and struggles with my mental health. None of those experiences were easy, and there were times when I felt lost, overwhelmed, or unsure of how I would move forward. But through every challenge, I kept choosing healing, growth, and myself. Read More>>
Kristine Streett Brooks
I’ve overcome mental health challenges by learning to give myself grace, prioritize healing, and lean into creativity and connection. Through difficult seasons, I discovered the importance of self-care, support systems, and finding purpose in the things that bring me joy. My experiences have made me more resilient, compassionate, and determined to create a life centered around authenticity, beauty, and meaningful experiences. Read More>>
Jamme Alexander
One of the biggest things I’ve had to overcome was learning how to keep moving forward while carrying pressure, grief, responsibility, and uncertainty all at the same time. Mental health challenges do not always look obvious. Sometimes they look like functioning at a high level while quietly battling exhaustion, anxiety, self doubt, or emotional weight behind the scenes. Read More>>
iloveyouJASE
There’s been plenty of times where I’ve had that happen in both writing and production , and my strategy is usually the same. You have to relive as much pressure from yourself as possible. And just allow the moment to flow… best way i found To do that is to just start. It doesn’t have to be the most top tier thing you ever made. Read More>>
Savannah Young
I am of the stance that inspiration is made more than it’s found. That principle is one of the reasons I’ve never really experienced creative burnout or artist’s block. I don’t wait around for inspiration to hit me in some great stroke of genius because that’s honestly never happened to me before. My brain doesn’t work like that, as much as I wish it did. Read More>>