Childhood trauma

Rita Vilhena Featured Image

Case studies

How I Learned to Manage Depression and BPD Through Art and Self-Development

“Do not listen to people who have achieved nothing in life, especially if you are an overachiever and ambitious person, if you have a dream, run after your dream, God has plans for you and he gifted each one of us with something. My gift was in the arts and since I was 14 years old I’ve been after that dream, even if my own family has tried to “cut off” my legs. Fight for your dream, when things are being the hardest and you’re ready to quit, that is when you shouldn’t quit because big things are coming.”

Struggled with:
Borderline Personality Disorder
Bullying
Childhood trauma
Depression
Suicidal

Helped by:
Medication
Religion
Self-Care
Self-improvement
Therapy

Morgan McCarthy Featured Image

Case studies

How Cerebral Palsy Impacts My Mental Health And How I Find Happiness Nonethelss

“At my worst, I would hurt myself so I had an escape and a release. There are points where I feel so out of control in my body that even breathing is a task. I hold my breath. In truth, I have night terrors about what my funeral would be like, who would show up? Would I be missed? Would people come out of the woodwork when I was gone? If I left this body here would I hurt less? I battle every single day with loss. Your mind begins to play tricks on you.”

Struggled with:
Anxiety
Cerebral palsy
Childhood trauma
Depression
Suicidal

Helped by:
Exercise
Religion

Therapy

Richard Becker Featured Image

Case studies

Navigating a Lifelong Identity Crisis and Finally Finding Happiness in Myself

“I did not have an internal sense of self. It didn’t matter how much I accomplished or how many people I helped. I only measured positive outcomes by how others perceived and recognized me or my actions. The sooner we let go of labels, expectations, or the pain of past experiences, the sooner we will feel joy in our hearts.”

Struggled with:
Anxiety
Cancer
Childhood trauma
Depression
Identity crisis

Helped by:
Reinventing yourself
Religion
Self-improvement

Elijah Meason Featured Image

Case studies

How Accepting Help and Mindfulness Became the Turning Point in My Life

“Drugs and alcohol were common place and I was constantly moving around. That’s not to say that my parents were using in front of me, just that it was fairly obvious as to what was going on. Because of this, I actually grew up attending AA meetings and was introduced to “recovery” pretty early on. Even so, I would go on to spend 16 years in an alcohol and drug-induced nightmare that almost consumed my life. Irony at its finest.”

Struggled with:
Addiction
Childhood trauma
Depression
PTSD

Helped by:
Meditation
Mindfulness
Reinventing yourself
Therapy

Case studies

Navigating Depressive Episodes With Social Support, Therapy, and Perseverance

“When I got home, I was burnt out and severely depressed. I couldn’t get out of bed for a long time. My fiance took me for walks, helped me bathe, and brought me bland foods. With the help of my psychiatrist and therapist, I was able to get on a course of therapy and medication that finally helped to bring me out of my major depressive episode. I wasn’t truly fully functional again until some time in 2011.”

Struggled with:
Anxiety
Childhood trauma
Depression
PTSD

Helped by:
Medication

Therapy

Sam Russell Featured Image

Case studies

How Inner Dialogue and Spirituality Helped Me Overcome Depression & Suicidal Thoughts

“What therapists would label as “mental health” issues—as I’ve aged and grown perspective in my life, I would have to disagree wholeheartedly. Unstable environments and adults that failed to protect me from predators were the sole contributors to my unstable years.”

Struggled with:
Childhood trauma
Depression
Suicidal

Helped by:
Reinventing yourself
Self-improvement
Spirituality

Andrea Blindt Featured Image

Case studies

Successfully Battling Depression and Tragedy Upon Tragedy to Find Happiness

“The pregnancy ended up being even more high risk than my prior ones and I was placed in the hospital for six weeks. Depression and anxiety returned as my young daughter bounced between family and friends during my absence. I missed her terribly and my body ached without her presence, but I pushed forward knowing that each day I stayed pregnant brought us one day closer to our baby.”

Struggled with:
Anxiety
Childhood trauma
Depression
Grief
Panic attacks
Suicidal

Helped by:
Reinventing yourself
Self-improvement
Therapy
Treatment

Alana Hernandez-Wulkan Featured Image 2

Case studies

Taking Care of My Inner Self & EMDR Therapy Helped Me Battle Childhood Trauma and C-PTSD

“After a very emotionally taxing month for me and my fiance, I had an actual mental breakdown. Unable to stop crying, I voluntarily admitted myself to my local psych ward and stayed for a couple of days, ultimately being released after assessment. I realized that I didn’t want to die, I just didn’t want to feel the way I was feeling.”

Struggled with:
Abuse
ADHD
Childhood trauma
CPTSD

Helped by:
Medication
Self-Care

Therapy