173 Case Studies: Real Stories Of People Overcoming Struggles of Mental Health

At Tracking Happiness, we’re dedicated to helping others around the world overcome struggles of mental health.

In 2022, we published a survey of 5,521 respondents and found:

  • 88% of our respondents experienced mental health issues in the past year.
  • 25% of people don’t feel comfortable sharing their struggles with anyone, not even their closest friends.

In order to break the stigma that surrounds mental health struggles, we’re looking to share your stories.

Overcoming struggles

They say that everyone you meet is engaged in a great struggle. No matter how well someone manages to hide it, there’s always something to overcome, a struggle to deal with, an obstacle to climb.

And when someone is engaged in a struggle, that person is looking for others to join him. Because we, as human beings, don’t thrive when we feel alone in facing a struggle.

Let’s throw rocks together

Overcoming your struggles is like defeating an angry giant. You try to throw rocks at it, but how much damage is one little rock gonna do?

Tracking Happiness can become your partner in facing this giant. We are on a mission to share all your stories of overcoming mental health struggles. By doing so, we want to help inspire you to overcome the things that you’re struggling with, while also breaking the stigma of mental health.

Which explains the phrase: “Let’s throw rocks together”.

Let’s throw rocks together, and become better at overcoming our struggles collectively. If you’re interested in becoming a part of this and sharing your story, click this link!

Do Peneva Interview Featured Image

Case studies

Overcoming Neglect, Childhood Trauma and Abuse Through Careful Self-Improvement

“When I was 12 years old, my parents moved into their own place, along with my brother and sister. They left me with my grandparents. I could only see my family on weekends, and on Sunday evenings I would go back home. I was not able to build a normal relationship with my brother and sister. I even thought at one point that I was adopted, which was against all logic.”

Struggled with:
Abuse
Childhood trauma

Helped by:
Journaling
Self-improvement

Noelle Creamer Interview Featured Image

Case studies

Overcoming a Rare Autoimmune Disease With a Careful Diet and Self-Improvement

“There were weeks when I wouldn’t leave my house, feeling too overwhelmed and exhausted to face the world. I tend to isolate myself rather than reaching out to others, which only compounded my feelings of loneliness and despair. I had to repattern my behavior and learn to ask for help or talk about my feelings, but it wasn’t easy. I internalized a lot of my pain and frustration, which made me feel even more isolated.”

Struggled with:
Anxiety
Autoimmune disease

Helped by:
Self-improvement

Lynn Julian Interview Featured Image

Case studies

Surviving The Boston Marathon Bombings While Facing TBI and Medical Gaslighting

“As I literally lived on his couch, with my port-a-potty in his living room, my partner eventually applied for permanent disability status for me. But, even the doctor gaslighted me, told me I was physically able to work, and reported the same to the government. In reality, I was so dizzy with vertigo, this same doctor refused to let me walk to and from our car, by myself, fearing I’d fall and sue!”

Struggled with:
CPTSD
Traumatic Brain Injury

Helped by:
Treatment

Carmen Leal Interview Featured Image

Case studies

How A Rescue Dog Helped Me Overcome TBI, Depression and Suicidal Ideation

“I sat on the summer-hot pavement, and no one stopped or asked me if I was okay. No one called the police. People walked around me as quickly as possible. When I was all cried out, I walked home to my empty house. I bought a set of knives, ostensibly for cooking, but that was not the reason. I had thought about pills, and every day I researched how many of each prescription drug I was on would I need to take to die. Using a sharp knife seemed so much easier.”

Struggled with:
Depression
Suicidal
Traumatic Brain Injury

Helped by:
Medication
Pets
Volunteering

Sharon Fekete Interview Featured Image

Case studies

Sharing My Journey From Alcohol and Substance Abuse to Sobriety and Happiness

“I felt prettier, smarter, funnier when alcohol entered my body so I simply continued numbing through the years. The progression of this disease of alcoholism turned into a nasty drug habit and those feelings of insecurity turned into deep darkness when I was “off my meds”. Or in other words, without alcohol or drugs.”

Struggled with:
Addiction
Depression
Suicidal

Helped by:
Rehab
Therapy