Children’s Mental Health Advocate, Julia Paxton, Takes Over Our Insta

We were so excited to have Julia Paxton, who’s been featured on the Today Show, take over our insta stories this week. See a small piece of her story below. I am a social work student at Ohio State University and a patient advocate with Nationwide Children’s Hospital. I have struggled with mental illness from a very young age, and …

Nicci Shares Her Powerful Story for our #SpeakYourMindSeries

It all started back in 2004 when my brother passed away from epilepsy. I was the only person home at the time and was unsure of how to handle the situation. He had seizures all his life and usually came to within a reasonable amount of time. This was different though, and as an eight-year old, I didn’t know what …

Cincinnati Florist Opens Up About Her Mental Health Journey

Katie, a Cincinnati wedding florist and owner of Katie’s Blooms, opens up about her journey with mental illness and shares her story by taking over our Insta today! My journey with anxiety began in high school. I missed A LOT of school. Countless doctors appointments and testing over the years landed me with general anxiety disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and …

Lauren Shares Her Story for our #SpeakYourMind Series

Lauren, a former Xavier and UC student, shares her story for our #speakyourmind series for #mentalhealthawarenessmonth. I experienced multiple traumatic events in my life as a child that led me to be diagnosed with panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder. I have spent 11 years learning how to manage and maintain my mental health, while enduring the …

I Am a Recovering Perfectionist

While going for a run, I had this thought that I am a recovering perfectionist. I am recovering in this very moment, as I sit on the rocks by the beach and take my time rather than continuing my workout. I am recovering as I take in the view and allow myself to just be. But I haven’t always been …

Castin Speaks His Mind for Mental Health Month

It’s #WarriorWednesday and Castin, a local high school senior, is here to share his powerful story as part of our #speakyourmind series for #mentalhealthmonth. (**Trigger Warning**) I did anything to convince my peers/myself that I was just like everyone else.  My classmates saw right through me, though.  Whenever someone called me “faggot/gay” in any context whether trying to get on …

Emily Shares Her Mental Health Story As Part of Our #SpeakYourMind Series

My first signs of depression began when I was 12 years old.  I was bullied for years and became progressively more and more depressed.  I felt worthless and craved attention.  I put myself in vulnerable and dangerous positions and began distancing myself from those who actually loved me.  I could not find a way to escape the pain I was …

A Survivor’s #iAM1N5 Journey…

It’s #WarriorWednesday and also the first day of  Mental Health Month and today we are showing our love for everyone out there surviving and thriving by sharing the journey of one of our brave warriors who survived severe emotional, psychological, and financial abuse from her partner. But with the help of the Lindner Center of Hope, she survived. She’s strong. And she’s …

I’m Erin and This Is My #iAM1N5 Journey…

Meet, Erin Gardner, an Ohio University student, who lives with anxiety, depression, and has experienced self-harm and suicidal ideation.  Erin explains how diagnosed anxiety can feel indescribable, like you’ve done nothing and everything wrong all at the same time. We think Erin is so brave because she faced her fears of being honest with her doctor in front of her mom for …

You Have Grown, And Just Like a Flower, You Will Bloom

by Ivy from Beautifully Simply You   I’ve been thinking a lot lately about growth. We all grow in so many ways, that we often don’t even acknowledge. You are doing things today, you once thought were impossible, no matter how big or how small. Maybe you always dreamed of getting your college degree, but the journey to accomplishing that …