For Halima Flynt, pottery is more than a creative outlet.
“Working with clay is therapeutic for me in a way that it’s the only time that my brain goes quiet,” Flynt said.
Flynt, who lives in North Carolina, has obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly known as OCD. About two years ago, she combined her love of pottery and handmade art with her passion for mental health advocacy, creating a business called Vase Your Fears.
Her handcrafted ceramics and jewelry often feature words and phrases that reflect the realities of living with OCD. One piece reads, “Maybe? Maybe not?” — a phrase Flynt says represents uncertainty statements she learned during treatment.
“It’s been really rewarding,” she said. “It’s brought me to a lot of interesting spaces and conversations with people. Every time I go to a market, I get to have such meaningful conversations with people who say, ‘I have OCD too.’ And I’m excited — not excited that they have it, but excited that they’re not alone.”
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Flynt says OCD is often misunderstood and stigmatized, leaving many people feeling isolated.
“OCD is so stigmatized in our world,” she said. “I went for so long thinking I was the only person who thought this way.”
Through Vase Your Fears, Flynt also gives back. One dollar from every piece sold is donated to mental health organizations, including OCD of North Carolina and the International OCD Foundation.
Flynt says the goal of her work isn’t just to sell art – it’s to open the door to conversation and connection.
“Even if I go to a market and make no money, but I talk to somebody who has OCD or someone who has a friend with OCD, then it’s totally worth it,” she said.
Her creations serve as both artwork and advocacy, helping to raise awareness and remind others they are not alone.